07/30 Astros (Ortiz) @ Cubs (Hart) 1:20 CT, WGN TV

[C.C.]

The majority of his trades have been good.

[Guest]

 

The Wuertz and Pierre trades are the only two I really don't like. Even the Gregg trade has turned out pretty well for us, so far.

 

 

Remember when almost everyone except me thought that cutting ties with Wood and not offering him arbitration and acquiring Gregg to replace Marmol in the setup role as Marmol (inevitably) closed was a terrible idea?

 

 

I do.

I hated it too, he should have offered arbitration. Ceda has not pitched at all this year and Gregg has been pretty good for us, though. It was a stupid idea that turned out OK. So, we have 3 trades his entire tenure. Two that fit the bill of overpaying for a major league part.

 

Ceda struggling/needing surgery was pretty predictable. He's had multiple shoulder injuries, is a fatty and had major work ethic concerns.

[Sammy Sofa]

You could debate cutting ties with him. But not offering him arbitration, which if he turns down we get 2 draft picks, is inexcusable.

 

You absolutely no clue how much Wood would have made if he accepted, do you?

 

Arbitration can't be less than like 80% of his salary, correct?

 

So approximately 8 million or so? Still would have been worth it.

 

You have absolutely no clue how Wood is doing this year and what the Cubs' financial situation is, do you?

[C.C.]

It's amazing how one settles down with a 6 run lead.

[illiniguy]

You could debate cutting ties with him. But not offering him arbitration, which if he turns down we get 2 draft picks, is inexcusable.

 

You absolutely no clue how much Wood would have made if he accepted, do you?

 

 

This.

 

He was looking for and got a multi year deal. Why are people assuming he would accept arbitration?

 

 

Given the market conditions and his apparent love for the team it was a pretty real risk.

I don't see the risk. I would take Kerry Wood on my team any day of the week.

[E.J.]

You know it's a good day when Fontenot gets a couple of hits.

[Vanilla Ice]

Aardsma for Cotts.

Oh come on, Aardsma hasn't been good until the very end of 2008 and in 2009. The Red Sox and White Sox both gave up on him, too.

[CyHawk_Cub]

Font w/ a double

[mul21]

Aardsma for Cotts.

 

Doesn't count when the guy finally has success 3 teams and several years later.

[Sammy Sofa]

I don't see the risk. I would take Kerry Wood on my team any day of the week.

 

Can people set aside the player-crushes and look at this realistically for a second?

[erik316wttn]

2:56pm: Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Cubs and Pirates are discussing a deal that would send Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny to Chicago. No deal is in place and other teams remain interested in Grabow.

 

OMG YES!

 

Within my immediate reach I have an empty peanut jar and a fork. That's about the equivalent of what we've given the Pirates in the past.

[C.C.]

Aardsma for Cotts.

Oh come on, Aardsma hasn't been good until the very end of 2008 and in 2009. The Red Sox and White Sox both gave up on him, too.

 

That was a joke.

[NeifiIsMyHomeBoy]

Tom Gorzelanny? Seriously? ](*,)

[Guest]

2:56pm: Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Cubs and Pirates are discussing a deal that would send Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny to Chicago. No deal is in place and other teams remain interested in Grabow.

 

OMG YES!

 

Gorzelanny? Why?

[Vanilla Ice]

 

The Wuertz and Pierre trades are the only two I really don't like. Even the Gregg trade has turned out pretty well for us, so far.

 

 

Remember when almost everyone except me thought that cutting ties with Wood and not offering him arbitration and acquiring Gregg to replace Marmol in the setup role as Marmol (inevitably) closed was a terrible idea?

 

 

I do.

I hated it too, he should have offered arbitration. Ceda has not pitched at all this year and Gregg has been pretty good for us, though. It was a stupid idea that turned out OK. So, we have 3 trades his entire tenure. Two that fit the bill of overpaying for a major league part.

 

Ceda struggling/needing surgery was pretty predictable. He's had multiple shoulder injuries, is a fatty and had major work ethic concerns.

Yeah, I am defending Hendry in the entire thread. He should probably have gotten more value for Ceda (like you said), but he certainly got the better end of the trade, so far.

[illiniguy]

I don't see the risk. I would take Kerry Wood on my team any day of the week.

 

Can people set aside the player-crushes and look at this realistically for a second?

I doubt it. The guy is responsible for our only playoff series win the last century.

[David]

I don't see the risk. I would take Kerry Wood on my team any day of the week.

 

 

And that's the same Kerry Wood love bias that was in everyone's brains last fall.

 

 

I love him, but a relief pitcher with his injury history and risk (the miraculous recovery in 07) isn't a good investment.

[cheapseats]

Eyre for Schlitter.

[Guest]

2:56pm: Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Cubs and Pirates are discussing a deal that would send Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny to Chicago. No deal is in place and other teams remain interested in Grabow.

 

OMG YES!

 

Within my immediate reach I have an empty peanut jar and a fork. That's about the equivalent of what we've given the Pirates in the past.

 

But look at what the Pirates got for Sanchez yesterday.

 

(Brian Sabean is awful.)

[erik316wttn]

You could debate cutting ties with him. But not offering him arbitration, which if he turns down we get 2 draft picks, is inexcusable.

 

You absolutely no clue how much Wood would have made if he accepted, do you?

 

Arbitration can't be less than like 80% of his salary, correct?

 

So approximately 8 million or so? Still would have been worth it.

 

You have absolutely no clue how Wood is doing this year and what the Cubs' financial situation is, do you?

 

Wood is struggling in his first year in a new league, and the Cubs are for sale.

 

Any other stupid questions?

[cheapseats]

2:56pm: Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Cubs and Pirates are discussing a deal that would send Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny to Chicago. No deal is in place and other teams remain interested in Grabow.

 

OMG YES!

 

Within my immediate reach I have an empty peanut jar and a fork. That's about the equivalent of what we've given the Pirates in the past.

 

Except that they now have a GM who isn't on Cubs' payroll.

[haubrich91]

Fuku is an OBP machine.

[jersey cubs fan]

How many times has he given up a good prospect for somebody like Grabow or overpayed in trades at all? You've never answered that.

 

How many times has he traded for Grabow? He gave up a draft pick when going after Latroy Hawkins. He usually signs free agent relievers, he hasn't had to trade for many. But just because he didn't overspend on Harden I'm supposed to feel confident he won't do that with a freaking reliever he doesn't need? Acquiring him is overpaying. It's up to Hendry to prove he won't overpay. I don't have to assume he'll do the right thing.

Nobody is saying he is good at signing people. Nobody. I don't know why you keep bringing his screwups in that arena up. He has over payed twice ever in trades when acquiring a major league player. Only one didn't turn out well. He is pretty good at not overpaying in trades. I don't see how this is hard to understand.

 

But the point is he hasn't made a ton of these trades either. Why you feel like you can only talk about trades involving giving up prospects for veterans as the only way to judge whether or not he's great at getting value is beyond me. You insist on asking how many times he's overpaid for Grabow when he hasn't traded for Grabows before. He's made plenty of stupid deals. And much of his failures have come in opportunity cost, where he concentrates so much effort into finding a niche player for specific perceived need, he fails to actually improve the team (see 2008 offseason).

 

Tom Gorzallany is still around?

[erik316wttn]

Theriot sac fly. 10-3 Cubs

[E.J.]

I'm glad the Cubs have beaten up on the Astros this series, but it's a little bittersweet since the Astros are headed to St. Louis with a taxed bullpen.