So it's begun... (Lawton to Yankees)

[leatherguts]

If a PTBNL from a system like NYY's is the best they could bet for Lawton, they'll have to pay someone to take Burnitz.

[Jon]

St. Petersburg Times[/url]"]NEW YORK - With an outfielder their most pressing need, the Yankees acquired Matt Lawton from the Cubs for minor-league pitcher, expected to be short-season Class A right-hander Justin Berg, the New York Daily News reported.

 

6-2, 3.53 ERA, 15 games, 9 starts, 58.2 IP, 48 hits, 26 runs, 23 earned, 3 HRs, 20 walks, 52 strikeouts

[Outshined_One]

The deal's not official yet per ESPN.com.

 

The upper tiers of the NYY farm system aren't all that great, but lately they've been doing better in terms of drafting. Their lower minor leagues have some guys who are intriguing, but they don't have a ton of note in AA and AAA. Looking at the 40 man, it's not going to be any of the following prospects or young players, since they'd have to pass through waivers:

 

RHP Jason Anderson

RHP Colter Bean

RHP Jorge De Paula

LHP Wayne Franklin

LHP Sean Henn

RHP Sam Marsonek

C Will Nieves

IF Andy Phillips

OF Melky Cabrera

OF Kevin Reese

 

Of those, the only ones who really are of interest to me are Cabrera and Bean...so, meh. Hopefully we got some one actually worthwhile.

[NCCubFan]

welcome back to the bench matt murton

I don't think Murton can come back yet. When a player is sent down to the minors, he cannot come back for at least 10 days (I don't think he's been down that long yet). There's an exception where a player can come back sooner to replace an injured player, but I don't think that extends to replacing a traded player. My guess is that Grieve rejoins the Cubs bench now, and Murton comes back to sit when rosters expand on Sept. 1 (he can come back then even if it hasn't been 10 days).

[Outshined_One]

St. Petersburg Times[/url]"]NEW YORK - With an outfielder their most pressing need, the Yankees acquired Matt Lawton from the Cubs for minor-league pitcher, expected to be short-season Class A right-hander Justin Berg, the New York Daily News reported.

 

6-2, 3.53 ERA, 15 games, 9 starts, 58.2 IP, 48 hits, 26 runs, 23 earned, 3 HRs, 20 walks, 52 strikeouts

 

Drafted by the Yankees in 2003 out of Community College, 43rd round. Clearly a draft & follow guy. Let me dig up some scouting reports if possible.

 

Born: June 7th, 1984

Height: 6'3

Weight: 190 lbs

 

Judging from his lines, he doesn't seem like an overpowering pitcher who thrives on striking out batters. When he's effective, he keeps the ball in the ball park, induces lots of ground ball outs, and doesn't walk guys. It seems that when he's not having a good night, he still won't walk a lot of guys, but he will get hit. I'm guessing he's a sinker baller, especially since he tends to do better at starting games than relief, but I could be way off.

[vaball]

So does this mean that nobody in the NL wanted Lawton? Don't NL teams get a shot at him before AL teams do?

 

I find that a little surprising.

[mhuber92211]

I like that the potential pitcher doesn't walk many people. Maybe it will rub off in AA next year.

 

Regardless, I think what is curious about this to me is that the Yanks didn't choose Burnitz to go after. He seems like the type of player they would be interested in. Leads me to believe that he will be here next season.

 

I think that Grieve comes up, not Murton until 9/1

[mhuber92211]

Actually, I am surprised the Mets didn't want Lawton. Imagine Lawton for Victor Diaz.

[Peoriaman]

yes, Lawton cleared waivers. So did Walker.

[Schwarber Fan]

Yep, according to the San Jose Mercury News, its official

 

Article

 

BTW, Justn Berg was 3-0 in July ERA 3.16[/url]

[RynoRules]

I'm hoping the PTBNL will be either Matt DeSalvo, Phillip Hughes, or Bronson Sardinha.

 

I am hoping its Joe Girardi. :wink:

 

Ooops. Guess we got Justin "Future Maddux" Berg instead.

[Tracer Bullet]

So who got called up? Murton?

 

As reported here by WilliSC48, Scott McClain.

 

Which is good. I'd like to see a real 3B at 3rd today.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I won't cry if it is Berg (which seems likely). Dubois traded for a month of Lawton (at least Hendry tried) and a decent looking young arm. Does anyone really think Dubois had what it took to contribute as a starter in Chicago? He was a nice guy, but man was he a butcher in the field.

 

We take an older prospect out of our farm system who wasn't going to get it done in the NL and get a young pitcher we can develop.

[Derwood]

UK, your analysis has made it to my sig. That was hilarious.

[Derwood]

Officially on cubs.com now

 

Oh look, McClain has Dubois numbers. Hope he fares better than The Creature did.

[CP_414]

I know alot of people on here wont like the suggestion, but i think that trading walker may be a good move. The twins have been looking for a 2b all season and they have some good prospects, if the Cubs could get some good prospects for him i think they should consider moving him.

