HoopsCubs

Maybe he just needs the right motivation and environment to maximize his gifts.

Near as I can tell, the Cubs have 5 trade chips on the 40 man roster, who I would consider ML ready, and who I think Hendry is willing to trade: Corey Patterson, Todd Walker, Jerry Hairston, Rich Hill and Glendon Rusch. I guess we can add Ronny Cedeno to the list, if the trade is for another SS. What combination of those players would net us the OFs you have listed above? Do we believe that Hendry is unwilling to trade Jerome Williams? I was on the bubble with him. I get the sense that Hendry really sees him as a solid 4th starter. But, there is no denying he's a trade chip, and maybe he's really not as untouchable as I think he might be.

Near as I can tell, the Cubs have 5 trade chips on the 40 man roster, who I would consider ML ready, and who I think Hendry is willing to trade: Corey Patterson, Todd Walker, Jerry Hairston, Rich Hill and Glendon Rusch. I guess we can add Ronny Cedeno to the list, if the trade is for another SS. What combination of those players would net us the OFs you have listed above?

Yes.

If so, we need to come up with new ideas on how to package him with other trade chips to better this club. The Cubs refusal to trade Zambrano and Prior, and their inability to trade Wood is really causing Hendry some problems, or so it seems to me. They need to trade pitching (either their own or by acquiring someone else's) to get a bat. Maybe Rusch, Walker and a prospect can get us a high priced pitcher, who can they be flipped over for a better bat. What's the definitive word on Hendry's ability to trade Glendon? Thanks, Hoops

Kenny still has Garland, Uribe, Cotts, and a prospect available to deal.

If what you are saying turns out to be true, then Hendry is probably waiting until Dec. 20 to see who gets non-tendered: maybe the Jay Gibbons/Craig Wilson platoon will be cheap.

Has an imposter replaced the Jim Hendry we once knew? Where is the guy, who made the Choi for Lee trade when Baltimore backed out at the 11th hour? Where is the guy, who pulled together the 4 team deal that netted the Cubs Nomar when it looked like the 3 team deal was about to collapse? Who has kidnapped the real Jim Hendry? Please bring him back. All kidding aside, I'm begin to wonder if the Tribune has suddenly (privately) slashed Hendry's payroll from the $100-105M range down to $85M for 2006. Are the Cubs about to be sold? Is MacPhail being punished for failing to deliver a post-season berth in 2004 and 2005? Honestly, only a sudden, reduced payroll can effectively explain Hendry's passiveness to this point. I would have expected to see a much hungrier GM considering what the 2005 season was like, and the fact that he is working for his next deal. Does he really think Eyre, Howry, Perez, Rusch, Pierre and a low OBP RF make this team any better? He's got to be financially handcuffed, right? Either that, or he has his extension already in place, but has decided to surround Dusty with below-average players, so there won't be any justification to bring him back in 2007 after 2006 tanks. I feel like something else is going on in the background here that we don't fully know or understand. Hendry's lack of dealing just seems very uncharacteristic. Hoops

Q. What do the Cubs and Pirates have in common? A. They both lost their primary targeted free agent to LA.

Go ahead. We can take it.

If the Cubs insist in wanting to trade Walker, why not just sign Tony Graffanino? He's steady with the glove, has decent OBP and plate discipline for a #2 hitter and he only costs money. Or heck, bring Grudzielanek back.

If we want the Cubs to do this, Hendry needs to quickly head off Kenny Williams at the pass. It sounds like the Sox have been flying under the radar, and have offered either Garland or Contreras and an OF prospect for Vazquez, and seem to be the leading contenders to get him. As for Green, he has that limited NTC. It's improbable he'd waive it unless a team picked up his 2008 option. And, I'm not even sure he'd waive it anyway.

How about a Wilson/Nixon platoon? I still think there's a chance Hendry will trade for Jay Gibbons, and bat him against righties. He seems more available than Nixon, and had decent stats (.864 OPS) against right-handed pitching. In a vacuum, the idea of hitting Craig Wilson against lefties makes a lot of sense, but considering he made $3M last year, I don't know if it makes financial sense to pay a guy that much for 150 at bats.

