Buyers or Sellers: Analyzing the Market

[CaliforniaRaisin]

what could maddux & williamson net from the dodgers??

gagne's & their rotation is shaky.

 

I'm not sure. A lot will depend on the perceived value at the time of the deadline. I know we couldn't get Billingsly, but I wouldn't mind Joel Guzman or Andre Ethier.

 

Supposedly, Billinsgely and Kemp are as close to untouchable as it gets in that system.

 

Nice to see you again, Hoops!

 

First off, am I the only one that doesn't get the hype for Joel Guzman? As a SS, he was a good prospect... but now that he's moved to LF, he's a B or a B+ at best as a prospect.

 

Agreed. He's got all the talent and tools in the world, but he's not improving in the plate discipline department and that will haunt him. He has the power to hang at LF, though.

[Iceblink]

We're total sellers, but so are a lot of other teams. Unfortunately, nobody on the roster who's likely to be traded can command anything in return.

 

Maddux - Barring a great June/July, he'll return a mid-level prospect at best. If he were still pitching halfway like he did in April, it'd be a different story. Today, he's a 6 inning pitcher with a 5 ERA.

Walker - Same, regardless of his June/July. A contender might overpay if they suddenly needed a bat, because Walker has been a consistently good hitter for years (and so, of course, the offensively desperate Cubs should trade him.)

Pierre - We'd have to pay someone to take him. If a team needs a defensive replacement/pinch runner, maybe they'd give us a AAAA pitcher to go along with the 6 we already have.

Wood - No value today. If he came off the DL and pitched healthy until 7/31, he'd possibly command the best prospect of any tradeable player we have - which would still be someone who isn't on anyone's top 10. Like Patterson and Sosa before him, Hendry has waited until the player has the lowest possible trade value before considering a move.

 

The only players on the roster with any real trade value are Zambrano, Lee, Ramirez, and Barrett, and Eyre, Howry and Dempster in the pen. Teams can easily pick up bullpen help for a marginal youngster, so there'd be no reason to gut our bullpen for pennies. Williamson isn't healthy enough to get anything back. Prior aside, the rest of the pitchers aren't good enough to bring anyone in return. Prior's value is as low as it's been in his career, however, and that is when Hendry likes to strike.

 

If you had a decent (not good) prospect like Guzman, would you give him up for a pitcher who has performed like Maddux? How about for the worst offensive OFer in baseball? Me either.

[MPrior]

Vance, I know you said you were pretty much sticking to players who are free agents at the end of the year, but what does everyone think of trading Jones at the deadline? If he continues hitting like he is right now, then he could fetch a pretty penny at the deadline from a team who felt they had to have a strong outfield bat to contend. And despite his current good play, I'm still not a huge fan of that three year contract, and the fact that, right now, at his very hottest, Jacque's OBP is still an unspectacular .343. I think he's one of the few players who, if we wait until the deadline, might actually net us something very nice.

 

Of course, that would leave our already putrid offense in a state of even further disarray, but then, when Jacque Jones is an irreplaceable offensive cornerstone, you don't have a chance anyway.

 

What do you guys think?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Vance, I know you said you were pretty much sticking to players who are free agents at the end of the year, but what does everyone think of trading Jones at the deadline? If he continues hitting like he is right now, then he could fetch a pretty penny at the deadline from a team who felt they had to have a strong outfield bat to contend. And despite his current good play, I'm still not a huge fan of that three year contract, and the fact that, right now, at his very hottest, Jacque's OBP is still an unspectacular .343. I think he's one of the few players who, if we wait until the deadline, might actually net us something very nice.

 

Of course, that would leave our already putrid offense in a state of even further disarray, but then, when Jacque Jones is an irreplaceable offensive cornerstone, you don't have a chance anyway.

 

What do you guys think?

 

If I were GM, I'd definitely shop Jones. I don't think he will continue to hit that well for the remainder of the year and his value is definitely up. However, I believe his recent play is exactly why he will not be traded. Hendry will believe that validates his signing and feel he's gotten a good player locked up for the next two years.

[HoopsCubs]

With 2/3 of the teams looking to acquire talent, the Cubs would be wise to begin dealing early. Waiting too late could be costly.

 

Vance, here's another comment I wanted to make in regards to the point you made above. There is growing "evidence" (based on the numerous accounts that been have written up during the last 5 days) that the Nationals new management wants to re-stock the farm by trading all players except Ryan Zimmerman and John Patterson. Thus, the following "one-stop-shop" could be open for business before Hendry decides on his club's fate:

 

Livan Hernandez

Tony Armas

Ramon Ortiz

Jose Vidro

Alfonso Soriano

Jose Guillen

Nick Johnson

 

I see a lot more options for buyers in this "store" except for relief pitching.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Trade for Nick Johnson and move Lee to the outfield or trade him.

[Mark_R]

Trade for Nick Johnson and move Lee to the outfield or trade him.

 

We need another guy who can't stay healthy?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Trade for Nick Johnson and move Lee to the outfield or trade him.

 

We need another guy who can't stay healthy?

 

I'll take Drew while I'm at it.

[Mark_R]

Trade for Nick Johnson and move Lee to the outfield or trade him.

 

We need another guy who can't stay healthy?

 

I'll take Drew while I'm at it.

 

You're setting yourself up for lots of Neifi and Bynum.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Trade for Nick Johnson and move Lee to the outfield or trade him.

 

We need another guy who can't stay healthy?

 

I'll take Drew while I'm at it.

 

You're setting yourself up for lots of Neifi and Bynum.

 

Well in my fantasy world where Hendry understands that those two guys are good, neither of those two are ever to be seen wearing anything related to the Cubs ever again, under the pain of death.

[Roast]

Trade for Nick Johnson and move Lee to the outfield or trade him.

 

We need another guy who can't stay healthy?

 

I'll take Drew while I'm at it.

 

You're setting yourself up for lots of Neifi and Bynum.

 

Well in my fantasy world where Hendry understands that those two guys are good, neither of those two are ever to be seen wearing anything related to the Cubs ever again, under the pain of death.

 

Lol!