Teams With Holes at 2B

[HoopsCubs]

Quick scan (who their current option would be):

 

Florida Marlins (I don't know)

New York Mets (Kaz Matsui)

San Diego Padres (Eric Young)

St. Louis Cardinals (I don't know)

Texas Rangers (D'Angelo Jimenez)

Seattle Mariners (I don't know)

 

 

Logic says that if Hendry is serious about trading Todd Walker, and he's marketed as a 2B, the above 6 teams are candidates.

 

Still see some sort of deal with Texas for an OF.

 

Of course, if Walker is being looked at around the league as a DH/1B/back-up 2B, then I guess teams liek Cleveland and Toronto among others are viable too.

 

All the beat writers have been convinced that Walk is a goner. Maybe Hendry was bluffing all along just to see what other teams would offer.

[RationalSoxFan]

The Rangers have Ian Kinsler. They're looking for pitching, not 2B.

[The Voice of Reason]

Quick scan (who their current option would be):

 

Florida Marlins (I don't know)

New York Mets (Kaz Matsui)

San Diego Padres (Eric Young)

St. Louis Cardinals (I don't know)

Texas Rangers (D'Angelo Jimenez)

Seattle Mariners (I don't know)

 

 

Logic says that if Hendry is serious about trading Todd Walker, and he's marketed as a 2B, the above 6 teams are candidates.

 

Still see some sort of deal with Texas for an OF.

 

Of course, if Walker is being looked at around the league as a DH/1B/back-up 2B, then I guess teams liek Cleveland and Toronto among others are viable too.

 

All the beat writers have been convinced that Walk is a goner. Maybe Hendry was bluffing all along just to see what other teams would offer.

 

Assuming the Cubs get Tejada or Lugo for SS and move Cedeno to 2B, I'd take Wilkerson or Ibanez for Walker.

[USSoccer]

I think that, just scanning that list Texas and Seattle look like "on paper" fits for a trade involving Walker.

 

Walker to Texas for Mench

Walker to Seattle for Ibanez

 

The Mets probably would like Walker if the do trade for Manny Ramirez, but I just don't see Manny leaving Boston, as Boston is not going to get equal value for him, and they're better off trying to appease Manny rather than deal him for below value. San Diego and St Louis have nothing I want, and Florida isn't going to take a major league 2B, and even if they did, there's not one left there to trade for.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Given what's transpired for the Cubs this offseason--or more aptly, not transpired--moving Walker at this point would be a huge mistake. You're not going to get anything for him that would help the Cubs more at another position, that's for sure. But if you keep him, you have a natural #2 hitter to bat behind Pierre, and you keep Neifi from being an everyday player.

 

I wouldn't even mind seeing a Walker/Hairston platoon, quite frankly.

 

Since no other teams seem willing to trade quality for our prospects, one can only infer that other teams don't LIKE our prospects, or at least the ones Hendry is willing to trade. So at this stage, I think you just need to bite your lip, sign Preston Wilson or Juan Encarnacion, and hope for the best.

 

The only alternative I see is if Hendry were willing to trade for a young outfield prospect and give him the keys to the job, but with Baker in town, we know how badly that plan would work. Still, it rubs me the wrong way because there are a lot of interesting young outfielders out there, some of whom are blocked with their current teams and might be moveable as a result.

 

Franklin Gutierrez, Jeremy Reed, Nick Swisher, Termel Sledge, Delmon Young, Val Majewski, Nook Logan, Freddy Guzman, Lastings Milledge, Shane Victorino, Carlos Quentin. Trade for one of THESE guys and give him the job?? How could say, Franklin Gutierrez be any worse than Jacques Jones, for crying out loud?

[CubsWin]

The Rangers have Ian Kinsler. They're looking for pitching, not 2B.

Hey Rational,

 

If the Sox finished last season with the same record the Rangers did and then handed 2B to a guy who has never played in the majors and didn't really tear up AAA and did so without getting a proven veteran 2B on the roster who could fill in for that guy if he flops, would you be happy with your GM?

