Ken Rosenthal Reporting Cubs Going Hard After Tejada...

[CuseCubFan69]

If both are Boras guys they will get maximum value in the FA market. Interesting point.

 

Zambrano is, but Prior is not.

 

When did Prior leave Boras?

 

I could have sworn Prior didn't have Boras as his agent. Let me do some digging.

 

Boggs has been his agent from the get go.

 

The sex crazed chicken eater?

[Roast]

I would quit if we traded Piror.

[CubfaninCA]

I don't think so. They were burned on the Sosa and Wood contracts and handing out a long term deals to both of those pitchers may scare the heck out them. Burnett just got a 5/55 and both of these guys are going to get bigger deals then this. Also, who really knows if Prior or Z really want to remain in Chicago? I'm not sayin they don't but I have no idea how they really feel about playing there.

 

They aren't even at free agency yet. Sign them to 3-year deals now. If you can give 3/15 to Jones you can give 3/30 to both of these guys.

 

Most likely both get 5-7 years deals that possibly approach $100 million.

3 & 30 was good money 10 years ago.

 

Um, neither one of them is a free agent. You give guys deals like this because they want that first taste of security, and it still leaves them plenty of opportunity to get that big free agent deal. Neither would come close to averaging $10m a year over the next couple years via arbitration.

 

Ah I see. I missed the word "now." Am surprised that you're suggesting spending additional money.

[ThePenguin11]

I would quit if we traded Piror.

 

I would have to see how I feel after I punch myself if the nuts 22 times and stick my head in the oven, before making a final decision.

[goonys evil twin]

Why would the Cubs do this? To save money in case of a crazy arbitrater? I'd try to lock them up a little past free agency so both sides are giving a little bit.

 

There's room for negotiation either way. You lock up Zambrano to void his first free agency year. Another thing the Cubs like is "cost certainty". MacPhail has talked about it from the beginning. They like to know what they will be paying. 3/30 was just a general statement to point out that the Cubs are not risking having to pay either of these guys $14m per year anytime soon. In reality you have to give Zambrano a little more since he'd be a free agent sooner, and could get away with a little less with Prior since he's got more time to go (and he's had some injuries which will cast doubt). If either of these guys was a free agent you could be certain they'd be getting 5/65-70 easily. But the point of discussion is they aren't free agents, and aren't all that close either. Guys like that first taste of security. It's cool to make $2-3m a year, but you can't really retire on that at 26 if your arm blows out (you could, but not with the lifestyle they want). Getting a guaranteed 25-35m when all the team is obligated to do is sign you for 1 year at a time is what causes players to sign before free agency all the time.

[XZero771679666304]

I would quit if we traded Piror.

 

I can't, even if I wanted to. I'm like one of those dumb chicks who sticks with their scumbag man even though he beats the crap out of her every freaking day.

 

I'm in this mess for life.

[radarluv1]

Why would the Cubs do this? To save money in case of a crazy arbitrater? I'd try to lock them up a little past free agency so both sides are giving a little bit.

 

There's room for negotiation either way. You lock up Zambrano to void his first free agency year. Another thing the Cubs like is "cost certainty". MacPhail has talked about it from the beginning. They like to know what they will be paying. 3/30 was just a general statement to point out that the Cubs are not risking having to pay either of these guys $14m per year anytime soon. In reality you have to give Zambrano a little more since he'd be a free agent sooner, and could get away with a little less with Prior since he's got more time to go (and he's had some injuries which will cast doubt). If either of these guys was a free agent you could be certain they'd be getting 5/65-70 easily. But the point of discussion is they aren't free agents, and aren't all that close either. Guys like that first taste of security. It's cool to make $2-3m a year, but you can't really retire on that at 26 if your arm blows out (you could, but not with the lifestyle they want). Getting a guaranteed 25-35m when all the team is obligated to do is sign you for 1 year at a time is what causes players to sign before free agency all the time.

with zambrano i understand. but theres no reason to do this with prior, unless your talking a 4 year deal, which cubs dont do. buttering up prior with extra money now wont buy loyalty in 3 yrs and he's a FA.

[RynoRules]

I would quit if we traded Piror.

 

I can't, even if I wanted to. I'm like one of those dumb chicks who sticks with their scumbag man even though he beats the crap out of her every freaking day.

 

I'm in this mess for life.

 

Here here. Its learned since birth. Its like an s.t.d.

 

Ok, may be not that bad.

[UK1679666180]

That's John Boggs not Wade Boggs, he has a firm out in So. Cal.

[ThePenguin11]

I would quit if we traded Piror.

 

I can't, even if I wanted to. I'm like one of those dumb chicks who sticks with their scumbag man even though he beats the crap out of her every freaking day.

 

I'm in this mess for life.

 

I'd rather be a chick with a scumbag wife-beater boyfriend than trade Mark Prior.

[goonys evil twin]

Ah I see. I missed the word "now." Am surprised that you're suggesting spending additional money.

 

It's not really additional. You have to pay them a lot either way. Maddux is coming off the books next year. Some $350,000 kid will be in next year's rotation. You have to budget for around $8-10m for Prioir and Zambrano next year anyway. It's a risk on the team's part because you are guaranteeing them money. But that is how you can possibly get them to accept less than the max they would get on 1 year deals. You structure the deal so they get a little more up front than they would expect, and a little less down the road than they would get if gambled and went one at a time.

