Jake Peavy: Available.

[abuck1220]

stupid braves, you're nowhere close to competing next year. just let the cubs have peavy already.

[Dallas Green]

Towers was just on with Levine and basicly said he would give Hendry the leg up becasue of their relationship. This is what Hendry brings to the table, alot of baseball people like him.

 

No offense to Dallas, but did anyone else hear this?

 

I find it rather hard to believe that Towers would say that.

 

I just missed the Towers interview, but I saw someone on BCB say the same thing. They said it would be in their podcast section, but it's not yet.

 

Yeah, it's(podcast) not up yet ,I was suprised at Tower's candor. He basicly said the game is built on relationships and seemed to give Jim the advantage.

[Dallas Green]

They need to stop giving out NTC's like roofies at a frat party.

 

Except for Soriano, the NTCs the Cubs have given out have been to players who were knowingly signing below-market-value deals to stay in Chicago. You don't get Lee or Ramirez to walk away from extra millions/years without giving them protection like that.

 

 

No Howry, it seems like everyone on this team has one.

[OleMissCub]

If this were to happen then damn, has any team in recent memory pulled off better trades than the Cubs? Jose Hernandez and Bobby Hill for Rammy, Choi for Lee, Murt and E-Patt for Harden.

[Dallas Green]

FWIW, I do know one of Tower's right-hand guys, and they seem to love Jimbo. This guy told me during the WS that were kind of screwed with Kosuke.

[RammyFanny]

Probably just posturing by Towers to get the Braves to cave.

I don't know, the guy has been incredibly honest and public so far.

[RammyFanny]

Yahoo updated the Shark article by the way:

The Padres continue to angle for Atlanta’s top pitching prospect, Tommy Hanson, to sweeten a package that could include shortstop Yunel Escobar and outfielder Jordan Schafer or Gorkys Hernandez. They had hoped for the Cubs to include pitcher Jeff Samardzija as part of a deal that could include outfielder Felix Pie, pitcher Sean Marshall and infielder Ronny Cedeno, but Samardzija has a full no-trade clause that he has no intent on giving up, said his agent, Mark Rodgers.

 

“Under no circumstances are we going to waive the no-trade provisions,” Rodgers said Friday.

 

 

The Cubs are tinkering with other players – pitcher Kevin Hart, minor-league pitcher Donnie Veal and, according to various reports, perhaps top hitting prospect Josh Vitters and minor leaguers Mitch Atkins, Wellington Castillo and Jose Ceda.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-peavydeal110608&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

With this latest news, I would imagine the Cubs are the team looking at a 3 or 4 team trade, since the inclusion of Tommy Hanson and/or Jordan Shafer trumps any players we can offer. Only thing is, I don't see Atlanta doing this.

 

Towers is playing poker with Atlanta and Chicago, hoping one of them ups the ante enough to pull the trigger. Luckily for Atlanta and Chicago, Peavy is the pit boss in this card game.

How is Schafer any better than Pie. The guy is just like Pie (.605 OPS vs. lefties and can't walk), is probably slightly worse in the field than Felix, and just got suspended for hgh or something (I know it was something...not sure if it was hgh).

[Clem Fandango]

They need to stop giving out NTC's like roofies at a frat party.

 

Except for Soriano, the NTCs the Cubs have given out have been to players who were knowingly signing below-market-value deals to stay in Chicago. You don't get Lee or Ramirez to walk away from extra millions/years without giving them protection like that.

 

 

No Howry, it seems like everyone on this team has one.

 

Just for shiggles, the following players have some form of a no-trade clause, or trade protection of sorts...

 

Carlos Zambrano - Full NTC

Aramis Ramirez - Full NTC 2007-10, $1M assignment bonus if traded

Alfonso Soriano - Full NTC

Derrek Lee - NTC

Ted Lilly - No Trade Protection

Kosuke Fukudome - No Trade Protection

Mark DeRosa - $50,000 assignment bonus with each trade

Jeff Samardzija - NTC

[Clem Fandango]

Murt and E-Patt for Harden.

