KingKongvs.Godzilla

So begins the era of The LeMahieu. Here's hoping he takes 2B from Barney.

Dude, we have Starlin Castro. Yeah that's why Lee was tradeable, but on an intuitive level I was pretty high on Lee. He's a pretty impressive player.

Whoa whoa whoa...this the Cubs board that likes the Garza trade? Nice. Hi, I'm a guy who joined years ago only to post once or twice every few months. That was one of Hendry's best moves in a long time. Landing a 27 year old guy who is a solid #2/top tier #3 from a top tier rotation on a top tier club in a top tier division is a coup for a few prospects most people only started really liking last year. The fact that he could get better is a plus considering he's got the "stuff" to do so, his work ethic is described as intense, and he's shown himself to be a very durable pitcher. I've noticed that many seem to assume Chris Archer will one day become similar to/better than Matt Garza because he's got an electric fastball/breaking ball combo too. Personally, I've seen Chris Archer pitch and followed him since we stole him from the Indians, and he's a reliever. He could/should be a very good reliever. A possible closer even, but I don't see him as a guy who can go 2/3 times around lineups for 200+ innings every year. his command of both pitches are in question. I really hate losing Lee though...guy is going to be their starting SS in a couple years....Chirino meh, Cubs have catchers right now...Fuld..well everyone knows Fuld now...[expletive] guy...good for him. Now all that's left is drafting or buying a true ace. The trade is a big nothing if they don't do that unless Garza becomes significantly better.

Bauer's a good pitcher but I see his ceiling as a 2/3 type..Lincecum is probably the most athletic pitcher in the league and a better athlete than Bauer.

I don't expect much of a regression from Castro at all.

Probably the one pitcher besides Kerry Wood who's career I've followed from beginning to end...my favorite Yankee from those dynasty teams...seriously a very likable guy who had himself a very good major league career for it's most high profile team.

Yikes. That was bad. Yes it was...I was glad to see a pro-Garza piece (I think I've read one), but halfway through my head starting hurting.

Someone could have warned me...just started posting there and can't say I'm impressed....Why I don't get my Cubs fix here is beyond me. Neyer's a coup for SBNation.

In particular, Lee and Ramirez performed abysmally over the first half of last year: 2010 first half #s: NL: .257/.327/.402 Cubs: .254/.321/.398 Lee: .233/.329 /.366 Ramirez: .207/.268/.380 Removing the contribution of Lee and Ramirez (~18% of total PA over that period) and replacing it with their career average numbers yields a team line of .265/.331/.421. Merely average first-halves for Lee and Ramirez may have been enough to bring the offense from below average in every category to above average across the board. The fact that they typically occupied the middle of the lineup didn't help, either. Fortunately, Aramis was his old self in the second half (.276/.321/.526 w/ 15 HR in 246 PA), so that augurs well for 2011. Even a modest rebound from Peña should more than compensate for losing DLee. Very cool post and another reason I'm optimistic about 2011 possibilities...limited sure, but possibly fun to watch.

DJ LeMahieu is gonna be a stah I tell you.

No hope for Pujols, but I find myself rooting for us to sign Fielder. Big power, big OBP, big guy, athletic, and then there's the power.

Losing Lee sucks, but system should see an influx of talent with next years early draft picks anyway. Plus, some of our best talent hasn't broken out yet...I'm still a big believer in the talent of guys like LeMaheui, Vitters, and Cashner as a SP.

Garza should be a really good #2 type starter here...I think he's a damn good pitcher. Sucks to lose Lee, but I thought everyone else we gave up was overrated in one way or another.

He reminds me of a young JD Drew, but right handed.

Easily the best of the pipe dreams of this offseason (Felix Hernandez doesn't count...Justin Upton could make it a tossup but that was a play rumor anyway).

Always been a fan of Pena...athletic left handed bat who hits with power...could do worse for a year...take him over Laroche anytime.

Good. If he's been rehabbing well and taking his HGH like a good athlete then I don't mind the risk...better than Bonderman...though I wouldn't mind him if it came to it.

I'd trade Soto for him There are better ways to get marginally better than trading Soto for Upton. 22 year olds with Upton's talent level don't come along very often. Agree with this...He's got franchise type talent. Not sure I'd lose sleep over losing Soto if it was for a guy like this.

The HS arm I like right now is Henry Owens.

I am a Cub fan for Greinke. Not sure how it'd get done, but trading for Greinke is pretty much the best move a teamcould make this offseason after signing Cliff Lee. My only issue is that neither the farm system or MLB team is loaded enough to take a major hit in talent in multiple areas to upgrade in one. That said, we have the resources to lock him up and build around him so...yeah.

I've given it some thought, and I think Valentine lands here somehow. I'm an idiot, but I think it'd be a nice marriage until it ends.

I'd rather have Bradley, Matt Barnes, or...poooooosssibly even Henry Owens if his profile raises during the next season.

Thing is it didn't exactly fall off a cliff...I suspect both guys will probably pitch in the 89-93 range as pros once they get settled in. Sonny Gray would be nice. Getting the tall power lefty would be better is alls I'm sayin.

Seriously...that guy's arm was going to change everything until it stopped working well. You can't even find Prior clips on the internet anymore...well there's one, but you don't want to watch it...it kinda sucks.

Yes, it's rather obvious. Gray is a top 5 talent and was a top 15 talent coming out of HS 3 years ago. Simpson is a top 200 talent who only a few teams thought of taking in the top 50. Repertoire-wise, Gray's stuff is better. Gray's power curve is better than Simpson's slider or curve. Simpson faded off late in the season with his fastball; Gray is consistently in the mid-90s. More about Rendon: http://projectprospect.com/article/2010/07/15/anthony-rendon-scouting-report-part-i Again...hype. Simpson sounds plenty talented with a low-mid 90's fastball that can hit 97 and a breaking that gets described as at least above average. That sounds exactly like Gray. Simpson's also praised for his athleticism, like Gray. I'd rather get the lefty anyway. Purke has TOR pitcher written all over him. Also, I'm not anti-Gray or against picking Gray. I'm aware we drafted him before, I'm aware that he goes to the top pitching program in college right now (IMO), and I'm aware that he's really talented. I just think that one short RHP in the first is enough over two years, especially when there's a power lefty available. Rendon would be the position player I want for sure.