Cubs trade Scott Williamson to the Padres...

[abuck1220]

williamson didn't sound too happy about how he was used today...

 

Williamson (2-3) said he never had pitched before without warming up in the pen.

 

"There have been a lot of firsts this year in my career," he said. "I tried. It didn't work out the way anybody wanted it to work out. It's very frustrating. I really don't even know what to say. …

 

"I'm trying to fight back from two Tommy John surgeries, and to get up without throwing a pitch and get into a game, it's tough. I'm used to throwing a few pitches down there to get going. It's a routine and when it's broken, you have to rise to that occasion."

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

Williamson also had this to say....

 

After Saturday's game, he complimented Cubs general manager Jim Hendry and manager Dusty Baker for the way they've handled him, and he didn't blame anyone.

 

"It's no one's fault but mine," Williamson said. "I'm the one throwing the baseball."

[CubinNY]

I love the old, "you haven't seen him pitch argument". It is lovely. I haven't seen Fransico Larino pitch ever, but judging by his numbers I'd say he's pretty good.

 

Judging by these two stiff's numbers, I'd say they are pretty bad. However, they are young and can get better. Overall, I'm not unhappy with what the Cubs got.

[Neuby]

I love the old, "you haven't seen him pitch argument". It is lovely. I haven't seen Fransico Larino pitch ever, but judging by his numbers I'd say he's pretty good.

 

Judging by these two stiff's numbers, I'd say they are pretty bad. However, they are young and can get better. Overall, I'm not unhappy with what the Cubs got.

 

Lovely isn't it? Young pitchers often can not be judged by there numbers at very early stages in there devolpment thats why there's guys out there in baseball land called scouts and GMs. There main job is to evaulate talent and numbers are only one of the many tools they use to measure that talent.

[davearm]

You act like we gave up Howry. This should open a slot for a young pitcher. williamson was not doing anything. How do you know the prospects won't help down the road?

 

Because they are terrible, like I explained in the original post. I'm not expecting top flight stuff for Williamson, just not the garbage we ended up getting.

To rip Hendry for getting "garbage" for Williamson suggests you have firsthand knowledge that Hendry could have made a better trade, and gotten better than "garbage".

 

If that is indeed the case, then by all means, enlighten us with what other deals were available.

 

Obviously I don't have knowledge of specific players that were available, but it would be pretty difficult to find a package worse than the one we got.

 

These guys will be two of, if not the two worst pitchers in Peoria. Think about that for a second.

If you don't know the situation, then why assume the worst?

 

For all you know, every other GM giggled and hung up when the words 'Scott Williamson' came off of Hendry's lips.

 

About the best you can do is argue that Hendry might've waited a week to see if anyone else got desperate enough to top the Pads' offer. Of course the risk there is that maybe the Pads' offer disappears, and you're left with an even worse return, or nothing at all.

 

And that Peoria comment is completely irrelevant. Scott Williamson had a 0% chance of contributing to the Cubs going forward beyond '06. These guys have a small chance, but at least it's greater than 0.

[jjgman21]

if the Cubs were going to get two projectable A ball players, I much rather it would have been hitters.

 

the system is loaded with projectable pitchers.

[JeffH]

if the Cubs were going to get two projectable A ball players, I much rather it would have been hitters.

 

the system is loaded with projectable pitchers.

 

Not me. As far as prospects go, pitchers are much more likely than hitters to have something magically click and become good.

[Butterscup1679666578]

So they suck. Williamson sucked. Williamson down, Novoa, Rusch, and Ohman to go, then maybe we can have a better bullpen. I don't ever expect the Cubs to make a good transaction anymore, so this is no surprise.

 

And Wuertz is back up? Thank God.

[Outshined_One]

if the Cubs were going to get two projectable A ball players, I much rather it would have been hitters.

 

the system is loaded with projectable pitchers.

 

Not me. As far as prospects go, pitchers are much more likely than hitters to have something magically click and become good.

 

In this organization especially.

[RynoRules]

if the Cubs were going to get two projectable A ball players, I much rather it would have been hitters.

 

the system is loaded with projectable pitchers.

 

Agreed.

