Cubs acquire Jeff Baker

[jersey cubs fan]

Maybe they can DL Soriano for a while with some mysterious injury or Dontrelle-like brain issues.

 

Edit.

 

Jeff, do you know when they start counting the 90 days that a Rule 5 player has to be on the roster? Is it when rosters have to be sent in or the first day of the season?

 

Either way, if they wanted to DL Patton, within a few days from now they could do that and already have satisfied the entire length of time of the Rule 5 stipulations. They could DL him until early August, then send him on a rehab assignment until September 1st, and then bring him back up when rosters expand and have no problems.

 

It's 90 days active right? Wouldn't that be opening day?

[dew1679666265]

I still think the insistence on having a 12 man staff is going to make that unlikely. It would have to be a situation where they aren't getting innings out of the rest of the staff and feel forced to move him, rather than the desire to keep another position player.

 

Good point, I forgot about the 12 man staff thing.

[CubColtPacer]

Maybe they can DL Soriano for a while with some mysterious injury or Dontrelle-like brain issues.

 

Edit.

 

Jeff, do you know when they start counting the 90 days that a Rule 5 player has to be on the roster? Is it when rosters have to be sent in or the first day of the season?

 

Either way, if they wanted to DL Patton, within a few days from now they could do that and already have satisfied the entire length of time of the Rule 5 stipulations. They could DL him until early August, then send him on a rehab assignment until September 1st, and then bring him back up when rosters expand and have no problems.

 

It's 90 days active right? Wouldn't that be opening day?

 

It probably is Opening Day. I guess it wouldn't matter anyway..90 days from Opening Day happens to line up exactly when Ramirez is coming back anyway, so the Cubs will have that option at any point during these series of roster moves. I would definitely agree that it's unlikely.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

While I'm not terribly excited over getting Baker, at least all we gave up was Alburquerque.

[weis21]

FWIW BP projected almost an .820 OPS out of him this season. Granted, that was assuming he was playing half his games at Coors, but I definitely think the upside was worth the risk.

[cubsfan26]

I really like this move. Baker is a perfect example of low risk, high reward type move. He's put up big numbers in the minors and had a solid season for the Rockies last year. With our issues currently at 2b. Adding Baker is worth a shot and if he hits even close to the way he did last year. He could be a short term answer at 2b.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Dumping Freel for Baker feels more like a lateral move than anything, but whatever.

[Keener98]

Dumping Freel for Baker feels more like a lateral move than anything, but whatever.

 

How is it lateral?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Dumping Freel for Baker feels more like a lateral move than anything, but whatever.

 

How is it lateral?

 

Baker had a decent year last year, but I have no reason to believe that he'll be any better or worse than Freel. Im not going to miss Freel in the slightest, but this feels like a meh move to me.

 

Im getting the impression that after the Rangers gave career backup DeRosa a full time opportunity and hes done very well for himself since, and now Hendry is trying to replicate that with every career utility guy he can get his hands on, thus Miles, Freel, and now Baker. But I guess time will tell.

[dew1679666265]

Dumping Freel for Baker feels more like a lateral move than anything, but whatever.

 

How is it lateral?

 

Baker had a decent year last year, but I have no reason to believe that he'll be any better or worse than Freel. Im not going to miss Freel in the slightest, but this feels like a meh move to me.

 

Im getting the impression that after the Rangers gave career backup DeRosa a full time opportunity and hes done very well for himself since, and now Hendry is trying to replicate that with every career utility guy he can get his hands on, thus Miles, Freel, and now Baker. But I guess time will tell.

 

Freel in his career has a .724 OPS against lefties. Baker in his career has a .902 OPS against lefties.

 

Baker has some real value if used properly. Miles and Freel aren't the same player as Baker.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I really hope there's a Coors hangover effect, because Baker is a career .205/.266/.335/.601 away from there.

[wilk]

Baker in his career has a .902 OPS against lefties.

 

And .213 / .282 / .320 / .602 career against lefties, away from Coors. ...

[Backtobanks]

It's a great low-key move by Hendry, but I'm not ready to order my WS tickets because of this move.

[JonJayCutler]

Isn't Baker the guy who got a concussion from being hit in the head by Marquis in 07?

[dew1679666265]

Baker in his career has a .902 OPS against lefties.

 

And .213 / .282 / .320 / .602 career against lefties, away from Coors. ...

 

Ouch. Well, worst case scenario is it's a lateral move and we didn't give up much.

 

Much more potential to produce than Freel.

[Little Slide Rooter]

It's a great low-key move by Hendry, but I'm not ready to order my WS tickets because of this move.

 

I dont think its the intention. Its basically to platoon with Fontenot. I dont see that kind of move happening this season, and if anything, he'll try to add a bullpen arm or 2 to the mix.

[JonJayCutler]

Bottom line is that everything suggests he is an offensive upgrade over Freel, Miles, and Blanco, as well as Fontenot against lefties. This guy has some power too. I really don't see a reason to hate the move considering we gave up so little. As someone else said, low risk high reward.

[JonJayCutler]

Also, I see people keep bringing up the fact that he has done so poorly on the road. Couldn't this be attributed to the fact that some players just play better at home, rather than say its completely because Coors is a hitter's park? Its a misleading split to look at, especially considering that Wrigley too is a hitter's park.

[Keener98]

I understand the supposed "Coors effect" but its getting to the point in the season where the wind should be blowing out more often than its blowing in, thus playing as a hitters park. Im not too concerned with the Coors numbers.

[Cubbie Swagger]

If all we gave up was that minor leaguer... I don't mind the deal. Him and Fontenot could make a good platoon.

[NCCubFan]

My predictions for upcoming roster moves (barring any intervening trades):

 

1. When Aram is activated, Blanco goes down (Fox has CLEARLY won a spot on the team for now).

 

2. When Guzman is activated, Patton goes on the DL since he will have met the Rule V provisions.

 

3. When Johnson is activated, Fuld goes down.

 

4. When Miles is activated, I'm stumped (assuming Fox is still producing enough to force the Cubs to keep him up).

[Keener98]

My predictions for upcoming roster moves (barring any intervening trades):

 

1. When Aram is activated, Blanco goes down (Fox has CLEARLY won a spot on the team for now).

 

2. When Guzman is activated, Patton goes on the DL since he will have met the Rule V provisions.

 

3. When Johnson is activated, Fuld goes down.

 

4. When Miles is activated, I'm stumped (assuming Fox is still producing enough to force the Cubs to keep him up).

 

 

Again, if Blanco goes down Mon, who is the backup SS on the team?

[Rob]

Fontenot is just as much of a SS as Miles is.

[Keener98]

Fontenot is just as much of a SS as Miles is.

 

And I dont classify either of them as SS's. Id be shocked if Blanco is the one to go down, Lou really seems to like his D.

[Cubbie Swagger]

My predictions for upcoming roster moves (barring any intervening trades):

 

1. When Aram is activated, Blanco goes down (Fox has CLEARLY won a spot on the team for now).

 

2. When Guzman is activated, Patton goes on the DL since he will have met the Rule V provisions.

 

3. When Johnson is activated, Fuld goes down.

 

4. When Miles is activated, I'm stumped (assuming Fox is still producing enough to force the Cubs to keep him up).

All those moves sound good to me. It would also be awesome if we could find away to sneak Aaron Miles into a deal for a bullpen arm. Maybe other teams don't realize he's Aaron Miles...