What do people think about possibly getting Jay Payton?

[badnews]

I ask because in the Roberts thread I've seen the support for obtaining him steadily growing. As The Unfrozen Caveman lawyer used to say, this "frightens and confuses me."

 

Much of what I've read on this board this offseason has been about saving money. I've seen the following statements a number of times:

 

"We need to trade Jacque to free up money."

 

"We need to trade Craig Monroe to free up money."

 

"We need to trade Dempster to free up money."

 

"We need to trade Marquis to free up money."

 

Now what's interesting is for the most part, I haven't seen conditional approval of acquiring Payton based on the contingency we dump Marquis on them, but rather, unconditional approval. Considering the embarrassingly large amount of money Payton is due this season, I am wondering two things, 1) How widespread is the support for obtaining Payton, and 2) How does one justify the urgency expressed in dumping salary (to the point where people have suggested eating part of the contracts) just to give it to Payton?

[biittner77]

Is Payton in these scenario's part of the Roberts trade? If so, taking him off their hands means less that we have to send the other way. In other words they dump his salary on the Cubs and the Cubs don't have to include say Veal but instead include Les Walrond.

[CuseCubFan69]

At least Payton can play CF which Monroe could not, well...not well. I feel better about him since Lou is in charge, if it were Dusty, I'd say a big no to that idea.

[Backtobanks]

Besides the money issue, I've wondered about the negativity over Payton. He could back up all 3 OF positions and would be a good right-handed bat off the bench or to relieve Pie or Fukudome.

[Derwood]

Besides the money issue, I've wondered about the negativity over Payton. He could back up all 3 OF positions and would be a good right-handed bat off the bench or to relieve Pie or Fukudome.

 

well, he hasn't been good since 2003. that's one issue

[CubColtPacer]

I was never one who was very worried about money just for 2008 (although still worried about money for 09, so if we can dump salaries to make the payroll less for next year, that's still a good thing).

 

If the Cubs can absorb Payton's salary, then I think he is a good throw in. The Orioles will probably just give him away, and he is a pretty good example of the platoon partner that Hendry is looking for in CF. He also doesn't hit right-handers well enough to really be a threat to take away Pie's job. If Payton gives the Cubs a .750 OPS against left-handers (which he's been at or above each of the last 5 years) that will be a big help to what Pie would likely do against those same pitchers.

 

Now if Payton's salary precludes them from making another move, then I wouldn't take him. He is way overpaid, and if they actually plan to use that money on somebody else than I'd rather the Cubs do that. However, in the middle of February that becomes more and more unlikely that they would be using the budget somewhere else.

[CubinNY]

I played MSBL with his younger brother in Columbus OH.

 

That's what I think about getting Payton at this stage.

[Soul]

Besides the money issue, I've wondered about the negativity over Payton. He could back up all 3 OF positions and would be a good right-handed bat off the bench or to relieve Pie or Fukudome.

 

well, he hasn't been good since 2003. that's one issue

 

Unfortunately a rather serious one at that.

[Abe Frohman]

I played MSBL with his younger brother in Columbus OH.

 

That's what I think about getting Payton at this stage.

 

MSBL is goodfun.

[Clem Fandango]

I usually try to avoid thinking about possibly getting Jay Payton. I won't be able to sleep at night if I do

[17 Seconds]

I was never one who was very worried about money just for 2008 (although still worried about money for 09, so if we can dump salaries to make the payroll less for next year, that's still a good thing).

 

If the Cubs can absorb Payton's salary, then I think he is a good throw in. The Orioles will probably just give him away, and he is a pretty good example of the platoon partner that Hendry is looking for in CF. He also doesn't hit right-handers well enough to really be a threat to take away Pie's job. If Payton gives the Cubs a .750 OPS against left-handers (which he's been at or above each of the last 5 years) that will be a big help to what Pie would likely do against those same pitchers.