 

The Rangers would be really dumb to not want Todd Walker on their roster. That said, I don't think Walker would be enough to land Wilkerson or even Mench. But Hill/Williams and Walker for Wilkerson and a prospect would be fair in my estimation.

Edited December 17, 2005 by CubsWin

[USSoccer]

Given what's transpired for the Cubs this offseason--or more aptly, not transpired--moving Walker at this point would be a huge mistake. You're not going to get anything for him that would help the Cubs more at another position, that's for sure. But if you keep him, you have a natural #2 hitter to bat behind Pierre, and you keep Neifi from being an everyday player.

 

I wouldn't even mind seeing a Walker/Hairston platoon, quite frankly.

 

Since no other teams seem willing to trade quality for our prospects, one can only infer that other teams don't LIKE our prospects, or at least the ones Hendry is willing to trade. So at this stage, I think you just need to bite your lip, sign Preston Wilson or Juan Encarnacion, and hope for the best.

 

I think you're probably right, but I don't think Hendry values Walker as he should.

[CubsWin]

Franklin Gutierrez, Jeremy Reed, Nick Swisher, Termel Sledge, Delmon Young, Val Majewski, Nook Logan, Freddy Guzman, Lastings Milledge, Shane Victorino, Carlos Quentin. Trade for one of THESE guys and give him the job?? How could say, Franklin Gutierrez be any worse than Jacques Jones, for crying out loud?

You are going to have to pair down your list, DKWG. Some of those guys are not likely to be traded very easily, are they?

 

Why would the Mets trade Milledge at this point? Why would Young be traded? Sure, some of those guys are blocked, but for many others it is going to take a lot to get him and if we are going to trade a lot of talent, why would we want to get someone unproven when the Cubs need to win now. If you are going to have to trade pitching and Walker and whatever else the Cubs can trade right now, why not go after Wilkerson or even Abreu if you can get him.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Here's a quick thought I was just bouncing around.

 

Cubs send: Walker and Blasko

Cubs get: Dellucci and Kennedy

 

Rangers send: Dellucci and a mid level pitching prospect

Rangers get: Walker

 

Angels send: Adam Kennedy

Angels get: Rangers prospect and Blasko

 

 

The Rangers may not be ready to go with Kinsler at a middle infield spot, but Daniels is a smart guy. Dellucci + a mid level prospect for Walker is an upgrade talent wise, and he also isn't forced to rush Kinsler if he doesn't have to, and doesn't use anything he will likely need to deal for other needs.

 

The Angels have a glut in the middle infield, this allows them to get a little pitching for Kennedy, who's an impending FA and has been rumored to be traded for some time.

 

The Cubs lose some slugging going down from Walker to Kennedy, but some of it is made up in defensive upgrade. They throw in a pitcher with good stuff but injury troubles(I know, a rarity in our system) and also get Dellucci, who is a decent OF. It doesn't preclude the Cubs from still upgrading in the OF, since they haven't given up from their pitching strength, and Dellucci has good/great platoon splits if they choose to pursue that route.

[CubsWin]

Here's a quick thought I was just bouncing around.

 

Cubs send: Walker and Blasko

Cubs get: Dellucci and Kennedy

 

Rangers send: Dellucci and a mid level pitching prospect

Rangers get: Walker

 

Angels send: Adam Kennedy

Angels get: Rangers prospect and Blasko

 

 

The Rangers may not be ready to go with Kinsler at a middle infield spot, but Daniels is a smart guy. Dellucci + a mid level prospect for Walker is an upgrade talent wise, and he also isn't forced to rush Kinsler if he doesn't have to, and doesn't use anything he will likely need to deal for other needs.

 

The Angels have a glut in the middle infield, this allows them to get a little pitching for Kennedy, who's an impending FA and has been rumored to be traded for some time.

 

The Cubs lose some slugging going down from Walker to Kennedy, but some of it is made up in defensive upgrade. They throw in a pitcher with good stuff but injury troubles(I know, a rarity in our system) and also get Dellucci, who is a decent OF. It doesn't preclude the Cubs from still upgrading in the OF, since they haven't given up from their pitching strength, and Dellucci has good/great platoon splits if they choose to pursue that route.

