Cubs looking at Chris Davis?

[Schwarber Fan]

The Cubs and Texas Rangers were scheduled to get together to talk about possible matchups. Texas has a need for catching and the Cubs have two solid young catchers in Welington Castillo and Robinson Chirinos. Texas has an abundance of good hitting in their organization and they have excess at first base, a position where the Cubs have a need.

 

Left-handed hitting Chris Davis is a home-run hitter who turns 25 in March. Davis only played 45 games for the Rangers in 2010. However, in 2008 and 2009 combined he hit 37 home runs in 193 games. The Cubs could make Davis their everyday first baseman and put the money they have available this offseason toward starting pitching and the bullpen.

 

and...

 

The Cubs have not talked to the agents for Adam Dunn. However, they expect to talk to them at some point soon. Dunn is still the center of attention for the Chicago White Sox. But on Wednesday the Detroit Tigers were said to be ready to throw big money at Dunn, whose bidding begins at three years and $40 million.

 

The White Sox are serious bidders in the Dunn derby. GM Kenny Williams tried to trade for Dunn before the July 31 trading deadline. The White Sox should have the resources to sign Dunn, especially if they don't bring back Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski. Williams told Japanese media members in Orlando on Tuesday that the Sox are interested in Hideki Matsui, the former Yankee and Angel slugger.

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/2715/busy-gm-meetings-for-cubs-sox

 

KILL

ME

NOW

 

I'd take Hoffpauir over Davis

[TruffleShuffle]

chris davis really sucks

[javy knows my name]

If Adam Dunn goes to the south side, and we acquire Chris Davis, I'm going to kill myself

[Cubswin11]

Was Davis ever considered a big time prospect? He doesn't look like he's a great defender either, according to BBR, and that is something Hendry is apparently looking for in whatever 1B he brings in. There really isn't much to like about him, except that he could maybe hit 30 HR in a season. He K's about once in every 3 ab's and BB in about 1 in every 14 ab's, which extrapolated over the course of a full season and receiving 500 ab's that equates to 36 BB and 167 K.

[Guest]

Davis is actually an intriguing buy low candidate. Very strong minor league pedigree(a bit light on walks, but nice batting average for someone with his power and K's), age on his side, at his lowest possible value because his worst performance is most recent, has always been with the same organization so new coaching might help him adjust. Anyone know what his defensive reputation is?

 

The problem isn't necessarily targeting Chris Davis, it's that there needs to be an impact acquisition this offseason, and Davis would occupy the easiest position for that to come from.

[UMFan83]

i don't know if you guys agree, but I'd rather the bulk of our money be spent on an impact offensive player rather than starting pitching, and DEFINITELY rather than the pen.

 

We were awful offensively last year and we come into this year worse off than how we came into last year (we don't have Lee coming off a 35 HR 100+ rbi season this year).

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm still in awe that starting pitching is the focus of the offseason.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm still in awe that starting pitching is the focus of the offseason.

 

Hendry keeps saying he's happy with how the young guys developed late in the season, so next year if they struggle the blame will be placed on young guys who failed to do what was expected of them.

 

 

Also, San Fran won with pitching so you know what has to be done this offseason.

Edited November 18, 2010 by jersey cubs fan

[Post Count Padder]

Chris Davis is the type of player I'd want if we were a team with the payroll of the Pirates or we were getting an .850 OPS from every other position. Since neither of those is the case, I'd prefer to walk away. I'm starting to feel like we're gonna get Pena at first and waste money on Jon Garland and Scott Downs.

[davell]

Chris Davis doesn't make our offense better. I'm glad we're at least going to sit down with Dunn. But, this type of trade makes sense from where Hendry is coming from(the wrong direction, as usual). He'll have some cash to go and waste on the pen and the middle of the rotation. And if the reports are true about only having 5-7 mill to play with, I'm betting we get a couple of backloaded specials from him to boot.....

[Guest]

I'm having a hard time marrying the "we don't have money to spend" reports with the "payroll will be flat or go down slightly" reports. We're at what, 115 million with no moves? We were at 140+ last year. Someone help me understand how there isn't at least 15-20 million to work with here.

[Post Count Padder]

# Cubs GM Jim Hendry acknowledged the team’s need for a first baseman and said he anticipates “more volume at that position than what people need at that position."

[erik316wttn]

Jim Hendry really sucks

 

Fixed

 

I don't know how this is possible, but Hendry is actually getting worse as the years go on. How he's still in a position to make personnel moves really reflects badly on the Ricketts family.

Edited November 18, 2010 by erik316wttn

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm having a hard time marrying the "we don't have money to spend" reports with the "payroll will be flat or go down slightly" reports. We're at what, 115 million with no moves? We were at 140+ last year. Someone help me understand how there isn't at least 15-20 million to work with here.

 

I'm serious when I say I think it means we don't have money to spend on a 1st baseman because we're focusing on the bullpen and an innings eater.

[davell]

I'm having a hard time marrying the "we don't have money to spend" reports with the "payroll will be flat or go down slightly" reports. We're at what, 115 million with no moves? We were at 140+ last year. Someone help me understand how there isn't at least 15-20 million to work with here.

 

 

We're right at 119 with no moves. We wound up paying out 132.5 last year.(which is what I see them using as the payroll last season, not what the season beginning payroll was and based on the numbers we're hearing about how much money we have to spend, it looks like it's the case) After the trades at the deadline, releases, Dempster deferring 3 mill and the M's paying their part of Silva's contract, we paid out 132.5 last season, including pro-rated signing bonuses, which we don't know how the Cubs account for those. Take the 5-7 percent decrease that has been talked about(supposedly to be put back into scouting and development) and it leaves us with 6-7 mill to spend this offseason, without moving salary away.

