The General Managers' Meetings Thread

[goonys evil twin]

I think it would be madness to create another hole by trading Barrett. I would rather trade Pie or Veal if it was going to land me bonifide major league talent. Would Florida do Pie,Veal and Murton for Cabrera??

 

Catcher may be a hole regardless as soon as 2008. Barrett is a free agent after this season, and it's not a guarantee that resigning him is the right choice. When you look at the history of catchers in their 30's, it brings a lot of doubt to the table. The Cubs may have missed their window of being really good with Barrett really productive.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Johnny Estrada is supposedly available in trade. If he is, I would gladly swap Barrett + prospect for Wells if Estrada could be brought in as the replacement. Barrett is better than Estrada, but not by all THAT much, and we have a desperate need for a quality OF.

 

Sign Drew and move Jones, and now you'd be talking.

[jmajew]

I'd look into trading Barrett and Izturis to the Blue Jays. I'd take a few prospects for them. Getting rid of Izturis would be huge.

[goonys evil twin]

Johnny Estrada is supposedly available in trade. If he is, I would gladly swap Barrett + prospect for Wells if Estrada could be brought in as the replacement. Barrett is better than Estrada, but not by all THAT much, and we have a desperate need for a quality OF.

 

Sign Drew and move Jones, and now you'd be talking.

 

I'm not sure what you define as "THAT" much, but OPS+ the last three years.

 

MB - 105, 113, 121

JE - 114, 72, 91

 

You are talking about a significantly above averege hitter (and by all means, a great hitting catcher) compared with a below average hitter who compares with a lot of bad hitting catchers. Estrada might be closer to Blanco bad than Barrett good.

[ChiCubsFan]

I'd look into trading Barrett and Izturis to the Blue Jays. I'd take a few prospects for them. Getting rid of Izturis would be huge.

 

If you're trading Barrett, you have to use him to fill another hole (SS/2B/OF). Trading him and just getting back prospects, isn't worth it (unless you can spin those prospects to a team like the Marlins to get Cabrera).

[jmajew]

I'd look into trading Barrett and Izturis to the Blue Jays. I'd take a few prospects for them. Getting rid of Izturis would be huge.

 

If you're trading Barrett, you have to use him to fill another hole (SS/2B/OF). Trading him and just getting back prospects, isn't worth it (unless you can spin those prospects to a team like the Marlins to get Cabrera).

 

They way I figure it by trading away Barrett and Izturis it opens up the door to more realistically signing Julio Lugo to play SS. Then we can sign Greg Zaun or Bengie Molina to play Catcher. You could possibly then use some of the prospects recieved in that deal to trade for Tim Hudson.

 

edit: the reason I say prospects is because Izturis brings down Barretts value quite a bit in my eye. But getting rid of Izturis is an imperative and the only way to do it is probably by packaging him with Barrett.

[badgercub]

I like that thinking. I wouldn't be averse to trading Barrett at all especially if you can get above market value for him. If they filled some other positions with better offensive options, I think you could get by with even Blanco as your starting catcher, but you would have to be pretty solid up and down the lineup to do that.

 

Blanco in the starting lineup. Ick. Remember we already have a Blanco at SS (Izturis/Cedeno). That's 2 pretty unproductive swingers in a lineup, 3 when you count the majority of the pitchers. I'm not sure that unless our 1-6 was Soriano-Barrett-Aramis-Bonds-D. Lee-Jones/Platoon we could survive that. And even then, it would be a huge detriment to have both those holes in the lineup.

 

If you would have read the entire post, I say it only makes sense to do this if are pretty solid up and down the rest of the lineup. If you get above market value for Barrett you would probably fill one of the other gaping holes we have. Hendry is going to have a lot of money to spend too to fill other holes.

[ChiCubsFan]

I'd look into trading Barrett and Izturis to the Blue Jays. I'd take a few prospects for them. Getting rid of Izturis would be huge.

 

If you're trading Barrett, you have to use him to fill another hole (SS/2B/OF). Trading him and just getting back prospects, isn't worth it (unless you can spin those prospects to a team like the Marlins to get Cabrera).

 

They way I figure it by trading away Barrett and Izturis it opens up the door to more realistically signing Julio Lugo to play SS. Then we can sign Greg Zaun or Bengie Molina to play Catcher. You could possibly then use some of the prospects recieved in that deal to trade for Tim Hudson.

