The General Managers' Meetings Thread

[Shilzzz]

A couple people have described Matt Murton as an "above average left fielder." Offensively, yes. But, defensively, he leaves a lot to be desired. I'm tired of seeing him gaze at balls go over his head and wind up as doubles when they should be singles or fly outs. Love his bat, but not his glove.

 

some metrics actually have murton as an above average fielder.

[Rob]

You know the Cubs should really looking into Ryan Church or Austin Kearns.

 

Both will give good production for far less than the three main OFers.

 

Don't forget the heavily underrated Elijah Dukes in the D-Rays orginization. He'd make a fantastic young CFer for us, and he's far more polished than Pie. People hate him for his attitude, otherwise he would probably rank up there with Delmon Young.

 

Just a few ideas for the Cubs. Trade oppurtunities are everywhere, I'd like us to see the Cubs target and acquire get some good, young players.

 

Elijah Dukes is a hell of a ballplayer, but he makes Ty Cobb look like Santa Claus.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

You know the Cubs should really looking into Ryan Church or Austin Kearns.

 

Have there been rumblings Washington wants to deal these guys?

[Balsa]

You know the Cubs should really looking into Ryan Church or Austin Kearns.

 

Both will give good production for far less than the three main OFers.

 

Don't forget the heavily underrated Elijah Dukes in the D-Rays orginization. He'd make a fantastic young CFer for us, and he's far more polished than Pie. People hate him for his attitude, otherwise he would probably rank up there with Delmon Young.

 

Just a few ideas for the Cubs. Trade oppurtunities are everywhere, I'd like us to see the Cubs target and acquire get some good, young players.

 

Elijah Dukes is a hell of a ballplayer, but he makes Ty Cobb look like Santa Claus.

Heh. Just spat water at my monitor.

[questionmarkgrace]

I have no doubt that Lou has told Hendry what players he would like to get from Tampa. I'd like to see Baldelli or Dukes. I think Dukes' craziness can be turned into on the field success.

[Laura]

Updated Notes from the Winter Meeting from Rosenthal

 

How hot is free-agent right-hander Gil Meche? His agent, Casey Close, says that more than half of the teams in the majors have expressed interest in the pitcher, with about one-third of them indicating that Meche is their top priority.

Cubs are listed as interested, along with the Yankees, Red Sox, O's & Blue Jays (AL East frenzy).

 

The Brewers and Orioles have discussed a trade that would send outfielder Kevin Mench to Baltimore for right-hander Rodrigo Lopez; the Orioles also have expressed interest in another Brewers outfielder, Geoff Jenkins, but their bigger priority is believed to be free-agent left fielder Carlos Lee.

The Brewers would then look to deal the dreaded Doug Davis.

 

Believe it or not, teams are contacting the Yankees about trading for right-hander Carl Pavano; the Rockies are one club that might have interest if the Yankees paid a portion of the $21 million that Pavano is owed over the next two seasons.

Yankees may consider moving Scott Proctor to the rotation.

 

One agent says he expects the Blue Jays to be very active, explaining, "I think they feel the division is ready to be taken." The Jays' rotation could be among the league's best if they retain free-agent left-hander Ted Lilly or replace him with a comparable starter.

Blue Jays say they'll need to be overwhelmed to deal Wells.

 

The Dodgers were interested in signing third baseman Aramis Ramirez as a free agent even though some club officials believe that Class AAA third baseman Andy LaRoche might be their prospect who is closest to the majors.

LaRoche would have moved to the OF or been traded.

 

Finally, the Angels have not inquired about Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada, but after getting shut on Aramis Ramirez, they would be wise to revisit the possibility of acquiring Tejada to play third.

 

The Orioles would perk up if the Angels offered the same package that they did last summer — right-hander Ervin Santana and shortstop Erick Aybar. Signing left-hander Barry Zito as a free agent would create an opportunity for the Angels to trade Santana or another of their young starters.

