Stark's ESPN Blog

[StMarksCubs]

This was posted yesterday, and it sounds like he's got a pretty good handle on what's going on, though I DO think that Maddux will be traded:

 

One big reason the Cubs have decided not to make any big decisions on Dusty Baker during the break is that they have no logical candidate-in-waiting to replace him.

"There's no Grady Little (a Cubs special assistant last year) on that staff," said one NL Central executive. "If there was, it might be a different story."

 

One name you can scratch off your list is the oft-rumored Lou Piniella. Piniella doesn't seem likely to consider taking any jobs until the Devil Rays are finished paying him after the season. And Piniella's reputation as being hard on young players makes him an unlikely candidate for this job, anyway.

 

The Cubs haven't indicated any interest in having TV color man Bob Brenly recreate his Arizona climb out of the booth. And they don't appear to view their Triple-A manager, Mike Quade, as a candidate. So Baker seems secure for the time being. But that could change just about any minute.

 

• The Cubs have already placed a bunch of players on the market -- Juan Pierre, Todd Walker, Scott Williamson, Glendon Rusch, Phil Nevin and John Mabry, for starters. But the most talked about name, Greg Maddux, remains unavailable, at least for now.

 

"We're talking about a guy who has never been traded in 20 years," said one executive who knows Maddux well. "So don't just assume he'll want to get traded now."

[Banedon]

Putting Todd Walker on the market baffles me...but whatever. I'm not going to lose a lot of sleep over it either.

[erik316wttn]

Who the hell cares? Ditch Dusty, put ANYONE else in there as interim, and then get someone good in the off-season.

 

As long as Dusty is gone, I don't care if Don Baylor manages the rest of the way.

[StMarksCubs]

Putting Todd Walker on the market baffles me...but whatever. I'm not going to lose a lot of sleep over it either.

 

Two things baffle me: Glendon Rusch on that list (though his last start will really help Hendry), and Neifi NOT on that list...

 

But Walker is a great piece for a playoff contender; I can see the Mets being very interested, for one. And I'd be interested to see what Theriot can do in the bigs... (although the departure of Walker will probably just mean an everyday slot for Neifi... d'oh!)

[HoopsCubs]

Putting Todd Walker on the market baffles me...but whatever. I'm not going to lose a lot of sleep over it either.

 

You shouldn't. It's a pretty high probablilty assumption that Walker is not in Hendry's 2007 plans considering he wasn't really in the 2006 plans either. Cubs look like they will have 3 new faces in the starting line-up next year - a new LF, a new CF (although Pierre re-signing rumors are there) and either a new 2B or SS.

[Shavo]

Putting Todd Walker on the market baffles me...but whatever. I'm not going to lose a lot of sleep over it either.

 

Two things baffle me: Glendon Rusch on that list (though his last start will really help Hendry), and Neifi NOT on that list...

 

But Walker is a great piece for a playoff contender; I can see the Mets being very interested, for one. And I'd be interested to see what Theriot can do in the bigs... (although the departure of Walker will probably just mean an everyday slot for Neifi... d'oh!)

 

As somebody who watches alot of Mets games, i dont see them being interested. Valentine has been playing good at second for them.

[Banedon]

Putting Todd Walker on the market baffles me...but whatever. I'm not going to lose a lot of sleep over it either.

 

Two things baffle me: Glendon Rusch on that list (though his last start will really help Hendry), and Neifi NOT on that list...

 

But Walker is a great piece for a playoff contender; I can see the Mets being very interested, for one. And I'd be interested to see what Theriot can do in the bigs... (although the departure of Walker will probably just mean an everyday slot for Neifi... d'oh!)

 

The thing about Walker is that he's the best 2B that we have the roster as far as all around package, he doesn't cost much at all, and he's one of the few guys that's performed a decent level this season. I also don't think he'll bring much in a trade, so I just don't see the need. But like Hoops said...I don't think he figures into the 2007 plans, because it's clear that the Cubs don't like the guy for whatever reason. So that's fine...whatever. I just wouldn't do it personally.

[TheDude]

The thing about Walker is that he's the best 2B that we have the roster as far as all around package, he doesn't cost much at all, and he's one of the few guys that's performed a decent level this season. I also don't think he'll bring much in a trade, so I just don't see the need.

