3 things the Cubs need to do

[WrigleyField 22]

I agree on Trading Nevin and Williamson. Also, I would trade Walker, Novoa, Rusch, Perez, and Ohman as well. I might trade Mabry or just let him finish the year.. since he is only on a one year deal.

 

I would not trade Pierre. Simply because of how much we gave up to get him. I am definately not trading Dempster, Howry, or Eyre for any reason. I definately would not trade Blanco.. Hank White.... because he is one of the better backup catchers in the game.

 

I would trade Blanco because he is entering the last year of is deal and we have two young defensive capable catchers on the 40man. While neither have the power Blanco has shown capable of, Soto has good discipline and has been at AAA for 2 years. After those two Fox will likely need to be added and theres still Reed who could become pretty good and will need to be protected within a few years.

 

Pierre is getting hot now so we might be able to net something good. Not as good as we gave up maybe, but sometimes you have to admit a mistake and cut your losses. That being said I wouldn't mind him as a stop gap for Pie next year, but he cant go in as a leadoff hitter next year.

 

I like Howry, Eyre, and Dempster too, but in this market if someone is willing to overpay, these guys may very well not be in our plans past 2007. They are keepers but not on the level of Lee, Aramis, Barrett, and Z IMO.

[dvdd127]

Trust me on one thing, Howry, Eyre, and Dempster are in our plans for 07.. if they werent we would not have offered them 3-yr deals. Pierre, if we can get something big in return for him I am fine with moving him... but I dont think we can get much for him that why I say dont move him. As for Hank White...I say wait till the offseason to trade him.... because you dont want to trade him to a contender and have him possibly help someone win it all.

[CubsBullsBears]

Trust me on one thing, Howry, Eyre, and Dempster are in our plans for 07.. if they werent we would not have offered them 3-yr deals. Pierre, if we can get something big in return for him I am fine with moving him... but I dont think we can get much for him that why I say dont move him. As for Hank White...I say wait till the offseason to trade him.... because you dont want to trade him to a contender and have him possibly help someone win it all.

Unless that team was the Cardinals or the White Sox, why would you care what he does for that team if the deal helps us?? Howry, Eyre, and Dempster should only be traded if we get an offer we can't refuse. Pierre, we need to cut our losses and trade him. His stock is high. Blanco, I'd like to keep, he's a good back-up to have.

[dvdd127]

Trust me on one thing, Howry, Eyre, and Dempster are in our plans for 07.. if they werent we would not have offered them 3-yr deals. Pierre, if we can get something big in return for him I am fine with moving him... but I dont think we can get much for him that why I say dont move him. As for Hank White...I say wait till the offseason to trade him.... because you dont want to trade him to a contender and have him possibly help someone win it all.

Unless that team was the Cardinals or the White Sox, why would you care what he does for that team if the deal helps us?? Howry, Eyre, and Dempster should only be traded if we get an offer we can't refuse. Pierre, we need to cut our losses and trade him. His stock is high. Blanco, I'd like to keep, he's a good back-up to have.

If you are trading Howry, Eyre, or Dempster, not only does it have to be an offer that cant be refused.. but it has to include a pitcher. Its too soon to give up on Pierre because of what we gave up to get him... Now if we get pitchin in return for him I would be fine with that.

[WrigleyField 22]

If you are trading Howry, Eyre, or Dempster, not only does it have to be an offer that cant be refused.. but it has to include a pitcher. Its too soon to give up on Pierre because of what we gave up to get him... Now if we get pitchin in return for him I would be fine with that.

 

What difference does it make whether or not we get pitching back? Yea it hurt to lose Nolaso and Pinto, but Marshall, Marmol, Hill, Guzman, Gallagher, Ryu, Wells, are more than enough to fill the void. If you can get a good position prospect for Pierre it would essentially be like you traded a strength (pitching) for a weakness (position players).

 

I'm in favor of trading him. While he could be a decent stop gap for Pie next year, there are likely to be some other decent CF you could pick up in FA over the offseason. With the way Pierre has played of late, he may have risen his value enough to get a decent return back. It wont make up for what we gave up, but a good GM will admit a mistake and cut his losses.

 

I agree we would need to be blown away with an offer for Dempster, Howry, and Eyre, but you never know, a team looking for a closer might do just that. And I would go back to the same thing with Pierre, who cares if its pitching or not? Just aquire assets. As an example you could look at John Paxson for the Bulls who picked up a strong SF in a draft day trade even though its the strongest position, but its a strong asset that he can use to consolidate when one specific need comes up. Right now the Cubs have more than one need so theres no sense in trying to only accept help a one area.

