RUMOR: Cubs interested in Willits

[RammyFanny]

Take it with a grain of salt, but a pretty reliable poster on Brewerfan.net had this to say:

I will keep you posted, but I did just talked with someone I know who was John McDonough's (Cubs former VP) assistant who is still there and he told me that both the Willits and Roberts deals are hot right now and would be surprised if one of them is not done by the end of the week.

 

Names he told me the Cubs are willing to trade are Cedeno, Theriot, Gallagher, Fontenot, Marquis, Dempster, or maybe even Pie. Cubs AA former first round pick Tyler Colvin could be in a package as well.

 

I apologize for being a Brewer fan who knows someone in Cub hierarchy, by the way. Living in Chicago makes it tough to know any Brewer contacts.

 

This was also said earlier in that thread by good poster:

I heard the name of Reggie Willits mentioned as on Cub radar this weekend. Now it would make more sense for them to add Cintron if they were getting an OF in return for Cedeno rather than another middle infielder. And a Cedeno for Willits trade makes some sense for both teams.

 

Willits could be the leadoff guy they crave and play CF instead of Pie.

 

ryne100, I think your statement "Cedeno can't hit at all" is off base. He's hit a ton in AAA, including .359/.422/.537 in 07. He's pressed in the big leagues but he's only 25. I think he could still end up as a major league starter.

 

I can't believe I forgot about Willitis when we were talking about what we could get from LAA in a potential Marquis deal. I would definately be on board, he's a great fallback option if Pie struggles.

http://brewersfandemonium.yuku.com/topic/10889/t/Cubs-sign-Alex-Cintron----foreshadow--trade--Brian-Roberts.html

[RammyFanny]

He could be that OF who can play all three positions that we're looking for as well. He's a switch hitter by the way. The obvious setback is that he has no power, but I can live with that getting a near .400 OBP out of him.

[Mephistopheles]

wait a minute....Willits for Pie?

wait a minute....Willits for Gallagher?

wait a minute....Willits for Theriot?

 

Sign me up for the latter!

[UMFan83]

Has he always had a high OBP relative to his BA? If so I wouldn't be horribly against it other than he completely doesn't play a position of need.

[OleMissCub]

I'd rather just stick with Pie. They look to be similar players except it seems that Pie has more power and is younger.

[Mephistopheles]

He could be that OF who can play all three positions that we're looking for as well. He's a switch hitter by the way. The obvious setback is that he has no power, but I can live with that getting a near .400 OBP out of him.

 

he's not very good (the walks are going to deteriorate. it's hard for someone with absolutely no power to walk consistently for their career) but anything to get rid of theriot, i guess.

[BigbadB]

I wouldn't mind Willits as a right handed counterpart to Pie, but that's about it. And I wouldn't move Soriano out of the lead off spot for Willits. Assuming the Cubs did land Willits and Roberts without giving up Pie (which shouldn't be a problem considering Anaheim doesn't need another outfielder and there is enough in the coffer for Roberts without having to include Pie), I'd go something like this:

 

Soriano

Roberts

Lee

Ramirez

Fukudome

Soto

Pie/Willits

Theriot/DeRosa

 

That's some pretty respectable OBP from the bottom spots in the order for Soriano to drive in. Not really sure how Lou would line them up.

[Mephistopheles]

Has he always had a high OBP relative to his BA? If so I wouldn't be horribly against it other than he completely doesn't play a position of need.

 

 Year  Age Tm  Lg  Lvl Aff   G    AB    R    H   2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB   SO    BA   OBP   SLG   OPS   SB   CS  SB%  SH  SF IBB HBP GDP
+----+----+---+---+---+---+----+-----+----+----+---+---+---+----+----+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+---+----+---+---+---+---+---+
2003   22 PRV PIO Rk  ANA   59   230   53   69  14   4   4   27   37   52  .300  .397  .448  .845   14   4  78%                     
2004   23 RCQ CAL A+  ANA  135   526   99  150  17   5   5   52   73  112  .285  .372  .365  .737   45  15  75%                     
2005   24 ARK TEX AA  LAA  123   487   75  148  23   6   2   46   54   78  .304  .377  .388  .765   40  14  74%   4   8   0   8   5 
2006   25 SLK PCL AAA LAA   97   352   85  115  18   4   3   39   77   50  .327  .448  .426  .874   31  15  67%   4   2   2   2   5 

