Non-Tender Day

[Northside Blues]

James Loney sucks and is 2 days older than Prince.

I certainly do not prefer Loney to Fielder, I said if we don't or can't sign Fielder.

 

That being said it wouldnt surprise me if by year five or six of a possible Fielder contract that Loney would be more productive. Loney very well could be a Mark Grace type player for us. Almost identical, actually and thats with no more development. Hes not a difference maker or anything, but is pretty useful.

 

I'm going to have to call shenanigans on this nonsense. Loney is not Mark Grace. I'm no huge Grace fan, but he was much better than Loney.

 

well, the difference between graces career line and loneys career road line is 20 isod and nothing else. Of course you cant just throw out half a guys career and cherry pick splits. As someone else mentioned his splits seemed to have stabilized recently.

 

Its just that there is room for growth and optimism. If you have any better ideas, lets hear them. Loney isnt ideal, but serviceable.

[Tracer Bullet]

James Loney sucks and is 2 days older than Prince.

I certainly do not prefer Loney to Fielder, I said if we don't or can't sign Fielder.

 

That being said it wouldnt surprise me if by year five or six of a possible Fielder contract that Loney would be more productive. Loney very well could be a Mark Grace type player for us. Almost identical, actually and thats with no more development. Hes not a difference maker or anything, but is pretty useful.

 

I'm going to have to call shenanigans on this nonsense. Loney is not Mark Grace. I'm no huge Grace fan, but he was much better than Loney.

 

well, the difference between graces career line and loneys career road line is 20 isod and nothing else. Of course you cant just throw out half a guys career and cherry pick splits. As someone else mentioned his splits seemed to have stabilized recently.

 

Its just that there is room for growth and optimism. If you have any better ideas, lets hear them. Loney isnt ideal, but serviceable.

 

Why Loney over Barton? Heck, I'd rather have Pena back for another year than Loney.

 

He's 28. The chance that he suddenly blossoms into a productive major league player is not high.

[jersey cubs fan]

Its just that there is room for growth and optimism. If you have any better ideas, lets hear them. Loney isnt ideal, but serviceable.

 

I don't see much room for growth in a 28 year mediocre 1B like Loney.

[SouthSideRyan]

Loney is worse than Grace in just about every way possible. (On the field that is, I'm sure he's a less loathsome individual)

 

let's not go nuts

 

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/12/dodger-james-loney-not-acting-normal-in-maserati-crash.html

 

I heard he helped out the Special Olympics a lot.

[Northside Blues]

James Loney sucks and is 2 days older than Prince.

I certainly do not prefer Loney to Fielder, I said if we don't or can't sign Fielder.

 

That being said it wouldnt surprise me if by year five or six of a possible Fielder contract that Loney would be more productive. Loney very well could be a Mark Grace type player for us. Almost identical, actually and thats with no more development. Hes not a difference maker or anything, but is pretty useful.

 

I'm going to have to call shenanigans on this nonsense. Loney is not Mark Grace. I'm no huge Grace fan, but he was much better than Loney.

 

well, the difference between graces career line and loneys career road line is 20 isod and nothing else. Of course you cant just throw out half a guys career and cherry pick splits. As someone else mentioned his splits seemed to have stabilized recently.

 

Its just that there is room for growth and optimism. If you have any better ideas, lets hear them. Loney isnt ideal, but serviceable.

 

Why Loney over Barton? Heck, I'd rather have Pena back for another year than Loney.

 

I said Loney or Barton. Id prefer Barton.

 

Pena is about six years older than Loney. I think Theo and the Cubs should be looking at building a consistent contender not looking at a short fix in hopes of contending. The Cubs had no chance of contending last year and the money spent on Pena could have been used in developing the farm system internationally, for instance. Loney will cost a bit of money, but there is a chance he could be a part of the future in a few years and be useful. It isnt high....maybe there is only a 5% chance of hit happening but thats better than 0%. Also Loney and Pena actually were similar in value according to fangraphs as recently as 2011.

[jersey cubs fan]

Loney will cost a bit of money, but there is a chance he could be a part of the future in a few years and be useful.