 

This year is over, but 2006 isn't. who can they get to come near his numbers at $2.5 million this offseason? He is a productive player with a great contract.

 

Who can't turn a double play according to the Cubs org. Reading between the lines of all of the recent press, the Cubs are trying to get better defensively, that probably means Walker's time with the Cubs is done.

 

 

Walker's defensive struggles are largely overstated. His bat more than makes up for it. What are the options for a solid defensive 2nd baseman this offseason that fits the Cubs budget? Neify?

 

I'll stick with Walker.

[Tracer Bullet]

Yankee hater alert:

 

I don't mind this trade so much from the Cubs perspective. Getting something for Lawton is better than nothing. I just don't want Lawton to turn it on in NY and push the Yanks into the playoffs. Man I hate watching the Yankees win.

[YearofDaCubs]

Nice knowing ya Lawton. You were pretty worthless for us. We should have never traded for him anyways.

[YearofDaCubs]

The only thing that makes this trade look bad is the production of Lawton, everyone thought it was a steal to send Gerut for Lawton. Lawton didn't produce and it diminished his trade value, I can't fault Hendry for the scenario of events. Ultimately, he does take responsibility for the moves, but the thought process involved can not be questioned.

 

I don't think a productive Lawton makes or breaks this last month compared to what we saw.

The Lawton trade really made no sense considering the consensus on this forum already was that we had no chance. AT the same time we had Murton doing good when he played for us. Hendry's move this year have been TERRIBLE!! Bay for Bartosh. Oh God that was bad.

[Derwood]

The only thing that makes this trade look bad is the production of Lawton, everyone thought it was a steal to send Gerut for Lawton. Lawton didn't produce and it diminished his trade value, I can't fault Hendry for the scenario of events. Ultimately, he does take responsibility for the moves, but the thought process involved can not be questioned.

 

I don't think a productive Lawton makes or breaks this last month compared to what we saw.

The Lawton trade really made no sense considering the consensus on this forum already was that we had no chance. AT the same time we had Murton doing good when he played for us. Hendry's move this year have been TERRIBLE!! Bay for Bartosh. Oh God that was bad.

 

This was indeed the first year in the Hendry regime that he failed to land a significant player at the deadline. Disappointing.

[Illini Iceman]

The only thing that makes this trade look bad is the production of Lawton, everyone thought it was a steal to send Gerut for Lawton. Lawton didn't produce and it diminished his trade value, I can't fault Hendry for the scenario of events. Ultimately, he does take responsibility for the moves, but the thought process involved can not be questioned.

 

I don't think a productive Lawton makes or breaks this last month compared to what we saw.

The Lawton trade really made no sense considering the consensus on this forum already was that we had no chance. AT the same time we had Murton doing good when he played for us. Hendry's move this year have been TERRIBLE!! Bay for Bartosh. Oh God that was bad.

 

I would be worried if Hendry gave up on the season based on the consensus on a Cubs forum. His job is to keep trying to improve the team until it is out of contention and that is what he did.

 

This team has some major 40 man roster decisions during the offseason so this worked out fine. In the end they cleared a 40 man roster spot of someone clearly not in their long term plans (Dubois) and added a younger prospect that does not need to be protected this year. Hendry was able to do that while also having Lawton for a while in a effort to get to the playoffs.

 

I don't see how anyone can call Bay for Bartosh TERRIBLE until first of all Bay actually makes a big league roster and contributes and secondly we see what Bartosh winds up doing. He is still pretty young and could turn into a servicable LOOGY. At this point Bartosh has better odds of being a serviceable MLB pitcher than Bay just based on their level of development.

[UK1679666180]

The only thing that makes this trade look bad is the production of Lawton, everyone thought it was a steal to send Gerut for Lawton. Lawton didn't produce and it diminished his trade value, I can't fault Hendry for the scenario of events. Ultimately, he does take responsibility for the moves, but the thought process involved can not be questioned.

 

I don't think a productive Lawton makes or breaks this last month compared to what we saw.

The Lawton trade really made no sense considering the consensus on this forum already was that we had no chance. AT the same time we had Murton doing good when he played for us. Hendry's move this year have been TERRIBLE!! Bay for Bartosh. Oh God that was bad.

 

There's a difference between NSBB conceeding the Wild Card and the Cubs pulling the plug. Cubs needed a leadoff hitter, Lawton had a high OBP, he came cheaply, and the Cubs didn't sell the farm to get him. Murton was playing well for a manager who wouldn't play him over a soft hitting 4th OF'er in Hollandsworth. Hendry can't write the lineup card for Baker.

 

Now, Bay for Bartosh that was horrible from the start.

[YearofDaCubs]

The only thing that makes this trade look bad is the production of Lawton, everyone thought it was a steal to send Gerut for Lawton. Lawton didn't produce and it diminished his trade value, I can't fault Hendry for the scenario of events. Ultimately, he does take responsibility for the moves, but the thought process involved can not be questioned.

