Are we going to make a deal?

[Backtobanks]

With the early reports on Williamson sounding good and rather positive news on Nomar, are we going to make a deal or hope for the best with these 2 guys returning? The only problem with depending on these 2 guys is that the results won't show until well after the trade deadline. I would still like to see the Cubs get a young OF (Kearns or Huff) that will help this year and in the future. Of course, the asking price will be cheaper during the off season.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

If we go after someone, he will be a younger OF or arm for the pen. Hendry is a notoriously late dealer, but this year's trade action seems very weak. I'm not holding my breath.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm getting the feeling that if any deal is made, it won't be a big one. It looks like we better hope a healthy Nomar and Williamson will be the difference makers.

[rickrolled]

I think we will, and it'll be Kearns. From what I've read lately, Hendry is pretty high in Kearns and it sounds like he'd really love to deal for him. Dunn is a possibility, and I'd love to have him on the Cubs, but I don't think it's gonna happen.

[bannor10]

If Mike Lowell turns out not to be part of the AJ burnett deal I would suggest that the Cubs swoop in and grab him....We could always use more pitching

[Brian]

I think if a deal is made, it won't be like Nomar last year. Hendry will not make a deal for an expiring contract, he'll probably pick up a guy with a Dunn-like contract... young with a couple years left but will about to be too expensive for his current team (I.E. picking up Aramis in 2003). I don't think he is terribly confident in this years team, which is why he says if he makes a deal it will help now and in the future.

[10man]

If Mike Lowell turns out not to be part of the AJ burnett deal I would suggest that the Cubs swoop in and grab him....We could always use more pitching

Hmmm, another hard throwing injury prone pitcher. As if one of Kerry Wood wasn't enough.

[SpanishFortCub]

My guess is there won't be a major deal. I've read all the Reds' beat writers today and O'Brien is consistently adamant that he's not dealing Dunn, Kearns or Pena, that there isn't a taker on Casey and that Griffey is a 10-5 guy who he hasn't even approached yet. There's still time, sure, but I'd say a trade with the Reds is doubtful.

[Outshined_One]

My guess is there won't be a major deal. I've read all the Reds' beat writers today and O'Brien is consistently adamant that he's not dealing Dunn, Kearns or Pena, that there isn't a taker on Casey and that Griffey is a 10-5 guy who he hasn't even approached yet. There's still time, sure, but I'd say a trade with the Reds is doubtful.

 

Welcome aboard!

 

I think the "big" trade will probably be with a team that has not been extensively discussed. The Reds don't strike me as a team that wants to trade in-division and I think they might be well off if they unload Aurilia, LaRue, Milton, Ortiz, and Casey in terms of contracts. Add some depth to the farm system and have the cash to re-sign guys like Dunn and Kearns down the line. They should only sell off their top young guys if they get a big return on prospects.

[Balsa]

I had a dream last night we got Damon. So that's my guess.

 

But I can respect Hendry if he's not going to make a trade. Some people here seem to want a trade for a trade's sake, and I think that's crap. If it's not gonna hugely benefit us, then screw it.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

“John (Schuerholz) stresses that every decision we make is one that is made for three to five years in the future,” farm director Dayton Moore says. “We’ve stayed consistent with that approach. We’re always moving forward and aggressively trying to stay ahead of the curve by evaluating our organization for both today and in the future.”

 

I hope the Cubs follow this philosophy with any moves that they make around the deadline.

[Rooftop Bum]

I sure hope we get somebody good in the outfield. Specifically for leftfield. Please oh please oh please. For some reason I think Washington is going to drop in that Wild Card race. Hopefully the Cubs can get someone to help boost the offense past everyone in the wildcard. If they don't make a trade I just don't see the offense carrying the Cubs past these team to be quite honest.

 

It would be great to get some bullpen help. Specifically a setup guy but from where? I have no idea.

[rickrolled]

I sure hope we get somebody good in the outfield. Specifically for leftfield. Please oh please oh please. For some reason I think Washington is going to drop in that Wild Card race. Hopefully the Cubs can get someone to help boost the offense past everyone in the wildcard. If they don't make a trade I just don't see the offense carrying the Cubs past these team to be quite honest.

 

It would be great to get some bullpen help. Specifically a setup guy but from where? I have no idea.

 

I'll bet that TB ends up trading Danys Baez at some point, especially after they signed JoBo who will probably end up being their closer. I wouldn't mind having Baez as our set up man. He's had a pretty good year in Tampa.

[Fro]

We definitely need a LF because Hollandsworth is slumping bad and Dusty won't play Murton except against lefties.

[SCCubbieFAN]

If it does not end up being Kearns, then I agree with Outshined in that IF a significant trade is made, it will be with a team that has not been discussed extensively. It will come out of nowhere and will surprise us. I am going out on a limb and predict that it will be a trade with Seattle that involves Randy Winn or Arizona for Gonzalez.

[Cubzfan64]

I have a gut feeling that Hendry isn't particularily excited about any of the trade possibilities out there right now. If it's true that Nomar and Williamson will be back very shortly, I think it's likely that Hendry looks at that similarily as "trading" for a more offense oriented SS and a decent relief pitcher without giving anything up.

 

It remains to be seen what if anything either one of those guys can provide for us for the rest of the season but I believe Hendry is gambling that the additions of them will be significant enough that he doesn't have to make any big deals.

