BigbadB

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.

fixed Bradley WON'T even play but for half the season! He's only played over 100 games TWICE in all his years. Has someone put some special tonic y'alls juice that makes you fall in love with a guy who A) Is a proven headcase and a cancer in the clubhouse and B) averages ONLY 76 games a year!! This would be THE typical Cubs pickup! Just say no! I'm not saying Jones is a better baseball player, but i DO know that he more than likely isn't going to call reporters "uncle tom's" or throw things at fans, scream at umpires, and i DO know that he'll more than likely play OVER 76 games this year. 76 games a year? That's some fuzzy math for sure. 2000: 42 MLB games, 88 at AAA, 120 total 2001: 77 MLB games, 35 at AAA, 112 total 2002: 98 MLB games, 9 at AA/AAA, 108 total 2003: 101 MLB games 2004: 141 MLB games 2005: 75 MLB games, 5 AAA games, 80 total Last year was the first year since he broke into the Major Leagues that he didn't play 100 games. He also wasn't injured during those seasons either. He was in a platoon situation while Cleveland sorted out who they really wanted playing in the outfield.

He stole a whopping 12 bases in 1945. His on base percentage was .420. He scored 110 runs in 150 games.

1. Couldn't get it done. 2. Had no desire to get it done. 3. Didn't recognize Giles value. 4. Giles had no desire to come to Chicago. 5. Giles wasn't as big a priority to Hendry as Furcal or Pierre. Probably a combination from the list above, but his obvious love affair over Furcal and Pierre over Giles seemed pretty apparent to me. I sure hope that someone going to convention gets the opportunity to address Hendry with these questions: 1. Giles was obviously the most fitting FA available this offseason. Why didn't you pursue him? 2. Nomar expressed interest in staying in Chicago. With his desire to stay and willingness to play any position, why did you kick him to the curb like a stray cat?

Obviously, Jacque Jones is only speculation, but would you be pleased with Hendry's offseason if he goes into 2006 with Jones in RF, Pierre in CF, Murton in LF, Cedeno/Perez at SS and Cedeno/Walker at 2nd with the usual suspects (Ramirez, Lee and Barrett) at their respective positions?

I'd rather platoon 'em both, except for the fact it would would most likely mean they'd both play and Murton would sit. Both will require at minimum a 2 year deal.

Not interested. However, if it comes down to Jones or Sanders, I'd rather have Sanders.

Unfortunately, that might end up being the best available option remaining.

What's Blasko's deal? Is he done?

Exactly why I asked the question that I did: What is Philly doing here? What's Gillick up to? I wonder if he has 40-man issues as well now that he has the two pitchers he got in the Thome deal? That might have been part of the problem. I don't think Phily had Padilla in their plans. What he was likely to receive in arby would have been more than Phily wanted to pay. I believe there was a very high likelihood that he would have been nontendered if they didn't trade him first. Texas offered up a deal so they wouldn't be scrapping it out with other teams for his services. The PTBNL might have been because of 40 man roster issues.