Bradley Signs with Cubs 3/$30 million (p. 33)

[Soul]

I'm pretty excited, all things considered. We're getting Milton Bradley. For once we have a new Outfield component who just might not be less than we expect. All bets will be with health, of course, but he has the potential to be huge.

 

DeRosa was in his walk year. We'd heard zero talk about any contract talk. We just saw how right we were with draft picks for Woddy, ugh. Sometimes you sell high. Getting rid of the contract gets us Milton Bradley. Jason Marquis will be gone. These seem like exciting times.

 

I'm excited to see what Little Mike Fontenot can do.

 

Exciting? They haven't done anything but get worse so far. What's so exciting about taking steps back?

 

Maybe because he likes Fontenot / Bradley better than Fontenot / DeRosa. I don't consider that worse.

 

Bradley's not a Cub yet. Right now it's DeRosa/Fonty vs. Miles/Fonty. That's not better.

[erik316wttn]

Milton Bradley isn't a Cub yet, guys. Let's not say "DeRosa netted us Bradley" when it hasn't officially happened yet. These are the Cubs, after all.

[dew1679666265]

I'm pretty excited, all things considered. We're getting Milton Bradley. For once we have a new Outfield component who just might not be less than we expect. All bets will be with health, of course, but he has the potential to be huge.

 

DeRosa was in his walk year. We'd heard zero talk about any contract talk. We just saw how right we were with draft picks for Woddy, ugh. Sometimes you sell high. Getting rid of the contract gets us Milton Bradley. Jason Marquis will be gone. These seem like exciting times.

 

I'm excited to see what Little Mike Fontenot can do.

 

Exciting? They haven't done anything but get worse so far. What's so exciting about taking steps back?

 

Maybe because he likes Fontenot / Bradley better than Fontenot / DeRosa. I don't consider that worse.

 

When Bradley is likely to play, at most, 90-95 games and the rest of the time we'll have Hoff/Reed/Gathright playing, that's worse.

[dew1679666265]

Milton Bradley isn't a Cub yet, guys. Let's not say "DeRosa netted us Bradley" when it hasn't officially happened yet. These are the Cubs, after all.

 

At this point I pray we get him only because the DeRosa trade is 100% utterly awful if we don't get at least Bradley. Of course, maybe it would be a blessing in disguise. Losing Bradley and trading DeRosa might just force Hendry to go after Dunn like he should be doing.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm pretty excited, all things considered. We're getting Milton Bradley. For once we have a new Outfield component who just might not be less than we expect. All bets will be with health, of course, but he has the potential to be huge.

 

DeRosa was in his walk year. We'd heard zero talk about any contract talk. We just saw how right we were with draft picks for Woddy, ugh. Sometimes you sell high. Getting rid of the contract gets us Milton Bradley. Jason Marquis will be gone. These seem like exciting times.

 

I'm excited to see what Little Mike Fontenot can do.

 

Exciting? They haven't done anything but get worse so far. What's so exciting about taking steps back?

 

Maybe because he likes Fontenot / Bradley better than Fontenot / DeRosa. I don't consider that worse.

 

Bradley's not a Cub yet. Right now it's DeRosa/Fonty vs. Miles/Fonty. That's not better.

 

And even if he was a Cub, that's not the only thing that's happened this offseason.

[SCCubbieFAN]

If the Bradley deal doesn't go down but the Cubs are able to trade for Hermidia (or Scott from the Os), will trading DeRo be worth it?

[Soul]

If the Bradley deal doesn't go down but the Cubs are able to trade for Hermidia (or Scott from the Os), will trading DeRo be worth it?

 

All I know is, we can talk about proposed trades, "done deals" and "wish lists" all we want, but every move that has actually materialized so far has resulted in a downgrade.

 

At this rate we're going to be downgrading ourselves right out of the playoffs. But we beefed up Boise's lineup, so all's good.

 

Not what I like seeing. If Bradley and Peavy don't both materialize, this team's in trouble.

[dew1679666265]

If the Bradley deal doesn't go down but the Cubs are able to trade for Hermidia (or Scott from the Os), will trading DeRo be worth it?

 

Not even close. It's going to take a very good bat to replace the dropoff from DeRosa to Aaron Miles. If Hermida plays at the highest level I could realistically hope for he might make up that difference.

 

I'd feel a lot better if Adam Dunn were being brought in.

[ConstableRabbit]

If the Bradley deal doesn't go down but the Cubs are able to trade for Hermidia (or Scott from the Os), will trading DeRo be worth it?

 

Not even close. It's going to take a very good bat to replace the dropoff from DeRosa to Aaron Miles. If Hermida plays at the highest level I could realistically hope for he might make up that difference.

 

I'd feel a lot better if Adam Dunn were being brought in.

The dropoff is most likely going to be from DeRosa to Fontenot. I don't think Miles will start over Mike.

