Who do we trade and what do we expect in return?

[CubsWin]

The Yankees will likely be without ARod for the rest of the season when this suspension comes down. They're 3B situation is terrible. David Adams, Kevin Youklis and Chris Nelson have hit .223 with 13 doubles, 4 HRs with 18 walks against 74 strikeouts. Jayson Nix could slide over to the hot corner once Jeter returns, but his line in 28 games as a thirdbaseman is .267/.330/.291. Clearly, the Yankees are in the market for a 3B.

 

The Cubs can offer 27-year-old Luis Valbuena (or 37-year-old Cody Ransom who played for the Yankees in 2008 & 2009). The Yankees have been much more money-conscious lately and would love Valbuena's or Ransom's low price tag, and in Valbuena's case, years of team control. There are better thirdbasemen on the market, but recent reports say the Yankees consider the price too high, especially for Aramis Ramirez, in both money and prospects.

 

Due to his age, recent performance and years of control, Valbuena could bring back a lower level, high ceiling arm. (Clearly, if the Yankees are interested, Ransom could be had for very little which is ironic considering his name.) Should the Cubs deal Valbuena if the returning player is worth it, or is he too valuable to the Cubs with 3B being such a question mark in the coming years and his combination of team control and infield versatility?

 

Personally, I like the idea of a Valbuena/Lake platoon at 3B next season. The FA agent options at third are pretty bad this off-season. What do you think Valbuena could bring back in a trade from a team desperate for 3B help like the Yankees? Is J.R. Murphy too much/too little to ask for? Rafael De Paula? Mike Montgomery? Jose Campos? Delin Betances is throwing decently in AAA this season. He'll be 26 to start next season. Has he lost his luster to the Yanks?

[Guest]

Valbuena is worth a lot more than a low level, high ceiling arm. He's been playing at a 3 win pace since joining the Cubs, and he has 3 years of team control left.

[Elrhino]

Everytime I bring up the Soriano trade possibility with Ranger fans I get instant groans. They saw him play enough first hand to know you're getting 2 weeks of a hot streak combined with months of being a gigantic liability in your lineup. Might be worth a lottery ticket flier if you're giving up almost nothing to see if he gets hot at the right time, but not someone you want to depend on for the next 3 months to solve your bat problems.

[KingCubsFan]

Didn't see this posted anywhere. Bowden proposed this trade:

 

The Chicago Cubs trade pitchers Matt Garza and Kevin Gregg to the Detroit Tigers for outfielder Avisail Garcia and pitchers Rick Porcello and Jake Thompson.

 

Garza is back, both in health and trade value. He has been wowing scouts over his past four starts. His fastball velocity has returned, his slider and curveball have the same break, and his command and control have been spot-on. Although pitching is certainly not a pressing need in Detroit, the depth might just give the Tigers their best shot at a title. With a rotation of Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Doug Fister, Anibal Sanchez and Garza, the Tigers would have the best rotation in the league by far.

 

Garza is owed just $4.8 million for the rest of this year and is an impending free agent, so there is no long-term exposure. Gregg has been impressive closing for the Cubs, saving 15 of 17 games with a 1.78 ERA and 1.02 WHIP, and would be an upgrade for the Tigers, whose biggest weakness is relief pitching. Above all else, the Tigers don’t have to give up top prospect Nick Castellanos.

 

For the Cubs, they get a long-term solution in right field in Garcia, who will develop into at least a .280 hitter capable of 20 homers annually. Porcello, 24, is a solid back-of-the-rotation starter who can win in double digits every year and is under control for two more years. Thompson is a solid starting pitching prospect who throws in the low 90s with heavy sink. After all that, the Cubs could try to re-sign Garza as a free agent.

 

I don't have a problem getting Porcello and Thompson back, but Garcia seems pretty useless. I wonder if Garza+Gregg+Russell could get us Castellanos.

[Tracer Bullet]

Was Castellanos moved solely bc he was blocked or bc he couldn't handle 3rd?

