ESPN1000 Mark Teahen for Matt Murton?

[JeffH]

Bruce, is the supposed interest in McLouth genuine? If so, as a fallback to Kosuke or just as an extra guy?

 

Who might they be looking at to satisfy the LHH infielder fetish? Any interest in Felipe Lopez?

[Bruce Miles]

Any good juicy (close to being done) rumors, Bruce?? :)

 

Nothing imminent. Yes, I am in Nashville. The Cubs never were considering Dempster to Toronto. That was a media creation. They say they've not talked to the Reds about Hamilton. They're not trading Rich Hill or Felix Pie.

 

So, what are they doing?

 

 

They're working on stuff just as every other team is. We need the disclaimer here about taking two parties to agree to get a deal done. It ain't that easy.

[ChiCubsFan]

Can anyone fill me in, been at class. Is this deal going down or is Bruce right in that it's not?

 

I'd believe what Bruce says over anything spewing out of Bruce Levine's mouth or MLBTradeRumors.

[JeffH]

Can anyone fill me in, been at class. Is this deal going down or is Bruce right in that it's not?

 

I'd believe what Bruce says over anything spewing out of Bruce Levine's mouth or MLBTradeRumors.

 

Levine is a pretty good source, but he speculates more than "The Bruce".

[ChiCubsFan]

Can anyone fill me in, been at class. Is this deal going down or is Bruce right in that it's not?

 

I'd believe what Bruce says over anything spewing out of Bruce Levine's mouth or MLBTradeRumors.

 

Levine is a pretty good source, but he speculates more than "The Bruce".

 

Which is precisely why I would choose to believe what Miles says over Levine.

[Bruce Miles]

Can anyone fill me in, been at class. Is this deal going down or is Bruce right in that it's not?

 

I'd believe what Bruce says over anything spewing out of Bruce Levine's mouth or MLBTradeRumors.

 

They're not always wrong, but rumors like Nick Swisher are just flat-out off-base. I haven't heard McLouth. I'll ask, but he's not seen as a starter. I believe the infield thing has cooled and that they'd be happy with status quo.

[xecuter83]

Do you see the Cubs making any SIGNIFICANT trades before the end of the meetings?

[Guest]

Can anyone fill me in, been at class. Is this deal going down or is Bruce right in that it's not?

 

I'd believe what Bruce says over anything spewing out of Bruce Levine's mouth or MLBTradeRumors.

 

They're not always wrong, but rumors like Nick Swisher are just flat-out off-base. I haven't heard McLouth. I'll ask, but he's not seen as a starter. I believe the infield thing has cooled and that they'd be happy with status quo.

I wonder if that has anything to do with Cedeno tearing up the Venezuelan Winter Leagues.

[Bruce Miles]

Do you see the Cubs making any SIGNIFICANT trades before the end of the meetings?

 

Always hard to predict that. If they find out Fukudome is coming over here, they'll focus on that. So much hinges on that.

[Post Count Padder]

Can anyone fill me in, been at class. Is this deal going down or is Bruce right in that it's not?

 

I'd believe what Bruce says over anything spewing out of Bruce Levine's mouth or MLBTradeRumors.

 

They're not always wrong, but rumors like Nick Swisher are just flat-out off-base. I haven't heard McLouth. I'll ask, but he's not seen as a starter. I believe the infield thing has cooled and that they'd be happy with status quo.

Any deals nearing completion or any names that you're hearing that haven't been discussed here yet?

[CuseCubFan69]

Do you see the Cubs making any SIGNIFICANT trades before the end of the meetings?

 

Always hard to predict that. If they find out Fukudome is coming over here, they'll focus on that. So much hinges on that.

 

I hope waiting for him doesn't come back and bite them because all the goodies may be taken by then.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Do you see the Cubs making any SIGNIFICANT trades before the end of the meetings?

 

Always hard to predict that. If they find out Fukudome is coming over here, they'll focus on that. So much hinges on that.

