Re: What would you deal Garza for?

[Guest]

From Brett's blog

http://www.bleachernation.com/2011/12/08/lukewarm-stove-about-those-matt-garzatexas-rangers-trade-discussions/

 

The vogue rumor developing last night and into today has the Chicago Cubs in discussions with the Texas Rangers about Matt Garza. This, of course, is a rumor we’ve been discussing here for weeks.

 

And nothing has changed. They’re still talking.

 

The Cubs have been in contact with the Rangers about Garza – among other teams – for a while now. As various free agent decisions played out, those discussions necessarily ebb and flow, with each side more or less incentivized to make a move depending on what is happening. There was never a rush from either side’s perspective, and that hasn’t changed – although things have ebbed a bit more with CJ Wilson leaving the Rangers in favor of their division rival.

 

A source involved in the talks says that, while no offers are currently on the table, some of the prospects who interest the Cubs should be no surprise: they include third baseman Mike Olt, pitcher Neil Ramirez, and pitcher Martin Perez, three of the top five prospects in a very, very good Rangers system. All are young, but on the verge – within a year or two – of being ready for the big leagues.

 

Thoughts on those names? I'd be lucky to know stuff about our own minor leaguers.

[ctcf]

From Brett's blog

http://www.bleachernation.com/2011/12/08/lukewarm-stove-about-those-matt-garzatexas-rangers-trade-discussions/

 

The vogue rumor developing last night and into today has the Chicago Cubs in discussions with the Texas Rangers about Matt Garza. This, of course, is a rumor we’ve been discussing here for weeks.

 

And nothing has changed. They’re still talking.

 

The Cubs have been in contact with the Rangers about Garza – among other teams – for a while now. As various free agent decisions played out, those discussions necessarily ebb and flow, with each side more or less incentivized to make a move depending on what is happening. There was never a rush from either side’s perspective, and that hasn’t changed – although things have ebbed a bit more with CJ Wilson leaving the Rangers in favor of their division rival.

 

A source involved in the talks says that, while no offers are currently on the table, some of the prospects who interest the Cubs should be no surprise: they include third baseman Mike Olt, pitcher Neil Ramirez, and pitcher Martin Perez, three of the top five prospects in a very, very good Rangers system. All are young, but on the verge – within a year or two – of being ready for the big leagues.

 

Thoughts on those names? I'd be lucky to know stuff about our own minor leaguers.

 

Yes plz

[Hairyducked Idiot]

That's a very, very nice haul, but two of the three are a couple years away. That's not the "2-3 near-ready prospects" we've been sold on. That's a rebuilding move.

[ctcf]

That's a very, very nice haul, but two of the three are a couple years away. That's not the "2-3 near-ready prospects" we've been sold on. That's a rebuilding move.

 

Still, it's a hell of a rebuilding move.

[rawaction]

Yeah, those are some good prospects. They'd be easily top 10 in the Cubs system and probably all top 7 ish. A little too far away from the majors, but a ton of upside. 3B with good bat speed and patience. A small lefty that strikes out some guys. A lanky RHP that has a cannon.

[Guest]

That's a very, very nice haul, but two of the three are a couple years away. That's not the "2-3 near-ready prospects" we've been sold on. That's a rebuilding move.

 

Seems like Ramirez and Perez are pretty close...both spent some time in AAA this year. Most of the season for Ramirez.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

That's a very, very nice haul, but two of the three are a couple years away. That's not the "2-3 near-ready prospects" we've been sold on. That's a rebuilding move.

 

Seems like Ramirez and Perez are pretty close...both spent some time in AAA this year. Most of the season for Ramirez.

 

I'd be ready to slot Ramirez into the rotation immediately.

 

Perez looks like he's been pushed way too quickly. He's only 20, he's never really dominated any level except half a year of mid-A, and he got jacked around hard at AAA last year. I'd be tempted to send him back to AA more than I would be to put him on the MLB roster.

[davell]

I think that's a very nice haul. Perez and Olt are definitely top 100 guys, arbuably top 50. Ramirez is probably about on a par with McNutt, maybe slightly behind. Yes, this would signal rebuild though. Olt may be ready by 2013, Ramirez could be our 5th guy this year even, but Perez, no matter that he's reached AAA, needs a full year at AA and then some time at AAA as well. My only issue with this deal is if I'm dealing away Garza, I really want a true top of the rotation type as the centerpiece in return. Perez probably isn't that guy. Jacob Turner, Tyler Skaggs, Jarrod Parker are the 3 names I'm most interested in myself.

[Cubswin11]

My irrational hope is that if we are going to trade Garza we use him in some way to acquire Hanley (if the reports are true he is available) whether it be Garza packaged with guys to MIA to get him since they didn't get Wilson or using prospects we get for Garza to ship off to MIA for Hanley with some of our own prospects. On a side note, do you think we see Byrd packaged with Garza in a trade to Texas?

