Bob Nightengale's The Buzz

[HoopsCubs]

Read this on the flight home this morning from Fort Lauderdale.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/bbw/columnist/nightengale/2005-09-14-majors_x.htm

 

Couple of things caught my eye:

 

(1) "The Red Sox plan to shop outfielder Manny Ramirez this winter, and have talked about sending Ramirez to the Mets for Carlos Beltran."

 

(2) In talking about manager merry-go-round:

 

"Dusty Baker, Cubs

•Survival odds: 95%

No, Baker isn't going to Los Angeles. Or Arizona. Or Tibet. Baker is staying in Chicago for the final season of his contract, and then, it may be his choice to see where he wants to go in 2006. If the Cubs win next season, he can write his own contract.

•Prediction: Baker stays in Chicago one more year, then heads to the Mariners."

 

Speaking of Fort Lauderdale, by the way, perhaps someone can find the actual link, but in the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel this morning, I read that the Marlin president denied Peter Gammons' story that Florida would trade Carlos Delgado if they failed to make the playoffs (i.e. failed to get playoff revenue). Gammons further wrote that Florida would look to trade Delgado to the Mets, before New York could pull off a Manny Ramirez trade.

 

Speaking of trades, Steve Phillips of ESPN (formerly Met GM) was on Mike and Mike in the Morning a few days agao, and repeated on several occasions that he expects to see a lot of trades (and big names) this offseason due to the poor free agent class.

 

Hoops

[CuseCubFan69]

If Baker wins...that's pretty funny.

 

 

Interesting trade...Ramirez for Beltran. I wonder how much the Mets or Red Sox would pay to move those players to another team?

[TheDude]

If I am Boston, no way do I trade Ramirez. Ortiz/Ramirez is a frightening as it gets in baseball. Ramirez may have "slipped" this year in average, but not when it counts. His BA/OBP/SLG with runners on base is .53/.50/.152 higher than his season totals. His OPS with RiSP is 1.235.

 

He is simply worth the contract, off-field headaches or no.

[tgk]

Speaking of Fort Lauderdale, by the way, perhaps someone can find the actual link, but in the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel this morning, I read that the Marlin president denied Peter Gammons' story that Florida would trade Carlos Delgado if they failed to make the playoffs (i.e. failed to get playoff revenue). Gammons further wrote that Florida would look to trade Delgado to the Mets, before New York could pull off a Manny Ramirez trade.

 

 

Hoops

 

From ESPN Insider Article by Gammons:

 

If the Marlins do not make the playoffs, they will lose $20 million-$30 million, likely cannot get a ballpark built and will have to try to trade Carlos Delgado to the Mets before Omar Minaya, the Mets' GM, starts tinkering with acquiring Manny Ramirez. If the Mets continue to dive and Carlos Beltran gets booed right on into October, it will be interesting to see the Mets' response if and when the Red Sox reiterate the offer they made in July of Ramirez for Beltran. It would save New York close to $30 million.

 

Also of note:

 

• Nomar Garciaparra might now be willing to move positions to take some pressure off his legs. Second and third base seem out because of his elongated arm action and angle, but center or left field would seem very possible. The Cubs plan to put Felix Pie in center field next season, but if they could sign Rafael Furcal (why shouldn't he want more than Jimmy Rollins?) and put Ronny Cedeno at second base, Nomar would seem to make a perfect fit in left field. Not that the Cubs have discussed it. Just a thought.

 

Link: http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/gammons/story?id=2158786

[HoopsCubs]

Speaking of Fort Lauderdale, by the way, perhaps someone can find the actual link, but in the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel this morning, I read that the Marlin president denied Peter Gammons' story that Florida would trade Carlos Delgado if they failed to make the playoffs (i.e. failed to get playoff revenue). Gammons further wrote that Florida would look to trade Delgado to the Mets, before New York could pull off a Manny Ramirez trade.

