Kap says Cubs are talking to Aurilia's agent

[Monco]

It must be his .330 lifetime obp that makes him such a good fit.

[BigbadB]

None of this makes any sense, whatsoever.

 

Mark DeRosa>>>>>Aaron Miles AND Rich Aurilia

 

a) DeRosa only uses up one roster spot

b) DeRosa will arguably put up better production than the two combined

c) How much difference in price are we really talking about? 1m? 2m? And if you trade Luis Vizcaino, wouldn't the salary basically be a wash at worst?

 

Sure seems to me that Hendry is setting up a Peavy deal. I would hope he has discussed his plans with Towers, because Towers is either playing stupid at this point or has agreed to play by Hendry's rules of keeping mum through the rest of this whole process of fitting Peavy for a Cub uniform.

 

Pie to Baltimore for Olson. Vizcaino to whoever will take him for whatever you can get

 

Olson, Vizcaino return, Hart, Vitters, Cedeno and Stephens for Peavy?

 

If Peavy isn't in the plans, the signing of Miles and Aurilia to replace DeRosa is just plain stupid. Actually, it's beyond stupid.

[BigbadB]

Is there any chance that Aurilia's agent also represents Manny Ramirez or Adam Dunn?

[Gingerballs Lives]

sMaybe we can swing Trot Nixon as our LH RFer.

 

A good set up for the inevitable 2014 aquisitions of Nick Swisher and Scott Rolen.

[jiml60]

Jim Hendry has lost his mind.

 

He never had one to begin with.

[Dallas Green]

Jim Hendry has lost his mind.

 

 

You are not factoring in Lou's wishes.

[RedFlash]

I like to nominate the past week for "VH1 Best Week ever." How often do you get the chance to trade a valuable player like DeRosa, sign Aaron Miles, and perhaps even sign Rich Aurilla. That's the best week, evah....... :roll:

 

Wiowsa, Jimmy. You are sure making it hard to defend you.

[USSoccer]

Jim Hendry has lost his mind.

 

 

You are not factoring in Lou's wishes.

 

I thought Lou was smarter than this.

[CubinNY]

Jim Hendry has lost his mind.

 

 

You are not factoring in Lou's wishes.

 

I thought Lou was smarter than this.

Aside from the quote about getting more athletic, Aurilia is exactly the type of player Lou loves. He can use him all over the infield and he's a vet.

[Post Count Padder]

I'd prefer Aurilia to Miles, but at this point it's stupid. I kinda don't want either but too late for that.

[Wrigley Rat]

The goal all winter from Jim (Hendry) and Randy Bush's standpoint was to get a lot of players that have versatility, get left handed hitters, they've done a great job in doing that. When you're a manager in the NL, you want to have as many players with versatility, if you have guys who are switch-hitters or hit left handed and a nice balance of both, you're got a chance to win a lot of games.

http://www.thecubreporter.com/2009/01/03/fleita-afoot

I don't think this was posted yet, but Oneri Fleita said it over the weekend and it kind of lends some credence to the Aurilia rumor since he can play 1B, 2B, and 3B (and since we could use another RH bat on the bench). I personally would rather not see Aurilia signed, but his PH splits last year were solid (1023 OPS).

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/bsplit.cgi?n1=aurilri01&year=2008

[17 Seconds]

I really can't stand how Hendry's obsession of getting "left handed, versatile, and athletic" is completely running this offseason. It doesn't matter how versatile of athletic a player is if he sucks. Miles can hit from the left. Sweet. Too bad he sucks while doing it. Aurilia is versatile. Awesome. Too bad he sucks while doing it.

 

I'd much rather have players who are actually, you know, good.

Edited January 6, 2009 by 17 Seconds

[Cubswin11]

The goal all winter from Jim (Hendry) and Randy Bush's standpoint was to get a lot of players that have versatility, get left handed hitters, they've done a great job in doing that. When you're a manager in the NL, you want to have as many players with versatility, if you have guys who are switch-hitters or hit left handed and a nice balance of both, you've got a chance to win a lot of games.

http://www.thecubreporter.com/2009/01/03/fleita-afoot

I don't think this was posted yet, but Oneri Fleita said it over the weekend and it kind of lends some credence to the Aurilia rumor since he can play 1B, 2B, and 3B (and since we could use another RH bat on the bench). I personally would rather not see Aurilia signed, but his PH splits last year were solid (1023 OPS).

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/bsplit.cgi?n1=aurilri01&year=2008

We won 97 [expletive] games last year. I know we fell on our faces in the playoffs and of course you want to make yourself better everyone offseason, but the moves so far are puzzling. You're going to have to go a long way to convince me that Fontenot/Miles/Aurillia at 2B is going to be more productive (and cost effective) than DeRosa. If we sign Aurillia, him along with already signing Miles, the combined salary will likely be close to if not more than DeRosa's add in the fact Dero likely will be a type A FA and Brian Roberts is a FA after this year the signing of Miles for 2 years( for $2+ mil) is not smart IMO. I don't mind acquiring Gregg to replace Wood, I think they virtually cancel eachother out, but the other stuff so far it seems as though Hendry is making moves just to make Moves Gathright is no better than Pie and we got scraps for Dero (in regards what likely will help us this year, in a win now mode). It would be great to add lefthanded/switchitters to the lineup, but when you downgrade at certain positions just to get more "handiness" in your lineup, you likely won't be a better team than you were in the previous season in the long run. Now I am still not giving up on this offseason as Hendry still might make a trade/signing but as it stands now we aren't as good of a team right now as we were last year.