 

That's the thing, by trading JJ so early we've really put all our eggs into Fukudome's basket. If we don't land Fukudome, has Jim thrown around any other names in your presence as a backup plan?

[Bruce Miles]

Do you see the Cubs making any SIGNIFICANT trades before the end of the meetings?

 

Always hard to predict that. If they find out Fukudome is coming over here, they'll focus on that. So much hinges on that.

 

That's the thing, by trading JJ so early we've really put all our eggs into Fukudome's basket. If we don't land Fukudome, has Jim thrown around any other names in your presence as a backup plan?

 

No, this organization is pretty tight-lipped about whom it's going after. They've not volunteered anything. Hard to say if anything around baseball is "near completion" because the talks are so fluid.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Do you see the Cubs making any SIGNIFICANT trades before the end of the meetings?

 

Always hard to predict that. If they find out Fukudome is coming over here, they'll focus on that. So much hinges on that.

 

That's the thing, by trading JJ so early we've really put all our eggs into Fukudome's basket. If we don't land Fukudome, has Jim thrown around any other names in your presence as a backup plan?

 

No, this organization is pretty tight-lipped about whom it's going after. They've not volunteered anything. Hard to say if anything around baseball is "near completion" because the talks are so fluid.

 

Interesting, thanks for the info Bruce.

[craig]

That's the thing, by trading JJ so early we've really put all our eggs into Fukudome's basket. If we don't land Fukudome, has Jim thrown around any other names in your presence as a backup plan?

 

I don't agree with this thinking. The Cubs were not going to go into next year with Jones as their primary RF regardless of what happens with Fukudome. If they don't get him, they'll pay whatever price it takes to get somebody they perceive to be more attractive than Jones (even if that perception is wrong, or differs from yours.)

 

It isn't Fukudome or Jones or somebody they perceive to be weaker than Jones. It's Fukudome or somebody they perceive to be better than Jones regardless. In which case moving jones and clearing some salary doesn't strike me as so dumb.

[USSoccer]

The last time we sat screwing around with RF options in the offseason we ended up with Jeromy Burnitz and a sub .500 team.

 

They need to be prepared for Fukudome not coming.

[Bruno7481]

The last time we sat screwing around with RF options in the offseason we ended up with Jeromy Burnitz and a sub .500 team.

 

They need to be prepared for Fukudome not coming.

 

We'll see. I'm still not convinced Fukudome is all that great. If the Cubs get him I sure hope he is though.

[HoopsCubs]

The last time we sat screwing around with RF options in the offseason we ended up with Jeromy Burnitz and a sub .500 team.

 

They need to be prepared for Fukudome not coming.

 

There's always Shawn Green. :wink:

[USSoccer]

The last time we sat screwing around with RF options in the offseason we ended up with Jeromy Burnitz and a sub .500 team.

 

They need to be prepared for Fukudome not coming.

 

There's always Shawn Green. :wink:

 

If you'd like to see a group of people have an e-stroke, sure.

[ChiCubsFan]

That's the thing, by trading JJ so early we've really put all our eggs into Fukudome's basket. If we don't land Fukudome, has Jim thrown around any other names in your presence as a backup plan?

 

I don't agree with this thinking. The Cubs were not going to go into next year with Jones as their primary RF regardless of what happens with Fukudome. If they don't get him, they'll pay whatever price it takes to get somebody they perceive to be more attractive than Jones (even if that perception is wrong, or differs from yours.)

 

It isn't Fukudome or Jones or somebody they perceive to be weaker than Jones. It's Fukudome or somebody they perceive to be better than Jones regardless. In which case moving jones and clearing some salary doesn't strike me as so dumb.

 

In addition to that, if you first sign Fukudome, you might get less for Jones. Teams will know you are desperate to unload him and may give you back a worse player (apparently Infante had some value to the Braves) or make you pick up more of his contract.

 

I really don't have a problem with trading Jones first. We must do better than him in RF.

[Post Count Padder]

The last time we sat screwing around with RF options in the offseason we ended up with Jeromy Burnitz and a sub .500 team.

 

They need to be prepared for Fukudome not coming.

 

There's always Shawn Green. :wink:

:-&

[BRASKYS SCOTCH]

Do you see the Cubs making any SIGNIFICANT trades before the end of the meetings?

 

Always hard to predict that. If they find out Fukudome is coming over here, they'll focus on that. So much hinges on that.

 

That's the thing, by trading JJ so early we've really put all our eggs into Fukudome's basket. If we don't land Fukudome, has Jim thrown around any other names in your presence as a backup plan?

 

No, this organization is pretty tight-lipped about whom it's going after. They've not volunteered anything. Hard to say if anything around baseball is "near completion" because the talks are so fluid.

 

Bruce,

 

Does all the speculation and subsequent confirmation-seeking make these meetings interesting/exciting or just an undesirable necessity for you? I imagine it starts with energy but grinds you down by Friday once the meetings have ended. Thanks for all the input!

[craig]

I believe the infield thing has cooled and that they'd be happy with status quo.

 

Thanks, Bruce. I think that's pretty significant, if true. As is we've got Ward, Blanco, Cedeno, and Murton as bench guys. Maybe Pagan.

 

In a sense you could cover all the positions, if you're satisfied with the quality of Cedeno as first reserve if 2B, SS, or 3B needs a break. If you're satisfied with Blanco if C needs a break. And if you're satisfied with Ward and/or Murton if 1B, LF, or RF need a break. Pagan I suppose would be the only option in center, unless you sign Fukudome and decide to move him to center when Pie needs a break. (Like everytime a LHP starts.) That could be a pretty flexible and fairly decent bench.... if Cedeno hits, and Murton hits, and Pagan can be adequate as Pie's platoon versus LHP. Those are a lot of ifs.

 

But I imagine Murton is a guy they might want or be willing to trade. Ward and Murton are kind of attractive as bench guys, pretty good bats, lefty and righty. But both are also somewhat unattractive as bench guys, in that neither plays any position well defensively. Having one no-defense-good-bat bench guy is one thing. Not sure if Lou wants to live with two guys like that.

[RammyFanny]

Bruce if you're still lurking, do you know if there's any interest in Bedard? It was mentioned that MacPhail and Hendry had lunch (which wouldn't seem out of the ordinary, but now in Joel Shermans latest winter meetings blog he says we are indeed interested.

Still, the Mets' prospects might not be appetizing enough to win amid a pool of 8-10 teams that includes the Diamondbacks and Cubs.

http://blogs.nypost.com/sports/wm/archives/2007/12/bedard_long_sho.html#more

[Bruce Miles]

Do you see the Cubs making any SIGNIFICANT trades before the end of the meetings?

 

Always hard to predict that. If they find out Fukudome is coming over here, they'll focus on that. So much hinges on that.

 

That's the thing, by trading JJ so early we've really put all our eggs into Fukudome's basket. If we don't land Fukudome, has Jim thrown around any other names in your presence as a backup plan?

 

No, this organization is pretty tight-lipped about whom it's going after. They've not volunteered anything. Hard to say if anything around baseball is "near completion" because the talks are so fluid.

 

Bruce,

 

Does all the speculation and subsequent confirmation-seeking make these meetings interesting/exciting or just an undesirable necessity for you? I imagine it starts with energy but grinds you down by Friday once the meetings have ended. Thanks for all the input!

 

The winter meetings tend to wear on everybody after a few days. This place here is so huge it's hard to find anybody, and it takes 10 minutes just to walk from the media workroom to the lobby of the Cubs hotel, and it's all in the same complext. The speculation is all part of it, and it's what makes following baseball fun. You get tired of chasing baseless stuff, but that comes with it. I'm hapy when the week is over, yes.