What would it take to FINALLY get Miguel Tejada in Chicago?

[don_kessinger_was_good]

We know the Cubs have tried to get him the past two years. We could obviously use him. We also know the Orioles have been a very difficult trade partner for us, they stretched things out forever with both Sosa and Patterson and ended up giving us squat for each.

 

Still....if Baltimore is serious about upgrading their pitching, is there any hope that a deal built around Prior could still happen? Tejada would give us that third big bat we need in the middle of the order, with Soriano at the top, and our offense would be pretty unstoppable at that point.

 

Prior, Pie, and Izturis?

[Rooftop Bum]

I think that window of opportunity passed long ago. At least anything revolving around Mark Prior.

[Hosak8]

Why would we want him?

 

He's not the elite offensive player he once was, and his defense is steadily declining as well.

 

Granted, he's probably a better alternative to Cesar, but he's not worth anywhere near what he'd cost us in prospects OR cash.

 

Pass.

[goonys evil twin]

Why would we want him?

 

He's not the elite offensive player he once was, and his defense is steadily declining as well.

 

Granted, he's probably a better alternative to Cesar, but he's not worth anywhere near what he'd cost us in prospects OR cash.

 

Pass.

 

OPS+ of 126 last year, still well above his career 114. That 126 is definitely elite for his position, and absolutely blows away anything the Cubs could hope to get.

 

It might not be worth the trade cost, and he is an aging middle infielder (not a good combo), but don't think for a moment that's he's not an elite hitter. If he was ever an elite hitter, it was relative to his position, and in that regard, he still is.

[ChiCubsFan]

Why would we want him?

 

He's not the elite offensive player he once was, and his defense is steadily declining as well.

 

Granted, he's probably a better alternative to Cesar, but he's not worth anywhere near what he'd cost us in prospects OR cash.

 

Pass.

 

What?

 

How is he not the elite offensive player he once was? He had his best or second best season this year. Highest OBP of his career (.379) and 2nd highest OPS of his career (.878). Saying he isn't worth what it would cost in players and money may be a good argument, but saying he isn't the offensive power he once was is just a flat out lie.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think the White Sox trading for him might be what it takes to get Tejada to Chicago.

[Rob]

Why would we want him?

 

He's not the elite offensive player he once was, and his defense is steadily declining as well.

 

Granted, he's probably a better alternative to Cesar, but he's not worth anywhere near what he'd cost us in prospects OR cash.

 

Pass.

 

Typically speaking, Tejada has a higher BA than Izturis has OBP. Tejada's OBP is higher than Izturis Slug%... Tejada's Slug% is around 500... or about 100 to 150 points less than Izturis's expected OPS.

 

Even if you want to make the argument he's not worth the cost... fine. If you want to make the argument he's not an elite offense force... fine. But he's such an upgrade over Izturis it's almost magical.

[RynoRules]

I think the White Sox trading for him might be what it takes to get Tejada to Chicago.

 

I agree that is far more likely, though I'd love our lineup with him.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Why would we want him?

 

He's not the elite offensive player he once was, and his defense is steadily declining as well.

 

Granted, he's probably a better alternative to Cesar, but he's not worth anywhere near what he'd cost us in prospects OR cash.

 

Pass.

 

Typically speaking, Tejada has a higher BA than Izturis has OBP. Tejada's OBP is higher than Izturis Slug%... Tejada's Slug% is around 500... or about 100 to 150 points less than Izturis's expected OPS.

 

Even if you want to make the argument he's not worth the cost... fine. If you want to make the argument he's not an elite offense force... fine. But he's such an upgrade over Izturis it's almost magical.

 

What he said.

[rawaction]

Yeah, Tejada definitely hasn't fallen off yet. I'd love to go after him. My biggest problems with that though would be the cost in players to get him and the fact that he, Ramirez and Soriano are really all similar hitters. Of course, they are all good. But I would like that caliber of bat in a player that walks a little more and perhaps bats LH. Drew comes to mind, as usual. But, no, I would not complain 1 bit about Tejada, probably regardless of what the Cubs would give up to get him.

[goonys evil twin]

Yeah, Tejada definitely hasn't fallen off yet. I'd love to go after him. My biggest problems with that though would be the cost in players to get him and the fact that he, Ramirez and Soriano are really all similar hitters. Of course, they are all good. But I would like that caliber of bat in a player that walks a little more and perhaps bats LH. Drew comes to mind, as usual. But, no, I would not complain 1 bit about Tejada, probably regardless of what the Cubs would give up to get him.

 

I've always thought that if Hendry is going to go after that type of hitter, not particularly patient, but potent toolsy guy, he might as well get the really good ones.

[TheDude]

I think the window may have passed. This market has increased Tejeda's value considerably IMO and he is now worth that front-line starter the Orioles have been holding out for, when he may not have been last year.

[goonys evil twin]

I think the window may have passed. This market has increased Tejeda's value considerably IMO and he is now worth that front-line starter the Orioles have been holding out for, when he may not have been last year.

 

That's assuming the market for position players has gone up while the market for frontline pitchers has been stagnant.

 

The only thing that we can say for sure has increased, in this market, is the cost for players in terms of dollars. The relative cost of a big hitting SS and a starting pitcher has not been clearly alterted.

[TheDude]

I think the window may have passed. This market has increased Tejeda's value considerably IMO and he is now worth that front-line starter the Orioles have been holding out for, when he may not have been last year.

