Steve Phillips, ESPN: CHI/COL/PIT

[VanceJergins]

I like it if true. What is the length of Jenning's contract, and how much is he owed again?

 

Next year is the last year of his contract and he's owed 5.5M

[Balsa]

I like it if true. What is the length of Jenning's contract, and how much is he owed again?

 

Next year is the last year of his contract and he's owed 5.5M

So not really a salary dump, and we get him for one year.

 

Starting to cool on Jennings though, but at least he's young. Both players coming off career years, so I guess it's a wash.

[Mephistopheles]

I dont understand why anyone wants Jason Jennings. He's not good. His career WHIP away from Coors is over 1.40. No thanks.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I dont understand why anyone wants Jason Jennings. He's not good. His career WHIP away from Coors is over 1.40. No thanks.

 

Yeah, I'm not liking this deal the more I think about it. I'd rather have Jacque in CF than Jennings in the rotation. Rearrange some of those names and give me Maholm + Hawpe for Jones + Marmol. Think that'd work?

[VanceJergins]

I dont understand why anyone wants Jason Jennings. He's not good. His career WHIP away from Coors is over 1.40. No thanks.

 

He's better than any of the 2nd tier FA's and he'll only cost 5.5M. I dont know of anyone better we could get for Jones.

[Hosak8]

I dont understand why anyone wants Jason Jennings. He's not good. His career WHIP away from Coors is over 1.40. No thanks.

 

Yeah, I'm not liking this deal the more I think about it. I'd rather have Jacque in CF than Jennings in the rotation. Rearrange some of those names and give me Maholm + Hawpe for Jones + Marmol. Think that'd work?

 

Sure... in your wettest dreams.

[Balsa]

I dont understand why anyone wants Jason Jennings. He's not good. His career WHIP away from Coors is over 1.40. No thanks.

 

He's better than any of the 2nd tier FA's and he'll only cost 5.5M. I dont know of anyone better we could get for Jones.

He's coming off of a career year and he's way under market value, I would think we could get more for him, but then the pitching market is very tight as well, and if it's a choice between this trade and Lilly or Meche for 4/44 or up, I'm taking this trade.

[nilodnayr]

I'm not a huge Maholm fan, myself. If money's not an object, I'd rather have Jennings.

 

But Hawpe is far and away the best player in the deal.

 

My fear is that the cubs now sign Jennings to an extension. And as I've said before Jennings is the starting pitcher version of DeRosa.

 

I don't think so. Jennings is younger and has a much better past beyond the career year. And, because he's younger that career year is more likely to repeat itself than DeRosa's is. There's no glaring evidence pointing to 2006 being a fluke for Jennings like there is for DeRosa and his BABIP either.

 

While theres nothing like DeRosas BABIP that suggest 06 was a fluke good year, theres nothing that suggests that any of his previous years were fluke bad years. While hes had a much better past A) thats not saying much (its really not saying anything) and B) the extension would be for over twice as much as DeRosas salary.

[Jehrico]

I dont understand why anyone wants Jason Jennings. He's not good. His career WHIP away from Coors is over 1.40. No thanks.

 

He's better than any of the 2nd tier FA's and he'll only cost 5.5M. I dont know of anyone better we could get for Jones.

 

The gap between him and Lily or Meche isn't worth giving up Marmol for alone. I'd rather get a quality cheap bat off of the bench for Jones and keep Marmol than trade for Jennings. If Marmol's included, then they have to take Izturis off of our hands so we can sign Lugo.

[davearm]

Am I the only one that thinks the Rox are getting totally shafted in this one?

 

It's not hard to argue that they're supplying the best pitcher (Jennings) and the best hitter (Hawpe) in the deal.

 

Not only that, but in this climate both of those guys would draw a lot of interest from around the league. No reason to give them both up in a crappy deal for a blah vet and two questionmarks.