 

I can't tell if that was tongue-in-cheek, but Gallagher was also in that deal, and probably the centerpiece of it. Still though... totally worth it

[OleMissCub]

Murt and E-Patt for Harden.

 

I can't tell if that was tongue-in-cheek, but Gallagher was also in that deal, and probably the centerpiece of it. Still though... totally worth it

 

Yeah I forgot about that, but yes I agree, still totally worth it.

[Cubswin11]

Yahoo updated the Shark article by the way:

The Padres continue to angle for Atlanta’s top pitching prospect, Tommy Hanson, to sweeten a package that could include shortstop Yunel Escobar and outfielder Jordan Schafer or Gorkys Hernandez. They had hoped for the Cubs to include pitcher Jeff Samardzija as part of a deal that could include outfielder Felix Pie, pitcher Sean Marshall and infielder Ronny Cedeno, but Samardzija has a full no-trade clause that he has no intent on giving up, said his agent, Mark Rodgers.

 

“Under no circumstances are we going to waive the no-trade provisions,” Rodgers said Friday.

 

 

The Cubs are tinkering with other players – pitcher Kevin Hart, minor-league pitcher Donnie Veal and, according to various reports, perhaps top hitting prospect Josh Vitters and minor leaguers Mitch Atkins, Wellington Castillo and Jose Ceda.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-peavydeal110608&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

With this latest news, I would imagine the Cubs are the team looking at a 3 or 4 team trade, since the inclusion of Tommy Hanson and/or Jordan Shafer trumps any players we can offer. Only thing is, I don't see Atlanta doing this.

 

Towers is playing poker with Atlanta and Chicago, hoping one of them ups the ante enough to pull the trigger. Luckily for Atlanta and Chicago, Peavy is the pit boss in this card game.

How is Schafer any better than Pie. The guy is just like Pie (.605 OPS vs. lefties and can't walk), is probably slightly worse in the field than Felix, and just got suspended for hgh or something (I know it was something...not sure if it was hgh).

 

In my eyes a Pie, Cedeno, Marshall, Ceda and 1 of Castillo/Hart/Atkins is just as good as anything the Braves offer outside of putting Hanson in a deal. Jo-Jo Reyes and Gorkys Hernandez are you kidding me.

[Post Count Padder]

Yahoo updated the Shark article by the way:

The Padres continue to angle for Atlanta’s top pitching prospect, Tommy Hanson, to sweeten a package that could include shortstop Yunel Escobar and outfielder Jordan Schafer or Gorkys Hernandez. They had hoped for the Cubs to include pitcher Jeff Samardzija as part of a deal that could include outfielder Felix Pie, pitcher Sean Marshall and infielder Ronny Cedeno, but Samardzija has a full no-trade clause that he has no intent on giving up, said his agent, Mark Rodgers.

 

“Under no circumstances are we going to waive the no-trade provisions,” Rodgers said Friday.

 

 

The Cubs are tinkering with other players – pitcher Kevin Hart, minor-league pitcher Donnie Veal and, according to various reports, perhaps top hitting prospect Josh Vitters and minor leaguers Mitch Atkins, Wellington Castillo and Jose Ceda.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-peavydeal110608&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

With this latest news, I would imagine the Cubs are the team looking at a 3 or 4 team trade, since the inclusion of Tommy Hanson and/or Jordan Shafer trumps any players we can offer. Only thing is, I don't see Atlanta doing this.

 

Towers is playing poker with Atlanta and Chicago, hoping one of them ups the ante enough to pull the trigger. Luckily for Atlanta and Chicago, Peavy is the pit boss in this card game.

How is Schafer any better than Pie. The guy is just like Pie (.605 OPS vs. lefties and can't walk), is probably slightly worse in the field than Felix, and just got suspended for hgh or something (I know it was something...not sure if it was hgh).

