CP_414

Bradley, Bundy, zimmer, Urias, Edwards, walker, Taillion are all on the DL. Appel might be hurt, Sanchez has had arm issues, Giolito has too. I think I'm buying into TNSTAAPP. I'd be interested in learning more about Alex Jackson, Nick Gordon, Gatewood. It's too bad Schwarber can't stay at catcher.

The Brewers have made the postseason twice in the past 6 years. If they had the money to extend CC and Prince plus add a couple free agents they could have had a great run. Assuming the Cubs resources come back soon (they better) I'd be happy producing the offense Milwaukee has from the farm the last 6 years or so. I'm pretty confident the Cubs front office won't ever let the farm system get as bad as Milwaukee's is now, too.

Has anyone heard anything about rules prohibiting a sign and trade if these rules go through? I would guess they will treat it the same as a draft pick, but I have not seen anything reported yet.

I think Elston is going to take a football scholarship.

So he won for best play over the guy who leaped over the wall to rob a homer? They'll probably put a new trophy case up to house it, next to their Sweet 16 trophy case from last year. IU Basketball should only display their National Championships like Purdue does. We got banners yo! Haha. You have the biggest IU inferiority complex. Purdue can display their little victories but IU can't put a display in the Assembly Hall lobby about last season? They should make a display for the ESPY. IU is in on lots of the top players nationally for 2013, 2014, and 2015 from out of state. That wouldn't happen if not for the success they had last season. So if reminding a recruit that you can win an ESPY by hitting a big shot at Indiana helps, then damn straight they should display it. It's not like they have a banner hanging for Watford's shot.

So he won for best play over the guy who leaped over the wall to rob a homer? They'll probably put a new trophy case up to house it, next to their Sweet 16 trophy case from last year. IU Basketball should only display their National Championships like Purdue does.

Sorry, was busy yesterday and didn't see this. Trying to make this short and sweet, so, let's go bullet points - Barnes would obviously hold more value for the Cubs than Bradley Jr., IMO. My mild counter of myself on Barnes is that the kid is working on his change-up, so he could take another step. - My issue with Bradley Jr., if I have one (don't get me wrong ... not thinking he's elite yet doesn't mean I don't think he's a very, very good prospect) is that I'm not sure how much power he'll legitimately have as he deals with tougher pitching. We'll know more by season's end, though. Is he a top of the order, 2 hole type bat, or is he a potential middle of the order, anchor bat? I dont think Bradley will ever hit more than 20 HR, but I still think he's an elite prospect if he's hitting 10-15 HR a year, given his elite defense and on-base ability. While he won't hit too many HRs, I think the doubles power will definitely make up for that. I'm with you. It sounds silly in light of that great article just posted, but even without adding power I think he has a great shot of being a .380 obp CF with strong defense. If he does develop 15-20 HR ability he could be pretty special. In general I think trades where you are the seller should be treated like the draft. Just get the best players you can regardless of position and then sort it out when you see who makes it.

All things equal I would prefer positional prospects in return over pitchers. Maybe I'm wrong on this, I don't have any numbers, but pitching prospects just seem much riskier to me. Ideally I think something like the discussed Barnes/Bradley Jr trade would be great. A poor man's version of that trade from the Nats would be Meyer/Goodwin but they are both further away so hopefully there would be a 3rd piece involved. I don't really believe in Perez or Olt as big time prospects from Texas. No way we get Profar. They could still make a really good offer. I'd have lots of concerns about any 2nd player after Castelannos from Detroit. Any Yankees trade would have to be centered around offensive prospects in A ball. I am actually rooting for a Boston trade right now. I love Bradley Jr and would be fine with Barnes or Owens as the other main pice, though I would prefer Barnes.

Not quite that easy. Remember, there will be two separate 6 pick lotteries involving supplemental picks involving small market teams. Plus, a team still has to be willing to LOSE their own 1st rounder, in order to sign Demp. At his age, I have more than a few doubts that a team is willing to do that. I thought teams didn't forfeit a pick by signing free agents anymore. Well, you are right that does change things. Too bad, I thought I was smart. I guess our best bet is to hope Theo can pull off this years version of Wheeler for Beltran...on a smaller scale.

If the Cubs can't get a potential impact prospect for Dempster, I'd rather keep him and try to get the draft pick. I think Dempster would be ok with turning down 1 year at 12.5 if he stays anywhere close to his production so far this year, and if he sees 2013 might be rough for the Cubs. There will be significantly fewer comp picks in the 2013 draft, so it's possible Dempster could net something between picks 35-40, which would have been good enough for McCullers or a number of other potential impact prospects this year. Add in the fact that the Cubs should have one of the top 3 draft budgets available next year and they would be in great position to add an impact guy for him.

