Bruce Miles

The Byrd trade is not active at all right now. I doubt they're looking at starting pitching. The only sweetener Hendry might add would be from the lower minors. The Orioles must be "watching" them in a figurative sense since they haven't reported for spring training yet.

That's what we have the trade deadline for. I can almost guarantee that if the Cubs make the playoffs, you'll see new faces on the playoff roster. Why is it acceptable to wait until the trade deadline to make improvements that you know are neccessary? So we can pay more? Because it takes two teams to make a deal. If the other team says no, you can't make a trade. No team finishes the season with the same 25 it starts with.

I'm told nothing serious is going. All is quiet right now.

Pie was ill. He was back out there today. And he's not being traded, either.

Well you answered my question. I was going to ask if they were good friends. Got it confirmed that they indeed are good friends. More on this in the paper tomorrow. Millar returned volley, saying if Dempster hit him in the ribs, it means he was aiming low and away.

All in good fun. Look for Millar to fire back today or tomorrow. These guys seem to be pretty good friends. Nothing wrong with this kind of stuff in a game that takes itself too seriously at times.

Ah, let the "war of words" begin. http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=139435

TY Bruce! Any updates on what Jim's up to? Just what you've read this week: Seeing if they can get something done (or started) with Baltimore and looking for a little insurance in center field.

Bump. From what I've been told, the Cubs still aren't all that wild about Crisp, but they may have to explore it because other GMs are reluctant to talk trade. Why, who knows? But if something along this lines happens, the Cubs would have to move a similar contract to Boston. This would NOT be a precursor to trading Pie and/or "upgrading" at SS or starting pitching. The Cubs are committed to Theriot at SS, but I wouldn't be surprised if Cedeno gets consideration to start if he has a strong spring (provided he's not traded).

So it begins: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=134115&src=152 Enjoy

I was wondering the same thing. As was I. The Cubs had talked in general terms of what would be available. The other teams knew which players were (and are) available, but talks, as I know of them, never got down to concrete offers that both teams could accept or refuse. In other words, MacPhail knows, the Cubs are probably willing to trade Marshall, Gallagher, Murton (the Cubs are trying hard to trade him) and maybe Cedeno. MacPhail no doubt said, "That's nice, but we'd like to see something with Pie, Colvin and/or Hill." That's how these things work. So the Cubs had and have enough (as they see it) on the table, as Crane put it, for other teams to choose from. Bruce, let me ask you something. If you had to guess right now, would you say we make a "significant" move before opening day? By significant I mean not something like Marlon Byrd or any other platoon partner outfielder. I'm thinking more along the lines of a Roberts type player, or possible a starting pitcher. It's just weird that Hendry has continued to say that he wants to make a couple more moves and that he's not done yet, but here we are well into February and nothing has happened since the Lieber signing. It's tough to make a guess like that because, as I've said over and over, it takes two sides to make a deal. Hendry hasn't made a signficant deal of late because he is only half the equation with other teams. It's easy to say, "Make a deal," but you need a willing partner.

is a 2 year deal really blocking colvin? Not necessarily, but those are the feelings of the Cubs people I've talked with. They also don't see Crisp as being that much of an upgrade.

Maybe not the American League Central, but the Cubs still will be favored in the NL Central.

I was wondering the same thing. As was I. The Cubs had talked in general terms of what would be available. The other teams knew which players were (and are) available, but talks, as I know of them, never got down to concrete offers that both teams could accept or refuse. In other words, MacPhail knows, the Cubs are probably willing to trade Marshall, Gallagher, Murton (the Cubs are trying hard to trade him) and maybe Cedeno. MacPhail no doubt said, "That's nice, but we'd like to see something with Pie, Colvin and/or Hill." That's how these things work. So the Cubs had and have enough (as they see it) on the table, as Crane put it, for other teams to choose from.

As I mentioned in the endless Roberts thread, they've asked about Marlon Byrd. They're happy to go to camp with what they have, but I wouldn't rule out Hendry trying to make a deal in the final week of spring training.

Shortstop never was a priority. I don't know why this whole Greene thing got started _ just because he didn't agree to an extension? There's time for that. The Padres don't need to move him. The ship sailed on Tejada awhile back. I never heard Renteria's name talked about seriously. Typical Cubs. Any word on if they will give Derosa a shot at SS if they can get Roberts? I doubt they'd try to make him their full-time shortstop. If they keep Cedeno and he has a great spring, I could see him starting and Theriot falling into the utility role.

Shortstop never was a priority. I don't know why this whole Greene thing got started _ just because he didn't agree to an extension? There's time for that. The Padres don't need to move him. The ship sailed on Tejada awhile back. I never heard Renteria's name talked about seriously.

They'd been looking at Marlon Byrd, but Texas isn't an easy organizaton with which to deal, either. That's the hardest thing for most people to grasp. To make a trade, you need to teams to have mutual interest, and even then, most trades don't go down for whatever reasons. I wouldn't be surprised if the Cubs tried to make a deal toward the end of spring training if this Roberts thing doesn't get done.

At its hottest, the Cubs' interest in Crisp is lukewarm. First off, they don't like his contract. Second, what happens if you get him and Pie shows signs he's "gotten it" in spring training and Colvin progresses at the plate and shows he might be able to play center field. You're then stuck with Crisp, who is blocking the paths of two players.

