BigbadB

I'd have to believe the Sox have the edge simply because Tejada wants to play for a winner and the Cubs are perceived as possibly the most disappointing team of the past 2 years. What does Tejada have to say about what team he's traded to? He doesn't. But, how ironic would it be for him to get traded to an organization that hasn't won a World Series in nearly 100 years? :D

I don't know if I can agree with this. The White Sox just won a World Series. They have won over a lot of fans. They have probably even converted the casual Cub fan that is tired of losing. By making this trade, they have added crazy offense in Tejada and Thome, meanwhile upgrading the rotation from El Duque to Vazquez. They may eventually fade to nothing in the next 5 years, but they will be able to enjoy the next 5 years knowing they can continue being competitive. Maybe from their standpoint, they forsee empty seats in Wrigley in the coming years while everyone comes to see Miggy in the Cell. If I was the White Sox, I'd include McCarthy in a deal for Miggy.

Personally I don't like it at all. The Cubs have arlready given away 2 near major league ready pitchers to the Marlins, and our system isn't exactly loaded with talented, major league ready prospects. If you throw Cedeno, Guzman, and Hill in there, about the only prospects who could make an impact on this club (in the next year or two) are Murton, Pie, and E Pat. Conventional wisdom tells me that at least one (maybe 2 ) will never be better than average so that leaves this team with one impact young player. Now factor in the fact the Cubs have SEVERAL key players with contract years/big rasies in the offing (Pierre - if they keep him, DLee, Prior, Zambrano, A-Ram, Wood - if they keep him, possibly Barrett, etc.) and you realize they simpley CAN'T afford to make this trade. That would mean (assuming DLee is extended) a good $30 mil would be allocated to the infield, with RF still being a gaping hole. Although TribCo Could find the money if they wanted to, we all know that they limit their spending. What I'm trying to say is at some point the Cubs (I'm talking to you Dusty) have to bite the bullet and play some of their younger players. You simply can't afford to have no infusion of young talent and expect to succeed. The Cardinals may be an exception, but look at the Yankees. Although we all know they've spent their money rather foolishly, much of their demise is associated with their inability to groom and foster their young talent. Once their mid 90s prospects began to age (and decline), we've seen the toll its taken on this team. Now they're to the point where even THEY can't afford to keep signing the "best" free agents out there. It's pretty much ruined there team. And, believe it or not, the Cubs are quickly approaching the quagmire. In 2 years most of our current key players (Lee, Aram close, Pierre, Walker - if he stays, Miggy - if he comes, possibly RF) will be on the wrong side of 30. Imo we need young players and we need some NOW. Besides, I have the feeling Cedeno is going to be the real deal. It would be a shame to throw him in a deal now. A lot of what you say is true. However, Dusty is still the manager of this team, and he has no use for youth. It seems to me that they really like Dusty, because they are molding this team to give Dusty exactly what he wants. They've messed up this team so bad at this point, all they really have left to do is trade what little prospects remain to fill the huge holes this team still has. When the next GM comes along, they too will have to start from scratch. I would at least hope that the next GM will progress the team forward rather than continue moving backward. Can anyone begin to imagine how bad this team would look right now if Derrek Lee had a typical Derrek Lee year rather than an MVP-like season?

One must first be fired before they can be fired AGAIN! :D

Depends on how well Vazquez can play RF. :D

At one time, Vazquez COULD have been one of the better #2's in the game. I think the workload he's been put through has taken quite a toll on his throwing arm over the years. Whether he can get back to being that good #2 again is debatable. Sidenote: If Chris Young was the minor leaguer included in the deal, I guess Arizona won't be having much interest in Corey anymore.

But why would the Orioles want Garland for 1 year? He'll be gone free agency the next year. Tejada has a lock down, long term contract. It would take a special deal to move him. Trading him for a 1 year rental and lesser prospects is not what I'd call a special deal. Garland isn't a top of the rotation arm, either. I just don't see any way how Baltimore would accept Garland over McCarthy in return for their MOST prized possession.

If true, the White Sox would be dumb to trade McCarthy and better off trading off Garland. I wouldn't call it dumb. The Orioles aren't going to want Garland for Tejada. They'll want McCarthy.

