Huff not happy in Tampa

[The Voice of Reason]

Questions, Questions, Questions?

 

Would you rather have Huff than Murton? Would he fit under the Cubs salary cap? What would it take to get him? Anybody ever heard the "The Cowhead show"? Wouldn't using TNT instead of $10 million be a better way to "refurbish" Tropicana field?

 

 

Excerpts from the Fanball Fantasy site:

 

Devil Rays first baseman/outfielder Aubrey Huff appeared on a Tampa-area radio show on Wednesday, and voiced his displeasure over the trade rumors he keeps hearing. "As soon as I signed my three-year deal [in 2004], probably a week after I signed my deal, there [were] rumors of me getting traded already," Huff said Wednesday morning, speaking on "The Cowhead Show" on WXTB, 97.9 FM. "That's happened every year since then. If you want to trade me, trade me. Just get it over with. I'm sick of hearing the rumors. If you want to do it, do it. If not, let's stop talking about it."

 

The Tampa Tribune reports that Huff also claimed the organization hasn't improved this offseason, suggesting that the $10 million being used to refurbish Tropicana field should be thrown at a free agent.

 

Fanball's View

 

There are plenty of major league teams that would welcome a player who can hit .275, 25-30 homeruns, and drive in 100 runs while playing the outfield and both corner infield positions, not to mention DH. Huff isn't exaggerating about how long his name has been floated in trade rumors and it remains to be seen if new management will move him. He is a free agent after next season, so expect the rumors to continue well into the season.

Edited January 12, 2006 by The Voice of Reason

[shnsajax]

no but Huff over Jones, yes!

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think a closer read of the article indicates that it isn't that Huff is not happy in Tampa, but he's tired of hearing his name in trade rumors. He was to know if he's going to be traded or not, and if he's going to be traded, he wants them to hurry the hell up and do it.

[BigbadB]

Did someone mention Huff?

 

Won't need to move Murton to get him. Tampa will want pitching. They have plenty of offense.

[The Voice of Reason]

I think a closer read of the article indicates that it isn't that Huff is not happy in Tampa, but he's tired of hearing his name in trade rumors. He was to know if he's going to be traded or not, and if he's going to be traded, he wants them to hurry the hell up and do it.

 

I think this part indicates Huff's displeasure with Tampa (Devil Rays).

 

The Tampa Tribune reports that Huff also claimed the organization hasn't improved this offseason, suggesting that the $10 million being used to refurbish Tropicana field should be thrown at a free agent.

[BigbadB]

I think a closer read of the article indicates that it isn't that Huff is not happy in Tampa, but he's tired of hearing his name in trade rumors. He was to know if he's going to be traded or not, and if he's going to be traded, he wants them to hurry the hell up and do it.

 

I think this part indicates Huff's displeasure with Tampa (Devil Rays).

 

The Tampa Tribune reports that Huff also claimed the organization hasn't improved this offseason, suggesting that the $10 million being used to refurbish Tropicana field should be thrown at a free agent.

 

HA! They are a 30m team. How much improvement was he expecting? Actually, they will eventually be improved once they've lowered their demands for Baez, Lugo and Huff, and replaced those guys with good prospects and Delmon Young and BJ Upton. :D

 

Boston will probably send Marte and a pitching prospect for Gathright and Lugo.

 

Some team with a bit of cash and a hole in their pen will probably give Tampa a pitching prospect or two for Baez.

 

The Cubs could give up a pitching prospect or two for Huff. Everyone is happy again!

[JeffH]

Huff and Lugo in a single trade would be outstanding.

 

Huff platooning with Murton in LF and Jones platooning with Grissom(/Restovich) in RF.

 

• CF - Juan Pierre
  2B - Julio Lugo
  1B - Derrek Lee
  3B - Aramis Ramirez
  LF - Aubrey Huff/Matt Murton
  RF - Jacque Jones/Marquis Grissom
  C - Michael Barrett/Henry Blanco
  SS - Ronny Cedeno

 

I would be willing to trade quite a bit to get those two guys. Even if you didn't want to keep them beyond 2006, you could almost certainly offer them arbitration with little or no fear of them accepting and sticking you with an unwanted financial commitment. Once you did that, you could lean back and accept the (most likely) four (probably at least three) draft choices that were coming your way. That would help restock the system.

[Wheelimus]

I still say just say no to Lugo, overrated. Keep Walker and let Cedeno play beside him.

