Rosenthal says the Cubs could get Melky Cabrera?

[badnews]

Not that exciting, he just lists the Cubs along with some other teams.

 

Anyway, it seems like an odd move to me. Cabrera's value is about as high as anybody's right now seemingly, and at the price he seems like a risk. Also the Yankees are my least favorite team and I wouldn't like to do anything to help them out.

 

Rosenthal also listed the Reds:

 

"Cabrera, 23, is part of the Yankees' offer for Santana, but could fit for several teams that are in the market for a young, affordable, switch-hitting center fielder. Those teams include the Cubs, Reds, Braves, Royals and Pirates."

 

What, the Reds just traded a young, affordable, left-handed hitting center fielder for a prospect Baseball America really scoffed over (especially Jim Callis) so they could trade a fortune to get a guy who turn around when he occasionally faces a lefty? Yeah, that makes sense, the Reds trading a lot for another outfielder.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

He just threw the Cubs in there because he is lazy. There is no weight to this.

[Post Count Padder]

I see no reason why the Cubs should want/need/ inquire about Melky.

[Flames24Rulz]

Just speculation. I refuse to believe this.

[Sammy Sofa]

Pass.

 

I'd have no problem trading Pie if a semi-capable CFer is available, but Melky isn't that guy. He's insanely over-valued by the Yanks, as they always do, and insanely overrated just because he's a Yankee. If he could be had for cheap, sure...but that's pretty much impossible.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

Ken Rosenthal reports...., I'm getting word that a player might be available, the Chicago Cubs have been adding salary so I assume the Cubs are a destination for this player. Stay tuned

[HoopsCubs]

I'm going to defend Rosenthal on this one. While Hendry has been saying publicly he will not move Pie, it is quite possible that the Cubs have internally told baseball people around the league that they would be open to moving Pie for a quality starter in the right type of deal, and therefore would be in the market for a center fielder. This is not the first time Rosenthal has written an article hinting the Cubs may be in the market for a CF. They were linked to Cameron several times earlier in the offseason, and even Kenny Lofton's name has been brought up.

 

Cabrera is only 23 and a switch hitter - he had a near 750 OPS against right-handed pitching in 2007. That is by no means great, but wouldn't be bad in the 8-hole or 2-hole.

 

Hoops

[Outshined_One]

This pretty much depends on how the Cubs view Pie, Colvin, and E-Patt. If they think they can get at least league-average production out of those three (be it individually or in some combination) over the course of next season, then someone like Melky wouldn't be of much interest to them. However, if they don't think that way, and if they don't think any one of those three will even pan out to be league average in their careers, there probably is something to this.

[Backtobanks]

Cabrera for Dempster or Marquis would be great. Unless there's some big deal brewing for Pie, use Cabrera as a 4th OF.

[HoopsCubs]

In day games in 2007, Cabrera posted a .364 OBP and .463 SLG.

[HoopsCubs]

Cabrera for Dempster or Marquis would be great. Unless there's some big deal brewing for Pie, use Cabrera as a 4th OF.

 

I think I recall reading that any deal for Cabrera would require prospects. By the way, if the Cubs acquire Melky you got to figure he'll be the starting CF and the Cubs will package Pie for a pitcher.

Edited January 11, 2008 by HoopsCubs

[WrigleyinEngland]

Hoops, Do you really think Hendry has the motivation to move Pie/Colvin? One is his baby and the other is wilkins. I can't imagine a deal where he would think about including him, this is mainly due to the fact that i don't believe other GM's rate Pie as highly as Hendry does.

[UK1679666180]

He'd be a good 4th OF'er and a nice insurance policy if Pie doesn't progress offensively. I'd still like to see Pie be given a chance to make or break it, but if he is included in trade, I'd have no problem with them looking at Cabrera. He's still more of a 4th OF'er than a starter, IMO.

[HoopsCubs]

Hoops, Do you really think Hendry has the motivation to move Pie/Colvin? One is his baby and the other is wilkins. I can't imagine a deal where he would think about including him, this is mainly due to the fact that i don't believe other GM's rate Pie as highly as Hendry does.

 

WiE,

I don't know. On Pie, I suspect Hendry has a public stance ("we're not trading him") and a private stance ("we'll move him in the right deal"). I think there is concern about his hitting.

[jmajew]

I would be all for trading for Cabrera. As long as we then package Pie for Bedard or Blanton and then forget about the deal for Brian Roberts. Soriano, DeRosa, Lee, Fukudome, Ramirez, Cabrera, Soto, Theriot. Rotation would then be stellar as well, Z, Lilly, Bedard/Blanton, Hill, Marquis/Dempster.

[WrigleyinEngland]

I went out to chicago last year around the home series vs CIN and SD, Pie got brought up and i was sat in the bleachers when he threw out Branyan at home turned to my friend and said we'll be watching this kid in CF for the next 5+ years. After that he was messed around a little by being hit at 8th etc and not remaining full time in CF. I would just like him to be given the chance to make CF his position. Find a RH centrefielder who can handle tough lefties put Pie 2nd or 7th in the lineup and see how he goes. As for trades i don't think anyone would offer Hendry a player that he values as highly as he views Pie.

[WrigleyinEngland]

I would be all for trading for Cabrera. As long as we then package Pie for Bedard or Blanton and then forget about the deal for Brian Roberts. Soriano, DeRosa, Lee, Fukudome, Ramirez, Cabrera, Soto, Theriot. Rotation would then be stellar as well, Z, Lilly, Bedard/Blanton, Hill, Marquis/Dempster.

