Nevin to the Cubs

[Backtobanks]

To sum it all up, not exactly the blockbuster trade everyone was hoping for, but Nevin seems to be more of what the Cubs need at this point than JHJR. The deal certainly would have looked better 3-4 weeks ago. As for pushing Walker back to 2B and wondering what to do with Womack, it does open the possibility of Walker as trade bait especially if the Cubs go into a "sell" mode. As for all of the negativity about obtaining a 35 year old, overpriced, and washed up veteran, realize that Pujols wasn't available.

[goonys evil twin]

This deal is a big "screw you" to Restovich. We didn't really give up anything of value, but it's a pointless move and it unfortunately sends the message that Hendry thinks we should be adding short term pieces to contend.

 

I must have missed the part where Restovich showed he could hit major league pitching with us. Or the Pirates. Or the Twins.

 

He's hit LHP at a decent clip and is pounding the ball at Iowa. Sure Nevin will likely be marginally better, but all that's doing is promoting a lost cause at this point. The far more important part of my post was that Hendry thinks this team can still compete somehow, and it doesn't give much hope for good moves to be made moving forward.

I don't want Hendry giving up on the season yet. I don't hold much hope, but I haven't extinguished my hope yet, either. And I certainly wouldn't want Hendry to do so. I hope that any moves that are made fit one of two categories:

 

1) they improve the team for this year while sacrificing nothing of the future

2) they improve the future of the team

 

This move clearly fits into category #1, so I'm quite happy with it.

 

Restovich has had playing time in five different MLB seasons and has yet to win a job outright with a career OPS of .728. He's 27 years old and is pretty much what he is going to be at this point. I'd love to see him get more of a shot and have called for that ever since Hendry acquired him, but I'm not going to really worry over it, either.

 

Any hope for this year relies on Hendry making an enormous impact acquisition, like Cabrera. This garbage doesn't help at all.

[cubs121]

"The way Phil played out of the gate in April, he probably would have been impossible to acquire in a trade like this," Hendry said.

what? :roll:

[Guest]

That doesn't mean that swapping Hairston for Nevin is a bad move in any way.

 

1) It eats away at whatever financial resources could be made available for other moves.

2) It makes the team older.

3) It hands Dusty another crutch, and opens up the practically inevitable situation in which the Cubs fall in love with their marginal veteran and inexplicably resign him at years end.

1) I don't think the extra $1-2M this is taking up is going to seriously hinder future moves and something needed to be done if we're going to be close enough to be in a position to take on salary later in the year.

 

2) As long as the old guy isn't blocking a young guy ready for the bigs and with a bright future ahead of him, who cares?

 

3) If and when he's re-signed, then I'll scream bloody murder. But that doesn't make the move to acquire him mid-year a bad one. It makes the re-signing a bad one.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

While I wanted to see Restovich given a shot, I think this has to do with the fact that he wasn't completely comfortable at firstbase. He had never taken balls there until spring training this year and is more comfortable in the outfield.

 

While I'd have liked to see him play some RF against lefties, it was clear that the Cubs were committed to Jones there.

 

I think if Restovich had any experience at first, he would have been given more of a shot than he had.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

For the record, Nevin has played 1 inning at 3rd base since 2002, and 25 games in the outfield since 1999.

[Guest]

This deal is a big "screw you" to Restovich. We didn't really give up anything of value, but it's a pointless move and it unfortunately sends the message that Hendry thinks we should be adding short term pieces to contend.

 

I must have missed the part where Restovich showed he could hit major league pitching with us. Or the Pirates. Or the Twins.

 

He's hit LHP at a decent clip and is pounding the ball at Iowa. Sure Nevin will likely be marginally better, but all that's doing is promoting a lost cause at this point. The far more important part of my post was that Hendry thinks this team can still compete somehow, and it doesn't give much hope for good moves to be made moving forward.

I don't want Hendry giving up on the season yet. I don't hold much hope, but I haven't extinguished my hope yet, either. And I certainly wouldn't want Hendry to do so. I hope that any moves that are made fit one of two categories:

 

1) they improve the team for this year while sacrificing nothing of the future

2) they improve the future of the team

 

This move clearly fits into category #1, so I'm quite happy with it.

 

Restovich has had playing time in five different MLB seasons and has yet to win a job outright with a career OPS of .728. He's 27 years old and is pretty much what he is going to be at this point. I'd love to see him get more of a shot and have called for that ever since Hendry acquired him, but I'm not going to really worry over it, either.

 

Any hope for this year relies on Hendry making an enormous impact acquisition, like Cabrera. This garbage doesn't help at all.

