Levine on who we like for backup IF (Uribe, Millar, Hinske)

[RammyFanny]

According to Bruce Levine, the Cubs are looking at Juan Uribe to be the 25th man on their roster. Levine said his sources indicated the Cubs are looking for a player to back-up second, third and short and Uribe would fit the bill. He added that the Cubs were interested in adding a back-up for the corner spots (first and third) but with the amount of games Derrek Lee plays they have changed their philosophy.

 

Levine added the Cubs have been looking at Kevin Millar, Eric Hinske and Rich Aurilia to fill the backup role for first base and third base....but they could go in a different direction and add Juan Uribe.

http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2009/01/cubsrumor012409.php

[Derwood]

wait, what? isn't the bench already over-crowded with junk? if Uribe or the like is signed, you're talking about Hoffpauir is in AAA or Cedeno is traded

[Hairyducked Idiot]

wait, what? isn't the bench already over-crowded with junk? if Uribe or the like is signed, you're talking about Hoffpauir is in AAA or Cedeno is traded

 

I think the Cubs are pretty much planning on both of those things.

[RedFlash]

Between Hinkse/Aurilla/Millah....give me Hinkse. I know the Cubs are too LH in their thinking, but Millah (I know, I know the potential prank wars between Millah and Dempster would be epic) but between the three Hinske would add some pop to the bench for the Cubs.

[Mephistopheles]

More middle infielders!

 

YAY!

 

Well the ole' adage is you can never have enough s2bs

Edited January 24, 2009 by Mephistopheles

[mdwilla]

I would prefer Hinkse over those mentioned , but I would like to see Hendry target Nomar for this role.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I would prefer Hinkse over those mentioned , but I would like to see Hendry target Nomar for this role.

 

I wouldn't mind Nomar either.

[Post Count Padder]

.........what?

 

If we sign Uribe I'll be pissed. I won't mind Hinske though, and he'll probably come cheap.

[SouthSideRyan]

Uribe's not even a lefty.

[Derwood]

Uribe would be Neifi '09

[Little Slide Rooter]

Are any of these names even an upgrade over Ronny? Maybe at one point, but Ronny may or may not have hit his ceiling, but the rest of these guys did long ago, and have been plumeting back toward the floor ever since.

[cubsfan26]

I want nothing to do with Uribe, he would be Neifi with more power. Millar would be ok, but Hinske would be the perfect fit IMO. If we signed Hinske then all the freaking about losing DeRosa should be gone.

[Cubswin11]

I wouldn't mind Aurillia or Millar for a reserve righthanded bench bat. Both are vets and we don't have many RH options off the bench so it would make some sense to sign one of those guys. I don't get the Uribe thing he's no better than Cedeno and will cost more, Cedeno at least has a little chance to get better. Uribe just flat out sucks, his career line is .253/.295/.423. :-& :nea: :swoon: :-#

 

Also Millar hit 20 HR last year and walked 72 times, those aren't bad #'s his BA was only .234 though. His career BA is .277 but he hasn't been above .270 for the last two years. I think he would be a good fit for us, solid clubhouse guy, has a ring and seems like a disciplined hitter. Not to mention the entertainment we'd get with him and Dempster in the same clubhouse.

[JeffH]

Whoever we get really needs to be able to play 3B in a meaningful fashion.

 

That eliminates Millar.

 

Is Hinske even a legitimate option at third any longer?

[Cubswin11]

Whoever we get really needs to be able to play 3B in a meaningful fashion.

 

That eliminates Millar.

 

Is Hinske even a legitimate option at third any longer?

He has played 18 games at 3B since 2005, so I would say he likely isn't. Aurillia might be the guy then. He's capable of playing 1B/3B and in a pinch could play 2B/SS. He hit .283/.332/.413 and hit 10 HR playing half his games in San Fran last year, so he still has something left.