Is anyone else having a deja vu moment? I could have sworn that the Miles excerpt was from an article written weeks ago in response to something Phil Rogers posted at the Tribune... Uh, no. It's just that after nearly 180 pages of discussion here and stuff that's been nothing more than speculation on mainstream media blogs (see Trib) and blogosphere blogs, certain truths have been constant: The Cubs have been steadfast in saying they weren't going to trade Hill, Pie or Colvin. That was true earlier, and it's true now. Talks between the Cubs and Orioles have never gotten to the "yes" or "no" stage despite a report during the convention that the Baltimore owner nixed a 7-for-2 trade. The Cubs remain interested in Roberts. The names I've put out there are the ones I've been led to believe they'll discuss with the Orioles. The Cubs feel it's too early in Colvin's developmental stage to trade him, especially after investing a top draft pick. The Orioles are going to finish last or next-to-last with or without Roberts. The way I read it, the Cubs feel that MacPhail might as well take a decent offer for Roberts and not try to hold people up or risk being stuck with him, if "stuck" is the right word. I've read all kinds of things about deals being close. Nothing has been close. That may change in the next few days, but it seems to me the Cubs are ready to move on with or without Roberts. Thanks, Bruce. I'd offer a package of high ceiling lower level prospects that includes players like Veal and Ceda and maybe a Murton or Patterson and tell MacPhail to take it or leave it. That's about right. But I do doubt very, very much the Cubs will be trading Ceda any time soon. They really like him. Hey Bruce, what are your odds on this trade happening? And what other players do you feel Hendry is unwilling to trade? Anyone we haven't heard mentioned? I'd say the odds are 50-50 at best on this trade happening. Nobody is an "untouchable" in the right trade, but guys like Colvin, Hill, Pie and Ceda aren't going in this kind of deal. I'm sure MacPhail had a hard enough time selling the owner on the Bedard trade. Can you imagine Andy telling Angelos he's going to trade his favorite-son player for a guy or guys he's never, ever heard of, especially guys who haven't played above Double-A ball?

Is anyone else having a deja vu moment? I could have sworn that the Miles excerpt was from an article written weeks ago in response to something Phil Rogers posted at the Tribune... Uh, no. It's just that after nearly 180 pages of discussion here and stuff that's been nothing more than speculation on mainstream media blogs (see Trib) and blogosphere blogs, certain truths have been constant: The Cubs have been steadfast in saying they weren't going to trade Hill, Pie or Colvin. That was true earlier, and it's true now. Talks between the Cubs and Orioles have never gotten to the "yes" or "no" stage despite a report during the convention that the Baltimore owner nixed a 7-for-2 trade. The Cubs remain interested in Roberts. The names I've put out there are the ones I've been led to believe they'll discuss with the Orioles. The Cubs feel it's too early in Colvin's developmental stage to trade him, especially after investing a top draft pick. The Orioles are going to finish last or next-to-last with or without Roberts. The way I read it, the Cubs feel that MacPhail might as well take a decent offer for Roberts and not try to hold people up or risk being stuck with him, if "stuck" is the right word. I've read all kinds of things about deals being close. Nothing has been close. That may change in the next few days, but it seems to me the Cubs are ready to move on with or without Roberts. Thanks, Bruce. I'd offer a package of high ceiling lower level prospects that includes players like Veal and Ceda and maybe a Murton or Patterson and tell MacPhail to take it or leave it. That's about right. But I do doubt very, very much the Cubs will be trading Ceda any time soon. They really like him.

Is anyone else having a deja vu moment? I could have sworn that the Miles excerpt was from an article written weeks ago in response to something Phil Rogers posted at the Tribune... Uh, no. It's just that after nearly 180 pages of discussion here and stuff that's been nothing more than speculation on mainstream media blogs (see Trib) and blogosphere blogs, certain truths have been constant: The Cubs have been steadfast in saying they weren't going to trade Hill, Pie or Colvin. That was true earlier, and it's true now. Talks between the Cubs and Orioles have never gotten to the "yes" or "no" stage despite a report during the convention that the Baltimore owner nixed a 7-for-2 trade. The Cubs remain interested in Roberts. The names I've put out there are the ones I've been led to believe they'll discuss with the Orioles. The Cubs feel it's too early in Colvin's developmental stage to trade him, especially after investing a top draft pick. The Orioles are going to finish last or next-to-last with or without Roberts. The way I read it, the Cubs feel that MacPhail might as well take a decent offer for Roberts and not try to hold people up or risk being stuck with him, if "stuck" is the right word. I've read all kinds of things about deals being close. Nothing has been close. That may change in the next few days, but it seems to me the Cubs are ready to move on with or without Roberts.

Yes, it's one day closer to being done or not being done. In other words, most of what was published or broadcast yesterday was nonsense. The Cubs would still like Roberts. They are not trading Hill, Pie or Colvin for him. As I said yesterday, they're willing to give up some combination of Gallagher-Marshall-Cedeno for him, and that's it. The names of Hill, Marmol, Pie and Colvin are what the Orioles would be asking for Bedard, and the Cubs aren't in on any Bedard deal. Mr. Miles, While you say "the Cubs aren't in on any Bedard deal," are you of the opinion that they should be pursuing him? Thanks, Hoops He'd be a nice addition, to be sure. But I've been told the Cubs are not players for Bedard.

Yes, it's one day closer to being done or not being done. In other words, most of what was published or broadcast yesterday was nonsense. The Cubs would still like Roberts. They are not trading Hill, Pie or Colvin for him. As I said yesterday, they're willing to give up some combination of Gallagher-Marshall-Cedeno for him, and that's it. The names of Hill, Marmol, Pie and Colvin are what the Orioles would be asking for Bedard, and the Cubs aren't in on any Bedard deal.

They do like Jon Lieber. They feel he can pitch well in Wrigley Field. Such a move, of course, would no doubt lead to further moves with a crowded rotation.