Backtobanks

This describes the DeRosa/Indians trade to a Tee. Who knows. Maybe the Royals have their own version of the Cubs' wanting to get more lefthanded. Heck everyone seems to be down on the Pirates for the McLouth trade too. Point being you never know what the other side might say yes to. The Teahen/DeRosa situations actually aren't all that similar. DeRo is 34 years old and costs $5.5 million a year. With his likelihood to decline (which I think is a bit overstated), the Cubs were selling high on him. Teahen, on the other hand, is making just over $3.5 million this year, is 27 and is still arbitration eligible after the season. He's cheaper and younger than DeRo and may still improve with the bat. There's far less reason to trade Teahen than DeRosa. Teahen will probably be making at least $4.3 and $4.8 over the next 2 years which might be more expensive than DeRosa if you take into account the budgets of the Indians and the Cubs. I stated earlier that Teahen underproduces for his 2 main positions (3B and RF - 90% of his games played). He is younger, but he isn't the solution to getting the Royals to the playoffs. As I stated earlier, his value comes as a versatile role player on a competitive team and not as a regular 3B/RF on a team trying to become competitive. That's why DeRosa is back on the trade block - his value is as a versatile role player on a competitive team. I think that the Royals will be willing to trade Teahen for the right package.

I think what Hendry is saying is that there's probably an okay to make one decent deal and he's going to wait as long as possible to assess the Cubs and other team's transactions to decide what move to make. Right now Wells has been doing great, but I might rather trade Wells than Marshall. I just have a hunch that teams will start getting to Wells the second time they see him.

We would all love to have DeRosa back, but you're offering way too much for him. Also, you're right in that Hendry would never bring him back and admit his mistake. The obvious reason it won't happen is that the Cubs supposedly don't have the money.

I would think that the odds of Freel being released are much better than the Cubs trading Miles.

We dont have many of these good prospects you speak of, We have Vitters, and hes pretty much untopuchable. We have Samrdzjia, who has a NTC and whose stock is falling. We have Jackson and Cashner who might generate some interest, but Hendrys generated something out of nothing in the past, and hopefully he can do it again without giving up too much as far as talent, so hopefully we can deal in quantity over quality. Nobody takes quantity over quality. This is one of the many reasons we are in a bad situation. I would think it all depends on who you're trading for. Nobody should be talking about a team's top prospect for someone like Teahen.

I'm not sure what it would take to get Teahen, because as I posted earlier nobody knows what value GMs place on a certain player or prospects they might get in return. I do know that Teahen would be a good role player on a contending team while being a versatile, moderately paid player on a non-contender. He is not the all-star some posters are making him out to be. He underproduces for his 2 major positions (3B and RF - 90% of his games), but remains a solid option because of his versatility. My 3-way trade proposal filled the Royals' glaring need (SS), but obviously we can't provide any prospects that would fill that void.

I've been suggesting for awhile that we use some of the prospects we were saving for Peavy (not needed) and go after Sanchez, Cantu, or Teahen. All of these players would be very good replacements for ARam and all of them can then slide over to 2B when he returns. Also, Fontenot might be a decent trade chip. The only problem is that this shoots down the "need more LH bats in the lineup" theory.

He has amazing stuff, but I think other teams have laid off swinging at pitches that they swung at last year leading to the increase in walks.

Is it just me, or does it look like Marmol's arm slot is off? It looks like he's changing it almost on a pitch by pitch basis. I was watching him the past few appearances, and it looks to me like he's all over the place. I think Marmol has 15 different arm slots and 275 different release points.

The time of need is now, and the need is a 2B or 3B who knows how to use a baseball bat. Basically said what we already knew: He's not going to overpay out of desperation for a temperary replacement for ARam and he's always on the phone monitoring what's available to help the team. As long as the Cubs stay close, he's going to wait for ARam's return to assess the team's needs and respond to other team's acquistions.

Doesn't it get old comparing a deal for Teahen to a deal for Teixiera, ARod, Ruth, Bay, and Beckett? I see outlandish trade proposals that aren't going to happen all the time on this site: trade DLee (NTC), get Adrian Gonzalez, etc. None of us (including the "experts") know what value a GM places on his team's talents or needs especially in this economy. The Harden and Garciaparra deals were both deals that nobody saw happening. The bottom line is that Teahen is a decent role player (not star) with an immediate replacement at 3B (Gordon) and the Royals have a big hole at SS which eliminates them from competing until it's filled.