 

And I don't think the dropoff between DeRosa and Fontenot next year is that huge.

[jersey cubs fan]

If the Bradley deal doesn't go down but the Cubs are able to trade for Hermidia (or Scott from the Os), will trading DeRo be worth it?

 

They traded a fairly good bat for marginal minor league relievers, and then they went out and wasted a significant portion of the money saved by signing a really crappy player. Whatever happens from here on out wasn't fascilitated by DeRosa's trade. That deal, in and of itself, sucked. And the entire team has been downgraded to date this offseason. It will probably take Bradley just to get back to their pre-DeRosa trade level of decline from last season. It will take much more to actually improve upon last year's team.

[jersey cubs fan]

If the Bradley deal doesn't go down but the Cubs are able to trade for Hermidia (or Scott from the Os), will trading DeRo be worth it?

 

Not even close. It's going to take a very good bat to replace the dropoff from DeRosa to Aaron Miles. If Hermida plays at the highest level I could realistically hope for he might make up that difference.

 

I'd feel a lot better if Adam Dunn were being brought in.

The dropoff is most likely going to be from DeRosa to Fontenot. I don't think Miles will start over Mike.

 

And I don't think the dropoff between DeRosa and Fontenot next year is that huge.

 

DeRosa and Fontenot did play at the same time a fair amount last year.

 

Miles will start a lot. Fontenot will not play close to everyday (nor should he).

[Soul]

If the Bradley deal doesn't go down but the Cubs are able to trade for Hermidia (or Scott from the Os), will trading DeRo be worth it?

 

Not even close. It's going to take a very good bat to replace the dropoff from DeRosa to Aaron Miles. If Hermida plays at the highest level I could realistically hope for he might make up that difference.

 

I'd feel a lot better if Adam Dunn were being brought in.

The dropoff is most likely going to be from DeRosa to Fontenot. I don't think Miles will start over Mike.

 

And I don't think the dropoff between DeRosa and Fontenot next year is that huge.

In games where Fontentot doesn't start, it will be Miles though. That's a dropoff.

 

Also, Fonty's never been the full time starter. We don't really know if his numbers will hold up going against top starters all the time. But even assuming he's still good, you still have to consider those games where Lou puts Miles in.

Edited January 2, 2009 by Soul

[dew1679666265]

If the Bradley deal doesn't go down but the Cubs are able to trade for Hermidia (or Scott from the Os), will trading DeRo be worth it?

 

Not even close. It's going to take a very good bat to replace the dropoff from DeRosa to Aaron Miles. If Hermida plays at the highest level I could realistically hope for he might make up that difference.

 

I'd feel a lot better if Adam Dunn were being brought in.

The dropoff is most likely going to be from DeRosa to Fontenot. I don't think Miles will start over Mike.

 

And I don't think the dropoff between DeRosa and Fontenot next year is that huge.

 

Miles will play, though, and he'll likely be bad in those at bats he gets.

 

There will also be the at bats Hoffpauir, Reed and Gathright get that DeRosa would have gotten.

 

You've also got the opportunity cost of no longer having DeRosa around if Fontenot struggles.

[erik316wttn]

I'm willing to give Hoff a chance as the 4th OF/backup 1B. He's got some pop off the bench, which is something this team sorely needs.

[dew1679666265]

I'm willing to give Hoff a chance as the 4th OF/backup 1B. He's got some pop off the bench, which is something this team sorely needs.

 

That role is fine, but with Bradley likely in the fold, Hoff will likely get far more playing time than a 4th OF should get.

[ConstableRabbit]

If the Bradley deal doesn't go down but the Cubs are able to trade for Hermidia (or Scott from the Os), will trading DeRo be worth it?

 

Not even close. It's going to take a very good bat to replace the dropoff from DeRosa to Aaron Miles. If Hermida plays at the highest level I could realistically hope for he might make up that difference.

 

I'd feel a lot better if Adam Dunn were being brought in.

The dropoff is most likely going to be from DeRosa to Fontenot. I don't think Miles will start over Mike.

 

And I don't think the dropoff between DeRosa and Fontenot next year is that huge.

 

Miles will play, though, and he'll likely be bad in those at bats he gets.

 

There will also be the at bats Hoffpauir, Reed and Gathright get that DeRosa would have gotten.

 

You've also got the opportunity cost of no longer having DeRosa around if Fontenot struggles.

I don't think it'll be that bad if he's playing against LHP.

 

He and Fontenot wouldn't make a bad platoon, which I think would be the greatest extent of Miles getting starting time.

[dew1679666265]

If the Bradley deal doesn't go down but the Cubs are able to trade for Hermidia (or Scott from the Os), will trading DeRo be worth it?

 

Not even close. It's going to take a very good bat to replace the dropoff from DeRosa to Aaron Miles. If Hermida plays at the highest level I could realistically hope for he might make up that difference.

 

I'd feel a lot better if Adam Dunn were being brought in.

