Murton as trade bait?

[CubinNY]

I love the red head. I want the red head in a Cubs uniform next year. However, the Cubs are in somewhat of a quandry in regard to power and LF is a power position.

 

I would love if this thread could refrain from the pro and cons of trading Murton, there are many for sure.

 

Let's, for the sake of conversation, put Murton on the block. What would he be worth, either in a package or by himself.

 

Could the Cubs package Murton with some young pitching for M. Cabrerra or Michael Young?

 

What would you propose that could make the Cubs better.

 

BTW> I could very well see Hendry trading him this off-season.

Edited September 18, 2006 by CubinNY

[Soriano12]

Rich Hill and Murton could get us alot.

 

Cabrera, Tejada. IMO.

 

 

I would consider a straight up trade of Murton for Michael Young(provided he moves to second) but the Rangers would want either Hill or Veal as well. No thanks to that.

[Schwarber Fan]

I have a feeling we would regret trading Murton.

 

I think he can only imporve and his power numbers will go up. He's shown he can be really clutch. I say go get Soriano, and put him at 2nd, stick with an OF of Murton/Pierre/Jones-Restovich, and keep the rest of the infielders.

 

A lineup of Pierre, Murton, Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, Barrett, Jones/Restovich, Iztururis could be really productive.

[USSoccer]

Murton on his own wouldn't net us much. Maybe a 4th starter type or a bullpen guy.

 

Murton packaged with a top pitcher, and a midrange pitcher would probably get some interest from FLA, but IMO he wouldn't be the centerpiece of any deal for Cabrera.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Murton is more valuable than some of you think.

 

Post ASB: .321/.385/.527/.912

 

He had a horrible June that killed his overall numbers and he's a good deal better than his .295/.360/.438/.798 overall line.

 

The Cubs don't value OBP, but you can be assured they know others do and are willing to pay for it. He may get moved b/c he's not the piece we need (in Hendry's mind), but he won't be sold off for a bullpen arm or 5th starter. We don't need a filler arm for the pen or a bottom of the rotation starter. We have plenty of those on the ML roster already or in the minors.

 

Murton also won't be moved unless we get a big bopper like Lee or Soriano in LF. Personally, I don't think the odds of that happening are very high.

[TXCubsFan]

Murton is more valuable than some of you think.

 

Post ASB: .321/.385/.527/.912

 

He had a horrible June that killed his overall numbers and he's a good deal better than his .295/.360/.438/.798 overall line.

 

The Cubs don't value OBP, but you can be assured they know others do and are willing to pay for it. He may get moved b/c he's not the piece we need (in Hendry's mind), but he won't be sold off for a bullpen arm or 5th starter. We don't need a filler arm for the pen or a bottom of the rotation starter. We have plenty of those on the ML roster already or in the minors.

 

Murton also won't be moved unless we get a big bopper like Lee or Soriano in LF. Personally, I don't think the odds of that happening are very high.

 

My gut is that Murton will be the starting LF for the foreseeable future. Assuming that Pie will be starting on the team by June 1 of next year, either Pierre or Jones will be gone by that time.

[soccer10k]

The Cubs should keep Murton.

[Brian]

Murton & others probably wouldn't get Cabrera since the Marlins have Willingham and Hermida at the corner outfields.

[Mark_R]

Murton & others probably wouldn't get Cabrera since the Marlins have Willingham and Hermida at the corner outfields.

 

They also don't need starting pitching with:

 

Dontrelle

Olsen

Johnson

Anibal Sanchez

Nolasco

 

That team is really good. They could use a big time power bat in the middle of the lineup (first base or Center Field?), but overall, they will be a tough team to beat for many years to come with that very strong rotation.

[soccer10k]

That team is really good. They could use a big time power bat in the middle of the lineup (first base or Center Field?), but overall, they will be a tough team to beat for a few years until they have another firesale.

[jiml60]

That team is really good. They could use a big time power bat in the middle of the lineup (first base or Center Field?), but overall, they will be a tough team to beat for a few years until they have another firesale, after winning another World Series.

[CubsWin]

The Cubs should keep Murton.

My feelings exactly. I will be really disappointed if Hendry trades him. He is simply too inexpensive and, at 24 years old, able to improve too much to get a lot better by trading him. He is already above league average for LFers in a lot of catagories. When you throw in his age as a factor, it gets even tougher.

[soccer10k]

That team is really good. They could use a big time power bat in the middle of the lineup (first base or Center Field?), but overall, they will be a tough team to beat for a few years until they have another firesale, after winning another World Series.

 

Well played.

[MPrior]

I agree with what a few people have said - that Murton on his own is unlikely to net much of value. However, as part of a package including some pitchers, to the right team, he might land us something nice. Not entirely sure what - we need a good starting pitcher, a 2B, and a CF - and I guess if we got rid of Murton, a LF.

 

All that said, I'd much rather keep him. I think he's more valuable to us than what we'd get in a trade. So unless we could pull off a trade for a bona-fide superstar (Cabrera), I want him here.

[NCCubFan]

That team is really good. They could use a big time power bat in the middle of the lineup (first base or Center Field?), but overall, they will be a tough team to beat for a few years until they have another firesale, after beating the Cubs in the NLCS and winning another World Series.

Fixed. :D

[Balsa]

BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT BAIT

 

Sorry, things like that just annoy me. I can't even look at the forum without frothing at the mouth. :P

[A New Era]

I don't see why anybody would be for trading Murton away. .

