What about Todd Walker for Ibanez?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I was reading this article on possible moves by the Mariners this offseason, when this section jumped out at me.

 

At second base we saw ... some bad baseball. Bret Boone was horrible. Willie Bloomquist was horrible (but went 14-for-15 stealing bases). Jose Lopez, second baseman of the future, was horrible (but better than Bloomquist). This was Lopez's second extended trial, and the team doesn't seem happy with him. The rumors have been that if they stumble across a better option there, they might go for it.

 

Even if the team does nothing, though, Lopez is young, he's hit well in the minors, he plays solid (though not Boone-in-his-prime spectacular) defense at second, and he's a good bet to improve. Even if the Mariners do nothing, they should see improvement there.

 

 

Seattle also has been rumored to be looking at outfielders to play LF. Right now they have Reed in CF and Ichiro in RF. They can use Ibanez at LF or a DH.

 

If the Cubs sign Furcal as expected, how would a Todd Walker for Ibanez deal look?

 

Ibanez isn't flashy, and he's probably not the best defender either. However, in 2005 he hit .280 with a 355 OBP and a 433 SLG. He contributed 20 HR's.

 

I think we could expect solid production from him in RF and he would fit nicely in the five or six hole. He bats left so he would help balance the line-up as well.

 

Ibanez is due to make around 5 million in 2006, so he fits the budget nicely as well.

 

This line-up would be ok, I think.

 

Pierre cf

Furcal ss

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Ibanez rf

Murton lf

Cedeno/Neifi 2b

Barrett c

[MPrior]

Far from ideal, I think, but way better than some other options that have been thrown out there (Mench, Kearns, Burnitz again).

[Sabermetrician]

I don't understand all the Todd Walker rumors. All the proposals have him going somewhere for a corner OF, but when the alternative at 2B is Neifi Perez or even Ronny Cedeno, I don't like it. We've got a bargain on Walker and we want to trade him?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I don't understand all the Todd Walker rumors. All the proposals have him going somewhere for a corner OF, but when the alternative at 2B is Neifi Perez or even Ronny Cedeno, I don't like it. We've got a bargain on Walker and we want to trade him?

 

Personally, I'd keep Walker, but everything I'm hearing is if we sign Furcal, Walker will be traded.

 

That being the case, this could be a deal where we actually get value for him. Both Walker and Ibanez are affordable and probably produce better than what they are being paid. It's a good fit, especially if the Cubs are convinced they are going to trade Todd.

[Balsa]

It sounds to me we'd be trading Walker for a more expensive Walker.

 

I'd rather keep the original if it came to that, thanks.

[mg420]

if the cubs do get pierre in the rumored trade, i would rather see cedeno & walker @ ss & 2b and forget about furcal so they can go after giles for rf. if giles can be had for $40/4 i think that :

 

pierre

murton

lee

giles (or floyd if giles goes elsewhere)

aram

walker

barrett

cedeno

 

looks much more balanced than:

 

pierre

furcal

lee

aram

floyd/mench/burnitz

murton

barrett

perez

[Geech]

I don't understand this Ibanez thing some people have. He's not more valuable than Walker. At all.

[RynoRules]

I don't understand this Ibanez thing some people have. He's not more valuable than Walker. At all.

 

Moreover, he's not the impact RF we really need.

[WrigleyField 22]

Ibanez would have been an attractive LF last year.

This year we need someone who can play RF and make a bigger splash. I do think Ibanez is a good value, but probably not right for this team.

[Jehrico]

Far from ideal, I think, but way better than some other options that have been thrown out there (Mench, Kearns, Burnitz again).

 

I think I'd rather go after Mench or Kearns than him (Mench likely to get on base more, better defender, Kearns has the possiblity he could live to his earlier displayed ceiling). However, Ibanez wouldn't be a bad option C though.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

Worst. Outfield. Ever.

[Jehrico]

Worst. Outfield. Ever.

 

Not quite. That was our OF in '05.