Has anyone mentioned Carlos Pena?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Watch us trade Jerome Williams for Clark.

[davearm]

But Arizona has Jackson, Green, and Tracy who can all play some first base, pretty much making Tony Clark a very expensive redundant player. But, I don't think Ari would do it less then a solid young reliever, perhaps a 5th starter.

Tony Clark is very inexpensive. Around $1M for 2006.

 

He does have a NTC though.

[E.J.]

But Arizona has Jackson, Green, and Tracy who can all play some first base, pretty much making Tony Clark a very expensive redundant player. But, I don't think Ari would do it less then a solid young reliever, perhaps a 5th starter.

Tony Clark is very inexpensive. Around $1M for 2006.

 

He does have a NTC though.

 

But what do we do with Clark when Lee comes back? Clark can only play 1b, and he's not going to get much time with Lee in front of him. Doesn't seem to be a fit for the Cubs IMO.

[Pistolcub42]

But Arizona has Jackson, Green, and Tracy who can all play some first base, pretty much making Tony Clark a very expensive redundant player. But, I don't think Ari would do it less then a solid young reliever, perhaps a 5th starter.

Tony Clark is very inexpensive. Around $1M for 2006.

 

He does have a NTC though.

 

But what do we do with Clark when Lee comes back? Clark can only play 1b, and he's not going to get much time with Lee in front of him. Doesn't seem to be a fit for the Cubs IMO.

 

 

 

We use him off the bench. He'll be that power bat on the bench that we don't have. That's much better than Bynum or Hairston pinch hitting late in games. And it would probably be wise to give Lee a day off here and there down the stretch to keep him strong anyway. That forearm is going to be really weak and that's where you generate most of your power from.

[davearm]

But Arizona has Jackson, Green, and Tracy who can all play some first base, pretty much making Tony Clark a very expensive redundant player. But, I don't think Ari would do it less then a solid young reliever, perhaps a 5th starter.

Tony Clark is very inexpensive. Around $1M for 2006.

 

He does have a NTC though.

 

But what do we do with Clark when Lee comes back? Clark can only play 1b, and he's not going to get much time with Lee in front of him. Doesn't seem to be a fit for the Cubs IMO.

The Cubs need a 1B, for the next 2 months. How's that not a fit?

 

And when Lee is back, then Clark takes a seat on the bench next to guys making even more than him (Hairston, Mabry, Neifi, Blanco).

[goonys evil twin]

But Arizona has Jackson, Green, and Tracy who can all play some first base, pretty much making Tony Clark a very expensive redundant player. But, I don't think Ari would do it less then a solid young reliever, perhaps a 5th starter.

Tony Clark is very inexpensive. Around $1M for 2006.

 

He does have a NTC though.

 

But what do we do with Clark when Lee comes back? Clark can only play 1b, and he's not going to get much time with Lee in front of him. Doesn't seem to be a fit for the Cubs IMO.

 

Bench players don't all have to be midgets who can't hit a lick but can run and play 5 positions. It is legal to have a hitter on the bench.

[rawaction]

Might be able to DH Clark a few games after Lee gets back. But he's already a bench player. I don't know why letting him start for 2 months and putting him back on the bench where he agreed to play this year for Arizona is not having use for him.

[Pistolcub42]

And Clark does a game in the OF under his belt. Put him out there in place of Jones.... :lol:

[NorthsideAvenger]

Too bad the Cubs couldn't forsee Lee's injury and acquire Xavier Nady in the offseason. He WOULD have been an ideal fit.

[nilodnayr]

But Arizona has Jackson, Green, and Tracy who can all play some first base, pretty much making Tony Clark a very expensive redundant player. But, I don't think Ari would do it less then a solid young reliever, perhaps a 5th starter.

Tony Clark is very inexpensive. Around $1M for 2006.

 

He does have a NTC though.

 

But what do we do with Clark when Lee comes back? Clark can only play 1b, and he's not going to get much time with Lee in front of him. Doesn't seem to be a fit for the Cubs IMO.

 

 

 

We use him off the bench. He'll be that power bat on the bench that we don't have. That's much better than Bynum or Hairston pinch hitting late in games. And it would probably be wise to give Lee a day off here and there down the stretch to keep him strong anyway. That forearm is going to be really weak and that's where you generate most of your power from.

 

That gave me a good laugh.

[SouthSideRyan]

Too bad the Cubs couldn't forsee Lee's injury and acquire Xavier Nady in the offseason. He WOULD have been an ideal fit.

 

Nady was acquire for Mike Cameron. I don't think the Padres woulda taken Corey Patterson for him.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Too bad the Cubs couldn't forsee Lee's injury and acquire Xavier Nady in the offseason. He WOULD have been an ideal fit.

 

Nady was acquire for Mike Cameron. I don't think the Padres woulda taken Corey Patterson for him.

 

I know the Nady for Cameron deal, and I know the Padres wouldn't have taken Patterson. I was thinking they may have accepted say....Welly and another prospect for Nady.

[mhuber92211]

I think that Kevin Millar would be a good option. He would fit in well with Eyre and Demp

[Blueheart05]

I haven't read any of the posts in this thread but FYI, it was just mentioned on The Score's update that the Cubs are looking at Pena so maybe there's some validity to this story.

