A-Gone traded to the Red Sox for prospects

[JoshiQ]

Hendry should be on the phone with the Royals, trying to pry away Butler before Moore gets fired or the Royals become so good that they won't trade him away.

 

Butler is going nowhere until Eric Hosmer is ready. Kila Ka'aihue, however, may be a possibility. He has some monster numbers at AAA, hasn't been given a real shot in the majors, but has been pretty unimpressive in his time up on the major league roster. He is also considered pretty good with the glove.

[NeifiIsMyHomeBoy]

At any rate, I'm sure it helped that the Pads front office was extremely well acqainted with the Red Sox system. But, I'm pissed anyway, as this once again does nothing to change the fact that our team is sitting comfortably on their hands and it's not clear whether it's because of Ricketts or not. But, the more this happens, the more clear it is to me that Ricketts doesn't care about the balclub as much as he does the damn ballfield.

I don't get why the new thing is to blame Ricketts every time something goes wrong. By all accounts, Hendry was in on this until the end, meaning they weren't just "sitting on their hands." It's not Ricketts' fault he inherited a bloated payroll full of mediocre players and an old, small stadium that was falling apart. Long-term, he's doing the right things by trying to improve Wrigley (and maximize revenue) while diverting resources to the farm system. Of course, he's totally responsible for not firing Hendry.

 

Leading up to Ricketts buying the team it was all "Hey, I'm one of you guys, I love the Cubs, I'm going to make us better!"

 

Now its just business as usual. There has been no change, he seems happy with the former regime who put us in this mess, and he refuses to open his wallet. While I agree that freeing payroll is one way to make us better in the future, the right move right now and back when he bought the team is to fire Hendry. The fact he still has a job infuriates me.

 

Oh yeah, he's also trying to bend over the taxpayers now. Not exactly the way to win over a fan base.

[PackLandVA]

Yahoo! confirming the deal: Link

 

Padres get starting pitcher Casey Kelly, first baseman Anthony Rizzo, center fielder Reymond Fuentes and another player to be named.

[UMFan83]

I hate that we are operating like a middle market ball club even though we all expected it a couple years back. It saddens me to read that we were gonna have trouble affording an extension for him if we got him. Are you kidding? Were the Chicago Cubs. Why can't we?

[jersey cubs fan]

The good thing is the cubs are loaded with impact bats in the minors. Hell that vitters guy might OPS 750 one day.

[rawaction]

It shouldn't take a whole lot more than a couple overhyped prospects to get Gonzalez anyway. The big value at one position is worth something, but to give up multiple top prospects in addition to paying him 20 million a year is a misuse of resources.

 

ARe you talking about the Cubs or Red Sox? I think it would be a misuse of the Cubs resources, but not in the Red Sox case. They pretty much had to make this happen.

[davell]

At any rate, I'm sure it helped that the Pads front office was extremely well acqainted with the Red Sox system. But, I'm pissed anyway, as this once again does nothing to change the fact that our team is sitting comfortably on their hands and it's not clear whether it's because of Ricketts or not. But, the more this happens, the more clear it is to me that Ricketts doesn't care about the balclub as much as he does the damn ballfield.

I don't get why the new thing is to blame Ricketts every time something goes wrong. By all accounts, Hendry was in on this until the end, meaning they weren't just "sitting on their hands." It's not Ricketts' fault he inherited a bloated payroll full of mediocre players and an old, small stadium that was falling apart. Long-term, he's doing the right things by trying to improve Wrigley (and maximize revenue) while diverting resources to the farm system. Of course, he's totally responsible for not firing Hendry.

 

Until he actually diverts money towards the farm system instead of just saying it, it's hard to even remotely think about that being an excuse. And he basically said the same things last year and it didn't happen then either. If it were actually happening, I'd be totally on board with it. The edit I made after I posted originally actually kind of lets the Cubs(and Ricketts) off the hook here, if it's correct that he wanted to go to Boston. Because I could certainly see SD accomodating him as much as possible anyway. Of course, if the reason he wanted to go there and not here is because he's concerned that we couldn't afford him, then I take it back. Because we are a major market team and therefore should act like it.

[davell]

I hate that we are operating like a middle market ball club even though we all expected it a couple years back. It saddens me to read that we were gonna have trouble affording an extension for him if we got him. Are you kidding? Were the Chicago Cubs. Why can't we?

 

 

I've thought this could be the case, but I've not actually read anything saying that yet either. Where have you read that?

[Guest]

It shouldn't take a whole lot more than a couple overhyped prospects to get Gonzalez anyway. The big value at one position is worth something, but to give up multiple top prospects in addition to paying him 20 million a year is a misuse of resources.

 

ARe you talking about the Cubs or Red Sox? I think it would be a misuse of the Cubs resources, but not in the Red Sox case. They pretty much had to make this happen.

 

I don't really think it matters which team, although I'm not super familiar with the prospects involve to say whether they tip the scales in either direction for the Sox.

[jersey cubs fan]

Oh and even though it shouldn't need to be reiterated:

 

It is really stupid to not sign a free agent because you think you might be able to sign a better one a year later. You don't assume you will ever have access to them.

 

 

 

 

And they should have drafted Teixeira.

[series65cubsfan]

In hind sight

[JoshiQ]

The good thing is the cubs are loaded with impact bats in the minors. Hell that vitters guy might OPS 750 one day.

 

This is what I don't get. We are stuck in a horrible position. Our major league team could possibly contend this year, but not the way they are built. And it's not like we are built for a breakout season in 2-3 years when all of our prospects are ready. So why save money unless we are planning more along the lines for 4-5 years from now?

[dew1679666265]

The good thing is the cubs are loaded with impact bats in the minors. Hell that vitters guy might OPS 750 one day.

