Nationals

[HoopsCubs]

Let's just say that I wouldn't be totally shocked if the Cubs made a blockbuster deal to acquire Livan Hernandez and Brad Wilkerson this offseason. Hernandez has 2 years $15M left on his extension, and Wilkerson (arbitration eligible) will probably get a good raise from his $3M salary in 2005 to the $5-6M range level.

 

Getting a durable innings eater and a bona fide lead-off guy, who can play CF could be significant pieces of the 2006 puzzle. I could see Corey Patterson, 2 near-ready major league pitchers and a young prospect being sent back.

 

 

Hoops

[Geech]

Is this just speculation?

[USSoccer]

Let's just say that I wouldn't be totally shocked if the Cubs made a blockbuster deal to acquire Livan Hernandez and Brad Wilkerson this offseason. Hernandez has 2 years $15M left on his extension, and Wilkerson (arbitration eligible) will probably get a good raise from his $3M salary in 2005 to the $5-6M range level.

 

Getting a durable innings eater and a bona fide lead-off guy, who can play CF could be significant pieces of the 2006 puzzle. I could see Corey Patterson, 2 near-ready major league pitchers and a young prospect being sent back.

 

 

Hoops

 

Who would the 2 near ML ready P be?

[HoopsCubs]

Is this just speculation?

 

Yes, it is. While there are certainly players available through free agency, who can address holes, my sense is that Hendry prefers to acquire most of his players through trade. And, usually, he likes to focus on low-budget teams during the offseason.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

seems like speculation to me, but i wouldn't complain if it came true. later, CPat.

[sweetpeteman]

Welly and Mitre?

 

Hill and Mitre?

 

Williams and Mitre?

 

I would expect Mitre to be one of them.

[HoopsCubs]

Who would the 2 near ML ready P be?

 

Hill and Mitre come to mind.

 

You can put Jerome Williams in that group too, but I'd save him for another deal or as back-up in case of injury in the rotation.

[USSoccer]

Who would the 2 near ML ready P be?

 

Hill and Mitre come to mind.

 

You can put Jerome Williams in that group too, but I'd save him for another deal or as back-up in case of injury in the rotation.

 

I would bet money they'd ask for Pinto and Hill, or Nolasco and Hill. Mitre doesn't have that kind of value.

[Wheelimus]

Patterson, Hill, Mitre, and a prospect for Wilkerson and Livan Hernandez?

 

Sign me up...

[HoopsCubs]

I would bet money they'd ask for Pinto and Hill, or Nolasco and Hill. Mitre doesn't have that kind of value.

 

You're probably right.

[E.J.]

Could you imagine an outfield of Murton, Wilkerson, and someone like Brian Giles or Abreu? That's like a Billy Beane's wet dream. :D

[CubfaninCA]

Hernandez alone would be a nice pickup for Patterson and fillers. He can eat some innings. How much will Wilkerson probably get next year?? He's arbitration eligible correct??

[CuseCubFan69]

I would bet money they'd ask for Pinto and Hill, or Nolasco and Hill. Mitre doesn't have that kind of value.

 

You're probably right.

 

I think he is too unless the Cubs add a third pticher which might be Mitre.

[goonys evil twin]

Could you imagine an outfield of Murton, Wilkerson, and someone like Brian Giles or Abreu? That's like a Billy Beane's wet dream. :D

 

They'd still have to come up with that solid RF to make this deal worthwhile. Wilkerson would provide nice OBP, but he's not stud in that department. Along with Murton that would be a decent LF/CF, but unless you get a really productive RF, you still run the risk of having weak total OF production. I wouldn't go into 2006 expecting anything more than .280/.340/.430 from Murton, and you might be looking at about the same thing from Wilkerson.

[CuseCubFan69]

Could you imagine an outfield of Murton, Wilkerson, and someone like Brian Giles or Abreu? That's like a Billy Beane's wet dream. :D

 

They'd still have to come up with that solid RF to make this deal worthwhile. Wilkerson would provide nice OBP, but he's not stud in that department. Along with Murton that would be a decent LF/CF, but unless you get a really productive RF, you still run the risk of having weak total OF production. I wouldn't go into 2006 expecting anything more than .280/.340/.430 from Murton, and you might be looking at about the same thing from Wilkerson.

 

I agree. The Cubs would need a 30HR type guy out there even if they resign Nomar and Walker. If the Cubs go the Furcal + Cedeno route they will need a banger in RF bigtime.

 

I do think that Wikerson could hit 20 HRs for the Cubs and the platoon in LF could come up with 20.

[goonys evil twin]

I do think that Wikerson could hit 20 HRs for the Cubs and the platoon in LF could come up with 20.

