Kenny Lofton

[B]

I know I'll probably be run-off for this, but what would you think about getting him. Texas isn't going anywhere this season, and CF is a need. Kenny is having a pretty good year. What do you think it would take to get him, and would you want him?

[baseball7897]

I'll take him. Bat him between Soriano and Lee.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Depending on the cost, sure. Pie is struggling and likely can't be counted on down the stretch. Lofton would give us a veteran CF that still has some value. If the Rangers will take a mid-level prospect or someone like Izturis or Eyre for him, then yes.

[Hosak8]

Depending on the cost, sure. Pie is struggling and likely can't be counted on down the stretch. Lofton would give us a veteran CF that still has some value. If the Rangers will take a mid-level prospect or someone like Izturis or Eyre for him, then yes.

 

They have zero use for Izturis, but Eyre could be interesting. I wonder if Eyre/Jones/prospect could get us Gagne/Lofton? That would interest me greatly.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Depending on the cost, sure. Pie is struggling and likely can't be counted on down the stretch. Lofton would give us a veteran CF that still has some value. If the Rangers will take a mid-level prospect or someone like Izturis or Eyre for him, then yes.

 

They have zero use for Izturis, but Eyre could be interesting. I wonder if Eyre/Jones/prospect could get us Gagne/Lofton? That would interest me greatly.

 

Why not just throw in Teixeira while you're at it? Sheez...

 

Gagne has high value, but Lofton could be had. The problem? Once again, salary. Lofton is signed through next year, and supposedly the Cubs cannot take on any salary based on recent news. If you can't dump Jones for money that's already on the books, I don't see how the Cubs can ADD salary for money that is not.

 

Besides, if we're going to go for a veteran CF, let's think big and go Junior, not Kenny. I think it would be very interesting to move Lee up in the order and have a 1-2-3-4 of Sori, Lee, Jr and Aramis, with Floyd and DeRosa right behind them. That's a LOT of lineup punch.

[Drew Doughty]

Lofton is not signed through next year.

 

Griffey is in no way a center fielder at this stage in his career. He's slow and his arm is very average now.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I wanted Kenny back in 04 and again last year. We were treated to Corey and 4-3 instead.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Depending on the cost, sure. Pie is struggling and likely can't be counted on down the stretch. Lofton would give us a veteran CF that still has some value. If the Rangers will take a mid-level prospect or someone like Izturis or Eyre for him, then yes.

 

They have zero use for Izturis, but Eyre could be interesting. I wonder if Eyre/Jones/prospect could get us Gagne/Lofton? That would interest me greatly.

 

Lofton maybe....but no way they throw two of their chips into that deal. In fact, Eyre-Jones wouldn't get you in the bidding for Gagne.

[Mizzou]

Lofton just keeps producing, year after year. He's hitting around .300 with an OBP just under .380. And he really hasn't lost a step either - he's 20/24 in the SB department.

 

Letting him walk after 2003 was a bad idea. Not going after him in the next couple weeks would be an even worse idea.

[Abe Frohman]

I seriously doubt the Rangers take on Jones salary, or Eyre's. I would love to have Lofton at the top of the order, if Soriano would be happy with hitting 3rd.

 

Really, though - we don't need Lofton.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If the Rangers go into full sale mode, they'll move Lofton for whatever they can get.

 

The Rangers might do a Pagan + Eyre for Lofton.

 

I would see if Lofton could be had in a deal where we dump either Eyre or Jones and add a prospect to the deal. Jake Fox + Jones for Lofton might be a good deal. Fox would have a better shot going to an AL team.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

The Rangers might do a Pagan + Eyre for Lofton.

 

SOLD!

[Pushfrog98]

The Rangers might do a Pagan + Eyre for Lofton.

 

SOLD!

I'm too lazy to look, but doesn't Scott's brother play for Texas now? Maybe that's what he needs to get it going again.

 

Also... what is the difference between the current cubs and the 2003 cubs? That's right... Kenny Lofton! He's been that missing link this whole time.

 

Slight sarcasm there, but I would really like Kenny back!

[Ding Dong Johnson]

doesn't Scott's brother play for Texas now?

 

yes

[BigbadB]

I wouldn't mind seeing Lofton fill in. He would be ideal working with Pie on SB's and patience at the plate. Texas could move Marlon Byrd to CF who they seem pretty happy with.

[killthegoat06]

I'd love to get Lofton while Pie is working on his offense.

[kujay]

I was just thinking about getting Lofton this morning.

 

Hendry should get to work on this.

[killthegoat06]

I was just thinking about getting Lofton this morning.

 

Hendry should get to work on this.

 

Should. Doubt he does, though.

[dew1679666265]

I was just thinking about getting Lofton this morning.

 

Hendry should get to work on this.

 

Should. Doubt he does, though.

 

A lot probably depends on how sure Lou is that Pie will bust out. Hendry definitely likes Lofton, but Lou may be high enough on Pie that he wants him out there once he feels he's ready.

[SouthSideRyan]

There's some real hindsight going on with regards to bringing back Lofton in '04. Patterson's first half line before getting injured in '03 was .298/.329/.511 with excellent defense in CF. IIRC, Corey was having an above average year up until he tanked in September of '04 as well.

 

Moving your young stud prospect to the bench for a full year after he put up that line would make no sense.

 

EDIT: I should specify, it looks right in hindsight, I do remember people aroudn here clamoring for Lofton to be brought back in the '03-'04 offseason, though I believe it was usually as a 4th OF, which he certainly would not have gone for.

[dew1679666265]

There's some real hindsight going on with regards to bringing back Lofton in '04. Patterson's first half line before getting injured in '03 was .298/.329/.511 with excellent defense in CF. IIRC, Corey was having an above average year up until he tanked in September of '04 as well.

 

Moving your young stud prospect to the bench for a full year after he put up that line would make no sense.

 

EDIT: I should specify, it looks right in hindsight, I do remember people aroudn here clamoring for Lofton to be brought back in the '03-'04 offseason, though I believe it was usually as a 4th OF, which he certainly would not have gone for.

 

He was also in demand on the board as an insurance policy in case Corey was slow recovering from the injury. Part of the reason Lofton didn't come back, if I recall correctly, is because he knew - if healthy - Corey would be the starter. And he rightly still did and does see himself as a starter.

[Derwood]

lofton was the catalyst for the 2003 playoff run. i have fond memories

[dew1679666265]

lofton was the catalyst for the 2003 playoff run. i have fond memories

 

The best thing about that trade for me was that I was already a huge Lofton fan - he's been one of my favorite players his entire career. So it was exciting just to see him on the Cubs, but then he was the catalyst of the 03 season.

 

Oh, the memories...perhaps this year he'll bring his luck again.

[swordsman]

I seem to remember the Kenny Lofton factor in '03 being debunked early in the '04 campaign or before.

 

Anyone else remember the logic of this?

[Guest]

I seem to remember the Kenny Lofton factor in '03 being debunked early in the '04 campaign or before.

 

Anyone else remember the logic of this?

I wish search was working as I've been through this too many times...

 

The runs per game was about the same before and after Lofton.

the distribution of runs was about the same.

 

The difference in 2003 was that Prior & Wood had absolutely unreal second halves to fuel the push.