[nilodnayr]

I'm not a huge Maholm fan, myself. If money's not an object, I'd rather have Jennings.

 

But Hawpe is far and away the best player in the deal.

 

My fear is that the cubs now sign Jennings to an extension. And as I've said before Jennings is the starting pitcher version of DeRosa.

Whereas my hope is that the Cubs get a good year out of him, he goes FA and the Cubs get "A" level comp for him to replace Marmol as a prospect.

 

I hope for this as well, but have a feeling it is unlikely. If this is Hendry's intention then I am in favor of this trade. Kinda weird that the only way I like the trade is if we let the guy we are trading for walk after a year. :)

[KingCubsFan]

I dont understand why anyone wants Jason Jennings. He's not good. His career WHIP away from Coors is over 1.40. No thanks.

 

He's better than any of the 2nd tier FA's and he'll only cost 5.5M. I dont know of anyone better we could get for Jones.

 

The gap between him and Lily or Meche isn't worth giving up Marmol for alone. I'd rather get a quality cheap bat off of the bench for Jones and keep Marmol than trade for Jennings. If Marmol's included, then they have to take Izturis off of our hands so we can sign Lugo.

No offense, but I'm glad you're not our GM. You just proposed trading a reasonably-priced starter for a bench player rather than a fairly young, cheap starting pitcher who, because he makes half of what someone like Lilly will get, could theoretically allow us to sign Schmidt for the same price as Lilly + Meche. Marmol is an OK prospect, but he had horrible control issues and may end up being a reliever.

[Mephistopheles]

I dont understand why anyone wants Jason Jennings. He's not good. His career WHIP away from Coors is over 1.40. No thanks.

 

He's better than any of the 2nd tier FA's and he'll only cost 5.5M. I dont know of anyone better we could get for Jones.

He's coming off of a career year and he's way under market value, I would think we could get more for him, but then the pitching market is very tight as well, and if it's a choice between this trade and Lilly or Meche for 4/44 or up, I'm taking this trade.

 

This trade is a lateral movement more than anything. We're not any better after making it than we were before. It really doesn't help us and is not improving us significantly - if at all.

[Balsa]

I dont understand why anyone wants Jason Jennings. He's not good. His career WHIP away from Coors is over 1.40. No thanks.

 

He's better than any of the 2nd tier FA's and he'll only cost 5.5M. I dont know of anyone better we could get for Jones.

He's coming off of a career year and he's way under market value, I would think we could get more for him, but then the pitching market is very tight as well, and if it's a choice between this trade and Lilly or Meche for 4/44 or up, I'm taking this trade.

 

This trade is a lateral movement more than anything. We're not any better after making it than we were before. It really doesn't help us and is not improving us significantly - if at all.

I thought that, but whatever OF we get to fill the spot is gonna cost less and have less years than what Jennings would on the market, so while we haven't improved, we've at least saved some money and avoided an ugly 4 year contract to either Meche or Lilly.

[nilodnayr]

I dont understand why anyone wants Jason Jennings. He's not good. His career WHIP away from Coors is over 1.40. No thanks.

 

He's better than any of the 2nd tier FA's and he'll only cost 5.5M. I dont know of anyone better we could get for Jones.

He's coming off of a career year and he's way under market value, I would think we could get more for him, but then the pitching market is very tight as well, and if it's a choice between this trade and Lilly or Meche for 4/44 or up, I'm taking this trade.

 

This trade is a lateral movement more than anything. We're not any better after making it than we were before. It really doesn't help us and is not improving us significantly - if at all.

I thought that, but whatever OF we get to fill the spot is gonna cost less and have less years than what Jennings would on the market, so while we haven't improved, we've at least saved some money and avoided an ugly 4 year contract to either Meche or Lilly.

 

But when we sign Jennings to a 4/40 extension it will become a worse than lateral move.

