Tejada Revisited

[CubFanPhilly]

I think a deal for Tejada has significant benefits over signing a Soriano or Lee. Of course the O'/Angelos can be difficult to deal with, so who knows if it's possible?

 

 

Pie, Gallagher, Moore, Izturis, and Wuertz or Ohman to Baltimore

 

Tejada and Patterson to Chicago

 

The O's get about $10-11 mil. in payroll relief, a solid arm for their bullpen, solid prospects for holes in CF and 3B, a good 3/4/5 starter prospect and a fill-in for SS with excellent glove. They don't replace the offense lost, but they get some cash to sign a premium starter or a decent bat.

 

Cubs add power and OBP. CPatt hits at the bottom of the order where he seems more comfortable.

 

Alternative: Subtract Pie, Moore, and Patterson from the deal and substitute Hill.

 

Then...

-Re-sign ARAM

-Sign Zito or Schmidt

-Extend Zambrano

-Sign Wood to the low base/high incentive deal

-Sign C. Wilson to platoon in RF

-Sign Miller or a low-cost back of the rotation starter

 

The Cubs' payroll pencils out to roughly $100-$105 mil.

 

Lineup

Theriot/Fontenot

Murton

Lee

Tejada

ARam

Jones/Wilson

Barrett

Patterson (or Pie)

[The lineup should produce 180-190 HRs and have a better OBP.]

 

Bench

Fontenot

Cedeno

Wilson

Pagan

Sing/Restovich

Soto

 

Rotation

Zambrano

Zito/Schmidt

Hill/Miller/FA

Prior

Marshall/Marmol/Guzman/Mateo

 

Bullpen

Wood

Howry

Eyre

Dempster

Ohman/Wuertz

Novoa/Aarsdsma/Guzman/Mateo

 

Please don't turn this into another CPatt debate. I know it'd be tough for him to return to Wrigley. And if there's a way to subtract Pie & Patterson, I'm all for it. But Baker (and perhaps the rest of the coaching staff) is gone. I think the fans would give CPatt at least a grace period (after all the Cubs are getting Tejada in the deal). Hendry isn't obligated to disclose whether the O's inserted CPatt into the deal or the Cubs asked for him.

 

There would be difficult decisions to make in 2008. Payroll would balloon if a couple of Wood/Prior/Miller/Patterson rebound. But there would also be opportunities to dump some salary as guys like Jones/ Dempster / Eyre/ Howry reach the end of their contracts.

 

CFP

[Sammy Sofa]

That's an awful, awful deal. You don't trade that much for an aging player on the backend of his career and another player who'll crumble the instant he shows up at Wrigley and screws up ANYTHING.

 

And it's still not enough of an offensive upgrade for this team.

[CuseCubFan69]

A couple of things CFP:

 

-IMO, no way will Wilson sign to be a platoon guy with Jones, not nearly enough AB's for him.

 

-I wanted Tejada last year for Prior and others and now it's too late and the cost is going to be way too high, higher than what you suggested IMO.

 

-If this is Hendry's year to prove he can stay as GM I don't see him gambling on Theriot/Fontenot to lead off, he saw the disaster in 2005 and thinks Pierre was an excellent leadoff hitter in 2006 and will go for a proven leadoff guy.

 

-I like Patterson but he's a Jones clone except for speed and I don't think it would be a good thing for him mentally even with the coaches gone to return to Chicago.

 

If what you wrote came true I'd be thrilled.

[CubFanPhilly]

That's an awful, awful deal. You don't trade that much for an aging player on the backend of his career and another player who'll crumble the instant he shows up at Wrigley and screws up ANYTHING.

 

And it's still not enough of an offensive upgrade for this team.

 

Funny. I wondered if the O's would do it.

 

I agree that Tejada's going to be declining 31-34. I also agree that it might not be enough to make a contending offense. Tone down the prospects offered if you'd like, but Baltimore isn't getting any "lock" back either (Hill included). Yes, it's three of the Cubs top 10-15 prospects and (arguably 2 of the top 5). But there aren't many .800+ career OPS MI making $12 mil. either. From the O's perspective their pitching improves, their offense takes a hit, and if one of the prospects pans out it's a good deal (two work out and it's a very good deal).

 

Bottomline for me is that Tejada at 31 yrs with a 3 yr contract is a safer bet than Soriano for 5/$70 mil.

 

CFP

[Sammy Sofa]

Soriano you have to give up money to get. Tejada you have to give an arm and leg to get in the first place and then you can toss a pile of money at him. No thanks. If the Cubs are gonna sell the farm, aim higher.

[CubFanPhilly]

A couple of things CFP:

 

-IMO, no way will Wilson sign to be a platoon guy with Jones, not nearly enough AB's for him.

 

Perhaps. I'd sell it as a 50-50 platoon and some ABs backing up Lee. But there are other options for a RH bat in RF.

 

-I wanted Tejada last year for Prior and others and now it's too late and the cost is going to be way too high, higher than what you suggested IMO.

 

I agree the price might be higher than I've suggested. But Tejada is another year older. At some point he may have to shift to 2B or 3B. And there just aren't a lot of teams in a position to take on his contract (particluarly teams that don't already have SS locked up).

 

-If this is Hendry's year to prove he can stay as GM I don't see him gambling on Theriot/Fontenot to lead off, he saw the disaster in 2005 and thinks Pierre was an excellent leadoff hitter in 2006 and will go for a proven leadoff guy.

 

I think that's probably right. Hendry doesn't risk a deal like this (but I can dream it up, right?).

[CubFanPhilly]

Soriano you have to give up money to get. Tejada you have to give an arm and leg to get in the first place and then you can toss a pile of money at him. No thanks. If the Cubs are gonna sell the farm, aim higher.

 

I'd prefer half the pile of money, half the farm, and Tejada over Soriano, but I understand your point.

 

Cabrera is aiming higher, but how much more "farm" can the Marlins fit on their roster? IMO they'll want a couple of cheap QUALITY proven players in that deal. Murton & Hill are the closest thing the Cubs have and that's woefully short IMO.