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

[Hall7810]

DeLuca's logical progression seemed to be: A) CC, B) Harden, C) Wolf. He intimated that they've been working on deal for Harden, but there hasn't been any movement for over a month. Then, instead of suggesting Burnett, who, in my opinion is a far superior pitcher to Wolf. His reasoning for Wolf? Lou wants two lefties in the rotation.

 

I posed the question last night, but there was no answer. Aside from Steve Phillips, there's been nothing linking us to Burnett; and all arrows are pointing to the dynamic duo of Wolf and Maddux.

 

There's Will Carroll who points us to Burnett:

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=929

 

 

Thanks. I'm hope Miles can drop some local knowledge on us.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

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.

 

If it's true that Hudson is available, he should be the target.

[anabiono]

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.

 

If it's true that Hudson is available, he should be the target.

 

without a doubt...i got a semi when i read that this morning...

[Hall7810]

I like Hudson, but hasn't he been the beneficiary of spacious Turner Field?

[USSoccer]

Greg Maddux would be a complete waste of whatever we would send to them. I'd rather have Marquis in the 5th spot than watch Maddux get shelled in start after start, with an occasional 6IP 3ER start in between the beatings.

 

He's gone. Let him go.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I like Hudson, but hasn't he been the beneficiary of spacious Turner Field?

 

That's the first time I've heard Turner Field called spacious, it's the 8th best hitters park so far this year.

[imb]

the seats are quite comfortable

[Hall7810]

I like Hudson, but hasn't he been the beneficiary of spacious Turner Field?

 

That's the first time I've heard Turner Field called spacious, it's the 8th best hitters park so far this year.

 

It was 24 last year and 21 in 2006. I didn't realize it had turned into a hitter's haven this year.

[TheDude]

I like Hudson, but hasn't he been the beneficiary of spacious Turner Field?

This season his split has been skewed towards home, no question. There is a 2+ ERA difference. His 3-year split from 2005-2007 however shows only a .23 ERA difference, so I'm guessing this year is the anomaly.

 

Regardless the splits, he is still a guy overall that gives you a 2:1 K:BB ratio with under .700 OPS against.

[RammyFanny]

I'm a gambler, so i'd probably take Harden over Hudson just because Hudson is already 32.

 

The chance (albeit small with the injuries) to get a bonafied ace in your rotation that's young doesn't happen often, so i'd do that.

 

Personally, I wouldn't be opposed to having a pitch count in the early season for Harden (say...80-85 pitches) and gradually increase him if needed after the all-star break into the postseason.

[RammyFanny]

Hopefully whoever told him this is the same guy who told him that "we don't have anything Oakland wants". From yesterday:

Based on what I have been told about the current market assessment, I would bet heavily on the Indians keeping Sabathia and taking the two draft picks, or finding a way to rob the Yankees of two of their top three prospects in center fielder Austin Jackson, now-catcher-soon-to-be-first-baseman Jesus Montero and right-hander Zach McAllister, or something like that.

[Deeg]

Why on Earth anyone would want Blanton is beyond me. He's terrible. Away from Oakland's pitching heaven he's always sucked, and this year he's sucked everywhere.

 

Burnett is certainly available - there have been way, way too many sources who don't claim anonymity attesting to that. In terms of ability vs. cost in talent to get him, he's by far the best option.

[italianocubsfan7]

I don't think it matters that the A's got a boatload for Haren in the winter. We are in season now, and I truly believe Hendry and Beane can get this done in the next two weeks or less. However, I can see the A's prying away someone like Gallagher for Harden's services.

[RynoRules]

Jim needs to jump all over this Hudson opportunity, if it exists. His numbers compare favorably with Sabathia's (I know - he struggled early and has been very good lately, but still...). He could have a very similar impact in our rotation and neutralize the Sabathia-effect.

 

Zambrano

Lily

Dempster

Hudson

Marshall-Gallagher-Marquis

 

That's pretty darn good and sets up nicely for the playoffs.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Jim needs to jump all over this Hudson opportunity, if it exists. His numbers compare favorably with Sabathia's (I know - he struggled early and has been very good lately, but still...). He could have a very similar impact in our rotation and neutralize the Sabathia-effect.

 

Zambrano

Lily

Dempster

Hudson

Marshall-Gallagher-Marquis

 

That's pretty darn good and sets up nicely for the playoffs.

 

Not that it matters that much, but Hudson would be your 4th?

[shnsajax]

Chat going on right now:

 

Seth Chicago, IL: Let's say both the Cubs and Brewers get another guy they are targeting.....Harden with the Cubs and Fuentes with the Brewers. Who gets the nod then?

