Tedward

Pretty close LOL!. I believe they kick off their version of the Yankee "YES" network next season, so they are trying to get as competitive as possible for their innaugural launch.

Pretty easy to do when you consider who they've already signed this offseason.

How about Walker and some young arms of ours to ATL then for Giles. Ronny and Marcus take ss and 2b respectively, with Neifi backing them both up?

Dusty just asked me who he is? Theriot.....Fontenot.....it's all the same.

Your absolutely right. Hendry has some good things as GM, but hooking his wagon up to Dusty has led him to making some very shortsighted decisions. There has to be something else coming down the pike for this to make any sense. Maybe he made a deal with Scheurholz not to go after Furcal if they could work a deal to get Marcus Giles. I dunno.... I reaching....Trying real hard to understand this move.

If I remember correctly.

Depending on how badly the Mets want to unload Matsui (probably very badly), maybe they can throw him in the deal as well (picking up $6MM of the $8MM he is owed for next season). He'd be pricy, but Kaz could then replace Neifi as our $2MM super sub for next season.

Meat, As I have said all along, the Cubs have been acting like they really don't Walker back for at least 2 months now. I don't know if it's his defense or his durability or some lingering clubhouse issue. I think Hendry picked up his option, so that he would have the option of trading him. And considering Walker will only make $2.5M in 2006, he is easily marketable. They really seem to like Cedeno. If you read between the lines, he will be starting at 2B and batting 8th in 2006. Hoops, What teams do you see the Cubs maybe trading Walker to, and what would the Cubs want in return? Wasn't Texas interested in him last offseason? That might be a potential destination if they are able to move Soriano.

I'm not surprised with Callis' remark on the farm system ranking dropping in 2006. John Manuel who also writes for BA hinted a few months back in his "prospect pulse" column that the Cubs system has taken a step back as well.

Any idea what Abreu's contract looks like? I'd also be curious to see how many innings Carlos has thrown the past few years. I'd have to think he's thrown quite a few innings, and I wonder if there is more of a chance that he could break down in the future - especially with Dusty running the show. I'm not saying I'd rush off to trade the guy, but I wonder if that should maybe enter the thought process in moving him. If I could get Michael's, Abreu, and Padilla.....that might be pretty tempting. If Wood and Prior were both completely healthy, I'd be more apt to consider it, but with health concerns on both of them moving into 06' I'd be surprised if the Cubs moved Z.

Boy, you just love to get underneath people's skin don't you? Always taking it right to the edge......just without getting too personal.

What is that supposed to mean? Sorry, to confuse.... I should have thrown some comma's in my sentence. Was typing too fast. Our 1st round pick is protected, so signing Giles or Furcal would surely leave us without our 2nd round pick (I'm assuming SD and ATL will offer arbitation to both). Do we have any arbitration hopefulls that could possibly help us net some extra draft picks? I suppose Nomar, and Rusch could net something, but I highly doubt they'll be that high on anyone's wish list (this early in the offseason) that they will end up signing with other teams prior to the arbitration deadline date (believe it's in December). I highly doubt the Cubs will extend arbitration to Nomar, because he'd probably accept it. I guess the Cubs could offer arbitration to Rusch if they are unable to come to an agreement on a contract extension. Unlike Clement's situation last year....I don't see any bonified way to pick up extra draft picks this offseason.

Cash in addition to at the very best our 2nd round draft choice (SD will surely offer arbitration to Giles) depending on any other FA's that we may end up inking this offseason.

Yes. CSN in Philly last night said that Wagner and the Phillies could be close on a 3 year $30MM package with Wagner that would include a no trade clause.

funny, from what i've read the phillies wish they didnt sign him to a no trade clause so they could trade abreu. Might be a possibility if insiders Amaro Jr or Arbuckle gets the job. I wonder if Philly may talk to Brian Cashman.

Link? Source? The Marlins have received permission to speak with Girardi. That might be what he is referring to. I highly doubt they have spoken with him yet, however, since the Yanks are still playing.

That is nice work. The stats show that he's one heck of a ball player. A) How many of those situations were situations when the game was on the line? ie game tied or close, and not when his team wasn't already up by 3 or 4 runs? B) How much of his OBP is driven by his walk total? C) How many walk-off hits did he have this season? Abreu is fantastic when there's no pressure on him to produce. He can hit like there is no tommorrow. Put in a situation when the game is on the line, he's a different ball player. I'm not questioning the fact that he's not a good ball player, he is. To me though, Abreu is a clean up hitter who thinks he's a lead off hitter. I just don't think he's worth trading a Zambrano or Prior to get him.

Yeah, I knew you would respond to my post Goony. Sorry about the stat geek comment. Your're right, that was uncalled for. Well, I agree with you that he'll be available. We'll have to agree to disagree the player though I'm just not a fan of his and I'd rather not see the Cubs get him. I think Cubs fans would be expecting more than what they would actually be getting. I suppose I could come around on Abreu if PHL would put Utley into the deal as a throw-in....lol

Aaaaarrrrrgggghhhhhh.......I can't take the Bobby Abreu lovefest on this board any more. I think your're selling yourself a bit short on Abreu. He'll be available for the right price. Abreu has great fantasy stats, the statgeeks will love his OBP and OPS, but when the game is on the line, he crumbles and goes into a shell. I'd rather not have my cleanup hitter that I'm paying $9MM+ a year looking for walks when the game is on the line. How do I know this, because I live outside of PHL and watch the Phillies on a day to day basis. Check out Abreu's stats in the second half of the season too. A sign of things to come? Perhaps. Maybe maybe not. But, Abreu time and time again in game critical situations is not the man. For what the Phillies are paying him, he's way overrated. Rollins, Utley and Howard carried that team down the stretch. If Wade is smart, he'll try to package Abreu and try to get back a #1 pitcher. I know I'll get crucified for this post because the NSBB community loves Abreu....All I can say is that if you watched him play on a daily basis like I have, you would have a different impression. And hustle??? Please, Abreu is one of the laziest ballplayers in the major leagues. Steals - sure he can steal bases, but watch him when he hits the ball and runs the bases to see how aggressive he is run - he doggs it. Also, watch him in LF when the ball is hit to him to see how he hustles (lack thereof) for balls hit his way. Sure, Abreu has the stats, but he's not a building block player for which I would want the Cubs to pay big money to acquire. I'd rather the Cubs give Murton RF than give up a Zambrano or whatever bounty would be required to obtain Abreu. BTW - Vance, this post isn't directed as you. It's my frustration that this board has with Abreu. Everyone looks at the stats. There's more to the game than the stats.

Or Pittsburgh. I believe that's his home.

Yep. It's up on ESPN right now.

A decent list, but I would take Murton and Cedeno off of it since they are no longer considered prospects/rookies. Murton exceeded the total of bats requirement of 135 AB's, burning his rookie status, and Cedeno exceeded the ML service time requirement.

We better nail that 1st pick, because with the cash the Cubs have to spend this offseason, they may not be picking for a while after that 1st choice.

I'd go with Huston Street in the AL and Ryan Howard in the NL. Howard was awesome down the stretch, and along with Rollins and Utley, helped keep the Phillies in the race. Francoeur is a terrific talent, but IMO, Howard made more of an impact on his team than Francoeur with ATL.

Looks to be as high as #12, no lower than #13. It appears we are in a tie with Texas.