2013 Minor Moves and Transactions Thread

[Guest]

But this wasn't a Rosario situation. They claimed him, added him, optioned him, DFAd him. In the end it will almost certainly make no difference, but is Parker that much better a bet than Burnett to expose him to waivers?

Is Burnett a good enough bet to worry about it? He's not really good enough to deserve a position on the 40 man, imo.

[Little Slide Rooter]

It's not abnormal to claim a guy off waivers and immediately DFA him in hopes that nobody claims him an he accepts his minor league assignment. If it works, free depth. If not, you've lost nothing.

 

I'm thinking that the only reason that he was put on the big league roster was the timing of the Fujikawa injury, and Burnett may have been in somewhat close proximity at the time.

[d_money]

This am, the Score threw out the idea of trading Russell at trade deadline - knowing teams could over pay for him w/ 2 controllable years remaining. I'd hate to see him go - but what do you think we could get?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I'd want something similar to what we got for Marshall. I'd really rather not trade him at all.

[davell]

I'd want something similar to what we got for Marshall. I'd really rather not trade him at all.

 

I've thought about this one a bunch. I listed him in my rundown of guys to be dealt and Marshall as a good barometer. That said, I think I'll change my tune a bit. I'd want MORE than that. Our bullpen is a joke to begin with. But he's been excellent obviously. And replacing him will be extremely hard to do. We need more, not less, solid to excellent relievers and relying on FA isn't going to be the answer unless our purse strings DO open up immediately. I want a top 100 guy, maybe another interesting piece as well for him. Otherwise, just keep him. He's got a ton of value to us.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Knowing that bullpens tend not stock more than 1-2 lefties at a time; and when there's 2, the 2nd tends to be a LOOGY, assuming they feel that Rosscup could fill his shoes I'd shop Russell without question. Also, relievers seem more likely to fall off a cliff out of nowhere after a few successful seasons than other players. Remember, shopping a player and trading a player just for the sake of trading him are two very different scenarios.

 

Whereas Marshall may have the better track record, we basically gave the Reds his final year under our control; Russell still has 2 full years after this. If we could get something similar to what we got for Marshall, or even a package spearheaded by a top 50-100 prospect, then you bet. I understand his value, but if nothing else, Team Theo has been very good at getting top value in trades and walking away when nobody's offering what they want.

[BeerHere]

I'd want something similar to what we got for Marshall. I'd really rather not trade him at all.

Absolutely and the return should warrant a top 100 guy given Russell's performance and cost. Anything less and he should remain a Cub.

[Guest]

I can't imagine what type of return I'd need to get to trade Russell. The Cubs starting next year will be looking to do more plugging of holes on their roster than casting a wide net to try and rummage as many decent players as they can. And the bullpen is the weakest spot on the team already, there's no motivation to trade Russell now unless you think he's in the midst of some 100+ IP fluke.

[Clem Fandango]

I just find it funny that sometime last offseason Hoyer said something to the effect of "Putting together the bullpen is arguably the easiest part of building a MLB team" and since they've been here it's been a relative disaster that they can't seem to get right. I'd rather trade away expendable offensive assets like DeJesus and whatnot for relief help rather than trade away one of the few bright spots in the bullpen for more prospects. They've got expendable starters like Feldman and/or Garza to trade away for prospects if that's what they want to do. IMO, they shouldn't dismantle the best parts of the already shitty bullpen and make it worse in the name of the future when they've got other assets that can do that for them.

[biittner77]

I just find it funny that sometime last offseason Hoyer said something to the effect of "Putting together the bullpen is arguably the easiest part of building a MLB team" and since they've been here it's been a relative disaster that they can't seem to get right. I'd rather trade away expendable offensive assets like DeJesus and whatnot for relief help rather than trade away one of the few bright spots in the bullpen for more prospects. They've got expendable starters like Feldman and/or Garza to trade away for prospects if that's what they want to do. IMO, they shouldn't dismantle the best parts of the already [expletive] bullpen and make it worse in the name of the future when they've got other assets that can do that for them.

 

Year to year, relief pitchers are never the same. They have an annoying habit of suddenly not being able to get anyone out. If the season is already going poorly, what difference will Having or not having Russell make?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The Nationals DFA'd Zach Duke today. I would be interested in him filling the "Please, dear god, someone get Sveum a replacement-level lefty so that he quits using Russell like that" role. He has a reverse split in SSS this year, but for his career he has a bit of a normal platoon split.

[mul21]

I just find it funny that sometime last offseason Hoyer said something to the effect of "Putting together the bullpen is arguably the easiest part of building a MLB team" and since they've been here it's been a relative disaster that they can't seem to get right. I'd rather trade away expendable offensive assets like DeJesus and whatnot for relief help rather than trade away one of the few bright spots in the bullpen for more prospects. They've got expendable starters like Feldman and/or Garza to trade away for prospects if that's what they want to do. IMO, they shouldn't dismantle the best parts of the already [expletive] bullpen and make it worse in the name of the future when they've got other assets that can do that for them.

 

Year to year, relief pitchers are never the same. They have an annoying habit of suddenly not being able to get anyone out. If the season is already going poorly, what difference will Having or not having Russell make?

