Ken Rosenthal Reporting Cubs Going Hard After Tejada...

[Dr. Cub]

Tejada/Bedard for Prior would be tempting but I wouldn't to do it.

 

I would not do this deal.

 

I agree, however Tejada/Bedard for Prior would make the Cubs a lot better in 06.

 

i fully expect a Cy Young season from prior next year, and if he's traded, that's a lock.

 

Why do you fully expect that?

 

I do as well because he's healthy. A healthy Mark Prior > nearly all other pitchers.

 

Hyperbole I'll even use young pitchers...

 

Dontrelle Willis

Jake Peavy

Roy Oswalt

Johan Santana

A.J. Burnett

Carlos Zambrano

Josh Beckett

 

Any of those guys are pretty much equal. Santana is the best pitcher in baseball hands down.

 

Come on. Burnett? Not in this lifetime. Neither for Peavy, Oswalt, or Beckett. The others are equal. Remember, he said a "healthy" Prior is NEARLY better.

Edited December 22, 2005 by Dr. Cub

[Magnetic Curses]

Tejada/Bedard for Prior would be tempting but I wouldn't to do it.

 

I would not do this deal.

 

I agree, however Tejada/Bedard for Prior would make the Cubs a lot better in 06.

 

i fully expect a Cy Young season from prior next year, and if he's traded, that's a lock.

 

Why do you fully expect that?

 

because i believe that prior is the best pitcher in the national league when healthy. if he's healthy next year, book it, you can mark this post.

 

if he's traded, he'll definitely win because we have no luck.

[YearofDaCubs]

WOW, Levine just said on ESPN 1000 that it is indeed true Prior's name has been mentioned for Tejada. Hendry has lost his mind. Edited December 22, 2005 by YearofDaCubs

[JeffH]

Come one. Burnett? Not in this lifetime. Neither for Peavy, Oswalt, or Beckett. The others are equal. Remember, he said a "healthy" Prior is NEARLY better.

 

Mark Prior is terrific, but he's no Roy Oswalt.

[CubinNY]

Cub luck.

 

After sleeping on this trade proposal, I still think it's an absolutely terrible idea. Even if it's Prior for Tejada, Bedard, Loewen, and Markakis I can't say I'd be thrilled.

 

The Cubs don't need to shortchange their future to bring in an overrated shortstop like Tejada. I don't care what the stats say, but he's not worth the price he's commanding.

 

At this point, I'm hoping Kenny Williams sneaks in and steals Tejada away from the Cubs. That'd be one deal I would be thankful for him sticking his nose into.

 

To me the Cubs future doesn't look too bright. In the next couple of years the big three (Wood, Prior, Z) will be whittled down to the big two and perhaps the big one.

 

The Cubs still have Guzman, Marshall, and a handfull other pitchers who can step into the rotation. None are of the quality of Prior though that is for sure.

 

What the Cubs don't have are position players. Their offensive production is likely to be no better than last year.

 

However, I don't know that I would do the trade either. It would be a tough call to say the leas. But the cost of doing nothing is another lost year with escalating contracts for Prior and Z. IMO it is a fair offer.

[brinoch]

I find it hard to believe Hendry would be adamant in not trading Prior or Z for Abreu earlier this month, then just a few short weeks later be so open to trading Prior for Tejada.

 

Something doesn't add up and personally I believe this is pure media speculation that has this board all nervous and upset.

 

You're quite probably right. More than likely Prior was thrown into the discussion, but that by no means indicates Hendry's willingness or desire to trade him.

 

I'd be pretty shocked (and extremely disappointed) if Prior was traded.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Tejada/Bedard for Prior would be tempting but I wouldn't to do it.

 

I would not do this deal.

 

I agree, however Tejada/Bedard for Prior would make the Cubs a lot better in 06.

 

i fully expect a Cy Young season from prior next year, and if he's traded, that's a lock.

 

Why do you fully expect that?

 

I do as well because he's healthy. A healthy Mark Prior > nearly all other pitchers.

 

Hyperbole I'll even use young pitchers...

 

Dontrelle Willis

Jake Peavy

Roy Oswalt

Johan Santana

A.J. Burnett

Carlos Zambrano

Josh Beckett

 

Any of those guys are pretty much equal. Santana is the best pitcher in baseball hands down.