[Mephistopheles]

I wouldn't mind Willits as a right handed counterpart to Pie, but that's about it. And I wouldn't move Soriano out of the lead off spot for Willits. Assuming the Cubs did land Willits and Roberts without giving up Pie (which shouldn't be a problem considering Anaheim doesn't need another outfielder and there is enough in the coffer for Roberts without having to include Pie), I'd go something like this:

 

Soriano

Roberts

Lee

Ramirez

Fukudome

Soto

Pie/Willits

Theriot/DeRosa

 

That's some pretty respectable OBP from the bottom spots in the order for Soriano to drive in. Not really sure how Lou would line them up.

 

 

its only one year, but willits is much better left handed.

[Rob]

Take it with a grain of salt, but a pretty reliable poster on Brewerfan.net had this to say:

I will keep you posted, but I did just talked with someone I know who was John McDonough's (Cubs former VP) assistant who is still there and he told me that both the Willits and Roberts deals are hot right now and would be surprised if one of them is not done by the end of the week.

 

Names he told me the Cubs are willing to trade are Cedeno, Theriot, Gallagher, Fontenot, Marquis, Dempster, or maybe even Pie. Cubs AA former first round pick Tyler Colvin could be in a package as well.

 

I apologize for being a Brewer fan who knows someone in Cub hierarchy, by the way. Living in Chicago makes it tough to know any Brewer contacts.

 

This was also said earlier in that thread by good poster:

I heard the name of Reggie Willits mentioned as on Cub radar this weekend. Now it would make more sense for them to add Cintron if they were getting an OF in return for Cedeno rather than another middle infielder. And a Cedeno for Willits trade makes some sense for both teams.

 

Willits could be the leadoff guy they crave and play CF instead of Pie.

 

ryne100, I think your statement "Cedeno can't hit at all" is off base. He's hit a ton in AAA, including .359/.422/.537 in 07. He's pressed in the big leagues but he's only 25. I think he could still end up as a major league starter.

 

I can't believe I forgot about Willitis when we were talking about what we could get from LAA in a potential Marquis deal. I would definately be on board, he's a great fallback option if Pie struggles.

http://brewersfandemonium.yuku.com/topic/10889/t/Cubs-sign-Alex-Cintron----foreshadow--trade--Brian-Roberts.html

 

I really don't know what to make of Willits...

 

Despite the difference in their OBP, PECOTA thinks Pie is a better hitter right now... and there's no question Pie's defense is better.

[sneakypower]

I'll admit, I too have got a bad case of Willitis.

[BigbadB]

Hmm. I guess I didn't realize Willits is a switch hitter. Not that this would change anything. I'd rather have Pie spending most of the time in CF.

[CubColtPacer]

If Willits is the guy they are looking to trade for using Marquis+prospect deal (Cedeno as the Brewers fan mentioned) I'd take that. He's a decent platoon partner for Pie, and he's a good bench player especially if the Roberts deal is done as well.

[Mephistopheles]

well the difference in willits L/R is probably him hitting the ball on the ground and running as fast as he can with a two step head start.

[Mephistopheles]

If Willits is the guy they are looking to trade for using Marquis+prospect deal (Cedeno as the Brewers fan mentioned) I'd take that. He's a decent platoon partner for Pie, and he's a good bench player especially if the Roberts deal is done as well.

 

trading cedeno is dumb. flat out dumb.

[RammyFanny]

If we're talking platoon (like with Byrd), Willitis has a .333/.406/.381 line against LH pitching (for a .787 OPS).

[BigbadB]

well the difference in willits L/R is probably him hitting the ball on the ground and running as fast as he can with a two step head start.

 

That's quite likely. The dude has very little power. Willy Taveras Light.

