Hammel/Samardzija Traded to A's for Russell/McKinney/Straily

[Clem Fandango]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/madden-theo-epstein-forgets-game-moneyball-article-1.1856368

 

Check out this hot take.

 

http://i.imgur.com/b4ACV1J.gif

[Guest]

I knew of Addison Russell prior to the trade and was under the impression he was a top notch defender and hitter. But after reading a lot of these reports on him it seems there were plenty of questions about where he would end up when he was drafted and still questions about his longterm defense at SS. Then, at the same time there seems to be no doubt that the consensus is he's now the team's best answer at the position. Which is it? Are those questions about his glove just nitpicky and/or no longer relevant?

It is more that there have been questions about whether all our shortstops would end up at shortstop.

 

I'm talking specifically about the reports on Russell that have nothing to do with the Cubs. They all seemed to have questions on his defense.

I believe a lot of those questions date from his time as a HS junior before he lost 20 lbs. There were many fewer doubts after he dropped that weight to improve his quickness. Raisin has probably followed him closest, though, so he'll be able to provide a more definitive answer.

 

Yeah - Russell was described as "soft" and pudgy" with Juan Uribe physical comps as a HS junior. He lost 20-25 lbs for his senior year, his range improved quite a bit and he's kept the weight off ever since. He doesn't have elite range at SS but it's still good and combined with his soft hands and good arm, he's probably the best SS defender amongst the quartet of Alcantara, Baez, Castro and Russell.

 

EDIT: Stupid auto-correct decided to make Uribe "Urine."

[imb]

He doesn't have elite range at SS but it's still good and combined with his soft hands and good arm, he's probably the best SS defender amongst the quartet of Alcantara, Baez, Castro and Russell.

 

I think you mean double-plus hands

[imb]

Also I don't see any way Baez can put on more weight. He looks like a tank.

[Clem Fandango]

He doesn't have elite range at SS but it's still good and combined with his soft hands and good arm, he's probably the best SS defender amongst the quartet of Alcantara, Baez, Castro and Russell.

 

I think you mean double-plus hands

 

I thought this would turn out better in my head

 

http://i.imgur.com/OqHmIuk.jpg

[jersey cubs fan]

X never marks the spot.

 

 

 

X marks the spot.

[Andy]

Rosenthal has a nugget on how trade talks with Toronto went and also can't spell Marcus Stroman's name.

Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal · 2m

As @ShiDavidi said, #Cubs keyed on five #BlueJays players in Samardzija/Hammel discussions: Hutchison, Strohman, Sanchez Norris, Pompey…

 

Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal · 2m

Hutchison, Strohman already in rotation. Rival scout says Norris/Sanchez could be 1-2s, and that #BlueJays would be “crazy” to move them...

 

Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal · 2m

The five #BlueJays were discussed in various combos, per sources. #Cubs wanted less for Hammel than Samardzija. Getting both not discussed.

[jersey cubs fan]

Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal · 2m

The five #BlueJays were discussed in various combos, per sources. #Cubs wanted less for Hammel than Samardzija. Getting both not discussed.

 

Gee, you think?

[rawaction]

And Samardzija shuts their asses down in his first start. I wonder if a tiny part of the A's trade was A) to give both pitchers away so the Jays would get neither or B) done in time to have Shark pitch against them to rub it in.

[jersey cubs fan]

And Samardzija shuts their asses down in his first start. I wonder if a tiny part of the A's trade was A) to give both pitchers away so the Jays would get neither or B) done in time to have Shark pitch against them to rub it in.

 

From the Cubs perspective, I highly doubt it. Sure the A's wanted to corner the market on available pitchers by taking 2 off the table as early as possible. That's why they were willing to offer up Russell. And Russell being available is probably why the Cubs jumped on the offer so early.

[Guest]

i still can't believe we just added another top 5ish overall talent to our farm system..

 

 

it's like uh WHAT?

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/madden-theo-epstein-forgets-game-moneyball-article-1.1856368

 

Check out this hot take.

 

http://i.imgur.com/b4ACV1J.gif

 

Do other people actually remember this movie well enough to recall that scene? Anyways, nice one.

 

"Despite Castro’s proven offensive ability, there are lingering questions about his makeup, his defense and his overall consistency, not to mention the $44 million he is owed over the next five years."

 

He's just trolling now, right? Then moving on to explain how this horrible trade for the Cubs (which woulda totes been better if with the Yanks) could turn into a great deal for the Mets, even though Russell is just kinda ok sorta. Unreal.

[jersey cubs fan]

"Despite Castro’s proven offensive ability, there are lingering questions about his makeup, his defense and his overall consistency, not to mention the $44 million he is owed over the next five years."

 

He's just trolling now, right? Then moving on to explain how this horrible trade for the Cubs (which woulda totes been better if with the Yanks) could turn into a great deal for the Mets, even though Russell is just kinda ok sorta. Unreal.

 

If you've ever heard a Mets broadcast of a cubs/mets game, you would know that isn't trolling as much as it is THE storyline in every game. There is a perception out there that makeup and defense remain huge questions and risks that could make his contract a problem.

[ctcf]

Yea I stopped being able to handle the Daily News article at the second sentence:

 

(1) Where were the Yankees, who seemingly could have put together a far better package for Samardzija alone, starting with a catcher, a commodity the Cubs really need?

[Tryptamine]

Orioles' fans reactions after Shark shut down a team from the almighty A.L. East:

 

http://thegboatdotnet.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/mind-blown1.gif?w=479

 

Those same Oriole fans telling me that either Gausman or Bundy was a better return than Russel. The same Oriole fans that assured me a package starting with Eduardo Rodriguez would get a Samardzija deal done.

[Warpticon]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/madden-theo-epstein-forgets-game-moneyball-article-1.1856368

 

Check out this hot take.

 

I mean, it should be impossible to be this wrong without it being on purpose.

[Omar]

http://i.imgur.com/Js62yL1.png

 

sigh

Well, I mean, technically speaking, it is. He said himself he doesn't want to do this again next year.

 

maybe he's sighing at the 27% that said no, lol.

 

I was sighing at both the biased question wording by ESPN and the fact that trading for prospects goes hand-in-hand with an effort to "Try to start winning"

b

[Felix Leiter]

How refreshing to have a FO that is following their plan and not getting sidetracked by signing Chad Fox again or some 30-something friend of Hendry to a longterm no trade contract.

[jersey cubs fan]

How refreshing to have a FO that is following their plan and not getting sidetracked by signing Chad Fox again or some 30-something friend of Hendry to a longterm no trade contract.

 

totally refreshing.

[SouthSideRyan]

We probably could've been competitive this year if not for those crippling Chad Fox contracts

[sneakypower]

lol, it's like you two have a text alert for this type of post

[Felix Leiter]

lol, it's like you two have a text alert for this type of post

 

Yeah, Neifi, Phil Nevin, Bobby Howry, etc... were their favorites during those WS Hendry years. They haven't gotten over it.

[Guest]

lol, it's like you two have a text alert for this type of post

 

N&G must have lost his phone.

[jersey cubs fan]

The apologist posse pounces

[Sammy Sofa]

COME ON, LIKE THAT'S NOT A TERRIBLE POST OF NONSENSE.