Third base was never "closed" to Gordon; he's not playing because he's recovering from hip surgery. All the more proof that teahen doesn't have any future with the Royals.

Guzman gives them a SS for this year and next giving them time to develop or trade for a young SS, 3B opens up for Gordon, and Freel provides backup versatility for $0 (Orioles are paying his salary). They have a gigantic hole at SS and had hopes of competing this year and next in the AL Central. Teahen has no real future with the Royals except as a backup or trade bait. The loss of Mahay and Cruz is no big deal.

This is the first 3-way trade proposal that I've made trying to keep the money almost as close to equal as possible. I'm assuming the Nationals and the Royals are ready to raise the white flag. Royals need a SS, Nationals need pitching, Cubs need a 3B. Royals get: Freel and Christian Guzman Nationals get: Juan Cruz, Ron Mahay, Cotts, Miles, Hart/Patton Cubs get: Teahen, Beimel Obviously names like Cruz, Mahay, Freel, Miles, and Beimel are basically to balance the money situation. The money breakdown 2009 (half season): Nationals break even, Royals save .9 million, Cubs add .9 million. 2010 breakdown: Royals add 4.75 million, Nats save 2.05 million, Cubs save 2.7 million

I got up this morning to rain and thunder/lightning and actually hoped for a rainout. I figured the way the Cubs have been playing, they would be better off playing this game later in the year when Ramirez is back and possibly some of the other players might be back in the groove. You know you're struggling when you hope for a rainout.

A source of mine verified that the big change we were expecting actually happened: Lou went from boxers to briefs.

I read a rumor that some team (I don't remember) was turned off by Cleveland's asking price for DeRosa.

I have suggested going after Sanchez or Cantu with some of the prospects that we were saving for Peavy. Either player could cover 3B and then slide over to 2B when Ramirez returns. After acquiring one of these players, trade Miles for a low-A ball player to any team willing to take on his contract. Sanchez would cost an extra $2 million for the 2nd half while Cantu would cost an extra $1 million.

The keys are Soriano and Bradley. If they can get their groove back things would be much better. Soto and Fukudome need to get more consistent. I'm not sure where you're going to get a bat to replace Miles. I suggested a while ago going after Freddy Sanchez or Jorge Cantu to fill in at 3B and then slide over to 2B when Ramirez returned, but many posters shot down the idea. We were saving our prospects to get Peavy, but now that he's injured we ought to use some of them for offense.

doing something for the sake of doing something, without really caring about the quality of the decision is pretty horrendous managing. It happens all the time in the business world to show that management is doing something about the problem. I'm not saying it's right, just that it's true. So make one that matters. Is Gerald Perry the problem, or is having too many guys like Aaron Miles the problem. What about David Patton. Typical Cubs move. Getting rid of Miles and Patton isn't going to change the offense unless you're bringing in Utley to replace Miles. Of course, replacing Perry with Joshua may not improve the offense either, but we can hope it does.

As others have posted, this is a move just to make a move. Whether Joshua or Perry is the better hitting coach is irrelevant, something had to be done.

Fire Sinatro and replace him at 1B with Dejesus. Fire Quade for not getting enough runners home in the last few weeks. If Ryno is being promoted, tell him to bring his bat and mitt. I don't think Perry will be fired, but he ought to be doing a lot of sweating.

The problem with Lopez (and some of the other "slight upgrades") is that he isn't an impact type of player to possibly spark the offense. I don't think there's anyone out there that could provide the possible impact we need, especially with the discussion of no money to spend. Someone like Edmonds, Gaetti, etc.

The Cubs won't be sellers because the expectations are too high and no team is running away with the NL Central. On the pre-game show, they pointed out that the Cubs were 2 1/2 games out when Ramirez went down and they were still 2 1/2 games out before today's game. As bad as they've looked, I do think Lou is right in saying they will hit. I have trouble believing that Bradley, Fukudome, Soto, Fontenot, Soriano, and Ramirez won't produce some runs when ARam returns. Of course, then the pitching will go south.