Matt Murton question.

[Rebel_Cubbie]

How did we get this guy? Was he a pick-up from another trade?

[Derwood]

Came over from Boston in the Nomar deal. Former 1st round pick

[dalgreen]

How did we get this guy? Was he a pick-up from another trade?

 

Welcome aboard!

[Andy]

Real steal for the Cubs there. ESPN's Sports Guy, a Red Sox fan, asked at the time how the Cubs got the best player (Nomar) and the best prospect (Murton) in a trade. How things turned out with Nomar notwithstanding, it's probably the third best deal Hendry's made, behind Hill/Hernandez for Ramirez/Simon/Lofton and Hundley for Grudzielanek/Karros.

[Rebel_Cubbie]

At least we got something out of that deal. I sure hope we hold onto that kid.

[K-Town]

Justin Jones was part of that deal too, wasn't he?

 

He could still be a good one.

[Outshined_One]

Justin Jones was part of that deal too, wasn't he?

 

He could still be a good one.

 

Brendan Harris and Francis Beltran were also involved.

[mg420]

Real steal for the Cubs there. ESPN's Sports Guy, a Red Sox fan, asked at the time how the Cubs got the best player (Nomar) and the best prospect (Murton) in a trade. How things turned out with Nomar notwithstanding, it's probably the third best deal Hendry's made, behind Hill/Hernandez for Ramirez/Simon/Lofton and Hundley for Grudzielanek/Karros.

 

what about lee for choi? i would have to rate that #1 (or at least a close 2nd to your #1) myself.

[Diffusion]

Here's how the trade weighs up so far for all parties involved

 

CUBS

 

Nomar Garciaparra (from RED SOX)

Hit .297 .364 .455 in 43 games for Cubs in 2004

Hit .283 .320 .452 in 62 games for Cubs in 2005

Played in just 105 games out of a possible 220 games

Was at times somewhat limited defensively due to his injuries

Re-signed as a free agent after 2004, now once again a free agent, but seems eager to return to the Cubs

 

Matt Murton (from RED SOX)

Hit .253 .326 .367 in 24 games for Daytona Cubs (High-A) in 2004

Hit .342 .403 .498 in 78 games for West Tenn D Jaxx (AA) in 2005

Hit .353 .421 .500 in 9 games for Iowa Cubs (AAA) in 2005

Hit .321 .386 .521 in 51 games for Cubs in 2005

Acceptable defence

Will not be a free agent until after 2011 season

 

RED SOX

 

Orlando Cabrera (from EXPOS)

Hit .294 .320 .465 in 58 games for Red Sox in 2004

Played acceptable defence, but nowhere near as special as advertised

Contributed marginally to the Red Sox winning the World Series

Departed via free agency after 2004, yielded two draft picks which were used to take Jacoby Ellsbury (hit .317 .418 .432 in 35 games for Lowell (Low-A) in 2005) and Jed Lowrie (hit .328 .429 .448 in 53 games for Lowell in 2005)

 

Doug Mientkiewicz (from TWINS)

Hit .215 .286 .318 in 49 games for Red Sox in 2004 (mostly bench)

Played useful defence

Hardly contributed to World Series triumph at all, but made final putout, tried to claim that ball as his own

Traded in Jan 2005 with cash to the Mets for Ian Bladergroen (hit .253 .349 .359 in 80 games almost entirely at Wilmington (High-A) inb 2005)

 

EXPOS

 

Alex Gonzalez (from CUBS)

Hit .241 .289 .383 in 35 games for Expos in 2004

Sent to the Padres in September 2004, yielded no return besides salary relief

 

Francis Beltran (from CUBS)

Threw 14.1 IP of 7.53 ERA for Expos in 2004

Blew out arm in spring 2005, underwent TJS, still recovering

Has closer potential

Will not be a free agent until after 2010 I believe, though possibly 2009 if you accumulate service time on the 60-day DL (not sure about that)

 

Brendan Harris (from CUBS)

Hit .285 .345 .480 in 33 games for Edmonton (AAA) in 2004

Hit .160 .208 .260 in 20 games for Expos in 2004

Hit .270 .329 .417 in 127 games for New Orleans (AAA) in 2005

Hit .333 .400 .778 in 4 games for Nationals in 2005

Will not be a free agent until after 2011 at earliest.

 

TWINS

 

Justin Jones (from CUBS)

Threw 20.1 IP of 5.31 ERA for Quad Cities (Low-A) in 2004

Threw 77.2 IP of 3.01 ERA for Fort Myers (High-A) in 2005

Has suffered a couple of arm injuries in his time with the Twins

Still probably has the greatest potential to make the Nomar deal hurt the Cubs, if he stays healthy.

 

SUMMARY

 

The Cubs have got something for nothing if injuries ever prevent Beltran and Jones reaching their potential, which is a possibility. However, if those two do get healthy again, the Cubs are looking at a much less lopsided deal, even if it's probably still in their favour. A lot still depends on whether Nomar re-signs, and what the future lies for Murton. But, at this still early stage, as could reasonably have been expected, the Cubs lost nothing in giving up Alex Gonzalez, and, perhaps less expectedly, Brendan Harris looks to be a bust at this stage, though perhaps it's still not too late for him. As a result, it's looking good for us right now.

 

The Twins got a good deal, I think. They saved some money, and have Jones instead of Bladergroen, which is clearly preferable. They also got a compensatory draft pick for Henry Blanco which was almost certainly a gift from Jim Hendry for a paperwork error in the original deal. That draft pick, SS Drew Thompson, may not have signed, I don't know, I just can't find any numbers for him this year. Anyway, two prospects for Doug Mientkiewicz, and an opening for Justin Morneau, I think that's good work.

 

The Expos got a deal that's hard to judge. It ultimately boils down to which of Francis Beltran/Brendan Harris or Jed Lowrie/Jacobsy Ellsbury proves the more valuable in the long term. At this stage that's impossible to say, really. They also got some salary relief.

 

The Red Sox got a World Series, though it's highly debatable as to whether or not Cabrera/Mientkiewicz had much to do with that. The Red Sox probably don't care, but right now I'd definately take what appears to be a first option on Nomar, plus Murton, over Lowrie/Ellsbury/Bladergroen.

[series65cubsfan]

Well done Diffusion. 8)