wilk

Actually word out of Seibu is they would accept the bid immediately - so we could very well hear tonight or if not, then tomorrow morning.

Maybe you just worded this poorly but I don't see how this makes sense. Boras' association to Matsuzaka is what doesn't matter at all. Since it's a mutually blind bid, there's no upperhand here. Boras will only enter the picture once the top bid is accepted and at that point there's only one team allowed to negotiate anyway. Boras isn't going to make Daisuke sit another year out and there's no real fear of losing Matsuzaka altogether for any team making a legit attempt. The Cubs aren't going to significantly increase their bid in anticipation of Boras giving them a friendly discount of $1M. Besides, it's been known Boras would represent him for his posting for over a year.

It's my opinion that the opinion that Soriano could/should be signed for 2B is nearly loony. For one, it's known that Hendry had prior interest in Soriano under the condition that he move from 2B to the outfield. Now that Soriano has finally made the move that teams have been pushing for for several years -- and become comfortable and content with it -- many people on this board seem to think he's going to be asked to move back to 2B. I can't think of a team who would do so and every report of interest in Soriano has rested solely in the outfield. You could take any power outfielder and make him one of the most productive offensive 2B while being the worst, or one of the worst, defensive 2B but the question is why? He's significantly better defensively in the outfield and, related or not, it's been the best offensive year of his career. Furthermore Hendry has shown to value infield defense even more than most - evident from a desire to trade Walker for defense, the acquistion of Izturis as "one of the best shortstops," and at least playing the concept that Izturis/Cedeno would make a healthy infield. What is there to suggest that Soriano playing 2B for the Cubs is remotely realistic?

Me too, and I simply assumed until now that that would be the case - however I heard today that it may in fact come into effect immediately.

It has been decided that draft pick compensation for losing a free agent will be eliminated in the upcoming CBA - however has anyone heard yet whether this will effect this coming offseason or start following the 2007 season?

The blaming Hendry wouldn't be for giving him the out clause in the first place, but rather for not trading and getting someone for him if he were going to leave anyway. Many of us (myself included) were against trading him, but that was contingent on his returning next year. When you're not in contention, if you don't trade an upcoming free agent you've basically comitted yourself to re-signing him. I don't think people would blame Hendry that much for losing Ramirez if that were the only problem he's had; I think it's more like that would be the straw that broke the camel's back when you look at it on top of his other bad moves over the past couple of years. He's more than used up any tolerance for mistakes and simply cannot afford even one more. Think of it as a lifetime achievement award as opposed to an award for one specific performance. :D If there was proof that Hendry knew Aramis was definitely going to walk this season and Hendry chose not to trade him in a lost season then sure. However, I don't think that's the case at all. Aramis has at least pretended that he wants to stay and Hendry intends on keeping him. So, trading him instead of trying to keep him would be conceding a huge loss which I think would be quite worse - especially when you consider that every other team would face the same out-clause making a worthwhile return package hard to come by. If a player absolutely refuses to stay with his current team there's nothing a GM can do about it. The decision is Aramis's so I think the blame on a walkout would be his. Now if Aramis leaves and gets minimal more elsewhere while saying he wanted to stay in Chicago but management wouldn't negotiate, of course that'd be the fault of the Cubs, but I don't believe that happens.

I don't understand why people blame Hendry for ARam's out-clause. Do you really believe it was Hendry's desire to add it? In negotiations, such "negotiating" is necessary. Should Hendry have let him walk two seasons earlier by refusing his or his agents demands?

Rudderless... utterless isn't anything. I guess it would be a cow without utters. . . :?: And then those would be udders. . .

Why/how would we trade for Mora? Why would you choose him for the example?

What kind of contract did Sam Fuld get in June 2004? Since he didn't play at all that year, I don't think he's eligible for the Rule 5 draft until after next year.

Leyland was a minor league catcher for several years before turning to coaching.

Ha. Schmidt AND Zito AND the next best guy? Are Soriano and Lee also in your plans? The chances that we get either one of those guys (Schmidt OR Zito) are extremely slim, yet you see it as plausible that we get both and keep shopping. These seasons really do funny things to people's expectations.

I think Fontenot is more like Todd Walker. Which also probably means he won't have a place on the team. The Riot as Freel... maybe.

And what would we trade for him? Zambrano and Marshall?

I see so many people putting Soriano as the Cubs' 2nd basemen next year. Is this even remotely realistic? Shouldn't we assume that if there were a chance of Soriano, it's as an outfielder? Especially with Hendry's obsession with defense, is he going to grab Izturis for short, only to put SORIANO at 2nd? I don't see Soriano requiring he moves back to 2nd now that he's an "All-Star outfielder" and all, but if so, I'd say it's nearing a 0% chance that it's the Cubs who put him there. What are you guys basing it off of?

Schimdt will end up with the Yankees... You mean Seattle. Count on it. The only saving grace is does he want to pitch in the AL? Well he grew up near Seattle, still has his home there, and has said many times how much he'd love to play for Seattle in his career. Since this is probably his last big contract, I'd say it's now. A lot of people in Seattle are practically pencilling him in. I think the Mariners will comply.

Schimdt will end up with the Yankees... You mean Seattle. Count on it.

He also said that he "can't go out and get two frontline starters," and that they'll "have to see how they (the pitchers) will come along" but that he thinks "the rest (of the problem) is addressable by a couple of good moves by me in the winter." Does that mean one SP and trades for LF and 2B?

By the way, it gets worse. He's owed $4.15M next year and has an option for $5.85M in 2008. Yeah. Edit: OK, that was fast.

Yes but he's not a SS anymore because he wasn't a very good one. Poor lateral movement, poor first step reads, etc. Doesn't have the quickness or instincts to play neither SS nor 3B in my opinion. He does have a strong arm though. I don't think anyone should project him anywhere but rightfield at this point.

Yeah, I think everyone who knows of LaRoche would like to have him. I don't think there's any chance we get him in a deal for Maddux though. However, for Aramis that's probably a different story. Maddux+Ramirez for LaRoche+Repko+Elbert+Hu.

Don't you know how fast he is? He's even been seen jumping over a car... because he's so fast. ...Playing baseball is another story. But he IS fast.

Thank you, that's exactly what I was looking for. I also found this on the Cub Reporter. It's the fielding time at each position, at least for the Cubs organization, and the names link you to the same batting splits you gave us. Notice the tabs at the bottom of that link, too.

I know this is discussed to death the every year but just wanted to check if there's anything I've missed recently. Anyone know a good online site to find minor league batting (vs RHP/LHP, etc.) and fielding (at least how many games they've played at each position) splits?

Ahem, time to promote Fox yet? Why is Richie ahead of him in the first place.