 

 

Hoops

 

From ESPN Insider Article by Gammons:

 

If the Marlins do not make the playoffs, they will lose $20 million-$30 million, likely cannot get a ballpark built and will have to try to trade Carlos Delgado to the Mets before Omar Minaya, the Mets' GM, starts tinkering with acquiring Manny Ramirez. If the Mets continue to dive and Carlos Beltran gets booed right on into October, it will be interesting to see the Mets' response if and when the Red Sox reiterate the offer they made in July of Ramirez for Beltran. It would save New York close to $30 million.

 

Also of note:

 

• Nomar Garciaparra might now be willing to move positions to take some pressure off his legs. Second and third base seem out because of his elongated arm action and angle, but center or left field would seem very possible. The Cubs plan to put Felix Pie in center field next season, but if they could sign Rafael Furcal (why shouldn't he want more than Jimmy Rollins?) and put Ronny Cedeno at second base, Nomar would seem to make a perfect fit in left field. Not that the Cubs have discussed it. Just a thought.

 

Link: http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/gammons/story?id=2158786

 

I will say this about Garciaparra: he had a .952 OPS in August and has an .895 OPS so far through September. Given our offensive woes, those are really good numbers, and if there was some equitable way to keep him in a Cub uniform, and still address real holes like lead-off, corner outfield power, I'm all for it.

 

Hoops

[HoopsCubs]

Speaking of Fort Lauderdale, by the way, perhaps someone can find the actual link, but in the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel this morning, I read that the Marlin president denied Peter Gammons' story that Florida would trade Carlos Delgado if they failed to make the playoffs (i.e. failed to get playoff revenue). Gammons further wrote that Florida would look to trade Delgado to the Mets, before New York could pull off a Manny Ramirez trade.

 

 

Hoops

 

From ESPN Insider Article by Gammons:

 

If the Marlins do not make the playoffs, they will lose $20 million-$30 million, likely cannot get a ballpark built and will have to try to trade Carlos Delgado to the Mets before Omar Minaya, the Mets' GM, starts tinkering with acquiring Manny Ramirez. If the Mets continue to dive and Carlos Beltran gets booed right on into October, it will be interesting to see the Mets' response if and when the Red Sox reiterate the offer they made in July of Ramirez for Beltran. It would save New York close to $30 million.

 

Also of note:

 

• Nomar Garciaparra might now be willing to move positions to take some pressure off his legs. Second and third base seem out because of his elongated arm action and angle, but center or left field would seem very possible. The Cubs plan to put Felix Pie in center field next season, but if they could sign Rafael Furcal (why shouldn't he want more than Jimmy Rollins?) and put Ronny Cedeno at second base, Nomar would seem to make a perfect fit in left field. Not that the Cubs have discussed it. Just a thought.

 

Link: http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/gammons/story?id=2158786

 

By the way, doesn't it seem like every analyst or beat guy (local or national) is convinced that the Cubs do not have Todd Walker in their plans for 2006?

[Backtobanks]

Speaking of Fort Lauderdale, by the way, perhaps someone can find the actual link, but in the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel this morning, I read that the Marlin president denied Peter Gammons' story that Florida would trade Carlos Delgado if they failed to make the playoffs (i.e. failed to get playoff revenue). Gammons further wrote that Florida would look to trade Delgado to the Mets, before New York could pull off a Manny Ramirez trade.

 

 

Hoops

 

From ESPN Insider Article by Gammons:

 

If the Marlins do not make the playoffs, they will lose $20 million-$30 million, likely cannot get a ballpark built and will have to try to trade Carlos Delgado to the Mets before Omar Minaya, the Mets' GM, starts tinkering with acquiring Manny Ramirez. If the Mets continue to dive and Carlos Beltran gets booed right on into October, it will be interesting to see the Mets' response if and when the Red Sox reiterate the offer they made in July of Ramirez for Beltran. It would save New York close to $30 million.

 

Also of note:

 

• Nomar Garciaparra might now be willing to move positions to take some pressure off his legs. Second and third base seem out because of his elongated arm action and angle, but center or left field would seem very possible. The Cubs plan to put Felix Pie in center field next season, but if they could sign Rafael Furcal (why shouldn't he want more than Jimmy Rollins?) and put Ronny Cedeno at second base, Nomar would seem to make a perfect fit in left field. Not that the Cubs have discussed it. Just a thought.

