The Rest of the team Trade Thread

[Little Slide Rooter]

I'm cool with a deal of that magnitude, but I'm on the fence for Pomeranz being the guy personally. A lot of different MLB chances and never better than averageish, some injury concerns, doesn't have insane stuff, etc.

 

He's had a little more success since leaving Colorado (though he never really had worse numbers at home). He had some success in relief this year, before going back into the rotation in May.

 

Valbuena has pretty much gone back to his previous norms average wise in the last month and a half, but is really not walking as much as he had been either. Ultimately, he'll be a utility guy and I think a 25-yo starter at best or decent reliever at worst is probably slightly more valuable.

 

That being said, I'm pretty much with you. I'd probably do the deal, but I'd hope it would be on the table a little later. I know the ML team doesn't matter, but I really don't want the alternatives playing everyday at 3B (Olt, Watkins, Valaika?) if Valbuena is gone. And that goes for the start of 2015 until one of the young guys establishes himself at the ML level.

The A's need a 2B bad and very soon. If Pomeranz is on the table, I'd jump on it.

 

 

 

That said, Valbuena has value to the Cubs for his versatility and ability to be a decent stopgap until the kids are up AND have no problem coming off the bench when that time comes. His selectivity at the plate and the moderate pop in his bat profiles as a good pinch hitter. I like him but for the lottery ticket that is Pomeranz (5th pick overall, 25 years old, MOR ceiling, good reliever floor), I'd do it.

 

I am not sure that it's necessary for this team to have a stop gap at this point. Valbuena has played well, but we are heading for the worst record in baseball why does it matter if we are better at 3b right now. Put Olt there, put bonifacio there, heck play "automatic out" but if we get anything of value for anyone (not in the plans) on the roster go for it.

 

This type of thinking works for impending free agents, or guys who simply don't factor into future plans. Valbuena is 29 years old, under team control for 2 more years, and there are a lot of teams who would like to have a guy with both Valbuena's offensive pop (especially the left handed variety) and defensive versatility on their bench.

 

Personally, I find it absurd that we'd reject an offer of Drew Pomeranz for him, or that the A's would consider it. And while a lot of the NSBB regulars may not agree, I'm confident that most or all professional analysts would. But there's no reason to play hot potato with Valbuena if we don't get something of value for him, even if it is another TJS rehab gamble.

[Guest]

Valbuena's put up 4.5 fWAR in 1000 PAs as a Cub, is a terrific defensive 3B that can also play some 2B, is 28 years old, and under team control for 2 more years. While it might be easier to mentally drop him in the 'utility infielder - not important' box in your brain, his value is greater and his role in the Cubs future more complex than that over-simplification.

[ConstableRabbit]

Pirates fan co-worker just proposed Josh Bell, Alvarez, and Marte for Castro... AND RIZZO.

 

http://www.survivingcollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/teens-react-hahaha-really-no-gif.gif

[Rob]

Valbuena's put up 4.5 fWAR in 1000 PAs as a Cub, is a terrific defensive 3B that can also play some 2B, is 28 years old, and under team control for 2 more years. While it might be easier to mentally drop him in the 'utility infielder - not important' box in your brain, his value is greater and his role in the Cubs future more complex than that over-simplification.

 

Today I learned Valbuena has more PA as a Cub than Matt Murton, Ronny Cedeno, and Glenallen Hill.

[NOLA]

Valbuena's put up 4.5 fWAR in 1000 PAs as a Cub, is a terrific defensive 3B that can also play some 2B, is 28 years old, and under team control for 2 more years. While it might be easier to mentally drop him in the 'utility infielder - not important' box in your brain, his value is greater and his role in the Cubs future more complex than that over-simplification.

 

Today I learned Valbuena has more PA as a Cub than Matt Murton, Ronny Cedeno, and Glenallen Hill.

