KingKongvs.Godzilla

I'd take his 2010 in a heartbeat...a 131 OPS+ isn't exactly crapping the bed...neither is the 114 he put up this past season really...screams buy low to me.

Yes. If you go after fallen players, you go after fallen stars. In this case, the star is still in his physical prime and I'm willing to bet/guess more than capable of getting most of his former, oh so distant value back. Wright would be a coup for anyone...

2nd line player eh? Anyone else notice that baseball and football have started using each other's terminology a little more lately? Maybe I'm crazy...this is a poor example too since "second line" isn't really a common football term...but I've read "gameplan" associated with baseball in the past year or so way more than I should... Good thing someone mentioned the GB rates too...solid staff out there in Cleveland.

Let's see...the Cubs just hired the Padres GM....they're a retooling team that doesn't spend much...Cubs lose their 3B...Padres have a solid everyday 3B entering his prime who could get them a couple of solid prospects...the Cubs have solid prospects... I like the Stewart idea some too, but I'd like to see the Cubs go after Headley. I'd like it ven moreso if they go after one of the big 1B...

That's good that the pick is in play. I like Ramirez, but whether he's here or not the Cubs will play.

Ah. Makes sense to me...I think Hamels and Greinke are the most talented of the talented 2013 FA crop.

*snicker* x2 Ponder reminds me of 2002 Pennington, the only Pennington that was fully healthy in the NFL. He's a young, upstart facilitator for an offense loaded with playmakers. Peterson, Shiancoe, Harvin, and friends can do the work, he just has to get them the ball and don't [expletive] it up. Plus he gets to play his home games in a dome, always a nice thing for a pitch, catch, and go QB, amirite?

It most definitely is. If Greinke is adverse to pitching in a big market, then he's going to lose some points in that battle. I would love Greinke though...for whatever reason whenever I think Greinke I think of Mike Mussina (aces of mid-level teams who make for strong 1B/2 types in a big market), and Mike Mussina was awesome. Power pitchers with a little bit of finesse in their game that reflects their intelligence, and both are a bit surly/stand-offish...it's a vague comparison w/e...

I was wondering when this would be mentioned. Jackson could still probably use 200-300 PAs or so in the minors, and I was confused why it seemed a few were just handing him CF ABs already. Jackson's a good prospect, but I feel like he's shifted from a little underrated to a just a tad bit overrated. He didn't exactly kick ass and take names at either stop at AA, and unlike Vitters he was proper age rather than young for the level. He's as good a piece of trade bait as Los Cachorros have.

The Jets need one of those Lamarr Woodleys.

Speaking of Cleveland OFers...how interesting would Choo be if he were to find his way onto the trade market?

Don't disagree that Greinke is better, but I do question whether he'd want to pitch in a big market still.

While I disagree that his upside is entirely based on his upside (he's got some skill), I do agree that there was never a question where he'd play in 2012. He's at 3B until it's absolutely 100% true that he's a butcher there.

Do you really?

After that I think it's Cowboys Jets Cowboys. Not fun.

Cubs system has breakout candidates all over the place...I think Vitters and McNutt will step up, particularly Vitters...then there's guys like Szczur, Ha, Baez, Ben Wells, DeVoss, even a hopefully healthy Hayden Simpson...then there's the really young guys who have talent like Candelario, Penalver, Vogelbach, Dunston Jr. etc...there's plenty of talent here it's just finding a way to get them to break out...there's only so few names here because that's alot of extra typing. I'll put it this way...the Cubs before the Garza trade were ranked something like 8th...top 10...after the Garza trade they were in the 16-18 range...They dropped from a top 10 system to bottom quarter of the top 20 after trading a 5th/gimmicky OF prospect, a 27 year old former IF turned C prospect, a guy who could be a 4th OF or maybe even start one day, an A ball speed/defense SS who might have a bat, and a SP prospect who doesn't throw enough strikes in AA. Teams and players fly up these kinds of lists. I'm actually more worried I spoke too soon because maybe the Cubs make a trade (which would be a compliment to the farm system). To me this is a farm system that is on the cusp of being awesome rather than a project or something that needs to be completely overhauled. What needs to be done is stuff like improving facilities, getting philosophy together with coaches and trainers, and getting more coaches and trainers in. All that while obviously bringing talent in and out...

Neither has a long future with the team anyway. Soriano kinda does until/unless we cut bait. Grand scheme, not really. But yeah...I'm always shocked that deal goes until 2014...I always think 2013.

Mostly just a good athlete with good instincts really, but I don't think anyone raved about his D. He's a solid talent. By that I mean I could see him making it to the big leagues. It's a good group of names, but I'm not ready to call it special. I'm a big fan of Kelly and Fuentes, Spanenberg is solid, Rizzo is solid with some good upside, and then far off upside. Even amongst their big guys there's plenty of questions...Plus, if a team spends money on the draft and before that trades a star and a set up man, I'd expect some names to be thrown into the system. It's good for them that it happened, but I don't think it took a stroke of genius or anything. To be completely honest, I don't find their system any more impressive than the Cubs system last year before the Garza trade, which also got love (though probably not from Law). There's no true elite in the system, which takes it down a peg. I actually think we'll pass them fairly quickly in perceived value right after the 6th pick in the draft is made, and IMO the gap between their system now and the Cubs' now isn't that big in the first place. Hell, I think the Cubs system is a few tweaks and a couple breakouts away from being elite...If it helps, I trust McLeod and Hoyer to do a good job there and guide the system towards being elite.

Neither has a long future with the team anyway.

Why does anyone know the name of the Red Sox's database program? Is it one of the things whose reputation has gone up due to the whole Epstein situation?

It should also be considered that all of the OF candidates (Soriano, Byrd, Jackson, Colvin) also double as trade bait. It just varies on how much other teams would want them, what they bring back, and how that effects the roster.

Trading Byrd should be in Theo's top 5 to do list on his to do list of his choice, even though there could be many to do lists that work out.

Coello is a former Sox prospect with a good arm. I think he can be a good power pen arm if given the shot.

Not sure what to guess on his posting fee, but for the contract I'm thinking anywhere from 4/42-5/80 and everything in between. I don't think he'll get 100 million. If he's any good he'll have endorsements out the wazoo anyway or sumtin.

Hop on the Vitters wagon while there's still seats. Edit: Wow. Looked up.