Cubs Acquire Ascanio from ATL for Ohman and Infante

[justlikethecubs]

so in the end, Jim Hendry traded an above average centerfielder and an above average left handed reliever for a middle relief prospect.

 

 

somehow i think hes gone insane.

 

I agree Hendry is insane, but I don't really mind this. It seems like it cleared salary and if that is used to bring a quality player in then it worked out. Jones and Ohman were role players but both seemed to like throwing the ball in the dirt, well short of the target. Plus by inquiring Infante for a couple weeks it gave us more to discuss and now by getting rid of him it gives us even more to talk about. Hard to find a bright side with Hendry moves, but well nevermind, there's not much of a brightside with him.

[HoopsCubs]

so in the end, Jim Hendry traded an above average centerfielder and an above average left handed reliever for a middle relief prospect.

 

 

somehow i think hes gone insane.

 

No, in the end, Jim Hendry traded 2 marginal pieces of the puzzle for a young kid with some potential upside and saved $3M in the process. I call it a good move. Kind of like the Mets trading an over-rated Mota and his salary for an arbitration eligible catcher in Estrada, who they will probably non-tender anyway.

[abuck1220]

if you're referring to jones, i don't know how you can refer to him as a marginal piece of the puzzle when the cubs are currently (at least in hendry's mind) an outfielder short.

[Burtonbell]

I think Hoops is talking about Ohman and Infante

[abuck1220]

well, they used jones to get infante, so i don't know how you can subtract him from it completely.

[CuseCubFan69]

BTW, this discussion is far more interesting than talking about Jose Ascanio...but I guess it IS the wrong thread.

 

I'll take blame for starting this "war of words" though I didn't expect it. I was trying to point out that the $3M saved by trading Ohman and Infante could be used to sign Prior for 2008. Sorry.

 

No need to apologize hoops!

 

I wonder what the Braves are going to do with Infante?

[imb]

life would be a lot easier if jones hit left-han....oops, someone get me dave dombrowski on the phone!

[justlikethecubs]

if you're referring to jones, i don't know how you can refer to him as a marginal piece of the puzzle when the cubs are currently (at least in hendry's mind) an outfielder short.

 

did you consider jones a starter or 4th outfielder/platoon player? Myself, if Jones would have been kept, I would have used Pie in center and Murton in left with Jacque spelling the two. Preferably upgrading at short, but either way it's time to let Pie figure it out or deal him and move on. Murton should be the rightfielder anyway. Granted, I am sure Hendry isnt thinking this way, but by that scenario we are replacing a 4th outfielder/platoon player. The only problem will be what they replace him with production/cost wise.

[Guest]

Official Press Release:

 

 

CUBS ACQUIRE RIGHThandER JOSE ASCANIO FROM ATLANTA FOR LEFTHANDer WILL OHMAN AND INFIELDER OMAR INFANTE

 

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Chicago Cubs today acquired right-handed pitcher Jose Ascanio from the Atlanta Braves for left-handed pitcher Will Ohman and infielder Omar Infante.

 

Ascanio spent the majority of 2007 with Double-A Mississippi and was named to the 2007 Southern League All-Star Team while going 2-2 with 10 saves and a 2.54 ERA (22 ER/78.0 IP) in 44 games (one start). The 22-year-old righthander also enjoyed his first taste of major league action with 13 relief appearances, earning three promotions directly from Double-A to the majors in the second half of the season.

 

The Maracay, Venezuela native struck out a career-high 71 batters while walking just 18 with Mississippi last season. Ascanio’s 2.22 walks and 10.36 baserunners allowed per 9.0 innings pitched both ranked fourth among Southern League relievers. In addition, Baseball America named his fastball the best in the league this past year.

 

The six-foot, 170-pounder allowed two runs or fewer in all but one of his Double-A outings, producing a 1.89 ERA (16 ER/76.1 IP) in those 43 games. Additionally, he limited the opponent to a .234 batting average while surrendering just one home run in 314 batters faced.

 

Ascanio made his major league debut July 13 vs. Pittsburgh and finished his first campaign in the majors with a 1-1 mark and a 5.06 ERA (9 ER/16.0 IP) in 13 relief outings, collecting his first major league win September 14 at Washington with 2.0 shutout innings in the Braves 8-5, 13-inning victory.

