TheRaven

People are calling Hendry an idiot for trading Ceda for Kevin effing Gregg From what I see, many are also tying it into losing Wood. I am usually big on holding onto prospects, but I don't see the allure of a minor league reliever to get so damn upset at the GM to call him names and question whether he can do the job. For everyone who hates on a guy because hes a dominant reliever I would like you to familiarize yourself with a concept called "leverage". What leverage does Ceda hold on the market? Show me. Leverage as in "high leverage situation". You cast the scarlet R on him, but bringing in a guy to mow down a teams 2-3-4 hitters in the 8th inning in a close game is about as valuable as an average starter performing averagely for the first 6 innings of a game. You speak as if it is fact that Ceda will be that dominant of a major league reliever. That is a large reach as of right now.

Exactly. If Ceda had potential to start then this is a bad trade, but I see this as the Cubs trading future Kevin Gregg type reliever for the present Kevin Gregg. The only thing that sucks is the cost, but that offset by him becoming a FA after next season. So I don't know why people are upset about Ceda/Gregg deal, it's a blah deal no doubt. So you are OK with trading 6 years of controlable extremely low average cost Kevin Gregg for 1 year of somehwat costly Kevin Gregg? If so, then if you give me 6 $20 bills, I'll give you a one crisp $20 bill. So you are guaranteeing that Ceda will have success in the majors? Not saying there is a shot, or even going as far as to say it is likely..you are saying for 100% fact that he will have an impact in the majors? Because otherwise your $20 bill comparison is useless. He has nearly as good a shot as Gregg does next year. That is not fact. That is purely speculation.

People are calling Hendry an idiot for trading Ceda for Kevin effing Gregg From what I see, many are also tying it into losing Wood. I am usually big on holding onto prospects, but I don't see the allure of a minor league reliever to get so damn upset at the GM to call him names and question whether he can do the job. For everyone who hates on a guy because hes a dominant reliever I would like you to familiarize yourself with a concept called "leverage". What leverage does Ceda hold on the market? Show me.

Exactly. If Ceda had potential to start then this is a bad trade, but I see this as the Cubs trading future Kevin Gregg type reliever for the present Kevin Gregg. The only thing that sucks is the cost, but that offset by him becoming a FA after next season. So I don't know why people are upset about Ceda/Gregg deal, it's a blah deal no doubt. So you are OK with trading 6 years of controlable extremely low average cost Kevin Gregg for 1 year of somehwat costly Kevin Gregg? If so, then if you give me 6 $20 bills, I'll give you a one crisp $20 bill. So you are guaranteeing that Ceda will have success in the majors? Not saying there is a shot, or even going as far as to say it is likely..you are saying for 100% fact that he will have an impact in the majors? Because otherwise your $20 bill comparison is useless.

People are calling Hendry an idiot for trading Ceda for Kevin effing Gregg From what I see, many are also tying it into losing Wood. I am usually big on holding onto prospects, but I don't see the allure of a minor league reliever to get so damn upset at the GM to call him names and question whether he can do the job.

So for those lamenting the potential loss of Wood and calling Hendry an idiot, are you saying that he should resign Wood at all costs? Give Wood a long contract? Because you wouldn't then be calling him an idiot for guaranteeing him big money over numerous years?

Minor league relief pitchers rarely have trade value. #4 Cubs prospect or not, I don't see him as being a deal breaker in any potential trade.

