Marte for Lugo was Never Offered

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

According to the papers in Tampa, a Marte for Lugo trade was never offered.

 

Moments after Boston and Atlanta concluded a major trade Thursday, the Rays were ridiculed in the national press for messing up a golden chance to acquire Andy Marte, a 22-year-old third baseman widely regarded as a superstar-in-waiting. It would have cost the Rays shortstop Julio Lugo, who won't be with them after next season.

 

One problem - the deal was never offered to the Rays.

 

The Rays would have done that trade in a nanosecond.

 

 

The article goes on to suggest that Renteria was always the target for the Braves and that Lugo and the Devil Rays were brought into the discussion because Boston needed a shortstop. In the end, the article suggests, the Red Sox decided to keep Marte and cut the Rays out of the deal.

 

This could also mean that Lugo is still in play and may not be as costly as we previously thought.

 

I'd still hope the Cubs would move on a rightfielder first, but apparently Lugo is still available and at a lower cost than once believed.

[JeffH]

Wellemeyer for Quintanilla.

 

Quintanilla, Williams, Novoa, and Marmol/Ryu for Huff and Lugo.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

That helps explain things. And I was thinking they were completely nuts.

[YearofDaCubs]

Maybe Marte wasn't offered but I'm sure something was. Who knows what the asking price will be.

[badgercub]

Does a package including Lugo and Huff look like something feasible? I would much rather have Floyd than Huff but it sounds like the Mets aren't dealing Floyd now. Lugo, Huff, go get Bradley and call it a day.

[St.Paul Cub]

Tribune speculated Walker, Patterson, Williams, a minor league pitcher and cash might have already been offered for Lugo and Huff. How much is Patterson owed if we don't cut him? I'm assuming how much cash would probably dictate what minor league pitcher.

[goonys evil twin]

Tribune speculated Walker, Patterson, Williams, a minor league pitcher and cash might have already been offered for Lugo and Huff. How much is Patterson owed if we don't cut him? I'm assuming how much cash would probably dictate what minor league pitcher.

 

The problem I have with including Williams in some of these deals now is the Cubs are not well off in the starting pitching department. While they used to have the ability to trade from that strength, they've gotten rid of at least 2 fallback options for the starting staff already. Right now Williams is the 4th best starting option on the team. Get rid of him, and Hill takes that spot, but the Cubs probably give it to Rusch. I don't want Rusch in the 5th hole, let alone the 4th. After trading Jerome they'd be stuck with Rusch, possibly for an entire season. And we've seen this organization stick with a terrible starter for an entire season even when better options were available. After a series of trades, there might not be any better options.

[B]

Tribune speculated Walker, Patterson, Williams, a minor league pitcher and cash might have already been offered for Lugo and Huff. How much is Patterson owed if we don't cut him? I'm assuming how much cash would probably dictate what minor league pitcher.

 

The problem I have with including Williams in some of these deals now is the Cubs are not well off in the starting pitching department. While they used to have the ability to trade from that strength, they've gotten rid of at least 2 fallback options for the starting staff already. Right now Williams is the 4th best starting option on the team. Get rid of him, and Hill takes that spot, but the Cubs probably give it to Rusch. I don't want Rusch in the 5th hole, let alone the 4th. After trading Jerome they'd be stuck with Rusch, possibly for an entire season. And we've seen this organization stick with a terrible starter for an entire season even when better options were available. After a series of trades, there might not be any better options.

 

Shawn Estes had an awesome final game.

[JeffH]

If the Cubs don't trade Williams, Hill, or Guzman, the outfield is very likely going to be dreadful.

 

In a market where Matt Morris might get $27/3, the Cubs should be able to get a very good outfield option for Jerome Williams.

[goonys evil twin]

If the Cubs don't trade Williams, Hill, or Guzman, the outfield is very likely going to be dreadful.

 

In a market where Matt Morris might get $27/3, the Cubs should be able to get a very good outfield option for Jerome Williams.

