Rosenthal/ Morosi on Cubs

[Post Count Padder]

Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports provide the latest Cubs rumblings...

 

* Morosi reported Wednesday that the Cubs were "engaged in negotiations" with free agent reliever Kiko Calero. However, he now says their interest has waned. A right-handed setup man is still a primary item on the Cubs' shopping list.

* Previous reports have connected the Cubs to outfielders Xavier Nady, Jonny Gomes, Rocco Baldelli, and Reed Johnson. The FOX writers say Nady is the Cubs' top choice unless Dye's contract demands come down.

* The Cubs seek rotation insurance, but the FOX writers confirm ESPN's Jayson Stark Saturday suggestion that Ben Sheets is unlikely. Perhaps Mark Mulder, linked to the Cubs Tuesday by Morosi, is more feasible.

* Though the Cubs have looked into Adam Kennedy and Orlando Hudson, adding a second baseman is not a high priority.

[chasinf5s]

Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports provide the latest Cubs rumblings...

 

* Morosi reported Wednesday that the Cubs were "engaged in negotiations" with free agent reliever Kiko Calero. However, he now says their interest has waned. A right-handed setup man is still a primary item on the Cubs' shopping list.

* Previous reports have connected the Cubs to outfielders Xavier Nady, Jonny Gomes, Rocco Baldelli, and Reed Johnson. The FOX writers say Nady is the Cubs' top choice unless Dye's contract demands come down.

* The Cubs seek rotation insurance, but the FOX writers confirm ESPN's Jayson Stark Saturday suggestion that Ben Sheets is unlikely. Perhaps Mark Mulder, linked to the Cubs Tuesday by Morosi, is more feasible.

* Though the Cubs have looked into Adam Kennedy and Orlando Hudson, adding a second baseman is not a high priority.

 

Im not really sold on Baker and i wish they would have just gotten rid of Fontenot. Hudson would be a upgrade at 2nd base

[cubsfan5150]

I would be VERY happy with Hudson, not sure why he has a hard time finding a job unless he demands a ton.

[UMFan83]

Exciting news. They could have saved column space and just said "The Cubs are interested in many players, but acquiring these players are probably unlikely."

[Little Slide Rooter]

Exciting news. They could have saved column space and just said "The Cubs are interested in many players, but acquiring these players are probably unlikely."

 

I really dont see Hudson happening, especially when Baker and Fontenot are a more than sufficient platoon. However, I would not be surprised at all to see one of the righties signed as a 4th or platoon outfielder. Nothing against Fuld or Hoff, but we need another righty off the bench.

[Wrigley Rat]

Joe Inglett has been designated for assignment by the Rangers. He hits righties amazingly well and would seem to make an excellent platoon with Jeff Baker at 2B. He is a good defender, can play LF in a pinch, and is paid next to nothing. Although Baker is pretty good against both lefties and righties, Inglett's left-handed bat would look nice in the #2 spot, moving Fukudome down to 5th or 6th and breaking up the righties in the middle of the lineup. Baker would also make the bench a lot stronger. Trade Fontenot for a low-level prospect and be done with it. :)

[17 Seconds]

Joe Inglett has been designated for assignment by the Rangers. He hits righties amazingly well and would seem to make an excellent platoon with Jeff Baker at 2B.

 

amazingly well? he hits a bunch of singles

 

2009 vs RHP - .291/.344/.360

2008 vs RHP - .298/.355/.413

2006 vs RHP - .292/.339/.399

 

fontenot has a career OPS of like 35 points higher than inglett

[davell]

I read somewhere that Hudson wants 9 mill per year, which pretty much explains why he's still on the market.

[Cubswin11]

I read somewhere that Hudson wants 9 mill per year, which pretty much explains why he's still on the market.

He also wanting a 4-5 year deal last offseason, coming off of wrist surgery. Now he was pretty much completely healthy this last year so he could still be asking for a 3-4 year deal as well.

