Winter Meetings Thread (Merged)

[UK1679666180]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2685697

 

• 12:15 p.m.: Ted Lilly is rumored to be signing with the Cubs.

 

• 12:15 p.m.: The Cubs are dangling right fielder Jacque Jones.

 

 

That's not a lot of information, but it's something.

 

So what does everyone think about Lilly?

 

Isn't he a bit of a mismatch for Wrigley, being a flyball pitcher and all? Maybe I'm not seeing it right.

 

Should be an upgrade regardless, albeit an expensive one.

 

He's ok enough to be a middle of the rotation starter on a decent staff, bad enough to be a btm of the rotation starter on a good staff, and good enough to be a top 2 starter on a bad staff.

[kente777]

Hendry will add one more pitcher...either Schmidt or Jennings.

 

Watch and see! :)

 

Ken

[Bruno7481]

Looks like Lilly will be a Cub. Hendry probably outbid himself to get him too.

 

Zambrano

Hill

Lilly

Miller

Prior/Mateo/Marmol/Guzman

 

as it stands right now. I'm just worried we are going to be relying a little too much on Hill to be good

 

Same worry here. I know he was great the 2nd half of the season, but I still have concerns. It would be great if he was slotted in the back end of the rotation, instead of one of the guys they are relyingon heavily.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2685697

 

• 12:15 p.m.: Ted Lilly is rumored to be signing with the Cubs.

 

• 12:15 p.m.: The Cubs are dangling right fielder Jacque Jones.

 

 

That's not a lot of information, but it's something.

 

Welcome aboard!

[Bruno7481]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2685697

 

• 12:15 p.m.: Ted Lilly is rumored to be signing with the Cubs.

 

• 12:15 p.m.: The Cubs are dangling right fielder Jacque Jones.

 

 

That's not a lot of information, but it's something.

 

So what does everyone think about Lilly?

 

Isn't he a bit of a mismatch for Wrigley, being a flyball pitcher and all? Maybe I'm not seeing it right.

 

Should be an upgrade regardless, albeit an expensive one.

 

He's ok enough to be a middle of the rotation starter on a decent staff, bad enough to be a btm of the rotation starter on a good staff, and good enough to be a top 2 starter on a bad staff.

 

Good stuff

 

:wink:

[cheapseats]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2685697

 

• 12:15 p.m.: Ted Lilly is rumored to be signing with the Cubs.

 

• 12:15 p.m.: The Cubs are dangling right fielder Jacque Jones.

 

 

That's not a lot of information, but it's something.

 

So what does everyone think about Lilly?

 

Isn't he a bit of a mismatch for Wrigley, being a flyball pitcher and all? Maybe I'm not seeing it right.

 

Should be an upgrade regardless, albeit an expensive one.

 

As I look at his K numbers, I'm warming up to him a little bit. He was 17th in K/9 last year.

 

He's #10 in flyball percentage, so yes, that might be a problem at Wrigley, but Zito and Schmidt actually give up more flyballs than Lilly.

[RynoRules]

If we are going to sign Lily and one of Meche/ Marquis/ Schmidt (please), who are we trading Jacque for?

[JLN]

Again from http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2685697

 

"Reports that the Cubs are making serious runs at Jason Schmidt and Barry Zito appear to be vastly overblown. Zito is barely on their radar screen. And Schmidt's price tag ($15 million a year for three to five years) has them looking for less expensive options -- with a list topped by Ted Lilly and Gil Meche."

 

Thanks for the welcome guys. I've been reading the boards for a long time and always enjoy it here.

[UK1679666180]

I'd be more worried counting on Miller than Hill, even with Lilly there are too many questions with the rotation until they add another starter.

 

If you have two spots to be filled between Prior, Guzman, Miller, and everyone else that's one spot too many.

[RynoRules]

I think we knew the Zito stuff was a smokescreen, and I am not surprised to read that we are/were interested in Scmidt but think the money might be too much.

[goonys evil twin]

If we are going to sign Lily and one of Meche/ Marquis/ Schmidt (please), who are we trading Jacque for?

 

We're trading him for whoever is necessary to get the free agent pitcher's agents to think the Cubs have some leverage in negotiations.

[Danny82]

Please pass on Zito, Jim.

[RynoRules]

If we are going to sign Lily and one of Meche/ Marquis/ Schmidt (please), who are we trading Jacque for?

 

We're trading him for whoever is necessary to get the free agent pitcher's agents to think the Cubs have some leverage in negotiations.

 

That's actually not a terrible idea, but then if we deal him for a pitcher, who is going to play in the OF w/ Murt and Soriano? Lofton?

[Bruno7481]

Please pass on Zito, Jim.

 

Can't say I'd bee all that thrilled w/ Zito either. I think Lilly can give you somewhat reasonable production compared to Zito for less cash.

 

Although if Lilly is in the neighborhood of 10 to 11 million a year, i'm real anxious to see what Zito squeezes out of somebody.

