CP_414

While I agree with you, maybe there is a 3rd team that could facilitate this. How about this crazy idea... Cubs Get: Dunn Reds Get: Todd Helton, $2M/year for the rest of his deal from Colorado, Scott Williamson (I love Helton, but the decrease in his HR numbers the past 2 years is somewhat troubling) Rockies Get: Guzman or Hill, Aardsma, Murton, "Top 5" prospect from Reds system The Cubs do this to get the high power, high OBP, high OPS bat they need between a healthy Lee and Aramis. If Dunn has fallen out of favor with the Reds they do this to get Helton who has a better OBP, good glove, and has shown fantastic power in the recent past. They also add a bullpen arm to help them contend this year. The Rockies get a starter to plug into the rotation, a bullpen arm they would control for 4+ years, a starting outfielder, and a good prospect in exchange for a player who really isn't helping them contend at this point. In the offseason the Cubs can then focus on adding one of Zito/Mulder/Schmidt; and improving the bench. 2007 Cubs: C Barrett 1B Lee 2B Walker SS Cedeno 3B Aramis LF Dunn CF Pie RF Jones Zambrano, One of Zito/Mulder/Schmidt, Prior, Marshall, Marmol 6th starter either Hill or Guzman, 7th starter Gallagher or Jerome Williams. If Colorado were playing poorly, that idea may work. Right now the Rockies are in the thick of the NL West race and aren't likely to trade Helton for the package you mentioned. Furthermore, the Rockies are likely going to want statements of faith from Aardsma, Guzman, and Hill. I think Murton has already expressed his Christianity so he should fit in ok. I am just under the assumption thast the Rockies will fall out of things before July 31st. They are playing "well" now, but are still under .500 and 4.5 games back in last place in the NL West. I believe Guzman wears a cross (maybe I'm thinking of someone else), dunno about Aardsma or Hill.

I would rather start Guzman and give Zambrano an extra day off this time through the rotation. He has been heavily abused 3 of the past 4 starts.

While I agree with you, maybe there is a 3rd team that could facilitate this. How about this crazy idea... Cubs Get: Dunn Reds Get: Todd Helton, $2M/year for the rest of his deal from Colorado, Scott Williamson (I love Helton, but the decrease in his HR numbers the past 2 years is somewhat troubling) Rockies Get: Guzman or Hill, Aardsma, Murton, "Top 5" prospect from Reds system The Cubs do this to get the high power, high OBP, high OPS bat they need between a healthy Lee and Aramis. If Dunn has fallen out of favor with the Reds they do this to get Helton who has a better OBP, good glove, and has shown fantastic power in the recent past. They also add a bullpen arm to help them contend this year. The Rockies get a starter to plug into the rotation, a bullpen arm they would control for 4+ years, a starting outfielder, and a good prospect in exchange for a player who really isn't helping them contend at this point. In the offseason the Cubs can then focus on adding one of Zito/Mulder/Schmidt; and improving the bench. 2007 Cubs: C Barrett 1B Lee 2B Walker SS Cedeno 3B Aramis LF Dunn CF Pie RF Jones Zambrano, One of Zito/Mulder/Schmidt, Prior, Marshall, Marmol 6th starter either Hill or Guzman, 7th starter Gallagher or Jerome Williams.

Zambrano One of Zito/Mulder/Schmidt Prior Marshall Marmol Keep Guzman or Hill to be the 6th starter when someone goes down. Hopefully they can deal Wood before the deadline, get a prospect back, and avoid having to pay the $3M buyout in the offseason. I'd also like to see Maddux pitch well enough in the next 2 months to bring back a nice prospect in a July 31st trade. I like Greg, but I don't see where he fits in next season. In the bullpen... Dempster Howry Eyre Novoa Ohman Aardsma

Yesterday before the Brewer game they had one that said Jorge De La Rosa 6.75 ERA at home, 9.00 on the road. Sucks either way doesn't it?

Knowing Dusty he won't take him out until he gets to 126 pitches.

Lee has also said he wants to stay in Milwaukee, but he does indeed still live in Chicago and make the daily commute. I don't see the Cubs acquiring him in a trade as they have no shot at the playoffs this year. I would be he will be a free agent target though if/when he hits the market. Inter-divison trades happen all the time. Teams make deals for the best players back in return regardless of who they are trading with. Off the top of my head: Cubs-Pirates Aramis Deal Casey from Pitt to Reds Shawn Green from LA to Arizona Delgado from Marlins to Mets