 

Link: http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/gammons/story?id=2158786

 

By the way, doesn't it seem like every analyst or beat guy (local or national) is convinced that the Cubs do not have Todd Walker in their plans for 2006?

 

I'm assuming that Walker is good trade bait after we sign or bring back Nomar, Furcal, Cedeno, and Perez. I'm not saying I agree, but I do think the odds of Nomar, Cedeno, and Perez returning are pretty good. That leaves Furcal and Walker. Looking at the teams needing a SS, I would think the Cubs ought to be in the running for Furcal. Something's got to give and Walker has the most trade value.

[brinoch]

Personally, I'd like to see the Cubs move Garciaparra to LF, if he can make the transition. Then play Cedeno at SS, keep Walker at 2B, and sign Giles for RF. Let one of Patterson/Hairston/Murton/Pie win the job out of ST (probably Hairston with Pie a late season call-up, I hope). That gives us lots of financial room to sign bullpen help like Wagner, Ryan and such.

 

CF Hairston (.338 OBP, 2005)

2B Walker (.358 OBP, 2005)

1B Lee (.420 OBP, 2005)

RF Giles (.429 OBP, 2005)

3B Ramirez (.358 OBP, 2005)

LF Garciaparra (.368 OBP, 2005)

C Barrett (.345 OBP, 2005)

SS Cedeno (.356 OBP, 2005)

 

Rotation:

Prior

Zambrano

Wood

Maddux

Williams/Hill

 

Bench:

C Blanco

OF Murton

OF Patterson

OF/PH Grieve

IF Fontenot

IF McClain (ie anyone but Macias and/or Perez)

 

Bullpen

Wagner/Ryan (closer)

Dempster (8th)

Ohman (loogy)

Rusch (longman, 2nd loogy)

Novoa (6th/7th)

Wuertz (6th/7th)

 

 

The beauty of Garciaparra in LF? You don't need a backup SS like Perez. If Cedeno goes down, you have someone who can slot in immediately -- with Murton ready to go in LF. I also wouldn't object to an outfield trade using pitching (Williams?) should Giles prove to be not available. However, going into next season with Jeromy Burnitz or an equivalent player is simply unacceptible. Additionally, there's always a chance that someone attractive is non-tendered.

 

Any way you slice it, though, we need a steep OF upgrade. Not a 2B upgrade.

Edited September 15, 2005 by brinoch

[JeffH]

Give me Furcal at SS instead of Wagner as closer.

 

Cedeno at 2B with Hairston as insurance.

 

Giles, yes.

 

Nomar in LF is fine if he'll do it. Otherwise, Murton.

 

Trade Walker and some out-of-options pitching to Cleveland for third-time arb eligible RHP David Riske.

[Diffusion]

Aramis Ramirez has a .358 OBP in 2005, btw.

[LuckyPup]

How would everyone feel about Steve Finley for a year? I know he has had a down year but he has been hurt-How about Patterson+Williams+Novoa for Finley+Donnelly?

put Finley in CF as a stopgap to Pie-sign Furcal+Nomar(LF) and give RF to Murton-

 

SS-Furcal

Cf-Finley

1B-Lee

3B-Ramirez

LF-Nomar

2B-Walker

RF-Murton

C-Barrett

Bench:Hairston+Perez+Cedeno+Blanco+Branyon

[TB_11]

If Baker wins...that's pretty funny.

 

 

Interesting trade...Ramirez for Beltran. I wonder how much the Mets or Red Sox would pay to move those players to another team?

 

I thought the Red Sox wanted to move Manny more for his bloated contract than any fear of declining performance due to his age. Also it was evident last year that Epstein & Co are adverse to giving out contracts more than 4 years long. Unless New York was willing to eat a decent amount of Beltran's remaining contract, I don't see the Red Sox making that move.

