HoopsCubs

That's a nice, quick summary of the free agents or trade candidates out there. In the end, my gut tells me that CLee will become a Cub, and Murton will be dealt along with a prospect to get a starter.

Those are good questions, and I have asked several of my sources Murton-related questions in the last few weeks. The responses have been pretty nebulous. If I were to summarize, the consensus is that the Cubs like Matt a lot, but feel LF should be a power position, and thus would be open to trading him if a good deal came along that improved the slugging percentage of the club. Translation: not being shopped, but would prefer to trade him. And that ticks me off because if I were GM, I would get out of the dark ages, and look to increase power at CF or SS before I dealt a hitter with so much promise a la Murton. It's going to be wait-and-see, nevertheless I think it will be a better off-season than last off-season.

I thought I'd pass this rumor on to see what folks think. This comes from one of my sources on the East Coast, who has some in-roads with Cub officials. This is the guy, who told me 3 weeks before it happened last offseason that the Cubs were the odds-on favorite to sign Wade Miller, so he has some credibility, though he's been wrong more times than he's been right (which describes just about everybody in this business). Here's what he outlined. He started by saying, "hey, remember when Hendry traded Hundley for Karros and Grudzielanek?" He said there are a lot of moving parts, but here's the gist of what he's heard: (1) The Cubs and Wood will agree to a one-year incentive laden deal to be a reliever with a team option for 2008. This will make for a very crowded "top heavy" bullpen. (2) The Cubs think either Bob Howry or Michael Wuertz can be the closer in 2007. When I asked about Wood, he said they think Kerry will start slow, but he could be a candidate by mid-season. (3) While Scott Eyre is more marketable, the Cubs prefer to trade Ryan Dempster, who has 2 years and $10.5M left on his contract. They've heard the Kansas City Royals have interest since they had the worst bullpen in 2006, but need the Cubs to offset the salary either through a player or cash. (4) Royals have determined that the Cubs must take back either Emil Brown or Reggie Sanders. Brown is arbitration eligible; Sanders is under contract in 2007 for $5M. (5) If the Cubs select Brown, they have to give KC around $3M in cash for 2007 and $2.5M in cash for 2008 plus a good pitching prospect. If the Cubs select Sanders, they have to give KC $2.5M in cash for 2008 plus a middle infielder prospect. (6) In either case, the Cubs are off the hook for the $2.5M cash in 2008 if the Royals trade Dempster or if he elects free agency after 2007, his right as a player traded during a multi-year deal. (7) The Cubs would plan to use Brown or Sanders as a platoon in right for Jones, a good stick off the bench, a DH in AL parks and a spot starter in LF to give Murton a rest. What do you make of this? A bit far fetched on the one hand, but the financial dots are well connected, on the other hand. Hoops

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/beatwriters.asp?column=gregor&id=232863 Crawford seems to be on the White Sox radar as well; difficult to see at this stage whether Gregor knows Kenny is looking at Carl, or whether Gregor thinks Kenny should look at Carl. We do know that over the last few years, Kenny has been much bolder than Hendry when it comes to making trades.

who is in CF with this bench? lofton might be better than the starter! :cry: i dont know anything about derosa, but fontenot may be able to play those positions and cost much less. Haven't read the Tribune yet today, but a buddy of mine said Paul Sullivan wrote something in the Cubs Bits about the Cubs possibly being interested in Tony Graffanino as a utility guy next year. I have not followed Tony's career that much since he left the White Sox, but my recollection is that he's consistently been in the high seven hundreds OPS-wise.

because he could die if he gets hit with a line drive? That's a good reason for him not to get on the mound. It's not a good reason to retire. Retire means no money. 60-day DL means keep money. pehaps but i think that the leauge and some doctors would have a say in the matter. if there is no way he will be able to pitch next year, what's the point of putting him on the 60 day? i dont know what the mlb rules are in this situation. Does the injury settlement clause still exist in MLB rules? Doctors rule Glendon unfit to pitch in 2007, and the Cubs and Rusch agree on a $1M buyout?

Here's a quick look at Crawford's contract: 2007 - $ 4.00M 2008 - $ 5.25M 2009 - $ 8.25M team option (with $2.5M buyout) 2010 - $10.00M team option (with $1.25M buyout) Incidentally, picking up the 2009 and 2010 options buys his first 2 years of free agency eligibility. There is not anything to dislike about acquiring his contract. Where do we sign up?

