Interest in Carl Crawford?

[BigbadB]

Give him a break, EJ confirmed that ESPN was reporting both Crawford and Monroe in the same update. Who knows if he misheard or they misspoke, but we now know that Monroe may be heading to Minny and the Cubs are interested in Crawford. No need to pile on.

 

Agreed. I wonder if Lou has any input on this?

 

Ain't no way I'm giving you a quarter if Monroe is dealt. I don't consider that "something bigger".

[tinkerstoeverstochance]

at least I didn't start a new thread. Getting rid of Monroe for anything is a good thing yes?

[Fanatic3332000]

to the fukodome lover;

fukodome is also 30 years old; sounds like the outfield version of shingo takatsu

[BigbadB]

at least I didn't start a new thread. Getting rid of Monroe for anything is a good thing yes?

 

Yeah. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that we will like the return on Monroe more than we like the return on Jones. Which really doesn't make any sense at all.

[WrigleyinEngland]

To be fair pretty crappy reporting from ESPN1000, 'cubs intend to trade craig Monroe and intend to trade for Carl Crawford'. To put the two together is garbage, monroe deal looks like happening and has press the Crawford deal is going to be nowhere near as advanced or been as discussed. Just bad reporting based on a throw away line from sullivan.

[tinkerstoeverstochance]

latest update on espn1000 has them Stressing Monroe to be traded and Have interest in Crawford!

[SweetZombieJesus]

to the fukodome lover;

fukodome is also 30 years old; sounds like the outfield version of shingo takatsu

 

So he's a left handed soft tossing outfielder? Ugh Especially when he get's 8-9 mill a year.

[CuseCubFan69]

Give him a break, EJ confirmed that ESPN was reporting both Crawford and Monroe in the same update. Who knows if he misheard or they misspoke, but we now know that Monroe may be heading to Minny and the Cubs are interested in Crawford. No need to pile on.

 

Agreed. I wonder if Lou has any input on this?

 

Ain't no way I'm giving you a quarter if Monroe is dealt. I don't consider that "something bigger".

 

Then you can cut my lawn instead.

 

I think Hendry will get a Crawford and/or someone more impact.

[SweetZombieJesus]

I wonder if Infante or Theriot might be part of the package or even Pie

 

Thats irresponsible reporting if they report Monroe is the head of any trade package.

 

Anyways, I'd rather have Fukudome than Crawford any day of the week.

 

-Fukudome is better in the area we need more help in, OBP

-Fukudome doesn't cost anything in terms of players

-Fukudome will probably be making less than Crawford by the end of his contract.

 

Fukudome is older and most definately cost more.

 

Crawford is due 23.5 mill over the next 3 years.

 

If Fukudome doesn't at least get 8-10 mill per over 4 years I'd be surprised

[moorecg]

Crawford in Left, Fukudome in Center, Soriano in Right...

 

Trade Pie for Tejada....

[Yanksfan1523]

I wonder if Infante or Theriot might be part of the package or even Pie

 

Thats irresponsible reporting if they report Monroe is the head of any trade package.

 

Anyways, I'd rather have Fukudome than Crawford any day of the week.

 

-Fukudome is better in the area we need more help in, OBP

-Fukudome doesn't cost anything in terms of players

-Fukudome will probably be making less than Crawford by the end of his contract.

 

Fukudome is older and most definately cost more.

 

Crawford is due 23.5 mill over the next 3 years.

 

If Fukudome doesn't at least get 8-10 mill per over 4 years I'd be surprised

 

I read 10-12 per for 4-6 years. He has a few offers from Japanese clubs.

[UMFan83]

to the fukodome lover;

fukodome is also 30 years old; sounds like the outfield version of shingo takatsu

 

Wait you mean the pitcher who was 36 when he came to the US?

 

.....

[inari]

to the fukodome lover;

fukodome is also 30 years old; sounds like the outfield version of shingo takatsu

 

Because he's Japanese and he's 30? Yeah, I get it.

 

...Wait, what?