Absolutely no way in the world would I trade Pie for Huff. Huff had a horrible year last year, is making 5m+ a year (something Tampa can't afford) and is taking up roster space from the likes of Jonny Gomes, Delmon Young, etc... If Tampa loves Huff that much, they can keep him. If Tampa really wanted Pie for Huff, then the GM of that team really has a screw loose. Pie isn't a pitcher. Baldelli, Crawford, Gomes, Huff, Gathright, Young, Hollins, etc.. That's their list of prospect/established outfielders: Here is their list of decent starting pitchers: Scott Kazmir If I was the Tampa GM, I'd be asking for pitching, pitching and more pitching. Period. If Huff will look better sitting on their bench than say Novoa and Wellemeyer or some pitching prospect, so be it.

6m a year to be a platoon player=horrible option. Paying Jones $6M a year is a bad idea period, but he is not a totally worthless player. I'll call him an awesome player if he's wearing any uniform other than the Cubs next year. :wink: Actually, if he was getting somewhere between 1-2m and was a 100% platoon and the rest of the team all had .350+ OBP's, I'd be fine with Jones. Jones is going to get 6m a year, and it will be either a 2 or a 3 year deal. No thanks!

If it warranted discussion, discuss it in one of the many open Tejada threads that are already available to you.

6m a year to be a platoon player=horrible option.

Let me get this straight. You started a BRAND NEW THREAD to discuss why Tejada is still being discussed? #-o

Yep, but you ignored quoting the part of my post where I said that. Thanks for that! Apologies. But over the past three seasons Bradley has missed approximately a full season's worth of games, and it wasn't because he was platooned. I would have been disappointed to see the Cubs trade for him. Not nearly as disappointed as I'll be when we sign Jones, but still... At this juncture, I was sorta hoping for a trade combo that netted Huff and Bradley or Floyd and Bradley. Bradley, because he wouldn't take that much to land, and Huff or Floyd, because they have lefty power to balance the heart of the line up. Between Huff, Bradley, Pierre and Murton, the outfield is deep and set, with Mabry and possibly Hairston who could also play on a very rare occasion.

Yep, but you ignored quoting the part of my post where I said that. Thanks for that!

Ethier probably would've entered the season ranked as one of Oakland's top 2 or 3 prospects, no? Maybe just behind Daric Barton. He's not just some scrub. I can't see how this trade tells us anything about the Pierre deal. And it baffles me that anyone thinks we could have dealt for Bradley and thereby filled a hole in right field. His rates are nice, but he only plays half-seasons. He was just one of many lousy RF options, and now he's off the board. Eh. Bradley was not the solution in RF, but he was the best option we had, imo. Bradley has only played more than 101 games in 1 out of 6 seasons. I think that is a very problematic stat. I don't know the nature of the injuries but that does kind of scare me. If Hendry was scared of Nomar's injury problems it would be my bet that Bradley was not Hendry's top option for RF. I keep seeing this 101 games in 6 seasons stuff, and I must finally interject. Cleveland has been spitting out OFer's like crazy these last 10 some odd years. Part of the reason Bradley hasn't played more than 101 games a season are plentiful. #1. He played some of those games in the minors. #2. He was platooned or sat the bench while others got their opportunities. #3. Yes, he has had some injuries. Here are the years and the list of players he was competing for time with for only 3 outfield spots. Granted, some of these guys were garbage, ended up becoming garbage, were overpaid and played, or were decent: 2000-Vladmir Guerrero, Wilton Guerrero, Peter Bergeron, Rondell White 2001- Vladmir Guerrero, Tim Raines, Peter Bergeron, Brad Wilkerson, Mark Smith, Geoff Blum. 2001 with Cleveland-Juan Gonzalez, Marty Cordova, Kenny Lofton, Chris Magruder, Ellis Burks, Wil Cordero, Jolbert Cabrera, Dave Roberts, Jacob Cruz, Karim Garcia, Russell Branyan 2002-Matt Lawton, Karim Garcia, Chris Magruder, Ben Broussard, Russell Branyan, Coco Crisp, Jolbert Cabrera 2003-Jody Gerut, Shane Spencer, Alex Escobar, Ryan Ludwick, Karim Garcia, Matt Lawton, Chris Magruder, Coco Crisp 2004- Shawn Green, Dave Roberts, Steve Finley, Juan Encarnacion, Jayson Werth Now, can we quit saying that Bradley is injury prone because he missed part of last season because of a broken finger? He had to battle for playing time more often than he was out because of injuries.