 

And those of you who are killing JH for not getting enough for Scott Freakin' Williamson need to chill out. If he traded someone with actual value and got hosed I might agree, but Williamson has an ERA over 5.00 and a WHIP over 1.50. He's not very valuable; maybe one of the guys he got will pan out. No one can say at this point, but I think we can say with confidence that Williamson won't be his former self ever again, and his control has left him.

Edited July 23, 2006 by RynoRules

[Brian]

wuertz was called up.

 

finally justice.

[frostwyrm]

I don't understand why Hendry didn't hang to Williamson a while longer. Somebody could have gotten desperate and made a decent offer. It would have been a better gamble than putting any faith in either of the 2 schmucks Hendry ended up getting.

[ChiefsVoice]

You act like we gave up Howry. This should open a slot for a young pitcher. williamson was not doing anything. How do you know the prospects won't help down the road?

 

Because they are terrible, like I explained in the original post. I'm not expecting top flight stuff for Williamson, just not the garbage we ended up getting.

 

If the roles were reversed and the Cubs were in contention and had just given up 2 of their top 20 prospects for a pitcher with equivalent numbers to Williamson people would be ripping Hendry.

 

Hendry has been shopping Williamson for a while now and if there was a better deal out there I am sure he would have taken it. To assume a strong market exists for a middle reliever that has an era over 5.00 and a questionable elbow is quite a reach.

 

Those guys are top 30 prospects because San Diego's system is a joke. They're terrible, and if we had given up players with their numbers and their careers to get a reliever for a pennant chase, everyone would've been plenty fine with it because no one would miss Todd Blackford and Carlos Perez.

 

that system may be garbage Tiger but you'd have no idea...

[CUBZ99]

You act like we gave up Howry. This should open a slot for a young pitcher. williamson was not doing anything. How do you know the prospects won't help down the road?

 

Because they are terrible, like I explained in the original post. I'm not expecting top flight stuff for Williamson, just not the garbage we ended up getting.

 

If the roles were reversed and the Cubs were in contention and had just given up 2 of their top 20 prospects for a pitcher with equivalent numbers to Williamson people would be ripping Hendry.

 

Hendry has been shopping Williamson for a while now and if there was a better deal out there I am sure he would have taken it. To assume a strong market exists for a middle reliever that has an era over 5.00 and a questionable elbow is quite a reach.

 

Those guys are top 30 prospects because San Diego's system is a joke. They're terrible, and if we had given up players with their numbers and their careers to get a reliever for a pennant chase, everyone would've been plenty fine with it because no one would miss Todd Blackford and Carlos Perez.

 

that system may be garbage Tiger but you'd have no idea...

 

Nate-- Please give us the scoop on the Santo kid's stuff. I saw on another board that Santo has been hitting 95-98 regularly this year and has started to pull it together over his last few starts.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

if the Cubs were going to get two projectable A ball players, I much rather it would have been hitters.

 

the system is loaded with projectable pitchers.

 

Agreed.

 

And those of you who are killing JH for not getting enough for Scott Freakin' Williamson need to chill out. If he traded someone with actual value and got hosed I might agree, but Williamson has an ERA over 5.00 and a WHIP over 1.50. He's not very valuable; maybe one of the guys he got will pan out. No one can say at this point, but I think we can say with confidence that Williamson won't be his former self ever again, and his control has left him.

 

Relievers are fickle, prior to today Williamson's WHIP was in the 1.3's.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Those guys are top 30 prospects because San Diego's system is a joke. They're terrible, and if we had given up players with their numbers and their careers to get a reliever for a pennant chase, everyone would've been plenty fine with it because no one would miss Todd Blackford and Carlos Perez.

 

that system may be garbage Tiger but you'd have no idea...

 

I'm confused.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm not impressed by what we received, but anything we get for our impending FA is at least something.

 

Hopefully Wuertz won't rot in the bullpen from lack of use while he's up.

[WrigleyField 22]

I'm not impressed by what we received, but anything we get for our impending FA is at least something.

 

Hopefully Wuertz won't rot in the bullpen from lack of use while he's up.

