Kotsay signs 2-year extension with Oakland

[E.J.]

Not that we're going to be buyers anyway, but it looks like Kotsay won't be coming our way. He signed a 2-year, $15 mill extesion.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2104318

[chicubs]

Just beat me to it.

 

 

Oh well, hopefully Murton will be able to produce similar numbers...maybe better down the road.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Well, that settles one possible option.

 

As it stands, I think Hairston if his defense holds up will be fine in CF.

 

If Murton and Holly can be a productive platoon, then we need to look to SS for an upgrade.

 

That being said, I still don't think we'll claw back into the race.

[Rusch33]

Yikes, that could mean we're one step closer to getting Preston.

[YearofDaCubs]

Yikes, that could mean we're one step closer to getting Preston.

Very doubtful we get Preston IMO.

[Blueheart05]

Yikes, that could mean we're one step closer to getting Preston.

 

Preston will reportedly become a National

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=fanball-rockieswilsontradeto&prov=fanball&type=lgns

[sethuel1]

Yikes, that could mean we're one step closer to getting Preston.

 

Preston will reportedly become a National

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=fanball-rockieswilsontradeto&prov=fanball&type=lgns

That deal fell apart

[Blueheart05]

That deal fell apart

 

Really? I didn't hear about that. I just found this article in today's Denver Post. Apparently, the deal could still go through but the Rockies (understandably) want to get as much as they can without settling with the Nats right away.

 

 

http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_2848110

[TXCubsFan]

That deal fell apart

 

Really? I didn't hear about that. I just found this article in today's Denver Post. Apparently, the deal could still go through but the Rockies (understandably) want to get as much as they can without settling with the Nats right away.

 

 

http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_2848110

 

I doubt we'll get Preston, unless it's with the understanding that he's keeping Pie's spot warm. The Cubs will be in a rebuilding mode through next spring.

[Blueheart05]

I doubt we'll get Preston, unless it's with the understanding that he's keeping Pie's spot warm. The Cubs will be in a rebuilding mode through next spring.

 

I really have very little desire for the Cubs to get Preston Wilson. Additionally, I doubt that the Cubs are going into a rebuilding phase. However, they clearly need to focus on acquiring contact hitters with an impasis on OBP instead of strike outs. That's not to say the Chicago Cubs will wholly adapt Beane's philosophies but they clearly need more guys that can hit in the clutch and take walks.

[JC]

Good. He wasn't appreciable better to justify the bath we would have taken.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

According to Sun Times, Kotsay would likely have been a Cub if he hadn't signed the extension on Saturday.

 

The A's were planning to deal Kotsay if they hadn't come to an agreement, and major-league sources indicate that A's general manager Billy Beane thought Cubs GM Jim Hendry had the best package in place to get Kotsay. The framework for a deal was sketched out before Kotsay and the A's committed to each other.

 

It appears that as of now, the Cubs don't have a plan B.

 

The Cubs don't appear to have a good secondary plan with Kotsay off the market. The Washington Nationals are expected to trade for Colorado Rockies outfielder Preston Wilson. While the Cubs inquired into Wilson, they never were close to agreeing to a deal. They considered Kotsay a much better alternative, in part because he would have been around for more than a couple of months.

[USSoccer]

Vance,

 

That article brings up a very good point: Kotsay was the best outfielder that was definetly on the market. Now, if Hendry wants to make a move, I'm not sure which direction he goes in.

[Roast]

In case it hasnt been posted, This deal included a No Trade Clause for this year and next, and a "limited" no trade clause for 07 and 08.

 

Jul 10 Kotsay's new contract contains a no-trade clause through the 2006 season, plus a limited no-trade clause for 2007 and 2008 according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

In case it hasnt been posted, This deal included a No Trade Clause for this year and next, and a "limited" no trade clause for 07 and 08.

 

Jul 10 Kotsay's new contract contains a no-trade clause through the 2006 season, plus a limited no-trade clause for 2007 and 2008 according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

 

That's what Kotsay wanted all along and what some believed had been holding up the deal previously. Beane hates giving no-trade clauses, but the deal is affordable which is likely why Beane compromised.

 

And, to the other point: Unless we can pull off a blockbuster for a bat like Dunn, I'm not sure if there is a player out there and available that makes us significantly better. While I don't think we should be sellers, we might not really need to be buyers either.

[Wendy City]

In three weeks we'll have our SS upgrade.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

Too bad we aren't looking in house for that fix.