 

I'm totally not in to Blanton, if i'm trading Pie i want at least a Bedard/Hughes/Haren type in return. That's not to say i wouldn't add to Pie to aquire one of those guys.

[BigbadB]

I agree that it's hard to say what Hendry really thinks about Pie or even Cedeno at this juncture. What I know is this team has the potential to be REALLY good if Pie, Cedeno and Soto can come close to duplicating their AAA numbers of a season ago. At Iowa last year:

 

Pie: .362 .410 .563

Cedeno: .359 .422 .537

Soto: .353 .424 .652

 

These are staggering numbers. There is no way any of these guys duplicate those numbers at the major league level. But, if you took 50 points off the their AVG, 75 points off their OBP's, and 100 points off their SLG, I'd still be quite thrilled with that kind of output from them and the Cubs offense would be one of the best in the game. Each of these players needs an opportunity to mature at the major league level.

 

I'd rather have the downgrade at 2b from Roberts to DeRosa than give up Cedeno, Gallagher and Marshall because I think we are giving up much more production than we would be getting.

 

Personally, I'm fine if the Cubs call it an offseason today.

[Guest]

In day games in 2007, Cabrera posted a .364 OBP and .463 SLG.

His career day split is .277/.341/.398, nearly indistinguishable from his overall line. I'm with Ping on this one; Melky wouldn't be a terrible option for CF if Pie (for whatever reason) can't roam center for us. I just don't think Cabrera will be worth anywhere near his likely cost in a trade.

[WrigleyinEngland]

I agree that it's hard to say what Hendry really thinks about Pie or even Cedeno at this juncture. What I know is this team has the potential to be REALLY good if Pie, Cedeno and Soto can come close to duplicating their AAA numbers of a season ago. At Iowa last year:

 

Pie: .362 .410 .563

Cedeno: .359 .422 .537

Soto: .353 .424 .652

 

These are staggering numbers. There is no way any of these guys duplicate those numbers at the major league level. But, if you took 50 points off the their AVG, 75 points off their OBP's, and 100 points off their SLG, I'd still be quite thrilled with that kind of output from them and the Cubs offense would be one of the best in the game. Each of these players needs an opportunity to mature at the major league level.

 

I'd rather have the downgrade at 2b from Roberts to DeRosa than give up Cedeno, Gallagher and Marshall because I think we are giving up much more production than we would be getting.

 

Personally, I'm fine if the Cubs call it an offseason today.

 

I can't really disagree with alot of this but i would like to at least see if a club would part with a #2 starter for a package built around Pie. Would Atlanta talk to us about Hudson for Pie/Gallagher/Ceda?

[JeffH]

The Cubs looking to trade for Melky Cabrera so they can play him instead of Felix Pie?

 

Exhibit 8,182,735,687,262,810,172,302,370 for the case of "Why the Chicago Cubs are MLB's worst franchise".

 

Brutal.

[BigbadB]

I agree that it's hard to say what Hendry really thinks about Pie or even Cedeno at this juncture. What I know is this team has the potential to be REALLY good if Pie, Cedeno and Soto can come close to duplicating their AAA numbers of a season ago. At Iowa last year:

 

Pie: .362 .410 .563

Cedeno: .359 .422 .537

Soto: .353 .424 .652

 

These are staggering numbers. There is no way any of these guys duplicate those numbers at the major league level. But, if you took 50 points off the their AVG, 75 points off their OBP's, and 100 points off their SLG, I'd still be quite thrilled with that kind of output from them and the Cubs offense would be one of the best in the game. Each of these players needs an opportunity to mature at the major league level.

 

I'd rather have the downgrade at 2b from Roberts to DeRosa than give up Cedeno, Gallagher and Marshall because I think we are giving up much more production than we would be getting.

 

Personally, I'm fine if the Cubs call it an offseason today.

 

I can't really disagree with alot of this but i would like to at least see if a club would part with a #2 starter for a package built around Pie. Would Atlanta talk to us about Hudson for Pie/Gallagher/Ceda?

 

Why make a move now? Pitching was a strength last year for the Cubs and it has a chance to be even better in 2008. I don't think the Cubs are in a position to trade for an impact starting pitcher without weakening another aspect of the team. I'm perfectly fine going into the season with Zambrano, Lilly, Hill, Marquis, Marshall/Gallagher as the set rotation.

 

Give Cedeno, Pie and Soto their opportunity to see if they belong. If they don't belong, then make some deadline deals to improve.

[WrigleyinEngland]

My only worry is that we got about as good as it's going to get out of both Lilly and Marquis last year and if there is a significant drop off we will be in serious trouble with or without Gallagher and Marshall waiting in the wings.

[BigbadB]

My only worry is that we got about as good as it's going to get out of both Lilly and Marquis last year and if there is a significant drop off we will be in serious trouble with or without Gallagher and Marshall waiting in the wings.

 

That's reasonable enough. However, I think Zambrano can be way better than he was last year and I think one of Marshall or Gallagher can be good enough to neutralize any decrease by Lilly or Marquis. And there is still potential for a deadline deal.

 

If Pie, Cedeno and Soto can be even close to as good as advertised, the Cubs can absorb a marginal decrease in production from the rotation.

[Tyrant]

The Cubs looking to trade for Melky Cabrera so they can play him instead of Felix Pie?

 

Exhibit 8,182,735,687,262,810,172,302,370 for the case of "Why the Chicago Cubs are MLB's worst franchise".

 

Brutal.

 

Calm down. Rosenthal just said the Cubs might be looking for a center fielder, so he threw their name in.

 

It bothers me that anytime there is what appears to be a purely speculative rumor, we read a barrage of posts saying that "The Cubs are so stupid" and "Hendry is a moron."