davell

Marco is definitely a prospect. If there was an iffy guy for me, it'd have been Contreras. But he showed solid enough defense to go with an improving bat, to where he'd probably make my top 40 or so. And I have Vogelbach, Amaya, Marco, Candelario, Bruno, and Almora all in my top 30 solidly and Martin creeps in on occasion himself.

I honestly think it's 50/50 even now, as to whether Brett gets 130 at bats. 17 games left, he's at 99. Seems easy, but he could get sat 4-5 times against lefties before the season ends, especially if he continues to struggle. Couple that with batting low in the order and drawing lots of walks......Even if he stays healthy, I could see him wind up right at or around that number.

Yeah, I keep an eye on things and remembered the Indians were buyers at one point and all of a sudden they were in our sights and couldn't believe how bad they've been. Snuck up out of no where on us.

Yeah, no kidding. We could wind up 5th relatively easily at this point. Hell, the damn Indians were 50-50, at one point, and have gone 10-35 since. They're doing their damndest to catch us and the Twins and Rockies are scary too.

Possible. I figure at this point, we'll have Shark, Garza, Wood, a guy like Marcum or Liriano, maybe Villanueva as an upside type, and a trade for a guy that may be able to contribute as well, like a Delgado or Straily. Plus Vizcaino.

Crap, that's right. I keep foegetting those 3 were dealt and can't be. At any rate, it'll take a gigantic commitment to Greinkw, likeky a 4-5 year deal for Sanchez and a multiyear deal for Dempster.

Yeah, there's obviously not a player on that list that isn't worth sacrificing a second-round pick for. Worst comes to worst, you trade them in 2014 and get a way better prospect than your 2nd-round pick probably turned out to be. It's not as simple as that though. Pretty close to everyone on that list will require a 4-5 year commitment. So the question becomes who off THAT list do you want for that length of time? Like I said, I understand Upton, but not anyone else.

I think you don't have to look at the exact draft spot to be realistic about the value of the prospect you are going to get there. There are two phases of the MLB draft: the first round, and then a gigantic craps shoot of lottery tickets. 2nd-round picks fall into the latter category. I'm not particularly worried about losing out on one. The possible trade value of a mediocre MLB player we sign >>>> the value of a 2nd-round draft pick. From your list, I'd have no problem sacrificing a 2nd-round pick for any of the 3b and most of the pitchers. Haven't really looked at the outfielders too closely. Now, granted, the Cubs aren't exactly a model franchise for drafting and development, but the Cubs haven't had a 2nd-round pick produce more than 0.5 bWAR since Maddux in 1984. That list I just posted are the guys we should be able to choose from WITHOUT giving up picks. The other list, I posted earlier, probably not in list form, so here it is..... SP- Greinke, Sanchez, Dempster, Jackson OF- Hamilton, Bourn, Upton, Swisher I think that was everyone I thought had a chance at receiving the qualifier. Kyle Lohse goes on the other list as someone we conceivably could get without one, by the way.

It's only capped at 70 wins if our front office wants it to be. I don't think it's that simple. Do you advocate giving away our 2nd round pick for any of the guys I mentioned that may get the qualifier put on them? I don't, because none are true difference makers, other than Greinke and Hamilton, who obviously are too risky for Theo to use his first big step here on. I can't think of too many MLB players I wouldn't give up a 2nd round pick for. Second-round picks suck. Our 2nd round pick should be right around 40th overall, right? There have been 47 40th overall picks in the history of the draft. 4 of them have a career bWAR of greater than 1. Yeah, I don't think I can look at it that way. I definitely can't look at an exact draft spot and see that we're completely unable to find a guy that helps us in the future, either on the field or thru trade. Nor do I see anyone that I listed as getting qualified as being someone we actually would want or need, other than Upton, if the bidding stays even borderline reasonable? Do you?

This was my favorite part I honestly wionder if either of those 2 have been sacked in their entire careers as much as Jay has been since he's been a Bear?

It's only capped at 70 wins if our front office wants it to be. I don't think it's that simple. Do you advocate giving away our 2nd round pick for any of the guys I mentioned that may get the qualifier put on them? I don't, because none are true difference makers, other than Greinke and Hamilton, who obviously are too risky for Theo to use his first big step here on. But, if you take the guys I mentioned off the FA board, here's what we have to choose from: SP- Bedard, Blanton, Feldman, Liriano, Marcum, McCarthy, Peavy, Santana, Villanueva, maybe Haren. OF- Melky, Gomes, Hairston, Ross, Young, Pagan, Victorino, Hunter, and Ichiro 3B- Reynolds, Rolen, Youkilis, and Izturis I don't see us adding anywhere else unless we traded Barney and the 2B options are Kelly Johnson and Keppinger. If we trade from our system right now, neither Soler or Almora can be dealt and I highly doubt we're trading Baez myself. Most of our main prospects are low enough in the minors that they don't have the trade as if they were in AA or even High A ball. To me, it leaves us with Vizcaino, Villanueva, Torreyes, Szczur, Lake, Vitters, and Brett as possible trade bait if we're to make trades right now for young, high upside guys. Again, I just don't see us getting real impact there, other than a trade to amp the young pitching up a bit with a Delgado type addition. 70 wins is doable obviously, but given our situation, unless Baez was dealt and we give up our 2nd rounder to sign an impact player, I can't see much more than that.