 

Huff? Oh yeah. You wouldn't even have to seriously undercut Murton's playing time to do it, Huff can play 1st & 3rd. Give him say 10 starts over the season at 1st, 15 over the season at 3rd, 20 in right field to keep Jacque from ever facing a lefty (yes, he's a lefty and hits righties better, but he's damn sure was better against lefties from 2002 to 2004 than Jacque), and then let him split righties with Murton. Should give both right at 100 starts I'd wager.

 

The great thing about Huff is the insurance he provides. God forbid DLee or Aram goes down, he can cover it.

[seanhopper]

<>

 

Didn't know the Cubs had a salary cap? This is where all of the problems start and end for the Cubs. They have money pouring in with little going out in relation to other big market teams, i.e. Mets, Yanks, Red Sox and even the White Sox. Yes, MLB is a business, but you need to invest and invest integillently in the business to win.

[HoopsCubs]

I think a closer read of the article indicates that it isn't that Huff is not happy in Tampa, but he's tired of hearing his name in trade rumors. He was to know if he's going to be traded or not, and if he's going to be traded, he wants them to hurry the hell up and do it.

 

From Tampa's perspective, can they get more in return if they do a deal now, or is it better for them to wait until Spring Training, or is it better to wait until the July trading deadline?

[DesMoinesCub]

IMO-the Cubs always have money to spend. When have they not been able to add payroll during the season to complete a trade? I think the Cubs could go after Huff and still be able to add someone during the season if they are in the playoff race.

[JeffH]

I think a closer read of the article indicates that it isn't that Huff is not happy in Tampa, but he's tired of hearing his name in trade rumors. He was to know if he's going to be traded or not, and if he's going to be traded, he wants them to hurry the hell up and do it.

 

From Tampa's perspective, can they get more in return if they do a deal now, or is it better for them to wait until Spring Training, or is it better to wait until the July trading deadline?

 

I would imagine they could get the most for Huff late in spring training - assuming that he doesn't lay an egg during exhibition play.

[HoopsCubs]

I think a closer read of the article indicates that it isn't that Huff is not happy in Tampa, but he's tired of hearing his name in trade rumors. He was to know if he's going to be traded or not, and if he's going to be traded, he wants them to hurry the hell up and do it.

 

From Tampa's perspective, can they get more in return if they do a deal now, or is it better for them to wait until Spring Training, or is it better to wait until the July trading deadline?

 

I would imagine they could get the most for Huff late in spring training - assuming that he doesn't lay an egg during exhibition play.

 

Do your highest value "late in spring training" comments also apply to Lugo, or is he more valuable now or in July?

[mg420]

if the cubs were at all interested in huff, they would have traded for him instead of signing jones. i dont see any way he has a place on the current roster with a set outfield of murton, pierre & jones/?. if the cubs want to ruin murton like they helped to ruin cp, they will trade for huff and platoon him (ie give him 500 ab's) with murton.

[JeffH]

I think a closer read of the article indicates that it isn't that Huff is not happy in Tampa, but he's tired of hearing his name in trade rumors. He was to know if he's going to be traded or not, and if he's going to be traded, he wants them to hurry the hell up and do it.

 

From Tampa's perspective, can they get more in return if they do a deal now, or is it better for them to wait until Spring Training, or is it better to wait until the July trading deadline?

 

I would imagine they could get the most for Huff late in spring training - assuming that he doesn't lay an egg during exhibition play.

 

Do your highest value "late in spring training" comments also apply to Lugo, or is he more valuable now or in July?

 

They apply to Lugo as well.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think a closer read of the article indicates that it isn't that Huff is not happy in Tampa, but he's tired of hearing his name in trade rumors. He was to know if he's going to be traded or not, and if he's going to be traded, he wants them to hurry the hell up and do it.

 

From Tampa's perspective, can they get more in return if they do a deal now, or is it better for them to wait until Spring Training, or is it better to wait until the July trading deadline?

 

I think it depends. Right now, Lugo is coming off a career year. If his numbers dip, he might not be worth as much. Also, later in the season, at the deadline for instance, you may have more suitors, but you could have fewer. Also, are teams willing to pay more for a player for an entire season than they would for one they will only have under their control for a couple of months. In the Cubs case, how much they will pay for Lugo in July will depend greatly on the play of Cedeno. Right now, the uncertainty in the middle infield might make Lugo more attractive than he will be in July.

 

The same case could be said in Boston. If their team is struggling in July, they may be willing to part with Marte. On the other hand, if they are in first without Lugo, they may see him as only a complimentary part and not willing to pay nearly as much to acquire him.