He's like the Ramon Hernandez of Jose Vizcaino of this era, utility guys who were good enough to hang on for several years.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Pirates fan co-worker just proposed Josh Bell, Alvarez, and Marte for Castro... AND RIZZO.

 

http://www.survivingcollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/teens-react-hahaha-really-no-gif.gif

 

It's by no means a ha-ha-no gif-worthy package, but I can only assume that your friend isn't aware of Castro and Rizzo's farcically team friendly contracts.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Valbuena's put up 4.5 fWAR in 1000 PAs as a Cub, is a terrific defensive 3B that can also play some 2B, is 28 years old, and under team control for 2 more years. While it might be easier to mentally drop him in the 'utility infielder - not important' box in your brain, his value is greater and his role in the Cubs future more complex than that over-simplification.

 

Today I learned Valbuena has more PA as a Cub than Matt Murton, Ronny Cedeno, and Glenallen Hill.

He's like the Ramon Hernandez of Jose Vizcaino of this era, utility guys who were good enough to hang on for several years.

 

And would you give up, say Pierce Johnson for Ramon Hernandez or Jose Vizcaino?

[NOLA]

Valbuena's put up 4.5 fWAR in 1000 PAs as a Cub, is a terrific defensive 3B that can also play some 2B, is 28 years old, and under team control for 2 more years. While it might be easier to mentally drop him in the 'utility infielder - not important' box in your brain, his value is greater and his role in the Cubs future more complex than that over-simplification.

 

Today I learned Valbuena has more PA as a Cub than Matt Murton, Ronny Cedeno, and Glenallen Hill.

He's like the Ramon Hernandez of Jose Vizcaino of this era, utility guys who were good enough to hang on for several years.

 

And would you give up, say Pierce Johnson for Ramon Hernandez or Jose Vizcaino?

No. But then I agree with several on here that the value of Valbuena to the Cubs by far exceeds the trade value for him.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Pirates fan co-worker just proposed Josh Bell, Alvarez, and Marte for Castro... AND RIZZO.

 

http://www.survivingcollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/teens-react-hahaha-really-no-gif.gif

counter-offer: castro for mccutchen and polanco

[Guest]

Ramon Martinez and Jose Vizcaino combined for 5.5 fWAR in over 8000 career plate appearances. Vizcaino's 1993 is the only time either of them were above replacement level as Cubs, where they combined for 0.8 fWAR in over 1700 PAs. This is what I'm talking about, just because it's easy to toss Valguena in some pre-conceived 'not a starter, not valuable' category does not make it true.

 

At this point Valbuena from a value perspective is basically Pablo Sandoval with a different skillset. 2.5 years of that is most certainly desirable, but while he doesn't have the upside to be an all-star caliber player, that doesn't mean it's somehow outrageous to require very real value to trade him away.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Valbuena's put up 4.5 fWAR in 1000 PAs as a Cub, is a terrific defensive 3B that can also play some 2B, is 28 years old, and under team control for 2 more years. While it might be easier to mentally drop him in the 'utility infielder - not important' box in your brain, his value is greater and his role in the Cubs future more complex than that over-simplification.

 

Today I learned Valbuena has more PA as a Cub than Matt Murton, Ronny Cedeno, and Glenallen Hill.

He's like the Ramon Hernandez of Jose Vizcaino of this era, utility guys who were good enough to hang on for several years.

 

And would you give up, say Pierce Johnson for Ramon Hernandez or Jose Vizcaino?

No. But then I agree with several on here that the value of Valbuena to the Cubs by far exceeds the trade value for him.

 

Very true, in terms of a realistic return. But Pomeranz isn't a realistic return for him.

[Guest]

Pirates fan co-worker just proposed Josh Bell, Alvarez, and Marte for Castro... AND RIZZO.

 

http://www.survivingcollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/teens-react-hahaha-really-no-gif.gif

counter-offer: castro for mccutchen and polanco

 

Castro for a current version of that girl.

