Josh Hamilton?

He's a young player with good power, decent athleticism, good OBP (thus very good OPS), LH batter, and plays RF.  What about that isn't EXACTLY what the Cubs are looking for?

Are there concerns with Hamilton?  Sure.  He's only had one year of success above A ball, and he's certainly a risk to relapse.  But based on what Hendry and Piniella have stated, Hamilton is EXACTLY what the Cubs are looking for in a player.

it is RUMOR time, dude!

No doubt by posturing that Pie is going to start in center in increases his value. You don't want to say Pie is going to be at triple-A or a backup in the majors. He's available in the right deal, I'm sure.

What has Pie really done to impress anyone? There HAS to be a fallback option here.......we go nowhere with c CF hitting .220..........

If you can get Hamilton for Marshall, I would do it.  I would then still pursue Fukudome just as hard and then consider the options.

1. Pie becomes a potential trading chip, especially with Colvin now on the radar screen.
2. Consider moving Soriano back to 2B.  I know this isn't ideal defensively, but, the OF defense could be insane, and he has a gold glove 1B next to him to take some pressure off.  This would make DeRosa either a super sub, or, more likely a trading chip.

One downside would be that it would obviously make Murton expendable, but everyone knows that already.

if there is any tie between the fact that Mr. Baker has been hired as the Manager and the now apparent desire to move Hamilton.  Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that it is "hot" in Cincinatti during the summer and that the manager of the Reds has been quoted as saying that certain ethnic groups do better in hot weather.  And Hamilton is not a member of that ethnic group.  Or perhaps it is because Hamilton is a young player with less than a full season, and a certain manager does not like to play even good young players (at least good young position players).  Or perhaps it is because Mr. Hamilton has a high OBP based on the fact that he takes walks, but as he only has three steals, he's a "base clogger".  

If I was the GM of a team that had Mr. Baker as the manager (assuming I could not fire Mr. Baker which would be my first action upon taking the Job), I would certainly try to trade every player like Hamilton for value as quickly as possible.  Because even a half season of Mr. Baker would quickly destroy the trade value.  Its the first "smart" thing that I have seen from Cincinatti's GM.

(And, of course, with Mr. Baker as your manager, a grizzled Veteran like Griffey, Jr. is far far more valuable.  He's the guy that Mr. Baker will want to run out every day.  Heck, I would see if Griffey, Sr. is still available to play.   Mr. Baker would likely want to start him over Hamilton as well.  After all, his career counting stats are much much higher.)