Other possible trade targets?

[NCCubFan]

I don't even see a bullpen move as likely now; that's already been upgraded with Gaudin. I think another banch bat would be the most likely move.

 

The question is, is there really an available rent-a-bat off the bench that would be any better than Hoffpauir?

I don't know, and I don't really think the Cubs need one; I just think that would be MORE helpful than another reliever (even without one they'll soon need to send down someone like Cotts or Wuertz). I actually wouldn't mind it the Cubs just stood pat now. They've made the needed improvements.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I don't even see a bullpen move as likely now; that's already been upgraded with Gaudin. I think another banch bat would be the most likely move.

 

The question is, is there really an available rent-a-bat off the bench that would be any better than Hoffpauir?

I don't know, and I don't really think the Cubs need one; I just think that would be MORE helpful than another reliever (even without one they'll soon need to send down someone like Cotts or Wuertz). I actually wouldn't mind it the Cubs just stood pat now. They've made the needed improvements.

 

Agreed 100%. Theres no need for another Monroe, no matter how cheap it may be,

[ChiCubsFan]

As crazy as it sounds, I would like to see if Fukudome would agree to move to CF. He's played amazing in RF. Best since the Hawk. But if he would agree to that and Soriano would agree to move to RF then I'd love to see Matt Holliday in a Cubs uniform. He's supposedly available. I'd give up anyone for him. Pie, Hill, Vitters. Whatever. Go for it. Imagine this lineup:

 

RF Soriano

CF Fukudome

1B Lee

3B Ramirez

RF Holliday

C Soto

2B DeRosa

SS Theriot

 

That's amazing. It's a freakin allstar team lineup. Holliday is the best hitter of the bunch and should probably be 3rd, but Lou might not wanna move out DLee. Lineup construction doesn't matter all that much to me so it's fine.

 

Now I know I'm just high from the Harden trade and this will never happen, but I can dream.

 

Realistically, we'll probably just add a lefty reliever and maybe a bat for the bench. I'd like any of Holliday, Burnett, Hudson, Bradley, Bay, or even Bonds though.

[NCCubFan]

As crazy as it sounds, I would like to see if Fukudome would agree to move to CF.

I wouldn't this year. Reportedly, one of the factors influencing his decision to join the Cubs was that he WOULDN'T have to play CF. Let him get a full season of MLB experience under his belt first before considering moving him to a position he doesn't want to play.

[NonProfitCow]

As crazy as it sounds, I would like to see if Fukudome would agree to move to CF.

I wouldn't this year. Reportedly, one of the factors influencing his decision to join the Cubs was that he WOULDN'T have to play CF. Let him get a full season of MLB experience under his belt first before considering moving him to a position he doesn't want to play.

Fukudome is surely smart enough to realize that adding someone like Holliday is better for the Cubs than Fukudome staying in right.

[ChiCubsFan]

As crazy as it sounds, I would like to see if Fukudome would agree to move to CF.

I wouldn't this year. Reportedly, one of the factors influencing his decision to join the Cubs was that he WOULDN'T have to play CF. Let him get a full season of MLB experience under his belt first before considering moving him to a position he doesn't want to play.

Fukudome is surely smart enough to realize that adding someone like Holliday is better for the Cubs than Fukudome staying in right.

 

Yeah, pretty much. Obviously Hendry would have to ask Kosuke first and if he didn't like the idea then not go ahead with it, but if Kosuke was receptive to the idea that would make one hell of an offense. And the defense I don't think would get much worse but the offense would go from a very good to great offense to a legendary one. Okay, I'll stop dreaming.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I would gladly take an OF consisting of a pissed off Fukudome flanked by Holliday and Soriano over a happy Fukudome with Edmonds/Johnson and Soriano. all that damn winning would likely cheer him up

[RedFlash]

I would like to add a "threat" from the right side off the bench, to compliment Ward. Guys like Casey Blake (2008--.279/.353/.438/.791--8hr/21 2b), Scott Hairston (2008--- .255/.302/.494/.796 with 13 hrs/14 2bs) Ryan Spilborghs (2008--.314/.420/.497/.917) , would make enticing bats off the bench. Because right now, the only "RH power threat" off the bench is Carlos Zambrano. So, yes, I would like to add a power threat from the RIGHT side before the deadline.

 

If you can add a Fuentes or a Marte, or even a Ron Mahay:

 

2008:

Ron Mahay: 1.91era 14Holds 36Ks 1.19whip

Brian Fuentes: 3.60era 14saves 34K's 1.26whip

Demaso Marte: 3.46era 15holds 44's 1.13whip

 

I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

 

So if the Cubs could land one of Blake/Hairston/Spilborghs for the bench, and one of Fuentes/Marte/Mahay for the pen (to replace Cotts, who could be moved back in the deal for one of these lefties), I would say we would have one heck of a team.

[Priorknowledge]

Unless Fukudome is willing to move to Center Field, Milton Bradley is not an option at all. He can't play center anymore. He can barely play outfield actually. He's been hobbled by injury all season, recently leaving a game in sixth because of left knee tendinitis. He has 52 starts at DH this year and 19 appearances in RF/LF. Soriano/Fukudome/Bradley would be a terrible defensive outfield and, again, you'd be breaking your promise as an organization to Fukudome.

[biittner77]

I could see Wuertz or Eyre packaged with Marquis to add a last piece to the puzzle type player. That could be an attractive package for a team like the Yankees that are running some really marginal players out there for their rotation and could use BP help.

 

Wuertz is certainly expendable. The question becomes what do the Cubs want? When Soriano gets back the need for a RH Ward becomes less important.