If the Cubs won the World Series, I would not expect the Cubs to make major moves. Cubs started the season at $118M Zambrano gets a 2.75M raise Ramirez gets a 1.65M raise Soriano gets a 3M raise Lilly gets a 5M raise Fukudome gets a 5.5M raise Marquis gets a 3.5M raise DeRosa gets a 750K raise Harden will get a 3.5M raise if option is picked up Gaudin will probably get a 1M raise in arbitration Thats 25.65M in salary added right there Dempster is a FA and if the Cubs try to resign him, he's going to make significantly more than the 5.5M he made this year. Kerry Wood after a All Star mostly successful year as closer will want significantly more money than the 1.75 (+ incentives) he received this year. Howry (4M) is off the books, Edmonds (insignificant) is off the books, Lieber (3.5M) is off the books, Reed Johnson (1.3M) is off the books, Ward (1.2M is off the books) Blanco has a 3M option (made 2.8M in 08) That's 20.05M lost off the books The rest of the team is making under 1M and mostly under arbitration and won't get more than 300-500k in raises (I think) Meaning our payroll will roughly be at 123.60M for 17 players. You are then missing a reliever (can be filled in minors), number 3 starter (can resign Dempster for 10M or fill in minors), a closer (can use Marmol, fill in reliever spot in minors or resign Wood for lets say 5M guaranteed + incentives), a CF (both sides of the platoon), a LH bench player (Hoffpauir can fill this role), a backup catcher (can be found cheaply most likely) and a long reliever (not significant to speculate, but probably minors) Lets say the Cubs resign Dempster and Wood and fill the rest of the needs internally. That brings the payroll to roughly 140M, a raise of 22M just to reach status quo. Then throw into consideration the fact that the team's ownership will change hands during the offseason, I would think its completely unrealistic to suggest that the ballclub is improved with anything other then a possible trade. Good post, though I think you are undervaluing both Dempster and Wood on an open market. I see Dempster easily getting 12-13, if not more if he closes out this year as well as he has. Wood will probably be looking at 7-9 million per. The saving grace for him is that he likely won't command a 4 or 5 year deal considering his past. I think the longest he can hope for is 3. I think the payroll could be closer to 145M in your example after resigning Demp and Wood, maybe even a bit higher.

Same here..and being a Yankee fan, I hope they make this move. :)

Excellent deal for the Cubs. It is slightly humerous to see some sport people, but not necessarily baseball people, jump on the Cubs for making such a 'risky' move. Getting Gaudin back in this deal really makes this one to love. Him and Gallagher wash each other out, leaving us with Harden for scrubs. Even if Harden goes down, nothing lost. Beautiful trade. I also like it because he is coming here to be a Cub. CC is going to Milwaukee to try to showcase himself for FA. Trying to dominate doesn't always equate to team success and I fully believe he would sacrifice team success for an attempt to parlay his talents into Johan type money. He knows that and his new teammates know that. That is why I am not a fan of these 'rentals', especially when having to give up top prospects back as well. I am not trying to rip Milwaukee, I am actually pleased to see a smaller market team make a splash for a change. I just prefer the lower key move the Cubs made.

I have no idea where the notion that KC would give Meche away cheaply is coming from. Since they signed him, he's given them basically exactly what they hoped he would... he's made all his starts, eaten innings, and put up an ERA in the 4.00 range with good peripherals. He's the steady veteran in a young and inexperienced rotation. I'd say you'd have to come with a serious package just to get KC's attention. The guy's pretty valuable for where they are right now. Agreed. I am sure they also are hoping for a TB similar resurrgence next year with the group of young talent they have currently. I don't think they will dump Meche just to do so. He is currently earning his contract in their eyes.

Usually people that never walk have a crappy OBP, yes. Overall, it amazes me how critical people can and will be over minor league deals around here. I see no harm in doing this move, regardless of a potential future trade or not.

That is great. :lol:

Colon and Livan will get ML contracts.

They're looking to trade him about 2-3 years too late. I guess if we get him for nothing, I can live with it.

They are spending more now to save more later. When he is arb eligible, he holds all the cards and not the other way around. It also takes away his first year of FA eligibility. As an example, they are paying Holliday 12 million a year now that he is arb eligible. And if he continues to produce, will be paying him even more on his first year of FA.

I think you could make a good arguement that Bedard and his 13th place VORP last year is a #1. no kidding. Bedard is a #1 at this moment, so there should be no question on whether he would qualify as a decent #2 option.

I am just glad he is finally gone. It was time to move on.

We already have someone who could lead off with DeRosa.

Agreed.

Who is the right person on the O's?

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The advantage for the Royals here is that I believe Teahan is one year closer to arbitration than Murton is. So I don't think a 2nd player would be needed for this swap.

I never thought I would be see the day that people are actually upset that Jacque Jones is gone. I really don't know how that .730 OPS can be replaced..

Stupid. Yea Jim would rather invest in crap like Jason Marquis, Neifi Perez, Steve freaking Trachsel, etc etc etc.. then a guy with talent. The sooner Hendrys ass leaves Chicago the better. What has Prior brought back anytime recently in the continued investment made into him? Not even enough to match those 3 guys listed. I would ask for the same contract. If he doesn't want it, hit the door Mark. I am so tired of his crap, I don't know if I want him back even with that contract.