 

In my eyes a Pie, Cedeno, Marshall, Ceda and 1 of Castillo/Hart/Atkins is just as good as anything the Braves offer outside of putting Hanson in a deal. Jo-Jo Reyes and Gorkys Hernandez are you kidding me.

I'd have to agree. The Padres are getting what they want: a speedy CF, a middle infielder, a major league ready starter and some other good prospects.

[RammyFanny]

Yahoo updated the Shark article by the way:

The Padres continue to angle for Atlanta’s top pitching prospect, Tommy Hanson, to sweeten a package that could include shortstop Yunel Escobar and outfielder Jordan Schafer or Gorkys Hernandez. They had hoped for the Cubs to include pitcher Jeff Samardzija as part of a deal that could include outfielder Felix Pie, pitcher Sean Marshall and infielder Ronny Cedeno, but Samardzija has a full no-trade clause that he has no intent on giving up, said his agent, Mark Rodgers.

 

“Under no circumstances are we going to waive the no-trade provisions,” Rodgers said Friday.

 

 

The Cubs are tinkering with other players – pitcher Kevin Hart, minor-league pitcher Donnie Veal and, according to various reports, perhaps top hitting prospect Josh Vitters and minor leaguers Mitch Atkins, Wellington Castillo and Jose Ceda.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-peavydeal110608&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

With this latest news, I would imagine the Cubs are the team looking at a 3 or 4 team trade, since the inclusion of Tommy Hanson and/or Jordan Shafer trumps any players we can offer. Only thing is, I don't see Atlanta doing this.

 

Towers is playing poker with Atlanta and Chicago, hoping one of them ups the ante enough to pull the trigger. Luckily for Atlanta and Chicago, Peavy is the pit boss in this card game.

How is Schafer any better than Pie. The guy is just like Pie (.605 OPS vs. lefties and can't walk), is probably slightly worse in the field than Felix, and just got suspended for hgh or something (I know it was something...not sure if it was hgh).

 

In my eyes a Pie, Cedeno, Marshall, Ceda and 1 of Castillo/Hart/Atkins is just as good as anything the Braves offer outside of putting Hanson in a deal. Jo-Jo Reyes and Gorkys Hernandez are you kidding me.

I'd have to agree. The Padres are getting what they want: a speedy CF, a middle infielder, a major league ready starter and some other good prospects.

Castillo could be a nice get for them, coming off of that future's game appearance along with the fact that Hendry can probably say "we wouldn't trade him if we didn't have Soto".

[Cubswin11]

Yahoo updated the Shark article by the way:

The Padres continue to angle for Atlanta’s top pitching prospect, Tommy Hanson, to sweeten a package that could include shortstop Yunel Escobar and outfielder Jordan Schafer or Gorkys Hernandez. They had hoped for the Cubs to include pitcher Jeff Samardzija as part of a deal that could include outfielder Felix Pie, pitcher Sean Marshall and infielder Ronny Cedeno, but Samardzija has a full no-trade clause that he has no intent on giving up, said his agent, Mark Rodgers.

 

“Under no circumstances are we going to waive the no-trade provisions,” Rodgers said Friday.

 

 

The Cubs are tinkering with other players – pitcher Kevin Hart, minor-league pitcher Donnie Veal and, according to various reports, perhaps top hitting prospect Josh Vitters and minor leaguers Mitch Atkins, Wellington Castillo and Jose Ceda.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-peavydeal110608&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

With this latest news, I would imagine the Cubs are the team looking at a 3 or 4 team trade, since the inclusion of Tommy Hanson and/or Jordan Shafer trumps any players we can offer. Only thing is, I don't see Atlanta doing this.

 

Towers is playing poker with Atlanta and Chicago, hoping one of them ups the ante enough to pull the trigger. Luckily for Atlanta and Chicago, Peavy is the pit boss in this card game.

