Jeff Kent may request trade.

[CubfaninCA]

Was an article in today's LA Times and Kent's not too happy w/ this year's outcome and may request a trade. I'd rather have Marcus Giles, cause he may give the Cubs a legit shot at Brian Giles, but Kent's second on my list. What would you deal for him?? The Cubs 3-4-5 would be pretty formidable. Kent would be a huge upgrade over Burnitz.

[RockTheIvy]

Was an article in today's LA Times and Kent's not too happy w/ this year's outcome and may request a trade. I'd rather have Marcus Giles, cause he may give the Cubs a legit shot at Brian Giles, but Kent's second on my list. What would you deal for him?? The Cubs 3-4-5 would be pretty formidable. Kent would be a huge upgrade over Burnitz.

 

I'd take Kent in a heartbeat.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

If Kent wasn't happy with the outcome in LA, why would he come to the Cubs, perennial underachievers and choke artists that we are?

[USSoccer]

Hoops is gonna be so excited! :D

[CubfaninCA]

If Kent wasn't happy with the outcome in LA, why would he come to the Cubs, perennial underachievers and choke artists that we are?

 

The Cubs are spending more money and Kent played for Baker.

[RockTheIvy]

And no Milton Bradley.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

If Kent wasn't happy with the outcome in LA, why would he come to the Cubs, perennial underachievers and choke artists that we are?

 

The Cubs are spending more money and Kent played for Baker.

 

Kent doesn't seem to care about the paycheck or his teammates. Winning certainly does matter to him. Personally, I like that attitude, but that's not our team's attitude.

 

Kent may like Baker, especially since he was in a little hot water over some supposedly racial comments and Baker stood by him, but that's not the same as wanting to play for Baker.

 

I can just see Kent ripping ARam a new one once a game for not hustling. Maybe that's what this team needs. Baker certainly isn't getting it done.

 

I'd love to have Kent, but I just don't see it.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Kent would be third on my list, behind Giles and Castillo. But, if he's available, I surely hope we explore the option.

[CubsWin]

Kent would be third on my list, behind Giles and Castillo. But, if he's available, I surely hope we explore the option.

Yeah, third for me, too. Castillo leading off is huge, not too mention his gold gloves.

[RockTheIvy]

Kent would be third on my list, behind Giles and Castillo. But, if he's available, I surely hope we explore the option.

Yeah, third for me, too. Castillo leading off is huge, not too mention his gold gloves.

 

For me, all of these moves are dependent on other moves. For instance, if Hendry jumps at Lofton, then I would take Kent over Castillo. But if the leadoff hitter problem doesn't get solved, then Castillo would be my choice. I was just thinking of how sweet a lineup of:

 

Lofton

Kent

Lee

Giles

Ramirez

Nomar

Barrett

 

looks. Man, could you imagine??

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Kent would be third on my list, behind Giles and Castillo. But, if he's available, I surely hope we explore the option.

Yeah, third for me, too. Castillo leading off is huge, not too mention his gold gloves.

 

For me, all of these moves are dependent on other moves. For instance, if Hendry jumps at Lofton, then I would take Kent over Castillo. But if the leadoff hitter problem doesn't get solved, then Castillo would be my choice. I was just thinking of how sweet a lineup of:

 

Lofton

Kent

Lee

Giles

Ramirez

Nomar

Barrett

 

looks. Man, could you imagine??

 

I'd still think Castillo's defense makes him more valuable than Kent, Lofton or not.

[Geech]

I'd still think Castillo's defense makes him more valuable than Kent, Lofton or not.

 

I doubt that very much.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'd still think Castillo's defense makes him more valuable than Kent, Lofton or not.

 

I doubt that very much.

 

Yep, Giles-Kent-Castillo-Walker is my order of preference, based on ability alone.

[CubfaninCA]

Sign Furcal and the Cubs are fine @ the top of the order.

 

What should they offer for Kent?? Walker and Jerome Williams?? Am not sure if the LA would have interest in Patterson. If they can get an arm, they may be able to justify it to their fans.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Sign Furcal and the Cubs are fine @ the top of the order.

 

Only if Furcal's OBP goes up from his 2005 figures..

[CubfaninCA]

Sign Furcal and the Cubs are fine @ the top of the order.

 

Only if Furcal's OBP goes up from his 2005 figures..

 

Who's better and available?

[CoolHandLuke]

Sign Furcal and the Cubs are fine @ the top of the order.

 

Only if Furcal's OBP goes up from his 2005 figures..

 

Who's better and available?

 

Some might say a certain backwards Ramon.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Sign Furcal and the Cubs are fine @ the top of the order.

 

Only if Furcal's OBP goes up from his 2005 figures..

 

Who's better and available?

 

Just because no one better is available doesn't mean you have to overpay for Furcal.

 

And yes, Nomar.

[CubfaninCA]

Sign Furcal and the Cubs are fine @ the top of the order.

 

Only if Furcal's OBP goes up from his 2005 figures..

 

Who's better and available?

 

Some might say a certain backwards Ramon.

 

The Cubs have top of the order options, like Nomar & Murton. Hendry just needs to acquire guys that force Baker to put someone like Murton in the 2 hole. Also, great obp @ the top of the order isn't essential. Anaheim, Houston, the White Sox and the Cardinals wouldn't be in the playoffs, if it was. (Yes Eckstein's obp is .364, but he had a great Sept. St. Louis had already run away w/ the division by then).

[CubsWin]

Sign Furcal and the Cubs are fine @ the top of the order.

 

Only if Furcal's OBP goes up from his 2005 figures..

 

Who's better and available?

 

Some might say a certain backwards Ramon.

