Good Article on Buyers and Sellers

[HoopsCubs]

Courtesy of the Arizona Republic:

 

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/0704BB-buysell0704.html

 

Buyers (14): Orioles, Red Sox, Yankees, Blue Jays, White Sox, Indians, Angels, Rangers, Cubs, Cardinals, Marlins, Nationals, Dodgers, Padres

 

Sellers (10): Devil Rays, Tigers, Royals, A's, Mariners, Brewers, Reds, Pirates, Astros, Rockies

 

In-between (6): Twins, Braves, Phillies, Mets, D-Backs, Giants

 

 

Hoops

[sethuel1]

I'm not so sure about the Astros being sellers. After their last month, they might have some delusions.

[USSoccer]

I'm not so sure about the Astros being sellers. After their last month, they might have some delusions.

 

Ditto Beane and the A's.

[CubsWin]

Yes, Hoops, that was an interesting article. It mentioned the standard the Cubs are looking at Kotsay and Wilson stuff and the standard "the Devil Rays and GM Chuck Lamar are difficult to deal with and must 'win' every deal they make." But there was nothing standard about this quote.

Like Tampa Bay, though, Pittsburgh is perceived by other teams as difficult to deal with. The Pirates have the same "must-win" attitude about trades that makes putting together good deals troublesome.

Really! You could've fooled me. Ramirez

[AI]

Yes, Hoops, that was an interesting article. It mentioned the standard the Cubs are looking at Kotsay and Wilson stuff and the standard "the Devil Rays and GM Chuck Lamar are difficult to deal with and must 'win' every deal they make." But there was nothing standard about this quote.

Like Tampa Bay, though, Pittsburgh is perceived by other teams as difficult to deal with. The Pirates have the same "must-win" attitude about trades that makes putting together good deals troublesome.

Really! You could've fooled me. Ramirez

 

Ramirez was an emergency, "we aren't going to make next week's payroll if we don't, trade. They wanted to deal Benson's six million away, but he went on the DL right before the trade so he couldn't be moved. Hendry was a total opportunist when it came to this deal. Littlefield shouldn't get too much flak as the order came from on high. Lets not forget that this is the same guy that got Jason Bay AND Oliver Perez for Brian Giles.

[YearofDaCubs]

We can forget about being buyers. If we don't do anything against the Braves and Marlins the season is over.

[Rooftop Bum]

We can forget about being buyers. If we don't do anything against the Braves and Marlins the season is over.

 

Yep.

[Guest]

We can forget about being buyers. If we don't do anything against the Braves and Marlins the season is over.

 

I was talking to my Dad last night about this. If we get swept by the Braves we're 7 out of Wild Card with a bunch of teams in front of us. At what point do we turn into sellers?

[YearofDaCubs]

We can forget about being buyers. If we don't do anything against the Braves and Marlins the season is over.

 

I was talking to my Dad last night about this. If we get swept by the Braves we're 7 out of Wild Card with a bunch of teams in front of us. At what point do we turn into sellers?

I would think we should know the answer after this road trip.

[Tim]

UK and I have talked about this on several occasions. I believe (and I think UK concurs) that the Cubs should always be ready to do both buying and selling. If there's an opportunity to upgrade the overall talent level on the team, it should be taken. Sometimes, that might mean trading prospects for an established big leaguer that another team is trading for salary or other reasons. Sometimes, it might mean trading a vet who is overrated at the moment for some reason (having a year way outside of career norms or overvalued by another specific team because of their needs).

 

If I were GM, I wouldn't overpay for talent unless I thought a particular player was the final piece to building a championship core. At this point, it is hard to believe we're in that position.