RF Options

[PortlandCubsFan]

The writing's on the wall: J.Jones will struggle against lefties this year, and the Cubs will soon have a surplus of quality pitching. Trading pitching for a RF is close to a lock.

 

I can see the Rangers trying to revive Mench trade talks, considering their slow start and the fact that John Koronka is in their rotation. Ditto with the Reds and Kearns. I would still trade a package featuring Williams or Hill for either Kearns or Mench.

 

Another scenario, for a deadline trade, is packaging Jones, pitching & prospects to a non-contending team for a RF, such as Abreu, Ichiro, or Ibanez.

 

Other plausible scenarios?

 

Random note -- I wanted to see the Cubs get Wilkerson in the offseason. But I just glanced at his stats: wow. 19 k and 1 bb in 48 at bats, with a .188 average. I know it's early, but that is remarkably bad.

[soccer10k]

The writing's on the wall: J.Jones will struggle against lefties this year, and the Cubs will soon have a surplus of quality pitching. Trading pitching for a RF is close to a lock.

 

I can see the Rangers trying to revive Mench trade talks, considering their slow start and the fact that John Koronka is in their rotation. Ditto with the Reds and Kearns. I would still trade a package featuring Williams or Hill for either Kearns or Mench.

 

Another scenario, for a deadline trade, is packaging Jones, pitching & prospects to a non-contending team for a RF, such as Abreu, Ichiro, or Ibanez.

 

Other plausible scenarios?

 

Random note -- I wanted to see the Cubs get Wilkerson in the offseason. But I just glanced at his stats: wow. 19 k and 1 bb in 48 at bats, with a .188 average. I know it's early, but that is remarkably bad.

 

Wow, that 19 K's in 48 AB's stat REALLY stands out. Wilkerson needs to turn that around ASAP literally. Ibanez is a possibility but I think getting either Ichiro or Abreu would take more effort. Not sure about Kearns or Mench though. I would like Ichiro - a Ichiro, Pierre top of the order would be good. Although I think we need a bit more power from our No. 2 spot...which is why I still like Walker there. We'll see as the season progresses. While I think Pierre will turn out better than Jones, let's see how they do in the upcoming weeks. Two weeks is too short a time period to judge.

[ZMovieman]

The writing's on the wall: J.Jones will struggle against lefties this year, and the Cubs will soon have a surplus of quality pitching. Trading pitching for a RF is close to a lock.

 

I can see the Rangers trying to revive Mench trade talks, considering their slow start and the fact that John Koronka is in their rotation. Ditto with the Reds and Kearns. I would still trade a package featuring Williams or Hill for either Kearns or Mench.

 

Another scenario, for a deadline trade, is packaging Jones, pitching & prospects to a non-contending team for a RF, such as Abreu, Ichiro, or Ibanez.

 

Other plausible scenarios?

 

Random note -- I wanted to see the Cubs get Wilkerson in the offseason. But I just glanced at his stats: wow. 19 k and 1 bb in 48 at bats, with a .188 average. I know it's early, but that is remarkably bad.

 

Wow, that 19 K's in 48 AB's stat REALLY stands out. Wilkerson needs to turn that around ASAP literally. Ibanez is a possibility but I think getting either Ichiro or Abreu would take more effort. Not sure about Kearns or Mench though. I would like Ichiro - a Ichiro, Pierre top of the order would be good. Although I think we need a bit more power from our No. 2 spot...which is why I still like Walker there. We'll see as the season progresses. While I think Pierre will turn out better than Jones, let's see how they do in the upcoming weeks. Two weeks is too short a time period to judge.

 

No way is Ichiro coming to Chicago. He's too valuable as a moneymaker in Seattle because of the revenue they get from Japanese media. Would be nice, but it won't happen.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Jones isn't getting traded this year. Yes, most fans think he stinks, but the organization really likes him. They thought he deserved a three year contract at FA dollars (i.e. top dollar). That should tell you something. Even half a season of poor play won't get him traded as the front office won't want to admit it made a mistake.

[Backtobanks]

Jones isn't getting traded this year. Yes, most fans think he stinks, but the organization really likes him. They thought he deserved a three year contract at FA dollars (i.e. top dollar). That should tell you something. Even half a season of poor play won't get him traded as the front office won't want to admit it made a mistake.

 

I really believe Jones is gone after this season, assuming Pie is ready. Jones at $5 million per year for 2 years should be tradable. Also, a platoon of Jones/Mench, Kearns, or Ibanez would look pretty good. With the decent outings of Marshall so far, I would have no problem trading Hill.