 

I don't understand your point here...wouldn't Walker be attractive to other teams for all the same reasons you think he's attractive to keep for the Cubs?

[goonys evil twin]

The thing about Walker is that he's the best 2B that we have the roster as far as all around package, he doesn't cost much at all, and he's one of the few guys that's performed a decent level this season. I also don't think he'll bring much in a trade, so I just don't see the need.

 

I don't understand your point here...wouldn't Walker be attractive to other teams for all the same reasons you think he's attractive to keep for the Cubs?

 

I think his point is they should keep him around for next year.

 

I like having Walker on the team, but I'm all for trading him if somebody is interested. He's 33 now, meaning his decline is coming. He's a nice piece to have, but by no means is he a difference maker or a cornerstone player. Combine him with a bullpen arm and you might have a pretty good trade package.

[Banedon]

The thing about Walker is that he's the best 2B that we have the roster as far as all around package, he doesn't cost much at all, and he's one of the few guys that's performed a decent level this season. I also don't think he'll bring much in a trade, so I just don't see the need.

 

I don't understand your point here...wouldn't Walker be attractive to other teams for all the same reasons you think he's attractive to keep for the Cubs?

 

Maybe you're right...it's a gut feeling we won't get a lot for him though.

 

If they're going to have a fire sale, then fine...trade him and get what you need. But I guess I just don't see that they have a real plan for 2B. Maybe they do, and if they do, fine. It's just my feeling that Walker is one of the few OBP sources you have on this team, and we're going to trade him away while keeping much worse players.

 

I'm not even a huge Walker fan, or really all that attached to him, I just don't evision getting a player back for Walker that will make this team better.

 

Maybe it's just the pessimissim that's been slowly growing in me while watching the Cubs the last couple of years.

[goonys evil twin]

The thing about Walker is that he's the best 2B that we have the roster as far as all around package, he doesn't cost much at all, and he's one of the few guys that's performed a decent level this season. I also don't think he'll bring much in a trade, so I just don't see the need.

 

I don't understand your point here...wouldn't Walker be attractive to other teams for all the same reasons you think he's attractive to keep for the Cubs?

 

Maybe you're right...it's a gut feeling we won't get a lot for him though.

 

If they're going to have a fire sale, then fine...trade him and get what you need. But I guess I just don't see that they have a real plan for 2B. Maybe they do, and if they do, fine. It's just my feeling that Walker is one of the few OBP sources you have on this team, and we're going to trade him away while keeping much worse players.

 

I'm not even a huge Walker fan, or really all that attached to him, I just don't evision getting a player back for Walker that will make this team better.

 

Maybe it's just the pessimissim that's been slowly growing in me while watching the Cubs the last couple of years.

 

I'd question what they'd get for Walker as well. But you don't just have to trade him alone. You could package him with a reliever and maybe a young pitching prospect.

 

I'm not sure they have a plan for 2B, but I'm pretty sure they plan on having somebody other than Walker out there next year, maybe Cedeno, probably Neifi. I would just like to see them at least get something of value in return, as the draft pick possibilities are higher questionable (even if he is Type A he could be signed by a team wtih a protected 1st round pick, lowering the value of compensation).

[PrimeTime]

What we need is another starting pitcher.. Sign one or trade for one... Our starting staff besides Zambrano looks horrible Maddux,Marmol,Marshall, Rusch??Wood and Prior out and gone for who knows... Our pitching is horrible..We will go nowhere.. We need to sign Zito or get Schmidt and build from there

[Andy]

Although he has (for reasons I'll never figure out) apparently a basement-low trade value, I don't see Walker coming back next year and I don't think he wants to. Ship him out if you can get even a major leaguer back.

[NCCubFan]

As somebody who watches alot of Mets games, i dont see them being interested. Valentine has been playing good at second for them.

You mean Valentin. Valentine is a former Mets manager.

[Banedon]

As somebody who watches alot of Mets games, i dont see them being interested. Valentine has been playing good at second for them.

You mean Valentin. Valentine is a former Mets manager.

 

I thought Valentine playing 2B would be highly entertaining... :)

[Balsa]

I think his point is they should keep him around for next year.

