Texas breaks off talks with Mench

[Backtobanks]

Following that headline on a contract extension (3 years/$12 million), maybe the Cubs could make a trade in the off season for the pitching-hungry Rangers. Mench would look good playing next to Pie for the next 3-4 years. Not only would they look good, they would be reasonably cheap for those 3-4 years.

[Roast]

Following that headline on a contract extension (3 years/$12 million), maybe the Cubs could make a trade in the off season for the pitching-hungry Rangers. Mench would look good playing next to Pie for the next 3-4 years. Not only would they look good, they would be reasonably cheap for those 3-4 years.

 

Where did you hear this? not doubting you, just wondering.

 

Also, do you think he would clear waivers? Or is it pretty obviously an offseason move?

[johnnyba99]

Following that headline on a contract extension (3 years/$12 million), maybe the Cubs could make a trade in the off season for the pitching-hungry Rangers. Mench would look good playing next to Pie for the next 3-4 years. Not only would they look good, they would be reasonably cheap for those 3-4 years.

 

Where did you hear this? not doubting you, just wondering.

 

Also, do you think he would clear waivers? Or is it pretty obviously an offseason move?

 

I also, saw this news: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlbpa/players/6900/news

 

Not a chance Mench would make it through waivers. His salary this year is $345K. And I assume he wouldn't get some extreme increase in arbitration. 3 years for 12 million would be a steal in my opinion.

[SpanishFortCub]

He's the kind of guy Hendry is going to have to acquire.

[katway]

Mench and Burny have similar numbers. While I like Burny, I'd rather have a right fielder with a higher OBP. Mench and Burny have the same OBP. Edited August 5, 2005 by katway

[sporrer17]

I'd take him in a heartbeat...and that's an understatement...

 

If we can get a leadoff hitter from 2b or SS (doubtful) we could have an OF of Mench, Patterson, Murton.

 

He'd be a solid #5 hitter behind Ramirez...

[reggiemiller rules]

I still dont think there is anyway Texas lets him go, and if they do there will be a large number of teams going after him.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Mench isn't going anywhere.

[Backtobanks]

I still dont think there is anyway Texas lets him go, and if they do there will be a large number of teams going after him.

 

To answer the one question, yes he would have to be an off season deal and there would be a lot of teams after him, but Texas needs pitching and we have pitching. I agree that Texas wouldn't want to get rid of him, but they have a ton of young hitters with no pitching. If they ever want to compete, I would think that somebody has to be traded for pitching.

[reggiemiller rules]

I still dont think there is anyway Texas lets him go, and if they do there will be a large number of teams going after him.

 

To answer the one question, yes he would have to be an off season deal and there would be a lot of teams after him, but Texas needs pitching and we have pitching. I agree that Texas wouldn't want to get rid of him, but they have a ton of young hitters with no pitching. If they ever want to compete, I would think that somebody has to be traded for pitching.

 

I dont disagree with you that they need pitching but I think they would be much more likely to trade Dellucci or Adrian Gonzalez because he is major league ready but stuck behind Teixiera at first. They could get decent pitching for either of those 2 guys and keep Mench.

[Backtobanks]

I still dont think there is anyway Texas lets him go, and if they do there will be a large number of teams going after him.

 

To answer the one question, yes he would have to be an off season deal and there would be a lot of teams after him, but Texas needs pitching and we have pitching. I agree that Texas wouldn't want to get rid of him, but they have a ton of young hitters with no pitching. If they ever want to compete, I would think that somebody has to be traded for pitching.

 

I dont disagree with you that they need pitching but I think they would be much more likely to trade Dellucci or Adrian Gonzalez because he is major league ready but stuck behind Teixiera at first. They could get decent pitching for either of those 2 guys and keep Mench.

 

But would Adrian Gonzalez get you the pitching you need? As we have found out the hard way, a prospect is just that until they prove themselves in the majors. Mench has proven himself.

[Backtobanks]

"The Rangers could trade OF Kevin Mench this month, says the Newark Star-Ledger. Texas had been working on a three-year contract extension with Mench but pulled its latest offer off the table, increasing speculation that it might be about to deal him. " (CBSsportsline Rumor Mill)

 

Jim, here's your homework for this month. It might be too late for this year, but there's always 2006 and beyond. An outfield of Mench, Pie, and Murton looks good for many years to come.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

What pitching would we offer that would look as good to Texas as Diamond and Danks?

[UBlink]

"The Rangers could trade OF Kevin Mench this month, says the Newark Star-Ledger. Texas had been working on a three-year contract extension with Mench but pulled its latest offer off the table, increasing speculation that it might be about to deal him. " (CBSsportsline Rumor Mill)

 

Jim, here's your homework for this month. It might be too late for this year, but there's always 2006 and beyond. An outfield of Mench, Pie, and Murton looks good for many years to come.

 

How in the heck could Mench clear waivers to be traded?

[Backtobanks]

What pitching would we offer that would look as good to Texas as Diamond and Danks?