 

Now if Payton's salary precludes them from making another move, then I wouldn't take him. He is way overpaid, and if they actually plan to use that money on somebody else than I'd rather the Cubs do that. However, in the middle of February that becomes more and more unlikely that they would be using the budget somewhere else.

 

A .750 ops split is not good.

[CubColtPacer]

I was never one who was very worried about money just for 2008 (although still worried about money for 09, so if we can dump salaries to make the payroll less for next year, that's still a good thing).

 

If the Cubs can absorb Payton's salary, then I think he is a good throw in. The Orioles will probably just give him away, and he is a pretty good example of the platoon partner that Hendry is looking for in CF. He also doesn't hit right-handers well enough to really be a threat to take away Pie's job. If Payton gives the Cubs a .750 OPS against left-handers (which he's been at or above each of the last 5 years) that will be a big help to what Pie would likely do against those same pitchers.

 

Now if Payton's salary precludes them from making another move, then I wouldn't take him. He is way overpaid, and if they actually plan to use that money on somebody else than I'd rather the Cubs do that. However, in the middle of February that becomes more and more unlikely that they would be using the budget somewhere else.

 

A .750 ops split is not good.

 

Not really, but it's a lot better than what the Cubs have currently. Is there anybody currently available that could consistently give the Cubs better?

[David]

I was never one who was very worried about money just for 2008 (although still worried about money for 09, so if we can dump salaries to make the payroll less for next year, that's still a good thing).

 

If the Cubs can absorb Payton's salary, then I think he is a good throw in. The Orioles will probably just give him away, and he is a pretty good example of the platoon partner that Hendry is looking for in CF. He also doesn't hit right-handers well enough to really be a threat to take away Pie's job. If Payton gives the Cubs a .750 OPS against left-handers (which he's been at or above each of the last 5 years) that will be a big help to what Pie would likely do against those same pitchers.

 

Now if Payton's salary precludes them from making another move, then I wouldn't take him. He is way overpaid, and if they actually plan to use that money on somebody else than I'd rather the Cubs do that. However, in the middle of February that becomes more and more unlikely that they would be using the budget somewhere else.

 

A .750 ops split is not good.

 

It's not, and I'm not at all advocating acquiring Payton unless it means we give up far less for Roberts, but I think his point was that it pretty much blows out of the water whatever you're likely to get from Pie against LHP.

[soapy]

 

A .750 ops split is not good.

 

It's not, and I'm not at all advocating acquiring Payton unless it means we give up far less for Roberts, but I think his point was that it pretty much blows out of the water whatever you're likely to get from Pie against LHP.

it's also better than the alternative of trading Murton for Byrd.

 

is Payton signed past this year? if not, i'd take him off Baltimore's hands if it meant giving up less for Roberts. also on the condition that CCP raised that the money spent on Payton isn't prohibiting improvement elsewhere.

[mdwilla]

I was never one who was very worried about money just for 2008 (although still worried about money for 09, so if we can dump salaries to make the payroll less for next year, that's still a good thing).

 

If the Cubs can absorb Payton's salary, then I think he is a good throw in. The Orioles will probably just give him away, and he is a pretty good example of the platoon partner that Hendry is looking for in CF. He also doesn't hit right-handers well enough to really be a threat to take away Pie's job. If Payton gives the Cubs a .750 OPS against left-handers (which he's been at or above each of the last 5 years) that will be a big help to what Pie would likely do against those same pitchers.

 

Now if Payton's salary precludes them from making another move, then I wouldn't take him. He is way overpaid, and if they actually plan to use that money on somebody else than I'd rather the Cubs do that. However, in the middle of February that becomes more and more unlikely that they would be using the budget somewhere else.

 

A .750 ops split is not good.

 

Not really, but it's a lot better than what the Cubs have currently. Is there anybody currently available that could consistently give the Cubs better?

 

 

Shannon Stewart

[CubColtPacer]

I was never one who was very worried about money just for 2008 (although still worried about money for 09, so if we can dump salaries to make the payroll less for next year, that's still a good thing).