[UMFan83]

I wonder if Infante or Theriot might be part of the package or even Pie

 

Thats irresponsible reporting if they report Monroe is the head of any trade package.

 

Anyways, I'd rather have Fukudome than Crawford any day of the week.

 

-Fukudome is better in the area we need more help in, OBP

-Fukudome doesn't cost anything in terms of players

-Fukudome will probably be making less than Crawford by the end of his contract.

 

Fukudome is older and most definately cost more.

 

Crawford is due 23.5 mill over the next 3 years.

 

If Fukudome doesn't at least get 8-10 mill per over 4 years I'd be surprised

 

OK, I didn't realize Crawford was extended. I thought he was still doing arby. But still Fukudome will put up better numbers than Crawford. He's 30, not 38. People are looking to give 8 year deals to a 32 year old ARod, but are concerned with giving a 4 year deal to a 30 year old. Granted Fukudome is not nearly in the same class as ARod, but I would not be concerned about regression between the ages of 30-34.

[nilodnayr]

Keeping Matt Murton in RF and investing the $ in improving SS>>>>>>>>>>>> Signing Fukudome for 4 years 10-15M >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Trading the Farm for Crawford

[Tracer Bullet]

Keeping Matt Murton in RF and investing the $ in improving SS>>>>>>>>>>>> Signing Fukudome for 4 years 10-15M >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Trading the Farm for Crawford

[UMFan83]

Keeping Matt Murton in RF and investing the $ in improving SS>>>>>>>>>>>> Signing Fukudome for 4 years 10-15M >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Trading the Farm for Crawford

 

We could probably get away with both upgrading SS and signing Fukudome.

 

I was on the Murton bandwagon for years, and I could probably live with having Murton in RF instead of Fukudome, but at the same time you have to wonder how many chances he is going to have. Every year we expect him to breakout, but every year he ends up on the bench. I'd like to think its just the Cubs org not giving him the opportunity, but he has been our opening day starter the last 2 years and has managed to end up on the bench or demoted to the minors both years. He is basically our Austin Kearns. Good OBP, moderate potential for power, a butcher in the field, cannot stick in a starting lineup. If we can solve our major glaring problem (OBP) by getting one of the top 3-4 OBP guys on the market (behind players like Bonds and ARod) we'd be stupid not to.

[CubColtPacer]

I wonder if Infante or Theriot might be part of the package or even Pie

 

Thats irresponsible reporting if they report Monroe is the head of any trade package.

 

Anyways, I'd rather have Fukudome than Crawford any day of the week.

 

-Fukudome is better in the area we need more help in, OBP

-Fukudome doesn't cost anything in terms of players

-Fukudome will probably be making less than Crawford by the end of his contract.

 

Fukudome is older and most definately cost more.

 

Crawford is due 23.5 mill over the next 3 years.

 

If Fukudome doesn't at least get 8-10 mill per over 4 years I'd be surprised

 

OK, I didn't realize Crawford was extended. I thought he was still doing arby. But still Fukudome will put up better numbers than Crawford. He's 30, not 38. People are looking to give 8 year deals to a 32 year old ARod, but are concerned with giving a 4 year deal to a 30 year old. Granted Fukudome is not nearly in the same class as ARod, but I would not be concerned about regression between the ages of 30-34.

 

It's not regression so much that people are worried about, it's more about how his skills will translate to the U.S. Most people I think believe that he'll be productive, but it's hard to say how productive.

 

Personally I don't see how someone can say that Fukudome is going to put up better numbers than Crawford. Maybe comparable numbers, but better? Crawford's OPS the last 2 years is .830 and .821. Now maybe Fukudome can put up similar numbers OPS wise with better OBP, which of course would be a little better. How high is his upside though? Can he be a 900 OPS player? At the same time, Fukudome could easily be somewhere around a 750-775 OPS. Fukudome has the advantage in defense, but Crawford's 154 SB's over the last 3 years at an 85 percent clip is a nice weapon as well.