 

I brought this up to counterbalance the notion that the Cubs won't be able to afford both Zambrano and Prior in a couple years. If you trade them so you can avoid paying them, than you don't spend half the offseason overpaying for crap like Rusch, Jones, Perez and others. You don't offer Furcal 5/50 if you are afraid of getting burned by a 3 year deal to Zambrano or Prior.

[radarluv1]

I would quit if we traded Piror.

 

I can't, even if I wanted to. I'm like one of those dumb chicks who sticks with their scumbag man even though he beats the crap out of her every freaking day.

 

I'm in this mess for life.

 

Here here. Its learned since birth. Its like an s.t.d.

 

Ok, may be not that bad.

 

std's can be cured (some of them). or have possible cures on the horizon. our best hope is some selective amnesia procedure, we wake up and all our cub gear is replaced with braves stuff and we have all those great memories of fulton county stadium. like that eternal sunshine movie.

[goonys evil twin]

with zambrano i understand. but theres no reason to do this with prior, unless your talking a 4 year deal, which cubs dont do. buttering up prior with extra money now wont buy loyalty in 3 yrs and he's a FA.

 

You are right, which is why I'd structure Prior's deal differently. He's guaranteed $2.5m in 2006. He supposedly can make as much as $5m in arbitration if he takes that option. So, I say offer him a deal that guarantees him $6m in 2006, then $9m in 2007, and $10m in 2008 (that's $25m guaranteed. If he just went to arbitration every year he might make 5/8-9/10-11 ($10m is about the max for arby players now, but what will it be in 2008). But then you add a kicker, the Cubs get a team option for $12-14m that 4th year (taking away his first free agency year, but still leaving him plenty of time to sign a pre-30 once in a lifetime deal if he develops as expected). Maybe throw in a buyout if they don't pick up that last year.

[erik316wttn]

I would quit if we traded Piror.

 

I can't, even if I wanted to. I'm like one of those dumb chicks who sticks with their scumbag man even though he beats the crap out of her every freaking day.

 

I'm in this mess for life.

 

Here here. Its learned since birth. Its like an s.t.d.

 

Ok, may be not that bad.

 

Some STD's can be cleared up with penicillin. There is no such cure for being a Cub fan.

[CubfaninCA]

Unless Baltimore throws a ton of players @ Chicago, I can't see Prior being dealt. Hendry's pitching obsessed, and one of the reasons we don't have Tejada now is cause he opted to sign Maddux & Hawkins in 2004. Could have moved Gonzo over to 2b I guess, but then there would have been no beloved Todd. Also, it's doubtful fan reaction will be good.

[erik316wttn]

with zambrano i understand. but theres no reason to do this with prior, unless your talking a 4 year deal, which cubs dont do. buttering up prior with extra money now wont buy loyalty in 3 yrs and he's a FA.

 

You are right, which is why I'd structure Prior's deal differently. He's guaranteed $2.5m in 2006. He supposedly can make as much as $5m in arbitration if he takes that option. So, I say offer him a deal that guarantees him $6m in 2006, then $9m in 2007, and $10m in 2008 (that's $25m guaranteed. If he just went to arbitration every year he might make 5/8-9/10-11 ($10m is about the max for arby players now, but what will it be in 2008). But then you add a kicker, the Cubs get a team option for $12-14m that 4th year (taking away his first free agency year, but still leaving him plenty of time to sign a pre-30 once in a lifetime deal if he develops as expected). Maybe throw in a buyout if they don't pick up that last year.

 

Goony, please fax the Cubs your resume.

[Billy_Buck]

Also, it's doubtful fan reaction will be good.

On the other hand, chicks dig the long ball. Maybe the brain trust thinks everyone will be pacified by another big bat. :-k

[jtownie]

Hendry's MO this off-season seems to be built around pitching and defense. Unless he has plans to replace Prior I don't see this going through. Unfortunately I'd worry about with whom he would replace Prior.

[CubfaninCA]

Also, it's doubtful fan reaction will be good.

On the other hand, chicks dig the long ball. Maybe the brain trust thinks everyone will be pacified by another big bat. :-k

 

LOL. True. Too bad the opposition will be hitting more long balls too.

[AlwaysaCub]

Prior was billed as the great white hope for the Cubs in 2002. What does it say to the common cubs fan if we trade Prior?

[Gunned]

This thread is hysterical.

[UBlink]

Jason Bay- Maybe

Michael Young - I like him

Grady Sizemore - No

Victor Martinez - Maybe

Travis Hafner - Doesn't fit with Lee

Mark Teixeira - see above

David Wright - Doesn't fit with Aramis

Chase Utley - No

 

Now, are any of them worth Prior or Z? Only Bay, and only maybe.

 

Say we go after Young for 2nd to reduce his defensive liabilities.

 

Prior + Walker for Young + Mench or Wilkerson + Pitching prospect

[Italiancub]

Homeplate on x-m radio just mentioned there are talks in a 3-way trade between Boston, Baltimore, and the cubs involving prior

[erik316wttn]

Homeplate on x-m radio just mentioned there are talks in a 3-way trade between Boston, Baltimore, and the cubs involving prior

 

Dear.

 

God.

 

No.

 

If Prior is traded, I quit. For a while. Probably. Maybe.

 

You don't just replace a pitcher like Mark Prior. Why not make the package center around a bunch of good prospects?

[Wheelimus]

Homeplate on x-m radio just mentioned there are talks in a 3-way trade between Boston, Baltimore, and the cubs involving prior

 

We better be getting Manny AND Tejada then...