 

I don't think a productive Lawton makes or breaks this last month compared to what we saw.

The Lawton trade really made no sense considering the consensus on this forum already was that we had no chance. AT the same time we had Murton doing good when he played for us. Hendry's move this year have been TERRIBLE!! Bay for Bartosh. Oh God that was bad.

 

I would be worried if Hendry gave up on the season based on the consensus on a Cubs forum. His job is to keep trying to improve the team until it is out of contention and that is what he did.

 

This team has some major 40 man roster decisions during the offseason so this worked out fine. In the end they cleared a 40 man roster spot of someone clearly not in their long term plans (Dubois) and added a younger prospect that does not need to be protected this year. Hendry was able to do that while also having Lawton for a while in a effort to get to the playoffs.

 

I don't see how anyone can call Bay for Bartosh TERRIBLE until first of all Bay actually makes a big league roster and contributes and secondly we see what Bartosh winds up doing. He is still pretty young and could turn into a servicable LOOGY. At this point Bartosh has better odds of being a serviceable MLB pitcher than Bay just based on their level of development.

Yes, Bay for Bartosh was indeed terrible. Bay was a good prospect and has been doing good in the minors for the Indians. At the very least you could have got a better player than Bartosh who sucked for us when he played here and chances are will be a non factor.

[Illini Iceman]

The only thing that makes this trade look bad is the production of Lawton, everyone thought it was a steal to send Gerut for Lawton. Lawton didn't produce and it diminished his trade value, I can't fault Hendry for the scenario of events. Ultimately, he does take responsibility for the moves, but the thought process involved can not be questioned.

 

I don't think a productive Lawton makes or breaks this last month compared to what we saw.

The Lawton trade really made no sense considering the consensus on this forum already was that we had no chance. AT the same time we had Murton doing good when he played for us. Hendry's move this year have been TERRIBLE!! Bay for Bartosh. Oh God that was bad.

 

I would be worried if Hendry gave up on the season based on the consensus on a Cubs forum. His job is to keep trying to improve the team until it is out of contention and that is what he did.

 

This team has some major 40 man roster decisions during the offseason so this worked out fine. In the end they cleared a 40 man roster spot of someone clearly not in their long term plans (Dubois) and added a younger prospect that does not need to be protected this year. Hendry was able to do that while also having Lawton for a while in a effort to get to the playoffs.

 

I don't see how anyone can call Bay for Bartosh TERRIBLE until first of all Bay actually makes a big league roster and contributes and secondly we see what Bartosh winds up doing. He is still pretty young and could turn into a servicable LOOGY. At this point Bartosh has better odds of being a serviceable MLB pitcher than Bay just based on their level of development.

Yes, Bay for Bartosh was indeed terrible. Bay was a good prospect and has been doing good in the minors for the Indians. At the very least you could have got a better player than Bartosh who sucked for us when he played here and chances are will be a non factor.

 

That 4.76 ERA in AA is awesome. Even in the Cubs injury depleted pitching system he would be a mid to low level prospect.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The only thing that makes this trade look bad is the production of Lawton, everyone thought it was a steal to send Gerut for Lawton. Lawton didn't produce and it diminished his trade value, I can't fault Hendry for the scenario of events. Ultimately, he does take responsibility for the moves, but the thought process involved can not be questioned.

 

I don't think a productive Lawton makes or breaks this last month compared to what we saw.

The Lawton trade really made no sense considering the consensus on this forum already was that we had no chance. AT the same time we had Murton doing good when he played for us. Hendry's move this year have been TERRIBLE!! Bay for Bartosh. Oh God that was bad.

 

I would be worried if Hendry gave up on the season based on the consensus on a Cubs forum. His job is to keep trying to improve the team until it is out of contention and that is what he did.

 

This team has some major 40 man roster decisions during the offseason so this worked out fine. In the end they cleared a 40 man roster spot of someone clearly not in their long term plans (Dubois) and added a younger prospect that does not need to be protected this year. Hendry was able to do that while also having Lawton for a while in a effort to get to the playoffs.

 

I don't see how anyone can call Bay for Bartosh TERRIBLE until first of all Bay actually makes a big league roster and contributes and secondly we see what Bartosh winds up doing. He is still pretty young and could turn into a servicable LOOGY. At this point Bartosh has better odds of being a serviceable MLB pitcher than Bay just based on their level of development.

Yes, Bay for Bartosh was indeed terrible. Bay was a good prospect and has been doing good in the minors for the Indians. At the very least you could have got a better player than Bartosh who sucked for us when he played here and chances are will be a non factor.

 

I was never too upset about the Bay-Bartosh trade. Bay is a guy with the ceiling of a bottom of the rotation guy, and he was going to be a part of the Rule V crunch at the end of the year. The Cubs needed another LHP for the pen, so they used the excess to try and grab one. Maybe they shouldn't have gone after Bartosh, but on the whole, I guess I never felt trading away Bay to try and catch lightning in a bottle with a reliever was that bad of a gamble.