Maybe time to take a run at Ichiro?

[davearm]

I'm not in love with Ichiro, but the guy would be a nice upgrade to the 2007 team, and the perfect bridge to Felix Pie.

 

If you can get him for a reasonable, one-year rental type of price, then go for it. Plug him in for a year and then take the draft pick(s) when he signs elsewhere for 08 and beyond.

 

Seems doubtful to me that the price would be reasonable though. At least not prior to the deadline anyway.

[Rob]

I would also like to remind everybody that playing in a small field like Wrigley would most likely depress his offensive value a bit.

[BigbadB]

A deal like this would only make sense from a marketing aspect. Marketing doesn't win ball games.

 

Last year, Hendry made an ill advised deal for Juan Pierre. He packaged 3 arms for a guy in the last year of his contract. This year, the 3 arms aren't here and neither is Juan Pierre (thankfully).

 

The Cubs are currently rebuilding the farm system. They are not in a position to create more weaknesses for the sake of 30 more hits in 2007.

 

The Cubs now have depth in the outfield, something they should at least experiment with for half a season and see how they like having good players rest other good players. I'm personally tired of watching guys like Bynum and Mabry playing in place of the starter because the team has zero depth. Depth is a good thing. If Soriano tweaked a hamstring in game 1 of the regular season, the Cubs could send Floyd, Murton and Jones out there not hamstring (no pun intended) the offense too badly.

 

And then there's 2008, where Ichiro will be auctioned to the highest bidder. Are the Cubs in a position to win that auction financially? If not, then next year, they are out Jones, Murton, Marshall, Gallagher and Ichiro. A trade has to be analyzed for now and for the future. A deal like this could set the Cubs back for years. While we all want a 2007 World Series, it's not worth mortgaging the next 5 or 6 years to try to do it.

 

Heck, we should probably worry about ending 2007 with a winning record first, before we even remotely consider a World Series. How many teams go from worst to first? The Cubs have a shot to do just that with the roster they have now, but the odds most certainly aren't in their favor. Ichiro doesn't change that.

 

I'm all for a deal that would improve those chances, but Ichiro isn't that guy. Andruw Jones probably isn't even that guy, but I'd make a trade like the one suggested for Andruw Jones way before I'd make it for Ichiro. But, I wouldn't make that deal for Andruw Jones, either.

 

If the Cubs are willing to deal Jones, Murton, Marshall and Gallagher for someone, I want more than a 1 year rental unless he's one of the best SS's in baseball (A-Rod) or one of the best starters in baseball (Santana). Those are the types of 1 year rentals I would consider for a package like that.

 

While the outfield defense of Floyd and Murton will never compare to Ichiro, the offensive production from LF this year will not hinder the Cubs chances of winning ball games. The OPS difference of Murton/Floyd to Ichiro will be quite significant this year.

 

I'm really not all that convinced that Seattle wants to let Ichiro go in the first place.

[David]

Murton is clearly on the rise, cheap and young. Ichiro is clearly on the slide, expensive and getting old. That trade would be baffling to me.

 

Especially since most MLB pitchers aren't trembling little girls on the mound.

 

Especially not against Ichiro.

[Bull]

Murton is clearly on the rise, cheap and young. Ichiro is clearly on the slide, expensive and getting old. That trade would be baffling to me.

 

Especially since most MLB pitchers aren't trembling little girls on the mound.

 

Especially not against Ichiro.

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[Guest]

If I can have a guy post a .750 OPS whom pitchers fear, I take him over a .750 guy who pitchers don't fear. Especially if the first guy is the much better defender, as Ichiro is.

Would you take the .750 hitter over a .910 hitter? Because Murton was closer to .910 last year than .750.