 

Crawford's definitely the less risky option IMO. He's younger (and still theoretically hasn't entered his prime), he has less variability in projections, and his contract is better. It will all depend on how much the Cubs would have to give up in trade to see if Crawford is the better option or not, but I just don't see how you can look at the contract and numbers and say that Fukudome will be better. He has a chance to be better, but more likely not.

[CuseCubFan69]

Crawford in Left, Fukudome in Center, Soriano in Right...

 

Trade Pie for Tejada....

 

I think that's the way Hendry is going to go.

[nilodnayr]

Keeping Matt Murton in RF and investing the $ in improving SS>>>>>>>>>>>> Signing Fukudome for 4 years 10-15M >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Trading the Farm for Crawford

 

We could probably get away with both upgrading SS and signing Fukudome.

 

I was on the Murton bandwagon for years, and I could probably live with having Murton in RF instead of Fukudome, but at the same time you have to wonder how many chances he is going to have. Every year we expect him to breakout, but every year he ends up on the bench. I'd like to think its just the Cubs org not giving him the opportunity, but he has been our opening day starter the last 2 years and has managed to end up on the bench or demoted to the minors both years. He is basically our Austin Kearns. Good OBP, moderate potential for power, a butcher in the field, cannot stick in a starting lineup. If we can solve our major glaring problem (OBP) by getting one of the top 3-4 OBP guys on the market (behind players like Bonds and ARod) we'd be stupid not to.

 

 

Fukudome isn't going to OBP 400 in the states. He'll be a 360-370 guy. A smidge better than Murton.

[BigbadB]

Crawford in Left, Fukudome in Center, Soriano in Right...

 

Trade Pie for Tejada....

 

I think that's the way Hendry is going to go.

 

That's a lot of money spent this offseason. I'm going to have to disagree.

[UMFan83]

I wonder if Infante or Theriot might be part of the package or even Pie

 

Thats irresponsible reporting if they report Monroe is the head of any trade package.

 

Anyways, I'd rather have Fukudome than Crawford any day of the week.

 

-Fukudome is better in the area we need more help in, OBP

-Fukudome doesn't cost anything in terms of players

-Fukudome will probably be making less than Crawford by the end of his contract.

 

Fukudome is older and most definately cost more.

 

Crawford is due 23.5 mill over the next 3 years.

 

If Fukudome doesn't at least get 8-10 mill per over 4 years I'd be surprised

 

OK, I didn't realize Crawford was extended. I thought he was still doing arby. But still Fukudome will put up better numbers than Crawford. He's 30, not 38. People are looking to give 8 year deals to a 32 year old ARod, but are concerned with giving a 4 year deal to a 30 year old. Granted Fukudome is not nearly in the same class as ARod, but I would not be concerned about regression between the ages of 30-34.

 

It's not regression so much that people are worried about, it's more about how his skills will translate to the U.S. Most people I think believe that he'll be productive, but it's hard to say how productive.

 

Personally I don't see how someone can say that Fukudome is going to put up better numbers than Crawford. Maybe comparable numbers, but better? Crawford's OPS the last 2 years is .830 and .821. Now maybe Fukudome can put up similar numbers OPS wise with better OBP, which of course would be a little better. How high is his upside though? Can he be a 900 OPS player? At the same time, Fukudome could easily be somewhere around a 750-775 OPS. Fukudome has the advantage in defense, but Crawford's 154 SB's over the last 3 years at an 85 percent clip is a nice weapon as well.

 

Crawford's definitely the less risky option IMO. He's younger (and still theoretically hasn't entered his prime), he has less variability in projections, and his contract is better. It will all depend on how much the Cubs would have to give up in trade to see if Crawford is the better option or not, but I just don't see how you can look at the contract and numbers and say that Fukudome will be better. He has a chance to be better, but more likely not.

 

It doesn't matter if he is better. From your argument I would conclude that you think that Fukudome would at least be 90% the player Crawford is, with the potential to be 110% the player he is.