 

Interesting sidenote: I was looking at Beltran's contract on http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/ (Thanks CPatterson20) and saw that Beltran has the following perks built into his contract:

 

perks: hotel suite on road, 15-person suite at home games, club agreed to lease ocular enhancer machine (device that throws numbered & multi-colored tennis balls at 150 mph)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

How would everyone feel about Steve Finley for a year? I know he has had a down year but he has been hurt-How about Patterson+Williams+Novoa for Finley+Donnelly?

put Finley in CF as a stopgap to Pie-sign Furcal+Nomar(LF) and give RF to Murton-

 

SS-Furcal

Cf-Finley

1B-Lee

3B-Ramirez

LF-Nomar

2B-Walker

RF-Murton

C-Barrett

Bench:Hairston+Perez+Cedeno+Blanco+Branyon

 

Donnelly has lost some velocity and hasn't been as good this year, I'd be more interested in Shields.

[LuckyPup]

Yeah I would also-just throwing names out-I can't believe Giles would be an option b/c of the SoCal influence and the money the Dodgers have to spend-but any way, I wonder if the Angels would be interested in dumping G. Anderson's contract or maybe even Colon's? The only way we get an impact bat in the offseason is via trade-But what trade makes sense out there? I can't get away from the sinking feeling we are going to end up with Soriano-I mean the guy is ok but just not what we need-KEEP WALKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I also wouldn't be opposed to a deal for Juan Pierre-with all the talk about Delgado moving in Fla maybe a 3-way can be worked?

Or we could just send D. Lee back to Fla for Pierre and Delgado(*ducks and covers)

 

D.Lee+Cpatt for Pierre and Delgado

Deal Hill+Williams+Wellemeyer for Kearns+Weathers

 

CF-Pierre(4)

2B-Walker(2.5)

SS-Nomar(5)

1B-Delgado(10)

3B-Aram(10)

Rf-Kearns(4)

C-Barrett(4)

LF-Murton(.3)

 

Total=39.8M

 

Sign Burnett 4/40

Sign BJ Ryan 3/18

Re-sign Dempster

 

Burnett(9)

Wood(12)

Prior(6)

Z(5)

Maddux(9)

 

Total=41M+39.8M=80.8M

Ryan(5), Dempster(3), Williamson(2), Ohman(.4), Novoa(.3),Wuertz(.4), Weathers(2)=13.3M

 

Bench:Perez(2),Hairston(2.5), Cedeno(.3), Grieve(.3) Blanco(1.75)=6.85

 

Total payroll of 92M-I'll take that team-all day-

[AAApittsburgh]

Deal Hill+Williams+Wellemeyer for Kearns+Weathers

I think that's overpaying just a tad.

[brinoch]

Aramis Ramirez has a .358 OBP in 2005, btw.

 

Thanks for the catch, I mistakenly put in his career OBP. Whoops!

[brinoch]

Deal Hill+Williams+Wellemeyer for Kearns+Weathers

 

I really want no part of Kearns' one-year wonder-esque high BABIP from 2002. This season, even after his time in AAA, he has an OBP of .332 and an average of .245. That's way too Burnitz-like for comfort. Presuming Adam Dunn is unavailable, I might be interested in Griffey -- even as injury prone as he is -- for a corner OF. Otherwise, I have no interest in any Red OF not named Adam Dunn.

 

And Weathers looks like one of the English Hanoverian Kings: squat and ugly with bulging eyes. No thanks.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Deal Hill+Williams+Wellemeyer for Kearns+Weathers

I think that's overpaying just a tad.

 

I'd do that for Quentin and Valverde!

[LuckyPup]

Deal Hill+Williams+Wellemeyer for Kearns+Weathers

 

I really want no part of Kearns' one-year wonder-esque high BABIP from 2002. This season, even after his time in AAA, he has an OBP of .332 and an average of .245. That's way too Burnitz-like for comfort. Presuming Adam Dunn is unavailable, I might be interested in Griffey -- even as injury prone as he is -- for a corner OF. Otherwise, I have no interest in any Red OF not named Adam Dunn.

 

And Weathers looks like one of the English Hanoverian Kings: squat and ugly with bulging eyes. No thanks.

 

:lol: ME THROW BALL...

Anyway, I know aout Kearns but he plays solid defense and has pretty much raked in Wrigley for his career-(maybe I'm just haunted by the homerun last year....basta....son of...) anyway-any other options we could get for that package? Hill+Williams+Welly should net us a good player to man RF-any ideas?

