If the Cubs were sellers right now

[dew1679666265]

@Buster_ESPN

Buster Olney

 

Could see Reed Johnson becoming one of most coveted trade pieces: .407 OBP, .978 OPS vs. LHP, owed only $300K for rest of year.BOS/PHI/ATL?

 

I can see the Cubs getting one nice arm for Johnson like they got for Todd Walker a few years back.

Was that Jose Ceda, who in turn got us Kevin Gregg?

 

Yep. I'd be thrilled if we got a Jose Ceda-type prospect for Reed.

[Little Slide Rooter]

So what to do about Marlon Byrd? Since 2007, he's hitting .295/.350/.452/.802. He stands to make 6.5 mil in 2012. Sounds like a very good value to me. While I dont change my stance I had earlier in the year that no team with Marlon Byrd hitting 3rd will win a World Series or even a division, a team with Marlon Byrd hitting 5th or 6th very well could. On one hand, he could be a very good trade chip if we don't mind Jackson in center and Colvin/Reed Johnson/cheap free agent in right. We could get a team to pick up all of his remaining salary a lot easier than any of Sorianos. On the other hand, he could be a valuable piece next year if the make the necessary moves to compete next year. Thoughts?

[Tryptamine]

So what to do about Marlon Byrd? Since 2007, he's hitting .295/.350/.452/.802. He stands to make 6.5 mil in 2012. Sounds like a very good value to me. While I dont change my stance I had earlier in the year that no team with Marlon Byrd hitting 3rd will win a World Series or even a division, a team with Marlon Byrd hitting 5th or 6th very well could. On one hand, he could be a very good trade chip if we don't mind Jackson in center and Colvin/Reed Johnson/cheap free agent in right. We could get a team to pick up all of his remaining salary a lot easier than any of Sorianos. On the other hand, he could be a valuable piece next year if the make the necessary moves to compete next year. Thoughts?

 

Well at the moment he'd be a type A, so the return would have to be pretty significant. I wish we were shopping him to the Braves this year to try and pick up Mike Minor.

[dew1679666265]

So what to do about Marlon Byrd? Since 2007, he's hitting .295/.350/.452/.802. He stands to make 6.5 mil in 2012. Sounds like a very good value to me. While I dont change my stance I had earlier in the year that no team with Marlon Byrd hitting 3rd will win a World Series or even a division, a team with Marlon Byrd hitting 5th or 6th very well could. On one hand, he could be a very good trade chip if we don't mind Jackson in center and Colvin/Reed Johnson/cheap free agent in right. We could get a team to pick up all of his remaining salary a lot easier than any of Sorianos. On the other hand, he could be a valuable piece next year if the make the necessary moves to compete next year. Thoughts?

 

If we got a great return, I'd be up for trading him. I'd want to bring Kosuke back if we do that, though, to avoid the Colvin/Reed mess in right.

[UMFan83]

@Buster_ESPN

Buster Olney

 

Could see Reed Johnson becoming one of most coveted trade pieces: .407 OBP, .978 OPS vs. LHP, owed only $300K for rest of year.BOS/PHI/ATL?

 

I can see the Cubs getting one nice arm for Johnson like they got for Todd Walker a few years back.

Was that Jose Ceda, who in turn got us Kevin Gregg?

 

Yep. I'd be thrilled if we got a Jose Ceda-type prospect for Reed.

 

Me too but, correct me if I'm wrong, Ceda wasn't really a high regarded prospect when we got him, it was something either our scouts got right on, or we got lucky with.

[UMFan83]

Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune Review says the Pirates made a pitch for Pena, but were rebuffed.

 

Obviously, whatever makes the team better long term is ok with me, but I would hate to sell off our players to the Pirates of all teams after years of AAA jokes at their expense.

[Guest]

Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune Review says the Pirates made a pitch for Pena, but were rebuffed.

 

Obviously, whatever makes the team better long term is ok with me, but I would hate to sell off our players to the Pirates of all teams after years of AAA jokes at their expense.

If they want to give us a couple of good players in return for Pena, I'm all for it.

[Post Count Padder]

SI.com's Jon Heyman reports that Cubs first baseman Carlos Pena "will almost surely be moved."

The Diamondbacks have been craving consistent production at first base all season and could put together an offer. Pena, 33, has hit .221/.334/.445 with 20 home runs and 51 RBI through 97 games this year. He inked a one-year, $10 million free agent contract with Chicago over the winter.

[dew1679666265]

Me too but, correct me if I'm wrong, Ceda wasn't really a high regarded prospect when we got him, it was something either our scouts got right on, or we got lucky with.

 

I think he was a very raw low A pitcher at the time we got him - too raw to be all that highly regarded. If we can get a guy with that kind of ceiling for Reed, though, I'd be happy - since I pretty much expect a PTBNL type deal for him.

[apete6]

Everyone's still waiting on the breakout of Jose Ceda. He was a good prospect, but until he puts it together, getting an average year out of Kevin Gregg for him may not be the worst trade ever.

[dew1679666265]

Everyone's still waiting on the breakout of Jose Ceda. He was a good prospect, but until he puts it together, getting an average year out of Kevin Gregg for him may not be the worst trade ever.

 

He's been pretty awesome for a couple of years in the minors, but it hasn't translated to ML success yet. Injuries were a bit problem for him after leaving the Cubs.

