Neal Cotts for David Aardsma

[UK1679666180]

goony's evil twin wrote: "How is Aardsma anything like Jon Garland"?

 

I agree that they are entirely, two different pitchers but all I meant by that was, Aardsema has a lot of potential and I just hope that he doesn't turn out to be as good, as Jon Garland. As Cub fans, we would never hear the end of it from White Sox fans.

 

Are you saying Aardsma showed anything even close to a hint that he'd be anything except a reliever? Because I sure never saw it. That's what makes the Garland comparison, on ANY level, pretty ridiculous.

 

Aardsmaa has shown flashes of what he can do..the guy lacks control though..What go is throwing 97-100 MPH if you cant control it...He showed what happens by getting rocked plenty of times..Well just have to wait and see... This trade to me, is pretty much garbage for garbage..It means nothing..

 

When did he hit near 100? The difference between 97 and 100 is pretty substantial.

[Mephistopheles]

Has anyone looked at the splits for Cotts. He was dominant from April to July. He hit a wall the last two months. I didn't follow the White Sox enough to know if he got hurt or not.

[jmajew]

My gut says Hendry wants Cotts as a starter next year. He is probably, in Hendry's eyes, a gamble worth taking seeing how expensive pitching is this year. However, what I am hoping is that Hendry will use the addition of Cotts to trade Eyre and JJ for either Jake Westbrook or Jason Jennings. In each case the Cubs picking up some money. I think this way will give us a better chance of improving the rotation.

[Danny82]

I agree with all those posters that question this trade. I really don't like the fact that the Cubs traded away Aardsema (could be the second coming of Jon Garland), he's got a lot of potential and I really like his arm. I have a feeling that a couple of years down the road, that the Cubs are going to regret this trade. Please J. McDonough, fire Hendry right now.

 

How is Aardsma anything like Jon Garland?

 

he's right handed.

 

And he left the cubs in a trade with the white sox.

 

And he was a first round pick with brown hair?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I agree with all those posters that question this trade. I really don't like the fact that the Cubs traded away Aardsema (could be the second coming of Jon Garland), he's got a lot of potential and I really like his arm. I have a feeling that a couple of years down the road, that the Cubs are going to regret this trade. Please J. McDonough, fire Hendry right now.

 

How is Aardsma anything like Jon Garland?

 

he's right handed.

 

And he left the cubs in a trade with the white sox.

 

And he was a first round pick with brown hair?

 

Um, look closely at their names...

[CubinNY]

Put me in the "meh" camp on this trade, as this is basically a swap of young relievers with some potential whose performance to date has been a mixed bag at best.

 

While it's probably a pipe dream to hope that Cotts will ever return to his 2005 form, looking at his minor league numbers makes me think there's a decent chance he'll climb back to decent/pretty good territory. As has been pointed out, Cotts has had one outstanding MLB season and two pretty subpar ones. The big difference was in his HR rate; 1.79 and 2.00 in 2004 and 2006, respectively, but a minuscule 0.15 in 2005. Since he's pitched twice as many innings with the high HR rate, you may think 2005 was a completely fluke season, but it really isn't that far off his career minor league rate of 0.26 HR/9 in 300+ IP.

 

I agree. It's one of the "change of scenery" type trades. I really don't know how it sets the Cubs up to deal Eyre?

[RynoRules]

Put me in the "meh" camp on this trade, as this is basically a swap of young relievers with some potential whose performance to date has been a mixed bag at best.

 

While it's probably a pipe dream to hope that Cotts will ever return to his 2005 form, looking at his minor league numbers makes me think there's a decent chance he'll climb back to decent/pretty good territory. As has been pointed out, Cotts has had one outstanding MLB season and two pretty subpar ones. The big difference was in his HR rate; 1.79 and 2.00 in 2004 and 2006, respectively, but a minuscule 0.15 in 2005. Since he's pitched twice as many innings with the high HR rate, you may think 2005 was a completely fluke season, but it really isn't that far off his career minor league rate of 0.26 HR/9 in 300+ IP.

 

I agree. It's one of the "change of scenery" type trades. I really don't know how it sets the Cubs up to deal Eyre?

 

:?:

[CubinNY]

Put me in the "meh" camp on this trade, as this is basically a swap of young relievers with some potential whose performance to date has been a mixed bag at best.

 

While it's probably a pipe dream to hope that Cotts will ever return to his 2005 form, looking at his minor league numbers makes me think there's a decent chance he'll climb back to decent/pretty good territory. As has been pointed out, Cotts has had one outstanding MLB season and two pretty subpar ones. The big difference was in his HR rate; 1.79 and 2.00 in 2004 and 2006, respectively, but a minuscule 0.15 in 2005. Since he's pitched twice as many innings with the high HR rate, you may think 2005 was a completely fluke season, but it really isn't that far off his career minor league rate of 0.26 HR/9 in 300+ IP.