 

edit: the reason I say prospects is because Izturis brings down Barretts value quite a bit in my eye. But getting rid of Izturis is an imperative and the only way to do it is probably by packaging him with Barrett.

 

I'm not too interested in Hudson, unless they eat a lot of that contract. I just think that if you're trading Barrett you need to get a big bat back. Use Barrett to get ARod (if he'll waive his NTC) or Vernon Wells. I'm sure you can convince another team in need of a shortstop to take Izturis for a prospect. I mean we gave up our biggest trading chip to get him, so he has to have some value in the strange baseball GM world.

[Mark_R]

Barrett and Izturis for Wells would be A-Ok for me.

 

Now see if Cincy would bite on Eyre for Freel given their mediocre, veteran reliever fetish.

[soapy]

I'd look into trading Barrett and Izturis to the Blue Jays. I'd take a few prospects for them. Getting rid of Izturis would be huge.

 

If you're trading Barrett, you have to use him to fill another hole (SS/2B/OF). Trading him and just getting back prospects, isn't worth it (unless you can spin those prospects to a team like the Marlins to get Cabrera).

 

They way I figure it by trading away Barrett and Izturis it opens up the door to more realistically signing Julio Lugo to play SS. Then we can sign Greg Zaun or Bengie Molina to play Catcher. You could possibly then use some of the prospects recieved in that deal to trade for Tim Hudson.

 

edit: the reason I say prospects is because Izturis brings down Barretts value quite a bit in my eye. But getting rid of Izturis is an imperative and the only way to do it is probably by packaging him with Barrett.

 

I'm not too interested in Hudson, unless they eat a lot of that contract. I just think that if you're trading Barrett you need to get a big bat back. Use Barrett to get ARod (if he'll waive his NTC) or Vernon Wells. I'm sure you can convince another team in need of a shortstop to take Izturis for a prospect. I mean we gave up our biggest trading chip to get him, so he has to have some value in the strange baseball GM world.

 

I'm really not sure why people keep referring to Wells as a "big bat". I'm not convinced.

[WrigleyinEngland]

I don't believe Hendry will shop 'Izzy' at all. I totally expect him to start opening day which makes trading Barrett almost impossible as we would have 3 outs at 7,8,9 (except on Z days!!)

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'd look into trading Barrett and Izturis to the Blue Jays. I'd take a few prospects for them. Getting rid of Izturis would be huge.

 

If you're trading Barrett, you have to use him to fill another hole (SS/2B/OF). Trading him and just getting back prospects, isn't worth it (unless you can spin those prospects to a team like the Marlins to get Cabrera).

 

They way I figure it by trading away Barrett and Izturis it opens up the door to more realistically signing Julio Lugo to play SS. Then we can sign Greg Zaun or Bengie Molina to play Catcher. You could possibly then use some of the prospects recieved in that deal to trade for Tim Hudson.

 

edit: the reason I say prospects is because Izturis brings down Barretts value quite a bit in my eye. But getting rid of Izturis is an imperative and the only way to do it is probably by packaging him with Barrett.

 

I'm not too interested in Hudson, unless they eat a lot of that contract. I just think that if you're trading Barrett you need to get a big bat back. Use Barrett to get ARod (if he'll waive his NTC) or Vernon Wells. I'm sure you can convince another team in need of a shortstop to take Izturis for a prospect. I mean we gave up our biggest trading chip to get him, so he has to have some value in the strange baseball GM world.

 

I'm really not sure why people keep referring to Wells as a "big bat". I'm not convinced.

 

Exactly, he's the same bat as Barrett that's about to command a lot more cash than Barrett.

[cubweiser03]

Barrett is still young at 29. He had a couple years of spliting between SS/3B and C so he doesnt have the typical wear and tear of a catcher like say Paul Loduca. LoDuca is 34 and still putting up decent numbers. Catchers who hit are FEW and far between. Barrett shouldnt be a hard sign in 2007 either. Id offer him another 3 year deal after 2007.

 

Posada is also 35. Sure his best maybe behind him but his last 3-4 years he's still been really productive.

Edited November 13, 2006 by cubweiser03

[ChiCubsFan]

After considering it some more, Wells is a solid bat for CF (.900 OPS), but I'd rather just sign J.D. Drew. He doesn't provide the same defense and is more likely to get injured, but Drew is more productive and will cost less (in players and possibly in dollars too).

