Burrell Is Gillick's Top Dumping Priority...

[HoopsCubs]

... according to Bill Madden of the NY Daily News.

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/story/434479p-366047c.html

 

 

As Madden points out, it's hard to believe that anyone would take on Burrell's $13M in 2007 and $14M in 2008, which makes trading Abreu all the more likely scenario. He's owed big money too, of course, but it sounds like the Phillies think they'll get more in return for a guy who bats left-handed and is under contract for only 1 more season. Reading between the lines here and what Jayson stark wrot elast week, Pat Burrell is really unpopular with fans and management.

 

It's clear that Pat Gillick wants to dump salary to address his woeful pitching. Of course, he does free up $26M by waving goodbye to free agents-to-be: David Bell, Randy Wolf, Mike Lieberthal and Arthur Rhodes, but then again that also means he needs to fill those spots in the offseason.

 

I have always liked Pat Gillick and think he's quite accomplished, but this train wreck will be a real test.

 

Hoops

[goonys evil twin]

I'm pretty sure they've been trying to trade him for a long time and just haven't found any takers. Those outer years on that contract have been a noose on that team since the day after he signed. I like Burrell as a complimentary middle of the order slugger. I'd take him if it was a strict salary dump deal, without sending back much of anything in return. If they can get back some younger offensive talent by throwing in a decent arm or two, all the better.

 

Pat is good, but not great. He's about a 115-130 OPS+ kind of guy while Abreu is more of a 120-150 kind of guy (and Jacque is a 90-105). Burrell brings some much needed OBP ability to the table. If they don't trade Jones, they could move him to CF, then acquire Burrell and another corner OF type to solidify the lineup. This would make it much easier to deal with Cedeno/whoever middle infield.

[wade]

What if the Cubs could offer a little more in the way of talent and get the Phillies to eat some salary? It's not the way things are usually done, I don't think, for a failing team like the Cubs to trade now and build for next year, but it could give them a head start on 2007 and good leverage at the negotiating table. I.E., they don't have to trade to stay in a race, other teams might shy away from the contract, etc.

[Warren Brusstar]

Burrell's home/road splits since the Phils moved into Citizen's Bank have been pretty drastic. At that price, I wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole. (Unless, of course, the Phils are willing to take Rusch and Neifi in the deal and give us a significant chunk of cash)

[goonys evil twin]

Burrell's home/road splits since the Phils moved into Citizen's Bank have been pretty drastic. At that price, I wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole. (Unless, of course, the Phils are willing to take Rusch and Neifi in the deal and give us a significant chunk of cash)

 

They have been significant, but not to the point where he's been bad on the road. He's had about a .350 OBP and .480 SLG on the road in 2005/2006. OPS+ adjusts for park factors, and he's been pretty good, outside of 2003, in that department. Nothing special, but pretty good. Think Carlos Lee territory, but younger, and much fewer years committed on the contract. (edit, while his baseball age is younger, he's actually only 4 months younger)

 

 

 

 

Plus, in Cubs thinking, he's killed in Wrigley. :P

 

 

(no, I don't put much stock in that claim).

[jtownie]

What if the Cubs could offer a little more in the way of talent and get the Phillies to eat some salary? It's not the way things are usually done, I don't think, for a failing team like the Cubs to trade now and build for next year, but it could give them a head start on 2007 and good leverage at the negotiating table. I.E., they don't have to trade to stay in a race, other teams might shy away from the contract, etc.

 

The Cubs need to be involved in the trade-market this year if they want to have a chance at being good next year. Hendry seems to like to go after talented players that can make a difference that are being dumped for salary reasons. A guy like Abreu or Burrell could upgrade our OF quite a bit and the Cubs can afford their entire salaries, something a lot of other teams are not willing/able to do.

[hawkeyecub]

I'm pretty sure they've been trying to trade him for a long time and just haven't found any takers. Those outer years on that contract have been a noose on that team since the day after he signed. I like Burrell as a complimentary middle of the order slugger. I'd take him if it was a strict salary dump deal, without sending back much of anything in return. If they can get back some younger offensive talent by throwing in a decent arm or two, all the better.

 

Pat is good, but not great. He's about a 115-130 OPS+ kind of guy while Abreu is more of a 120-150 kind of guy (and Jacque is a 90-105). Burrell brings some much needed OBP ability to the table. If they don't trade Jones, they could move him to CF, then acquire Burrell and another corner OF type to solidify the lineup. This would make it much easier to deal with Cedeno/whoever middle infield.

 

Are there any indications that the Cubs would consider Jacque in CF or think he's still capable? I see that he hasn't really played any extended time in CF since 2000, but that's because he played with Torii Hunter. I really like the idea though. Even if Jacque reverts back to his career numbers, he would still be an acceptable CF at his cost.

 

I like Burrell and outside of 2003 he's been exactly what you described. I do wonder why he's so disliked out there though and why he always seems to be a scapegoat. Is it just because of his salary? Is it because he strikes out a lot, has a fairly low batting average yet doesn't hit as many HR's as a guy like Dunn?

[Wheelimus]

If you could get Burrell for little talent but having to take on a bulk of that contract, do it. There is no good reason that this ballclub can't up payroll if it makes sense to do so.

 

If you don't, you're banking on either gutting the system for someone better, hoping you can get Carlos Lee, or potentially (i can barely say it) being WORSE in the outfield next season.

