Some stuff from Churchill Re: Harden/Burnett/Hudson etc....

[17 Seconds]

I thought this deserved it's own thread since it involves a lot of different guys. Every once in awhile I talk through e-mail with Jason Churchill from http://prospectinsider.com/. He's primarily a Mariners guy, but he says he has contacts with the Cubs so I ask him what's up every once in awhile. I just got this e-mail from him-

 

I'd say no. I talked to Milwaukee and they say there is no chance they trade two of their top six for any rental, and getting two high picks is better than LaPorta and a B level spect for Cleveland.

 

Hendry wants Harden, but they have ZERO talent that Oakland likes. A Third team would probably have to be involved.

 

And Harden IS available. I am hearing STL might be willing to send Rasmus+Anderson and another player to Oakland to get him.

 

Burnett isn't likely to be traded anyway. Riccardi is trying to save his job.

 

The Cubs should be hardest after ____, and three other names I expect teams to seriously consider dangling...

 

Tim Hudson: ATL is fading fast and this is exactly the kind of trade Schuerholz made famous in Atlanta. Wren has the same philosophy. Teixeira will get shopped as well, but trading Hudson makes a ton of sense, and he'd fit nicely in Chicago.

 

Aaron Harang, Cincinnati: Jocketty did the same thing with Bottenfield years ago and landed JiM Edmonds.

 

Joe Blanton, Oakland: A perfect for the Cubs, and might be affordable for them in terms of return talent. He's not a 1-2, neither is Hudson nor Harang, but all three would be great fits and wouldn't necessarily cost the moon, which they don't have to offer.

 

BTW, I saw Josh Vitters in Everett last week -- He's good. If he stays healthy, he's a right-handed Joe Mauer with 25 homer power.

 

Jason

 

Jason A. Churchill

 

There is another big name he mentioned that has been discussed here, but he asked me not to say what he told me. He's available and should come very cheap.

 

I like that Harden is available, but it seems like a long shot since a third team would have to be involved. It would be typical for the Brewers to get C.C., the Cards to get Harden, and the Cubs settling for Joe Blanton.

 

Edit: By the way, his mainpage has some stuff on the Cubs/Cards too, but it's mostly the same stuff that he said in the e-mail.

[RedFlash]

I thought this deserved it's own thread since it involves a lot of different guys. Every once in awhile I talk through e-mail with Jason Churchill from http://prospectinsider.com/. He's primarily a Mariners guy, but he says he has contacts with the Cubs so I ask him what's up every once in awhile. I just got this e-mail from him-

 

I'd say no. I talked to Milwaukee and they say there is no chance they trade two of their top six for any rental, and getting two high picks is better than LaPorta and a B level spect for Cleveland.

 

Hendry wants Harden, but they have ZERO talent that Oakland likes. A Third team would probably have to be involved.

 

And Harden IS available. I am hearing STL might be willing to send Rasmus+Anderson and another player to Oakland to get him.

 

Burnett isn't likely to be traded anyway. Riccardi is trying to save his job.

 

The Cubs should be hardest after ____, and three other names I expect teams to seriously consider dangling...

 

Tim Hudson: ATL is fading fast and this is exactly the kind of trade Schuerholz made famous in Atlanta. Wren has the same philosophy. Teixeira will get shopped as well, but trading Hudson makes a ton of sense, and he'd fit nicely in Chicago.

 

Aaron Harang, Cincinnati: Jocketty did the same thing with Bottenfield years ago and landed JiM Edmonds.

 

Joe Blanton, Oakland: A perfect for the Cubs, and might be affordable for them in terms of return talent. He's not a 1-2, neither is Hudson nor Harang, but all three would be great fits and wouldn't necessarily cost the moon, which they don't have to offer.

 

BTW, I saw Josh Vitters in Everett last week -- He's good. If he stays healthy, he's a right-handed Joe Mauer with 25 homer power.

 

Jason

 

Jason A. Churchill

 

There is another big name he mentioned that has been discussed here, but he asked me not to say what he told me. He's available and should come very cheap.

 

I like that Harden is available, but it seems like a long shot since a third team would have to be involved. It would be typical for the Brewers to get C.C., the Cards to get Harden, and the Cubs settling for Joe Blanton.

 

Edit: By the way, his mainpage has some stuff on the Cubs/Cards too, but it's mostly the same stuff that he said in the e-mail.