 

Originally signed by Atlanta as a non-drafted free agent in October of 2001, Ascanio owns an 18-13 career minor league record with 19 saves in 135 games (19 starts). He has posted a 3.54 ERA (119 ER/302.1 IP) while striking out 259 compared to 105 walks. Ascanio has allowed just 15 home runs to 1,286 batters faced (one per 85.7 batters faced).

 

Ascanio has posted a 2.70 ERA (2 ER/6.2 IP) with no record in six relief appearances for Leones del Caracas in the Venezuelan Winter League this year.

 

Ohman, 30, went 6-8 with one save and a 4.33 ERA (77 ER/160.0 IP) in 220 career relief appearances with the Cubs after he was selected by Chicago in the eighth round of the 1998 Draft. He was 2-4 with one save and a 4.95 ERA (20 ER/36.1 IP) in 56 relief appearances for the Cubs in 2007.

 

Infante, 25, was acquired by Chicago November 12, 2007, from Detroit in exchange for outfielder Jacque Jones and a cash consideration.

[TheRaven]

I never thought I would be see the day that people are actually upset that Jacque Jones is gone. I really don't know how that .730 OPS can be replaced..

[SouthSideRyan]

if you're referring to jones, i don't know how you can refer to him as a marginal piece of the puzzle when the cubs are currently (at least in hendry's mind) an outfielder short.

 

A LEFT HANDED OF short.

[mdwilla]

Hendry moved some payroll and in addition looks like he got a raw but very live arm from Atlanta. Count me in as happy. Now if he finds a way to move Marquis or Dempster were really talking.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

While we're trading with Atlanta, maybe we could give them Murton for Brandon Jones.

[abuck1220]

I never thought I would be see the day that people are actually upset that Jacque Jones is gone. I really don't know how that .730 OPS can be replaced..

 

who do you plan on replacing it with? because hendry seems dead set on it not being matt murton.

[FergieJ31]

> The six-foot, 170-pounder

 

This guy sounds a lot like Juan Cruz.

 

On paper it seems like a good trade, but the Cubs trading pitchers with Atlanta makes me cringe.

[rawaction]

I never thought I would be see the day that people are actually upset that Jacque Jones is gone. I really don't know how that .730 OPS can be replaced..

 

who do you plan on replacing it with? because hendry seems dead set on it not being matt murton.

 

Jones' 2nd half and 2006 lead most people to believe that the first half of his 2007 season was a bit of an aberration. And trading a possible asset for nothing and hoping someone who may not even be available is, is how teams end up with Jeromy Burnitz as their RF.

[rawaction]

> The six-foot, 170-pounder

 

This guy sounds a lot like Juan Cruz.

 

On paper it seems like a good trade, but the Cubs trading pitchers with Atlanta makes me cringe.

 

yeah, that's who he reminds me of.

[mdwilla]

Atlanta fans think they paid a steep price in Ascanio . Seems like he was rushed last year and given some more time could blossom into a late inning threat. Reminds me more of Marmol than Cruz.

[Wilson A2000]

6 feet, 150 lbs? Where does he get the power?

[Mizzou]

Addition by subtraction, good move by Hendry. Although it's all been minor moves so far, I've been very pleased with Hendry's moves this offseason.

 

How much money are we freeing up in this deal?

[BCVM22]

How much money are we freeing up in this deal?

 

Ohman is owed $1.6 mil per the 2-year, $2.5 mil deal he signed last offseason, Infante is arbitration-eligible and earned $1.3 mil in 2007, so the Cubs probably save about $3 million. Not bad.

[Butterscup1679666578]

How much money are we freeing up in this deal?

 

Ohman is owed $1.6 mil per the 2-year, $2.5 mil deal he signed last offseason, Infante is arbitration-eligible and earned $1.3 mil in 2007, so the Cubs probably save about $3 million. Not bad.

 

Plus whatever money (I don't remember the amount) that we're saving from JJ

[Mephistopheles]

if you're referring to jones, i don't know how you can refer to him as a marginal piece of the puzzle when the cubs are currently (at least in hendry's mind) an outfielder short.

 

does jockstrap bat right handed?

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

I dunno if it has been posted, but what is Ascanio's fastball clocked at? How is the movement?

[Tedward]

I dunno if it has been posted, but what is Ascanio's fastball clocked at? How is the movement?

 

Not sure on movement, but the 06' BA Prospect Handbook had his FB clocked as high as 97 MPH. According to the Trade Central report just posted on BA's site, his slider is a plus pitch.

 

Going into last season, he was Atlanta's 21st best prospect in a system that was ranked 8th overall.