KingKongvs.Godzilla

Yes, and there are not 30 guys I'd consider legit #2 starters...just like there are not 30 guys I'd consider legit or even borderline #1s. The guy is a very, very solid pitcher and a boon to the Cubs rotation. I'd be disappointed if he was once again one of the Cubs' two best SP talents next year.

I think that an awful ST would be the only thing that would prevent him. Otherwise, we have a starting OF looking something like Soriano/Byrd/Colvin unless someone else is signed or traded. Even if we did get someone like LoMo or Michael Taylor(just thought Id suggest him as a possible target), I'd prefer Jackson in CF and trade Byrd. By keeping him in the minors for 11 days they can push back his service time by 1 year- at least that's the way it used to work. I think they would still probably like to see if Colvin is anyone worth keeping for a couple weeks to start the season. Exactly...I realize Colvin had a bad year but it would be re-[expletive]-tarded for the Cubs to buy too much into it...He should get another look and he's got the tools to make good on it. Despite the bad year I'm still impressed by Colvin's potential to offer some power/speed. He could turn himself into a starting RF and if anything he's a versatile bench OF.

Well the big advantage I think I see is that this year's top prospect (Jackson) is a much more reliable and less overhyped prospect than Archer last year. If Archer + a pure upside/low level guy like Lee + possible bit/role players was enough to get a stout, healthy, young talent like Garza then I'm not too worried about the Cubs' ability to make a trade if they see it. The thing about the Cubs' quantity is that relative to most farm systems it's also quality...In the next few years I think we'll see quite a few former Cub prospects turned bit/role players in the MLB. Also, don't underrate Randy Wells as a trade chip. He's capable of being a high quality 4th starter on a very good team, which has solid value. Look at how quickly everyone got onto the Doug Fister wagon...Wells has a similar style and stuff, and there's the hope that team's that saw Fister think an in-shape healthy Wells is capable of being surprisingly good (as he was the first two years in the majors). Hell, I think the Cubs should be one of those teams...He's not someone you can trade straight up for a more premium talent, but if he was then he'd be a premium himself (which isn't something they should look to give up). He's someone who can be a significant piece in a trade IMO. He's a proven, cheap, MLB SP talent...even coming off his worst season he finished really strong...

I actually think he won't get called up until may or June next year as he gets ~200 more minor league PAs. I also believe he or Szczur might be the best trade bait we have for the right player.

Do you think Cub fans will be pissed if he doesn't come here? I think I decided a week ago that I don't give a damn because New GM/Savior should be a good hire anyway.

Is he finished? It was kind of a dick move on the Rangers' part...I'll admit that much.

Since I'm too lazy to start a thread on him... I know this team has pen arms. I know the bullpen is actually a strength. That said, Jon Broxton might be available for a one year incentive laden deal this offseason. He's fallen off a little from dominance a while back and is coming off TJ surgery. Why not?

One pitching prospect of theirs I would look at is Jake Thompson. Big arm but the performance hasn't been there. Jesse Hahn if he was healthy...

One pitching prospect of theirs I would look at is Jake Thompson. Big arm but the performance hasn't been there.

One pitching prospect of theirs I would look at is Jake Thompson. Big arm but the performance hasn't been there.

For those who haven't/won't click on the link (smart move): These guys have to dig low...

Distant friends of friends who are friends with friends of friends of Theo Epstein speculate that Epstein might be a Breaking Bad fan.

Did they even get permission for the interview?

You got me into this player. Good looking talent.

Wait, what? What Tampa will get for Shields will make Cub fans grateful for the price we paid for Garza, if they aren't already. Whoever trades for Shields will be paying for him coming off his most aesthetically pleasing spreadsheet, and they'll be bargaining with a FO that demands a good price for their talent (deservedly so). He's a high end pitcher no doubt, but I'd rather have Garza's power arm moving forward.

What if Fielder decides to sign somewhere else? The Cubs are supposed to be leveraging their money into premium talent. Votto is about as premium as it gets. Cheap talent is nice, but we don't need it the way some teams need it. They're also supposed to be keeping premium talent, which Castro probably is. I wouldnt do it. I want a strong bat at 1B but not at the price of losing a strong bat at SS.

how can you make a player on the ground fumble? the moment you touch him the play is dead. You'd think they'd explain it that way then. He was getting up and switching the ball from right hand to left hand.

Put your shocked faces on: NE just got a BS call intheir favor. That was a fumble. When I sit down and watch an NFL game I wonder wtf I'm thinking. It just feels contrived...Every single game...

28 other teams can beat that offer. The Cubs could beat that offer.

That's more likely to close negotiations (the Rays hanging up) than to open them. I can't imagine Colvin is the type of player the Rays would value very highly (given their highly statistical, patience/OBP approach) and LaHair won't carry any real value at all on the trade market. Barney might, but he'd be more of a throw-in with value than the centerpiece of a trade. I actually think they wouldn't mind buying nice and low on Colvin. His size/speed/D/power potential would interest more teams than you'd think IMO. Hes really only a tweak or so away from being a pretty useful player. He couldn't headline a deal isthe only thing. They'd hang up no doubt, but that's because nobody is going to want LaHair for anything of any kind of significance. I should also add that neither Cobb nor Torres is talented enough to unseat one of the guys in their rotation.

In a year Shields will cost just money. Wade Davis wouldn't be a bad buy. As someone else suggested maybe even target one if their prospect arms. I say why not hold out for the day Price becomes available...in a couple years. Personally the Ray I'd like to see on this team is BJ Upton. I think he could hit 30 HRs at Wrigley with a good OBP and strong CF D.

Any velocity reports on Cashner?

I think he is. It's probably a compliment to the type of guys they're going after.

He's your typical solid veteran 3 and a top of the line 4. I'd be perfectly fine with him as the #3 starter next year. He'd still be the unofficial leader of the Cubs pitching staff because of his time spent here and the fact that he has been so solid for the team. I think we have Baker types, including Dempster. His periphs are nice, but he's throwing in a pretty sweet pitcher's park and I just don't think a young AL Central pitcher (and Baker is 3 years older than Garza was) will see the boost a young AL East pitcher would see. The Cubs made some adjustments to Garza's game, but he's always been a very good pitcher who's numbers got AL Easted. He was and is more naturally talented than Baker too.

BA/contact concerns are still out there, but I don't get it either. I think he'll end up being a similar hitter to what BJ Upton's thrown up for his career line...257/.343/.416. I do think he's capable of throwing up a really high end season or two or three...People in general are just sleeping on the Cubs' young guys because the ML team has been so embarrassingly bad. Soto was well liked enough as a prospect and no one saw him putting up his '08 and/or '10 seasons anyway. Speaking of Soto...I hope his every other year thing is just Josh Beckett syndrome.