 

Also:

 

If the DRays win the bidding for Iwamura, they may not play him at 3B (sounds like lots of teams are thinking that). And scouts love Ben Zobrist.

[nilodnayr]

You know the Cubs should really looking into Ryan Church or Austin Kearns.

 

Have there been rumblings Washington wants to deal these guys?

 

If it were still cool to do bandwgns I would have started the Church one a long time ago as I can rarely go a day without posting my standard Nationals trade, however I just read on rotoworld today that evidently Bowden values him singificantly more than Robinson did (he was 3rd on the CF depth chart). Im sure he still can be had, but he may not get stolen for nothing as I was hoping.

 

As for Kearns, he made it known that he was extremely unhappy in Washington. He had a horrible first month there but turned it around in the second month. Bowden isn't thought of too highly (or should I say Bowden's 12 year old son who makes all the personel decisions), so it was assumed that Jones would be attractive to him because his conventional metrics are much better than Kearns'.

 

The other rumblings out of Washington is that they desperately want to move Vidro so they can move Lopez to second to open up the ss spot for the wondefully overpaid Christian Guzman (see disparaging remarks about Bowden).

 

Vidro was pretty healthy in 2006 and has significant home/road splits in Washington. Great buy low candidate.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

also, from cubs.com(Muskat):

Drew did drive in 100 runs this past season. When he's on the field, he's productive, and Drew has a career on-base percentage of .393. What concerns me is he's been on the disabled list seven times in his career. I can hear the cynics now -- that makes him a perfect fit for the Cubs.

 

I'm sure both Lee and Drew were talked about last week during the Cubs' organizational meetings, and general manager Jim Hendry will talk about both this week at the general manager meetings in Naples, Fla. Another name he'll be seriously considering is free agent Alfonso Soriano.

 

Dude, that's the second time Muskat has mentioned OBP in the last week. Wow.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

My guess the reason Meche is such a hot commodity is that team see him as an alternative to the two big name starters and want to sign him in case they lose out on those.

[CubsInNC]

I have no doubt that Lou has told Hendry what players he would like to get from Tampa. I'd like to see Baldelli or Dukes. I think Dukes' craziness can be turned into on the field success.

 

I thought Baldelli would be a good acquisition as well, until I looked at his contract. He's getting $0.75mil next year, and 2.25 the year after. There's no way we pry someone that inexpensive from Tampa, without sending them the Angels farm system.

[jmajew]

Per Jon Heyman on CNNSI

 

The Cubs have said they'll pursue free-agent center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., who had a career year in 2006. But you'd have to wonder whether firing his father will hurt their chances.

 

• The Cubs are also after Lugo, another of Boston's potential targets as well.

 

[TheDude]

Per Jon Heyman on CNNSI

 

The Cubs have said they'll pursue free-agent center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., who had a career year in 2006. But you'd have to wonder whether firing his father will hurt their chances.

 

• The Cubs are also after Lugo, another of Boston's potential targets as well.

 

 

Spend a little more money and get Drew instead Hendry!

[JWCUB]

Bruce Levine to do an update from the GM meetings at 1120 on ESPN1000.

[rocket]

Per Jon Heyman on CNNSI

 

The Cubs have said they'll pursue free-agent center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., who had a career year in 2006. But you'd have to wonder whether firing his father will hurt their chances.

 

• The Cubs are also after Lugo, another of Boston's potential targets as well.

 

 

Lugo yes, Matthews no.

[cubweiser03]

Bruce Levine to do an update from the GM meetings at 1120 on ESPN1000.

 

This GM Meetings update sponsored by.....Krispy Kreme.

We are still trying to track down Mr. Hendry on the GM poll question of the day "Sprinkled or Jelly Filled?" We hope to have an answer to you shortly.

Dunk you very much.