[AAApittsburgh]

Deal Hill+Williams+Wellemeyer for Kearns+Weathers

 

I really want no part of Kearns' one-year wonder-esque high BABIP from 2002. This season, even after his time in AAA, he has an OBP of .332 and an average of .245. That's way too Burnitz-like for comfort. Presuming Adam Dunn is unavailable, I might be interested in Griffey -- even as injury prone as he is -- for a corner OF. Otherwise, I have no interest in any Red OF not named Adam Dunn.

 

And Weathers looks like one of the English Hanoverian Kings: squat and ugly with bulging eyes. No thanks.

 

:lol: ME THROW BALL...

Anyway, I know aout Kearns but he plays solid defense and has pretty much raked in Wrigley for his career-(maybe I'm just haunted by the homerun last year....basta....son of...) anyway-any other options we could get for that package? Hill+Williams+Welly should net us a good player to man RF-any ideas?

Mench? Although he can't seem to hit on the road.

[brinoch]

Deal Hill+Williams+Wellemeyer for Kearns+Weathers

 

I really want no part of Kearns' one-year wonder-esque high BABIP from 2002. This season, even after his time in AAA, he has an OBP of .332 and an average of .245. That's way too Burnitz-like for comfort. Presuming Adam Dunn is unavailable, I might be interested in Griffey -- even as injury prone as he is -- for a corner OF. Otherwise, I have no interest in any Red OF not named Adam Dunn.

 

And Weathers looks like one of the English Hanoverian Kings: squat and ugly with bulging eyes. No thanks.

 

:lol: ME THROW BALL...

Anyway, I know aout Kearns but he plays solid defense and has pretty much raked in Wrigley for his career-(maybe I'm just haunted by the homerun last year....basta....son of...) anyway-any other options we could get for that package? Hill+Williams+Welly should net us a good player to man RF-any ideas?

 

So did Blauser... ;)

 

As for RF... I think there are a lot of options in terms of trade. Personally, I'd look for someone who is expensive, nearing the end of their contract, and from a team likely to want to shed salary. Texas is an option, certainly, as would be Cincy. Manny Ramirez would be nice. :)

[Diffusion]

Aramis Ramirez has a .358 OBP in 2005, btw.

 

Thanks for the catch, I mistakenly put in his career OBP. Whoops!

 

Sorry about the nitpicking. It's just the .329 OBP in the middle of the lineup was making me angry. People with OBPs that low MUST BAT FIRST! Jeez, you people never learn! :wink:

 

Anyway, I really like that lineup, brinoch, with the exception of Hairston in CF. He's so bad defensively he haemorraghes away a lot of what little offensive value there is tied up in his OBP. For a utility guy, he's great; for a second baseman he's probably about average all told; but he's simply not good enough as an outfielder.

 

I don't really have an alternative solution though.

 

The only other thing is that I would really like to see Matt Murton in the lineup. I hugely doubt that Nomar in CF has any legs to it, but Murton (LF), Walker, Lee, Ramirez, Giles, Nomar (CF), Barrett, Cedeno, pitcher, forget about defence, that's just :twisted: .

[sethuel1]

Anyway, I really like that lineup, brinoch, with the exception of Hairston in CF. He's so bad defensively he haemorraghes away a lot of what little offensive value there is tied up in his OBP. For a utility guy, he's great; for a second baseman he's probably about average all told; but he's simply not good enough as an outfielder.

 

British?

[CubfaninCA]

How would everyone feel about Steve Finley for a year? I know he has had a down year but he has been hurt-How about Patterson+Williams+Novoa for Finley+Donnelly?

put Finley in CF as a stopgap to Pie-sign Furcal+Nomar(LF) and give RF to Murton-

 

SS-Furcal

Cf-Finley

1B-Lee

3B-Ramirez

LF-Nomar

2B-Walker

RF-Murton

C-Barrett

Bench:Hairston+Perez+Cedeno+Blanco+Branyon

 

I wouldn't mind picking up Finley, but don't trade away J. Williams.

[VVMattVV]

Why would we give up Novoa and Williams for a centerfielder in his 40's?