 

This is what I don't get. We are stuck in a horrible position. Our major league team could possibly contend this year, but not the way they are built. And it's not like we are built for a breakout season in 2-3 years when all of our prospects are ready. So why save money unless we are planning more along the lines for 4-5 years from now?

 

I don't see why this team can't have a breakout season within 3 years from now. We'll still have Marshall, Marmol (possibly), Soto and Castro (should be peaking or about to), Wells and Cashner on the ML team. A large number of our top prospects should be coming up or established in the majors by then as well.

 

If we aren't a good to very good team by 2013 then more mistakes have been made personnel wise and/or a decent number of key prospects have flamed out.

[jersey cubs fan]

In hind sight

Not at all

[jersey cubs fan]

The good thing is the cubs are loaded with impact bats in the minors. Hell that vitters guy might OPS 750 one day.

 

This is what I don't get. We are stuck in a horrible position. Our major league team could possibly contend this year, but not the way they are built. And it's not like we are built for a breakout season in 2-3 years when all of our prospects are ready. So why save money unless we are planning more along the lines for 4-5 years from now?

 

I don't see why this team can't have a breakout season within 3 years from now. We'll still have Marshall, Marmol (possibly), Soto and Castro (should be peaking or about to), Wells and Cashner on the ML team. A large number of our top prospects should be coming up or established in the majors by then as well.

 

If we aren't a good to very good team by 2013 then more mistakes have been made personnel wise and/or a decent number of key prospects have flamed out.

A catcher and a shortstop. No first baseman in site. You don't win with that second rate offense unless you have elite pitching. And the Cubs aren't close to having elite pitching.

[JoshiQ]

The good thing is the cubs are loaded with impact bats in the minors. Hell that vitters guy might OPS 750 one day.

 

This is what I don't get. We are stuck in a horrible position. Our major league team could possibly contend this year, but not the way they are built. And it's not like we are built for a breakout season in 2-3 years when all of our prospects are ready. So why save money unless we are planning more along the lines for 4-5 years from now?

 

I don't see why this team can't have a breakout season within 3 years from now. We'll still have Marshall, Marmol (possibly), Soto and Castro (should be peaking or about to), Wells and Cashner on the ML team. A large number of our top prospects should be coming up or established in the majors by then as well.

 

If we aren't a good to very good team by 2013 then more mistakes have been made personnel wise and/or a decent number of key prospects have flamed out.

A catcher and a shortstop. No first baseman in site. You don't win with that second rate offense unless you have elite pitching. And the Cubs aren't close to having elite pitching.

 

Don't forget the two relievers! Two relievers to go along with our pretty good catcher and shortstop. A dynasty in the making.

[Guest]

The Cubs need superstar level production(5+ WAR type stuff). They have a good amount of "good" players and several of their top prospects appear decent bets to be good but not awesome players, but they need more at the top if they're going to be sustainably good. Gonzalez would've been that type of guy, but he's also got a heavy monetary and player cost. Given the financial limitations they have at this time, their best bet is probably to scout well and hit it big on an undervalued trade target.

[Little Slide Rooter]

So with A Gon to Boston, Youk likely moves to 3rd signifying the end of Adrian Beltres short Red Sox career. Any chance that he could play 1st, or try Aramis at 1st and sign Beltre for 3rd?

[Larry Horse]

So why save money unless we are planning more along the lines for 4-5 years from now?

 

Maybe because Ricketts doesn't have any money?

[Clem Fandango]

So with A Gon to Boston, Youk likely moves to 3rd signifying the end of Adrian Beltres short Red Sox career. Any chance that he could play 1st, or try Aramis at 1st and sign Beltre for 3rd?

 

I'd rather have Pena to help with Aramis' defense than have Aramis [expletive] up Beltre's

[dew1679666265]

Don't forget the two relievers! Two relievers to go along with our pretty good catcher and shortstop. A dynasty in the making.

 

Both Soto and Castro are two of the best young players at their position. Soto's .385 wOBA was the best in the majors among catchers with at least 200 PAs.

[dew1679666265]

A catcher and a shortstop. No first baseman in site. You don't win with that second rate offense unless you have elite pitching. And the Cubs aren't close to having elite pitching.

 

Elite pitching is possible if guys like Cashner, Archer and Jackson develop and Wells stays productive. Also, just because we don't have a first baseman at the moment doesn't mean we won't. There are options out there, it's just a matter of management finding them and acquiring them.

[JoshiQ]

Don't forget the two relievers! Two relievers to go along with our pretty good catcher and shortstop. A dynasty in the making.

 

Both Soto and Castro are two of the best young players at their position. Soto's .385 wOBA was the best in the majors among catchers with at least 200 PAs.

 

I agree entirely. I was more making fun that you thought we were also building around Marshall and Marmol.

[ctcf]

A catcher and a shortstop. No first baseman in site. You don't win with that second rate offense unless you have elite pitching. And the Cubs aren't close to having elite pitching.

 

Elite pitching is possible if guys like Cashner, Archer and Jackson develop and Wells stays productive. Also, just because we don't have a first baseman at the moment doesn't mean we won't. There are options out there, it's just a matter of management finding them and acquiring them.

 

1.) I have seen no signs that Cashner moves back to starting.

2.) Your forgot McNutt

[KingCubsFan]

Don't forget the two relievers! Two relievers to go along with our pretty good catcher and shortstop. A dynasty in the making.

 

Both Soto and Castro are two of the best young players at their position. Soto's .385 wOBA was the best in the majors among catchers with at least 200 PAs.

Soto will be 28 on opening day next year and is a catcher. He's not particularly young, and we're currently wasting his best years.