[Little Slide Rooter]

@ESPNChiCubs: Hoyer said Cubs are getting calls on players and prob will till deadline and after as well. Waiver deals allowed after July 31

 

Nothing quite like passing off generalizations as news.

[Rob]

Pirates fan co-worker just proposed Josh Bell, Alvarez, and Marte for Castro... AND RIZZO.

 

http://www.survivingcollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/teens-react-hahaha-really-no-gif.gif

counter-offer: castro for mccutchen and polanco

 

Castro for a current version of that girl.

 

There's nudes, if you're interested.

[MWV]

Pirates fan co-worker just proposed Josh Bell, Alvarez, and Marte for Castro... AND RIZZO.

 

http://www.survivingcollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/teens-react-hahaha-really-no-gif.gif

 

It's by no means a ha-ha-no gif-worthy package, but I can only assume that your friend isn't aware of Castro and Rizzo's farcically team friendly contracts.

 

It kind of is, though, isn't it?

[Guest]

Pirates fan co-worker just proposed Josh Bell, Alvarez, and Marte for Castro... AND RIZZO.

 

http://www.survivingcollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/teens-react-hahaha-really-no-gif.gif

counter-offer: castro for mccutchen and polanco

 

Castro for a current version of that girl.

 

There's nudes, if you're interested.

 

I am OK with this. :hello: :-$

[Neuby]

Barney

Bonifacio

Russell

Wright

Villanueva

Valbuena

Fujikawa

Coghlan/Schierholtz/Ruggiano/Sweeney/Lake

Valbuena

Jackson

IR Slot money

 

Quite a mix of spare parts. Theo should be able to turn this mix into some salary relief or some interesting young arms to gamble on.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Valbuena, Coghlan, Ruggiano, Wright, Russell, and Lake could all be cost effective role players going forward. No point in dealing them for junk or even slot $.

 

For Jackson, we're on the hook for 2 more years at $11MM a pop. If somebody wants to pick up a sizable chunk of that, or at least give us another Vizcaino type, sure. If not, no point taking that kind of bath at least until next year. It's not like we have anyone chomping at the bit for his spot.

[RynoRules]

Agreed that - at least at this point - Coghlan, Ruggiano, and Valbuena won't net in a trade what they are worth to us on the field.

[Tryptamine]

I wouldn't mind sending Valbuena to the Orioles for Chance Sisco.

[PackLandVA]

The numbers may say different, but Russell seems really bad. No point having a loogy that can't get lefties out when it matters.

[Clem Fandango]

The numbers may say different, but Russell seems really bad. No point having a loogy that can't get lefties out when it matters.

 

That's why he's probably #1 on the list of players to move, so the FO can't try and sell high on his basic stats in hopes of getting something of value for him before he turns into a pumpkin

[Vinestal]

Pirates fan co-worker just proposed Josh Bell, Alvarez, and Marte for Castro... AND RIZZO.

 

http://www.survivingcollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/teens-react-hahaha-really-no-gif.gif

counter-offer: castro for mccutchen and polanco

 

Castro for a current version of that girl.

 

There's nudes, if you're interested.

 

 

Wait wtf where are my nudes?

[CubInOK]

Pirates fan co-worker just proposed Josh Bell, Alvarez, and Marte for Castro... AND RIZZO.

 

http://www.survivingcollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/teens-react-hahaha-really-no-gif.gif

counter-offer: castro for mccutchen and polanco

 

Castro for a current version of that girl.

 

There's nudes, if you're interested.

 

 

Wait wtf where are my nudes?

http://www.survivingcollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/teens-react-hahaha-really-no-gif.gif

[davell]

All I see getting dealt by the end of this month is one of Russell or Wright and Bonifacio. Hopefully to the same team. I doubt Barney gets dealt and no one else seems likely either.

 

If Ruggiano or Valbuena gets moved, I figure it'll be for enough that we like it at least.