Trib says Walker "probably as good as gone"

[Joe_Cub]

Crap I'll be PO'd if they trade Walker and we get some scrub or hairston playing there next year

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Don't want to break up the Derrek Lee dreaming, but this is from Tuesday's Cleveland Plain Dealer:

 

 

General Manager Mark Shapiro would not comment directly on reports in Chicago that the Indians are working on a trade that would bring infielder Todd Walker from the Cubs.

 

The waiver deadline for trades is Wednesday.

 

Walker, 32, is hitting .298 with nine home runs and 31 RBI in 84 games with the Cubs. He's appeared in 75 games at second base, four at first.

 

"We have investigated every single bat available," Shapiro said, "and I can say there are not a lot out there.

 

"I will not comment on individual players."

 

Walker, who has previously played for Boston, Cincinnati. Colorado and Minnesota, signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Cubs in December.

 

Link at: http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1125394390193750.xml&coll=2

 

Sizemore please.

 

 

Seriously though, some combo of Riske, Betancourt, Crisp, etc. might work, although trading Walker because someone is willing to trade for him isn't the wisest of choices.

The players coming from Cleveland would have to either:

 

1) be guys that could pass through waivers themselves

 

or

 

2) not be on the 40 man roster.

 

Adam Miller or Jeremy Sowers, plz.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

hahahha, how about, hell no.

 

Um, OK. Nice reasoning there.

 

How about, why not?

 

I don't think that's enough talent in return for Lee. I'm not high on Zito, and while Kotsay is a pretty good player, him and Zito for Lee doesn't do it for me, especially when both are one year away from free agency. Plus, Oakland has Dan Johnson at first base.

[USSoccer]

hahahha, how about, hell no.

 

Um, OK. Nice reasoning there.

 

How about, why not?

 

I don't think that's enough talent in return for Lee. I'm not high on Zito, and while Kotsay is a pretty good player, him and Zito for Lee doesn't do it for me, especially when both are one year away from free agency. Plus, Oakland has Dan Johnson at first base.

 

Kotsay signed an extension in June.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

hahahha, how about, hell no.

 

Um, OK. Nice reasoning there.

 

How about, why not?

 

I don't think that's enough talent in return for Lee. I'm not high on Zito, and while Kotsay is a pretty good player, him and Zito for Lee doesn't do it for me, especially when both are one year away from free agency. Plus, Oakland has Dan Johnson at first base.

 

Kotsay signed an extension in June.

 

Crap. I forgot to get the info on that. My bad.

[USSoccer]

FWIW, I'd do Lee for Kotsay and Zito.

 

Both Lee and Zito are 1 year away from FA, but you get yourself a CF with a good OBP, decent pop and solid defense. He can fill the leadoff slot for you and it means you don't have to bring in Damon or Furcal.

 

With Zito, he would take the place of Williams, give the Cubs a dominant LHP, and free up Williams/Hill/Mitre for an offseason trade to fill either 1B, or an OF spot.

 

Lee is very likely to regress in 2006, so it's not like trading Pujols. You can find productive 1B out there, via trade or FA (Todd Helton, anyone?)

[LoneStarCubFan]

Let's see, the Cubs have more holes than the Titanic but people want to trade the ONE guy, Lee, who should be locked up long term because it'll bring in some pretty good players for less money than it'll cost to sign him?

 

Ummm.... isn't that what Cub fans have been blasting this franchise for doing over the last few years? Passing on the big name guy in order to sign a bunch of ok guys for less money?

[USSoccer]

Let's see, the Cubs have more holes than the Titanic but people want to trade the ONE guy, Lee, who should be locked up long term because it'll bring in some pretty good players for less money than it'll cost to sign him?

 

Ummm.... isn't that what Cub fans have been blasting this franchise for doing over the last few years? Passing on the big name guy in order to sign a bunch of ok guys for less money?

 

It's sound reasoning to trade one player for 2 guys that fill holes. Also, as I pointed out, it frees up pitchers to be traded to fill even more holes, AND it's very likely that Lee with experience a signifigant regression back to the mean of his career numbers.

 

I think trading Lee would be a sound risk, since we'd be selling high, he's going to regress next year and he's at a position where there are usually able replacements available.

 

That said, I'm not going to be upset in the least if we resign him, as long as the contract is reasonable.

[goonys evil twin]

It's sound reasoning to trade one player for 2 guys that fill holes. Also, as I pointed out, it frees up pitchers to be traded to fill even more holes, AND it's very likely that Lee with experience a signifigant regression back to the mean of his career numbers.

 

I think trading Lee would be a sound risk, since we'd be selling high, he's going to regress next year and he's at a position where there are usually able replacements available.

 

There is a possibility for a logical move, but you'd have to get serious difference makers to justify. Guys like Kotsay just wouldn't cut it.

[Nobody youd want to know]

Ummm.... isn't that what Cub fans have been blasting this franchise for doing over the last few years? Passing on the big name guy in order to sign a bunch of ok guys for less money?

 

Actually, the Cubs org is more guilty of HOLDING ON to someone, like Sosa or Patterson, until they have almost NO trade value, then getting nothing for them.

