If we are going to trade Walker....

[NorthsideAvenger]

Bring back Mark Grudzielanek?

[XZero771679666304]

Bring back Mark Grudzielanek?

 

I'd rather sign Graffanino.

[indifferent]

He definitely fits in with the Cubs new look "Catch the Ball" mandate, why not?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Could Dusty and his girlfriend make-up?

[goonys evil twin]

If they insist on trading Walker, thus opening another enormous hole in the lineup, and probably not completely filling the gaping hole in RF, you can't just stop there.

 

 

Let's say the Walker for Bradley trade happens. I like Bradley, but I think it's ridiculous to trade for a guy as unreliable as Bradley to fill your biggest hole, while opening up the hole at 2B. The likely ensuing lineup:

Pierre, Perez, Lee, Ramirez, Bradley, Barrett, Murton, Cedeno is pretty week and in danger of tremendous downside. Unfortunately I think you have to go after another OF, somebody who will add more pop, moving Murton to the 4th OF position.

 

If Cliff Floyd is available, I think he's an obvious choice. And if the Mets keep going for Manny, it might happen. Then you've got Floyd and Bradley in the corners, neither being a lock to give you 600 PA, which is where Murton fits in. Plus, Cliff can give Lee a breather, preventing his usual slowdown.

 

But, if you've already made that hole at 2nd, and if the one thing you do have available is money, and you don't have a ton of talent to spare, do you take a financial risk to make this happen?

 

Would you take Kaz Matsui off the Mets hands along with Floyd, freeing up Manny cash in NY, and reducing the amount of talent you have to send back? I'd rather keep Walker and then find my corner OF. But if they insist on getting rid of him, you just can't go into the season with Neifi as a starting middle infielder. And your MI of Cedeno, Hairston and Neifi isn't exactly deep. Matsui has been a disappointment, but at least he stands a chance of giving you decent OBP, possibly .330, or even higher if he gets his game together. He also brings a SB threat that Neifi just doesn't have. (A side benefit may be opening the eyes of future Japanese players to the idea of playing for the Cubs, it seems to me that 3-4 teams have an obvious advantage in recruiting the Japanese player, NYY, NYM, SEA, LAD, while the CWS have made some inroads as well. The Cubs need to get in on that market of talent.)

 

I don't want to pay Matsui what he's going to make, but if it makes it easier to acquire Floyd, and if your only other option is Neifi starting 150 games, well, you almost have to make such a deal. Your lineup looks more dependable:

 

Pierre, Bradley, Lee, Ramirez, Floyd, Barrett, Matsui, Cedeno

 

Plus, you get to keep Neifi on the bench, which looks like:

 

Blanco, Perez, Hairston, Murton, Mabry. If they wise up and go with 11 pitchers, you can add another bat to the mix.

 

Both Floyd and Matsui would be one year rentals, bringing money off the books next season and allowing the Cubs to bring Murton into a starting role after they learn more about him (assuming Dusty plays him more, which I think he'll have to do with Floyd and Bradley out there).

 

Of course, none of this is ideal. But Hendry threw out the option of ideal a long time ago. Now it's time to try and make the best of a less than perfect situation.

[BigbadB]

I'd do it. NYM would have to pick up some of the salary. If the Mets truly want to pick up a 2nd baseman and leave Matsui rotting on the bench, they might as well move him. IF Matsui is healthy, of course.

[badgercub]

I would rather they still try and pursue Lugo but if the only way they can get Floyd is to take on Matsui, so be it.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Then the Cubs should trade Walker to the Cards for a bucket of balls!

[goonys evil twin]

I would rather they still try and pursue Lugo but if the only way they can get Floyd is to take on Matsui, so be it.

 

I'd rather trade marginal talent and take on Floyd (much great offensive impact than Lugo) and Matsui (could hopefully keep Neifi on bench more often) while paying the money (which is still available), than trade significant talent for Lugo (which leaves a questionable OF of Murton, Pierre, Bradley(assumed)) with no OF depth.

 

The Cubs still have money to spend on the roster. If they aren't going to get an impact player like Drew or Abreu, they might as well use that financial flexibility to their advantage.

 

The two things you need to make a deal are money and talent. If you don't have much money, you have to give up more talent. If you have the money, you can give up less talent. If this fascilitates a Manny trade, NY could give the Cubs Floyd and Matsui for very little, just for the cost benefit.

[badgercub]

I would rather they still try and pursue Lugo but if the only way they can get Floyd is to take on Matsui, so be it.