[goonys evil twin]

I do wonder why he's so disliked out there though and why he always seems to be a scapegoat. Is it just because of his salary? Is it because he strikes out a lot, has a fairly low batting average yet doesn't hit as many HR's as a guy like Dunn?

 

My belief, after listening to a lot of Philly fans:

 

He had a career year at age 25 in 2002, then signed a very big contract. In the very first year of that deal (which only paid him $1m that season), he was awful. This was also around the time that Phillies fans were expecting a lot out of the team. He was better in 2004, but not back to his career best, same with 2005. Philly fell short overall, and fans were pissed. It became easy to take the "what we have isn't working, so let's get rid of everybody" attitude. Plus, perhaps most importantly, he's a bit of a pretty boy/ladies man. Philly likes ugly dudes. It's an ugly city.

[goonys evil twin]

If you don't, you're banking on either gutting the system for someone better, hoping you can get Carlos Lee, or potentially (i can barely say it) being WORSE in the outfield next season.

 

Carlos Lee is not better than Pat Burrell.

[Wheelimus]

I never said he was, I simply meant that if you don't deal for Burrell, you hope you trade for someone better, decide Lee is good enough instead via free agency and pay the price, or are worse off.

 

Burrell is obviously the better player. Who cares if his contract is 2/27, I'd rather deal with that than Carlos Lee at 5/50. And who knows is 5/50 would even get it done for him...

[soapy]

The Cubs can certainly (and should) take on Burrell's salary if they are giving up little talent in return.

 

I definitely think it's worth looking in to.

[goonys evil twin]

I never said he was, I simply meant that if you don't deal for Burrell, you hope you trade for someone better, decide Lee is good enough instead via free agency and pay the price, or are worse off....

 

Sorry, I read that wrong then. I thought you were saying something like "try to get somebody better, like Carlos Lee".

[USSoccer]

Depending on what Philly would want, I'd be all over dealing for Burrell. He's better than anything on the FA market this winter, and he would fill a need.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'd be for Burrell if the cost in talent wasn't much. The Phillies will need a 3b when Bell leaves via free agency.

 

How about Moore and Wells for Burrell?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'd be for Burrell if the cost in talent wasn't much. The Phillies will need a 3b when Bell leaves via free agency.

 

How about Moore and Wells for Burrell?

 

I'd do that if they also sent a little cash (maybe just a couple mil).

[goonys evil twin]

I'd be for Burrell if the cost in talent wasn't much. The Phillies will need a 3b when Bell leaves via free agency.

 

How about Moore and Wells for Burrell?

 

I'd do that if they also sent a little cash (maybe just a couple mil).

 

I'd rather they take on his entire salary and give up very little talent than give up more talent and get more moeny back. I doubt they could find a better use for his cash anyway.

[CubFanPhilly]

Philly likes ugly dudes. It's an ugly city.

 

Hey! I'd be offended by that (if it weren't true).

[CubFanPhilly]

Burrell in a corner and Jones in CF would be a good start to the '07 outfield from a offensive perspective.

 

But it'd be downright scary from a defensive point of view. While Jones' arm would look a lot better than Pierre's in CF, Burrell's ability to judge a fly ball is DUNN-like.

 

Bottom line is I'd like to see the Cubs acquire Burrell if it takes little to get him. On the other hand, I'd much rather see them trade for Abreu even if it means giving up something more valuable.

 

CFP

[Proven Veteran]

Burrell in a corner and Jones in CF would be a good start to the '07 outfield from a offensive perspective.

 

But it'd be downright scary from a defensive point of view. While Jones' arm would look a lot better than Pierre's in CF, Burrell's ability to judge a fly ball is DUNN-like.

 

Bottom line is I'd like to see the Cubs acquire Burrell if it takes little to get him. On the other hand, I'd much rather see them trade for Abreu even if it means giving up something more valuable.

 

CFP

 

Burrell and Abreu are just about equally bad in the OF.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm a big proponent of trading for Burrell.

[mhuber92211]

Burell would be an excellent pick up and very cheap. Sonce Hill isn't going to get a fair shot (ala Cruz) why not do Burell for Hill straight up. I would think that the Phillies would listen to that.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Burell would be an excellent pick up and very cheap. Sonce Hill isn't going to get a fair shot (ala Cruz) why not do Burell for Hill straight up. I would think that the Phillies would listen to that.

 

He's hardly cheap. Unless the Phillies pick up a chunk of his contract, he's very expensive.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Count me in on this. The Cubs have no brains, but they do have money. They should begin trying to buy their way out of this mess. I don't care what their defense is like, this offense is patently offensive, it needs a major upgrade and badly.

 

Burrell, Jones and C-Lee in the 2007 OF, with Lee, Ramirez and Barrett on the IF corners. That's a good start on a nice offense. Yankee-esque no, but not a punchless paper sack either.

 

Add a top-of-the-order, middle infield guy and you're all set, let Theriot and Cedeno compete for the other middle IF spot, and address the pitching next.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Burell would be an excellent pick up and very cheap. Sonce Hill isn't going to get a fair shot (ala Cruz) why not do Burell for Hill straight up. I would think that the Phillies would listen to that.

 

He's hardly cheap. Unless the Phillies pick up a chunk of his contract, he's very expensive.

 

So what? The Cubs have money, and plenty of it. Let them spend it.