Cubs trade Barrett to Padres for Rob Bowen & Kyler Burke

[Amazing_Grace]

I'm a little curious what's up with the catching situation? Who's going to be our starting catcher? Are they really going to go with Koyie Hill, or will they be bringing up Soto? Did they acquire Bowen to start? If so, we just traded a starting catcher and the 4th best prospect in our system for a backup catcher and a journeyman reliever. Great job, Jim.

 

That said, neither of these guys had a tremendous amount of value. If EPatt really can't play 2b, then his value was going to go nowhere but down from this point forward, and we may as well trade him now and get something. I don't know what prospect Barrett would have gotten us, but I suspect that, at best, we'd get a 'project' type pitcher with a high upside but needing a lot of polishing.

 

This seems to be a "win now" type of trade, but it sure doesn't help the offense much. Bowen's OBP and IsoD look good, but his BA in the majors is .230 and he won't hit for much power. His minor league numbers aren't inspiring either from a power and BA perspective. Unless this is a prelude to some other moves, this is not a good deal. If EPatt ends up a bust, it's no harm done, as Barrett would have walked this offseason anyway, but if EPatt ends up being a good 2b, this trade looks bad.

 

By the way, take a look at Linebrink's Home/Road splits. It isn't pretty. His ERA is very much aided by pitching at Petco.

 

EPatt isn't in the deal

 

Yeah, I finally found that on page 4 of 23. Man these huge threads are hard to keep track of. Barrett and cash for Bowen+prospect (granted he's low level but so was Dontrelle Willis when we traded him). I'm wondering why the Padres did this now. Barrett seems to have had more value than I thought. This isn't a bad deal. Bowen will be a cheap backup for several years and then you can bring up Soto to start. If our catching tandem ends up Bowen/Blanco, I won't be too happy though.

Edited June 20, 2007 by Amazing_Grace

[C.C.]

uh oh, now zambrano's gonna have to come up with another excuse when he sucks.

 

Because he blamed Barrett in the past. Oh wait...He didn't.

[ctcf]

uh oh, now zambrano's gonna have to come up with another excuse when he sucks.

 

Guess its good he stopped sucking then huh.

[BigbadB]

You're assuming two things for the Cubs to get compensation from Barrett leaving FA.

 

1)Sign before 12/1.

2)The Cubs offer arbitration.

 

I doubt these two things would've been possible.

 

Exactly. There's no way the Cubs offer arbitration. Barrett could have scored big in arbitration, likely much bigger than any team would be willing to offer a catcher who is not good defensively.

[abuck1220]

uh oh, now zambrano's gonna have to come up with another excuse when he sucks.

 

Because he blamed Barrett in the past. Oh wait...He didn't.

 

you're right. i'm confusing the "thank you for doing such a good job" punch in the face with blaming barrett.

[RynoRules]

Fair enough, but has anyone here scene him play and watched his approach? I have not, so I am not trying to be a pain; I am really just curious.

 

For example, how many pitches per plate appearance this year?

 

3.96, and he saw 4.15 pitches last year. His ISOD has always been really good-probably the only thing we know for sure about him is that he is going to walk quite a bit.

 

That sounds good. Maybe this will work out.

 

Its a shame Barrett's Cubs career ended the way it did. It should have been better. He really did some bonehead things recently.

[jersey cubs fan]

prospect (granted he's low level but so was Dontrelle Willis when we traded him).

 

Dontrelle Willis was a successful low level prospect when they traded him away. The guy the Cubs got has been awful in rookie ball and low A ball.

[BigbadB]

I keep seeing Soto references. Isn't he hurt right now, and not catching at all?

[TheDude]

This is the type of trade a SELLING team at the deadline makes. Frankly, given the fact that Barrett probably will be a Type A FA and that the FA catching market is going to have a ton of supply, I don't see why it is necessary to lock up that position now by getting rid of the guy who when injury/suspension strikes is your clean up hitter. I would have been fine riding Barrett out (hes a notoriously streaky hitter who right now has a BABIP 30 points lower than what he should) until the end of the season and letting him walk to pick up the draft pick and signing someone else in FA. This however, downgrades our offense for the rest of the season, doesn't allow us to pick up a draft pick, and could mean that we won't sign one of the many catchers that will be available.

 

Selling teams don't dump players for little return. Selling teams have an interest in the near future, looking for players near MLB ready to make an impact in the next 2 years.

[jersey cubs fan]

Fair enough, but has anyone here scene him play and watched his approach? I have not, so I am not trying to be a pain; I am really just curious.

 

For example, how many pitches per plate appearance this year?

 

3.96, and he saw 4.15 pitches last year. His ISOD has always been really good-probably the only thing we know for sure about him is that he is going to walk quite a bit.

 

That sounds good. Maybe this will work out.

 

Its a shame Barrett's Cubs career ended the way it did. It should have been better. He really did some bonehead things recently.

 

As well as prior to recently.

[Balsa]

Express your opinion in the NSBB members poll!

[JWCUB]

Unless this is a prelude to a bigger trade for a nice bat, I don't like it.

[Chocolate Milk]

uh oh, now zambrano's gonna have to come up with another excuse when he sucks.

 

Because he blamed Barrett in the past. Oh wait...He didn't.

 

He did start a fist fight with Barrett in the dugout. Do you think that was just a heated exchange over differing turkey stuffing recipes?

[Amazing_Grace]

prospect (granted he's low level but so was Dontrelle Willis when we traded him).