[sethuel1]

Again from http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2685697

 

"Reports that the Cubs are making serious runs at Jason Schmidt and Barry Zito appear to be vastly overblown. Zito is barely on their radar screen. And Schmidt's price tag ($15 million a year for three to five years) has them looking for less expensive options -- with a list topped by Ted Lilly and Gil Meche."

 

Thanks for the welcome guys. I've been reading the boards for a long time and always enjoy it here.

ugh. Lilly at $11 mil a year vs. Schmidt at $15 and we want Lilly?

[don_kessinger_was_good]

If we are going to sign Lily and one of Meche/ Marquis/ Schmidt (please), who are we trading Jacque for?

 

We're trading him for whoever is necessary to get the free agent pitcher's agents to think the Cubs have some leverage in negotiations.

 

That's actually not a terrible idea, but then if we deal him for a pitcher, who is going to play in the OF w/ Murt and Soriano? Lofton?

 

Manny Ramirez?

[CubinNY]

If we are going to sign Lily and one of Meche/ Marquis/ Schmidt (please), who are we trading Jacque for?

 

I don't know, but if the Cubs trade JJ they will need to get a slugger or a high OBP guy for SS or CF.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Schmidt is asking for too many years and we already have a Zito-like lefty in Rich Hill. There are better ways to spend money. Guys like Lilly, Meche, Padilla are much better options at this point. They'll be movable later in their contracts. The market will always overvalue pitching and the contracts they get this year will seem very reasonable 2 years from now.

 

I don't like Lilly's GB/FB ratio, but he's not a bad option for the price.

 

I want to see Lilly try and show up Piniella on the mound. WWF in the clubhouse.

[RynoRules]

If we are going to sign Lily and one of Meche/ Marquis/ Schmidt (please), who are we trading Jacque for?

 

We're trading him for whoever is necessary to get the free agent pitcher's agents to think the Cubs have some leverage in negotiations.

 

That's actually not a terrible idea, but then if we deal him for a pitcher, who is going to play in the OF w/ Murt and Soriano? Lofton?

 

Manny Ramirez?

 

\:D/

[wade]

If we are going to sign Lily and one of Meche/ Marquis/ Schmidt (please), who are we trading Jacque for?

 

I don't know, but if the Cubs trade JJ they will need to get a slugger or a high OBP guy for SS or CF.

 

And they're supposedly looking for a lefty bat this week. Unless you get a realy good hitter a JJ trade / sign someone else looks like a lateral move to me.

[Derwood]

I was mistaken in mentioning Gallagher. Sorry about that.

 

And never seeing them pitch again was a bit of hyerbole.

 

My point is that your farm system is there for 2 reasons; to develop talent and to give you trading pieces. I don't understand the one or two of (seemingly) a dozen young arms to get a guy who is ready now (jennings)

[RichHillIsABeast]

If we are going to sign Lily and one of Meche/ Marquis/ Schmidt (please), who are we trading Jacque for?

 

I don't know, but if the Cubs trade JJ they will need to get a slugger or a high OBP guy for SS or CF.

 

How about Lugo in CF this season and move him to SS after we buy out Izturis next season? It's not ideal offensive production out of CF this season, but it doesn't block Pie or tie us down to another long term contract in the OF.

 

Lugo isn't a high OBP guy and definitely doesn't have a ton of power, but the OF power problem might not be fixable this season.

 

Another year of Murton developing (especially his power) and not filling in CF with a longterm contract could seem like the best move we never made.

[RynoRules]

If we are going to sign Lily and one of Meche/ Marquis/ Schmidt (please), who are we trading Jacque for?

 

I don't know, but if the Cubs trade JJ they will need to get a slugger or a high OBP guy for SS or CF.

 

And they're supposedly looking for a lefty bat this week. Unless you get a realy good hitter a JJ trade / sign someone else looks like a lateral move to me.

 

I think we could be looking at Floyd, which would be fine if this were 1999.

[RichHillIsABeast]

I was mistaken in mentioning Gallagher. Sorry about that.

 

And never seeing them pitch again was a bit of hyerbole.

 

My point is that your farm system is there for 2 reasons; to develop talent and to give you trading pieces. I don't understand the one or two of (seemingly) a dozen young arms to get a guy who is ready now (jennings)

 

Reason 3:

 

To rehab your injury prone ML players. :lol:

[RichHillIsABeast]

If we are going to sign Lily and one of Meche/ Marquis/ Schmidt (please), who are we trading Jacque for?

 

We're trading him for whoever is necessary to get the free agent pitcher's agents to think the Cubs have some leverage in negotiations.

 

That's actually not a terrible idea, but then if we deal him for a pitcher, who is going to play in the OF w/ Murt and Soriano? Lofton?

 

Manny Ramirez?

 

\:D/

 

Supposedly they want at least Penny, Loney, and LaRoche from LA (Rosenthal). We can't touch that and shouldn't even try.

Edited December 4, 2006 by RichHillIsABeast