[soccer10k]

Jones isn't getting traded this year. Yes, most fans think he stinks, but the organization really likes him. They thought he deserved a three year contract at FA dollars (i.e. top dollar). That should tell you something. Even half a season of poor play won't get him traded as the front office won't want to admit it made a mistake.

 

I really believe Jones is gone after this season, assuming Pie is ready. Jones at $5 million per year for 2 years should be tradable. Also, a platoon of Jones/Mench, Kearns, or Ibanez would look pretty good. With the decent outings of Marshall so far, I would have no problem trading Hill.

 

We might have to eat some of the Jones money but I think he is tradable as well.

[BigbadB]

Care to provide some teams that would be interested in Jones?

 

My opinion is Jones is here for all of this year and probably all of 2007 as well.

[frostwyrm]

I don't get why people think Jones is marketable. Unless he has a resurgent season he won't even be regarded as a viable starter by this fall. Who would want a reserve outfielder for 2 years at $5.33M per? Hendry would have to eat at least half the contract.

[Tedward]

Care to provide some teams that would be interested in Jones?

 

My opinion is Jones is here for all of this year and probably all of 2007 as well.

 

As I recall, KC offered the same 3 year deal with the same $$$ (perhaps a few dollars more) and Jones chose to come to Chicago.

[Geech]

I don't get why people think Jones is marketable. Unless he has a resurgent season he won't even be regarded as a viable starter by this fall. Who would want a reserve outfielder for 2 years at $5.33M per? Hendry would have to eat at least half the contract.

 

It might be worth it just to get rid of him, but, as someone else mentioned, I doubt Hendry sees it that way.

[Fro]

We're not getting Ichiro, but he should hit 2nd... he's wasted a bit leading off, as he showed in the WBC.

[WrigleyinEngland]

I think a realistic trade would be for a guy like C wilson. When our pitching returns would you do Williams and Navoa for Wilson?? Only other scenario is another teams salary dump such as Burrell from the phillies.

[frostwyrm]

Care to provide some teams that would be interested in Jones?

 

My opinion is Jones is here for all of this year and probably all of 2007 as well.

 

As I recall, KC offered the same 3 year deal with the same $$$ (perhaps a few dollars more) and Jones chose to come to Chicago.

 

KC isn't the best-run organization. If KC offered Jones the same deal as the Cubs that's all the more reason why Hendry should have ran screaming in the other direction.

[badgercub]

If your talking about Pie replacing anyone in the outfield, it would appear that Pierre would be the one he will replace as he will be a free agent after the season and I didn't hear the Cubs make any effort to extend him this spring.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I think a realistic trade would be for a guy like C wilson. When our pitching returns would you do Williams and Navoa for Wilson?? Only other scenario is another teams salary dump such as Burrell from the phillies.

 

I would hope Wilson could be had for less.

[BigbadB]

Care to provide some teams that would be interested in Jones?

 

My opinion is Jones is here for all of this year and probably all of 2007 as well.

 

As I recall, KC offered the same 3 year deal with the same $$$ (perhaps a few dollars more) and Jones chose to come to Chicago.

 

Okay, maybe KC did make that same offer. However, signing a FREE AGENT which won't cost you any compensation to any other team is different than trading quality prospects or talent on your team to another team for basically a "bad contract".

 

It's understandable that KC would make an offer for a not so good player like Jones, because they basically have to overpay to get players to come to KC. It made no sense for the Cubs to pay that. If Jones wanted to play for KC, more power to him.

 

The problem was the Cubs spent most of the offseason addressing everything except the black hole in RF. A 1 year deal with Reggie Sanders solves all the RF problems for 2006. Finding a place for Pie now will be extremely difficult, IMO.

 

I think the Cubs will want to bring Pierre back. If not, I really don't like that trade even more. 3 near ready pitching prospects for a 1 year rental is a poor business decision.

 

If Hendry doesn't work out a deal with Pierre, I'd bet he'll at least offer arbitration to have him come back on a 1 year deal if for no other reasons than

 

1) They don't like the other lead off options

2) They want compensation for losing 3 pitching prospects to get him.

 

I don't think the Cubs will be afraid to pay the arbitration figure if he does leave. If he does leave, we will all need to be very afraid that the Cubs turn to Pie in CF as they attempt to convert him into a lead off hitter.

[E.J.]

 

I don't think the Cubs will be afraid to pay the arbitration figure if he does leave. If he does leave, we will all need to be very afraid that the Cubs turn to Pie in CF as they attempt to convert him into a lead off hitter.