 

I'd rather trade marginal talent and take on Floyd (much great offensive impact than Lugo) and Matsui (could hopefully keep Neifi on bench more often) while paying the money (which is still available), than trade significant talent for Lugo (which leaves a questionable OF of Murton, Pierre, Bradley(assumed)) with no OF depth.

 

The Cubs still have money to spend on the roster. If they aren't going to get an impact player like Drew or Abreu, they might as well use that financial flexibility to their advantage.

 

The two things you need to make a deal are money and talent. If you don't have much money, you have to give up more talent. If you have the money, you can give up less talent. If this fascilitates a Manny trade, NY could give the Cubs Floyd and Matsui for very little, just for the cost benefit.

 

I agree with that, but I was thinking you acquire Floyd,Lugo, and Bradley in seperate deals leaving you with:

 

Pierre

Lugo

Lee

Floyd

Ram

Bradley

Barrett

Cedeno

 

With a bench of: Blanco, Mabry, Perez, Hairston, and Murton. Not sure how likely it would be to acquire those three but I don't think it is unrealistic.

[BigbadB]

Tampa is rumored to have declined a trade that would have sent Andy Marte to Tampa for Lugo.

 

Marte is considered one of the best prospects in the minor leagues.

 

Now, with Tampa just trading for Sean Burroughs, would Tampa take lesser talent if it involved pitchers? Pitching is Tampa's gaping hole.

[goonys evil twin]

I agree with that, but I was thinking you acquire Floyd,Lugo, and Bradley in seperate deals leaving you with:

 

Pierre

Lugo

Lee

Floyd

Ram

Bradley

Barrett

Cedeno

 

With a bench of: Blanco, Mabry, Perez, Hairston, and Murton. Not sure how likely it would be to acquire those three but I don't think it is unrealistic.

 

I would like that as well. But the Cubs are running out of tradable assets. They gave up too much for Pierre. They need Jerome Williams unless they get a solid starter elsewhere. The farm is not as rich as it was 3-4 years ago. Trading for Lugo and Floyd individually would probably cost big time talent, which the Cubs can't afford to give up. But then again, they can't afford to go into the season with the lineup looking anything close to what it looks like right now.

[badgercub]

I agree with that, but I was thinking you acquire Floyd,Lugo, and Bradley in seperate deals leaving you with:

 

Pierre

Lugo

Lee

Floyd

Ram

Bradley

Barrett

Cedeno

 

With a bench of: Blanco, Mabry, Perez, Hairston, and Murton. Not sure how likely it would be to acquire those three but I don't think it is unrealistic.

 

I would like that as well. But the Cubs are running out of tradable assets. They gave up too much for Pierre. They need Jerome Williams unless they get a solid starter elsewhere. The farm is not as rich as it was 3-4 years ago. Trading for Lugo and Floyd individually would probably cost big time talent, which the Cubs can't afford to give up. But then again, they can't afford to go into the season with the lineup looking anything close to what it looks like right now.

 

I believe Hendry is in an all or nothing situation and will overspend with his job on the line. If it brings a W.S to the Northside I am all for overspending.

[goonys evil twin]

I believe Hendry is in an all or nothing situation and will overspend with his job on the line. If it brings a W.S to the Northside I am all for overspending.

 

I'm all for overspending if it guarantees a WS, but none of this guarantees a thing. I'd overspend if it meant bringing in premier talent, but the Cubs have steared clear of premier talent so far. I'm not interested in overspending young talent for guys like Floyd and Lugo.

[BigbadB]

I would rather they still try and pursue Lugo but if the only way they can get Floyd is to take on Matsui, so be it.

 

I'd rather trade marginal talent and take on Floyd (much great offensive impact than Lugo) and Matsui (could hopefully keep Neifi on bench more often) while paying the money (which is still available), than trade significant talent for Lugo (which leaves a questionable OF of Murton, Pierre, Bradley(assumed)) with no OF depth.

 

The Cubs still have money to spend on the roster. If they aren't going to get an impact player like Drew or Abreu, they might as well use that financial flexibility to their advantage.

 

The two things you need to make a deal are money and talent. If you don't have much money, you have to give up more talent. If you have the money, you can give up less talent. If this fascilitates a Manny trade, NY could give the Cubs Floyd and Matsui for very little, just for the cost benefit.

 

Knowing the Cubs would have to absorb a lot of the salary for Floyd and Matsui, what do you think it would cost in talent?

 

We do have Hairston Jr., Walker, Novoa, Wuertz, Wellemeyer, Ohman and Patterson available, besides a much more limited supply of prospects.