 

I highly doubt that. A mediocre 30 year old 1B (which he'd be in a few years) is going to be a prime candidate to be replaced if the team is seriously building a contender.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Non of these arguements give any reason not to try to buy low on Loney if Fielder isn't an option. Besides, the Dodgers have already said that thu have no plans to NT Loney and plan on him as their 2012 1st baseman. With the Kemp extension meaning that if thy had any chance to afford Fielder to begin with they don't now, so it's hard to blame them for using the he might not be the best option, but at the price it's not worth giving Pena or Kotchman a multi year deal.

[Northside Blues]

I agree but having a solid guy at 1B could give them an opportunity to splurge elsewhere instead. If there's a chance to grab a high impact bat at 1B, by all means make the move.

[Guest]

Non of these arguements give any reason not to try to buy low on Loney if Fielder isn't an option.

 

Well you have to read them.

[hardcorecubfan]

Nobody is pointing out the obvious, Mike Fontenot!!! Duh! #-o

[Elwood]

Brett brings up a very good point today at BN about Morales: If he's going to be dealt, it could happen today, since they said they "expect to tender him a contract". Not that they will tender him one. I don't buy them playing Trumbo at 3B and Morales DHing personally.

 

This could be Theo's shot at finding another Ortiz, if he's healthy. Plus, if you have him for 3 mill or whatever his salary will be, it certainly leaves you all kinds of flexibility to sign Cespedes and Darvish as well, or other bigger type moves. I doubt he'd cost a bunch in trade either, so if he's healthy, this wouldn't be something I'm opposed to at all.

 

He was fantastic in 2009 and was on his way to another great year in 2010. I would love him as an alternative to 7 years of Fielder (if that's what it's going to take).

 

It certainly sounds like he's the odd man out according to this article.

http://www.foxsportswest.com/12/08/11/Angels-Trumbo-embraces-Pujols-move/landing.html?blockID=622560&feedID=8686

 

Any thoughts on what kind of trade package it would take to get him?

[Post Count Padder]

Remember when Ryan Spilborghs was linked in trades to half the league and the Rockies just wouldn't trade him? Wonder if there will be a bunch of teams interested.

 

Also, is Sonannstine not good anymore? I remember him being decent for a few years with the Rays.

[NonProfitCow]

If you guys get lucky Ryan Theriot could be available.

 

Only if we miss out on Skip Schumaker.

No way the Cards let him go. Slow, no bat OF who can be propped up around 2b don't just grow on trees. He'll get 2 years 5 mil.

[scarey]

Remember when Ryan Spilborghs was linked in trades to half the league and the Rockies just wouldn't trade him? Wonder if there will be a bunch of teams interested.

 

Also, is Sonannstine not good anymore? I remember him being decent for a few years with the Rays.

 

Spilborghs is a name that stood out to me. Could be a great Reed Johnson type that seems to thrive as a pinch hitter. I'm concerned about his defense though. Haven't seen him much personally, but fangraphs has him as largely average outside of his 2010 where he was absolutely brutal.

[JockJones]

I see Theo having interest in Spilborghs and Barton on offense. They have showed the ability to take a lot of walks in their careers.

 

On the pitching side, I'm a fan of Howell, Volstad, and maybe Bergesen also.

[Guest]

Kendrys isn't exactly a Theo type of hitter. Not a whole lot of patience there. It's not terrible and may improve under someone other than the Angels. But he doesn't seem an immediate fit to the profile.

[shnsajax]

I would have no problems signing Owings to a minor league contract as a 1st baseman.

[Little Slide Rooter]

With the current 1B, OF, and bench situation, Barton should be signed pretty much immediately if he's non-tendered.

 

The guy does take a ton of walks and when he actually does manage to put the bat on the ball it tends to go pretty far. Sounds like a very poor mans Carlos Pena. However, would he really be any better of an option than LaHair, acknowledging that TT is probably the last guy to ask that question to?

[Guest]

With the current 1B, OF, and bench situation, Barton should be signed pretty much immediately if he's non-tendered.