 

I agree. It's one of the "change of scenery" type trades. I really don't know how it sets the Cubs up to deal Eyre?

 

:?:

 

What is your question? A team can have more than one left handed reliever on the team, last time I checked the rule book. I don't know A) How this trade makes the Cubs any better or B) Makes Eyre an more available.

Edited November 17, 2006 by CubinNY

[A New Era]

They did say on WGN radio in a way to make it seem like JH likes having 3 lefties now. . More of just a hint of "oh boy we are set now".

[RationalSoxFan]

From the Sox perspective, what a hard throwing back end of the bullpen:

 

Jenks

Thornton

Macdougal

Aardsma

[CubinNY]

From the Sox perspective, what a hard throwing back end of the bullpen:

 

Jenks

Thornton

Macdougal

Aardsma

 

My opinon is that this was a "better" trade for the Sox, but not one that makes much of a difference in the big picture.

 

If I'm wrong and it does set up Eyre to be traded for a starter, my opinon might change.

[Guest]

cotts seems like a better replacement for ohman than eyre.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

If we're replacing a LOOGY, I'd just as well have Clay Rapada.

[Guest]

maybe someone else wants cotts.

[Laura]

Bruce's take!

 

Bruce Miles / The Daily Herald[/url]"] Do the math.Today's trade with the White Sox that sent lefty Neal Cotts to the North Side gives the Cubs a nine-man bullpen, and that's not counting any prospects who might make a spring-training run at a job.

 

For the White Sox, they added right-handed reliever David Aardsma to their roster and also get minor-league pitcher Carlos Vasquez, a 23-year-old lefty reliever.

 

The numbers suggest the Cubs likely will trade some of their bullpen surplus for a starting pitcher, say, Cleveland's Jake Westbrook.

 

That's not what Cubs general manager Jim Hendry says, even though he shows no signs of slowing down at the GM meetings in Naples, Fla.

 

"A lot of people have already asked us hard about our bullpen," Hendry said minutes after trading for Cotts. "We've got a strength in the pen now. It's hard to have a strength in the bullpen. If Neal Cotts stayed in the bullpen, you'd have three quality lefties in the pen. If Woody (Kerry Wood) comes back, we could be about as good as it gets in the pen.

 

"We're always open for trade discussions, but at the same time I don't have any interest in just trading a pen guy because we have some excess. If it made sense for us or if we can add a part to our ballclub that's missing, then you might have to include somebody."

 

The 26-year-old Cotts presents Hendry with a number of interesting options. Cotts could become the third lefty in the pen, joining veteran setup man Scott Eyre and situational guy Will Ohman.

 

That's the least likely scenario. Teams have expressed interest in Ohman, who will cost no more than about $1 million for 2007. Veteran Eyre has one year and $3.5 million remaining on his deal for '07 and a player option worth $3.8 million for 2008. He also enjoys some no-trade protection.

 

It's possible Cotts could return to a starting role, something he did early in his career in the Oakland organization and the White Sox.

[Guest]

Bruce's take!

 

Bruce Miles / The Daily Herald[/url]"] Do the math.Today's trade with the White Sox that sent lefty Neal Cotts to the North Side gives the Cubs a nine-man bullpen, and that's not counting any prospects who might make a spring-training run at a job.

 

For the White Sox, they added right-handed reliever David Aardsma to their roster and also get minor-league pitcher Carlos Vasquez, a 23-year-old lefty reliever.

 

The numbers suggest the Cubs likely will trade some of their bullpen surplus for a starting pitcher, say, Cleveland's Jake Westbrook.

 

That's not what Cubs general manager Jim Hendry says, even though he shows no signs of slowing down at the GM meetings in Naples, Fla.

 

"A lot of people have already asked us hard about our bullpen," Hendry said minutes after trading for Cotts. "We've got a strength in the pen now. It's hard to have a strength in the bullpen. If Neal Cotts stayed in the bullpen, you'd have three quality lefties in the pen. If Woody (Kerry Wood) comes back, we could be about as good as it gets in the pen.

 

"We're always open for trade discussions, but at the same time I don't have any interest in just trading a pen guy because we have some excess. If it made sense for us or if we can add a part to our ballclub that's missing, then you might have to include somebody."

 

The 26-year-old Cotts presents Hendry with a number of interesting options. Cotts could become the third lefty in the pen, joining veteran setup man Scott Eyre and situational guy Will Ohman.