Certainly seems to me that the Rangers would be more willing to trade Dellucci than either Mench or Wilkerson so this could be doable, but what evidence is there that shows Blasko has any trade value at this moment?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Here's a quick thought I was just bouncing around.

 

Cubs send: Walker and Blasko

Cubs get: Dellucci and Kennedy

 

Rangers send: Dellucci and a mid level pitching prospect

Rangers get: Walker

 

Angels send: Adam Kennedy

Angels get: Rangers prospect and Blasko

 

 

The Rangers may not be ready to go with Kinsler at a middle infield spot, but Daniels is a smart guy. Dellucci + a mid level prospect for Walker is an upgrade talent wise, and he also isn't forced to rush Kinsler if he doesn't have to, and doesn't use anything he will likely need to deal for other needs.

 

The Angels have a glut in the middle infield, this allows them to get a little pitching for Kennedy, who's an impending FA and has been rumored to be traded for some time.

 

The Cubs lose some slugging going down from Walker to Kennedy, but some of it is made up in defensive upgrade. They throw in a pitcher with good stuff but injury troubles(I know, a rarity in our system) and also get Dellucci, who is a decent OF. It doesn't preclude the Cubs from still upgrading in the OF, since they haven't given up from their pitching strength, and Dellucci has good/great platoon splits if they choose to pursue that route.

Certainly seems to me that the Rangers would be more willing to trade Dellucci than either Mench or Wilkerson so this could be doable, but what evidence is there that shows Blasko has any trade value at this moment?

 

Blasko really isn't that important, he's a high risk guy with potential, who in addition with a mid-level prospect from Texas, makes a good package for Kennedy. Anaheim doesn't have great pitching depth in the minor leagues, so since they're getting rid of their excess in Kennedy, Blasko is a good risk to take, especially since they're getting another pitcher(albeit probably a lower ceiling/higher floor guy) from Texas.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

What about this as a real flyer, but it would be cheap: Juan Gonzalez. Yes, the always-injured, Juan Gone. He can't ALWAYS be hurt, can he? You wouldn't even need to pay him $1MM to get him, and its not like $1MM is going to kill the Cubs. But the upside.....the last time he played a fair amount of the season (2003) he still posted a 900+ OPS. Where the hell else are we going to find a 900 OPS slugger at this point?

 

He'd slot in fine in the 5 spot, and if/when/with probability one he gets hurt again, THEN you go to a backup option.

 

Look, if he could give the Cubs 400 PAs, for $1MM, how cool would that be? Cripes, if he could give the Cubs half that PA for that money, he'd be worth having, wouldn't he?

 

Another idea: is Magglio healthy? You know Detroit regrets that contract and would eat big money to move him. If they ate half, would you take a chance on Magglio at $5.5MM per season, which would be half his salary?

 

I'm just desperately trying to think of RF options here better than Jones or Encarnacion or Wilson.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

What about this as a real flyer, but it would be cheap: Juan Gonzalez. Yes, the always-injured, Juan Gone. He can't ALWAYS be hurt, can he? You wouldn't even need to pay him $1MM to get him, and its not like $1MM is going to kill the Cubs. But the upside.....the last time he played a fair amount of the season (2003) he still posted a 900+ OPS. Where the hell else are we going to find a 900 OPS slugger at this point?

 

He'd slot in fine in the 5 spot, and if/when/with probability one he gets hurt again, THEN you go to a backup option.

 

Look, if he could give the Cubs 400 PAs, for $1MM, how cool would that be? Cripes, if he could give the Cubs half that PA for that money, he'd be worth having, wouldn't he?

 

Another idea: is Magglio healthy? You know Detroit regrets that contract and would eat big money to move him. If they ate half, would you take a chance on Magglio at $5.5MM per season, which would be half his salary?

 

I'm just desperately trying to think of RF options here better than Jones or Encarnacion or Wilson.

 

I'd give Gonzalez an NRI, but considering his age, health, and production when he has been healthy, I don't think we can think of him as a guy who will produce, even if healthy.

 

By my count, Ordonez still has 4/60 left on his deal, so half would be 7.5M per.

