Rob

FWIW, I asked Callis where Cates would rank in the Cubs system. He said 21-30, near Ben Wells.

I asked Callis where he would rank Cates. He said 21-30 range, around Ben Wells.

LaHair is only getting a few months to try to build up potential trade value while Rizzo gets some seasoning at AAA (and we manipulate his service time and arbitration clock). It's a pretty bearable situation with some moderate potential for a reward and no real risk. LaHair is 18 months older than Prince Fielder, the reward isn't really there. If anything, there's more risk that him hitting .275/.340/.435 for 2 months costs Rizzo some MLB development time, although hopefully that's less of a risk with this regime. I'd rather play Soriano there and give Sappelt or Jackson extra at bats if Rizzo isn't to be on the Opening Day roster. And how has the internet not made a Professor Farnsworth "Tell them I hate them!" captioned picture? That's as outrageous as LaHair breathing the same air as you or me. Scouts have actually come around on LaHair, unlike most AAAA slugger situations. And LaHair has less than one year of service time. If he performs well for the next 3-4 months, there will be scouts who would urge their front offices to give up a couple C+ prospects for 3-4 cheap years of what might be a 2nd division starter or a good backup. That's not much, but it's probably worth it. There's no chance of Soriano going back to the infield to give Sappelt that playing time regardless (and I'm not convinced Sappelt wont start the season in Iowa... stupid Reed Johnson signing). I have zero concern that LaHair will block Rizzo for even a week. When Rizzo is ready for the show they'll bring him up.

LaHair is only getting a few months to try to build up potential trade value while Rizzo gets some seasoning at AAA (and we manipulate his service time and arbitration clock). It's a pretty bearable situation with some moderate potential for a reward and no real risk.

yeah but you'll probably only get something stupid like chris volstad back :lol: That's fantastic.

Still can't believe all it took was Cashner. I had always assumed Cashner would be the main piece going their direction, but I thought it would take another couple pieces... maybe Randy Wells and an interesting C level prospect. The price was much better than I expected.

Edit: Ninja'd. For me, it'll be pretty close to a coin flip situation.

Mike Rizzo has never struck me as afraid to take risks.

Saw this response while lurking on Gateway Redbirds and I had to share it.

Is there a way to transplant cancer?

Something makes me doubt we're gonna sign Fielder.

I doubt it.

Even ignoring the Harper/Rendon stuff, the Nationals have only gotten better this offseason. Ryan Zimmerman and Strasburg should be healthy. They picked up Gio Gonzalez. Werth should bounce back slightly. When people are talking about the team having a chance if they pick up Fielder and other stuff goes right, I don't think it's crazy. It's just not likely.

It's worth noting that Rizzo is still under control for 6 years, whereas Cashner is only under control for 5. And he'd have to be in the bullpen for at least some of that to get enough innings to be stretched back out as a starter.

It'll probably be an open competition between Rizzo and LaHair in spring training. Rizzo will be our starting 1B by Aug 1st though.

Rizzo isn't a perfect prospect... but Cashner obviously has his share of issues as well (not the least of which is we would have trouble finding a place to play him). I think this is one of those rare deals that is good for both teams.

Curiosity has got me...what on earth were you trying to say there? Seconded

I've long suspected that this was the case. I don't subscribe to overblown "chemistry" theories, but I do think Theo and Jed inherited a situation with Z that had become untenable. Theo may not buy into it either, but it the players really do, and they feel really strongly about it, then it becomes an issue. And as it became clear the team wasn't likely to compete in 2012, there was no reason not to trade him. I think it's also likely Miami was the only team that was going to be willing to take him on, largely because of Ozzie. Plagiarizing my article on NSBB's home page, are you? Plagiarism and intellectual property. Interesting concepts. Original thought? Let's try to quash that or copy it. Sound familiar boys? The "old guard" here has a ways to go imho. No offense to you. Rob. Just an observation. I can't figure out exactly what you're hinting at, but the fact you specifically said "no offense to you, Rob" makes me think I should probably be offended.

Yeah. Even as much as I've wanted Dave Duncan gone over the years, I'm taking absolutely no pleasure in this. I hope she recovers.

I'm a Big Z fan but I think with the Cubs playing poorly and sinking in the standings it would take one bad outing by Z for the whole "hold him for more value" idea would go up in flames. I wish him well but it had to be done. Oh, great article Rob. Thank you.

I admit I can't remember the details on the new CBA right now, but I recall seeing it postulated elsewhere that it might make sense to go severely over slot in the draft one year and then going over slot in IFA the next and continuing that pattern. Just throwing that out there.

davearm, maybe. davearm is the exception that proves the rule. Ouch. We've talked ad infinitum about Pujols and Fielder. My comfort level with Darvish is somewhere in the $20M/yr range (including posting). That would put him in the top 5 highest paid pitchers (without looking). It looks like $20M is not going to be enough to get him signed sealed and delivered. Closer to $25M/yr probably. I'm bullish and hopeful on both of the Cubans. Ha. If that's the worst you've gotten at NSBB in a while you're having an excellent start to the new year. I think I would've gone to around 6/135 on Darvish, posting fee included. And that's what I anticipate it'll end up costing the Rangers, roughly. And yeah, I'm still hopeful on both Cespedes and Soler. Moreso on Soler.

That's the worst that can happen. Didn't you hear that Theo wants to change the culture and build a winning team? Don't you remember that Theo says he wants productive players and who have their teammates' back? How does Z fit into any of those? Has he suddenly see the light and will shape up? You want to bring back an overpaid malcontent who attacked his teammates, quit on the team and is non-productive? No thanks. This is the showcase tour. Z has little value right now and if shows something now, maybe a team will be interested. I'm sure we may have to eat some $$$, but Theo knows that Z can't be brought back. Yes, he can. Nope..as I told you earlier. Yes, he could have pitched for the Cubs. I've seen this before. Some people believe that because a situation turned out one way, that was the only way it could have ever turned out... thus vindicating their prior opinions. It's called being a delusional megalomaniac. That's not the clinical term. I just like calling people that.

Scenarios for handling the Zambrano situation. 1.) Extend him - Not realistic 2.) Cut him - No benefit 3. ) Let him play out the season and walk - No benefit 4.) Trade him now - get best return possible* (Volstad) 5.) Hold onto him till the deadline and pray: a.) He pitches poorly -- Get nothing b.) He pitches well -- Get a similar piece to Volstad Maybe, just maybe Zambrano could pitch like an ace through the deadline... but even then he probably wouldn't net us much more than Volstad. Best to trade him now and get something rather than roll the dice for a marginal gain at best and nothing at worst.

Yeah, that's what I said. We got another illiterate here. There's a wide gulf between nobody and everybody. But you don't like to hear stuff like that I know. Early favorite for most ironic post of the year? Jersey, you've spent all offseason acting like a petulant child whose mother said "no" at the toy store.