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Backtobanks

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Everything posted by Backtobanks

  1. Backtobanks
    As I've posted before, a healthy Ramirez and Soriano certainly would have kept the Cubs in contention. All teams have to prepare for injuries, but there's no way to prepare for the excessive injuries that the Cubs (and Mets) had this year.
  2. Backtobanks
    Was Bud Black manager in SD when he had to restrain Bradley from attacking an ump and Bradley ended up twisting his knee or something? I doubt he wants to go through any of that again. Obviously it was a racist ump.
  3. Backtobanks
    I'm not a miracle worker. Finding one team to get involved with Milton Bradley is hard enough.
  4. Backtobanks
    The Cubs owe Bradley $21 million, so if we give Cleveland $10 million and Wood $10 million we end up with a mediocre relief pitcher instead of a clubhouse cancer. The alternative is to pay Bradley $18-$19 million to play for another team and we receive a player who will never step foot on a major league diamond. I know there's no way the name Alex Gordon should be mentioned in "Dump Milton Bradley Thread". I have no delusions of Kerry Wood being great. It's simply a bad contract for another bad contract. Wood could serve some purpose to the Cubs as opposed to Bradley (or the low A-Ball player we would get in return) for the same money except Wood has a 1 year contract and Bradley has 2 years.
  5. Backtobanks
    ESPN.com's Buster Olney hears that the Rangers probably wouldn't welcome Milton Bradley back. Here's the latest on the now-suspended outfielder, along with the rest of Olney's rumors: Olney says the Cubs will likely have to eat a huge portion of Bradley's contract to move him, perhaps as much as $18-19MM. The Cubs owe the 31-year-old $21MM over the next two years. The Padres may be looking for a corner outfielder this offseason, so they could have interest in Bradley. Olney says baseball people presume Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi will be fired. (What do you think?) If the Jays cut ties with their GM, Cubs scouting director Tim Wilken could be a candidate to replace him. Clubs expect the Indians to consider moving Kerry Wood this offseason. Cleveland is rebuilding, so they'd presumably be happy to unload his $10.5MM salary. How about Bradley + $10 million + prospect for Wood. Indians get Bradley and prospect "free" for 2010 and possibly flip him at deadline or after next season. Cubs save about $8 million in bribe money (to dump Bradley) and get somewhat useful relief pitcher. Obviously, Cubs do not take Wood's option for 2011.
  6. Backtobanks
    How can people relax when there's a chance to criticize Hendry (even though it's only speculation from Paul Sullivan of all people).
  7. Backtobanks
    yeah, not much Chicago experience here, but I did live in Dallas for 5 years. Very taken aback by how much racism floats around in the Lone Star state, didn't get that vibe in Chicago, but i also didn't live there for 5 years I taught in the inner city of Chicago for 34 years and racism is alive and well in Chicago, but so is a certain segment of African-Americans who blame racism for everything that happens to them. It doesn't take a psychology major to see that Milton Bradley has serious mental health issues and has had them for years. He has had emotional problems in every city he has been in and well before he ever arrived in Chicago.
  8. Backtobanks
    Why would Baltimore want him? Their OF is set. What they need is a big time slugger. I also don't see MacPhail putting Bradley with his prized youngsters. Of all the teams out there, I still think the Mets are the best fit. I know not many want Luis Castillo (although he's still a decent top of the order bat who runs the bases fairly well for his age), but we likely have to take back a bad deal if we make a trade (along with eating money). Minaya may be desperate enough ... they are talking about adding an OF bat anyways, and they've been rumored to be wanting to go after Orlando Hudson this offseason (not sure why they wouldn't prioritize adding a pitcher first, but that's not my concern). Nothing's ideal ... but that's the one swap that makes the most sense to me out of all the names that have been bandied. Castillo would be a bad contract fit for the Cubs and the Mets could use an OF, but Bradley in NY with their fans and media would certainly be a problem. Maybe Ghandi-like Jerry Manuel could calm Bradley down.
  9. Backtobanks
    You have to be dreaming (not optimistic) to think we can trade Bradley for prospects and cash. Hopefully Colvin can show something because a contending team can't be running Fox and Hoffpauir out to RF on a regular basis. Acquiring Figgins or Hudson is a possibility, but you can forget the "reasonable contract" part.