 

The Cubs have top of the order options, like Nomar & Murton. Hendry just needs to acquire guys that force Baker to put someone like Murton in the 2 hole. Also, great obp @ the top of the order isn't essential. Anaheim, Houston, the White Sox and the Cardinals wouldn't be in the playoffs, if it was. (Yes Eckstein's obp is .364, but he had a great Sept. St. Louis had already run away w/ the division by then).

True, there are many ways to skin a cat (or get into the playoffs), but just because high OBP in the lead-off spot isn't essential or the only way to win, doesn't mean that having a lead-off hitter with a high OBP isn't the best and smartest way to go. It is.

 

And it also happens to be one of the Cubs greatest needs.

[CubfaninCA]

Sign Furcal and the Cubs are fine @ the top of the order.

 

Only if Furcal's OBP goes up from his 2005 figures..

 

Who's better and available?

 

Some might say a certain backwards Ramon.

 

The Cubs have top of the order options, like Nomar & Murton. Hendry just needs to acquire guys that force Baker to put someone like Murton in the 2 hole. Also, great obp @ the top of the order isn't essential. Anaheim, Houston, the White Sox and the Cardinals wouldn't be in the playoffs, if it was. (Yes Eckstein's obp is .364, but he had a great Sept. St. Louis had already run away w/ the division by then).

True, there are many ways to skin a cat (or get into the playoffs), but just because high OBP in the lead-off spot isn't essential or the only way to win, doesn't mean that having a lead-off hitter with a high OBP isn't the best and smartest way to go. It is.

 

And it also happens to be one of the Cubs greatest needs.

 

No doubt having a great lead off man would greatly benefit this team, and I'd love to have Damon, but gotta be realistic. There's a very slim chance the Cubs get Damon, and the Yankees won't be trading away Jetah. If Castillo's available, Lowell's probably coming w/ him and it may be difficult to spin him to another team. If ARam wasn't a Cub, I wouldn't mind Lowell. He's had one down year. His ops was good in 03 and 04.

 

Furcal's obp is alright for leadoff, but his speed makes him one of the better leadoff men. Unfortunately, there's no math formula to "prove" how much speed benefits the 2-3-4 hitters. I much prefer Furcal @ SS over Nomar, who's likely to get hurt and who can't field anymore.

[CubsWin]

Sign Furcal and the Cubs are fine @ the top of the order.

 

Only if Furcal's OBP goes up from his 2005 figures..

 

Who's better and available?

 

Some might say a certain backwards Ramon.

 

The Cubs have top of the order options, like Nomar & Murton. Hendry just needs to acquire guys that force Baker to put someone like Murton in the 2 hole. Also, great obp @ the top of the order isn't essential. Anaheim, Houston, the White Sox and the Cardinals wouldn't be in the playoffs, if it was. (Yes Eckstein's obp is .364, but he had a great Sept. St. Louis had already run away w/ the division by then).

True, there are many ways to skin a cat (or get into the playoffs), but just because high OBP in the lead-off spot isn't essential or the only way to win, doesn't mean that having a lead-off hitter with a high OBP isn't the best and smartest way to go. It is.

 

And it also happens to be one of the Cubs greatest needs.

 

No doubt having a great lead off man would greatly benefit this team, and I'd love to have Damon, but gotta be realistic. There's a very slim chance the Cubs get Damon, and the Yankees won't be trading away Jetah. If Castillo's available, Lowell's probably coming w/ him and it may be difficult to spin him to another team. If ARam wasn't a Cub, I wouldn't mind Lowell. He's had one down year. His ops was good in 03 and 04.

 

Furcal's obp is alright for leadoff, but his speed makes him one of the better leadoff men. Unfortunately, there's no math formula to "prove" how much speed benefits the 2-3-4 hitters. I much prefer Furcal @ SS over Nomar, who's likely to get hurt and who can't field anymore.

Why are the only options for lead off Damon, Castillo or Furcal? Why not Lofton or Walker or even Murton?

 

I agree that Furcal would be great to have at SS for the next 4-5 years and he would be an alright lead off man. I just believe that the Cubs can do better. I believe Cedeno can put up numbers in the neighborhood of what Furcal can. Maybe not in his rookie season, but 1-2 years down the road. I also believe that it may not be possible to sign both Furcal and Brian Giles.

 

There isn't any one single player the Cubs can get who will impact the Cubs ability to score runs more than Brian Giles. Given the Cubs other needs (starter, CF, bullpen, etc.), we may have to choose between Giles and Furcal. For me, its not even close. Its Giles all the way. Going after him first and foremost and going after him aggressively is the better plan. If he shuns the Cubs advances, then the Cubs will have to go to plan B, and I'm not even sure Furcal is the best way to go for plan B, yet.

[Balsa]

I like Kent a lot. His XBH and RBIs are huge. I think that having him at second base would be an improvment over todd walker. My only worry is that he's 37, whereas Walker is 32. I think Kent for one year would be fine. Anything more than that and I'd prefer Walker.

 

As for Castillo, I think he would be better than either because he solves the problem of leadoff and improves defense. However, I'm gonna through him in the 'longshot' category. I doubt that the Cubs would be able to acquire him.

 

Why is everyone talking about Kent as to Burnitz? He plays at 2B right?

 

EDIT: I mean, if he can play right field he's a HUGE improvement over Burnitz.

[HoopsCubs]

Hoops is gonna be so excited! :D

 

I would definitely be excited at the thought of acquiring Kent, but as others have pointed out here, it has to be done as part of an overall strategy. Lots of holes, but lots of cash - Hendry has no excuses this offseason.

[Jehrico]

I'd rather have Walker at 2.5 mil or Nomar with an incentive based contract at 2nd over Kent. Or Cedeno if we sign Furcal to play short.