How about this...

[CubsWin]

Everybody is focusing on Dunn and Soriano, but the Reds seem set on getting back a ton for Dunn, and Soriano, while an upgrade, isn't a very good fit for what the Cubs are lacking and likely still wouldn't come cheaply.

 

So what if the Cubs shifted gears?

 

Matt Lawton has the OBP (.378 this year, .366 last year), left-handed bat, base-stealing ability (16 this year, 23 last year), experience and success in the lead-off role and at least decent power (10 HRs so far this year, 20 last year) the Cubs are looking for in an OFer. He could play right or center, though, I believe the better option in CF would be Burnitz with Hairston rotating in. The emergence of Murton covers LF with Gerut and Hollandsworth there in case Murton should slump. I still think Gerut is a good acquistion, but more for next year. His knee should be 100% by then, and he should have better power with the fully healthy knee. But he doesn't seem ready to give the Cubs the kind of production they need now for the stretch run. Lawton can. Given that Lawton would be somewhat of a salary dump for Pittsburgh, he should come fairly cheaply. Maybe Adam Greenburg, who is able to come off the DL at any time, and some other prospect like Kelton, Theriot, Lewis, McGehee, Craig, etc. If its pitching they want, the Cubs have plenty to offer, but from what I've been hearing they aren't looking for pitching right now.

The other player I would target would be A.J. Burnett. With the injury to Kerry Wood and his apparent move to the bullpen, acquiring Burnett would give the Cubs a stud 1-2-3 top to their rotation once again. Given the choice between having Burnett or Jerome Williams carry you to and through the playoffs, whom would you choose? The Marlins are in the middle of the wildcard race as well, but they know they aren't going to resign him and interest from the White Sox and Red Sox has waned over the last week leaving the Marlins without a serious suitor for Burnett. So I believe Hendry can swoop in at the 11th hour and that A.J. can be had for less than a King's ransom. Would the Marlins be interested in a package including Williams and some other prospects? Williams gives them someone who will be under their control for a while, is 23 and is performing fairly well right now for their continued efforts to win the wildcard spot. Its that or go empty-handed when you lose him at the end of the year.

 

With Lawton and Burnett aboard, the addition of Nomar at SS and Wood and Williamson in the pen, the Cubs would be greatly improved for the final two months of the playoff race.

 

Lawton (Career OBP .370 and has thrived in the lead-off role.)

Garciaparra

Lee

Burnitz

Ramirez

Walker

Murton

Barrett

 

Prior, Zambrano, Burnett, Maddux, Hill

Dempster, Williamson, Wood, Ohman, Rusch, Novoa (or Van Buren after Remlinger gets DFA'd)

 

Blanco

Hairston

Macias

Perez

Gerut

Hollandsworth

 

Your thoughts, Cubs fans?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

According to Will Carroll, Lawton was targeted, but the Pirates asked for too much and the Cubs moved on to Gerut. I wouldn't mind him.

 

I think Burnett will be overvalued, I'm not a huge fan of his.

[Sabermetrician]

We have talked about Lawton on these forums. I think he would be the type of acquistion that would fly under the radar. The only thing that scares me about Lawton this year is his SB/CS ratio, why is that down from year's past? However, it wouldn't be too much of a concern on the Cubs, since we are not a base stealing team anyway.

 

His OBP is high and he has very good plate discipline. He's the kind of guy I would love to have at the top of the order. I'm not quite sure what is contract situation is, but I'm pretty sure he's a free agent after this season. Lawton would even be the type of guy I'd look into re-signing after this year if he does well enough (though I don't want to sign him after this season if it means young guys like Murton are taken out of the starting lineup), because he'd likely be pretty cheap for the production he'll provide.

 

Like I said before, Lawton would probably be an "under the radar" move at this years deadline, simply because there's a lot of anticipation of bigger deals coming from different teams. But he could really pay dividends to the Cubs at the top of their order for a playoff run.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Call this a gut feeling, but for some reason, I see Lawton back to Minnesota.

[CubsWin]

According to Will Carroll, Lawton was targeted, but the Pirates asked for too much and the Cubs moved on to Gerut. I wouldn't mind him.

My idea presupposes that the prices team's were asking for a week ago will come down as the deadline approaches. Lawton's would almost certainly have to. He isn't in the Pirates future. He has about 3 million left on his contract to be paid this year. He will bolt in the off-season. It makes too much sense for the Pirates to save the nearly 3 mill and get some prospects in return. I assume the Cubs are more than willing to pick up his salary, and they could desperately use his bat at the top of their order. He is this year's Kenny Lofton. Littlefield's bluff will be called and I hope Hendry is holding the right cards when it is.

