BigbadB

I don't see it that way. He was given a blank check to spend on Furcal even after blowing ridiculous amounts of money on Rusch, Neifi and Eyre. He had this blank check and they knew they still needed to fill holes in CF, RF and possibly in the rotation even after they signed Furcal. It appears to me that he has just failed to land the guys "he" wanted. I was worried at the end of the season that the Tribune might tighten the budget considering they now seem to be doing worse each year they expand the payroll. That doesn't seem to be the case. To me, he gambled the entire offseason on landing Furcal. That gamble might end up costing some jobs. But, I'll stop there. The offseason isn't over yet.

I've already given props to Kenny Williams, so I don't want my next statements to sound like it was nothing but luck. However, I wouldn't bet on that team winning the World Series 1 out of 10 times when considering all the other good teams that played in the AL last year. An element of luck was involved. A healthy pitching staff sure can go a long way as well. With the offensive weaknesses the Sox had last year, their manager (Guillen) put the right guys in the right places to make the best of what little offense they had. For that, even he deserves some credit. The most interesting thing about it all, is that they didn't stand pat this offseason thinking that the team was good enough as is to win again next year. They went out and improved the offense by bringing back Konerko and adding Thome (and shopping for Tejada). They improved the pitching by going out and getting Vazquez. With those moves, they will be a force again next year.

Yeah, nice game plan Hendry seems to have this offseason. I'm thinking someone casually mentioned to Jim after the winter meetings that he still doesn't have a RFer, which made Jim go :shock:, as he stormed out the door with the available free agent list in his hands. When Preston Wilson is signed to play RF, he will dress up Wilson as if he was the guy they were targeting all along. That's okay, we can always stick Neifi out there when Hendry can't find a taker for Todd Walker.

The Cubs probably could have had him for 4m if they showed some interest at the end of the season.

Got a hole in RF? Trade your 2nd baseman for a SS. That should fix that hole in RF. My apologies for the sarcasm. The black hole in RF has been there too long this offseason to continue ignoring.

Sure would rather be lucky than good...... :D

I don't think Green would waive his NTC to play in Chicago. From what I understand, he wants to stay in the Southwest. I thought Green was from around Chicago...or am I making that up? I thought he was only from Chicago in the sense that he was born there and lived there a couple years. He spent most of his life in southern California, went to high school and college in CA, and was considered a returning hero when he first went to LA. Nice sig.......

Arizona is paying part of Vazquez' deal, and Phily is paying a big portion of the Thome deal. Big Skirt is off the books, as is Carl Everett. Maybe they can, maybe they can't. But, it might be a gamble worth taking.

I didn't think much of KW's moves his first few years in Chicago. That trade to Pittsburgh was horrible (Kip Wells for Todd Ritchie). However, he has created a winner in Chicago. He put together a strong pitching staff, they stayed healthy and the team won. He's had good moves and bad moves along the way. Lately, all of his moves have turned to gold, which is what you basically want your GM to do for your team.

And you can trust that none of these people posting here are Jim Hendry or Jim Hendry's wife or Jim Hendry's dog. I don't think everyone should have to put "IMO" at the front of every comment they make. It would be easier if everyone just assumes that opinions are being expressed, not fact, when facts are not provided.

They are opinions, people. No one posting here is Jim Hendry. Once you understand this, feel free to agree or disagree with the poster, but leave the personal stuff out of it.

Since when did everything have to be proven as fact in order to post here? From the day I started posting here, I've always been under the impression that a message board was about expressing one's opinions. The problem isn't Goony providing facts to back up his opinion, but rather your lack of ability to provide baseball discussion in a baseball discussion forum. Since you know already that Goony cannot back up his opinion with fact, instead of calling him out, why don't you just disagree with his opinion and provide some opinions of your own. Opinions that discuss the topic at hand, of course, rather than trying to run down another poster.

I agree with you on a lot of things, but this isn't one of them. The White Sox have put themselves in a wonderful position. They have given the team a name. They have won the hearts of many Chicagoans. They are in a position to double, triple and possibly quadruple season ticket sales. Trading for a guy like Miggy would do that, IMO. It does somewhat mortgage the future in regards to McCarthy being included in a deal for Miggy, but the team is definitely built to win NOW. When Thome's skills have declined to a point he is no longer contributing, and the team is no longer in a position to be competitive, then they can trade Miggy to a team that will give up their "McCarthy" for him. That might only be a year or two down the road. They just won a World Series. They don't have to be conservative. They've made the moves this offseason that put them in a position to possibly win again this coming year. Tejada just puts them one step closer. I'd make that deal.

Way to gloss over the points that don't support your theory. What about Iguchi, a Japanese player. Hendry and the Cubs haven't even thought about bringing in Japanese players. If you call the $8m Lee's line of .265/.324/.487 very good for a LF, then Iguchi's .278/.342/.438 at 2.3m from 2B is great. Iguchi, Pods and Dye combined to make less than Lee, while Dye (.274/.333/.512) outperformed Lee on his own. Like I said, individual deals can be debated forever. But they don't matter. What matters is the total package. Williams has done a much better job with the total package than Hendry, and he's done more to improve his team this offseason than Hendry, and he apparantly still has plenty of youth to both add to next years roster plus trade for more parts. And Kenny did all this with a payroll $25m below Hendry's. That right there is a huge fact that people like to pretend doesn't exist. Williams has to make due with an average payroll, he's had an above average team every year, and built a great one last year. Hendry has had a top 5 payroll every year, and has had either an above or below average team as a result, never greatness, and it doesn't look to be coming. Hendry's extra $25m can be used to bring in a sure thing corner OF and allow you not to take the downgrade from Lee to Pods. Hendry's extra money should be an asset. So far it has not been. you know this as a fact because... Because the Cubs have regressed every year since 2003? hendry hasnt even thought about bringing in japanese players because the cubs have regressed every year since 2003? i dont get the connection. My apologies. I guess I didn't relate "you know this as fact because...." to the one sentence that speculated Hendry has no interest in Japanese players. They seemed to have given up on recruiting anyone outside the United States of late. Another problem this organization seems to have.

Way to gloss over the points that don't support your theory. What about Iguchi, a Japanese player. Hendry and the Cubs haven't even thought about bringing in Japanese players. If you call the $8m Lee's line of .265/.324/.487 very good for a LF, then Iguchi's .278/.342/.438 at 2.3m from 2B is great. Iguchi, Pods and Dye combined to make less than Lee, while Dye (.274/.333/.512) outperformed Lee on his own. Like I said, individual deals can be debated forever. But they don't matter. What matters is the total package. Williams has done a much better job with the total package than Hendry, and he's done more to improve his team this offseason than Hendry, and he apparantly still has plenty of youth to both add to next years roster plus trade for more parts. And Kenny did all this with a payroll $25m below Hendry's. That right there is a huge fact that people like to pretend doesn't exist. Williams has to make due with an average payroll, he's had an above average team every year, and built a great one last year. Hendry has had a top 5 payroll every year, and has had either an above or below average team as a result, never greatness, and it doesn't look to be coming. Hendry's extra $25m can be used to bring in a sure thing corner OF and allow you not to take the downgrade from Lee to Pods. Hendry's extra money should be an asset. So far it has not been. you know this as a fact because... Because the Cubs have regressed every year since 2003?

You would think so, wouldn't ya? But, it won't be easy to move Gonzalez or Green. If Gonzalez and Green knew they would be sitting the bench this year, would they be in favor of a trade then? That's how I would present it as the GM of the D'Backs.

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.