How is Schafer any better than Pie. The guy is just like Pie (.605 OPS vs. lefties and can't walk), is probably slightly worse in the field than Felix, and just got suspended for hgh or something (I know it was something...not sure if it was hgh).

 

In my eyes a Pie, Cedeno, Marshall, Ceda and 1 of Castillo/Hart/Atkins is just as good as anything the Braves offer outside of putting Hanson in a deal. Jo-Jo Reyes and Gorkys Hernandez are you kidding me.

I'd have to agree. The Padres are getting what they want: a speedy CF, a middle infielder, a major league ready starter and some other good prospects.

Castillo could be a nice get for them, coming off of that future's game appearance along with the fact that Hendry can probably say "we wouldn't trade him if we didn't have Soto".

Yeah he is really turning into a nice prospect, I think either way he will be traded within the next 2 years just because of Soto. However I was thinking the other day that if we have no viable 1B options after Lee goes in 2010, would it be a crazy idea to move Soto to 1B and let Castillo catch? This would allow for Soto to play in more games and keep his bat in the lineup, I know he is great with the staff and a good defender, but all reports are that Castillo is even better. Just a thought and a little off topic, but it could be an interesting idea.

[BigbadB]

How is Schafer any better than Pie. The guy is just like Pie (.605 OPS vs. lefties and can't walk), is probably slightly worse in the field than Felix, and just got suspended for hgh or something (I know it was something...not sure if it was hgh).

 

2 years younger. Zero major league service time. Young for his league. What do you mean he doesn't walk? His OBP in '08 was more than 100 points better than his AVG. Over a full season, that equates to more than 100 walks.

 

Unfortunately for Pie, the major league service time he does have has displayed rather poor results, especially against lefties.

[17 Seconds]

How is Schafer any better than Pie. The guy is just like Pie (.605 OPS vs. lefties and can't walk), is probably slightly worse in the field than Felix, and just got suspended for hgh or something (I know it was something...not sure if it was hgh).

 

2 years younger. Zero major league service time. Young for his league. What do you mean he doesn't walk? His OBP in '08 was more than 100 points better than his AVG. Over a full season, that equates to more than 100 walks.

 

Yeah, worst comparison ever. I'm not sure where that "doesn't walk" stuff is coming from either.

[Clem Fandango]

I'm having trouble finding out why Castillo is so highly touted amongst the forum. His numbers don't look all that impressive to me, is he an excellent defensive minded catcher? Because his offense doesn't look like anything special. Just wondering

[RammyFanny]

How is Schafer any better than Pie. The guy is just like Pie (.605 OPS vs. lefties and can't walk), is probably slightly worse in the field than Felix, and just got suspended for hgh or something (I know it was something...not sure if it was hgh).

 

2 years younger. Zero major league service time. Young for his league. What do you mean he doesn't walk? His OBP in '08 was more than 100 points better than his AVG. Over a full season, that equates to more than 100 walks.

 

Unfortunately for Pie, the major league service time he does have has displayed rather poor results, especially against lefties.

I didn't realize that he had improved on his walking last year, though he was still putrid against lefties, and that isn't likely to change once he gets to the majors. I was going off of remembering his high A ball stats at the end of 07, where he had like 36 walks in just under 450 AB's.

Edited November 8, 2008 by RammyFanny

[Cubswin11]

I'm having trouble finding out why Castillo is so highly touted amongst the forum. His numbers don't look all that impressive to me, is he an excellent defensive minded catcher? Because his offense doesn't look like anything special. Just wondering

His defense is stellar, people have compared him to Pudge in that regard. The consensus is that his offense will come, and he should at least be an adequate bat in a lineup, probably not like Soto but certainly serviceable.

[BigbadB]

How is Schafer any better than Pie. The guy is just like Pie (.605 OPS vs. lefties and can't walk), is probably slightly worse in the field than Felix, and just got suspended for hgh or something (I know it was something...not sure if it was hgh).