 

Come one. Burnett? Not in this lifetime. Neither for Peavy, Oswalt, or Beckett. The others are equal. Remember, he said a "healthy" Prior is NEARLY better.

 

If healthy I think Burnett, Peavy, Oswalt, and Beckett are is equal. No question. But you're right, I missed the "nearly" part. Whoops!

[Outshined_One]

I actually agree, I wouldn't do the deal. The real key depends on how you'd fell about Bedard. That said this deal would make the Cubs better in 06 but the cost is too great.

 

I think Bedard could be a competent 2/3 starter if he manages to keep himself healthy. Markakis seems like he'll be a pretty good OF and Loewen looks like the ground ball version of Rich Hill. Along with Tejada, I'd happily have any of those guys in this organization.

 

But, that kind of move just signals desperation and idiocy on Jim Hendry's part, in my opinion. I'm still concerned about Prior because some one must have thrown a black cat at him, but the fact remains that he has the potential to be the best starting pitcher in baseball and that he'll be under the Cubs' control until 2008. He is the kind of guy I do NOT want to find myself looking back on after watching him win a bunch of Cy Youngs and saying to myself, "I remember when he used to be a Cub...he was pretty good..." while drowning my sorrows in a pint of beer. He's on the same level as Zambrano, in my mind.

 

The multiteam aspect of this deal has me curious, though. I'd like to know who the third and (potentially) fourth teams are and what players are rumored to be moved.

 

Maybe he'll be shipping Derrek Lee off to Boston in exchange for Matt Clement!

[CardsFanInChiTown]

I'm a little surpised to read all this "Cub luck" business on here. No offense, but I really thought you guys were a little more rational.

[Outshined_One]

I'm a little surpised to read all this "Cub luck" business on here. No offense, but I really thought you guys were a little more rational.

 

With the way this offseason has gone, I really can't blame any Cubs fans for being half-crazed at this point.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

I actually agree, I wouldn't do the deal. The real key depends on how you'd fell about Bedard. That said this deal would make the Cubs better in 06 but the cost is too great.

 

I think Bedard could be a competent 2/3 starter if he manages to keep himself healthy. Markakis seems like he'll be a pretty good OF and Loewen looks like the ground ball version of Rich Hill. Along with Tejada, I'd happily have any of those guys in this organization.

 

But, that kind of move just signals desperation and idiocy on Jim Hendry's part, in my opinion. I'm still concerned about Prior because some one must have thrown a black cat at him, but the fact remains that he has the potential to be the best starting pitcher in baseball and that he'll be under the Cubs' control until 2008. He is the kind of guy I do NOT want to find myself looking back on after watching him win a bunch of Cy Youngs and saying to myself, "I remember when he used to be a Cub...he was pretty good..." while drowning my sorrows in a pint of beer. He's on the same level as Zambrano, in my mind.

 

The multiteam aspect of this deal has me curious, though. I'd like to know who the third and (potentially) fourth teams are and what players are rumored to be moved.

 

Maybe he'll be shipping Derrek Lee off to Boston in exchange for Matt Clement!

 

The 3rd team? My guess would be the Angels.

[UK1679666180]

Bedard has to show me more, before I'd consider him a suitable replacement for Prior.

 

He hasn't been the same pitcher since his TJS, he's a quality 3-4 starter now, but he hasn't had the same curve since TJS and still needs to improve his change.

 

His numbers in the minors were outstanding...

 

240IP 190H 5HR 87BB 258Ks

 

But, he would have to show his old curve and progression w/the change for me to say the Cubs would not be hurt by losing Prior as well as the additional 12 mil of contract, despite the production of Tejada and middle of the rotation for Bedard.

 

Oddly, the Cubs have a pitcher of similar stuff in the minors (Marshall).

 

Not as good of a sinker, but probably has a better curve and control than Bedard.

Edited December 22, 2005 by UK

[brinoch]

I'm a little surpised to read all this "Cub luck" business on here. No offense, but I really thought you guys were a little more rational.

 

I call a line drive breaking your best pitcher's elbow bad luck.

 

Prior winning multiple Cy Young's after the Cubs trade him would be poor decision-making. Also known as Cub luck.

[YearofDaCubs]

I'm a little surpised to read all this "Cub luck" business on here. No offense, but I really thought you guys were a little more rational.

