Why? Seeing the Uptons right now hurts like watching Cespedes. Who would we have traded for Justin? No idea, but I really wouldn't have had a problem with whatever package they put together so long as it didn't include Castro or Rizzo. It still hurts.
Really? We are talking about the Tribune here, I'm surprised they didn't give them a longer deal. They proved that they were completely inept at running a baseball team. They did a terrible job of maximizing revenues. The die was cast when they failed to buy up the neighborhood in 1981. They could have bought every surrounding structure for chump change. Why 1981?
If he's getting squeezed there's still a world of difference between "can't hit the strike zone" and "putting a hittable fastball over the plate," which seem to be his two main options right now.
Marmol is likely the closer because the FO wants him to create some semblance of trade value and feels it has little to lose...I doubt Sveum actually wants to run him out there in those situations. if Fujikawa were given the closers job and Marmol could shine in the set up role, would he really lose much trade value? Most contenders already have a closer and when looking for pen help are more in the market for 7-8 inning guys anyway. So you want to put Marmol into more of a high pressure role?
Well, yeah, DFA is a stupid option right now; I'm just saying the way it played out didn't really fill me with much confidence. I'd love it if the latter half of the the PA's lead to him righting the ship.