[Backtobanks]

I could see Wuertz or Eyre packaged with Marquis to add a last piece to the puzzle type player. That could be an attractive package for a team like the Yankees that are running some really marginal players out there for their rotation and could use BP help.

 

Wuertz is certainly expendable. The question becomes what do the Cubs want? When Soriano gets back the need for a RH Ward becomes less important.

 

I would think the Cubs might make another deal because they still have some desirable trade chips:

Wuertz

Eyre (possibly)

Cedeno

Marquis

Marshall (possibly)

Pie

Hill

[Little Slide Rooter]

 

So if the Cubs could land one of Blake/Hairston/Spilborghs for the bench, and one of Fuentes/Marte/Mahay for the pen (to replace Cotts, who could be moved back in the deal for one of these lefties), I would say we would have one heck of a team.

 

We have one heck of a team.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I love Fontenot, but replacing him on the roster with a guy like Casey Blake would bring some serious balance to the bench. It's too bad that Fontenot isn't a very good defender, him being even passable at SS would give us an amazing bench with a guy like Blake on board.

[Tracer Bullet]

what would it take to get Matt Kemp? Wasn't he rumored to be in the package offered for CC?

[Guest]

what would it take to get Matt Kemp? Wasn't he rumored to be in the package offered for CC?

 

LA Times had said keeping Kemp was the reason the Dodgers weren't bigger players for CC.

[Old Style]

Is Burnett still a possibility?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Is Burnett still a possibility?

 

I think we could probably land Burnett and Eckstein as a package for cheap.

 

If Doug Melvins mart, hed trade JJ Hardy for those 2. Maybe throw in a mid level prospect and land a decent reliever in the process. Hardy isnt going to stay this hot forever, and Eckstein can play SS for them until Escobars ready.

[Tracer Bullet]

what would it take to get Matt Kemp? Wasn't he rumored to be in the package offered for CC?

 

LA Times had said keeping Kemp was the reason the Dodgers weren't bigger players for CC.

 

I thought there were conflicting reports on that. I saw one source say Kemp was offered for CC and another had McCourt saying "the players didn't match up." Just figure with him struggling and Jones back from the DL, might be a good time to try to get our hands on him. Didn't Penny just have a setback? Maybe the Dodgers need some pitching.

[JonnyRed]

Shutdown lefty reliever is really the only weakness.

 

Does Marte qualify?

[ThePenguin11]

Laurence Holmes just intimated that he's heard that the Cubs may still try to add Erik Bedard. (That would be a lot of Canadians in one rotation) Anyway, he's on a one year deal and probably could be brought in for a little more than Harden costed. If he comes back solid after the break would you consider adding him?

 

Zambrano

Harden

Dempster

Lilly

Bedard

 

That would be pretty impressive. You could definitely parlay the injury risk on both pitchers with such a move. What are the odds that both got hurt??

[JonnyRed]

Laurence Holmes just intimated that he's heard that the Cubs may still try to add Erik Bedard. (That would be a lot of Canadians in one rotation) Anyway, he's on a one year deal and probably could be brought in for a little more than Harden costed. If he comes back solid after the break would you consider adding him?

 

Zambrano

Harden

Dempster

Lilly

Bedard

 

That would be pretty impressive. You could definitely parlay the injury risk on both pitchers with such a move. What are the odds that both got hurt??

 

That would be amazing...and I'm sure that Bedard would at least be ahead of Lilly in the rotation as well. However, I'd imagine that the M's would want a hefty price considering all they had to give up to get him. Burnett might be a cheaper option.

[YearofDaCubs]

Now that we have Gaudin and Harden would you guys give up Hill or Pie for Milton Bradley?

[ThePenguin11]

Laurence Holmes just intimated that he's heard that the Cubs may still try to add Erik Bedard. (That would be a lot of Canadians in one rotation) Anyway, he's on a one year deal and probably could be brought in for a little more than Harden costed. If he comes back solid after the break would you consider adding him?

 

Zambrano

Harden

Dempster

Lilly

Bedard

 

That would be pretty impressive. You could definitely parlay the injury risk on both pitchers with such a move. What are the odds that both got hurt??

 

 

 

That would be amazing...and I'm sure that Bedard would at least be ahead of Lilly in the rotation as well. However, I'd imagine that the M's would want a hefty price considering all they had to give up to get him. Burnett might be a cheaper option.

 

Here's the thing though: the M's are pretty peeved at his pitch count comments and are trying to rebuild Bavasi's mess as soon as possible. I can't possibly see them letting him go for a compensatory pick with the kind of rebuilding they need to do while Ichiro is still young enough.

 

EDIT: Bedard's only on the books as a rental for the remainder of this year and Burnett is owed like $30MM-ish.

[italianocubsfan7]

I have never liked Erik Bedard, I sure hope we don't acquire him. But I'm sure we won't acquire him or the Cubs are even interested considering that a lot of people on this board are usually wrong or think this is fantasy baseball. Oh yeah, Tim Hudson before Rich Harden. Good prediction, very good prediction.

 

Also, I would love to get Milton Bradley, but my gut tells me the Rangers won't think about actually giving him up until the eleventh hour. Maybe one more left handed reliever? A Ron Mahay Chicago return anyone?

[jersey cubs fan]

I have never liked Erik Bedard, I sure hope we don't acquire him. But I'm sure we won't acquire him or the Cubs are even interested considering that a lot of people on this board are usually wrong or think this is fantasy baseball. Oh yeah, Tim Hudson before Rich Harden. Good prediction, very good prediction.

 

You are quite the pleasant fellow.