[Backtobanks]

Why do so many of you think Lee is going to regress? I assume he won't forget now that he's learned how to hit those inside pitches. Will he hit .340 with 45-50 HR next year? Probably not, but I think over .300 with at least 40 HR is probable and that puts him in the top 3 or 4 1B.

[1908]

Why do so many of you think Lee is going to regress?

His age and his career numbers to date suggest it's likely to happen. I hope he doesn't.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Why do so many of you think Lee is going to regress?

 

Career numbers, regression since the all-star break, lucky BABIP/LD% numbers, take your pick.

[Blueheart05]

Call me crazy (I'm ready) but now that Todd Walker's brother-in-law, Chad Hutchinson, has been dismissed by the bears he may want to leave town too especially if it means being sent to a playoff bound team. I recall Todd saying in an interview before the start of this season that he was happy to sign with the Cubs because of his in-laws. :-k

 

If it happens, I hope we get someone good in return.

[goonys evil twin]

Call me crazy (I'm ready) but now that Todd Walker's brother-in-law, Chad Hutchinson, has been dismissed by the bears he may want to leave town too especially if it means being sent to a playoff bound team. I recall Todd saying in an interview before the start of this season that he was happy to sign with the Cubs because of his in-laws. :-k

 

If it happens, I hope we get someone good in return.

 

Todd was a seemingly happy Cub before Hutchinson got here. I don't think that makes a big difference, and they would have to get significant value to trade a guy who is that productive and that affordable next season. They have to get more than the scrub pitching prospects they've gotten so far. And since you can't get anybody's good 40 man roster people at this point, there's really no benefit in dealing Walker.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Call me crazy (I'm ready) but now that Todd Walker's brother-in-law, Chad Hutchinson, has been dismissed by the bears he may want to leave town too especially if it means being sent to a playoff bound team. I recall Todd saying in an interview before the start of this season that he was happy to sign with the Cubs because of his in-laws. :-k

 

If it happens, I hope we get someone good in return.

 

Todd was a seemingly happy Cub before Hutchinson got here. I don't think that makes a big difference, and they would have to get significant value to trade a guy who is that productive and that affordable next season. They have to get more than the scrub pitching prospects they've gotten so far. And since you can't get anybody's good 40 man roster people at this point, there's really no benefit in dealing Walker.

 

Quoted because it sums up the argument perfectly.

 

Unless you get a good, young productive player, it makes no sense to trade Walker. Since those players don't clear waivers, there's no good rationale for trading Walker.

[Blueheart05]

Call me crazy (I'm ready) but now that Todd Walker's brother-in-law, Chad Hutchinson, has been dismissed by the bears he may want to leave town too especially if it means being sent to a playoff bound team. I recall Todd saying in an interview before the start of this season that he was happy to sign with the Cubs because of his in-laws. :-k

 

If it happens, I hope we get someone good in return.

 

Todd was a seemingly happy Cub before Hutchinson got here. I don't think that makes a big difference, and they would have to get significant value to trade a guy who is that productive and that affordable next season. They have to get more than the scrub pitching prospects they've gotten so far. And since you can't get anybody's good 40 man roster people at this point, there's really no benefit in dealing Walker.

 

I know Walker was happy before I'm just trying to put a humorous spin on Hutchinson's departure. :lol: :lol: I was actually laughing when I typed that message...

[tgk]

For what it's worth, Jason Stark said on Mike and Mike this morning that didn't think there were going to be any trades. He specifically mentioned Walker, saying that he didn't think he would be moved because the Cubs hold a very good option on him for next year.

[gflore34]

Doesn't keeping Walker necessitate signing Furcal? With Walker at 2B and Ramirez at 3B, the Cubs will need a defensively strong SS such as Furcal.

[UK1679666180]

I think they'll have to get a quality defensive SS, of course, he'll have to hit as well.

 

I'd still pursue Lugo before Furcal.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I guess we'll know by the end of the day whether Walker is going to be dealt. I seriously hope that the Cubs realize how ignorant it would be tp deal him.

[CuseCubFan69]

I guess we'll know by the end of the day whether Walker is going to be dealt. I seriously hope that the Cubs realize how ignorant it would be tp deal him.

 

Even if they get Wilkerson for him? :wink:

 

What do the Red Sox or Twins have to offer the Cubs to make it worth losing Walker for 2006?

[cjbucks]

I think they'll have to get a quality defensive SS, of course, he'll have to hit as well.

 

I'd still pursue Lugo before Furcal.

 

I like Lugo also.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Again--I'm all for dealing Walker, but in the offseason, when you can get more value for him. To trade him today for some low-level prospect that cannot help the Cubs in 2006, is stupid. No trade.

[HoopsCubs]

Again--I'm all for dealing Walker, but in the offseason, when you can get more value for him. To trade him today for some low-level prospect that cannot help the Cubs in 2006, is stupid. No trade.

 

At the 10:20 AM CDT Sportscenter Update on ESPN Radio 1000, Bruce Levine did say that the Cubs and White Sox have been discussing a Todd Walker trade.

 

 

Hoops