Yeah, talk to us when you have been waiting close to 100 years for a WS win and then we'll talk.

[nick23]

If I remember correctly, Bruce Miles said yesterday on this board that Hendry would move whatever he had to, to get Tejada.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

I'm a little surpised to read all this "Cub luck" business on here. No offense, but I really thought you guys were a little more rational.

Yeah, talk to us when you have been waiting close to 100 years for a WS win and then we'll talk.

 

23 years here, it's been awhile.

[RynoRules]

I'm a little surpised to read all this "Cub luck" business on here. No offense, but I really thought you guys were a little more rational.

Yeah, talk to us when you have been waiting close to 100 years for a WS win and then we'll talk.

 

23 years here, it's been awhile.

 

Uh oh, now you have called down the thunder...

 

:axe:

[daske17]

23 years here, it's been awhile.

 

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

Only 23? How can you sleep at night! At least you know what the World Series looks like.

[Outshined_One]

WOW, Levine just said on ESPN 1000 that it is indeed true Prior's name has been mentioned for Tejada. Hendry has lost his mind.

 

Something is up and this is bothering the heck out of me. Because this is the kind of deal that makes no sense without further details.

 

Prior for Tejada straight up is lunacy. The Cubs would have a rotation of Zambrano, Maddux, Rusch, Hill, and a 5th starter (Millwood? The return of Shawn Estes?) with Wood waiting in the wings for whenever the heck he'll come back. I'd have to think a ML-caliber pitcher is involved.

 

If it's Prior for Tejada, Cabrera or Bedard, and prospects, then that to me signals Hendry has either lost his mind or he's retooling for a run in 2007. But that makes no sense given the moves he's made so far this offseason, which he has come out and said will make this team competitive for the 2006 season. He's not in rebuilding mode.

 

I don't think Jim is dumb enough to equate Prior's potential production with Tejada + Bedard + prospects, especially given that the Cubs have Prior under control until 2008. This team should have the financial resources to retain guys like Prior and Zambrano; we're not Kansas City.

 

But, for the life of me, I can't imagine who else Hendry is targeting if a third team is involved. The lineup is set; Hendry didn't give up prospects for Pierre and throw wads of cash at Jock just to have them ride pine. It's possible that he could be replacing Murton in LF. He might also be looking to acquire a starter to replace Prior to get mixed into this deal.

 

For my sanity's sake, I'll just pretend Hendry is somehow working on acquiring a package of Peavy, Tejada, Dunn, and prospects in exchange for Prior, Murton, and prospects.

 

I know that's not the case, but hey, anything to prevent me from leaving a flaming bag of dog crap on Jim Hendry's front step.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

23 years here, it's been awhile.

 

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

Only 23? How can you sleep at night! At least you know what the World Series looks like.

 

Hah, honestly I thought 23 years would seem longer to you guys! I do vaguely remember 02, it was glorious.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

23 years here, it's been awhile.

 

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

Only 23? How can you sleep at night! At least you know what the World Series looks like.

 

Unless he's 22 or younger...

[CardsFanInChiTown]

23 years here, it's been awhile.

 

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

Only 23? How can you sleep at night! At least you know what the World Series looks like.

 

Unless he's 22 or younger...

 

Well, we were in the WS 2 years ago. I believe that's what he was refering to. For the record I'm 28.

[UK1679666180]

If there's a team that has a solid overall view of the Cubs' system, it is the O's. Edited December 22, 2005 by UK

[Cubzfan64]

Ultimately it almost always comes down to pitching being the key to winning a WS. It's possible the Cubs have inside knowledge that leads them to believe Prior's arm issues are more serious than anyone here knows, but if that isn't the case it would be a serious mistake to include either Prior or Zambrano in a deal if we don't get a major arm in return.

 

That said, I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I really think personally that the Cubs should have taken advantage of Lee's amazing season last year and tried to package him to the the Red Sox or some other team in a lopsided deal for the Cubs. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Cubs NEED to start selling high and buying low if they really want to build something!

[Tedward]

Not sure if this has been mentioned already, but if this deal involving Prior for Tejada goes down, doesn't Tejada have the right to ask for a trade after the first year with the Cubs? If so, I would have to think that the Cubs would want some guarantees from Tejada's camp before making a deal.