[WrigleyField 22]

Also regarding Blanco, if you do decide to keep him then you gotta do something with Soto and Reyes. Soto has spent two years at AAA and proven to be a strong defensive good OBP catcher. And in either 2007 or 2008, I forget which, he will either have to make the big league club be exposed to waivers. Then theres Reyes who is great defensively, but still can't hit. You could take him off the 40man without too much concern, but then theres Fox. We were able to keep him off the 40man last year, but might not be able to this year. SOMETHING needs to be done with catchers on the 40man. My preference is to trade Blanco and groom Soto into the good backup he looks like he could become.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

You have to dump Blanco. Soto is going to be able to provide great defense and the ability to take a walk for the minimum next year. No reason for Blanco to be brought back.

[dvdd127]

What difference does it make whether or not we get pitching back? Yea it hurt to lose Nolaso and Pinto, but Marshall, Marmol, Hill, Guzman, Gallagher, Ryu, Wells, are more than enough to fill the void. If you can get a good position prospect for Pierre it would essentially be like you traded a strength (pitching) for a weakness (position players).

Some are saying that Hill and Guzman should be traded.... others are saying to trade Marshall and/or Marmol.... with that in mind I want pitching for Pierre... because we may not get pitching for any of those guys.

 

I'm in favor of trading him. While he could be a decent stop gap for Pie next year, there are likely to be some other decent CF you could pick up in FA over the offseason. With the way Pierre has played of late, he may have risen his value enough to get a decent return back. It wont make up for what we gave up, but a good GM will admit a mistake and cut his losses.

 

I agree we would need to be blown away with an offer for Dempster, Howry, and Eyre, but you never know, a team looking for a closer might do just that. And I would go back to the same thing with Pierre, who cares if its pitching or not? Just aquire assets. As an example you could look at John Paxson for the Bulls who picked up a strong SF in a draft day trade even though its the strongest position, but its a strong asset that he can use to consolidate when one specific need comes up. Right now the Cubs have more than one need so theres no sense in trying to only accept help a one area.

the bottom line is all of those pitchers you listed are not ready for the big scene yet.....honestly I just feel that with our pitching problems and the slim FA Market of pitchers we should get pitchin if we trade Pierre or any of our pitchers... because we can find a center fielder easily in the FA Crop. and then call up Theriot be lead off and play second.

[WrigleyField 22]

the bottom line is all of those pitchers you listed are not ready for the big scene yet.....

 

They are just as ready as the pitchers that you are so concerned about that we gave up for Pierre. The ones who aren't RIGHT now like Gallagher, Ryu, Wells, maybe Guzman could be ready sometime next year.

 

If we sign a FA pitcher your rotation is

Zambrano

Zito/Schmit/etc

Marshall(ready)

Hill(ready)

Marmol(ready)

Sixth Man/Bonus- Prior(could still be All Star Caliber)

On the Cusp- Guzman, Gallagher, Ryu, Wells. A strong spring training like Marshall any of these guys could make a run at the last 3 rotation spots.

 

The popular view seems to be to go for it all in 2007. I think while possible it makes more sense to aim for 2008. You can still be active this offseason and aquire guys who will help in 2007, but also make sure that they'll be aoround for the long haul. Any extra spots should be used on young players, trying to find out who may a piece for a real run in 2008. Any spot where a young guy doesnt emerge, you can fill via FA the next offseason. Right now we have enough pitchers to work with and try to find a couple keepers. You can't say the same about position players so theres no reason to shy away from aquiring some top position players this trade deadline.

[n l doormat]

Fireing Hendry isnt the answer.. he is the only one willing to take blame..

The problem with Hendry is even though he takes the blame, he doesn't learn from his mistakes. He'll say stuff like "Obvisly, the Tribune Company give me a big enough budget, I just need to spend the money better", then he turns around and signs someone like Jock Jones as his big bat offensive player for 3 years.

[Soul]

1)Shut Prior down for the season and give him one more chance in '07.

2)Shut DLee down for the rest of the year so he can come back next year and be 100%

3)Do something with Kid K.

• a)Cut Him
  b)Convert him to a reliever
  c)Convert him to a 3rd baseman or outfielder

 

The Cubs need to do much, much more than this. This is a team with so many holes they can't easily be counted.

[dvdd127]

the bottom line is all of those pitchers you listed are not ready for the big scene yet.....

 

They are just as ready as the pitchers that you are so concerned about that we gave up for Pierre. The ones who aren't RIGHT now like Gallagher, Ryu, Wells, maybe Guzman could be ready sometime next year.