 

With the Gregg trade, I didn't really have a problem dealing Ceda for a closer, just didn't like targeting Gregg.

[Magnetic Curses]

SI.com's Jon Heyman reports that Cubs first baseman Carlos Pena "will almost surely be moved."

The Diamondbacks have been craving consistent production at first base all season and could put together an offer. Pena, 33, has hit .221/.334/.445 with 20 home runs and 51 RBI through 97 games this year. He inked a one-year, $10 million free agent contract with Chicago over the winter.

 

no way we get anything of value for him.

[dew1679666265]

SI.com's Jon Heyman reports that Cubs first baseman Carlos Pena "will almost surely be moved."

The Diamondbacks have been craving consistent production at first base all season and could put together an offer. Pena, 33, has hit .221/.334/.445 with 20 home runs and 51 RBI through 97 games this year. He inked a one-year, $10 million free agent contract with Chicago over the winter.

 

no way we get anything of value for him.

 

We should get a better value than we did for DLee last year.

[Little Slide Rooter]

SI.com's Jon Heyman reports that Cubs first baseman Carlos Pena "will almost surely be moved."

The Diamondbacks have been craving consistent production at first base all season and could put together an offer. Pena, 33, has hit .221/.334/.445 with 20 home runs and 51 RBI through 97 games this year. He inked a one-year, $10 million free agent contract with Chicago over the winter.

 

no way we get anything of value for him.

 

We should get a better value than we did for DLee last year.

 

It depends on the market. Granted, Carlos Pena is a better player now than Lee was then, but if Atlanta was in more need of a 1B than any of the team who are currently in the market are, then we might not get as good of a return for Pena.

[dew1679666265]

It depends on the market. Granted, Carlos Pena is a better player now than Lee was then, but if Atlanta was in more need of a 1B than any of the team who are currently in the market are, then we might not get as good of a return for Pena.

 

That's why I said should - he's better, more productive and there's need for first basemen. But how strong is that perceived need.

[Bruno7481]

I think this is shaping up to be a rather uneventful trade deadline for the Cubs. Probably see Fukudome dealt, but that might be about it. All the rest are either making too much money (Soriano), too little money to bother trading (Johnson), or don't want to be traded (Ramirez, Wood, Demp).

[dew1679666265]

I think this is shaping up to be a rather uneventful trade deadline for the Cubs. Probably see Fukudome dealt, but that might be about it. All the rest are either making too much money (Soriano), too little money to bother trading (Johnson), or don't want to be traded (Ramirez, Wood, Demp).

 

I think Reed and Pena have good to very good chances of being traded. Somebody might give a PTBNL and cash or Grabow too, perhaps.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I think this is shaping up to be a rather uneventful trade deadline for the Cubs. Probably see Fukudome dealt, but that might be about it. All the rest are either making too much money (Soriano), too little money to bother trading (Johnson), or don't want to be traded (Ramirez, Wood, Demp).

 

I think Reed and Pena have good to very good chances of being traded. Somebody might give a PTBNL and cash or Grabow too, perhaps.

 

Trade or not, theres really no reason to have Grabow on this team. Russells been far superior, and we also have Gaub, Maine, and Beliveau waiting in the wings. LOOGYs are always moveable, though you arent likely to get much for them, and Grabow has done a decent job vs. lefties this year, holding them to a .238/.314/.365 where righties have looked like all stars with a .297/.386/.559.

[dew1679666265]

Trade or not, theres really no reason to have Grabow on this team. Russells been far superior, and we also have Gaub, Maine, and Beliveau waiting in the wings. LOOGYs are always moveable, though you arent likely to get much for them, and Grabow has done a decent job vs. lefties this year, holding them to a .238/.314/.365 where righties have looked like all stars with a .297/.386/.559.

 

No reason they need to cut him until after August either, though. There's always the potential for an injury on another team and somebody may see something in Grabow they like. Cutting him now wouldn't be a bad thing, but I don't know that it'd help much, considering keeping him might mean we get something of marginal use for him, even if it's just a team picking up the remainder of his contract.

[Little Slide Rooter]

•Brewers GM Doug Melvin seeks a left-handed reliever, but told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that the market "isn't very strong." It's a similar story with the Brewers' other main needs, shortstop and third base.

 

There you go, just leave him in MIlwaukee when they head out.

[JimSorgi]

Everyone's still waiting on the breakout of Jose Ceda. He was a good prospect, but until he puts it together, getting an average year out of Kevin Gregg for him may not be the worst trade ever.

Except we didn't get an average year from Gregg. He was pretty awful.

[MSG T]

Everyone's still waiting on the breakout of Jose Ceda. He was a good prospect, but until he puts it together, getting an average year out of Kevin Gregg for him may not be the worst trade ever.

Except we didn't get an average year from Gregg. He was pretty awful.

 

Maybe he meant average for Gregg?

[Little Slide Rooter]

FWIW, and I know it isnt much, but Gordon Wittenmyer expects the Cubs to trade 3-5 guys, but most of it will happen closer to the final hour than the next few days.

[Derwood]

can we remove the "If" from this thread title?

[SouthSideRyan]

can we remove the "If" from this thread title?

 

That wouldn't make grammatical sense.