[andrew9991]

Quick Question: Which of our young pitchers do you guys think would be comparable to Maholm??? Maybe Marshall??? What I'm getting at is this: Do we really have to make this a 3-way deal. Why not just add an extra prospect on our end and come away with both Jennings and Hawpe? Hawpe is exactly the high OBP, high OPS left handed bat it would seem we are searching for...not to mention the fact that he is young and cheap.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Quick Question: Which of our young pitchers do you guys think would be comparable to Maholm??? Maybe Marshall??? What I'm getting at is this: Do we really have to make this a 3-way deal. Why not just add an extra prospect on our end and come away with both Jennings and Hawpe? Hawpe is exactly the high OBP, high OPS left handed bat it would seem we are searching for...not to mention the fact that he is young and cheap.

 

I think Maholm is much better than Marshall and probably better than all of the guys who gave it a whirl last year.

[NorthsideAvenger]

So the question is....how do the Cubs improve their pitching? I mean rather it is the length of the contract (Schmidt), or the dollar amount (Meche/Lilly/Zito), and players needed (Westrbrook,<---for kicks, Jennings) everybody on this board seems to have pros and cons about EVERY pitching possibility? Again, how do the Cubs improve their rotation that would both: 1: be a quality rotation and 2: Not significanly worsen the team?

 

So, it's either OVERPAY for certain pitchers (prospects and/or money) or go into next season with a rotation of Z/Hill/Fan in Sec. C seat 123/Fan in the Bleacher Bums seciton/Prior, Miller, Marmol, Guzman, Marshall, and perhaps even Veal and Gallagher.

 

So, regardless of it being the "right or wrong" way to do it, the Cubs are going to have to overpay for a couple of pitchers, or hoave more holes in the rotation, then I had in the last pair of undies I threw out.

[nilodnayr]

Quick Question: Which of our young pitchers do you guys think would be comparable to Maholm??? Maybe Marshall??? What I'm getting at is this: Do we really have to make this a 3-way deal. Why not just add an extra prospect on our end and come away with both Jennings and Hawpe? Hawpe is exactly the high OBP, high OPS left handed bat it would seem we are searching for...not to mention the fact that he is young and cheap.

 

Baseball America compared him to Glavine.

 

Topprospectalert.com had him as 51 (in terms of pitching prospects) in 2005

For comparions sake Pinto was 50, Marshall was not ranked.

[NCCubFan]

http://www.ken-jennings.com/images/portraitsmall.jpg

 

Future Cubs pitcher? :lol:

[nilodnayr]

So the question is....how do the Cubs improve their pitching? I mean rather it is the length of the contract (Schmidt), or the dollar amount (Meche/Lilly/Zito), and players needed (Westrbrook,<---for kicks, Jennings) everybody on this board seems to have pros and cons about EVERY pitching possibility? Again, how do the Cubs improve their rotation that would both: 1: be a quality rotation and 2: Not significanly worsen the team?

 

So, it's either OVERPAY for certain pitchers (prospects and/or money) or go into next season with a rotation of Z/Hill/Fan in Sec. C seat 123/Fan in the Bleacher Bums seciton/Prior, Miller, Marmol, Guzman, Marshall, and perhaps even Veal and Gallagher.

 

So, regardless of it being the "right or wrong" way to do it, the Cubs are going to have to overpay for a couple of pitchers, or hoave more holes in the rotation, then I had in the last pair of undies I threw out.

 

Obviously overpaying is going to be necessary, its the fact of the current market. Hendry should just overpay wisely. Overpaying wisely would net Schmidt, Padilla, and JD Drew. Overpaying unwisely would net Soriano, Lilly, and Meche.

[tkenm356]

I like the deal. I'd love Hawpe but we need pitching anyway. Bring on Jennings if true.

 

We should just throw in Izturis and get Hawpe too. Although I'd want a prospect too. Izturis has won a gold glove, ya know.