 

I have no doubt that if Harden is the guy Hendry wants, he will make it happen. Besides this is one man's opinion, and not fact, so, who knows the truth.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I thought this deserved it's own thread since it involves a lot of different guys. Every once in awhile I talk through e-mail with Jason Churchill from http://prospectinsider.com/. He's primarily a Mariners guy, but he says he has contacts with the Cubs so I ask him what's up every once in awhile. I just got this e-mail from him-

 

I'd say no. I talked to Milwaukee and they say there is no chance they trade two of their top six for any rental, and getting two high picks is better than LaPorta and a B level spect for Cleveland.

 

Hendry wants Harden, but they have ZERO talent that Oakland likes. A Third team would probably have to be involved.

 

And Harden IS available. I am hearing STL might be willing to send Rasmus+Anderson and another player to Oakland to get him.

 

Burnett isn't likely to be traded anyway. Riccardi is trying to save his job.

 

The Cubs should be hardest after ____, and three other names I expect teams to seriously consider dangling...

 

Tim Hudson: ATL is fading fast and this is exactly the kind of trade Schuerholz made famous in Atlanta. Wren has the same philosophy. Teixeira will get shopped as well, but trading Hudson makes a ton of sense, and he'd fit nicely in Chicago.

 

Aaron Harang, Cincinnati: Jocketty did the same thing with Bottenfield years ago and landed JiM Edmonds.

 

Joe Blanton, Oakland: A perfect for the Cubs, and might be affordable for them in terms of return talent. He's not a 1-2, neither is Hudson nor Harang, but all three would be great fits and wouldn't necessarily cost the moon, which they don't have to offer.

 

BTW, I saw Josh Vitters in Everett last week -- He's good. If he stays healthy, he's a right-handed Joe Mauer with 25 homer power.

 

Jason

 

Jason A. Churchill

 

There is another big name he mentioned that has been discussed here, but he asked me not to say what he told me. He's available and should come very cheap.

 

I like that Harden is available, but it seems like a long shot since a third team would have to be involved. It would be typical for the Brewers to get C.C., the Cards to get Harden, and the Cubs settling for Joe Blanton.

 

Edit: By the way, his mainpage has some stuff on the Cubs/Cards too, but it's mostly the same stuff that he said in the e-mail.

 

I have no doubt that if Harden is the guy Hendry wants, he will make it happen. Besides this is one man's opinion, and not fact, so, who knows the truth.

 

I just hope that _____ isnt Randy Wolf or Greg Maddux.

[inari]

Tim Hudson would be a really nice way to respond to the CC Sabathia deal.

 

Wait, this guy doesn't think Hudson is a 1-2 starter? Seriously?

[17 Seconds]

Tim Hudson would be a really nice way to respond to the CC Sabathia deal.

 

Wait, this guy doesn't think Hudson is a 1-2 starter? Seriously?

 

Yeah I'm not sure what that was all about. Kinda weird.

[Schwarber Fan]

_____ = Cliff Lee?

[David]

I'm thinking it's Erik Bedard, considering he's a Mariners guy and it's the one name he doesn't want mentioned.

[17 Seconds]

_____ = Cliff Lee?

 

Nah, interesting thought though.

 

Here's some more-

 

Boy, Cleveland screwed up.

 

They were hellbent on trading CC to the NL and passed up a good chance to snag a better three-player package from the Yankees. NYY was willing to go Austin Jackson, Zach McAllister and either Jose Tabata or Ian Kennedy.

 

Unless Rob Bryson turns out to be the Neftali Feliz of this trade, Shapiro made a terrible trade. Too big of a hurry I guess.

 

As for the Cubs, no, they will probably make a point of not making a trade just to keep up.

 

I still think the Cubs are the best team in that division and that Milwaukee is still the third best team.

 

They aren't a juggernaut offensively, though they probably should be, they don't play good defense, manning subpar fielders at first, third, right and left field with a super weak catcher, and their bullpen is still a big gigantic question mark.

 

The Cubs have a strong pen, enough depth on the mound as is, as long as Z comes back fine, and an offense that is producing to expected levels, which means there is no real concern that it's any kind of a fluke.

 

Defensively they are behind in center, and even at second and short (with Milwaukee), but that's it. Everywhere else they have an advantage.

 

You guys should be afraid of the Cardinals more than the Brewers, unless Melvin makes two more trades - one for a real catcher and at least one strong 9th inning type reliever - because if they are willing to move their farm, and they really should be, even Colby Rasmus, they could easily land Harden or Bedard and an upgrade somewhere else such as center field or in the pen.

 

The Cubs were never in the CC talks, and have not jumped into the very light Harden talks yet, either. But it's July 7 and I expect in the end they will sell out big time to get better.

 

I don't have any insider info on who they like more out of Harden or Bedard, but either pitcher makes them the World Series favorites, unless Philly lands the other!

 

I really don't think any more large deals for pitching happen before the all-star break, and really not before the final week up to the deadline. The talks are very light and introductory.

[David]

Then again, Bedard probably doesn't come cheap.

 

Maddux? Hope not.

[David]

EDIT - nm

[SweetZombieJesus]

Then again, Bedard probably doesn't come cheap.

 

Maddux? Hope not.

 

Maddux is fine for postseason insurance/fifth starter reasons

[Banedon]

If the Cubs have zero talent that Oakland likes, how would we go about getting Blanton?

[CoolHandLuke]

I don't understand the sentiment that Bedard will be super costly based on the fact that they gave up so much for him. Bavasi made that deal; saving face isn't that huge a deal for whoever took over (shouldn't anyways). This year Bedard's stock has dropped quite a lot. He hasn't gone deep in his starts, he hasn't been all that healthy, and his numbers are just mediocre considering the park he pitches in. He'll take a pretty decent package, sure, but the Mariners shouldn't and won't feel obligated to get a package equaling the talent of what they gave up for him.

[17 Seconds]

If the Cubs have zero talent that Oakland likes, how would we go about getting Blanton?

 

I'm assuming he meant no talent that they'd like to give up a front line pitcher for.

[David]

Then again, Bedard probably doesn't come cheap.

 

Maddux? Hope not.

 

Maddux is fine for postseason insurance/fifth starter reasons

 

Maddux is not better than any of the options we currently have for those purposes.

[17 Seconds]

Then again, Bedard probably doesn't come cheap.

 

Maddux? Hope not.

 

Maddux is fine for postseason insurance/fifth starter reasons

 

Maddux is not better than any of the options we currently have for those purposes.

 

Yeah, do we really need another 5.1, 3 ER guy?

[inari]

Let's not lose sight of the fact that Joe Blanton has been terrible this year. I don't want him one bit.

[Derwood]

Let's not lose sight of the fact that Joe Blanton has been terrible this year. I don't want him one bit.

 

so has Burnett, but everyone's got a semi about getting him for whatever reason

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Let's not lose sight of the fact that Joe Blanton has been terrible this year. I don't want him one bit.

 

so has Burnett, but everyone's got a semi about getting him for whatever reason

 

That's because Burnett has outstanding peripherals pointing to better future performance. The best thing you can say about Blanton is that he doesn't walk people.

[SweetZombieJesus]

Then again, Bedard probably doesn't come cheap.

 

Maddux? Hope not.

 

Maddux is fine for postseason insurance/fifth starter reasons

 

Maddux is not better than any of the options we currently have for those purposes.

 

Except if we make a deal for a frontline starter one of those said guys is likely not going to still be here (gallagher)

[CuseCubFan69]

My biggest worry is that the Cubs will trade a couple of young starters like Gally and Marshall and the pitcher they trade for breaks down and they have no depth to cover that. A lot of the pitchers mentioned have had health issues.

[Andrew Cashner]

I know this is from MLB trade rumors but here is something on Rich Harden: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

 

It's the second one down now.

[Keener98]

I know this is from MLB trade rumors but here is something on Rich Harden: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

 

It's the second one down now.

 

Yea there is noway we can come close to what Oak got for Haren. Im thinking we need to settle for Burnett, and stay the hell away from Randy Wolf

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Beane is kidding himself if he thinks he can get a Haren-like package for Harden. Haren had 2(maybe 3) years to free agency and had thrown 220+ innings in 3 straight years. Harden is an FA after next year and hasn't thrown 220 innings combined the last 3 years.

 

It's really nice to hear the Cubs linked to him though, and there's rarely a season where the Cubs are in the race and don't make a relatively big deadline move

[anabiono]

Beane is kidding himself if he thinks he can get a Haren-like package for Harden. Haren had 2(maybe 3) years to free agency and had thrown 220+ innings in 3 straight years. Harden is an FA after next year and hasn't thrown 220 innings combined the last 3 years.

 

It's really nice to hear the Cubs linked to him though, and there's rarely a season where the Cubs are in the race and don't make a relatively big deadline move

 

2007