[CubColtPacer]

I wouldn't mind Willits as a right handed counterpart to Pie, but that's about it. And I wouldn't move Soriano out of the lead off spot for Willits. Assuming the Cubs did land Willits and Roberts without giving up Pie (which shouldn't be a problem considering Anaheim doesn't need another outfielder and there is enough in the coffer for Roberts without having to include Pie), I'd go something like this:

 

Soriano

Roberts

Lee

Ramirez

Fukudome

Soto

Pie/Willits

Theriot/DeRosa

 

That's some pretty respectable OBP from the bottom spots in the order for Soriano to drive in. Not really sure how Lou would line them up.

 

 

its only one year, but willits is much better left handed.

 

Really?

 

2007

vs left: .333/.406/.381

vs right: .276/.385/.329

 

As you said, it's only one year, but that one year doesn't indicate he's better from the left side.

[Mephistopheles]

I wouldn't mind Willits as a right handed counterpart to Pie, but that's about it. And I wouldn't move Soriano out of the lead off spot for Willits. Assuming the Cubs did land Willits and Roberts without giving up Pie (which shouldn't be a problem considering Anaheim doesn't need another outfielder and there is enough in the coffer for Roberts without having to include Pie), I'd go something like this:

 

Soriano

Roberts

Lee

Ramirez

Fukudome

Soto

Pie/Willits

Theriot/DeRosa

 

That's some pretty respectable OBP from the bottom spots in the order for Soriano to drive in. Not really sure how Lou would line them up.

 

 

its only one year, but willits is much better left handed.

 

Really?

 

2007

vs left: .333/.406/.381

vs right: .276/.385/.329

 

As you said, it's only one year, but that one year indicates he's a better right-handed batter.

 

gah i misread that, i thought i was looking elsewhere. oops.

 

regardless, he hit .339/.445/.459/.904 as a lefty in Salt Lake the year before.

[98navigator]

Bruce Levine also mentioned Willitis, as a target, on his Talking Baseball show Saturday morning.

[Mephistopheles]

whats funny is that everyone is linking the cubs to every CF that may be available except one.

 

 

the damn one i would LOVE To acquire. Cody Ross.

 

 

Can we just trade prospects for Ross and be done with it?

[abuck1220]

I'd rather just stick with Pie. They look to be similar players except it seems that Pie has more power and is younger.

 

i don't think they're similar at all. willits walks a lot and has zero power. pie has no plate discipline and should hit for a moderate amount of power.

 

i'd stick with pie.

[BigbadB]

whats funny is that everyone is linking the cubs to every CF that may be available except one.

 

 

the damn one i would LOVE To acquire. Cody Ross.

 

 

Can we just trade prospects for Ross and be done with it?

 

I like Ross, but I don't see him going anywhere. He's Florida's insurance policy if Maybin isn't ready. That De Aza clown has proven he doesn't belong. Nothing more to see there.

[Rob]

whats funny is that everyone is linking the cubs to every CF that may be available except one.

 

 

the damn one i would LOVE To acquire. Cody Ross.

 

 

Can we just trade prospects for Ross and be done with it?

 

He bats righty, doesn't steal bases anymore, and plays below-average defense.

 

If you're lucky, Hendry will stumble on him as a platoon partner for Pie. But Hendry wont view him as a replacement.

[Mephistopheles]

whats funny is that everyone is linking the cubs to every CF that may be available except one.

 

 

the damn one i would LOVE To acquire. Cody Ross.

 

 

Can we just trade prospects for Ross and be done with it?

 

I like Ross, but I don't see him going anywhere. He's Florida's insurance policy if Maybin isn't ready. That De Aza clown has proven he doesn't belong. Nothing more to see there.

 

i thought hanley ramirez was their cf insurance policy! anyways, do they even need one? if maybin isnt ready they can put de aza out there and still suck. but theyd be better down the road if they got something useful for ross. there's no reason for them not to.

 

ross has a career .301/.369/.639/1.008 line against southpaws, there's your platoon candidate