 

I agree with that wholeheartedly. I think we're getting the shaft on this one. We're givinmg up two players, one of which is a corner OF'er whose bat could be greatly valued on the trade market and we're only getting Jason Jennings out of it?

 

1) It's a price swap

2) It fills one hole and creates another (insert immature joke here)

 

I like your non-chalant idea of requesting a prospect. And you know what? I'd aim high. Troy Tulowitzki, SS prospect. Blocked by Clint Barmes at SS and Kaz Matsui/Jaimie Carroll at 2B (granted, Barmes completely sucked last year).

 

Throw Izturis in the deal, who needs him? Tulowitzki is the best infield defender in the Rockies minor league system, and he knows how to hit. Something Izturis can't do.

 

I know I'm reaching here, but I don't like this trade idea, I feel like we're getting the shaft for some reason. We should get a prospect from one of the two teams

[Rusch33]

Am I the only one here that thinks it's good to be getting rid of Jacque after having a career year?

 

I don't see him repeating last year, but that's just me.

[NorthsideAvenger]

So the question is....how do the Cubs improve their pitching? I mean rather it is the length of the contract (Schmidt), or the dollar amount (Meche/Lilly/Zito), and players needed (Westrbrook,<---for kicks, Jennings) everybody on this board seems to have pros and cons about EVERY pitching possibility? Again, how do the Cubs improve their rotation that would both: 1: be a quality rotation and 2: Not significanly worsen the team?

 

So, it's either OVERPAY for certain pitchers (prospects and/or money) or go into next season with a rotation of Z/Hill/Fan in Sec. C seat 123/Fan in the Bleacher Bums seciton/Prior, Miller, Marmol, Guzman, Marshall, and perhaps even Veal and Gallagher.

 

So, regardless of it being the "right or wrong" way to do it, the Cubs are going to have to overpay for a couple of pitchers, or hoave more holes in the rotation, then I had in the last pair of undies I threw out.

 

Obviously overpaying is going to be necessary, its the fact of the current market. Hendry should just overpay wisely. Overpaying wisely would net Schmidt, Padilla, and JD Drew. Overpaying unwisely would net Soriano, Lilly, and Meche.

 

I agree in part nilodnay, but I don't necessarily think giving Soriano that contract is "overpaying." Sure the contract doesn't much the talent (I'm hoping 2006 is going to continue in 2007 and beyond, but that's me), but I do think "overpaying", would have been to sign Carlos "Buy me a hamburger" Lee, GM, Jr, and Juan Pierre would have been worse deals, IMO. Otherwise, overpaying is the price to building a team. Now it is up to Hendry to figure out which players are worth the extra dough and who isn't. Lilly, maybe. Marquis...NO. Padilla, I could see it. Meche, Hecks no. In fact Meche should get a contract that Carpenter got, when he first sign with the Cardinals, but oh well.

[tkenm356]

Upon further review, Dan O'Dowd is a liar

 

Hawpe off trade market

By Troy E. Renck

Denver Post Staff Writer

Article Last Updated:11/28/2006 11:39:59 PM MST

 

Rockies right fielder Brad Hawpe isn't going anywhere and the starting rotation could return intact as well. After receiving inquiries from the Cardinals, Phillies and Pirates, the Rockies assured Hawpe's agent Tuesday that they have no plans to trade the 27-year-old slugger.

 

The Cardinals did land someone on the Rockies' radar by signing starter Kip Wells, increasing the likelihood Josh Fogg will return to Colorado.

 

Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said Monday that "it's very possible we will have the same five starters."

 

The club, for now, is holding on to Jason Jennings - add the Cardinals to the teams that have expressed interest - and has Aaron Cook, Jeff Francis and Byung-Hyun Kim under contract. Fogg is arbitration eligible.

 

The Rockies are expected to begin negotiations with Fogg next week. They must offer him a contract by Dec. 12 or make him a free agent.

 

To add depth, the Rockies signed pitcher Eric Dubose to a minor-league contract.