  10. Backtobanks
    Zambrano would absolutely waive his NTC to go play for Guillen. And that trade(which I don't buy for a second) would be an absurd heist for the Cubs. Zambrano would have to be crazy to want to play for Guillen. Guillen would call Zambrano every four-letter word (in spanish) in the book instead of being treated with kid gloves by the Cubs. The sportswriters would have a field day. You obviously aren't aware of the kinds of things that Z has said about Ozzie Guillen and the White Sox in the past. Zambrano has said so many things in the past that you never know what to believe. The last thing I remember him saying was that he might retire after this contract. One of the things that I do believe about him is he loves to hit and takes great pride in his hitting, so I don't believe he would go to the AL.
  11. Backtobanks
    Maybe Colvin will show he's ready.
  12. Backtobanks
    Zambrano would absolutely waive his NTC to go play for Guillen. And that trade(which I don't buy for a second) would be an absurd heist for the Cubs. Zambrano would have to be crazy to want to play for Guillen. Guillen would call Zambrano every four-letter word (in spanish) in the book instead of being treated with kid gloves by the Cubs. The sportswriters would have a field day.
  13. Backtobanks
    I read something awhile ago about Jeremy Hermida might be DFA'd this winter. He might be a cheap possibility.
  14. Backtobanks
    I said it before and I stand by it: Zambrano won't waive his NTC to an AL team where he can't bat. Actually I can't see Zambrano waiving his NTC unless the Cubs really make him the scapegoat for a terrible season and that would be a really stupid thing to do.
  15. Backtobanks
    There's little reason to trade him since he's not going to net much of anything because he's not good enough to do so and what little value he has is best served in coming off the bench next season. He has little or no trade value by himself, but packaged with others he might be an interesting pickup for an AL team.
  16. Backtobanks
    DeRosa + wrist injury (less power) + cost <<<< Bobby Scales
  17. Backtobanks
    I agree with much of what you said, but assuming in-house prospects will replace "lesser" parts of the team isn't always true. Most managers (including Piniella) want veterans on the bench (especially at backup catcher) and in the bullpen. While I agree that Hendry tends to overspend on these type of players, veterans are usually going to cost you $2 million per year. As I post often, hindsight is 20-20. It's easy to sit here and assume Gaub or Gorzalenny can replace Grabow in the bullpen, Fuld/Colvin/league minimum player could replace Johnson, etc. If that were true players like Johnson, Grabow, etc. would have been out of jobs a long time ago. Until Gaub, Fuld, Colvin, Stevens, Caridad, Parker, etc. show something at the ML level, let's not assume they're capable of replacing someone just to save money.
  18. Backtobanks
    Wild Card here we come.
  19. Backtobanks
    Obviously, Bruce is pointing out that Zambrano draws attention to himself and that every negative happening is magnified. Same with Milton Bradley.
  20. Backtobanks
    What makes you think the O's or Mets are going to give up all-star calibre players for non-elite prospects?
  21. Backtobanks
    Hendry should let people know that he's willing to listen to offers for Zambrano. If he can get equal value, trade him. If he can't, don't trade him. Get past the contract issue unless you have or get someone to fill his spot in the rotation.
  22. Backtobanks
    Until those others prove something in the majors, I don't see Grabow as the 3rd best LH.
  23. Backtobanks
    3 of the teams he stated hed like to pitch for were the Yankees, Red Sox, and White Sox, so Id assume hed take a deal to an AL team. You know better than to believe anything Z says. He has a NTC and loves to hit, so unless somebody offers him a 3 year $100 million extension he won't waive his NTC.
  24. Backtobanks
    Blah blah blah blah. Amen! If he didn't extend Grabow, people would be complaining that Hendry left them short a lefty in the bullpen. I'd rather start the year with Casey Fossum as a LOOGY than spend money 4M a year on Grabow. Apparently you have inside information about the negotiations.
  25. Backtobanks
    Obviously an discussion of trading Zambrano would be limited to the handful of teams that could afford his contract. Add to that the fact Zambrano would want to stay in the NL to hit and you've about run out of options. Mets - expanded deal centered around Zambrano and Reyes (possibly including someone like Maine?) Braves - deal involving Vasquez plus Escobar? Dodgers - Furcal plus Billingsley? Of course, we could look into a three-way deal! :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: I can't see these kind of trades simply because one team usually wants to get out of a big contract, not pick up another one.
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