 

We could offer a combination of Mitre, Rusch, Williams, Guzman, Hill, Welly, etc. I'm all for developing players, but it isn't often that a young, cheap, power-hitting OF becomes available. We would have a lot of available money to fill in the other holes if we can go young and cheap in the OF.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

What pitching would we offer that would look as good to Texas as Diamond and Danks?

 

We could offer a combination of Mitre, Rusch, Williams, Guzman, Hill, Welly, etc. I'm all for developing players, but it isn't often that a young, cheap, power-hitting OF becomes available. We would have a lot of available money to fill in the other holes if we can go young and cheap in the OF.

 

I'm not sure those guys appeal to the Rangers. None of those, except maybe Guzman if he's healthy and he hasn't been, have the ceiling of the Rangers top three guys in the minors. With Danks and Diamond on the way, the Rangers will be looking more for a high ceiling guy or a player who has proven himself in the majors.

 

I wouldn't count Rusch as we don't know if he'll even be with the Cubs next season. Williams might fit the bill, but the Rangers may feel they can do better than him in FA. I love the idea of getting Mench, but I don't think we have the players the Rangers would want to acquire him.

 

In the Rangers eyes, Mitre is no better than C.J. Wilson. Wellemeyer isn't better than Matt Roney. Diamond is a better prospect than anyone on that list. Danks is struggling a little in AA this season, but he could contribute in Texas very soon. Dominguez is a lot like Mitre. He does well in the minors but has gotten lit up at the majors. I don't see the Rangers giving up a hitter of Mench's caliber in order to acquire a pitcher similar to one they already have.

 

I understand the desire to get Mench. I have the same desire for a lot of players...namely Brad Wilkerson. I just don't think Mench is a realistic possibility for the Cubs unless we build a package around Zambrano which we won't.

[biittner77]

"The Rangers could trade OF Kevin Mench this month, says the Newark Star-Ledger. Texas had been working on a three-year contract extension with Mench but pulled its latest offer off the table, increasing speculation that it might be about to deal him. " (CBSsportsline Rumor Mill)

 

Jim, here's your homework for this month. It might be too late for this year, but there's always 2006 and beyond. An outfield of Mench, Pie, and Murton looks good for many years to come.

 

How in the heck could Mench clear waivers to be traded?

 

GMs try to avoid making enemies by blocking waiver trades. That and his expected big payday in arbitration or extension might make small market teams think twice. That being said I still think it's unlikely that they trade him before the offseason.

[UBlink]

"The Rangers could trade OF Kevin Mench this month, says the Newark Star-Ledger. Texas had been working on a three-year contract extension with Mench but pulled its latest offer off the table, increasing speculation that it might be about to deal him. " (CBSsportsline Rumor Mill)

 

Jim, here's your homework for this month. It might be too late for this year, but there's always 2006 and beyond. An outfield of Mench, Pie, and Murton looks good for many years to come.

 

How in the heck could Mench clear waivers to be traded?

 

GMs try to avoid making enemies by blocking waiver trades. That and his expected big payday in arbitration or extension might make small market teams think twice. That being said I still think it's unlikely that they trade him before the offseason.

 

I understand not wanting to make enemies, but if I'm a manager and I see a guy on the waiver wire that might help one of my competitors (and he's relatively cheap like Mench this year), making nice or not I'm going to claim him to prevent him being traded to my competitor. I would have to see an example of someone like Mench being traded after the waiver deadline before I would believe the GM's would be so chummy.

[Backtobanks]

What pitching would we offer that would look as good to Texas as Diamond and Danks?

 

We could offer a combination of Mitre, Rusch, Williams, Guzman, Hill, Welly, etc. I'm all for developing players, but it isn't often that a young, cheap, power-hitting OF becomes available. We would have a lot of available money to fill in the other holes if we can go young and cheap in the OF.

 

I'm not sure those guys appeal to the Rangers. None of those, except maybe Guzman if he's healthy and he hasn't been, have the ceiling of the Rangers top three guys in the minors. With Danks and Diamond on the way, the Rangers will be looking more for a high ceiling guy or a player who has proven himself in the majors.

 

I wouldn't count Rusch as we don't know if he'll even be with the Cubs next season. Williams might fit the bill, but the Rangers may feel they can do better than him in FA. I love the idea of getting Mench, but I don't think we have the players the Rangers would want to acquire him.

 

In the Rangers eyes, Mitre is no better than C.J. Wilson. Wellemeyer isn't better than Matt Roney. Diamond is a better prospect than anyone on that list. Danks is struggling a little in AA this season, but he could contribute in Texas very soon. Dominguez is a lot like Mitre. He does well in the minors but has gotten lit up at the majors. I don't see the Rangers giving up a hitter of Mench's caliber in order to acquire a pitcher similar to one they already have.

 

I understand the desire to get Mench. I have the same desire for a lot of players...namely Brad Wilkerson. I just don't think Mench is a realistic possibility for the Cubs unless we build a package around Zambrano which we won't.

 

You're right about some of those pitchers may not be better than their own prospects, but their prospects haven't proven themselves yet. Also, if they are going to trade him, we might be able to offer more than most teams in the way of pitching. If they sign a decent FA pitcher added to their own pitchers and prospects supplemented by 2-3 good young arms from us, they might be ready to contend.