 

If the Cubs can absorb Payton's salary, then I think he is a good throw in. The Orioles will probably just give him away, and he is a pretty good example of the platoon partner that Hendry is looking for in CF. He also doesn't hit right-handers well enough to really be a threat to take away Pie's job. If Payton gives the Cubs a .750 OPS against left-handers (which he's been at or above each of the last 5 years) that will be a big help to what Pie would likely do against those same pitchers.

 

Now if Payton's salary precludes them from making another move, then I wouldn't take him. He is way overpaid, and if they actually plan to use that money on somebody else than I'd rather the Cubs do that. However, in the middle of February that becomes more and more unlikely that they would be using the budget somewhere else.

 

A .750 ops split is not good.

 

Not really, but it's a lot better than what the Cubs have currently. Is there anybody currently available that could consistently give the Cubs better?

 

 

Shannon Stewart

 

Shannon Stewart is better against right-handers than left-handers. He hasn't had a single season of .750 OPS or better against left-handers out of the last 4. Plus he has had only 6 games played in CF in the last 7 years combined. Payton is better than him in both those aspects.

[Abe Frohman]

Jay Payton? Why? Only if he is in a blockbuster for Bedard and Roberts - and if we lose Pie, Patterson, & Murton.

[17 Seconds]

I was never one who was very worried about money just for 2008 (although still worried about money for 09, so if we can dump salaries to make the payroll less for next year, that's still a good thing).

 

If the Cubs can absorb Payton's salary, then I think he is a good throw in. The Orioles will probably just give him away, and he is a pretty good example of the platoon partner that Hendry is looking for in CF. He also doesn't hit right-handers well enough to really be a threat to take away Pie's job. If Payton gives the Cubs a .750 OPS against left-handers (which he's been at or above each of the last 5 years) that will be a big help to what Pie would likely do against those same pitchers.

 

Now if Payton's salary precludes them from making another move, then I wouldn't take him. He is way overpaid, and if they actually plan to use that money on somebody else than I'd rather the Cubs do that. However, in the middle of February that becomes more and more unlikely that they would be using the budget somewhere else.

 

A .750 ops split is not good.

 

Not really, but it's a lot better than what the Cubs have currently. Is there anybody currently available that could consistently give the Cubs better?

 

Monroe hits lefites better than Payton does. Just because a guy is slightly better than what we currently have doesn't make it okay to trade for him. Paying a guy 5 million for a poor split is unacceptable.

[BigbadB]

How much did Baltimore pay for Sammy?

[Backtobanks]

I was never one who was very worried about money just for 2008 (although still worried about money for 09, so if we can dump salaries to make the payroll less for next year, that's still a good thing).

 

If the Cubs can absorb Payton's salary, then I think he is a good throw in. The Orioles will probably just give him away, and he is a pretty good example of the platoon partner that Hendry is looking for in CF. He also doesn't hit right-handers well enough to really be a threat to take away Pie's job. If Payton gives the Cubs a .750 OPS against left-handers (which he's been at or above each of the last 5 years) that will be a big help to what Pie would likely do against those same pitchers.

 

Now if Payton's salary precludes them from making another move, then I wouldn't take him. He is way overpaid, and if they actually plan to use that money on somebody else than I'd rather the Cubs do that. However, in the middle of February that becomes more and more unlikely that they would be using the budget somewhere else.

 

A .750 ops split is not good.

 

Not really, but it's a lot better than what the Cubs have currently. Is there anybody currently available that could consistently give the Cubs better?

 

Monroe hits lefites better than Payton does. Just because a guy is slightly better than what we currently have doesn't make it okay to trade for him. Paying a guy 5 million for a poor split is unacceptable.

 

A perfect argument for withdrawing from the Roberts trade.

[UK1679666180]

If it was choice between Jay Payton and 5 mil. and Nook Logan for a minimal salary, I'd rather go with Logan (which isn't saying much) as far as a platoon partner.