 

Well, I should have said I'm not completely against trading Williams, but if they do, they have to get a really good bat for him.....and probably still find another starting pitcher.

[JeffH]

If the Cubs don't trade Williams, Hill, or Guzman, the outfield is very likely going to be dreadful.

 

In a market where Matt Morris might get $27/3, the Cubs should be able to get a very good outfield option for Jerome Williams.

 

Well, I should have said I'm not completely against trading Williams, but if they do, they have to get a really good bat for him.....and probably still find another starting pitcher.

 

What do you consider to be "a really good bat"?

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I love Marte, but I read that Marte had a UCL tear in his elbow and TJS was probably likely in the future (Boston Herald).

 

he's real young, so missing a year isn't the end of the world, but he isn't the #1 prospect in baseball any more.

[Blueheart05]

I love Marte, but I read that Marte had a UCL tear in his elbow and TJS was probably likely in the future (Boston Herald).

 

he's real young, so missing a year isn't the end of the world, but he isn't the #1 prospect in baseball any more.

 

I read that as well. The article I read also said that when the Braves disclosed Marte's injury, one (unnamed) team backed out. The Red Sox examined his records and deemed him worth the risk. Tampa Bay may have been the team that backed out afterall.

Edited December 9, 2005 by Blueheart05

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Is JH still looking for a SS? I thought he wanted Furcal because he was a "true leadoff hitter" but they got that with Pierre. His comments at the winter meetings lead me to believe he was now looking for a bat in the OF.

[goonys evil twin]

If the Cubs don't trade Williams, Hill, or Guzman, the outfield is very likely going to be dreadful.

 

In a market where Matt Morris might get $27/3, the Cubs should be able to get a very good outfield option for Jerome Williams.

 

Well, I should have said I'm not completely against trading Williams, but if they do, they have to get a really good bat for him.....and probably still find another starting pitcher.

 

What do you consider to be "a really good bat"?

 

Well, that depends on position. Tejada is a great bat. Abreu, Drew and Dunn are really good, or great or whatever word you want. There are lots of really good bats that may or may not be available. It might be easier to talk about what is not really good.

 

Huff is not really good. Mench is not really good. They could help the team if acquired for a reasonable price though. Most of the names we've heard the Cubs have interest in are not really good. As things stand right now, this team has very little chance to be good. With a really good RF and no other losses to the roster, they should be a pretty good contender. if you lose guys elsewhere and end up with just a blah bat in RF, I'm not sure this team is better than more than 15 others in the league. If they get Mench or Huff, and lose Walker and Williams, I see a team with big holes still in the lineup, and a top heavy starting rotation with enormous downside risk. And another incredibly flawed roster that has no business making $100m combined.

[Blueheart05]

Is JH still looking for a SS? I thought he wanted Furcal because he was a "true leadoff hitter" but they got that with Pierre. His comments at the winter meetings lead me to believe he was now looking for a bat in the OF.

 

He was going after both Furcal and Pierre (to bat second in the order) all along. Now, I think he's looking at Lugo to bat second. More than likely, Hendry's trying to be low profile about the SS but the Cubs have been linked (in the local print media) with the DRays for both Lugo and Huff. I wouldn't mind Lugo at SS and Cedeno at 2B but we should pass on Huff.

[Andy]

Is JH still looking for a SS? I thought he wanted Furcal because he was a "true leadoff hitter" but they got that with Pierre. His comments at the winter meetings lead me to believe he was now looking for a bat in the OF.

 

He was going after both Furcal and Pierre (to bat second in the order) all along. Now, I think he's looking at Lugo to bat second. More than likely, Hendry's trying to be low profile about the SS but the Cubs have been linked (in the local print media) with the DRays for both Lugo and Huff. I wouldn't mind Lugo at SS and Cedeno at 2B but we should pass on Huff.

I completely agree. Anyone who's hating on Bradley should definitely not be asking for Huff.

 

I wonder though if Tampa will make someone take Huff if they want Lugo? :?