[radarluv1]

What about this as a real flyer, but it would be cheap: Juan Gonzalez. Yes, the always-injured, Juan Gone. He can't ALWAYS be hurt, can he? You wouldn't even need to pay him $1MM to get him, and its not like $1MM is going to kill the Cubs. But the upside.....the last time he played a fair amount of the season (2003) he still posted a 900+ OPS. Where the hell else are we going to find a 900 OPS slugger at this point?

 

He'd slot in fine in the 5 spot, and if/when/with probability one he gets hurt again, THEN you go to a backup option.

 

Look, if he could give the Cubs 400 PAs, for $1MM, how cool would that be? Cripes, if he could give the Cubs half that PA for that money, he'd be worth having, wouldn't he?

 

Another idea: is Magglio healthy? You know Detroit regrets that contract and would eat big money to move him. If they ate half, would you take a chance on Magglio at $5.5MM per season, which would be half his salary?

 

I'm just desperately trying to think of RF options here better than Jones or Encarnacion or Wilson.

 

I'd give Gonzalez an NRI, but considering his age, health, and production when he has been healthy, I don't think we can think of him as a guy who will produce, even if healthy.

 

By my count, Ordonez still has 4/60 left on his deal, so half would be 7.5M per.

 

 

he still has 4/60?? thats just crazy.

[CubsWin]

What about this as a real flyer, but it would be cheap: Juan Gonzalez. Yes, the always-injured, Juan Gone. He can't ALWAYS be hurt, can he? You wouldn't even need to pay him $1MM to get him, and its not like $1MM is going to kill the Cubs. But the upside.....the last time he played a fair amount of the season (2003) he still posted a 900+ OPS. Where the hell else are we going to find a 900 OPS slugger at this point?

 

He'd slot in fine in the 5 spot, and if/when/with probability one he gets hurt again, THEN you go to a backup option.

 

Look, if he could give the Cubs 400 PAs, for $1MM, how cool would that be? Cripes, if he could give the Cubs half that PA for that money, he'd be worth having, wouldn't he?

 

Another idea: is Magglio healthy? You know Detroit regrets that contract and would eat big money to move him. If they ate half, would you take a chance on Magglio at $5.5MM per season, which would be half his salary?

 

I'm just desperately trying to think of RF options here better than Jones or Encarnacion or Wilson.

Half? For 4 years running? I could see paying half of the guy's salary if there were one year left on his contract and it was clear that he wouldn't be very good in that one year, but not for 4 years. Would you rather guarantee zero production for 30 million over 4 years or risk Magglio producing like he can for 60 million over 4?

 

The Tigers knew they were taking a risk by signing Maggs to that contract. And I think they know that they best way to get the most production out of that signing at this point is to hold on to him and hope he returns to form.

[CubsWin]

I'm just desperately trying to think of RF options here better than Jones or Encarnacion or Wilson.

What about Wilkerson, Mench, Abreu, etc.?

 

Just because the Rangers, Phillies, etc. haven't traded them by December 17th, doesn't mean that they aren't going to by the end of the off season. GMs posture in trade talks via the media all the time. Hendry doesn't want to have to trade what the other guy is asking so he releases to the media that he is considering signing Jones to a 3-year contract. Daniels wants to see if Jim will offer more in return for Wilkerson so he says he's off the table...for now.

 

The same thing happened last season with Sosa. Hendry said almost all off season long that it looked like Sosa would be the starting RFer for the Cubs in '05, but was he?

[UK1679666180]

Oddly, if the Cubs traded Walker they would be added to the list of teams needing a 2B.

 

Unless, Neifi is your answer or you assume they're trading for a SS.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

Oddly, if the Cubs traded Walker they would be added to the list of teams needing a 2B.

 

Unless, Neifi is your answer or you assume they're trading for a SS.

 

Not really, Hairston,Neifi & Cedeno can all play 2nd.

[UK1679666180]

Cedeno would be at SS, Neifi is a terrible option for a starting position player and the Cubs have to trust Hairston as a starting option.

[stitchface]

If the cubs trade walker to the cardinals that would certainly seal the deal on this offseason.