Probably have to pay pretty good to get Long. It's obvious we're desperate. I don't think our 1st next year gets Jake Long, nor do I think Irwland is in trouble. He's got full reign to turn that roster over and start from scratch, which is what he's doing. A GM in trouble isn't trading Marshall, Davis, and starting a rookie QB, if he's job scared. He does if he's really dumb. http://rotoworld.com/player/nfl/1314/dolphins-offense Wow, he may truly be a numbskull then. Carry on with trying to get Jake Long from them.

Probably have to pay pretty good to get Long. It's obvious we're desperate. I don't think our 1st next year gets Jake Long, nor do I think Irwland is in trouble. He's got full reign to turn that roster over and start from scratch, which is what he's doing. A GM in trouble isn't trading Marshall, Davis, and starting a rookie QB, if he's job scared.

I don't really care if Stewart is given a chance or not. Part of me wants him to get one. But he can't be handed the job. And zi have serious doubt that he'd get anything more than a minor league/split contract if he hit the open market. I'm not sure a team even gives him a mill guaranteed.

Well, this game sucked obviously. Cutler has one of these every year and I didn't expect to win last night anyway. Hell, to lose 23-10 in Green Bay, with them coming off a home loss, Cutler throwing 4 picks, Forte going down, giving up 7 sacks, and generally unable to do anything right? It could have been much, much worse. This could wind up helping out longterm. Reading through the thread, the Packer fans trolling us? At least Erik is a Cubs fan, but I've got no clue why Caballo has close to 5K posts on a message board that's not a Milwaukee themed board. To me, that's just really, really odd.

I think Upton has probably played himself out of us seriously considering him. Tampa will qualify him and I can't see us losing our second round pick, which'll carry a value of 1.3ish mill right now and be in the very high 30's or low 40's. As for the qualifier, right now, these are the guys I expect to receive it: Hamilton and Greinke are no-brainers obviously. I think Upton is close to one as well at this point. I think Bourn will get one pretty easily and I expect the Yankees to put one on Swisher, who could possibly be stuck, if they dod. A one year commitment to him probably suits the Yanks OK, but I'm not completely sure a team gives up their 1st for him. My guess is yes, but it may take a team who's already lost their 1st to go ahead and just totally punt the draft and sign him as well. Ortiz is a wild card, but if Boston gives him one, he's staying put for sure. Pitching-wise, it's a bit dicier after Greinke. I could see the nats giving one to Edwin, again, a one year commitment probably suits them well and he'd likely be stuck there. I can see Texas giving Dempster one possibly, again, it'd keep him there. Just not sure they on't go in a different direction. Detroit could put one on Sanchez too. Another guy teams may be hesitant to give up their 1st for.

Davis has had an excellent year and I figure he'll be available again. I'm still very hesitant to say his stuff would play up for more than an inning at a time, but if Shark made the move, who's to say he can't? At any rate, my guess is anyone trading for him would be looking at him as a starter.

True, but that eliminates San Fran and Oakland. The Dodgers and Angels don't have a need for an OFer, so the West Coast is eliminated entirely. I really think he's a Yankee next year, if he's not a Cub.

I listed 10 guys. Soriano evidently wants to play for a contender and has reservations about the West Coast evidently. He'll be 37 next year, so his solid year this season means less, because of the age scare. He won't be easy to deal and get a solid return for, even if we do pay most of the deal.

After another solid season and taking the one year deal last offseason, I'll be very surprised if Edwin Jackson doesn't get a 4 year deal, maybe longer. He's arguably the second best pitcher on the FA market, behind Greinke.

That's what I was wondering.

The FA class this offseason sucks, but it's actually solid for the OF. You've got teams choosing from Hamilton, Bourn, Upton, Cabrera, Hunter, Swisher, Victorino, Ross, Hairston, and Pagan. Even with the excellent season, it's not going to be easy to trade him with that many options available. To me, the Yankees, losing Swisher and not having tons of money available, make the most sense. We pay 30 or so, they get a middle of the order type who's played in New York before cheap and have the money saved from losing Swisher and a bit more to throw at pitching.

So, did he literally make all the comments and posts as well? Then claim it wasn't him?

Oh well, not sure why I had 150 in my head. Yeah, that'll be tough for Brett to miss. Vitters will retain rookie status though.

After tonight, there's 19 games left. Brett has 94 at bats and Vitters has less than that. I think it's extremely likely both will still be considered prospects by BA and the other publications that rank prospects. Can't see Brett getting 56 at bats from here on out if he's batting low in the order, taking a few walks, and probabky getting a few more days off as well.