 

SportsNation Jayson Stark: (1:22 PM ET ) Harden is a bigger difference-maker than Fuentes, who hasn't pitched well lately. Of course, since they're the Cubs, they'd probably trade for him and he'd get hit with a line drive in his first inning at Wrigley. But my very hypothetical nod would go to the Cubs

.

[weis21]

Well they ARE the cubs

 

lol

 

=D>

excellent work stark

[Hall7810]

zach (merrillville, IN): Jayson, with sabathia gone, do you see the cubs going after harden or someone more like a randy wolf? Sean Marshall will not be able to keep up.

 

Jayson Stark: (1:32 PM ET ) I keep hearing the Cubs only want to make a deal if it's for a No. 1 or 2 starter. They have plenty of 3-4-5's. So Harden fits their profile more than Wolf does, although they do have legit interest in Wolf.

[Guest]

I sure hope Stark is right on that.

[Hall7810]

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Rick (Nashville, TN): I've heard that the Cubs haven't even been "kicking around" Burnett's name. To me this suggests he might be the move they make. Hendry tends to keep his moves off the radar and AJ would probably come cheap. What kind of impact could/would he have on this race?

 

Jayson Stark: (1:41 PM ET ) I really don't get the sense he's high on their shopping list at all. The problem with Burnett is that you don't know if he's a rental or a guy you'd have for three years, because of that opt-out clause. If you trade for him and he pitches well, he opts out. If you trade for him and he doesn't pitch well, he says I'll stick around and collect my $24 million. That's such a tricky Catch-22 (or Catch-24), I'm hearing Toronto hasn't gotten many hits on him at all so far.

[mlarner]

That is good to hear. We dont need more middle/end of the rotation guys, if we trade for anything it should only be a #1 or #2. Otherwise keep the young pitching we have now.

[Little Slide Rooter]

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

 

Huh?

 

Yeah, Im confused as to how paying a guy who clearly doesnt want to be there 10 mil for each of the next 2 years is going to help him keep his job. With the emerging Rays, they better get used to fighting Baltimore for 4th place for at least the next 5 years.

[Little Slide Rooter]

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Rick (Nashville, TN): I've heard that the Cubs haven't even been "kicking around" Burnett's name. To me this suggests he might be the move they make. Hendry tends to keep his moves off the radar and AJ would probably come cheap. What kind of impact could/would he have on this race?

 

Jayson Stark: (1:41 PM ET ) I really don't get the sense he's high on their shopping list at all. The problem with Burnett is that you don't know if he's a rental or a guy you'd have for three years, because of that opt-out clause. If you trade for him and he pitches well, he opts out. If you trade for him and he doesn't pitch well, he says I'll stick around and collect my $24 million. That's such a tricky Catch-22 (or Catch-24), I'm hearing Toronto hasn't gotten many hits on him at all so far.

 

I didnt know he had one. Toronto should really want to move him, as hes already expressed he wants to be a Cub, which suggests that he clearly doesnt want to be in Toronto period, or else he wouldt have made the comment to begin with.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

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

 

Huh?

 

Yeah, Im confused as to how paying a guy who clearly doesnt want to be there 10 mil for each of the next 2 years is going to help him keep his job. With the emerging Rays, they better get used to fighting Baltimore for 4th place for at least the next 5 years.

 

Think of it this way: With Burnett they might win 70 some odd games and Riccardi keeps his job. Without Burnett they might win 65 games and Riccardi has the free time to pursue his lifelong dream: travelling America's ballparks and heckling Adam Dunn at each of them.

[rawaction]

I don't think the Cubs matchup well with Oakland. The A's have a lot of young arms and some cheap ML guys who have been very successful this year. The A's could really use a lot of help offensively, as the only potential long-term options they have as everyday players are: Suzuki-C, Barton-1B, Gonzalez-OF. Their IF is flat out a mess now and in the future. I doubt they'd have interest in Pie. They could have some interest in Colvin and Patterson, and everyone can always use more pitching.

 

Atlanta on the other hand, could actually use some starting pitching, for a change. Glavine's done. Smoltz is either done or a reliever. Jo Jo Reyes and Jorge Campillo are nothing special. If they trade Hudson, they'd be looking at a rotation of Jurrjens and a bunch of young guys. I don't know if they would be willing to go so young on the mound, but trading Hudson would free up money to sign Teixeira to an extension.

 

As for Burnett, if the Cubs would go after him, I think he'd be pretty easy to obtain because of his contract situation and the depth they have in that rotation.