NA, That's fine, but then we better get at least 2 sluggers at LF, CF, SS or 2B.

The fact that he's seemingly available via trade, only has 1 year left on his contract, plays good D and has an OPS over 800 interested me. Of course, I'd much rather have ARod, Miguel Cabrera or Troy Glaus, but I don't think they're available. And Morgan Ensberg intrigues me, but I'm not sure if Houston would trade him and what his injury situation is. If Aramis walks, what would be your plan for 3B? He's got as many red flags as Blalock, without the upside. He's older, was brutal in 2005, and has been terrible in the 2nd half of 2006. I'm not saying I want Hank, but if nothing about him interests you, nothing about Lowell should interest you either. Understood, but if Aramis walks, what would be your plan to backfill 3B?

The fact that he's seemingly available via trade, only has 1 year left on his contract, plays good D and has an OPS over 800 interested me. Of course, I'd much rather have ARod, Miguel Cabrera or Troy Glaus, but I don't think they're available. And Morgan Ensberg intrigues me, but I'm not sure if Houston would trade him and what his injury situation is. If Aramis walks, what would be your plan for 3B?

Crede's OBP is .328 - only walked 28 times, but his slugging is over .500, so he is a Hendry-type player, but I think he would be more of the same Jacque Jonesesque players we don't want to see.

Blalock has $11M owed to him over the next 2 years (and a team option in 2009), so he is younger and cheaper than Lowell, and bats left-handed. But statistically in 2006, Lowell had slightly better OBP and significantly better SLG. There is nothing about Blalock that interests me: he has regressed every year since 2003.

Agreed, but we're talking Hendry here.

Somehow I knew you would, and I'm cool with that. But we have to face the facts: if Aramis bolts (which I now think he is apt to do), there has got be a 3B solution better than Scott Moore. Maybe Lowell isn't perfect, but with 1 year on hid deal, it' snot onerous. Maybe Hank Blalock needs a change of scenery. But we should discuss 3b in the context of Aramis not being here. As for Tejada, I'd trade just about anybody not named Lee, Zambrano, Hill, Pie, Veal, Pawelek to get him.

Here's another one for your amusement. Chicago – Cubs GM Jim Hendry did not leave Cub fans crying for too long. Less than 24 hours after 3B Aramis Ramirez bolted from the Cubs to sign a 5 year $75M contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Hendry completed two deals to re-build the left side of his infield and improve the overall offense. In the first deal, the Cubs traded LF Matt Murton, SS Ronny Cedeno and pitchers Juan Mateo and Ryan O’Malley to the Baltimore Orioles for SS Miguel Tejada. Though financial details were not disclosed, one Oriole source speaking on the condition of anonymity indicated that Baltimore would be contributing $7M towards Tejada’s remaining 3 years and $42M. It is believed the Cubs will pay Tejada $11M in 2007 and $12M each in 2008 and 2009. Hendry spoke glowingly of Tejada: “He is the best shortstop in baseball, complete package and we’re thrilled to get him. We hated to give up young, promising talent in Matt and Juan, but Miggy is a high impact player, who doesn’t come along on the market very often.” Tejada will be introduced to the Cubs media later in the week, but his agent said: ”While Miguel is very happy with the contributions he made to the Orioles, he and the team probably needed to go in different directions, and he is very much looking forward to playing in front of the great Cub fans.” It was thought that the Angels and Red Sox were offering a better package, but owner Peter Angelos preferred to deal Tejada to an NL team. One league source said the Astros were also in the running to acquire Tejada, but Astro GM Tim Purpura insisted that Baltimore pick up half the contract. Hendry has been very quiet about Ramirez leaving. Maybe he let his actions do the talking. In the second big deal of the day, the Cubs traded IF Cesar Izturis and relief pitchers David Aardsma and Roberto Novoa to the Boston Red Sox for 3B Mike Lowell. No financial details were disclosed by either team, but a league official indicated that the commissioner’s office was not looking at the deal, which implies that less than $1M in cash traded hands. Lowell is due to make $9M in 2007 – he will become a free agent after the 2007 season. Red Sox GM, Theo Epstein, did not comment on the trade, but many insiders have been telling people for weeks that Epstein was seriously considering moving Kevin Youkilis back to 3B and focusing on finding an impact 1B through free agency. With SS Alex Gonzalez and 2B Mark Loretta both free agents, acquiring Izturis was probably a contingency move – he will make $4.15M in 2007 and the Red Sox have a team option in 2008. With the exception of Jonathan Papelbon, the Red Sox bullpen was highly ineffective at numerous times during the 2006 season, so Aardsma and Novoa will be counted on to add instant value. Hendry was absolutely thrilled when the Red Sox agreed to trade Lowell: “Mike has great tangible value in the field, and outstanding intangible value in the clubhouse. Some people will say his run production was lower than expected, but he did spend the bulk of his at bats in the 6 and 7 spots – I anticipate he’ll be batting in the 5 spot for us.” Hendry did not address the seemingly open 2B spot in his comments, but with both Cedeno and Izturis traded, it is believed he is leaning towards Ryan Theriot. Hendry still has much work to do in the coming weeks. He has decisions to make at 2B, LF, CF, starting pitching and whether to bring Kerry Wood back as a reliever.

