Bruce Levine on ESPN radio in Chicago, says the Cubs are

[oldcubsfan]

still talking to the Reds about Kearns or Dunn. He also says they are talking to SD about Dave Roberts and the Pirates about Lawton.

 

They are still talking to Texas also.

Cubs who might be involved in some of these deals COULD be Welly, Mitre, Pinto, Hairston, Walker

Edited July 31, 2005 by oldcubsfan

[ThePenguin11]

How would everyone feel about getting Jose Mesa? We might not need as much help in the pen with Wood and Williamson coming in, but I'd prefer to have Mesa come to the Cubs so that he could be our actual setup man. As much as I like Weurtz and Novoa - this is no time to take chances. Woody or Williamson could eventually take the setup job but you can never have too many bullpen arms. We could probably get him for a couple of our less desirable prospects and that would allow us to send Weurtz back down to get it back together.

[Halman]

Mesa has a no trade I thought.

[CubfaninCA]

I'll take Griffey and Dunn. Cincy just needs to pick up some of Griffey's money. :)

[ThePenguin11]

Mesa has a no trade I thought.

 

Apparently the Pirates are shopping him.

 

North Side notches

 

With the non-waiver trading deadline at 4 p.m. today, several teams remained in discussion with the Pirates about starter Mark Redman and outfielder Matt Lawton, but interest apparently has dwindled significantly in closer Jose Mesa. The Florida Marlins stayed at the forefront to acquire Redman, dangling Class AA pitcher Yorman Bazardo, according to a source in Miami. The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs were the primary parties involved with Lawton.

 

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05212/546566.stm

 

It's feasible that general manager Dave Littlefield could use the remaining time to pull off a trade involving Lawton, pitcher Mark Redman or closer Jose Mesa. It's just as likely that any deals involving those three veterans won't happen until August when the waiver process enters the equation.

 

The St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox are among the teams that have expressed an interest in adding Lawton for the final two months. The Florida Marlins have actively pursued Redman, and the New York Mets have scouted Mesa.

 

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/sports/pirateslive/s_358855.html

 

EDIT: I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a clause, but he has said in the past that he'll refuse to play for teams he doesn't want to be on. I'm not sure there are too many teams that would be less desirable to play for than the Bucs. They've got a nice park though.

[NCCubFan]

EDIT: I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a clause, but he has said in the past that he'll refuse to play for teams he doesn't want to be on.

That's my understanding too. I don't think he has a no-trade clause, but he has threatened to retire if he's traded to a team he doesn't want to play for.

[Iceblink]

Lawton's average season:

.269/.371/.422 - 17 HR, 78 RBI, 21 SB

 

Gerut's average season:

.265/.336/.437 - 17 HR, 71 RBI, 9 SB

 

Add some walks and a non-bum knee to Gerut (and 6 years of age), and you've got the same player. Add Hollandsworth, and we're cornering (no pun intended) the market on average lefty corner OF'ers.

 

The one thing Lawton adds to the lineup would be walks. If he only costs a AAAA player or two, then that's fine. Anything more, and we're spending too much to add redundant parts.

[wilk]

EDIT: I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a clause, but he has said in the past that he'll refuse to play for teams he doesn't want to be on.

That's my understanding too. I don't think he has a no-trade clause, but he has threatened to retire if he's traded to a team he doesn't want to play for.

 

''I didn't say I didn't want to go to the Cubs,'' said Mesa, whose ERA dropped to 1.50. ''San Francisco broke up the deal. I didn't want to go to San Francisco and play. I had no problem with the Cubs. I played for Dusty before in San Francisco in 1998. He gave me a good opportunity after Cleveland traded me to San Francisco, so I've got nothing against Dusty.''

[SpanishFortCub]

I'd trade anyone outside of Felix Pie (in the minors, I'm talking about) for Dunn. I'm not sure what I think about Soriano and I'm inclined to like Kearns. If Hendry can't change LF today with a significant improvement, this team has no chance at all of reaching the playoffs.

[TXCubsFan]

still talking to the Reds about Kearns or Dunn. He also says they are talking to SD about Dave Roberts and the Pirates about Lawton.

 

They are still talking to Texas also.

Cubs who might be involved in some of these deals COULD be Welly, Mitre, Pinto, Hairston, Walker

 

If they trade Walker without getting Soriano, do the Cubs rotate Nomar, Neifi, and Ronny at SS/2B? I could live with that if we get some help elsewhere.

[Omar]

still talking to the Reds about Kearns or Dunn. He also says they are talking to SD about Dave Roberts and the Pirates about Lawton.

 

They are still talking to Texas also.

Cubs who might be involved in some of these deals COULD be Welly, Mitre, Pinto, Hairston, Walker

 

If they trade Walker without getting Soriano, do the Cubs rotate Nomar, Neifi, and Ronny at SS/2B? I could live with that if we get some help elsewhere.

 

Cool! Now I could be able to say "Walker, Texas Ranger"

[Fro]

still talking to the Reds about Kearns or Dunn. He also says they are talking to SD about Dave Roberts and the Pirates about Lawton.

 

They are still talking to Texas also.

Cubs who might be involved in some of these deals COULD be Welly, Mitre, Pinto, Hairston, Walker

 

If they trade Walker without getting Soriano, do the Cubs rotate Nomar, Neifi, and Ronny at SS/2B? I could live with that if we get some help elsewhere.

 

In a dream scenario, we'd send one of Hairston/Walker to the Reds as far of the package for Adam Dunn and Ryan Freel (who leads off, plays OF/2B/3B, over .400 OBP, steals bases). Unfortunately the Reds aren't stupid enough to do that.