 

I usually wouldn't feel that trying to get a draft pick is worth just offering a guy arbitration because the draft is suck a crapshoot, but seeing what we recieved, we shoulda tried that over a trade.

[Sammy Sofa]

The trade's not the end of the world, but I think Williamson could have been more useful trade-wise if he had been packaged with some of the other players the Cubs might be looking to deal.

[texascub]

I'm not impressed by what we received, but anything we get for our impending FA is at least something.

 

Hopefully Wuertz won't rot in the bullpen from lack of use while he's up.

 

I usually wouldn't feel that trying to get a draft pick is worth just offering a guy arbitration because the draft is suck a crapshoot, but seeing what we recieved, we shoulda tried that over a trade.

 

He's been injured though and probably wouldn't have got us much in the way of draft compensation. Last year he only pitched 14.3 innings where he didn't fair too well and he hasn't been too hot this year either. He probably would've been a Class C FA.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm not impressed by what we received, but anything we get for our impending FA is at least something.

 

Hopefully Wuertz won't rot in the bullpen from lack of use while he's up.

 

I usually wouldn't feel that trying to get a draft pick is worth just offering a guy arbitration because the draft is suck a crapshoot, but seeing what we recieved, we shoulda tried that over a trade.

 

But offering arbitration is a big risk, especially with a pitcher of Williamson's caliber. First of all, he's not likely to be a class A or B FA, so compensation is minimal at best. Secondly, if he accepts then you're stuck with him for next season and he's likely to get a couple million in arbitration that could be best used elsewhere. I doubt Williamson gets a multi-year deal, so I think the probability he accepts is high. So, since you likely don't offer him arbitration, there is no compensation. These two prospects > nothing.

[maandig]

From a Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette June 7th article:

 

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/sports/baseball/14757410.htm

 

“The biggest thing is just trying to get consistency out of (Jimenez),” [Ft. Wayne Wizards manager Randy] Ready said. “That’s been a difficult task to this point. Everybody likes him, he’s a prospect.

 

“You’d like to see more consistency out of him as far as his arm speed, location, command. All of the above.

 

“He shows glimpses of pitching like a prospect, other days he has problems repeating his delivery.”

 

And, although perhaps of little interest, an earlier article which appeared this year in the same paper (late April) which discussed both pitchers:

 

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/sports/baseball/minor_league/14405248.htm

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Not surprisingly, both players were assigned to Peoria.

 

"We're happy with the two young pitchers we got," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Saturday. "We liked them last year. They have good arms and they project well. Williamson may be able to help the Padres in a different role."

Edited July 23, 2006 by CaliforniaRaisin

[Monco]

Since Hendry gave Sosa away everyone on the Cubs trading block is given away.Quite kidding yourselves thinking he got something of value. At one time Hendry was able to unload Todd Hundley for 2 good players. Now ............. 8 days before the deadline and he sells this low!!! 2 more years of this!!! 100 years sure is looking like a lock. Go Cubs!

[imb]

You act like we gave up Howry. This should open a slot for a young pitcher. williamson was not doing anything. How do you know the prospects won't help down the road?

 

Because they are terrible, like I explained in the original post. I'm not expecting top flight stuff for Williamson, just not the garbage we ended up getting.

 

If the roles were reversed and the Cubs were in contention and had just given up 2 of their top 20 prospects for a pitcher with equivalent numbers to Williamson people would be ripping Hendry.

 

Hendry has been shopping Williamson for a while now and if there was a better deal out there I am sure he would have taken it. To assume a strong market exists for a middle reliever that has an era over 5.00 and a questionable elbow is quite a reach.

 

Those guys are top 30 prospects because San Diego's system is a joke. They're terrible, and if we had given up players with their numbers and their careers to get a reliever for a pennant chase, everyone would've been plenty fine with it because no one would miss Todd Blackford and Carlos Perez.

 

that system may be garbage Tiger but you'd have no idea...

 

please enlighten us on San Diego's system then.

 

These players are terrible, but Williamson was pretty terrible too. The best news is that it cleared up a spot for Wuertz on the major league roster, so all in all, no big deal.

 

It's a backassward way to go about it, but we traded trash for trash and replaced it with someone (Wuertz) that should actually improve our team.