JeffH

If Angel Guzman's value when he's never pitched above AA, has hardly pitched at all the last two seasons, and is a year away from being out of options is non-steroid-tainted Aubrey Huff, that's not too bad. I wouldn't dismiss that out-of-hand.

Are we sure that TB is going to promote Young to start the season? He could stand a little more time at AAA. Remember that DKWG's report said that Guzman/Wellemeyer was Hendry's offer and that TB was holding out for more.

Can we get a legitimate #5 hitter, please? Huff. Nixon.

Deciding between keeping or trading Walker is much less important than getting a LHH that can hit 3rd, 4th, or 5th, in my opinion. Pierre-Hairston-Lee-Huff-Ramirez-Jones-Barrett-Cedeno would be better than Pierre-Walker-Lee-Ramirez-Jones-Murton-Barrett-Cedeno Of course, Pierre-Walker-Lee-Huff-Ramirez-Jones-Barrett-Cedeno would be better than either.

The worst case scenario that we need to avoid is Murton or some mediocre veteran in LF, Jones in RF, Cedeno and/or Perez at SS, and a current non-Walker Cub at 2B. Either keep Walker, get Tejada, or get a viable middle-of-the-order hitter for the outfield. Preferably all three!

I'd still like to see the Cubs get Huff. Do you agree with me that it shouldn't take anymore than say Koronka and Wellemeyer to land Huff? Tampa just signed Travis Lee, they have Crawford, Baldelli, Gomes, Young and Gathright. Huff will be making 7.5m coming off a bad year. There is no way I offer Hill, Williams or Guzman for him. There will probably be other teams interested in him, so I imagine that it will take more than TW & JK. Is Young going to start the year with TB? He's had just a little time in AAA, where he didn't overwhelm. I doubt that TB has much financial incentive to move Huff right now. Who on that club makes any money? Baez, Huff, Lugo. Lee, Hall, Fossum will make a little. Who else? If TB doesn't get a decent offer for Huff, maybe they keep him until July. As far as trading Guzman is concerned, I'd rather not, but I could see the argument in doing so. He's got one year left in the minors before he has to make the 25-man roster for good, and he's never pitched above AA. Unless Huff has a terrible year next year, you'll be able to offer him arbitration with no fear that he'll accept (assuming you don't want to keep him). When he leaves for a multi-year deal with someone, you can sit back and take the one - or possibly two - draft choices. That would somewhat alleviate losing Guzman.

$4 signing bonus, paid over three seasons (unclear if it's paid in equal increments). Salaries of $3, $4, and $5 over the next three seasons.

Please, please stay away from the wildly overrated Kevin Millwood. Please. Get Aubrey Huff (assuming he wasn't on steroids prior to last season). Move Jones to LF to platoon with Murton, where his defense will be a real plus. Don't trade Todd Walker. Pierre-Walker-Lee-Huff-Ramirez-Jones/Murton-Barrett-Cedeno

Red Sox should sign Reggie Sanders and trade Trot Nixon to us for Patterson.

"One of these things is not like the other..." Tejada >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Millwood

Yes.

Indians get Cubs' 2nd round pick for Howry Giants get Cubs' 3rd round pick for Eyre Twins get Cubs' 4th round pick for Jones

Say goodbye to our 4th round draft choice in the 2006 First Year Player Draft.

Even if I were prohibited from turning around and trading Lidge again, I would trade Williams for Lidge so fast your head would spin.

And yet it was better than Corey Patterson's June. Or his July. Or his August. Or his September. What does have to do with anything? It doesn't. Just interesting.

And yet it was better than Corey Patterson's June. Or his July. Or his August. Or his September.

I really think Weaver is undervalued and gets a reasonable deal. One word: Boras I read he'll accept arb if he doesn't get a good deal. He declined.

Separate issue, but I don't believe we have as much money left to spend as most here think we do. This is especially true if Prior is indeed eligible for arbitration.

You have no idea what Hendry will or won't do, unless you have some personal relationship with Jim that I'm unaware of? Dealing Pie in a package for a player like Abreu should be a no-brainer. I know I'm going to get killed for this, but so be it. Why are we anxious to trade a 20 year old centerfielder who scouts well and put up a .903 OPS in Double-A at age 20 for a 32 year old rightfielder who couldn't get his OPS over .900 last season playing in one of the best offensive parks in the National League, posted a .787 OPS after the All-Star break, and is due $30 million over the next two seasons? And not only him, but other valuable players, too? Goodness gracious.

Here's my guess: Ensberg and Backe for Abreu, Bell, and cash. The Astros don't think Ensberg is worth what he's going to get paid here over the next couple of years.

One concern about Jones (of many) is that his numbers during the daytime have always been poor.

Yes.

No, he's almost always been pretty terrible. I do understand that he supposedly scouts well. It may be time for some team to try him as a relief pitcher. That's one thing we don't really need, though.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mariners/story/5411190p-4888715c.html According to a source, the Mariners might have interest in trading Meche for another non-tendered player, Chicago Cubs center fielder Corey Patterson, who presumably has lost his job after the Cubs traded for Juan Pierre earlier this month. Discuss.

If the Cubs sign Jones, Dusty needs to be fitted with an electroshock device that will activate any time he tries to write Jones' name in the lineup against a LHP.