JStaff17

I agree, give the kids a chance to produce. If they flop, we still have room payroll wise to make a trade during the season, etc. Also, if we want to keep our pitching staff in tact for the long haul, we'll have to pay them. A couple of "cheap", productive position players goes a long way in allowing that to happen.

This is interesting. While I don't find it very probable. What kind of deal could be swung with the BoSox for Manny. I would say it would take a lot, but it may be worth a lot to get one of the best hitters in the game today. Realistically, my idea for the trade would be: Cubs get: Manny Boston gets: Patterson, Williams, Wellemeyer, and at least another ML ready prospect. I still dont know if that is enough for Boston to bite. They would still have a hole at shortstop, so they might ask for Cedeno as well. The money involved obviously is not equal as well. In conclusion, it's going to be difficult and expensive to trade for Manny. Would Tejada be cheaper?

"I wish people would accept this team for what we are, not what we are not. This is our team." Coach Norman Dale, Hoosiers

Despite depressed value, he is still the Cubs 2nd best trade chip right now (behind Walker). And since the Cubs still have a need, it makes sense to move him. If they can move him for something valuable, I'm all for it. But if they are taking crap back, Patterson is fine for the bench. Pierre shouldn't be guaranteed a spot past 2006, a little healthy competition between relatively young players would be a good thing. Agreed to both posts gentleman, except I am not sure of Patterson's trade value at this point. Seems like selling low to me. I say keep him around and give him a shot to be the player everybody thought he was going to be last year. I mean, this time last year, Patterson was probably better thought of around here than Derrek Lee. Oh boy, a lot can change in a year.

Would anyone here be opposed to keeping Corey on the Cubs bench, he could pinch run, be a late defensive replacement for Murton, etc., and you never know, he might find his stroke and could start in RF. Opinions?

ESPN does not mention Otsuka in the article and Wells talks have evidently not gotten very far. That's because I was wrong, it's on MLB.com (Hot Stove Report). Sorry.

I saw somewhere, ESPN.com I think that there is more to this trade: Boston gets: Loretta and Otsuka for San Diego : David Wells and Maribelli Still seams to me that SD is getting fleeced here, but it takes two to tango, so to speak.

Apparently the two teams are talking about a possible deal. This would effectively take two possible Cub targets off the market. While I wasn't holding out any hope of getting Manny, I thought Abreu was at least possible. Who are the Cubs going to have in the OF in '06. Come on JH, make a big splash soon.

I just read on CBS Sportsline that the Brewers and BoSox are talking about trading these two. Just thought I'd throw it out there for conversation since Clement would then face the Cubbies a bunch of times as a Brewer. The Brewers obviously can afford to trade Overbay with Prince Fielder ready. It scares me to think of them with more pitching however. Discuss.

I'd also add that he has a greater likelihood of being really bad than really good, since his ceiling isn't that fantastic. My question would be is Pierre an upgrade to what the Cubs had last year at the top of the order? Yes. I like the trade and think he'll set the table nicely for DLee and Aramis. Now Hendry needs to get the Furcal deal done and the top of the Cubs order will be stacked. Another point I'd like to make is that Pierre is considered below average defensively because of a poor throwing arm, he can go get 'em with the best of them, even covering the vast expanses of Pro Player Stadium. If this trade goes through, it will be nice to see Hendry heading in the right direction.

If we release Macias, who is going to bat in all the pitchers Simulated games? :D

Could Greenburg be involved, he is quite "Pierre like", could maybe step in and play center/lead off. I could see him and Mitre being the two getting shipped out. I think Greenburg is going to be a productive player if he gets a shot.

I saw the same rumor on CBS Sportsline and this deal might include Matsui, Heilman and some prospects. They would then use Baez and Huff as chips in trying to acquire Manny Ramirez. If that happens, they'll push even harder to sign Furcal, imo.

Last year, I went to a luncheon where Harmon Kellebrew was being honored in Payette, Idaho, his home town. My buddies and I spent the whole afternoon with him and had some great converstions about baseball. He is a class act. Bill Buckner lives here in Boise as well, and I've ran into him a couple of times. Never really spent much time with him, just a quick hello. I was suppose to go duck hunting with Will Clark once when I was a kid back in California, but he had to back out at the last minute. Very disappointing. This was before he singlehandedly destroyed the Cubs in the NLCS in '89, so I was looking forward to meeting him. After that, my desire waned.

I would agree with that as well. Keep Corey, he's bound to come back strong. He's too good an athelete to struggle so mightily. Plus, hitting 8th like you said, he doesn't have to be a superstar offensively, as long as he goes and gets it in center. At this point, he is much stronger defensively than Lofton. Sorry about the repeat, I didn't read the other thread, my bad

I wanted to get some opinions and possible lineups if all of these signings occur. I realize that this is an early and rough list, but it might give an idea of what the Cubs are interested in the offseason. Per their list: 5) Furcal, 10) Giles, 28) Howry, 37) Lofton, 39) Seanez, 45) Mark Sweeney. These are all pretty familiar names aroung this board and most seem to think the Cubs will sign some/all of them. One question I had is why Howry and Seanez? They both had good years in '05, will probably be relatively expensive and we have good young arms in our pen already. I think maybe signing a LOOGY would be a better way to go. Sweeney would be a nice addition to the bench IMO, no more Macias as the Cubs top pinch hitter makes me feel much more comfortable in late inning situations. My lineup would look like this if all these signings occur: Furcal - SS Lofton - CF Lee - 1B Giles - RF Ramirez - 3B Walker - 2B Barrett - C Murton - LF Pitcher Spot Bench Sweeney - 1B/OF Cedeno - MI Blanco - C Hairston - UT Patterson/Burnitz/Pie Depending on who stays, etc. Rotation Zambrano Prior Wood Maddux Williams Pen Dempster Ohman Seanez Howry Novoa Wuertz/Welly/Hill/Van Buren or another young arm I could definitely live with this team. I'd love to see them keep Corey and for him to rebound but I have a feeling JH will trade him away, once again at his lowest value. Lofton would be an OK stopgap until Pie is ready, which I dont think is too long. Thoughts?