[illiniguy]

Drew is so the obvious guy and he fell into our laps, the only question is, does Jimmy even know it?

[ChiCubsFan]

Drew is so the obvious guy and he fell into our laps, the only question is, does Jimmy even know it?

 

I sure hope so. He's a perfect fit.

[goonys evil twin]

Barrett is still young at 29. He had a couple years of spliting between SS/3B and C so he doesnt have the typical wear and tear of a catcher like say Paul Loduca. LoDuca is 34 and still putting up decent numbers. Catchers who hit are FEW and far between. Barrett shouldnt be a hard sign in 2007 either. Id offer him another 3 year deal after 2007.

 

Barrett is now 30. And the story that he hasn't had much time at catcher no longer holds. He's got in excess of 6200 innings behind the plate in the majors. LoDuca only has 400 more innings despite being that much older. He also hasn't come close to repeating his peak offensive production from when he was a bright eyed bushy tailed 29 year old. He's also known as a good defensive catcher. Barrett might be able to remain above average as a hitter, but he's unlikely to maintain his current pace. And despite being a great hitting catcher now, there is still debate about how much his defense offsets that offense. I think at his best it's more than worth having him in there. But if he falls back to the 100 OPS+, like LoDuca, from his 121, he's no longer outproducing the field, and might no longer be valuable. He will be 31, 32 and 33 if you sign him to a new 3 year deal, with well over 7000 innings behind the plate. AJP is similarly aged, and was similarly productive offensively in his mid-20's, but he's got a little more wear and tear on the body, and has declined sooner.

 

After 2007, I think Barrett will fit the profile of a catcher who is soon to fall off significantly with the bat. He doesn't compare to the few elite guys who blew past the normal limits.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Vernon Wells is no lock for a 900 OPS. He's done that twice in 5 seasons (I'm counting the 899 from 2006). I think it's been pointed out numerous times that his BABIP was inflated this past season which makes it more likely we'll see the RH version of Jacque Jones if we were to get him. In other words, the 04 & 05 Vernon Wells.

[b_wiggy_66]

Look for Hendry to talk with Washington. He has shown interest in Kearns and Vidro in the past. He and Bowden are always trigger happy on deals as well. I look for Hendry to make a trade this week.

[Mark_R]

If he's gonna deal with Washington, I'd rather have Felipe Lopez than Vidro.

[ChiCubsFan]

I agree about getting Lopez instead. He's younger, cheaper, similar productivity, and I don't think Vidro can stay healthy for a full year. I'd rather sign Durham than trade for Vidro. I would be interested in Kearns, Church, and Lopez though. If we get JD Drew, we need to get a solid 4th outfielder to protect ourselves if he gets injured.

[baseball7897]

I agree about getting Lopez instead. He's younger, cheaper, similar productivity, and I don't think Vidro can stay healthy for a full year. I'd rather sign Durham than trade for Vidro. I would be interested in Kearns, Church, and Lopez though. If we get JD Drew, we need to get a solid 4th outfielder to protect ourselves if he gets injured.

 

Lopez is garbage with the glove.

[b_wiggy_66]

Rosenthal has some interesting nuggets from the Meetings:

 

"Believe it or not, the Cubs again granted Ramirez an escape clause, this time after his fourth year instead of after his second. The risk isn't as great; Ramirez figures to be less attractive at 32 than he was at 28."

 

"The Cubs still want to add two starting pitchers, and free-agent left-hander Ted Lilly appears to be one of their principal targets. The team has made early contact with Lilly's agent, Larry O'Brien, who describes the Cubs as an "intriguing" possibility."

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6165654

[ChiCubsFan]

I agree about getting Lopez instead. He's younger, cheaper, similar productivity, and I don't think Vidro can stay healthy for a full year. I'd rather sign Durham than trade for Vidro. I would be interested in Kearns, Church, and Lopez though. If we get JD Drew, we need to get a solid 4th outfielder to protect ourselves if he gets injured.

 

Lopez is garbage with the glove.

 

He wasn't too bad in 2005. I havent actually watched him play enough to say why he was so much worse last year. I'll take your word on it though.

[goonys evil twin]

Rosenthal has some interesting nuggets from the Meetings:

 

"Believe it or not, the Cubs again granted Ramirez an escape clause, this time after his fourth year instead of after his second. The risk isn't as great; Ramirez figures to be less attractive at 32 than he was at 28."

 

I have no problem with that whatsoever.