[rawaction]

I'm going against the grain here. I'd take Chris Davis for Castillo or Chirinos. One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that Davis does have some position flexibility. From what I understand, he's OK defensively at 1B. He also played 3B primarily when he was sent down to the minors this year, and has made progress there according to Rangers personnel. He also played a couple innings in LF.

 

So, you're talking about a 24-year old, with all kinds of power, a great minor league pedigree, and with the ability to play 3 different positions where he's not going to kill you defensively.

 

Best case scenario, you can get a young power hitting starting 1B. Worst case, you get power and flexibility off the bench. Getting Davis doesn't prevent the Cubs from still going out and getting a 1B (probably Pena or Nick Johnson on a short term deal) because he doesn't cost a thing.

 

I think this is exactly the type of move the Cubs should make. If it's Chirinos, he's older than Davis and profiles as a backup C.

[jersey cubs fan]

Best case scenario, you can get a young power hitting starting 1B. Worst case, you get power and flexibility off the bench. Getting Davis doesn't prevent the Cubs from still going out and getting a 1B (probably Pena or Nick Johnson on a short term deal) because he doesn't cost a thing.

 

Doesn't prevent it, but almost certainly will.

[mookie]

I would be behind this move. Rangers fans really love Davis as a defender, but he has of course not busted out with the bat.

 

The sooner you guys get over the Dunn man love, the less disappointed you will be. I would love Big Donkey, but it isn't going to happen.

[dew1679666265]

Was Davis ever considered a big time prospect?

 

He was the #65 prospect entering the 2008 year. For what it's worth, he's been very good in the minors and had a horrid BABIP (.275) in the majors last year, with a strong LD% (22.2). It's a pretty limited sample size, obviously, but it's something to consider.

 

I'm with TT on this one. If all we're giving up is Castillo or Chirinos, with Soto already here, I don't see a good reason not to do this. I don't see going after Davis as a hindrance to getting Dunn, because if Hendry wants Dunn, he'll go after him either way. The more likely situation is that we'd get Davis instead of Nick Johnson or Carlos Pena, and, while I wouldn't hate either of them, I think I'd prefer Davis due to cost and upside.

Edited November 18, 2010 by dew

[dew1679666265]

I'm having a hard time marrying the "we don't have money to spend" reports with the "payroll will be flat or go down slightly" reports. We're at what, 115 million with no moves? We were at 140+ last year. Someone help me understand how there isn't at least 15-20 million to work with here.

 

I'm serious when I say I think it means we don't have money to spend on a 1st baseman because we're focusing on the bullpen and an innings eater.

 

With the report out that Hendry is "less inclined" to trade Fukudome, adding Davis at no cost might make it more likely we keep Kosuke – and that's a very good thing.

[KingCubsFan]

Was Davis ever considered a big time prospect?

 

He was the #65 prospect entering the 2008 year. For what it's worth, he's been very good in the minors and had a horrid BABIP (.275) in the majors last year, with a strong LD% (22.2). It's a pretty limited sample size, obviously, but it's something to consider.

 

I'm with TT on this one. If all we're giving up is Castillo or Chirinos, with Soto already here, I don't see a good reason not to do this. I don't see going after Davis as a hindrance to getting Dunn, because if Hendry wants Dunn, he'll go after him either way. The more likely situation is that we'd get Davis instead of Nick Johnson or Carlos Pena, and, while I wouldn't hate either of them, I think I'd prefer Davis due to cost and upside.

His BB/K ratio has always been horrid. Has anyone ever consistently succeeded in the majors with those types of peripherals?

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm having a hard time marrying the "we don't have money to spend" reports with the "payroll will be flat or go down slightly" reports. We're at what, 115 million with no moves? We were at 140+ last year. Someone help me understand how there isn't at least 15-20 million to work with here.

 

I'm serious when I say I think it means we don't have money to spend on a 1st baseman because we're focusing on the bullpen and an innings eater.

 

With the report out that Hendry is "less inclined" to trade Fukudome, adding Davis at no cost might make it more likely we keep Kosuke – and that's a very good thing.

 

Keeping Fukudome is nice, acquiring a crappy hitting 1B is horrible.

[davell]

Since it's not looking like Dunn is an option and it's not looking like A-Gon gets dealt until after he proves himself to be healthy, a one year stop gap is what we should be expecting. And even hoping for, if it means we'll have the flexability to go after A-Gon and/or Fielder when they come available at the deadline or over the next offseason.

 

I'm definitely not enthused with Davis, but he's extremely cheap obviously, can play multiple positions and wouldn't hinder us making a move for a big name later on down the line.

 

Worst case scenario for me is Pena, Laroche, Overbay, Huff, or Johnson signed to anything more than a one year deal. So, in the end, I guess I don't care who we have here at the beginning of 2011, as long as whoever it is doesn't prevent us from going after a bigtime 1B later on.

[dew1679666265]

His BB/K ratio has always been horrid. Has anyone ever consistently succeeded in the majors with those types of peripherals?

 

Ryan Howard maybe off the top of my head. Mark Reynolds perhaps as well. I can't find BB/K numbers on either of them, but their raw walk and K numbers in the minors were bad.

 

He may not develop, but he's too young to completely give up on and if he doesn't develop, then we gave up a backup catcher for him.

[Old Style]

chris davis really sucks

agreed