A Brand New Cubs Rumor from My West Coast Source

[HoopsCubs]

The silver lining of all this could be we end up having Walker to start at second base next season.

 

Could happen, but I don't see it. Perhaps Hendry will have to wait until Spring Training to see if another team suffers a critical 2B injury.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The silver lining of all this could be we end up having Walker to start at second base next season.

 

Could happen, but I don't see it. Perhaps Hendry will have to wait until Spring Training to see if another team suffers a critical 2B injury.

 

I hate to wish injury, but if what if that critical injury is to Neifi. :-k

[Springfield_CUBBY]

"The silver lining of all this could be we end up having Walker to start at second base next season."

 

According to Miek Kiley at the SunTimes, our pal Neifi is still projected as the starter at 2nd base:

Their other backup outfielders are John Mabry and Jerry Hairston, also a reserve at second base to projected starter Neifi Perez. Second baseman Todd Walker also remains on the roster, but like Patterson, he is on the trading block.

(http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cub03.html)

 

I'm not sure what Todd did to anger everybody, but my life is over if the "Neifer" comes out of ST as the starter . . .

[RynoRules]

There's like fifteen different depth charts floating around out there. This is getting annoying.

 

Is it late-February yet?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think Neifi is listed as the starter simply because Walker is believed to be traded. I still believe that if Walker in on the team April 5, he will be the starting secondbaseman...at least against righthanders.

[HoopsCubs]

I think Neifi is listed as the starter simply because Walker is believed to be traded. I still believe that if Walker in on the team April 5, he will be the starting secondbaseman...at least against righthanders.

 

I think it will be Hairston. Both Baker and Hendry had nicer things to say about him in the 2nd half than they did in the 1st half.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Hot off the presses, but same disclaimer: take it with a grain of salt.

 

Very simple, yet somewhat predictable: Todd Walker for Craig Wilson.

 

My source says Jim Hendry has been working overtime to get rid of Walker (much more than Patterson), and has found zero takers thus far including the Mets and Padres. But now that Jeromy Burnitz has signed to play RF, the Pirates feel better about dealing Wilson, and their biggest hole is at 2B, which Walker could fill or platoon with the righty Jose Castillo. The Cubs have some concerns about making an inter-division trade, but the Pirates don't seeing as they already traded pitching to the Reds for Sean Casey.

 

When I asked my source about Wilson's potential role, he said "$5M a year or not, platooning Jones is a no-brainer given Jacques's pathetic performance against lefties", and perhaps even starting if Murton flops or gets dealt.

 

When I asked him if he had any insight as to why Hendry seemed so desperate to get rid of Walker, he said: "crappy defender, crappy team player, crappy attitude - ask yourself why he has played for 5 different teams in 6 years?"

 

New update: Hendry was hoping that Pittsburgh would send cash to offset the difference between Walker's $2.5M salary and Wilson's arbitration eligible salary (could be $4.5M). Pittsburgh will not send cash, and Hendry views Wilson as too expensive for a 4th OF role. No deal.

 

The silver lining of all this could be we end up having Walker to start at second base next season.

 

Hopefully, but I think realistically all this means is that Hendry will dump Walker for much less, simply to get him off the roster.

[Diffusion]

walker is a better hitter, period. no amount of conventional sac. bunts, slap hits, or gutty, sparkplug-like builds will ever change that. the only thing that could change this is if grudz decided to work on becoming a better hitter, which he won't--at this stage of his career anyway.

 

I think saying that Grudz isn't working on becoming a better hitter now just because he's reached this stage of his career is slightly excessive.

[Diffusion]

New update: Hendry was hoping that Pittsburgh would send cash to offset the difference between Walker's $2.5M salary and Wilson's arbitration eligible salary (could be $4.5M). Pittsburgh will not send cash, and Hendry views Wilson as too expensive for a 4th OF role. No deal.

 

Meh. Hendry's right that trading Walker for Wilson straight up isn't a good deal for the Cubs. But the way to go about addressing that is not to ask for them to chip in money. For crying out loud, the way he's splashed the cash on mediocrities this winter, I really don't feel his pain when he now turns around and quibbles about money and how he hasn't got enough of it. Better off asking the Pirates to throw another player into the deal. Like, say, Jody Gerut, who we could actually use. Oh...

[Magnetic Curses]

walker is a better hitter, period. no amount of conventional sac. bunts, slap hits, or gutty, sparkplug-like builds will ever change that. the only thing that could change this is if grudz decided to work on becoming a better hitter, which he won't--at this stage of his career anyway.

 

I think saying that Grudz isn't working on becoming a better hitter now just because he's reached this stage of his career is slightly excessive.

 

fair enough, i dont' think he's working on a different hitting philosophy.

[goonys evil twin]

New update: Hendry was hoping that Pittsburgh would send cash to offset the difference between Walker's $2.5M salary and Wilson's arbitration eligible salary (could be $4.5M). Pittsburgh will not send cash, and Hendry views Wilson as too expensive for a 4th OF role. No deal.

 

Meh. Hendry's right that trading Walker for Wilson straight up isn't a good deal for the Cubs.

 

Maybe he's right, maybe he's wrong. But he'll definitely be wrong if he ends up just giving away Walker for scraps as opposed to taking on the opportunity to see if Wilson can put up the 850-900 OPS he appears to be capable of if he is at his best and used properly.

[Diffusion]

New update: Hendry was hoping that Pittsburgh would send cash to offset the difference between Walker's $2.5M salary and Wilson's arbitration eligible salary (could be $4.5M). Pittsburgh will not send cash, and Hendry views Wilson as too expensive for a 4th OF role. No deal.

 

Meh. Hendry's right that trading Walker for Wilson straight up isn't a good deal for the Cubs.

 

Maybe he's right, maybe he's wrong. But he'll definitely be wrong if he ends up just giving away Walker for scraps as opposed to taking on the opportunity to see if Wilson can put up the 850-900 OPS he appears to be capable of if he is at his best and used properly.

 

Is a good deal for the Cubs in terms of getting equal value back.