RammyFanny

So what's everyones thoughts here about the next offseason for the Cubs?Alot of ways to get some good picks without losing anything too important to us with Howry, Wood and Dempster FA eligible. If the Cubs were smart, they'd just let Dempster close this year and he might fetch a type A ranking with a good year, and it would seem at worst he'd be type B. I'd almost certainly let Howry go if he's had a good year, Dempster too (if he can be decent), and of course try to let Kerry stay here if possible. Meanwhile, when some of the relievers go, have younger cheap guys like Petrick and/or even Shark step in to fill the void (though Shark isn't that cheap). Eyre's also a FA, though it'll take an awful good year for him to be ranked as anything. Piggy could step right in to fill Eyre's spot. I guess as a guy who loves the draft, i'm salivating at the thought of us potentially having a boatload of picks without losing anyone that isn't replaceable. Imagine if Howry and Dempster (likely closing) could fetch type A's and we get 3 total first round picks and 2 supplementals.

Arietta pitched very well in some league recently...might have the the AFL.

Hopefully we'll have a nice, new, expensive owner who gives us gobs of money for it though :D

So a worst case scenario of pick 42 for Jason Kendall? (it's 38th currently) \:D/ Edit: Just wanted to randomly say that i'm slightly pissed that the Mets will pick 18th, right before us. Hopefully they aren't the big money team that snags up a dropper first, since I was inclined to believe that we would be that team.

Correct. He had a school commitment. Nice to see he is from inner-LA with a good head. I know this post was from awhile ago Meph, but what do you have against Alonso? It seems if one statistic can be translated more likely than another from college to pro's, it's strike zone judgement. We're talking about a decent athlete, good power potential, and the aforementioned strike zone judgement, which was a pretty ridiculous 64:31 BB:SO ratio with an .519 OBP, not to mention good slugging. I see no reason why he shouldn't be able to have a successfull career. And another name to throw out there from South Carolina is James Darnell. You could play him at the hot corner or put him in the OF where his bat could be of good use down the line. Seems like a nice guy to pick in the lower end of the 1st or supplemental since you can project some strikejone judgement and power, and still get some untapped athletic ability to gamble on in addition to a "safe" thing in his good approach.

Last year? Bedard. The years before that? Zambrano. Will Z pitch like last year, will Bedard pitch like last year? Who knows. /thread

It was based off an earlier article today, with a couple quotes saying nothing was imminent and "as of right now, Erik is our opening day starter" type of quotes. When asked about a trade he said "You never know" or something along those lines. It was one of those articles with a sort of misleading title in "Bedard likely to be on opening day roster" when there was the just the same ol' quotes every GM gives.

Don't mind me while I laugh at this post Why? It's true. Don't believe them if you want, but i've seen the mods over their consistently verify them a couple years ago and have seen numerous things they've gotten right pertaining to the Orioles. Things you can't just "guess right". There's a reason that site has been on "My Favorites" for about three years now.

Kaplan tonight said we have a good deal on the table for Roberts, but the Orioles haven't decided yet becayse they might want to take care of Bedard first. Cubs are pushing for before Christmas, though like I said is not likely due to the league offices being shut down for the holidays. Can anyone confirm the actual days they are shut down?

Yeah that was from yesterday...see page 60. Things won't get done until the new year because the MLB offices shut down for the holidays soon (I don't know exactly when).

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3165277

Probably Bedard. I can see it making sense in that regard even if i'm not that high on Volquez. You'll still have some young depth with one of Bailey/Cueto gone.

I would have thought you could've gotten more than that for a young .900+ OPS CF/RF, even if he's had a shaky past. I know the Reds didn't want to trade within the division, but I wish there was someway that we could've gotten involved.

BTW, Belkast said he will still get info from his guy but he has to check with him about what he can post. And I know people are skeptical of these guys, but they really are legit. I've known about them for awhile and they've called various deals in the past. As mentioned, they were on the money with the Tejada trade that morning (several hours before any media outlets reported anything) and that deal hadn't been really talked about in the media for a week or so. BTW, here's Belkast in a thread asking what happened with the Roberts deal: The only fake stuff that was fed to him by his source that day was that a deal was going to happen that day and that the Reds would include Bruce for Bedard. Everything else in the past was true. Also, I don't know if it's been mentioned but i'm pretty sure the MLB offices are closed down from XMas week until New Years, or something like that. That obviously goes with MacPhail saying nothing will happen until the new year, or whatever that quote said.

Supposedly it's Murton, Gallagher, and Patterson for Roberts. There is some talk that the O's are trying to squeeze another player, possibly Cedeno, into the package. Sounds like the Juan Pierre trade all over again. Too bad Hendry cant nut up and go all out for Bedard. Except Brian Roberts, is, well, much better than Pierre. So we won't be getting crap back. And by the way, Nolasco is terrible, Pinto is an decent bullpen arm, and Mitre had a 4.65 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP. I'm not arguing Pierre is good by any means, but it's not like we gave up anything we couldn't easily replace. P.S- We got a very nice prospect in Josh Donaldson for Pierre as well.

I know everyone is bummed it probably won't be today, but I still say it's more likely than not we get him.

Yes But according to another of the Famous Orioles Hangouter Insiders, his guy says nothing is imminent. So who the hell knows. Where was this said? Can't find it.

Changed the thread title since the pg.3 thing was a little old, as previously mentioned.

I'm assuming he meant "details" instead of "deals".

Except those two aren't even in the neighborhood of what it would take for Bedard alone, let alone him and Roberts. Does anyone have the adjusted OPS with the steals included for Roberts (maybe DeRosa's too for comparison). I'd guess (off the top of my head) that it'd be in the .870 neighborhood if you counted those singles with the steals as doubles.

+1

Bottom of http://forum.orioleshangout.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56539&page=17 Majority on pg. 18

Man, I'd love to get him without giving up Hill. That would be a nasty rotation 1-4. Left handed heavy, but yes, it would be dominating. My concern is it would be nice to go back and forth. So you'd have to have Z not start the opener. So if this did happen, you'd go LRLRL Bedard Z Lilly Marquis Hill Who's starting in between Hill and Bedard? I hate this "reasoning" that you can't have back to back lefties in the rotation. Yes there are more righties than lefties in any given batting order. Don't you think these guys have been facing these same batting orders their whole careers? In the same way, I see no reason with the obsession of having a lefty in the rotation or a lefty in the batting lineup. 8 best hitters, 5 best pitchers, let em throw and hit with whatever they want as long as they do it well. Little known fact, we had back to back lefties ALL FREAKIN YEAR LONG LAST YEAR. How'd that work out for us? So you're accounting all or most or even a significant number of the Cubs' losses to this? I was under the impression he was saying it didn't matter because we made the playoffs or something. IIRC it worked out pretty nicely with Lilly having a great year, Hill having a very solid year, and Marshall exceeding expectations until re randomly decide to replace him after like 2 bad starts with young Steve Trachsel.

Yep just a couple minutes earlier he said: Asked if we're giving in on Pie: And when asked Would the Cueto/Votto and prospects from the Reds for Bedard and Gallegher, Murton, and EPatt for BRob from the Cubs be accurate?: Sounds like Gally, Murt, Patterson. BTW, this is the insider that broke the Tejada deal a few hours early IIRC.

They were talking about Bedard on Orioles hangout and one of the insiders chimed in saying that he's still hearing Roberts to Cubs soon...asked if it would be today he said: