ESPN1000 Mark Teahen for Matt Murton?

[Bruce Miles]

Tender him, but remember, you can't cut him more than 20 percent. The Cubs would love to non-tender him and sign him back the next day at a lesser deal. That's what they did with Michael Barrett in December 2003. They traded for him, non-tendered him and then re-signed him. Prior made $3.575 million this year. If he's tendered, whoever has him runs the risk of paying him a ton of dough for him to rehab into the seaon and then risk losing him. Any team will want some give from Prior.

 

I thought the new CBA made it a 40% cut.

 

 

Not if you're a 5-plus guy, as is Prior.

[FadeToBolivia]

Why must every one of Bruce's appearances turn into a press conference? Can we treat him like normal?

 

Bruce,

 

What is your favorite ice cream flavor and TV show?

 

I like strawberry cheesecake & cinnamon, and I'm also really into Lost.

 

Bruce loves the limelight. Or is it that he loves the night life and that he likes to boogie? I keep forgetting.

 

Actually, "Limelight" is one of my favorite songs from my favorite band, Rush. But enough about me.

 

 

OMG my new favorite writer, as I listen to Counterparts.

[Bruce Miles]

Why must every one of Bruce's appearances turn into a press conference? Can we treat him like normal?

 

Bruce,

 

What is your favorite ice cream flavor and TV show?

 

I like strawberry cheesecake & cinnamon, and I'm also really into Lost.

 

Bruce loves the limelight. Or is it that he loves the night life and that he likes to boogie? I keep forgetting.

 

Actually, "Limelight" is one of my favorite songs from my favorite band, Rush. But enough about me.

 

 

OMG my new favorite writer, as I listen to Counterparts.

 

I either gain friends or lose 'em because of Rush (and maybe even the Cubs). The new Rush album is a good one.

[craig]

Tender him, but remember, you can't cut him more than 20 percent. The Cubs would love to non-tender him and sign him back the next day at a lesser deal. That's what they did with Michael Barrett in December 2003. They traded for him, non-tendered him and then re-signed him. Prior made $3.575 million this year. If he's tendered, whoever has him runs the risk of paying him a ton of dough for him to rehab into the seaon and then risk losing him. Any team will want some give from Prior.

 

Preferred options would be a 2-year deal or a pre-arranged non-tender 1-year for less than the $2.8. But that's true for anybody who might trade for him.

 

So why is their interest by other teams? I don't imagine teams are talking trade just so that they can nontender him.

 

If a team wants to trade anything worthwhile for him, they must either: a) think $2.8 for this year is not too much, rehab and impending free agency notwithstanding; b) he'll sign a 2-year or a non-tender cheaper 1 year for them, even though he won't for hendry; or c) they're unafraid of Prior's impending free agency, even though Hendry perhaps is.

 

I understand the notion that Prior at $2.8 on a rehab walk year is a bad contract. But GM's don't normally line up to try to trade for a bad contract. Yet rumors suggest that a number of GM's do want to take on Prior's situation, and may be willing to trade for that opportunity/obligation. (Although I have no idea how much any GM is actually willing to trade.) That team are asking about him suggests that the market does *not* view $2.8/1 to be a bad contract.

 

So I'm puzzled. Q's: If the many other GM's think $2.8/1 is desirable why wouldn't Hendry? How much value are other GM's willing to trade, and if it's even semi-substantial, why? Is there a common market knowledge that Prior wants to leave the Cubs or dislikes Hendry or something? (If so, that might explain why impending free agency would be scarier to Hendry than to some other GM). Or is the reports of discussions mostly baloney and mostly initiated by hendry trying to drum up interest? (Ala trying to shop Corey Patterson two years ago, before giving him for nothing. Or trying to shop Jacque Jones last winter, only to get no strong offers. Or Todd Walker the winter before, again to know strong offers?)

 

I guess I just don't understand why the Cubs would consider Prior's contract to be so bad that they'd seriously consider non-tendering him, while other teams are considering it so desirable that they're trying to trade real talent in order to take it on.

[NCCubFan]

I'd say this post and those names are quite accurate. You can scratch Ohman off the list, Hoops. :D

 

Infante too!

And probably Guzman too, since he's going to miss most (if not all) of 2008 recovering from TJS.

[FadeToBolivia]

Why must every one of Bruce's appearances turn into a press conference? Can we treat him like normal?

 

Bruce,

 

What is your favorite ice cream flavor and TV show?

 

I like strawberry cheesecake & cinnamon, and I'm also really into Lost.

 

Bruce loves the limelight. Or is it that he loves the night life and that he likes to boogie? I keep forgetting.

 

Actually, "Limelight" is one of my favorite songs from my favorite band, Rush. But enough about me.

 

 

OMG my new favorite writer, as I listen to Counterparts.

 

I either gain friends or lose 'em because of Rush (and maybe even the Cubs). The new Rush album is a good one.

 

Yeah no kidding. I know my girlfriend is a keeper because she'll humor me and go to Rush shows and Cubs games with me.

 

The new album is great, and I think this tour is one of the best they've had in recent memory. It's good to know they still have some left in the tank.

[WrigleyinEngland]

Either Levine is being sold down the river or Bruce M's sources are off but levines like a dog after a bone, now reporting the royals interested in Jake Fox as well as Matt Murton.

[MSG T]

Why must every one of Bruce's appearances turn into a press conference? Can we treat him like normal?

 

Bruce,

 

What is your favorite ice cream flavor and TV show?

 

I like strawberry cheesecake & cinnamon, and I'm also really into Lost.

 

Bruce loves the limelight. Or is it that he loves the night life and that he likes to boogie? I keep forgetting.

 

Actually, "Limelight" is one of my favorite songs from my favorite band, Rush. But enough about me.

 

 

OMG my new favorite writer, as I listen to Counterparts.

 

I either gain friends or lose 'em because of Rush (and maybe even the Cubs). The new Rush album is a good one.

 

That makes appreciate you even more, Bruce, although Snakes is a good album, I like Vapor Trails better.

 

Back to baseball, Bruce have you heard where( or why) this Royals spending spree is coming from? Have they just been holding back til now and are deciding to spend some of the cash they've evidently been hording the last few years? First Guillen, now they're going after Fukudome? How high are they planning on taking their payroll? I normally wouldn't care, but the bidding on F-dome could affect the Cubs.

[MSG T]

Why must every one of Bruce's appearances turn into a press conference? Can we treat him like normal?

 

Bruce,

 

What is your favorite ice cream flavor and TV show?

 

I like strawberry cheesecake & cinnamon, and I'm also really into Lost.

 

Bruce loves the limelight. Or is it that he loves the night life and that he likes to boogie? I keep forgetting.

 

Actually, "Limelight" is one of my favorite songs from my favorite band, Rush. But enough about me.

 

 

OMG my new favorite writer, as I listen to Counterparts.

 

I either gain friends or lose 'em because of Rush (and maybe even the Cubs). The new Rush album is a good one.

 

That makes appreciate you even more, Bruce, although Snakes is a good album, I like Vapor Trails better.

 

Back to baseball, Bruce have you heard where( or why) this Royals spending spree is coming from? Have they just been holding back til now and are deciding to spend some of the cash they've evidently been hording the last few years? First Guillen, now they're going after Fukudome? How high are they planning on taking their payroll? I normally wouldn't care, but the bidding on F-dome could affect the Cubs.

[YearofDaCubs]

Even if we sign Fuko, I would do a Murton, Fox swap for Teahen but I believe BMiles when he says the Royals are not looking to move Teahen.

[JeffH]

Either Levine is being sold down the river or Bruce M's sources are off but levines like a dog after a bone, now reporting the royals interested in Jake Fox as well as Matt Murton.

 

I'm too lazy to go back and look, but I believe all Bruce Miles said was that the Royals wouldn't do a Murton-Teahen straight up deal.

 

It's completely plausible that Hendry is very interested in Teahen and would give up Murton and probably others for him.

 

Murton, Fox, and a reliever like Petrick or Roquet for Teahen?

[E.J.]

Even if we sign Fuko, I would do a Murton, Fox swap for Teahen but I believe BMiles when he says the Royals are not looking to move Teahen.

 

Sign Fukudome for CF, trade Murton and Fox for Teahen, trade Pie and others for Bedard, and then call it an offseason. :D

[CuseCubFan69]

Even if we sign Fuko, I would do a Murton, Fox swap for Teahen but I believe BMiles when he says the Royals are not looking to move Teahen.

 

Sign Fukudome for CF, trade Murton and Fox for Teahen, trade Pie and others for Bedard, and then call it an offseason. :D

 

Could Teahen play RF everyday? If DeRosa is at second, who plays right against a lefty?

[YearofDaCubs]

Even if we sign Fuko, I would do a Murton, Fox swap for Teahen but I believe BMiles when he says the Royals are not looking to move Teahen.