 

I like having Walker on the team, but I'm all for trading him if somebody is interested. He's 33 now, meaning his decline is coming. He's a nice piece to have, but by no means is he a difference maker or a cornerstone player. Combine him with a bullpen arm and you might have a pretty good trade package.

Who says it isn't already here? His power has suffered dramatically this year, and it ain't gonna improve. As much as I like Walker, I wouldn't object to trading him.

[StMarksCubs]

I think his point is they should keep him around for next year.

 

I like having Walker on the team, but I'm all for trading him if somebody is interested. He's 33 now, meaning his decline is coming. He's a nice piece to have, but by no means is he a difference maker or a cornerstone player. Combine him with a bullpen arm and you might have a pretty good trade package.

Who says it isn't already here? His power has suffered dramatically this year, and it ain't gonna improve. As much as I like Walker, I wouldn't object to trading him.

 

There's obviously something about Walker we don't know; I don't know why it could have been THAT hard for Hendry to unload a better than average 2B in the off-season... And why Hendry is hell-bent on unloading him...

[seattlecub]

i would keep walker, offer arby and get a draft pick or two for what is supposedly a pretty good upcoming draft.

[goonys evil twin]

i would keep walker, offer arby and get a draft pick or two for what is supposedly a pretty good upcoming draft.

 

If you can trade him for a quality, or pair him up with another asset or two and get even more quality, that could be much more valuable than a draft pick. Cubs need talent ASAP.

[Balsa]

i would keep walker, offer arby and get a draft pick or two for what is supposedly a pretty good upcoming draft.

He'd probably take arbitration though. He likes Chicago and the Cubs. Why do you think he played here at a discount to begin with?

 

Plus, draft picks aren't that reliable and wouldn't affect the Cubs for a couple of years at least. We need some immediate help.

[Iceblink]

I like Walker, and followed his whole career being an LSU fan - but he's been a stiff for the last 7 weeks. Theriot probably could've almost matched his numbers from June & July. As much as I like him, I don't understand overlooking how bad he's been offensively since May. He's got little value to a contender because defense matters so much in the postseason. Not a terrible stick off the bench, though. Might get another AAAA body for him.

[Sammy Sofa]

I like Walker, and followed his whole career being an LSU fan - but he's been a stiff for the last 7 weeks. Theriot probably could've almost matched his numbers from June & July. As much as I like him, I don't understand overlooking how bad he's been offensively since May. He's got little value to a contender because defense matters so much in the postseason. Not a terrible stick off the bench, though. Might get another AAAA body for him.

 

I don't think it's a matter of overlooking...he's slumping on a terrible team riddled with players inexplicably "peaking and valleying" since April. Given his offensive history, I think it's a safe bet he'll bounce back, and probably already is.

 

I look at Walker this way...he's nowhere near being a problem, he swings a heck of bat (especially when used in the top two spots in the order), his D is serviceable and he's incredibly cheap. Unless he can be traded for a decent prospect or two or be part of a package for an impact player, moving him is very unecessary. The Cubs really need to focus on the starting pitching and the outfield to kick this team back towards even being mediocre, and unless Todd can be used in a big way in those areas, I think he should definitely be here next year batting #1 or #2.

[da bears]

i would keep walker, offer arby and get a draft pick or two for what is supposedly a pretty good upcoming draft.

He'd probably take arbitration though. He likes Chicago and the Cubs. Why do you think he played here at a discount to begin with?

 

Plus, draft picks aren't that reliable and wouldn't affect the Cubs for a couple of years at least. We need some immediate help.

 

I remember he said he wanted to come to Chicago cause he thought the Cubs had a great chance to win it all in '04. I miss those days. :cry:

[NewUserName]

If trading Walker means pt for Theriot or Fontenot than I would say get to it. However if we trade him and Dusty Dumps is still managing it will mean more time for Neifi, which will just plain make me mad!!!!!!!!

 

How is Neifi not on the trading block? For all those national espn guys who are always defending Dusty you would think that one of Dustys boys would have a large trade value.

[Andy]

How is Neifi not on the trading block? For all those national espn guys who are always defending Dusty you would think that one of Dustys boys would have a large trade value.

It's very possible that Neifi could be dealt for at least a minor leaguer or two. The thing is, Hendry and Dusty wouldn't do it.