[weis21]

Huh, I thought we answered the backup MI question with Miles? (albeit, an poor answer)

 

I guess this means Cedeno is gone. I hope they can get fair value for him, I'd rather have him at his salary than any of those other options.

[JeffH]

If Cedeno goes to Seattle for Heilman, I wouldn't be surprised to see Wuertz go with him.

[TruffleShuffle]

I guess this means Cedeno is gone. I hope they can get fair value for him, I'd rather have him at his salary than any of those other options.

 

i'm not exactly sure what fair value for cedeno is. probably a few coupons to mcdonald's.

[rawaction]

Hinske wouldn't be a bad guy to have when Bradley goes on the DL. But he doesn't do anything better than Hoffpauir except for playing 3B....and he's not very good at that. He would be an acceptable bench player if the Cubs don't believe Hoffpauir can hit well enough off the bench. But I'd rather see what Micah can do getting 200 Abs in RF and 1B and as a pinch hitter.

 

Man, this team has the potential of having a really bad bench, especially if they carry 12-19 pitchers again.

 

Uribe

Gathright

Bako

Miles

Johnson

 

Reed Johnson's the only respectable player on that list. Three of those guys are in the bottom 25 players in the league.

[cubsfan26]

If Cedeno goes to Seattle for Heilman, I wouldn't be surprised to see Wuertz go with him.

 

I agree, I can't see Cedeno being enough to get Heilman. Maybe Cedeno, Wuertz, and low level prospect for Heilman can get a deal done. I dunno why the Mariners would want Cedeno, they already have too simliar players at 2b/SS. But I heard they might move Jose Lopez to 1b.

 

Hinske wouldn't be a bad guy to have when Bradley goes on the DL. But he doesn't do anything better than Hoffpauir except for playing 3B....and he's not very good at that. He would be an acceptable bench player if the Cubs don't believe Hoffpauir can hit well enough off the bench. But I'd rather see what Micah can do getting 200 Abs in RF and 1B and as a pinch hitter.

 

I think Hoffpauir has a decent chance to do what Hinkse can do. But alot of people don't wanna put much stock into what Hoffpauir has done, and don't wanna count on him filling in for Bradley. Hinske is more of a sure thing, and could give us DeRosa like production in RF. It all depends on the price though, and if the Cubs feel he could play third still here and there.

[UMFan83]

I hear the Indians have this super utility player. Apparently he has a pretty good bat too. Maybe we should look into that.

[RedFlash]

I hear the Indians have this super utility player. Apparently he has a pretty good bat too. Maybe we should look into that.

 

I say............I would give them Stevens, Archer, and Gaub without blinking an eye.

[UK1679666180]

Considering how injury prone the core of this team is as far as Soriano, Bradley, and Ramirez, I wish they would overspend on someone Wigginton and put him in the Derosa type role. Start at 2B vs. LH'er as well as play the OF when Soriano and Bradley get hurt. Obviously this won't happen.

 

If they want to look for someone in that role, what about Crede?

 

I wouldn't mind Uribe, if they didn't have that role filled with Miles. Although they are different types of hitters, Uribe will likely have a higher OPS than Miles and is a much better defensive player than Miles.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Hinske wouldn't be a bad guy to have when Bradley goes on the DL. But he doesn't do anything better than Hoffpauir except for playing 3B....and he's not very good at that. He would be an acceptable bench player if the Cubs don't believe Hoffpauir can hit well enough off the bench. But I'd rather see what Micah can do getting 200 Abs in RF and 1B and as a pinch hitter.

 

Man, this team has the potential of having a really bad bench, especially if they carry 12-19 pitchers again.

 

Uribe

Gathright

Bako

Miles

Johnson

 

Reed Johnson's the only respectable player on that list. Three of those guys are in the bottom 25 players in the league.

 

Looks like "The Lemons" all over again.

[BCVM22]

Looks like "The Lemons" all over again.

 

Minus a properly scruffed fan favorite like Todd Walker.