[davell]

Today on Talking Baseball, Levine mentioned the Cubs don't want to trade Garza, but talked to Texas and 3 other teams about him during the Meetings. He said if the Cubs were to trade him, it'd require 2 top minor leaguers from a team's system who are close to the majors, a major leaguer to fill a hole, and 2 other top minor leaguers. Levine's right, they don't want to trade him basically. But if that price gets met, I don't think anyone could turn it down. A guy on Fangraphs held a minor league chat and was asked what type of package Texas would need to give up and he replied with Ramirez, Ross, Villanueva, and Alfaro. Honestly, that's not a bad package, but I think I'd pass. Even though that's probably 3 guys that'd fit into our top 10 and another in the top 15. I think we can do better than Ramirez as a headliner. Replace Ross with Perez though and I'd be thinking hard on it, but would try to turn Villanueva and Alfaro into Olt.

[A New Era]

If we do end up keeping Garza and we are out of it at the trade deadline, he still would be a very attractive trade to many teams looking to add that strong peice as they go into the playoffs. He'd still have another year of service too.

 

I guess the way I feel depends on how theo and co are buidling this team over the next year, if they go more toward the side of rebuilding, they would obviously try to trade Garza again at the deadline, hoepfully to get even more for him from a team willing to spend prospects for that shot at a WS.

 

Boy it sure is nice knowing we have guys in charge that understand value, and are not affraid to trade that value when it is at it's prime, if it helps the team improve it's assets overall as a whole.

[davell]

I think Garza is an excellent pitcher. But, he IS coming off his best year in the bigs. At his age, teams could easily think he's entering his prime and it's a decent bet that he is. But, if not, and this was his career year, his value won't ever be higher. To me, it's almost a coin flip. I guess I would still need to see a package much better than what we gave up for him though, in the end.

[A New Era]

As would I, I dont want him traded unless it IS for a haul, that is the point. However but I feel Garza really is an outstanding pitcher and that he will actually be better this year. So saving him for the trade deadline if you cannot "hit the jackpot" right now, is ok with me. Obviously I have alot of faith in Garza. I think he will continue to be an Ace, and he's worth an Ace's bounty in prospects.

[Backtobanks]

If we do end up keeping Garza and we are out of it at the trade deadline, he still would be a very attractive trade to many teams looking to add that strong peice as they go into the playoffs. He'd still have another year of service too.

 

I guess the way I feel depends on how theo and co are buidling this team over the next year, if they go more toward the side of rebuilding, they would obviously try to trade Garza again at the deadline, hoepfully to get even more for him from a team willing to spend prospects for that shot at a WS.

 

Boy it sure is nice knowing we have guys in charge that understand value, and are not affraid to trade that value when it is at it's prime, if it helps the team improve it's assets overall as a whole.

 

They haven't traded anybody of value yet. Listening to offers is different than trading.

[A New Era]

If we do end up keeping Garza and we are out of it at the trade deadline, he still would be a very attractive trade to many teams looking to add that strong peice as they go into the playoffs. He'd still have another year of service too.

 

I guess the way I feel depends on how theo and co are buidling this team over the next year, if they go more toward the side of rebuilding, they would obviously try to trade Garza again at the deadline, hoepfully to get even more for him from a team willing to spend prospects for that shot at a WS.

 

Boy it sure is nice knowing we have guys in charge that understand value, and are not affraid to trade that value when it is at it's prime, if it helps the team improve it's assets overall as a whole.

 

They haven't traded anybody of value yet. Listening to offers is different than trading.

 

True, but I was just comparing in my mind the new front office compared to Jim Hendry. I know they haven't traded anybody of value yet. But I have confidence they are going to beable to build the Cubs much better than Hendry ever did. I'm not saying you trade value as soon as you get it. I'm just happy they realize that never parting with anybody, trading prospects while they still have value, not just doing a yearly overpaid veteran bandaide free agency splurge. These are the types of things I feel Theo and Hoyer will do much better than Jim Hendry.

 

They've already done much better in just their short time. They got 2 extra draft picks by offering arb to guys the knew probably wouldn't be back. I don't think I can remember Hendry ever offering anyone arbitration.

[C.C.]

If we do end up keeping Garza and we are out of it at the trade deadline, he still would be a very attractive trade to many teams looking to add that strong peice as they go into the playoffs. He'd still have another year of service too.

 

I guess the way I feel depends on how theo and co are buidling this team over the next year, if they go more toward the side of rebuilding, they would obviously try to trade Garza again at the deadline, hoepfully to get even more for him from a team willing to spend prospects for that shot at a WS.