 

It might make a difference the next 2 years when we still have him if he's not traded.

[KingCubsFan]

I just find it funny that sometime last offseason Hoyer said something to the effect of "Putting together the bullpen is arguably the easiest part of building a MLB team" and since they've been here it's been a relative disaster that they can't seem to get right. I'd rather trade away expendable offensive assets like DeJesus and whatnot for relief help rather than trade away one of the few bright spots in the bullpen for more prospects. They've got expendable starters like Feldman and/or Garza to trade away for prospects if that's what they want to do. IMO, they shouldn't dismantle the best parts of the already [expletive] bullpen and make it worse in the name of the future when they've got other assets that can do that for them.

 

Year to year, relief pitchers are never the same. They have an annoying habit of suddenly not being able to get anyone out. If the season is already going poorly, what difference will Having or not having Russell make?

Except that Russell has been good for several years now. There are definitely relievers who are pretty consistent from year to year. The Cubs need to add a few of those guys going forward, not get rid of them. And then they can fill the rest of the bullpen with flyers if they choose.

[Cubswin11]

Henry Rodriguez was DFA'd from the Nats. Looks like he's pretty wild but he has good stuff, his average FB velo is like 97mph this year. Wouldn't be a bad pick up to throw in the middle relief mix. He's also only 26.

[gscool89]

RT @CarrieMuskat: #Cubs acquire RHP Henry Rodriguez from Nats for Kane Co RHP Ian Dickson

[Cubswin11]

A move worth making, imo. Might was well keep throwing arms at the bullpen problem and hop something sticks.

[Guest]

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today acquired right-handed pitcher Henry Rodriguez from the Washington Nationals for minor league right-handed pitcher Ian Dickson.

 

To make room for Rodriguez on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Eduardo Sanchez has been designated for assignment.

 

Rodriguez, 26, went 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA (8 ER/18.0 IP) in 17 relief appearances with the Nationals this season. The righthander limited opponents to a .203 batting average against (14-for-69), including a .194 mark by right-handers and a .211 mark by lefthanders. Rodriguez was designated for assignment on June 4.

 

The native of Venezuela has pitched all or part of five major league seasons with the Oakland Athletics (2009-10) and the Nationals (2011-13), going 5-7 with 11 saves and a 4.23 ERA (68 ER/144.2 IP) in 143 relief appearances. He has struck out 149 batters in 144.2 innings pitched. In his first season with the Nationals in 2011, Rodriguez went 3-3 with two saves and a 3.56 ERA (26 ER/65.2 IP) in 59 relief appearances, setting career bests in wins, ERA and outings. He set a career high with nine saves with the Nationals last season.

 

Dickson, 22, is 2-2 with a 6.88 ERA (27 ER/35.1 IP) in 11 appearances (three starts) with Single-A Kane County this season. He was originally selected by the Cubs in the 35th round of the 2011 Draft.

 

Sanchez, 24, is 0-1 with a 9.82 ERA (8 ER/7.1 IP) in six relief appearances with Triple-A Iowa this season. He was claimed off waivers by the Cubs from the Cardinals on May 21.

btw - I'm not sure I agree with waiving Sanchez to make room.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

He throws really hard and is really awful at pitching.

 

Might as well start the transition to tank mode.

[davell]

He throws really hard and is really awful at pitching.

 

Might as well start the transition to tank mode.

Eh, just more bullpen roulette. Even with a selloff, I honestly think the team will stabilize somewhat into a slightly below average team in the 2nd half, unless major injuries occur. Trading Feldman and Garza won't hurt that much. Villanueva and a return piece from one of those deals likely won't change outcomes much. Trading DeJesus and Soriano may hurt a bit more, but its possible to get a plug and play piece out of one of those deals as well. Plus, I expect Edwin, Rizzo, Castro, and Castillo to play better in the 2nd half. I'll set the final over/under at 68 wins. Bad? Yeah. But we'll have enough in place to make things very interesting for the offseason.

[ConstableRabbit]

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/HENRY-RODRIGUEZ-CHICAGO-CUBS-SIGNED-8X10-PHOTO-/00/$(KGrHqV,!hkE1gNOLU+4BNkhe1B-BQ~~_35.JPG

[Little Slide Rooter]

He throws really hard and is really awful at pitching.

 

Might as well start the transition to tank mode.

 

Start?

 

When some folks get nervous, the smoke or drink. Theo acquires middle relievers. But at least Cubs fans can finally dig those crates of OhHenry! bars out of storage.

[jersey cubs fan]

Bruce Miles ‏@BruceMiles2112 9m

Brooks Raley up from Iowa to take spot of Putnam (elbow). #Cubs

[Little Slide Rooter]

Bruce Miles ‏@BruceMiles2112 9m

Brooks Raley up from Iowa to take spot of Putnam (elbow). #Cubs

 

Didn't they just trade for a guy?

[Cubswin11]

Oh great, the Raley/Rusin revolving door appears to be upon us

[Little Slide Rooter]

Could just be a place filler while they wait for Rodriguez to get to town or go through a physical.