Decent pay. No pressure at all. 2 World series wins in the last 9 years suggests they could win a third crown sometime in the next 5 years.

His option was just picked up. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2597697

If I was Brian Cashman, I would pick up Gary Sheffield's $13M option, and then trade him for some prospects (even if I have to throw in some cash like ~$3-4M). Some team will take 1 year of Gary Sheffield for ~$9-10M (like the Astros, Angels or Dodgers). In similar vain, if I was Kenny Williams, I would pick up Buehrle's $9.5M option, and then trade him for young players to a team in need of a starter, but feels they can contend in 2007 (St. Louis). If Kenny can get some salary relief by getting McCarthy in the rotation, he could use Buerhle's money and take another shot at Andruw Jones or Miguel Tejada.

I think many of us are agreeing that Hudson may not be worth $11M a year, which is why I put the $11M cash clause in the mock deal. Hudson is due to make $6M in 2007, $13M in 2008, $13M in 2009 and $1M buyout in 2010. If the Braves gave the Cubs $5M cash in 2008 and $6M in 2009, the Cubs would owe Hudson $6M in '07, $8M in '08 and $8M in '09. Plus, they get Jones to play CF in 2007 (and maybe beyond). It's a great deal for the Cubs, and a huge salary relief for Atlanta if they want to re-build or re-load. Again, just attempting to think outside the box and improve the offense and rotation simultaneously.

I wonder if Hendry sees Zambrano, Hill and Miller as his 1,3, and 5. If so, might Padilla and Lilly be candidates for 2 and 4?

Jeff Kent is not a free agent. He signed an extension in spring training. He will get $9M in 2007 and the Dodgers have a $9M option on him in 2008. Kent is buddies with Coletti, and has made it clear he is ending his career in Dodger Blue. Hoops

Actually the Sox owe both guys $10M in 2007. Vazquez will actually earn $12.5M, but the D-Backs are picking up $2.5M. I would take Javier over Freddy.

Would you prefer Javier Vazquez?

It's kind of interesting that the WS have all that money tied up in those pitchers, whose best quality appears to be their ability to throw 200 IP, and one of the things Hendry is most likely to go after is pitchers who can give him 200 IP. And I wonder just how likely KW is to exercise the option on Buerhle. Williams could gamble that exercising Buehrle's option will make him an attractive trade target at 1 year and $9.5M. He could figure some team is willing to trade back some young talent for at least 1 year of Buehrle in the rotation. I think most pundits feel Buehrle will be a St. Louis Cardinal by the 2008 season.

I think he'll probably be on the roster, but probably not in the starting rotation. He's had 1 good year, 4 decent ones, and 2 terrible ones in the last 7 seasons-I hope he can get back to one of those decent seasons, and then we won't be too afraid to bring him out in long relief. If he is as bad next year as this year, I think he'll be gone by the end of May. The best case scenario here, in my opinion, is that Glendon has a great Spring, some team has a devastating blow to their rotation and is in desperate need for a starter, and they are willing to take on Rusch if the Cubs pick up half of his salary (Rusch is making $3.25M in 2007). As far fetched as that scenario sounds, recall that Hendry was able to find a sucker, er team, to take Neifi off his hands.