 

That's the least likely scenario. Teams have expressed interest in Ohman, who will cost no more than about $1 million for 2007. Veteran Eyre has one year and $3.5 million remaining on his deal for '07 and a player option worth $3.8 million for 2008. He also enjoys some no-trade protection.

 

It's possible Cotts could return to a starting role, something he did early in his career in the Oakland organization and the White Sox.

 

how did the trade change the number of relievers? Is he counting Aardsma as a minor leaguer? Hendry is a liar!

[NorthsideAvenger]

IMO, I think Cotts make more sense as a starter for the Cubs then in the pen. There are certain pitchers that are moved to the pen, and have success initally, but struggle, due to the fact that the CAN'T use all of the pitches to stay successful (ie, Derek Lowe, he was a great closer a few yrs back, but suck as closer because he was FORCED to use only 2 of his pitches, and sometimes just 3). I think that is the case with Cotts, And then there are 2 pitch pitchers who are better closers, due to their max effort type mechanics (Rivera/Gordon/Wagner)

 

My opinion is....if Cotts is stretched out as a starter, I could see Cotts becoming a very solid Horatio Ramirez type middle to back end of the rotation starter. But, I do think, getting away from Ozzie, can help relax Cotts, and allow him to get back to his "roots."

 

I like the move.

[nilodnayr]

IMO, I think Cotts make more sense as a starter for the Cubs then in the pen. There are certain pitchers that are moved to the pen, and have success initally, but struggle, due to the fact that the CAN'T use all of the pitches to stay successful (ie, Derek Lowe, he was a great closer a few yrs back, but suck as closer because he was FORCED to use only 2 of his pitches, and sometimes just 3). I think that is the case with Cotts, And then there are 2 pitch pitchers who are better closers, due to their max effort type mechanics (Rivera/Gordon/Wagner)

 

My opinion is....if Cotts is stretched out as a starter, I could see Cotts becoming a very solid Horatio Ramirez type middle to back end of the rotation starter. But, I do think, getting away from Ozzie, can help relax Cotts, and allow him to get back to his "roots."

 

I like the move.

 

Lets trade him for Jake Peavy then!!!

[Laura]

Phil Rogers has a column up mainly about the trade. He includes this speculation:

 

The Cotts trade makes it less likely the Cubs will participate in bidding for Japanese left-hander Kei Igawa, whom Japan's Hanshin Tigers are expected to post Monday.

 

Another note from an accompanying column:

 

One benefit from the White Sox side on the Neal Cotts-David Aardsma trade: Quieting manager Ozzie Guillen. Carlos Vasquez, the minor-leaguer acquired with Aardsma, is Venezuelan. Guillen often has complained about the Sox being devoid of pitching talent from his native country.

[NorthsideAvenger]

IMO, I think Cotts make more sense as a starter for the Cubs then in the pen. There are certain pitchers that are moved to the pen, and have success initally, but struggle, due to the fact that the CAN'T use all of the pitches to stay successful (ie, Derek Lowe, he was a great closer a few yrs back, but suck as closer because he was FORCED to use only 2 of his pitches, and sometimes just 3). I think that is the case with Cotts, And then there are 2 pitch pitchers who are better closers, due to their max effort type mechanics (Rivera/Gordon/Wagner)

 

My opinion is....if Cotts is stretched out as a starter, I could see Cotts becoming a very solid Horatio Ramirez type middle to back end of the rotation starter. But, I do think, getting away from Ozzie, can help relax Cotts, and allow him to get back to his "roots."

 

I like the move.

 

Lets trade him for Jake Peavy then!!!

 

Sarcasm noted, and a return with (blows raspberry).

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

What this thread is missing is CubsBullsBears coming in and admonishing everyone in all caps that we should have fleeced the White Sox.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Cubs.com has an article about Cotts' reaction to the trade.

 

Link.

 

"I'm excited about the opportunity [to start]," Cotts said. "I know those doors wouldn't be open with the White Sox. They have too many guys over there with starting pitching. If that happens, it'd be great. If not, I can work out of the bullpen."

[Wheelimus]

Puts Cotts in rotation.

 

Let him do fairly well, but need to go because of a logjam of pitching, after Mark Prior bounces back to '03 form, and Wade Miller bounces back to pre-injury form.

 

Trade him to the Yankees for A-Rod.

 

BRILLIANT!

 

**this post brought to you by daydreaming**

[mg420]

i certainly hope that cotts is the last option the cubs will have for the rotation. i hope that 2 of meche, westbrook, iwaga & lilly are the major pitching targets of the cubs.

[YearofDaCubs]

i certainly hope that cotts is the last option the cubs will have for the rotation. i hope that 2 of meche, westbrook, iwaga & lilly are the major pitching targets of the cubs.

Westbrook and Lilly please