[Mark_R]

I think getting a guy like Tony Clark would make perfect sense. Lee isn't going to be able to play everyday for a good month or so after he gets back. Get another 5-6 starts out of a guy like Clark and then use him as an uber pinch hitter. It would really add something to the bench.

 

Great move potentially.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I think getting a guy like Tony Clark would make perfect sense. Lee isn't going to be able to play everyday for a good month or so after he gets back. Get another 5-6 starts out of a guy like Clark and then use him as an uber pinch hitter. It would really add something to the bench.

 

Great move potentially.

 

What of the guaranteed contract in '07? I'm not a big fan of that.

[Pistolcub42]

But Arizona has Jackson, Green, and Tracy who can all play some first base, pretty much making Tony Clark a very expensive redundant player. But, I don't think Ari would do it less then a solid young reliever, perhaps a 5th starter.

Tony Clark is very inexpensive. Around $1M for 2006.

 

He does have a NTC though.

 

But what do we do with Clark when Lee comes back? Clark can only play 1b, and he's not going to get much time with Lee in front of him. Doesn't seem to be a fit for the Cubs IMO.

 

 

 

 

We use him off the bench. He'll be that power bat on the bench that we don't have. That's much better than Bynum or Hairston pinch hitting late in games. And it would probably be wise to give Lee a day off here and there down the stretch to keep him strong anyway. That forearm is going to be really weak and that's where you generate most of your power from.

 

That gave me a good laugh.

 

 

Where's the laugh in that??

Edited April 26, 2006 by Pistolcub42

[Mark_R]

I think getting a guy like Tony Clark would make perfect sense. Lee isn't going to be able to play everyday for a good month or so after he gets back. Get another 5-6 starts out of a guy like Clark and then use him as an uber pinch hitter. It would really add something to the bench.

 

Great move potentially.

 

What of the guaranteed contract in '07? I'm not a big fan of that.

 

How much is it for? If we kept him for 07, he could play the same role, being a great bat off the bench. Or we could shop him to a lower market team looking for a plattoon at first base. Ie Pittsburgh (maybe with Brad Eldred) or Kansas City.

 

If the contract isn't restrictive, there would be some market for him.

[JGalt73]

Baseball Prospectus is high on Carlos Pena's offensive ability. His full season VORP is 20.6, higher than any Cubs projection but Lee and Ramirez.

 

Pena 20.6 (1B) and Walker 15.0 (2B) >> Walker 15.0 (1B) and Neifi/Hariston 6.3/1.7 (2B)

 

In 1/2 year that's likely not more than a win and a half better, but I'll bet we need a game and a half in the standings to remain in this thing at all.

[Burtonbell]

Pulled this off the ESPN player page:

 

Player News from ROTOWIRE

Apr. 25

News: Pena has a clause in the minor league contract he signed with the Yankees that allows him to become a free agent by May 2nd if the Yankees haven't added him to their active roster, the Booth Newspapers report.

 

 

Looks like if the Cubs are interested, they are gonna have to wait it out until next week.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I vote for Big Choi. Love that lug.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Pulled this off the ESPN player page:

 

Player News from ROTOWIRE

Apr. 25

News: Pena has a clause in the minor league contract he signed with the Yankees that allows him to become a free agent by May 2nd if the Yankees haven't added him to their active roster, the Booth Newspapers report.

 

 

Looks like if the Cubs are interested, they are gonna have to wait it out until next week.

 

I'd say offer the kid the Cubs got for Lawton(Berg), and get Pena today. Having Mabry lead off the bottom of the ninth, would have been abit better then Perez.

[nilodnayr]

But Arizona has Jackson, Green, and Tracy who can all play some first base, pretty much making Tony Clark a very expensive redundant player. But, I don't think Ari would do it less then a solid young reliever, perhaps a 5th starter.

Tony Clark is very inexpensive. Around $1M for 2006.

 

He does have a NTC though.

 

But what do we do with Clark when Lee comes back? Clark can only play 1b, and he's not going to get much time with Lee in front of him. Doesn't seem to be a fit for the Cubs IMO.

 

 

 

 

We use him off the bench. He'll be that power bat on the bench that we don't have. That's much better than Bynum or Hairston pinch hitting late in games. And it would probably be wise to give Lee a day off here and there down the stretch to keep him strong anyway. That forearm is going to be really weak and that's where you generate most of your power from.

 

That gave me a good laugh.

 

 

Where's the laugh in that??

 

I bolded it.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm almost positive the 2nd year of Clark's contract isn't restrictive, but have yet to turn up any info on the terms in my searching. I did find some bad news that Clark has a no trade clause for this season and is an Arizona resident. He signed the extension last year knowing that he would be a backup/mentor for Jackson, so it might be tough to get him to waive it.

[nilodnayr]

I'm almost positive the 2nd year of Clark's contract isn't restrictive, but have yet to turn up any info on the terms in my searching. I did find some bad news that Clark has a no trade clause for this season and is an Arizona resident. He signed the extension last year knowing that he would be a backup/mentor for Jackson, so it might be tough to get him to waive it.

 

Cue todays news... (it doesnt get much more perfect than that)