I like Millwood a lot, but there is no denying the stat that he hasn't pitched over 200 innings in 3 of the last 5 years. And if he's being marketed by Boras at the AJ Burnett price point, Hendry should just let someone else overpay. With the money left though, I do believe Hendry is still targeting an impact starting pitcher. I still wouldn't be surprised if that pitcher was Derek Lowe (trade), Jeff Weaver (free agent) or Javier Vazquez (trade). I've heard some say Hendry has mild interest in Jason Schmidt (trade), but he seems past his prime to me. I have convinced myself that Hendry won't give up the talent required to get Zito or Livan Hernandez, not that Livan is available.

I'm sure Hendry is not giving up on trading him. I'd still pitch Patterson to Seattle, Anaheim, Baltimore and the Yankees - all need help in CF, and may be willing to take a chance on a change in scenery fueling his growth. One of those teams could sign Damon, if Boston doesn't. Maybe trading Cedeno and Patterson to the Red Sox for who? Patterson and Neifi for Trot Nixon.

I'm sure Hendry is not giving up on trading him. I'd still pitch Patterson to Seattle, Anaheim, Baltimore and the Yankees - all need help in CF, and may be willing to take a chance on a change in scenery fueling his growth. One of those teams could sign Damon, if Boston doesn't.

I'm glad upper management stepped in! 5 years and $50M for a guy whose OPS has never been above .795? How's that 4/$40M Renteria deal working out for Boston. They traded him after one season!

On the radio about 20 minutes ago it was reported that Boston is most likely picking up between $11 and $12M of the $29M Renteria has left. So if true, for Atlanta that translates to paying Renteria $6M per season.

Even if AZ were willing to deal Green, why in the world would you think their GM to be silly enough to take a $2.x million dollar bust for a guy who is capable of being in the top 5 of NL outfielders.. Although, I know Green has a background in Chicago, so that would not be a problem. But anyone who heard Hendry on MLB Radio yesterday knows that Patterson is gone. Because Green is not a CFer and that's where they have him penciled in right now. Right now, the Diamondbacks need to move outfielders. Troy Glaus is at 3rd base and they re-signed Tony Clark for first base. The have Luis Gonzalez in left, Chad Tracy in right, and Shawn Green miscast in CF. They still have no place for Carlos Quentin and Connor Jackson. Trading Glaus would be ideal for them, but as of yet no takers. They'd probably love to trade Gonzalez, but he's old and expensive. Green may be the best trade chip they have unless they want to move one of the prospects. Defensively, they will have problems with Green in centerfield. Don't get me wrong - I like Shawn Green, and would prefer him over Luis. But with Green guaranteed $21.5M over 2 years and his 26-team NTC, I just don't see it happening. He wasn't thrilled leaving LA and moving to Arizona, if you recall. Of course, if the D-Backs kick in some dough, and like Jeff said, the Cubs picked up his 2008 option, things could change.

He was hurt but he came back for the second half of the season I believe. certainly worth looking into. Gammons was on ESPNews last might discussing the Soriano deal, and he expressed concern that Vidro and Soriano are going to make over $18 mil next year alone, and that the Nats would have trouble filling the roster. Wasn't Washington's main rationale for acquiring Soriano their belief that Vidro's knee injury has put his career in jeopardy?

Green would have to waive his no-trade clause. I think he can block a deal to any team other than the Dodgers, Padres and Angels.

SoCal contact who told me about the Angels/Cubs rumour last week also said Arizona may be in the mix for Patterson. He posed three scenarios: (1) Patterson for Luis Gonzalez and cash; (2) 3-way deal with Patterson going to AZ, Glaus going to LA and Bradley coming to the Cubs along with prospect movement and cash. (3) 4-way deal with Vazquez going to the Red Sox, Manny going to the Mets, Floyd going to the Cubs, and Corey and prospects going to AZ. Crazy stuff!

Not necessarily. I wouldn't rule out Jerry Hairston yet as the everyday 2B if Walker is dealt.

Nationals very possible as Bowden like those tools guys too. Rangers have such a surplus of OFs now, I don't see it.

My SoCal contact just sent me an email telling me that Hendry and Stoneman spoke after the Pierre trade was official. Stoneman is willing to trade Finley ($7M in 2006) and $4m in cash to the Cubs for Patterson - one prospect from each team would also be involved in the deal. Stoneman was trying to sell Hendry on Finley's good health and good arm for RF. My contact said Hendry didn't say yes or no, but would think about it as he was working on other OF opportunities. My contact speculated that Hendry might be thinking of acquiring Mench for Walker, and could then envision a Finley/Mench platoon in RF. Again, take it for what it is. Rumor mill stuff.