 

Looking at how other players who have come over from Japan to the US have fared, you could expect his OBP to be around 93% of what he is putting up in Japan, his SLG to be about 85% of Japan numbers, and (not that it matters) but his BA to be within 96% of his Japan numbers. Using his numbers from the last 3 seasons, that would put him at roughly:

 

.307/.404/.490/.894

 

The difference of course being that his SLG is going to come largely from doubles instead of HRs (source for Japanese translation: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/176072/how_well_will_japanese_baseball_import.html)

 

The key point is, Fukudome addresses a much bigger need than Crawford addresses. He will likely put up an OBP over .400 and a SLG similar to Crawfords.

 

Edit: I forgot about my point in this. If you are getting a player thats roughly the same value of another, what is more important to you, keeping players like Rich Hill and prospects like Gallagher on the team, or spending an additional $3-5 million per year. Obviously just guessing on the players given up, but Crawfords name value is extremely high, and even with the new GM in Tampa, they've been reluctant to trade players unless they get more than adequate value for them.

Edited November 13, 2007 by UMFan83

[CuseCubFan69]

Crawford in Left, Fukudome in Center, Soriano in Right...

 

Trade Pie for Tejada....

 

I think that's the way Hendry is going to go.

 

That's a lot of money spent this offseason. I'm going to have to disagree.

 

Yes it is and I think he'll shed some salary like Monroe, Erye and Ohman to make it work. I know they don't cost a ton but throw in letting Prior go and have some extra cash that will help along with the supposed increase in budget.

[Post Count Padder]

Crawford in Left, Fukudome in Center, Soriano in Right...

 

Trade Pie for Tejada....

 

I think that's the way Hendry is going to go.

A lot of money right there, but I like the sound of that outfield.

[hawkeyecub]

I wonder if Infante or Theriot might be part of the package or even Pie

 

Thats irresponsible reporting if they report Monroe is the head of any trade package.

 

Anyways, I'd rather have Fukudome than Crawford any day of the week.

 

-Fukudome is better in the area we need more help in, OBP

-Fukudome doesn't cost anything in terms of players

-Fukudome will probably be making less than Crawford by the end of his contract.

 

Fukudome is older and most definately cost more.

 

Crawford is due 23.5 mill over the next 3 years.

 

If Fukudome doesn't at least get 8-10 mill per over 4 years I'd be surprised

 

OK, I didn't realize Crawford was extended. I thought he was still doing arby. But still Fukudome will put up better numbers than Crawford. He's 30, not 38. People are looking to give 8 year deals to a 32 year old ARod, but are concerned with giving a 4 year deal to a 30 year old. Granted Fukudome is not nearly in the same class as ARod, but I would not be concerned about regression between the ages of 30-34.

 

It's not regression so much that people are worried about, it's more about how his skills will translate to the U.S. Most people I think believe that he'll be productive, but it's hard to say how productive.

 

Personally I don't see how someone can say that Fukudome is going to put up better numbers than Crawford. Maybe comparable numbers, but better? Crawford's OPS the last 2 years is .830 and .821. Now maybe Fukudome can put up similar numbers OPS wise with better OBP, which of course would be a little better. How high is his upside though? Can he be a 900 OPS player? At the same time, Fukudome could easily be somewhere around a 750-775 OPS. Fukudome has the advantage in defense, but Crawford's 154 SB's over the last 3 years at an 85 percent clip is a nice weapon as well.

 

Crawford's definitely the less risky option IMO. He's younger (and still theoretically hasn't entered his prime), he has less variability in projections, and his contract is better. It will all depend on how much the Cubs would have to give up in trade to see if Crawford is the better option or not, but I just don't see how you can look at the contract and numbers and say that Fukudome will be better. He has a chance to be better, but more likely not.

 

Correct on all fronts.

 

It all comes down to the players we would have to give up. Crawford will be cheaper and a good bet to be at least as productive (especially when considering baserunning success). He has higher upside and will turn 27 after the All-Star Break next year.