[cubsfan26]

I think people are getting WAY too worked up over this rumor, and honestly it's sad to see what people are saying about Hendry. Didn't we hear Aurilia rumors back at the Winter Meetings and Bruce Miles said they were false? With Kaplan being the source I need another source before I believe this. Kaplan gets alot of his rumors or information from talking to agents. In this case I wouldn't be surprised if that agent was using Kaplan to get Aurilia name out there. With having Miles around to play 3b, and Hoffpauir as a option at 1b and in the outfield. I really don't think Aurilia fits on the roster unless they plan on trading Hoffpauir or Aurilia wants to sign a very very cheap deal to play with the Cubs. Edited January 5, 2009 by cubsfan26

[cubsfan26]

You're going to have to go a long way to convince me that Fontenot/Miles/Aurillia at 2B is going to be more productive (and cost effective) than DeRosa.

 

I'm convinced that DeRosa won't be a 850's OPS guy next year, and I think Fontenot/Miles platoon will come close to matching DeRosa 09 numbers. Keep in mind Mike Fontenot is a career 850s OPS hitter against RH pitching in the majors, and Aaron Miles has put up a OBP of 378,368 and 377 against LH pitching the last three years. A Fontenot/Miles platoon as a good chance of being pretty productive.That 3.3m saved from getting rid of DeRosa allows us to sign Milton Bradley. If we don't trade Marquis and DeRosa I don't see how we can afford Bradley. So big picture is Bradley, Fontenot/Miles, Marshall over DeRosa and Marquis in 09. Rich Aurilia isn't signed with the Cubs, so don't get worked up over that rumor or pencil him in the line-up or payroll. I never understood why fans get themselves so worked up over rumors, that most likely never happen.

 

Gathright is no better than Pie and we got scraps for Dero (in regards what likely will help us this year, in a win now mode).

 

Hopefully Pie, and one of those prospects we got for DeRosa will help get us Peavy or another good player. The offseason isn't over yet, and Hendry still has a few things to do. Even when the Marquis deal is offical and Bradley is offically signed, I doubt the roster is set.

[Old Style]

Is there any chance that Aurilia's agent also represents Manny Ramirez or Adam Dunn?

nice

[Backtobanks]

As I posted before, many of the transactions don't make sense standing alone right now, but if we get Bradley (likely) and Peavy (hopefully) everything will be great. I think we would have received something more valuable for DeRosa if the plan was to keep what we received. I'm as impatient as anyone on this site, but give it time to play out. I think Hendry is still working on the Peavy deal, but has told Towers to shut his mouth about the negotiations.

[Soul]

I'm sure the Cubs are talking to alot of players' agents.

[Derwood]

I really can't stand how Hendry's obsession of getting "left handed, versatile, and athletic" is completely running this offseason. It doesn't matter how versatile of athletic a player is he sucks. Miles can hit from the left. Sweet. Too bad he sucks while doing it. Aurilia is versatile. Awesome, too bad he sucks while doing it.

 

I'd much rather have players who are actually, you know, good.

 

Aurilia is a righty

[MixmastaMiguel]

I really can't stand how Hendry's obsession of getting "left handed, versatile, and athletic" is completely running this offseason. It doesn't matter how versatile of athletic a player is he sucks. Miles can hit from the left. Sweet. Too bad he sucks while doing it. Aurilia is versatile. Awesome, too bad he sucks while doing it.

 

I'd much rather have players who are actually, you know, good.

 

Aurilia is a righty

 

Good observation.... but too bad he never says Aurilia is a lefty. I agree with Dex. What's all this crap about getting lefties or versatility. Why not just get a good player?? I think Lou has a lot to do with it. All last year he would bad Hendry Blanco against lefties when we had guys like Edmonds, Hoffpauir or Fontenot on the bench. I would rather have one of those guys batting any day over Blanco no matter who's pitching. Lefty/Righty matchups are overrated and it pisses me off.

[jersey cubs fan]

I really can't stand how Hendry's obsession of getting "left handed, versatile, and athletic" is completely running this offseason. It doesn't matter how versatile of athletic a player is he sucks. Miles can hit from the left. Sweet. Too bad he sucks while doing it. Aurilia is versatile. Awesome, too bad he sucks while doing it.

 

I'd much rather have players who are actually, you know, good.

 

Aurilia is a righty

 

Good observation.... but too bad he never says Aurilia is a lefty. I agree with Dex. What's all this crap about getting lefties or versatility. Why not just get a good player?? I think Lou has a lot to do with it. All last year he would bad Hendry Blanco against lefties when we had guys like Edmonds, Hoffpauir or Fontenot on the bench. I would rather have one of those guys batting any day over Blanco no matter who's pitching. Lefty/Righty matchups are overrated and it pisses me off.

 

Perhaps, but this isn't the first time Hendry has overemphasized versatility. We got guys like Macias and Neifi because they could play multiple positions and not hit from both sides, and it didn't matter to him that they sucked.

[Tyrant]

 

Wiowsa, Jimmy. You are sure making it hard to defend you.

 

You can defend him in this thread by saying he hasn't actually signed Aurilia and it's just Dave Kaplan talking.

[Hatman]

Rich Aurilia

 

Dave Kaplan mentioned on Friday night that the Cubs are talking to the agent for Rich Aurilia. Apparently the Cubs are interested in signing the veteran to back-up first base and third base.

I used to play whiffle ball with Kap in college. If his intel is as shape as his curveball, this ain't gonna happen.

[haubrich91]

Sweet lord. :banghead:

[Soul]

OK, unless this deal actually happens I'm not wasting my mental and emotional energy freaking out over it.