[Guest]

I wouldn't count on Hudson. Lou was asked a question about him at the convention and started his reply with the standard bs, then shifted and came out with what he really thought. He said Hudson was a guy that got benched down the stretch last year in favor of Belliard and that should tell you enough about where he's at right now.

 

 

 

** standard caveat of just reporting what Lou said, not what I'm thinking.

[Wrigley Rat]

Joe Inglett has been designated for assignment by the Rangers. He hits righties amazingly well and would seem to make an excellent platoon with Jeff Baker at 2B.

 

amazingly well? he hits a bunch of singles

 

2009 vs RHP - .291/.344/.360

2008 vs RHP - .298/.355/.413

2006 vs RHP - .292/.339/.399

 

fontenot has a career OPS of like 35 points higher than inglett

Say what you want, but for $500,000 a year, I would be very happy with those numbers for my left-handed #2 hitter against RHPs. Mike Fontenot might hit .236/.301/.377 again (last year's numbers) and get paid twice that.

[SABR Gamer]

Joe Inglett has been designated for assignment by the Rangers. He hits righties amazingly well and would seem to make an excellent platoon with Jeff Baker at 2B.

 

amazingly well? he hits a bunch of singles

 

2009 vs RHP - .291/.344/.360

2008 vs RHP - .298/.355/.413

2006 vs RHP - .292/.339/.399

 

fontenot has a career OPS of like 35 points higher than inglett

Say what you want, but for $500,000 a year, I would be very happy with those numbers for my left-handed #2 hitter against RHPs. Mike Fontenot might hit .236/.301/.377 again (last year's numbers) and get paid twice that.

 

 

Who cares, Fontenot is easily better, and don't say he's getting paid twice that like it actually means something. It's not like your comparing a guy who makes 8 million or 16 million, its a 500,000 difference, it doesn't mean a thing. PASS!

[17 Seconds]

Joe Inglett has been designated for assignment by the Rangers. He hits righties amazingly well and would seem to make an excellent platoon with Jeff Baker at 2B.

 

amazingly well? he hits a bunch of singles

 

2009 vs RHP - .291/.344/.360

2008 vs RHP - .298/.355/.413

2006 vs RHP - .292/.339/.399

 

fontenot has a career OPS of like 35 points higher than inglett

Say what you want, but for $500,000 a year, I would be very happy with those numbers for my left-handed #2 hitter against RHPs. Mike Fontenot might hit .236/.301/.377 again (last year's numbers) and get paid twice that.

 

he also might be wayyyy better than inglett

[Rob]

Joe Inglett has been designated for assignment by the Rangers. He hits righties amazingly well and would seem to make an excellent platoon with Jeff Baker at 2B.

 

amazingly well? he hits a bunch of singles

 

2009 vs RHP - .291/.344/.360

2008 vs RHP - .298/.355/.413

2006 vs RHP - .292/.339/.399

 

fontenot has a career OPS of like 35 points higher than inglett

Say what you want, but for $500,000 a year, I would be very happy with those numbers for my left-handed #2 hitter against RHPs. Mike Fontenot might hit .236/.301/.377 again (last year's numbers) and get paid twice that.

 

Or Fontenot could hit .302/.393/.518 versus righties like he did in 2008. And I don't know where you've gotten the idea that Inglett is a good defender, but he really isn't.

 

Honestly, Fontenot is better than Baker too, their fluke years heading in opposite directions last year notwithstanding.

[Clem Fandango]

I read somewhere that Hudson wants 9 mill per year, which pretty much explains why he's still on the market.

He also wanting a 4-5 year deal last offseason, coming off of wrist surgery. Now he was pretty much completely healthy this last year so he could still be asking for a 3-4 year deal as well.

 

He's also a Type A free agent

[Rob]

I read somewhere that Hudson wants 9 mill per year, which pretty much explains why he's still on the market.