 

Boy it sure is nice knowing we have guys in charge that understand value, and are not affraid to trade that value when it is at it's prime, if it helps the team improve it's assets overall as a whole.

 

They haven't traded anybody of value yet. Listening to offers is different than trading.

 

True, but I was just comparing in my mind the new front office compared to Jim Hendry. I know they haven't traded anybody of value yet. But I have confidence they are going to beable to build the Cubs much better than Hendry ever did. I'm not saying you trade value as soon as you get it. I'm just happy they realize that never parting with anybody, trading prospects while they still have value, not just doing a yearly overpaid veteran bandaide free agency splurge. These are the types of things I feel Theo and Hoyer will do much better than Jim Hendry.

 

They've already done much better in just their short time. They got 2 extra draft picks by offering arb to guys the knew probably wouldn't be back. I don't think I can remember Hendry ever offering anyone arbitration.

 

Good lord I hope you have the confidence they'll do better then Hendry.

[Backtobanks]

If we do end up keeping Garza and we are out of it at the trade deadline, he still would be a very attractive trade to many teams looking to add that strong peice as they go into the playoffs. He'd still have another year of service too.

 

I guess the way I feel depends on how theo and co are buidling this team over the next year, if they go more toward the side of rebuilding, they would obviously try to trade Garza again at the deadline, hoepfully to get even more for him from a team willing to spend prospects for that shot at a WS.

 

Boy it sure is nice knowing we have guys in charge that understand value, and are not affraid to trade that value when it is at it's prime, if it helps the team improve it's assets overall as a whole.

 

They haven't traded anybody of value yet. Listening to offers is different than trading.

 

True, but I was just comparing in my mind the new front office compared to Jim Hendry. I know they haven't traded anybody of value yet. But I have confidence they are going to beable to build the Cubs much better than Hendry ever did. I'm not saying you trade value as soon as you get it. I'm just happy they realize that never parting with anybody, trading prospects while they still have value, not just doing a yearly overpaid veteran bandaide free agency splurge. These are the types of things I feel Theo and Hoyer will do much better than Jim Hendry.

 

They've already done much better in just their short time. They got 2 extra draft picks by offering arb to guys the knew probably wouldn't be back. I don't think I can remember Hendry ever offering anyone arbitration.

 

I have more confidence in the new FO than Hendry, but I think we have to wait until they really do something before he heap on the praise. l get excited during the offseason too, but I want to see the results on the field starting with this year. As others have pointed out, the NL Central has taken quite a hit (assuming Fielder leaves) and there's no reason why we can't contend this year. Waiting for 2013 is great, but it gives the other teams time to rebound too.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Jim Bowden of ESPN.com and MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM reports that the Padres are interested in a package deal with the Cubs revolving around Matt Garza and Anthony Rizzo.

With the acquisition of Yonder Alonso, the Padres are likely now willing to part with Rizzo, who was part of the package they got from Boston last offseason in the Adrian Gonzalez deal. The Cubs would seemingly have interest not only because they need a long-term first baseman but because President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein was, of course, with the Red Sox when they drafted the 22-year-old. The Rays would also potentially be a fit for Rizzo.

Source: Jim Bowden on Twitter Dec 18 - 8:28 AM

 

Garza for Rizzo? No thank you. Garza for Rizzo and Headley? Keep talking.

[davell]

Why would the Padres have an interest in Garza? Money-wise, he makes no sense for them. But they do have one of the best systems in the game, so whatever.

[XZero771679666304]

If they could acquire Garza for surplus players like Rizzo/Blanks, they could give Matt three months to build value in Petco before sending him off to a desperate contender at the deadline for another haul of prospects.

[Little Slide Rooter]

If they could acquire Garza for surplus players like Rizzo/Blanks, they could give Matt three months to build value in Petco before sending him off to a desperate contender at the deadline for another haul of prospects.

 

That's pretty much how teams like the Padres, A's, and Pirates operate. They perennially suck so whenever they find themselves with a worthwhile player they jump at the opportunity to trade them for prospects and hope they can build for the future and repeat the process. That's OK for them but no way for a major market team to operate.

[Magnetic Curses]

rizzo doesn't seem to be a great player, his minor league number outside of the pcl are ok, his patience is average and his power is a bit above average but he doesn't seem to be that good.

[El Duderino]

Holy crap at Rizzo's numbers in the majors last year. I know, sample size, but jesus

[Magnetic Curses]

Holy crap at Rizzo's numbers in the majors last year. I know, sample size, but jesus

 

still not as bad as ian stewart's.

[El Duderino]

Holy crap at Rizzo's numbers in the majors last year. I know, sample size, but jesus

 

still not as bad as ian stewart's.

 

I wonder if there are any other sub .550 ops guys out there the cubs would be interested in.