Another Middle Infielder: Who is he?

[goonys evil twin]

you guys better just stop talking right now

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Has Gary Templeton signed with anyone yet?

[RynoHawk]

http://www.cubsrumorsandnews.blogspot.com/

 

Rosenthal said cubs have had a scout at the braves spring training game 3 games in a row.

 

Reneteria would fit in nice.

[NCCubFan]

Is Macias available?

 

you'd have to pry him from Bowden's cold, dead hands

If he were with the Reds instead of Nationals he'd be available in exchange for a bullpen arm. :D

[ltb]

The Marlins are considering making an offer for Angel Pagan, perhaps using shortstop prospect Robert Andino as bait, FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal reports.

 

please, jim. do this. getting rid of pagan sounds awesome.

[Wheelimus]

Also add Desi Relaford (puke) to the Crappy Middle Infielder Derby, with Jerry Hairston making the Rangers he isn't making the team. :(

[goonys evil twin]

I find it extremely frustrating and annoying that the Cubs have acquired two highly mediocre veteran middle infielders in the past 8 months and they still might be looking for another.

[CubColtPacer]

I find it extremely frustrating and annoying that the Cubs have acquired two highly mediocre veteran middle infielders in the past 8 months and they still might be looking for another.

 

Who would be the last middle infielder then? It certainly sounds like the Cubs are looking for a young middle infielder just as much or more than a veteran.

[goonys evil twin]

I find it extremely frustrating and annoying that the Cubs have acquired two highly mediocre veteran middle infielders in the past 8 months and they still might be looking for another.

 

Who would be the last middle infielder then? It certainly sounds like the Cubs are looking for a young middle infielder just as much or more than a veteran.

 

It sounds like they might look for youth, but it's still annoying that after jettisoning all the worthless MI trash they've had, they might just end up with the same type of crap all over again.

[wilk]

I find it extremely frustrating and annoying that the Cubs have acquired two highly mediocre veteran middle infielders in the past 8 months and they still might be looking for another.

 

Who would be the last middle infielder then? It certainly sounds like the Cubs are looking for a young middle infielder just as much or more than a veteran.

 

It sounds like they might look for youth, but it's still annoying that after jettisoning all the worthless MI trash they've had, they might just end up with the same type of crap all over again.

 

Then who do you suggest? They need a middle infielder and the goal is for it to be someone better than Cedeno or Perez. If your wishes were to not acquire another MI then we'd be rostering the "same crap" in Cedeno or Perez.

[goonys evil twin]

I find it extremely frustrating and annoying that the Cubs have acquired two highly mediocre veteran middle infielders in the past 8 months and they still might be looking for another.

 

Who would be the last middle infielder then? It certainly sounds like the Cubs are looking for a young middle infielder just as much or more than a veteran.

 

It sounds like they might look for youth, but it's still annoying that after jettisoning all the worthless MI trash they've had, they might just end up with the same type of crap all over again.

 

Then who do you suggest? They need a middle infielder and the goal is for it to be someone better than Cedeno or Perez. If your wishes were to not acquire another MI then we'd be rostering the "same crap" in Cedeno or Perez.

 

I suggested doing a better job of creating your lineup so you aren't depending on questionable starting MI, which would make your backup MI a lot less important. I don't see why I can't be frustrated that we're in the middle of another "which worthless MI can we put on the roster" discussion without offering up more options. Personally I'd go with Theriot and Cedeno as the backup MI. I don't see Ronny gaining anything from playing in AAA. He's either going to learn the game in the majors or not. I don't see any justification for bringing in another Tomas, Neifi, Macias, etc.

[E.J.]

I find it extremely frustrating and annoying that the Cubs have acquired two highly mediocre veteran middle infielders in the past 8 months and they still might be looking for another.

 

Who would be the last middle infielder then? It certainly sounds like the Cubs are looking for a young middle infielder just as much or more than a veteran.

 

It sounds like they might look for youth, but it's still annoying that after jettisoning all the worthless MI trash they've had, they might just end up with the same type of crap all over again.

 

Then who do you suggest? They need a middle infielder and the goal is for it to be someone better than Cedeno or Perez. If your wishes were to not acquire another MI then we'd be rostering the "same crap" in Cedeno or Perez.

 

I think Goony's point is that he'd like to see someone brought in who's not only better than Cedeno or Perez, but also better than Izturis.

[wilk]

I suggested doing a better job of creating your lineup so you aren't depending on questionable starting MI, which would make your backup MI a lot less important. I don't see why I can't be frustrated that we're in the middle of another "which worthless MI can we put on the roster" discussion without offering up more options. Personally I'd go with Theriot and Cedeno as the backup MI. I don't see Ronny gaining anything from playing in AAA. He's either going to learn the game in the majors or not. I don't see any justification for bringing in another Tomas, Neifi, Macias, etc.

 

I never said you couldn't be frustrated but the point is that we can't fill that spot within our organization unless you're electing it to be Cedeno or Tomas Perez. Both of them are also the same worthless MI you're frustrated over. Sure, we could create threads that entirely reconstruct the team to "do a better job with the lineup" or we could acquire a top-notch MI that drops our current ones to backup but that's not realistic for this Spring. Since as things stand our 25th backup MI is: Cedeno, Tomas Perez, or Other. I'd choose "other," who has a great chance of being better than the other two. I suppose you choose Cedeno and that's a fine opinion too. I don't think anyone was serious in naming Neifi or Macias and they'd obviously not be chosen.

[frostwyrm]

If the Cubs are really serious about getting another veteram MIF I wouldn't count out Neifi just yet. He's a type of player that Hendry values, even if we don't. Wait till Izzy starts getting gimpy, which shouldn't take long once he starts playing in the frigid April weather of Chicago. Neifi might be added for "insurance".

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

As much as I loathe Neifi and my loathing of Neifi is well documented, I think he has value as a 25th man for defensive purposes. If that's what he is with Lou, then I don't mind him being brought back, especially if Detroit is on hook for his contract.

[CubColtPacer]

As much as I loathe Neifi and my loathing of Neifi is well documented, I think he has value as a 25th man for defensive purposes. If that's what he is with Lou, then I don't mind him being brought back, especially if Detroit is on hook for his contract.

 

I would also agree with this-as long as he is behind Theriot on the depth chart, I have no problem with him being the second backup middle infielder. I'm sure there are preferable options out there, but I'm not going to be upset if he's brought back after Detroit releases him. Also remember that the main time that the second backup might even get to pinch-hit is when DeRosa and Theriot are both playing in the field against left-handed pitchers, and Neifi is at least somewhat better against left-handed pitching.

[frostwyrm]

As bad as Neifi is, he's still preferrable to Tomas. I wouldn't even give Tomas meal money. It's difficult for me to understand why he's even being comtemplated as an option by a potential contender in Major League Baseball.

[Amazing_Grace]

I'll have to change my signature again :lol: but I also have to concede Neifi is a better option than Tomas Perez. Neifi has had a few passable seasons offensively, while Tomas always stinks. He has value as a 25th guy that plays in unimportant situations to rest other guys and as a late inning defensive sub.

 

Tomas is in the same class as Bynum, Ojeda, and Macias: completely totally utterly worthless to a ML team.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The Blue Jays optioned Russ Adams to AAA today. Would he make an acceptable option as a middle infielder?

 

If we could get him for a bullpen arm or a fringe minor leaguer, it might be worth a shot. His numbers aren't that good at all, but for the 25th man at the end of the bench, he might be worth looking at.

[Backtobanks]

What about Alberto Callaspo in a trade with the Diamondbacks. Foxsports' Ken Rosenthal reports that they think he is ready for the Majors, but their young infielders would probably not allow much playing time for him. His OBP in the minors was .404. I'm not sure what the Snakes would want, but relief pitchers seem to be their biggest weakness.

[Radar3454]

I saw on Rotoworld via Rosenthal that we are interested in Clint Barmes along w/ the Rangers.

[Post Count Padder]

Here's what it says on Rotoworld:

 

According to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs and Rangers are among the clubs interested in Clint Barmes as a utilityman.

 

The Cardinals and Brewers also reportedly explored deals for him in the offseason, and Rosenthal says the Royals might make a bid later. The Rockies were planning on sending Barmes to Triple-A if he was beaten out by Troy Tulowitzki for the starting job at shortstop, but they're not going to give him up cheap. Barmes probably won't ever be much of a hitter, but because of his defense, he's not such a bad option as a regular shortstop.

Source: FOXSports.com

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Barmes may not be a bad option, but I wonder what the Rockies would want for him. If he could be had for a Novoa type bullpen arm, it's worth doing.

[illiniguy]

Good lord please don't let us end up with Neifi again.

[Balsa]

Barmes may not be a bad option, but I wonder what the Rockies would want for him. If he could be had for a Novoa type bullpen arm, it's worth doing.

I think that would be a very interesting acquisition.