 

2 years younger. Zero major league service time. Young for his league. What do you mean he doesn't walk? His OBP in '08 was more than 100 points better than his AVG. Over a full season, that equates to more than 100 walks.

 

Yeah, worst comparison ever. I'm not sure where that "doesn't walk" stuff is coming from either.

 

Not sure if the defense argument holds much weight, either. Schafer was listed as the best defensive outfielder and best outfield arm in the Braves farm system, not to mention a top prospect.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Escobar, Reyes or Morton and Shafer probably beats any deal the Cubs make.

 

Marshall is more experienced than Reyes and Morton, but the ceiling of those two is viewed to be as high as Marshall, especially with Reyes. Shafer and Pie are likely equivalent due to Pie's struggles when he has been given playing time, but Escobar is head and shoulders better than Cedeno. My feeling is if the Padres really like Escobar, the Cubs will have a tough time beating the Braves offer.

 

We have to hope the Padres really like Pie or the fourth piece the Cubs would likely add in order to trump the Braves deal.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm having trouble finding out why Castillo is so highly touted amongst the forum. His numbers don't look all that impressive to me, is he an excellent defensive minded catcher? Because his offense doesn't look like anything special. Just wondering

 

Yes, he's an outstanding defensive catcher. His offense is more than fine for a catcher at .298/.362/.414 at age 21 in AA. When he was selected for the futures game he was OPSing more than 900 in Tennessee.

[RammyFanny]

How is Schafer any better than Pie. The guy is just like Pie (.605 OPS vs. lefties and can't walk), is probably slightly worse in the field than Felix, and just got suspended for hgh or something (I know it was something...not sure if it was hgh).

 

2 years younger. Zero major league service time. Young for his league. What do you mean he doesn't walk? His OBP in '08 was more than 100 points better than his AVG. Over a full season, that equates to more than 100 walks.

 

Yeah, worst comparison ever. I'm not sure where that "doesn't walk" stuff is coming from either.

 

Not sure if the defense argument holds much weight, either. Schafer was listed as the best defensive outfielder and best outfield arm in the Braves farm system, not to mention a top prospect.

I'm not saying it isn't close, i'm just saying that it's up for debate.

[RammyFanny]

edit: wrong quote Edited November 8, 2008 by RammyFanny

[RedFlash]

Escobar, Reyes or Morton and Shafer probably beats any deal the Cubs make.

 

Marshall is more experienced than Reyes and Morton, but the ceiling of those two is viewed to be as high as Marshall, especially with Reyes. Shafer and Pie are likely equivalent due to Pie's struggles when he has been given playing time, but Escobar is head and shoulders better than Cedeno. My feeling is if the Padres really like Escobar, the Cubs will have a tough time beating the Braves offer.

 

We have to hope the Padres really like Pie or the fourth piece the Cubs would likely add in order to trump the Braves deal.

 

Prolly, but Peavy wouldn't accept that deal because Escobar is in it. At this point any offer the Braves make prolly don't have Escobar in it, which means the Cubs match any Braves offer or better, unless the Braves put either Heyward (who IMO, is a better prospect then Schafer) or Hanson. Reyes, IMO is like Horatio Ramirez/Bruce Chen/random left handed pitching prospect. I don't see any upside to him. He's like Sean Marshall without the upside. Morton is intriguing prospect, but not one that trumps anything the Cubs have. And Schafer, it depends on which CF prospect they like better; Schafer or Pie. Schafer is more likely to live up to potential, but Pie has the higher upside. Again, it would depend on which prospects they like better.

 

It's hard to gauge where the trade talks are right now, or which prospects the Padres really like, and not the ones that have been leaked. But if we are to believe that Peavy does not want Escobar traded, then that significantly hurts the Braves chances at landing Peavy, unless they put Hanson or Heyward into the deal. No Escobar/Hanson and/or Heyward, and the Cubs can trump anything the Braves can offer.