 

I think Burnett will be overvalued, I'm not a huge fan of his.

Well, all the talk right now surrounding Burnett is that the White Sox, Orioles and Red Sox have moved on leaving the Marlins without a serious suitor, so I don't see how he could be overvalued in trade market terms at the moment. I can see him being overvalued on the free-agent market in the off-season. So I view this deal as more of a rent-a-player deal with the possibility of having the inside track on signing him if things work out. This from Jason Stark of ESPN...

 

The White Sox, after deciding that Burnett wasn't a good bet to sign a long-term deal with them, have shown no interest in sweetening their offer for him. The Red Sox, after determining that they may have more worries about replacing Trot Nixon than Matt Clement, have to figure out how to address needs in the outfield, bullpen and rotation without spending all their chips on Burnett.

 

It is also mentioned in the Stark article that the Marlins might have decided to not trade him, but given that he is almost sure to sign with somebody else in the off-season, I still believe that the Marlins would rather have something than nothing assuming that that "something" could adequately replace Burnett in the rotation and would be under their control contractually for some time. That describes Jerome Williams to a tee.

 

So then, the question remains, who will give the Cubs the best chance to win the wildcard this year, Burnett or Williams? And, if the Cubs don't sign Burnett long term, would it be worth it to give up on the 23-year-old Williams for a better shot at making the playoffs this year?

[burnt out cubbie fan]

I don't think that the Cubs are going to take a chance on Burnett unless they know that they are going to resign him to a new deal in the offseason. This team is built both to win now and in the future. I think that a 23 year old pitcher that still has a bunch of potential is really something that they want to trade for a rental.

[CubsWin]

I don't think that the Cubs are going to take a chance on Burnett unless they know that they are going to resign him to a new deal in the offseason. This team is built both to win now and in the future. I think that a 23 year old pitcher that still has a bunch of potential is really something that they want to trade for a rental.

Yeah, I know, I'm coming around to that feeling, too. What if the Cubs were able to get this rent-a-player for something other than Williams?

[burnt out cubbie fan]

I don't think that the Cubs are going to take a chance on Burnett unless they know that they are going to resign him to a new deal in the offseason. This team is built both to win now and in the future. I think that a 23 year old pitcher that still has a bunch of potential is really something that they want to trade for a rental.

Yeah, I know, I'm coming around to that feeling, too. What if the Cubs were able to get this rent-a-player for something other than Williams?

It depends on who that something is. Pie? I'm guessing no. Hill? I'm guessing no. :)

[rawaction]

Only thing I'd like to point out is that Lawton is not that good of an OF. He's not a CF'er. Hasn't played there since 2000 and wasn't good there when he was. He's also more of a LF than a RF, because of his arm.

 

Anyway, I would like to have Lawton. Wouldn't pay too much for him, but he would be a nice addition in LF.

[oldcubsfan]

What about Brian Giles? The Cards are after him.

[BigbadB]

What about Brian Giles? The Cards are after him.

 

The Padres are still in first, even though they now have a losing record. They traded Nevin, lost Ramon Hernandez (possibly the year) and their offense is only mediocre to begin with. The Cardinals would have to send back more offense than they are getting to get Giles.

[Mizzou]

Hasn't Lawton been a terrible second half player throughout his career?

 

Edit: After checking, no, he really hasn't. So go ahead and disregard this post.

Edited July 30, 2005 by Mizzou

[USSoccer]

Hasn't Lawton been a terrible second half player throughout his career?

 

Yes.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Hasn't Lawton been a terrible second half player throughout his career?

 

Yes, but he's been great in July of this year, so maybe he bucks the trend this year.

[Cubway]

I just posted this on another site.

 

The Jackson Sun has a ariticle entitled, "Two Jaxx Players May Be Trade Bait" saying that Hill and Pie might be traded to Texas for Soriano. Said ESPN broadcast this Fri afternoon. Would the Cubs really do this?

[Balsa]

I just posted this on another site.

 

The Jackson Sun has a ariticle entitled, "Two Jaxx Players May Be Trade Bait" saying that Hill and Pie might be traded to Texas for Soriano. Said ESPN broadcast this Fri afternoon. Would the Cubs really do this?

Uh....that's awful. :evil:

[BigbadB]

This is a Matt Lawton thread. Let's try and keep it that way. We don't need each of these threads to discuss Soriano, Dunn or Manny.

 

Thank you!

[burnt out cubbie fan]

Let me put it this way, Hendry said that he wouldn't use Hill as part of a trade for Dunn. There is very little doubt in my mind that he wouldn't use either of those player for a player with less ability.

 

Edit: Sorry BB