 

Absolutely. My #1 fear is that the Cubs are going to try and turn Pie into a leadoff hitter instead of an rbi-man. I fear for Corey Patterson part 2.

[Big Z 38]

We should've given Jones 1 year w/ a team option for 2007. That way, we have so much more flexibility

[Cubzfan64]

We should've given Jones 1 year w/ a team option for 2007. That way, we have so much more flexibility

 

I agree although I'm guessing he wouldn't have come here for that (not that that's a bad thing!). I don't care that Reggie Sanders could be someone's grandfather, I'd still rather have signed him for 1 year than most of the other options out there this offseason.

[Blueheart05]

 

I don't think the Cubs will be afraid to pay the arbitration figure if he does leave. If he does leave, we will all need to be very afraid that the Cubs turn to Pie in CF as they attempt to convert him into a lead off hitter.

 

Absolutely. My #1 fear is that the Cubs are going to try and turn Pie into a leadoff hitter instead of an rbi-man. I fear for Corey Patterson part 2.

 

Well, he's batting leadoff in AAA but it isn't hurting his production. Of course, it looks more like they will be keeping him in CF instead of grooming him for RF.

 

Pie is off to a great start at Iowa with a .350 average going into Sunday's game, with three doubles, two triples and a team-leading 13 RBIs out of the leadoff spot. Iowa hitting coach Von Joshua has been working with Pie to cut down on his strikeouts, and Pie entered Sunday with a respectable seven in 40 at-bats.

 

Tribune

Edited April 17, 2006 by Blueheart05

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Any chance Von Joshua gets called up when Pie does?

[Backtobanks]

We should've given Jones 1 year w/ a team option for 2007. That way, we have so much more flexibility

 

I agree although I'm guessing he wouldn't have come here for that (not that that's a bad thing!). I don't care that Reggie Sanders could be someone's grandfather, I'd still rather have signed him for 1 year than most of the other options out there this offseason.

 

There's no way Jones would have accepted that offer. If I remember correctly, KC wasn't the only team going after Jones. It seems to me that the Cards were also rumored to be after him. I still think Jones will straighten out enough to have a "career average" year for him and that the Cubs will be able to trade him after the season (perhaps by eating some of his contract).

[don_kessinger_was_good]

The deal with Jones this offseason is that he had one confirmed offer on the table from KC--it was for 3/15. He also had a rumored deal on the table from the Pirates, and the Cardinals were supposedly interested in him as well. Hendry trumped Jones' KC offer by a million, and Jones' agent jumped on the offer and sealed the deal. At the time of the signing, Juan Encarnacion and Preston Wilson were still unsigned, not that either of those were much better options than Jones.

 

Hendry panicked, no doubt about it, and clearly overpaid both in terms of $$ and length of contract. He's going to regret this one, if he hasn't already. I know we do.....:-(

[Danny82]

 

I think the Cubs will want to bring Pierre back. If not, I really don't like that trade even more. 3 near ready pitching prospects for a 1 year rental is a poor business decision.

 

If Hendry doesn't work out a deal with Pierre, I'd bet he'll at least offer arbitration to have him come back on a 1 year deal if for no other reasons than

 

1) They don't like the other lead off options

2) They want compensation for losing 3 pitching prospects to get him.

 

I think you are forgetting the fact that if the Cubs offer Pierre arbitration and he leaves (cuz he wants to sign for more than a year), he would likely be considered a class A free agent and the Cubs would probably get a first round and maybe a sandwich pick for losing him. Those would likely be two pretty good prospects in return right there. And if the Cubs go the college route for them, they likely wouldn't be that far away either.

[BigbadB]

 

I think the Cubs will want to bring Pierre back. If not, I really don't like that trade even more. 3 near ready pitching prospects for a 1 year rental is a poor business decision.

 

If Hendry doesn't work out a deal with Pierre, I'd bet he'll at least offer arbitration to have him come back on a 1 year deal if for no other reasons than

 

1) They don't like the other lead off options

2) They want compensation for losing 3 pitching prospects to get him.

 

I think you are forgetting the fact that if the Cubs offer Pierre arbitration and he leaves (cuz he wants to sign for more than a year), he would likely be considered a class A free agent and the Cubs would probably get a first round and maybe a sandwich pick for losing him. Those would likely be two pretty good prospects in return right there. And if the Cubs go the college route for them, they likely wouldn't be that far away either.

 

Actually, no. I didn't forget. See #2 up above. Pierre wouldn't be all that risky to offer arbitration, since he'd likely prefer a long term deal.