 

That's assuming the market for position players has gone up while the market for frontline pitchers has been stagnant.

 

The only thing that we can say for sure has increased, in this market, is the cost for players in terms of dollars. The relative cost of a big hitting SS and a starting pitcher has not been clearly alterted.

 

I understand your point. I should have been more specific - Baltimore has continually asked for a young frontline starter, at least a few years from free agency (Santana, Prior, etc). That's a market that is very difficult to put a dollar value to - so while I don't mean to suggest it's stagnant, I do think it is more difficult to quantify in dollars, and could therefore be under/over-valued.

 

But Tejada's value has very clearly risen, much the same way Manny Ramirez's value has risen. So I think Baltimore has more leverage this year than they did last year with regards to trading Tejada for a young starter.

[Soriano12]

What would it take to FINALLY get Miguel Tejada in Chicago?

 

According to Bill James.....Ronny Cedeno.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

What would it take to FINALLY get Miguel Tejada in Chicago?

 

According to Bill James.....Ronny Cedeno.

 

If that's all, it would have been done by now.

[ThePenguin11]

We can't afford to give up the manpower it would take to acquire Tejada. The first thing they'll ask for is Hill, then Pie, then maybe even Prior. It took me a long time to get here but I'm finally on the Hill bandwagon. The conversation starts and ends at Rich Hill. We can't afford to lose another SP and they might ask for two of them. Pie, meh, I don't care much about him in this type of deal, but that's far from enough for the Orioles.

[goonys evil twin]

We can't afford to lose another SP and they might ask for two of them.

 

We can't afford to lose another SP, unless we acquire one elsewhere to make up for it. Hill shouldn't be untouchable, not if somebody is willing to give up a stud for him and you can cover your pitching with another move.

[Guest]

I don't know what it would take to get Tejada but I know what it would take to get Lugo.

[ThePenguin11]

We can't afford to lose another SP and they might ask for two of them.

 

We can't afford to lose another SP, unless we acquire one elsewhere to make up for it. Hill shouldn't be untouchable, not if somebody is willing to give up a stud for him and you can cover your pitching with another move.

 

If we trade Hill our rotation consists of Carlos Zambrano and Mark Prior (if not in the deal). We'd have to trade for a guy like Westbrook, hope to sign Schmidt (not likely after taking on Tejada's salary) or two other SP's from this free agent crop - most of which are glorified 4/5 starters. I'm not very willing to give up anyone in our plans for 2007 if it sets us back at multiple positions.

[Abe Frohman]

I think the Cubs would be better off finding a way to pry Vernon Wells from Toronto and going with Izturis/Cedeno at Shortstop than trying to get Tejada. Overall better defense, and a comperable bat.

 

RF Soriano

LF Murton

1B Lee

3B Ramirez

CF Wells

CA Barrett

2B DeRosa

SS Izturis/Cedeno

[David]

I think the Cubs would be better off finding a way to pry Vernon Wells from Toronto and going with Izturis/Cedeno at Shortstop than trying to get Tejada. Overall better defense, and a comperable bat.

 

RF Soriano

LF Murton

1B Lee

3B Ramirez

CF Wells

CA Barrett

2B DeRosa

SS Izturis/Cedeno

 

Tejada & Jones > Wells & Izturis/Cedeno

[Jazz]

I think the Cubs would be better off finding a way to pry Vernon Wells from Toronto and going with Izturis/Cedeno at Shortstop than trying to get Tejada. Overall better defense, and a comperable bat.

 

RF Soriano

LF Murton

1B Lee

3B Ramirez

CF Wells

CA Barrett

2B DeRosa

SS Izturis/Cedeno

 

Tejada & Jones > Wells & Izturis/Cedeno

 

not to mention Wells is a year rental, because his contract demands after 2007 will be insane, especially after the year he is going to have in his contract year.

[Abe Frohman]

I think the Cubs would be better off finding a way to pry Vernon Wells from Toronto and going with Izturis/Cedeno at Shortstop than trying to get Tejada. Overall better defense, and a comperable bat.

 

RF Soriano

LF Murton

1B Lee

3B Ramirez

CF Wells

CA Barrett

2B DeRosa

SS Izturis/Cedeno

 

Tejada & Jones > Wells & Izturis/Cedeno

 

not to mention Wells is a year rental, because his contract demands after 2007 will be insane, especially after the year he is going to have in his contract year.

 

Defensively & Financially: Wells & Izturis/Cedeno > Tejada & Jones.

 

Vernon Wells is not going to come cheap, but who's to say next years Outfield market will be the same as this years. Anyone know who will be on the market next year?

[CubinNY]

I think the Cubs would be better off finding a way to pry Vernon Wells from Toronto and going with Izturis/Cedeno at Shortstop than trying to get Tejada. Overall better defense, and a comperable bat.

 

RF Soriano

LF Murton

1B Lee

3B Ramirez

CF Wells

CA Barrett

2B DeRosa

SS Izturis/Cedeno

 

Tejada & Jones > Wells & Izturis/Cedeno

 

not to mention Wells is a year rental, because his contract demands after 2007 will be insane, especially after the year he is going to have in his contract year.

 

Defensively & Financially: Wells & Izturis/Cedeno > Tejada & Jones.

 

Vernon Wells is not going to come cheap, but who's to say next years Outfield market will be the same as this years. Anyone know who will be on the market next year?

 

Vernon Well and Andruw Jones to name two.