He also wanting a 4-5 year deal last offseason, coming off of wrist surgery. Now he was pretty much completely healthy this last year so he could still be asking for a 3-4 year deal as well.

 

He's also a Type A free agent

 

FWIW, even though we're pick #16, it is a protected pick. So we'd only lose the 2nd rounder.

[jersey cubs fan]

The fact that a RH set-up man is priority number 1 is just beyond absurd. There's absolutely no need for another arm down there. They need a real starting pitcher.

[biittner77]

The fact that a RH set-up man is priority number 1 is just beyond absurd. There's absolutely no need for another arm down there. They need a real starting pitcher.

 

In fact, a real starter could potentially make another RH reliever available- Smardz or perhaps Wells.

[mul21]

I read somewhere that Hudson wants 9 mill per year, which pretty much explains why he's still on the market.

He also wanting a 4-5 year deal last offseason, coming off of wrist surgery. Now he was pretty much completely healthy this last year so he could still be asking for a 3-4 year deal as well.

 

He's also a Type A free agent

 

FWIW, even though we're pick #16, it is a protected pick. So we'd only lose the 2nd rounder.

 

I thought just the top 15 picks were protected?

[Guest]

I read somewhere that Hudson wants 9 mill per year, which pretty much explains why he's still on the market.

He also wanting a 4-5 year deal last offseason, coming off of wrist surgery. Now he was pretty much completely healthy this last year so he could still be asking for a 3-4 year deal as well.

 

He's also a Type A free agent

 

FWIW, even though we're pick #16, it is a protected pick. So we'd only lose the 2nd rounder.

 

I thought just the top 15 picks were protected?

One of the top 15 picks this year is a compensation pick for not signing last year's first rounder. So the Cubs' 16th pick is also protected because it is the 15th non-compensatory pick.

[SouthSideRyan]

I read somewhere that Hudson wants 9 mill per year, which pretty much explains why he's still on the market.

He also wanting a 4-5 year deal last offseason, coming off of wrist surgery. Now he was pretty much completely healthy this last year so he could still be asking for a 3-4 year deal as well.

 

He's also a Type A free agent

 

FWIW, even though we're pick #16, it is a protected pick. So we'd only lose the 2nd rounder.

 

I thought just the top 15 picks were protected?

 

The bottom 15 teams have protected picks. Some team has 2 picks due to not signing their 2009 draft pick.

[pitchcs]

Joe Nelson (RHP) is reportedly interested in joining the Cubs as a late inning reliever (says Trib's Mark Gonzalez). Not really sure how Nelson's interest matters, but whatever.

 

Had a very good season with Florida in '08.

 

Interestingly, Nelson is better vs. LH than RH (.215 BAA vs. .237 for career). Strikes out about 1 per inning but also walks more than 4.5 per 9.

[RedFlash]

Joe Nelson (RHP) is reportedly interested in joining the Cubs as a late inning reliever (says Trib's Mark Gonzalez). Not really sure how Nelson's interest matters, but whatever.

 

Had a very good season with Florida in '08.

 

Interestingly, Nelson is better vs. LH than RH (.215 BAA vs. .237 for career). Strikes out about 1 per inning but also walks more than 4.5 per 9.

 

I wouldn't be opposed to Nelson, as long as he doesn't make much more then what he made last yr which was 1.3 mill.

[pitchcs]

Joe Nelson (RHP) is reportedly interested in joining the Cubs as a late inning reliever (says Trib's Mark Gonzalez). Not really sure how Nelson's interest matters, but whatever.

 

Had a very good season with Florida in '08.

 

Interestingly, Nelson is better vs. LH than RH (.215 BAA vs. .237 for career). Strikes out about 1 per inning but also walks more than 4.5 per 9.

 

I wouldn't be opposed to Nelson, as long as he doesn't make much more then what he made last yr which was 1.3 mill.

 

A Wuertz type perhaps?