 

It's a gamble either way.

 

Also...consider the Rays don't want to deal for Welly, Marmol, and Dopirak now. Dopirak bounces back and puts up numbers in West Tenn like he did in Lansing. In that scenario, the Cubs may be more reluctant to deal him and the Rays end up settling for a lesser prospect.

 

These are the risks. So to answer your question, I think it depends on way too many factors to simply answer yes or no.

[muntjack]

I'm afraid in Hendry's eyes Jacque Jones makes Huff redundant. I don't think he's going to let Murton go at this point, so it looks like the Jacque Jones signing is already hurting us.

 

He'd better put up an 8+ OPS.

[CubfaninCA]

they'll want the entire farm for huff.

[BigbadB]

they'll want the entire farm for huff.

 

I imagine we will find that out soon enough. His 7.5m contract coupled with an off season tells me they aren't going to get what they think they'll get. Add in that he's not happy there......

[snoodmonger]

Huff and Lugo in a single trade would be outstanding.

 

Huff platooning with Murton in LF and Jones platooning with Grissom(/Restovich) in RF.

 

• CF - Juan Pierre
  2B - Julio Lugo
  1B - Derrek Lee
  3B - Aramis Ramirez
  LF - Aubrey Huff/Matt Murton
  RF - Jacque Jones/Marquis Grissom
  C - Michael Barrett/Henry Blanco
  SS - Ronny Cedeno

 

I would be willing to trade quite a bit to get those two guys. Even if you didn't want to keep them beyond 2006, you could almost certainly offer them arbitration with little or no fear of them accepting and sticking you with an unwanted financial commitment. Once you did that, you could lean back and accept the (most likely) four (probably at least three) draft choices that were coming your way. That would help restock the system.

 

Huff's statistical decline doesn't bother you at all, or do think last year was an anomaly? Or do you think his weaknesses would be less evident in a platoon role?

[CuseCubFan69]

I'd like to see how Huff does during Spring Training to get a little bit of a read on him and to see if he was a steroid wonder or the real thing.

[JeffH]

Huff and Lugo in a single trade would be outstanding.

 

Huff platooning with Murton in LF and Jones platooning with Grissom(/Restovich) in RF.

 

• CF - Juan Pierre
  2B - Julio Lugo
  1B - Derrek Lee
  3B - Aramis Ramirez
  LF - Aubrey Huff/Matt Murton
  RF - Jacque Jones/Marquis Grissom
  C - Michael Barrett/Henry Blanco
  SS - Ronny Cedeno

 

I would be willing to trade quite a bit to get those two guys. Even if you didn't want to keep them beyond 2006, you could almost certainly offer them arbitration with little or no fear of them accepting and sticking you with an unwanted financial commitment. Once you did that, you could lean back and accept the (most likely) four (probably at least three) draft choices that were coming your way. That would help restock the system.

 

Huff's statistical decline doesn't bother you at all, or do think last year was an anomaly? Or do you think his weaknesses would be less evident in a platoon role?

 

It bothers me a little bit, but last year's numbers can largely be attributed to a big dropoff in BABIP.

 

I still think he'll wind up doing well enough to be at least a 'B' free agent next winter, so you can get one draft choice for him.

[Soul]

Certainly nobody can blame Huff for being a little......"unsettled" by the fact that the DRays continue to dangle him for trades over & over again.

 

The fact of the matter is, Tampa has seen Huff's value plummet over the past 2 years so they've missed their window of opportunity on him.

 

At this point I would take a flyer on Huff and see how he looks this season. If he's truly disgruntled, it could affect his play on the field also. I'm glad we didn't give up alot for him a couple years back, that's for sure.

[WrigleyinEngland]

Would Tampa do Prior, Williams and walker for Kazmir, Lugo and Huff?. Cubs then go and sign Weaver as a starter. Just an idea. I'm going to be interested to see how pissed prior is at this convention. I'm amazed at what tampa think they can get for 2 guys who can both walk next year.

[nick23]

Would Tampa do Prior, Williams and walker for Kazmir, Lugo and Huff?. Cubs then go and sign Weaver as a starter. Just an idea. I'm going to be interested to see how pissed prior is at this convention. I'm amazed at what tampa think they can get for 2 guys who can both walk next year.

 

I would hope Tampa would do that. But why in the world would the cubs? I wouldn't trade Prior alone for those three. Much less Prior and Williams.