 

This GM meeting thing seems more like a elbow rubbing, hand shaking hotel vacation. Ive never heard anything really get done at this like the winter meetings.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Elijah Dukes is a hell of a ballplayer, but he makes Ty Cobb look like Santa Claus

 

I realize it was tongue in cheek, but Cobb was a racist who may have commited murder, wore metal cleats to stomp on other players hands when he slid, and fought with fans.

 

I doubt baseball will ever see a bigger prick than Cobb.

 

And about the availability of Kearns or Church...haven't heard anything. But it's taken like a million years for Church to even get ABs, and they seem to think a CFer should be a Juan Pierre clone anyway (Brandon Waston!!!).

Edited November 14, 2006 by KingKongvs.Godzilla

[Southpaw191679666239]

This GM meeting thing seems more like a elbow rubbing, hand shaking hotel vacation. Ive never heard anything really get done at this like the winter meetings.

 

As dumb as it sounds, you'll hear a lot of "laying the foundation for future deals (ie. trades)" done at these meetings.

[VanceJergins]

You know the Cubs should really looking into Ryan Church or Austin Kearns.

 

Both will give good production for far less than the three main OFers.

 

 

I definitely like the idea of going for Kearns and Church. Make them platoon partners in RF and get Drew for CF and that would be friggin killer. Then if Drew gets hurt you have a productive backup. Looking at Church/ Kearn's splits, we could have a RF combo batting .310/.400/.550 with 35 homeruns. We'd still have plenty of money to spend to upgrade 2B and SS and a lineup that starts with Murton, Church/Kearns, Drew, Lee, Ramirez, Barrett.

 

Long story short: yes, get Kearns and Church

[Derwood]

The hottest free agent? How about Dave Roberts:

 

The Mets are one of the 13 teams to contact free agent Dave Roberts.

At this point, it'd be a surprise if Roberts didn't get a three-year deal. The Cubs, Brewers, Rockies, White Sox and Giants are among the other teams pursuing him. If the Mets signed Roberts to play left field, Paul Lo Duca would probably be shifted to the bottom of the lineup.

[USSoccer]

Did anyone listen to the Levine update?

[goonys evil twin]

The hottest free agent? How about Dave Roberts:

 

The Mets are one of the 13 teams to contact free agent Dave Roberts.

At this point, it'd be a surprise if Roberts didn't get a three-year deal. The Cubs, Brewers, Rockies, White Sox and Giants are among the other teams pursuing him. If the Mets signed Roberts to play left field, Paul Lo Duca would probably be shifted to the bottom of the lineup.

 

Career OPS+ of 92. He has never in his career reached 600 plate appearances, and routinely suffers hamstring injuries. He's fine as a 4th OF, or maybe the starting CF on a team with great corner OF production. But he's not a good option for a 3 year contract.

[b_wiggy_66]

Levine said that they are talking to Durham and are talking to the Indians about Jake Westbrook

 

Also could look at Padilla, Meche, and Lilly

 

Doesn't see Zito or Schmidt coming to the Cubs

[LuckyPup]

Levine said that they are talking to Durham and are talking to the Indians about Jake Westbrook

 

Also could look at Padilla, Meche, and Lilly

 

Doesn't see Zito or Schmidt coming to the Cubs

 

Give me Durham+Westbrook and Padilla and I'm ok- pretty smart thinking on Hendry's behalf- i have begun to get cautiously optimistic about the offseason-

[goonys evil twin]

Levine said that they are talking to Durham and are talking to the Indians about Jake Westbrook

 

Also could look at Padilla, Meche, and Lilly

 

Doesn't see Zito or Schmidt coming to the Cubs

 

I thought Westbrook was a strong candidate to become a Hendry target. 3 straight years of 200+ innings, and below average to very good effectiveness during those innings. I don't believe he's a free agent until after 2008, but he'll make a lot in arbitration following this season.

 

And I'm deathly afraid he'd trade Matt Murton for Westbrook then sign Carlos Lee.

[ChiCubsFan]

Durham and Westbrook would be good. We still need a top of the rotation starter and JD Drew, though. At least if we want a real shot at contending.