[KingCubsFan]

Was Castellanos moved solely bc he was blocked or bc he couldn't handle 3rd?

Blocked, as I recall.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Didn't see this posted anywhere. Bowden proposed this trade:

 

The Chicago Cubs trade pitchers Matt Garza and Kevin Gregg to the Detroit Tigers for outfielder Avisail Garcia and pitchers Rick Porcello and Jake Thompson.

 

Garza is back, both in health and trade value. He has been wowing scouts over his past four starts. His fastball velocity has returned, his slider and curveball have the same break, and his command and control have been spot-on. Although pitching is certainly not a pressing need in Detroit, the depth might just give the Tigers their best shot at a title. With a rotation of Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Doug Fister, Anibal Sanchez and Garza, the Tigers would have the best rotation in the league by far.

 

Garza is owed just $4.8 million for the rest of this year and is an impending free agent, so there is no long-term exposure. Gregg has been impressive closing for the Cubs, saving 15 of 17 games with a 1.78 ERA and 1.02 WHIP, and would be an upgrade for the Tigers, whose biggest weakness is relief pitching. Above all else, the Tigers don’t have to give up top prospect Nick Castellanos.

 

For the Cubs, they get a long-term solution in right field in Garcia, who will develop into at least a .280 hitter capable of 20 homers annually. Porcello, 24, is a solid back-of-the-rotation starter who can win in double digits every year and is under control for two more years. Thompson is a solid starting pitching prospect who throws in the low 90s with heavy sink. After all that, the Cubs could try to re-sign Garza as a free agent.

 

I don't have a problem getting Porcello and Thompson back, but Garcia seems pretty useless. I wonder if Garza+Gregg+Russell could get us Castellanos.

 

I'd take 2 of those guys as the 2nd and 3rd pieces. I'd have happily taken Garcia for Feldman. Not Garza. As for Porcello and Thompson, he said it all: solid back end starter and solid pitching prospect. Both great things to have around, but not at the expense of our top trade chip. I'd just assume take the draft pick and rack up a few more Maholms, Feldmans, and Bakers.

[sneakypower]

a solid back-end starter who's 7th in all of MLB in xFIP

[illiniguy]

a solid back-end starter who's 7th in all of MLB in xFIP

That's gonna be a hell of a staff SCS is putting together.

[THISisTHEyear09]

Salazar was impressive for Indians today. Hit 99 multiple times. Change up is nasty. No hitter thru 5

[Layoutman]

I'm a huge fan of Castellanos. He would provide average defense at 3B and his BAT would be noticed in Chicago at the same time he would provide long term lineup flexibility. Playing 3B until the cub prospects push him to the outfield. Could also allow Valbuena to move to 2B as needed. Heck I would add Barney to the Bowden deal remove Garcia and Thompson just to add Castallanos.

[Little Slide Rooter]

a solid back-end starter who's 7th in all of MLB in xFIP

That's gonna be a hell of a staff SCS is putting together.

 

I'm thinking ?-Smardz-Jackson-Wood-Villanueva/Vizcaino/Cabrera/Arrieta/Hendricks/Baker/scrap heap gem. Ideally, something along the lines of Garza or Price fill the ?.

[The-Kris-Bryant]

Didn't see this posted anywhere. Bowden proposed this trade:

 

The Chicago Cubs trade pitchers Matt Garza and Kevin Gregg to the Detroit Tigers for outfielder Avisail Garcia and pitchers Rick Porcello and Jake Thompson.

 

Garza is back, both in health and trade value. He has been wowing scouts over his past four starts. His fastball velocity has returned, his slider and curveball have the same break, and his command and control have been spot-on. Although pitching is certainly not a pressing need in Detroit, the depth might just give the Tigers their best shot at a title. With a rotation of Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Doug Fister, Anibal Sanchez and Garza, the Tigers would have the best rotation in the league by far.