 

If we sign a FA pitcher your rotation is

Zambrano

Zito/Schmit/etc

Marshall(ready)

Hill(ready)

Marmol(ready)

Sixth Man/Bonus- Prior(could still be All Star Caliber)

On the Cusp- Guzman, Gallagher, Ryu, Wells. A strong spring training like Marshall any of these guys could make a run at the last 3 rotation spots.

 

The popular view seems to be to go for it all in 2007. I think while possible it makes more sense to aim for 2008. You can still be active this offseason and aquire guys who will help in 2007, but also make sure that they'll be aoround for the long haul. Any extra spots should be used on young players, trying to find out who may a piece for a real run in 2008. Any spot where a young guy doesnt emerge, you can fill via FA the next offseason. Right now we have enough pitchers to work with and try to find a couple keepers. You can't say the same about position players so theres no reason to shy away from aquiring some top position players this trade deadline.

And you are leaving Miller out.

[dvdd127]

Fireing Hendry isnt the answer.. he is the only one willing to take blame..

The problem with Hendry is even though he takes the blame, he doesn't learn from his mistakes. He'll say stuff like "Obvisly, the Tribune Company give me a big enough budget, I just need to spend the money better", then he turns around and signs someone like Jock Jones as his big bat offensive player for 3 years.

Jones was the best OF available this last year... and was looking for a multi-yr deal.

 

1)Shut Prior down for the season and give him one more chance in '07.

2)Shut DLee down for the rest of the year so he can come back next year and be 100%

3)Do something with Kid K.

• a)Cut Him
  b)Convert him to a reliever
  c)Convert him to a 3rd baseman or outfielder

 

The Cubs need to do much, much more than this. This is a team with so many holes they can't easily be counted.

I realize that.. but these are the biggest three holes.

[Fro]

]the bottom line is all of those pitchers you listed are not ready for the big scene yet.....honestly I just feel that with our pitching problems and the slim FA Market of pitchers we should get pitchin if we trade Pierre or any of our pitchers... because we can find a center fielder easily in the FA Crop. and then call up Theriot be lead off and play second.

 

You're nuts if you think any team would trade a ML-ready pitcher for Pierre at this point. Maybe if we had Derrek Lee to trade or something.

[CUBZ99]

3)Do something with Kid K.

• a)Cut Him
  b)Convert him to a reliever
  c)Convert him to a 3rd baseman or outfielder

 

.

 

If Kerry needs surgery, they should ask him to wait and put him in the bullpen until they are mathematically eliminated this year. After that he can have the surgery and be ready by spring training next year.

[Caryatid]

Fireing Hendry isnt the answer.. he is the only one willing to take blame..

The problem with Hendry is even though he takes the blame, he doesn't learn from his mistakes. He'll say stuff like "Obvisly, the Tribune Company give me a big enough budget, I just need to spend the money better", then he turns around and signs someone like Jock Jones as his big bat offensive player for 3 years.

Jones was the best OF available this last year... and was looking for a multi-yr deal.

 

I believe the phrase "the tallest midget" is appropos regarding Jones in the FA market.

 

Sometimes doing nothing is better than doing something-Corey Patterson could have played in the OF this year for half the cost of Jones. He might have been horrible, but it wouldn't have made a difference because this team was going to be bad regardless. And they could have gone after a better player via trade or FA this offseason.

[dvdd127]

3)Do something with Kid K.

• a)Cut Him
  b)Convert him to a reliever
  c)Convert him to a 3rd baseman or outfielder

 

If Kerry needs surgery, they should ask him to wait and put him in the bullpen until they are mathematically eliminated this year. After that he can have the surgery and be ready by spring training next year.

thats what they did last year..so no... just convert him permenantly or cut him

[dvdd127]

Fireing Hendry isnt the answer.. he is the only one willing to take blame..

The problem with Hendry is even though he takes the blame, he doesn't learn from his mistakes. He'll say stuff like "Obvisly, the Tribune Company give me a big enough budget, I just need to spend the money better", then he turns around and signs someone like Jock Jones as his big bat offensive player for 3 years.

Jones was the best OF available this last year... and was looking for a multi-yr deal.

 

I believe the phrase "the tallest midget" is appropos regarding Jones in the FA market.

 

Sometimes doing nothing is better than doing something-Corey Patterson could have played in the OF this year for half the cost of Jones. He might have been horrible, but it wouldn't have made a difference because this team was going to be bad regardless. And they could have gone after a better player via trade or FA this offseason.

Oh sorry. I forgot about him.. this is not a sarcastic post... I really did forget about him

[soccer10k]

Prior is under contract for next year so I see no reason to not bring him back unless we get a good deal in a trade.

 

As for Wood, unless he wants to sign a one year, incentive laden deal starting in the $3-4 mil range, he can go elsewhere. I'm done caring about him.