 

The guy does take a ton of walks and when he actually does manage to put the bat on the ball it tends to go pretty far. Sounds like a very poor mans Carlos Pena. However, would he really be any better of an option than LaHair, acknowledging that TT is probably the last guy to ask that question to?

 

He's 3 years younger, has been good enough to get 1765 MLB PA's(Lahair: 219), plays great defense, and has a strong prospect background. You don't get him and say "welp, first base is fixed", but right now we have nothing resembling an option for 1B in the system. Our bench sets up well for a lefty bashing 1B/LF type, and Barton can fill that role if they also add a superior 1B option like Fielder or Morales.

[treebird]

With the current 1B, OF, and bench situation, Barton should be signed pretty much immediately if he's non-tendered.

 

The guy does take a ton of walks and when he actually does manage to put the bat on the ball it tends to go pretty far. Sounds like a very poor mans Carlos Pena. However, would he really be any better of an option than LaHair, acknowledging that TT is probably the last guy to ask that question to?

 

lahair is trash, come on man

[treebird]

With the current 1B, OF, and bench situation, Barton should be signed pretty much immediately if he's non-tendered.

 

The guy does take a ton of walks and when he actually does manage to put the bat on the ball it tends to go pretty far. Sounds like a very poor mans Carlos Pena. However, would he really be any better of an option than LaHair, acknowledging that TT is probably the last guy to ask that question to?

 

He's 3 years younger, has been good enough to get 1765 MLB PA's(Lahair: 219), plays great defense, and has a strong prospect background. You don't get him and say "welp, first base is fixed", but right now we have nothing resembling an option for 1B in the system. Our bench sets up well for a lefty bashing 1B/LF type, and Barton can fill that role if they also add a superior 1B option like Fielder or Morales.

 

i like my analysis better, but the point about him being useful with or without a major first base addition is a good one. he's absolutely a guy you can just happily add to the roster and sort out his role later.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Micah Owings for 1B.

 

Last year he was 8-0 with a 3.57 ERA and 1.254 WHIP in 33 games, priamarily in relief but with 4 stars and the splits were pretty even as a starter and releiver so somebody is likely to take a chance on him as a pitcher.

[Little Slide Rooter]

With the current 1B, OF, and bench situation, Barton should be signed pretty much immediately if he's non-tendered.

 

The guy does take a ton of walks and when he actually does manage to put the bat on the ball it tends to go pretty far. Sounds like a very poor mans Carlos Pena. However, would he really be any better of an option than LaHair, acknowledging that TT is probably the last guy to ask that question to?

 

He's 3 years younger, has been good enough to get 1765 MLB PA's(Lahair: 219), plays great defense, and has a strong prospect background. You don't get him and say "welp, first base is fixed", but right now we have nothing resembling an option for 1B in the system. Our bench sets up well for a lefty bashing 1B/LF type, and Barton can fill that role if they also add a superior 1B option like Fielder or Morales.

 

I definitely trust your analysis, so if we can't get Fielder, he could be a nice buy low option and use the extra cash for 1 or preferably 2 of Darvish, Cespedes, or Solar. If the A's NT him I can't see him being that expensive. If not, I'm sure he'd be much cheaper via trade than someone like Loney, Morales, or Trumbo. However, with LaHair, Stewart, and DeWitt we already have our share of questionable lefty bats and Bartons never had much power in the majors or minors and that's something that we're sorely lacking.

 

The A's also have Kila LaHair and Chris Carter, so they could give one of them a shot at 1st if they've finally given up on Barton.

[Splendid Splinter]

So why isn't Daric Barton signed by the Cubs yet?

 

Away: .254/.367/.399 in 217 G (737 ABs)... hit 20 out of 26 career HRs away

 

Maybe moving from AL West to NL Central would help boost his SLG a little bit...

 

He's also a 2nd half player... .274/.385/.445 (1st half... .236/.345/.328)

Edited December 12, 2011 by Splendid Splinter

[Little Slide Rooter]

So why isn't Daric Barton signed by the Cubs yet?

 

Because he's still on the A's unless they decide they don't want to offer him a contract.