 

Garza is owed just $4.8 million for the rest of this year and is an impending free agent, so there is no long-term exposure. Gregg has been impressive closing for the Cubs, saving 15 of 17 games with a 1.78 ERA and 1.02 WHIP, and would be an upgrade for the Tigers, whose biggest weakness is relief pitching. Above all else, the Tigers don’t have to give up top prospect Nick Castellanos.

 

For the Cubs, they get a long-term solution in right field in Garcia, who will develop into at least a .280 hitter capable of 20 homers annually. Porcello, 24, is a solid back-of-the-rotation starter who can win in double digits every year and is under control for two more years. Thompson is a solid starting pitching prospect who throws in the low 90s with heavy sink. After all that, the Cubs could try to re-sign Garza as a free agent.

 

I don't have a problem getting Porcello and Thompson back, but Garcia seems pretty useless. I wonder if Garza+Gregg+Russell could get us Castellanos.

 

 

I'm with this. Honestly, Porcello looks like a guy whose about to turn the corner and become an elite SP, which is what his talent level equals. In some ways he already has turned the corner (isn't his xfip like 3.25ish 2012-2013). There is a pretty damn good chance he's straight up better than Garza period in the immediate future.

 

 

That being said, I have no interest in Garcia. No matter what the age to level ratio is, I have little interest in a corner OF/RF who has a career ops in the minors of .730 or whatever Garcia's is right now. I'd like something else plz

 

 

 

Again, regardless, ignoring money, prospect hype, etc. there's a lot of reason to take Porcello for Garza straight up, so adding Thompson or Garcia (or anyone else) is fine. I personally don't think we'll get a better SP prospect than Porcello. Skaggs simply unavailable. And Bauer <<< Porcello

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I'd do Garza for Porcello straight-up in a heartbeat. Not sure Detroit would.

[The-Kris-Bryant]

I'd do Garza for Porcello straight-up in a heartbeat. Not sure Detroit would.

 

 

 

Agreed and I'd throw in Russell and Gregg

[Guest]

Will somebody please think of SSR?

[davell]

The money it'd likely require to extend Porcello and the fact we're banking on peripherals to translate into results doesn't make me excited about using our best trade chip on him. Give me prospects for Garza and I'll revisit Porcello over the offseason.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Garza for Porcello straight up? Are you [expletive] kidding me?

 

I'd rather do Garza/Vogelbach for Castellanos.

 

Throw in another guy outside the top 15 if they want him.

[Guest]

Garza for Porcello straight up? Are you [expletive] kidding me?

No.

I'd rather do Garza/Vogelbach for Castellanos.

 

Throw in another guy outside the top 15 if they want him.

 

I definitely wouldn't.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

What am I missing that you guys like about Rick Porcello so much?

[Guest]

he's 24, good, and finally striking people out

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=2717&position=P

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Small sample for the increased K rate. Look, I like Porcello, but I still wouldn't trade him for Garza straight up. I think Theo and Jed can do better.

[Guest]

ABTY when asked for his opinion on where Garza will end up:

Rangers...have the prospects, have a history of pulling the trigger on big in-season deals and are still looking to win the 'whole damn thing'... The fact that these two teams already were within a single phone call to the league office last year of completing a Garza deal also speaks volumes, IMHO...

 

Still like the Royals, Indians and Nationals to make major runs at Garza before he's dealt...

 

and in response to someone mentioning the Indians:

Cubs are asking for both Bauer and Salazar plus... Indians will not trade both...

 

 

And Marlin Bystro posted this regarding where Garza ends up. Nothing of much substance.

Smart money is on Texas, Arizona with Cleveland and Pittsburgh on the fringe.

Edited July 12, 2013 by David

[Cubswin11]

That Indians package would be sexy. I wonder if they are asking for that for just Garza or if it's including a combination of Gregg, Russell, Villanueva, Vogelbach, etc.

[Guest]

i really really want skaggs