 

Sign Fukudome for CF, trade Murton and Fox for Teahen, trade Pie and others for Bedard, and then call it an offseason. :D

If that could happen I would go nuts ha ha.

[jersey cubs fan]

i get the feeling that prior hates the cubs and i'm pretty sure the cubs feel the same way.

 

what a messy, sad ending to what could have been glorious. please trade him to the AL.

 

 

DRAFT TEX

[rawaction]

Even if we sign Fuko, I would do a Murton, Fox swap for Teahen but I believe BMiles when he says the Royals are not looking to move Teahen.

 

Sign Fukudome for CF, trade Murton and Fox for Teahen, trade Pie and others for Bedard, and then call it an offseason. :D

 

Could Teahen play RF everyday? If DeRosa is at second, who plays right against a lefty?

 

He played RF everyday last year.

[YearofDaCubs]

If the Royals win the Fukodome sweepstakes than maybe we will see Teahen.

[E.J.]

If the Royals win the Fukodome sweepstakes than maybe we will see Teahen.

 

They just signed Jose Guillen to a big contract, so it looks like Teahen is expendable.

[abuck1220]

i get the feeling that prior hates the cubs and i'm pretty sure the cubs feel the same way.

 

what a messy, sad ending to what could have been glorious. please trade him to the AL.

 

 

DRAFT TEX

 

ouch.

[JeffH]

Teahen would make a lot of sense for the Cubs.

 

They wanted Matsui (ugh!) so they could make DeRosa a supersub.

 

Teahen could kind of serve as that supersub. He could play 3B when Aramis isn't available. He could play LF in place of Soriano. He'd be a terrific bat off the bench, paired with Ward.

 

Teahen could play RF if they fail to sign Kosuke. Even if they do sign Kosuke, Teahen could be a fallback RF if none of the internal CF candidates work out and they have to move Kosuke to CF.

 

I wonder if Hendry would need to sacrifice Gallagher for Teahen.

[CuseCubFan69]

Even if we sign Fuko, I would do a Murton, Fox swap for Teahen but I believe BMiles when he says the Royals are not looking to move Teahen.

 

Sign Fukudome for CF, trade Murton and Fox for Teahen, trade Pie and others for Bedard, and then call it an offseason. :D

 

Could Teahen play RF everyday? If DeRosa is at second, who plays right against a lefty?

 

He played RF everyday last year.

 

Would it be productive for the team to let him do so?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

How about sign Fukudome for CF. Trade Murton, Fox + marginal prospect for Teahan.

 

Then trade Pie, Marshall, Cedeno and maybe another prospect for Tejada.

 

Voila!

 

Soriano LF

Fukudome CF

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Tejada SS

Teahan RF

DeRosa 2b

Soto C

 

That's a line-up I could fall in love with.

[treebird]

How about sign Fukudome for CF. Trade Murton, Fox + marginal prospect for Teahan.

 

Then trade Pie, Marshall, Cedeno and maybe another prospect for Tejada.

 

Voila!

 

Soriano LF

Fukudome CF

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Tejada SS

Teahan RF

DeRosa 2b

Soto C

 

That's a line-up I could fall in love with.

 

that's way beyond out budget unless the next move is trade zambrano for prospects

[Post Count Padder]

How about sign Fukudome for CF. Trade Murton, Fox + marginal prospect for Teahan.

 

Then trade Pie, Marshall, Cedeno and maybe another prospect for Tejada.

 

Voila!

 

Soriano LF

Fukudome CF

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Tejada SS

Teahan RF

DeRosa 2b

Soto C

 

That's a line-up I could fall in love with.

How about:

 

Fukudome

Teahen

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

Tejada

DeRosa

Soto

 

?

[VanceJergins]

How about sign Fukudome for CF. Trade Murton, Fox + marginal prospect for Teahan.

 

Then trade Pie, Marshall, Cedeno and maybe another prospect for Tejada.

 

Voila!

 

Soriano LF

Fukudome CF

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Tejada SS

Teahan RF

DeRosa 2b

Soto C

 

That's a line-up I could fall in love with.

 

I would barely trade Murton for Teahan, but definitely not Murton, Fox AND another prospect. I want Fox on the bench as a righty HR threat and emergency catcher. I think he has some value and wouldn't include him as a thrown in for someone who's not a significant improvement. But if this is based in the world of "what Hendry would consider", then I guess its not that bad.