 

He is above average in just about every statistic, including HR 9 at 11. While many of you want production tied to specific positions, I say let go of that old fashioned way of thinking. If we retain Ramirez and sign Soriano then you will be getting alot of HR out of 1B, 2B, 3B, C, and RF.

 

We will be paying Murton, what, $450k? next year? You're getting very good production out of LF for a steal. Let's not waste that money well spent by trading him away. Improve 2B, CF, or SS before you even worry about replacing Matt Murton.

 

Matt Murton is a commodity outproducing his value. And putting up very acceptable #'s in LF. Remember last year? Dubious/Holly? We've found our LF, let's not trade him away.

[biittner77]

Getting back to the original question- as I doubt anyone here really *wants* to trade Murton- right now many teams would like to have him but would not be willing to give up very much to get him.

 

I really believe that Hendry, if he trades an OF, will trade Pie the day after he re signs Pierre to a 3 year extension. :wall:

[mg420]

Getting back to the original question- as I doubt anyone here really *wants* to trade Murton- right now many teams would like to have him but would not be willing to give up very much to get him.

 

I really believe that Hendry, if he trades an OF, will trade Pie the day after he re signs Pierre to a 3 year extension. :wall:

even if/when the cubs resign pierre, they will keep pie & move him to rf imo. jones is the one who will be traded when pie is ready for the majors.

[BigbadB]

I find Murton to be very similar (except age) to Matt Diaz. In 2005, one of the worst teams in baseball cut Diaz. He bounced around to a few teams after that. Diaz has put up a really nice season in Atlanta, but still doesn't really have much of an identity.

 

Considering this, Murton's value is much better served playing for the Cubs.

[TheDude]

Murton is a fine young talent and I will root for him wherever he plays, but I do think he goes somewhere else in a trade.

 

Having good young talent is not enough, the team also needs that talent to fit into organizational plan. Just ask a guy like Wily Mo Pena what that's like.

 

The Cubs have two major needs for 2007: top-end starting pitcher and one power bat. That power bat likely comes from a corner outfield slot, if you assume the Cubs have both Ramirez and Lee next year. The lone 'exception option' would be Soriano at 2B.

 

So Murton is unfortunately the odd man out as it is unlikely the team trades Jones or puts Murton in front of Jones on the depth chart. Personally, I would rather see the team deal Murton while his value is higher, than to keep him as a 4th outfielder, unless his playing time as the 4th outfielder (and first pinch-hitter option) yielded at least 400 ABs.

[HoopsCubs]

I love the red head. I want the red head in a Cubs uniform next year. However, the Cubs are in somewhat of a quandry in regard to power and LF is a power position.

 

I would love if this thread could refrain from the pro and cons of trading Murton, there are many for sure.

 

Let's, for the sake of conversation, put Murton on the block. What would he be worth, either in a package or by himself.

 

Could the Cubs package Murton with some young pitching for M. Cabrerra or Michael Young?

 

What would you propose that could make the Cubs better.

 

BTW> I could very well see Hendry trading him this off-season.

 

There's the right way of creating the roster and then there's the Hendry way. Sometimes there has been overlap between the two ways, but most of the time there hasn't been any.

 

The right way of doing this is to recognize that Theriot and Murton can give the Cubs quality production at 2B and LF at very cheap prices, and to spend money (through trades or free agency) on adding power at SS and CF or RF (if Jones can be moved to CF).

 

Of course, the Hendry way will be to trade Murton, stick Theriot in utility, let Izturis and Cedeno be your no hitting/slick fielding DP combo, and spend oodles of money on Carlos Lee in LF.

 

Oh, so to answer your question: don't trade Murton!

[BigbadB]

Murton is a fine young talent and I will root for him wherever he plays, but I do think he goes somewhere else in a trade.

 

Having good young talent is not enough, the team also needs that talent to fit into organizational plan. Just ask a guy like Wily Mo Pena what that's like.

 

The Cubs have two major needs for 2007: top-end starting pitcher and one power bat. That power bat likely comes from a corner outfield slot, if you assume the Cubs have both Ramirez and Lee next year. The lone 'exception option' would be Soriano at 2B.

 

So Murton is unfortunately the odd man out as it is unlikely the team trades Jones or puts Murton in front of Jones on the depth chart. Personally, I would rather see the team deal Murton while his value is higher, than to keep him as a 4th outfielder, unless his playing time as the 4th outfielder (and first pinch-hitter option) yielded at least 400 ABs.

 

Would it be unrealistic to think the Cubs could add a power corner outfield bat and keep Murton? Slide Jones over to CF and voila.

[TheDude]

Would it be unrealistic to think the Cubs could add a power corner outfield bat and keep Murton? Slide Jones over to CF and voila.

 

IMO, yes that is unrealistic.

[TheDude]

There's the right way of creating the roster and then there's the Hendry way. Sometimes there has been overlap between the two ways, but most of the time there hasn't been any.

 

The right way of doing this is to recognize that Theriot and Murton can give the Cubs quality production at 2B and LF at very cheap prices, and to spend money (through trades or free agency) on adding power at SS and CF or RF (if Jones can be moved to CF).

 

Of course, the Hendry way will be to trade Murton, stick Theriot in utility, let Izturis and Cedeno be your no hitting/slick fielding DP combo, and spend oodles of money on Carlos Lee in LF.

 

Oh, so to answer your question: don't trade Murton!

 

Hoops, do you really project Theriot as an everyday starter for the Cubs? I, like everyone, love what he has done for the Cubs in limited time this year...but is Theriot the Cubs version of Bo Hart (the 2B guy with the cool name that puts up inflated numbers in limited appearances)?