The dropoff is most likely going to be from DeRosa to Fontenot. I don't think Miles will start over Mike.

 

And I don't think the dropoff between DeRosa and Fontenot next year is that huge.

 

Miles will play, though, and he'll likely be bad in those at bats he gets.

 

There will also be the at bats Hoffpauir, Reed and Gathright get that DeRosa would have gotten.

 

You've also got the opportunity cost of no longer having DeRosa around if Fontenot struggles.

I don't think it'll be that bad if he's playing against LHP.

 

He and Fontenot wouldn't make a bad platoon, which I think would be the greatest extent of Miles getting starting time.

 

The platoon likely won't be as good as DeRosa on his own. Miles isn't productive against pitchers no matter what hand they throw with and what hand he hits with.

[Monco]

So far...

Gregg< Wood

Bako< Blanco

Fontenot

Miles

Gathright

Fukodome

Vizcaino=Howry

Bradley>Fukodome (depends how many games he plays though)

5th startervs. Marquis ?

 

They also gave up Ceda and got 3 mediocre prospects. We'll have to see what the get for Pie. Hopefully this evolves into something much better but so far....

[Backtobanks]

I'm willing to give Hoff a chance as the 4th OF/backup 1B. He's got some pop off the bench, which is something this team sorely needs.

 

That role is fine, but with Bradley likely in the fold, Hoff will likely get far more playing time than a 4th OF should get.

 

Hoff won't be a 4th OF and will have a hard time making the team. Soriano, Fukudome, Bradley, Johnson, and Gathwright would be the first 5 OFs with Pie likely to be traded. I'm not sure where Hoff would fit in.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

So far...

Gregg< Wood

Bako< Blanco

Fontenot

Miles

Gathright

Fukodome

Vizcaino=Howry

Bradley>Fukodome (depends how many games he plays though)

5th startervs. Marquis ?

 

They also gave up Ceda and got 3 mediocre prospects. We'll have to see what the get for Pie. Hopefully this evolves into something much better but so far....

 

Don't forget we tied up a very mediocre starting pitcher for big money for four years, which is never good.

[dew1679666265]

I'm willing to give Hoff a chance as the 4th OF/backup 1B. He's got some pop off the bench, which is something this team sorely needs.

 

That role is fine, but with Bradley likely in the fold, Hoff will likely get far more playing time than a 4th OF should get.

 

Hoff won't be a 4th OF and will have a hard time making the team. Soriano, Fukudome, Bradley, Johnson, and Gathwright would be the first 5 OFs with Pie likely to be traded. I'm not sure where Hoff would fit in.

 

True, Johnson will be the 4th OF. I actually might prefer Hoff over Gathright, though.

[Shilzzz]

This season hinges on the health of Rich Harden and Milton Bradley. Good luck!

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm willing to give Hoff a chance as the 4th OF/backup 1B. He's got some pop off the bench, which is something this team sorely needs.

 

That role is fine, but with Bradley likely in the fold, Hoff will likely get far more playing time than a 4th OF should get.

 

Hoff won't be a 4th OF and will have a hard time making the team. Soriano, Fukudome, Bradley, Johnson, and Gathwright would be the first 5 OFs with Pie likely to be traded. I'm not sure where Hoff would fit in.

 

True, Johnson will be the 4th OF. I actually might prefer Hoff over Gathright, though.

 

Yeah, but they just signed Gathwright to a deal and Hoff is a career minor leaguer. I don't see that happening.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

This season hinges on the health of Rich Harden and Milton Bradley. Good luck!

 

Even with half a season from each, what team in the NL Central is better?

 

I guess the Cardinals are always a threat because Pujols + a bunch of lucky averageness dangerous.

 

I don't think they look to threaten 100 wins at this point, but I see no reason not to think another 03/07 is likely.

[Warren Brusstar]

If the Bradley deal doesn't go down but the Cubs are able to trade for Hermidia (or Scott from the Os), will trading DeRo be worth it?

 

All I know is, we can talk about proposed trades, "done deals" and "wish lists" all we want, but every move that has actually materialized so far has resulted in a downgrade.

 

At this rate we're going to be downgrading ourselves right out of the playoffs. But we beefed up Boise's lineup, so all's good.

 

Not what I like seeing. If Bradley and Peavy don't both materialize, this team's in trouble.

 

Trouble? I think that's a bit of an overreaction. Even with these numerous downgrades, who in the NL Central is better? The Cubs are still a heavy favorite to win the division. And, given the crapshoot nature of the playoffs, it's not like the Cubs -- with a rotation of Z, Harden, Demp, and Lilly -- doesn't have a reasonable chance to win in the postseason.

 

Only a blind man would deny that these moves have been one downgrade after another. I'm just not sure how much the Cubs have really hurt their chances of winning the World Series. To be sure, they've got less margin of error in the Central, but they're still a prohibitive favorite.