 

Dontrelle Willis was a successful low level prospect when they traded him away. The guy the Cubs got has been awful in rookie ball and low A ball.

 

Point taken, but if you believe as I do, that the Cubs should be sellers and our next chance to make a solid run at the division will be 2009, the trade makes sense. Getting anything is better than getting nothing for a guy that isn't a part of the Cubs long term plans anyway.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Selling teams don't dump players for little return.

 

Yes they do.

[jersey cubs fan]

I keep seeing Soto references. Isn't he hurt right now, and not catching at all?

 

He's been banged up, but he has caught as recently as 2 days ago, I believe.

[NewUserName]

Last year after Todd Walker was blamed for the bad season and traded I predicted that Barrett would be this seasons scapgoat. I cant find the thread though.

 

My early prediction for next season is Matt Murton. I wonder what San Diego will give us for him.

[badger1679666666]

Guys, Barrett makes 4.5 mil dollars, I'm almost convinced it will show that the Cubs have given money to the Padres. I doubt it is the other way around considering how much Bowen and the abysmal minor leaguer make.

 

You do realize it's tough to judge NINETEEN YEAR OLD minor leaguers based on stats in Low ball right?

 

Man you are the king of hyperbole.

Badger,

 

Nice to see you pop in and add your precious comments to all these threads. That's all you ever do is pop in complain about someones post and leave. You're adding nothing to this thread. The fact is, and get this one right OK Badger..The fact is that your 19 year old prospect is currently terrible. Does that mean he will be always this bad? Who knows but so far it hasn't been great for him.

 

This is the first transaction thread I've posted in in over year buddy. Nice try. But your negativity and general managing expertise is like clockwork, like the sun rising and setting.

 

All I'm saying is to call him abysmal is hyperbole. I don't like this trade either, but lets see what we got first. It's not like he's a 23 year old low ball player. He's 19. There are many 19 year olds who seemed blah who have developed into solid ballplayers. Maybe the change will be good for him.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Dontrelle was a throw-in a low A ball player that you would have said was "abysmal" when he was 19 and how did that turn out?

 

I'm not encouraged by his numbers, but the word abysmal for a 19 year old still developing IS hyperbole. That being said, I agree with you that Hendry sucks.

[RynoRules]

Fair enough, but has anyone here scene him play and watched his approach? I have not, so I am not trying to be a pain; I am really just curious.

 

For example, how many pitches per plate appearance this year?

 

3.96, and he saw 4.15 pitches last year. His ISOD has always been really good-probably the only thing we know for sure about him is that he is going to walk quite a bit.

 

That sounds good. Maybe this will work out.

 

Its a shame Barrett's Cubs career ended the way it did. It should have been better. He really did some bonehead things recently.

 

As well as prior to recently.

 

Point taken.

 

I am frustrated with this deal largely b/c Jim continues to trade from a position of weakness. The whole world knows that we can no longer stand the likes of Barrett, Sosa, Farns, etc., so we get 60% of what we should for them.

[UK1679666180]

As far as Bowen, I think he's likely destined as a career back-up type of C. Can switch-hit, never had great bat speed, decent C power from the L side.

 

I hope he's not considered a better option than Soto (when healthy).

[jersey cubs fan]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Dontrelle was a throw-in a low A ball player that you would have said was "abysmal" when he was 19 and how did that turn out?

 

You're wrong.

[Soriano12]

Guys, Barrett makes 4.5 mil dollars, I'm almost convinced it will show that the Cubs have given money to the Padres. I doubt it is the other way around considering how much Bowen and the abysmal minor leaguer make.

 

You do realize it's tough to judge NINETEEN YEAR OLD minor leaguers based on stats in Low ball right?

 

Man you are the king of hyperbole.

Badger,

 

Nice to see you pop in and add your precious comments to all these threads. That's all you ever do is pop in complain about someones post and leave. You're adding nothing to this thread. The fact is, and get this one right OK Badger..The fact is that your 19 year old prospect is currently terrible. Does that mean he will be always this bad? Who knows but so far it hasn't been great for him.

 

This is the first transaction thread I've posted in in over year buddy. Nice try. But your negativity and general managing expertise is like clockwork, like the sun rising and setting.

 

All I'm saying is to call him abysmal is hyperbole. I don't like this trade either, but lets see what we got first. It's not like he's a 23 year old low ball player. He's 19. There are many 19 year olds who seemed blah who have developed into solid ballplayers. Maybe the change will be good for him.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Dontrelle was a throw-in a low A ball player that you would have said was "abysmal" when he was 19 and how did that turn out?

 

I'm not encouraged by his numbers, but the word abysmal for a 19 year old still developing IS hyperbole. That being said, I agree with you that Hendry sucks.

 

Probably not considering Dontrelle was dominating in A ball.

[jersey cubs fan]

prospect (granted he's low level but so was Dontrelle Willis when we traded him).

 

Dontrelle Willis was a successful low level prospect when they traded him away. The guy the Cubs got has been awful in rookie ball and low A ball.

 

Point taken, but if you believe as I do, that the Cubs should be sellers and our next chance to make a solid run at the division will be 2009, the trade makes sense. Getting anything is better than getting nothing for a guy that isn't a part of the Cubs long term plans anyway.

 

I think the Cubs can and should make a solid run at the division in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

[nolanwood]

Is hyperbole the word of choice in this thread?

[BigbadB]

I think the Cubs can and should make a solid run at the division in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

 

Not 2010?