 

What platoon is that?

[E.J.]

I do think that Wikerson could hit 20 HRs for the Cubs and the platoon in LF could come up with 20.

 

What platoon is that?

 

Didn't you hear? The Cubs are bringing back Holla. :wink:

[CuseCubFan69]

I do think that Wikerson could hit 20 HRs for the Cubs and the platoon in LF could come up with 20.

 

What platoon is that?

 

With Baker ther do you really believe that Murton would play 145 games? If Hendry has a warm bodied veteran OF on the 25 man roster he will get a lot of time in left....especially if he hits left handed.

[USSoccer]

I do think that Wikerson could hit 20 HRs for the Cubs and the platoon in LF could come up with 20.

 

What platoon is that?

 

If you assume it's Murton and Grieve/Hairston, I think that 20-25 isn't out of the question.

[USSoccer]

I do think that Wikerson could hit 20 HRs for the Cubs and the platoon in LF could come up with 20.

 

What platoon is that?

 

With Baker ther do you really believe that Murton would play 145 games? If Hendry has a warm bodied veteran OF on the 25 man roster he will get a lot of time in left....especially if he hits left handed.

 

I don't know about that. Murton had 150 AB's, and started nearly every game in Sept. He hit well, and in Baker's eyes perhaps proved enough over the 2+ months to be treated differently than other young players we've had come through the past 2-3 years.

 

It's different than with Dubois, because he only had a handful of AB's and the one big game, so Baker's distrust of him was, in hindsight, a bit more understandable (if you look at things through Dusty's eyes). It's also different than Choi, who was slowing down when he got hurt, and by then Baker had begun to trust Karros in the pennant race, and Choi never got untracked (parly due to Dusty's usage pattern-don't want to start a Choi debate!).

 

I can see Murton sitting against really tough RHP, but I'd bet that, barring a totally crap spring, that Baker gives him more rope than he gave Choi, Hill, and Dubois.

[goonys evil twin]

I do think that Wikerson could hit 20 HRs for the Cubs and the platoon in LF could come up with 20.

 

What platoon is that?

 

With Baker ther do you really believe that Murton would play 145 games? If Hendry has a warm bodied veteran OF on the 25 man roster he will get a lot of time in left....especially if he hits left handed.

 

Well then I don't see how you can assume a platoon would hit 20 (not that HR totals matter).

 

I don't really assume a platoon in LF. I have to wait to see who is brought in. I wouldn't assume Grieve or Hairston gets that job. I could see Dusty starting Murton for 150 games. Of course, the first sign of trouble could change that.

[CuseCubFan69]

I do think that Wikerson could hit 20 HRs for the Cubs and the platoon in LF could come up with 20.

 

What platoon is that?

 

With Baker ther do you really believe that Murton would play 145 games? If Hendry has a warm bodied veteran OF on the 25 man roster he will get a lot of time in left....especially if he hits left handed.

 

Well then I don't see how you can assume a platoon would hit 20 (not that HR totals matter).

 

I don't really assume a platoon in LF. I have to wait to see who is brought in. I wouldn't assume Grieve or Hairston gets that job. I could see Dusty starting Murton for 150 games. Of course, the first sign of trouble could change that.

 

If Murton struggles he's benchbound. I don't want to get into this on this thread as it's about the Nationals....let me just say I hope you and USS are right.

[goonys evil twin]

If Murton struggles he's benchbound.

 

I understand that. But my point is, unlike last year, when Dubois was never going to get a chance, I see Murton getting the job from the get go, no platoon. He'll lose it with a slump, of course. But when you said platoon, I thought you had something specific.

 

If they end up acquiring a list of guys like Wilkerson, Nixon and Wilson, then I could see a platoon.

[CuseCubFan69]

If Murton struggles he's benchbound.

 

I understand that. But my point is, unlike last year, when Dubois was never going to get a chance, I see Murton getting the job from the get go, no platoon. He'll lose it with a slump, of course. But when you said platoon, I thought you had something specific.

 

If they end up acquiring a list of guys like Wilkerson, Nixon and Wilson, then I could see a platoon.

 

My thoughts were about any player the quality of Holla and above would get a lot of ab's in left. Murton will get a chance but I just see him getting split/platooned a lot more than we would hope for.

 

If the Cubs get those OF's I wouldn't think Murton would play more than 80 games at the most unless there is an injury to one of the corner OF's.

[Tim]

Goony,

 

What is it that you don't like out of Wilkerson's offensive production in CF? His OBP's for the past four years are: .370, .380, .374, .351. This year he supposedly played injured, which lowered his numbers across the board.

 

I wouldn't call him a stud, but I'm not sure why you'd expect him to put up a .340 OBP, either.