 

It also seems as though Hendry has had good things to say about Corey's play in AAA, so unless he gets traded for LF help, I'll bet we see Corey back up here soon as well.

 

Those are just my gut feelings this year.

[rickrolled]

I have a gut feeling that Hendry isn't particularily excited about any of the trade possibilities out there right now. If it's true that Nomar and Williamson will be back very shortly, I think it's likely that Hendry looks at that similarily as "trading" for a more offense oriented SS and a decent relief pitcher without giving anything up.

 

It remains to be seen what if anything either one of those guys can provide for us for the rest of the season but I believe Hendry is gambling that the additions of them will be significant enough that he doesn't have to make any big deals.

 

It also seems as though Hendry has had good things to say about Corey's play in AAA, so unless he gets traded for LF help, I'll bet we see Corey back up here soon as well.

 

Those are just my gut feelings this year.

 

I have a hard time believing Hendry is real satisfied with Corey's play in Iowa...he's hitting .200 in 40 at bats down there right now and from what I've heard, his approach hasn't improved much. I still think JH will trade C-Pat if he gets the right offer.

[Cubzfan64]

I have a gut feeling that Hendry isn't particularily excited about any of the trade possibilities out there right now. If it's true that Nomar and Williamson will be back very shortly, I think it's likely that Hendry looks at that similarily as "trading" for a more offense oriented SS and a decent relief pitcher without giving anything up.

 

It remains to be seen what if anything either one of those guys can provide for us for the rest of the season but I believe Hendry is gambling that the additions of them will be significant enough that he doesn't have to make any big deals.

 

It also seems as though Hendry has had good things to say about Corey's play in AAA, so unless he gets traded for LF help, I'll bet we see Corey back up here soon as well.

 

Those are just my gut feelings this year.

 

I have a hard time believing Hendry is real satisfied with Corey's play in Iowa...he's hitting .200 in 40 at bats down there right now and from what I've heard, his approach hasn't improved much. I still think JH will trade C-Pat if he gets the right offer.

 

I don't think Corey's value right now is any lower than it has ever or could ever be. I doubt we could get anything useful in a trade by including him - to me the only thing we can do with Corey is keep working with him and either:

 

a. He makes corrections and becomes at least a serviceable player

 

or

 

b. He makes corrections and gains enough value that we can then trade him

 

I just don't see Hendry doing anything to move him as an "add in" on a trade - then again, maybe some other team has scouted him and thinks they've spotted something and can coach him to stardom, but if so, they won't give up much of anything for him.

[gflore34]

I have a gut feeling that Hendry isn't particularily excited about any of the trade possibilities out there right now. If it's true that Nomar and Williamson will be back very shortly, I think it's likely that Hendry looks at that similarily as "trading" for a more offense oriented SS and a decent relief pitcher without giving anything up.

 

It remains to be seen what if anything either one of those guys can provide for us for the rest of the season but I believe Hendry is gambling that the additions of them will be significant enough that he doesn't have to make any big deals.

 

It also seems as though Hendry has had good things to say about Corey's play in AAA, so unless he gets traded for LF help, I'll bet we see Corey back up here soon as well.

 

Those are just my gut feelings this year.

 

I agree with your outlook.

 

Expecting anything out of Garciapparra is very foolish on Hendry' part, I don't believe he'll be even remotely effective. I've never had an injury such as Garciapparra' but, given how integral the groin is to all movement. How in the world is surgery and only 3 months of rehabilitation going to heal him to effectiveness? Garciapparra doing anything for 2005 Cubs - another Hendry pipedream.

[CubinNY]

Because everyone else in this thread appears to be clairvoyant I give it a try too.

 

I am gazing into my crystal baseball and this is what I see:

 

Hendry wants to see if this team is good enough to stay in the race as it is currently put together. Also with Wood going on the DL for who knows how long he has had to re-adjust his trading chips (i.e., pitching prospects). In additon, Hendry thinks getting back Nomar and Willamson will be like making two big trades.

 

Hendry will continue to assess the situation but he feels that the team doesn't need all that much, they just need to get consistent.

 

Finally, Hendry is becoming exacerbated with Dusty's refusal to use Cedeno and Murton. However, he is left with little choice but to let Dusty manage, b/c that is what he is paid to do.

 

Oh, and Hendry really likes the Strawberry crepes he is eating this morning, and the coffee has just the right amount of sugar and half and half.

 

The ball is becomming fuzzy now as I am loosing connections.

 

And it's gone. So that is it for now.

[katway]

I think Hendry isn't going to jump at anything unless its a long term solution. We are pretty much settled long-term for infield positions (First - Lee, Second - Walker [we hold an option for 2006], Third - Ramirez, Short - Cedono [Nomar is possible if he'll sign for a short salary] Catcher - Barrett). With respect to the outfield, it looks like Pie may be the long-term center fielder and Murton will be a corner outfielder. Burnitz is only a $7 million option for next year, so they may let him go if Corey looks like he can turn it around.

 

We have a huge need for a middle reliever followed by an outfield bat. At this point, I'm thinking Mitre (who is potentially a number 3 in a rotation as his career progresses) is the most logical to be traded perhaps for Baez (who is somewhat overated as a closer, but still good out of the pen).