If they have Almora and Correa with close grades, then the fact that Correa is so similar to Baez could become a factor. Now, if the grades are fairly different, I'd hope they'd go for the guy with the clear-cut higher grade. But if it's close, Baez could be a factor and CF is somewhat of an area of concern in the lower ranks. After all, our current CF depth won't really impact things here - by the time Almora is ready, Jackson and Szczur, if they were up, would be in their mid-late 20's. I suppose it depends on if they think Correa will stick at SS. It sounds like there have been some encouraging reports on Baez's glove at short this spring, but it is probably still doubtful he is a SS long term. I wouldn't be pissed if they take Almora. He sounds like a great CF prospect. I would just prefer the great SS prospect to the great CF prospect. So if they see Correa ending up at 3B like Baez, then Almora wouldn't be a bad way to go at all.

I know they have a lot more info than I do, but I'm going to be disappointed if Correa and Zimmer are available and the Cubs take Almora. Not that I dislike Almora, I'd be thrilled with him if the Cubs picked 8th-10th. Correa sounds like he has more star potential, and Zimmer could be a very good MLB pitcher by Opening Day 2014. The idea of adding Hamels (I hope) to Garza and Shark, then following it up by adding one of the 3 top college pitchers in this draft to the rotation by September 2013 is tempting. Edited because I typed like I never passed a 7th grade english class

As of right now, this is how I would rank my prefrences for the Cubs pick. 1. Healthy Giolito 2. Appel 3. Gausman 4. Correa 5. Buxton 6. Zimmer 7. Zunino 8. Fried 9. Almora The more I hear about Correa, the more I like him. Getting way ahead of myself, and not sure where the pieces fit defensively, but a future infield with Castro, Rizzo, Baez, and Correa could be pretty special. However it falls 1-5, if Giolito shows he is healthy in the next month the Cubs will have a really good option at #6.

My current top 3 choices from teams that I think would be interested in giving up a good amount for Garza. Toronto - 2 of: Syndergaard, Nicolino, Marisnick as the centerpiece. Boston - Barnes and Owens as the centerpiece. Marlins - Fernandez and Yellich as the centerpiece. It's asking a lot though. I'm not sure if any of those teams go for it. Arizona could be a very good option too. Phillies (May, Biddle, Dom Brown )? I'd want Mason Williams and Campos to lead a trade from the Yankees. I'm still fairly confident Theo/Jed will be able to find a nice deal at the deadline if they aren't going to extend Garza.

Why would Garza not bring back a great return?

That PSD insider guy thinks it'll be Detroit and Turner will be one of the players in the deal.

He probably just read the Morosi article and figures he'll take a stab at prediction and if it turns out, try to make it seem like he has actual sources. Exactly. He said it would be done by Tuesday of last week. Then he said Thursday was the day. He's just guessing. Whenever Garza does get traded he's going to claime he "broke" the news.

Did anyone report the Cubs were asking for final offers except for that inside MLB guy on twitter who is wrong 99% of the time?

So where does Ryan Madson end up? Is it a crazy idea to offer him a 1 year deal, and make him the closer with the idea of trading him in July? It's risky, since if he gets hurt or is ineffective, the Cubs are paying $20M on closers with a crappy team. With the limitations on draft and IFA spending, it might be a way of "buying" prospects though. I'd only consider it if it is very clear the Cubs will be way under budget after targeting Soler, Cespedes, Chen, etc.

I guess it depends on how much you like Alcantera. I tend to prefer what the Cubs received as well. Wood should be a decent back of the rotation starter who is under team control for 5 years. Torreyes is interesting, and if he can add 30 pounds over the next 4 years he could become very interesting. I don't think Reddick is more than a 2nd division starter, probably not the kind of guy I'd want starting for the Cubs once they get good.

Agreed. I'd be shocked if he was traded before July. Maybe some contender will get desperate at that point. Hopefully he starts the season well.

Jim Bowden just tweeted the Cubs and Jays are still talking Garza. Jon Heyman said the Cubs are focusing on pitching in return for Garza, and a rival exec mentioned the Jays and Yankees as good fits. If it's the Yankees, I'd have to think it would have to be both Banuelos and Betences to match up with some of the guys the Jays could offer.

What are your thoughts on Drew Hutchinson? His 2011 numbers (like all Blue Jays prospects) are fantastic, but his stuff doesn't seem as highly rated as Syndergaard's. My first thought looking at it is I would prefer Syndergaard of their right handed pitching prospects, but I might have Hutchinson over McGuire.

Ohio State Wisconsin Michigan State Indiana Michigan Illinois Purdue Northwestern Minnesota Nebraska Iowa Penn State I think the top 7 are all tournament teams, but 4-7 could really finish in any order, and really any of those teams could finish as high as 3rd.

When I read this the other day I thought to myself "No way! I'd much rather have the top 10 prospect than 3 guys in A ball" (That's me quoting a conversation I had with myself). The more I researched Marisnick, Nicolino, and Syndergaard, I think I agree with you. The thought of a power/speed/defense potential of a Marisnick/Brett Jackson/Soler outfield would be crazy. I hope Toronto feels like they are loaded enough in the minors, and close enough to the playoffs in the majors to make that deal.