The Bears will already know what Minnesota did earlier in the day. It's a big game for the Falcons, but an equally big day for the Bears, Vikings and Steelers. I like the home field advantage. I won't like it if Orton is still starting. I would hope that Grossman would be ready the first time the offense sputters (which will likely be the first series the Falcons stop the running attack). Blitz Vick hard and get him out of the game early. Bears win this game 28-6.

Abreu is only a possiblity if Philly lowers their trade expectations. Insisting on Prior or Zambrano is not reasonable. Edit: From my understanding, Floyd could come if the Mets trade for Manny; the Cubs could somehow piggyback on a threeway trade or be an indirect beneficary of the Mets crowded outfield (assuming the Manny trade is consumated). Exactly! The Mets will need to move Floyd's contract if they get Manny.

The White Sox season just proves what can happen if you have solid pitching and they stay healthy all year. They were definitely weaker on offense than the previous year, but they made the best of the offense they had. I really liked the Thome deal. Bringing back Konerko was a pretty big deal for them as well. If they make a deal for Vazquez, I'd imagine their chances of winning the division will be theirs for the taking once again. And I can't stand the Sox. They didn't sit on their hands when it appeared Konerko might go elsewhere. They got themselves some insurance by trading for Thome. Now that they have both, they have a top notch middle of the order. Hendry appeared to spend his entire offseason salivating over a guy who ended up signing with the Dodgers. I guess it's not a good idea to ignore the most glaring hole in your outfield, courting a guy (Furcal) where you not only had a good in house candidate to fill that position (Cedeno), but could have brought back Nomar for half the price as insurance in the event that Furcal went elsewhere. I've never thought much of Kenny Williams. But, I'm thinking a whole lot less of Hendry. Unless he wows me with a couple of late offseason pickups, I will want him gone.

I think you grossly undervalue Tejada. And completely ignore the situation the Cubs face. They are getting a crap RF regardless. It's either Jones/Encarnacion/Wilson + Tejada, or one of those guys without Tejada. If they can get Abreu, great. But I don't see them getting anybody of value for RF. And I don't see them getting any better player via trade with these guys in the future. Don't they have a crap payroll somewhere on their roster we can take off their hands to eliminate one of those prospects from the deal? I really don't want to see Guzman go.

Does this deal have legs? Or is all of this just speculation?

By my calculations, Jerry Hairston Jr., Corey Patterson and John Mabry are currently the only options for RF. With that said, why on earth is Hendry even thinking about 2nd base? In November and up until the winter meetings ended, I could at least sit patiently while Hendry muled over any sort of upgrades to the team. However, it's getting late and the options for RF are getting slimmer and slimmer. We not only have decent production at 2nd base, but we also have tremendous depth (Walker, Hairston, Cedeno, Perez). Quit playing games and find a RFer already. My offseason game plan would have resolved the HUGE BLACK HOLE problem, leaving only one hole to fill in CF, which could have been filled with the same guy we have, giving up the same prospects we gave up. Sign Nomar. Sign Giles. Trade for Pierre. (I actually wanted Lofton). Done! With those moves, we could have enjoyed a few months of life without baseball before pitchers and catchers report. Instead, we have to hang on every new article that comes out which brags up garbage players like Preston Wilson, Jacque Jones and whoever else teams want to dump. I can't believe how frustrating this is becoming. Back to back years of outbidding for crap players like Burnitz and J. Jones. I said I'd wait until the offseason was over, but I'm not liking what I see, AT ALL.

Wow, Jon Garland and Chris Young would be way overpaying That would be a bad, bad trade. The Sox should do it. I don't know much about Young howver Garland is a great sell high candidate. Young is one of the best prospects in the minor leagues.

Unfortunately, that might end up being the best available option remaining. Why do you say "unfortunately"? Green is a left-handed bat that has consistently decent numbers. No he's not Abreu or Dunn, but he's better than Huff, Burnitz, or Jacque Jones. Vasquez is a good #2 (on some teams) or #3 starter who is overpriced, but not more than Millwood or Burnett. Wood comes back strong in May and you trade either Wood or Vasquez at the trade deadline. I say unfortunately, because a deal like that will completely deplete the farm system, and these guys are not impact players.

I agree that Bradley by himself is not enough for RF. However, a combination of Bradley and one of Huff, Green, Floyd, Wilkerson, etc... would create a deep outfield and allow Murton to smoothly transition into an everyday player, rather than a sink or swim situation with NO back up plan.