Hope for this year rests on:

 

1) Aramis hitting like Aramis

2) Lee hitting like last year when he returns

3) Wood & Prior remaining healthy and productive the rest of the year

 

If #1 and #2 happen, the Cubs essentially add two impact bats to the awful offense they've had the first two months. If #3 happens, the Cubs essentially add two impact arms to the awful rotation of the first two months.

 

I've posted previously that one of the biggest problems this team has had offensively is the sub-.600 OPS posted by the combined bench. Improving that performance is one of the easiest and quickest ways to boost the overall performance of the offense and is nearly as required as improving the starters. As I said in another post, I'd like to see both Nevin and Restovich on the roster to enable that improvement.

[CuseCubFan69]

For the record, Nevin has played 1 inning at 3rd base since 2002, and 25 games in the outfield since 1999.

 

Do you think he'll be content to just pinch hit when Lee comes back?

[Guest]

For the record, Nevin has played 1 inning at 3rd base since 2002, and 25 games in the outfield since 1999.

Those 25 games include the one where he separated his shoulder diving for a ball a few games after Griffey did it when playing against the Cubs.

[Elrhino]

If Restovich is the promising prospect that Phil Nevin is supposedly blocking, that's a tellingly sad statement on our minor league's systems state of affairs in developing non-pitching talent.

[Mizzou]

Someone said earlier that Nevin has caught in his career.

 

Maybe Hendry got him to catch the bulk of the games that Barrett misses while he's suspended.

[Guest]

I'm personally hoping this pushes Womack to CF and Pierre out the door. Personally, I've grown weary of the Juan Pierre suck-fest.

I can't agree. I want Pierre to heat up over the next couple of months so he'll have at least a little trade value at the deadline. It would be nice if we could get at least a little something in return for Nolasco, Pinto, and Mitre.

[CuseCubFan69]

To sum it all up, not exactly the blockbuster trade everyone was hoping for, but Nevin seems to be more of what the Cubs need at this point than JHJR. The deal certainly would have looked better 3-4 weeks ago. As for pushing Walker back to 2B and wondering what to do with Womack, it does open the possibility of Walker as trade bait especially if the Cubs go into a "sell" mode. As for all of the negativity about obtaining a 35 year old, overpriced, and washed up veteran, realize that Pujols wasn't available.

 

It should have been done quicker IMO. Hendry waited too long to make a deal like this and the Cubs have payed with a terrible record after the Lee injury.

[Banedon]

Someone said earlier that Nevin has caught in his career.

 

AB per position per baseball-reference.com

 

3B 483

1B 305

C 108

DH 65

LF 54

RF 38

OF 27

[JC]

Send Pierre to the Cards if Edmonds goes on the DL and stick Womack/Pie in center.

[Mizzou]

Someone said earlier that Nevin has caught in his career.

 

AB per position per baseball-reference.com

 

3B 483

1B 305

C 108

DH 65

LF 54

RF 38

OF 27

I'm assuming that you meant games per position?

[Outshined_One]

If Restovich is the promising prospect that Phil Nevin is supposedly blocking, that's a tellingly sad statement on our minor league's systems state of affairs in developing non-pitching talent.

 

It's not so much as he's promising as he'd be a cheap in-house option to platoon with Jones in RF. No one thinks the guy will start, but he will most likely hit LHPs better than Jock.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Someone said earlier that Nevin has caught in his career.

 

AB per position per baseball-reference.com

 

3B 483

1B 305

C 108

DH 65

LF 54

RF 38

OF 27

I'm assuming that you meant games per position?

 

Nevin's caught 2 games since 1999.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I have to say this isnt a horrible move. Hairston wasnt doing squat, and Restovich has proved to be a very nice AAAA player. now if we could dump Bynum

[abuck1220]

"The way Phil played out of the gate in April, he probably would have been impossible to acquire in a trade like this," Hendry said.

what? :roll:

 

but now that he sucks, he fits right in.

[Sosa21MVP]

It's an okay move by me. Replace a popgun with a guy who has some pop. Welcome to Chicago Mr Nevin. :)

[Shavo]

Does anybody else like this trade for the fact that Phil Nevin rules? ITS PHIL NEVIN!

[Shilzzz]

this could be problematic. nevin is always complaining about pt, and with dusty's style phil will be playing somewhere often. i guess we shall see.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

For what it is worth, Phil Nevin was an excellent player at Cal State Fullerton. :shock:

[Salazar89]

Just happy to see one less 2nd baseman....

 

However, if Rudy Jaramillo couldn't get Nevin on track, one can only wonder what Clines is going to be able to accomplish.

 

Welcome aboard Phil