Two $12+ million free agent signings? I doubt it. That would be a SLG team with no OBP, and the Cubs would be back to the problem of lots of solo homeruns. You'd have to slot Jones over to center and Murton into right to keep at least 2 reasonably priced players on the roster to offset all the big ticket items. In that case Murton is the only realistic leadoff option as everybody but DLee would be a threat for a sub .330 OBP. There will be lot of money coming off the books with Wood either departing or coming back at a reduced rate along with Maddux possibly not returning. The Cubs will have guys like Marshall, Guzman, Hill, Marmol, Gallegher competing for spots in the rotation next season. The Cubs are always pumping new revenue streams into the Cubs and raising ticket prices the money is there and after the Subpar play on the field this year they hopefully will be spending it. Barrett, Lee,Soranio, all get on base at a decent clip and Cedeno should improve with time. The team would feature a lot of power, Speed with a few OBP guys in the lineup. Not every guy on your team needs to be a huge OBP threat. If we are going to sign 2 $12M free agents I would like to see one of them as a starting pitcher. Speaking only in terms of free agent players I would rather give Lee $12M, Mulder $10M, and use the other $2M towards a 1-year contract for Todd Walker to play 2B. Without Pie: Walker Murton D-Lee C-Lee Aramis Barrett Jones Cedeno With Pie: Walker Cedeno D-Lee C-Lee Aramis Barrett Jones/Murton Pie Rotation: Zambrano, Prior, Mulder, Marshall and for the 5th spot either make Guzman, Hill, Marmol, or Gallagher earn it or sing a Wade Miller/Tomo Ohka type guy. If Pie is on the roster the bench is also improved because either Murton or Jones would be off the bench everyday. Nevin could stick around another season to add right handed pop off the bench, Theirot could back up Walker, Pagan as the 5th outfielder/backup CF, and let Soto and Fox fight for Blanco's job. Again this is speaking only in terms of free agents, things change if Abreu, Cabrera, Tejada, Dunn, etc are available in a trade.

Brewers GM Doug Melvin was on Milwaukee radio today and he said he has had no recent conversations with Carlos Lee's agent, and their plans with him could depend on if they are in contention at the All-Star break. Listening to all of the recent talk from both the Brewers and Lee, I assume he will indeed hit the free agent market. Lee is reportedly looking for 4-5 years in the 12-14 million dollar range. Should the Cubs give him a 4/$50M deal in the offseason? He isn't really an OPS monster at all, and his AVG/OBP is ok, but not great. However he is good for 35+HR's/100+RBI's and would be a solid power bat between D Lee and Aramis. Is he worth the money?

Len Kasper just said he heard Samardzija will try to play both baseball and football professionally. I don't know if that is a good idea for a pitcher to be getting knocked around in the NFL in the winter, but if he can pull it off that would be very impressive.

It'll be a nice break from talking about Tom Zibikowski's boxing and Brady Quinn's sister being AJ Hawk's fiance.

I remember him wearing a sox hat in a ND halftime segment about him and his dad during a game on NBC.

For the heck of it... He was ranked as the #37th best player by BA, RHP from Notre Dame. Has 4 pitches (upper 80's FB, breaking ball, splitter, and changeup). Mel Kiper has him in the top 10 of the 2007 NFL Draft. When's our next pick?

Go BEARS! oh, nevermind

Where is LaPorta projected? Baseball America had him at #38 in the last magazine.

Brewers just took a kid from Columbine High School. I would have thought that school would have changed its name by now.

He came off the board at pick #149. Unless the Bears are allowed to use pick 149, I would rather draft someone who will be playing pro baseball.

Colvin was ranked 170th in the last BA. He hit .324, 45 runs, 68 hits, 19 2b, 5 3b, 9hr's, 44 rbi's, 15 sb's at Clemson in his junior year. No word on walks or OBP. I dunno about that one.

He won't bat again.

Lovie's a tough nut. I dig it. Do you have a link to that article? I would like to see it all if you have it.

I know it's old, but I was talking with some Brewer fan friends about this and they all said they would do Rickie Weeks for Prior. Would you? I don't think I would, but it's close.

My "blow it up" scenerio... #1 Fire MacPhail, Hendry, and the entire coaching staff Trade #1 Mets Get: Maddux, Walker, Williamson, Murton Cubs Get: Milledge, Floyd (Last year of his contract), 1 "B" level prospect Trade #2 Cubs Get: John Danks, John Mayberry JR Rangers Get: Kerry Wood (if he agrees), Novoa, Ohman Trade #3 Cubs Get: Miggy Cabrera, Dan Uggla Marlins Get: Pie, Mayberry, Danks, Guzman, EPatt, Theriot Other Moves: Then trade Pierre and Floyd for cheap bullpen/bench options for 2007. Attempt to get something (anything) for Hairston, Williams, Mabry, Blanco. Cut Neifi, Rusch, and Bynum. If Wade Miller looks good this year resign him to be your #5 starter or bullpen guy/#6 starter. For 2007 we would have 1B Lee 2B Uggla SS Cedeno 3B Ramirez LF Cabrera CF Milledge RF Jones C Barrett Lineup: Milledge Uggla Lee Cabrera Ramirez Jones Barrett Cedeno #1 Zambrano #2 Prior #3 #4 Marshall #5 Closer - Dempster RHP - Howry LHP - Eyre RHP/6th starter - Wade Miller RHP - LHP - Free Agency: We would have no farm system left, but 3 of the strating 8 would be cheap and under team control for a while, as would Marshall. With this team you should be able to afford to give Cabrera a monster contract, give a Mulder type player $9-10M to be your #3, and sign a back of the rotation Tomo Ohka type guy to be the #5.

Can Murton play 1st while DLee is out? If so, I would consider bringing up Pie to play LF and moving Murton to 1B for the next 8-10 weeks. Pierre Walker Aramis Barrett Jones Murton Cedeno Pie Pitcher

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-060415cubsgamer,1,1915714.story?coll=cs-home-headlines&ctrack=1&cset=true It appears that the Cubs are considering brining up Pie to fill in in RF. I hope they let him stay down until he can come up start for the Cubs and stay for a long time.

Cause he doesn't. http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/ramirar01.shtml