Backtobanks

I've always said that Burnett was the most overrated FA pitcher, especially considering his injury history. I would've taken a chance on Sheets for less money and years or Lowe in spite of his age.

Hermida would be great, but I would love for the Cubs to get McLouth. Pie (replaces McLouth), Cedeno (replaces Wilson), plus 1 more prospect. Either way (Hermida or McLouth) not only helps for 2009, but also for quite a few years into the future.

bradley is a + half win defender abreu is a - 1.5 win defender in other words, bradley is $9M more valuable than abreu on defense alone and theres a decent offensive advantage for bradley as well Any kind of fielding statistics on Bradley were probably compiled a few years ago when he was healthier and actually played some OF.

Before all of the Hendry bashing starts: 1. The contract figures aren't known yet (Phillips isn't a great source). 2. Wood's comment of accepting a 1-year deal to stay with the Cubs wasn't offered to Hendry and the 1-year deal probably would have been for $9-10 million and not the "rumored" $6 or $7 million.

Towers has said that it's all up to Jim now from his quotes yesterday and today, What's keeping him from pulling the trigger and being hesitant? Towers seems to want to get this done asap. Usually Hendry is real quick when it comes to getting a caliber player such as Peavy. Im guessing DeRosa is whats holding it up. All of the other players are name that have been tossed around since day one. Seriously, if we can get Peavy, and then land Abreu, Bradley, or even Ibanez, DeRosa wont be missed. Getting Abreu, Bradley, or Ibanez will be a reason for DeRosa to be missed. They're all old, crippled butchers in the field and it would be great to have DeRosa take over as a late-inning defensive replacement. It doesn't matter who we get or sign, DeRosa will be missed as a versatile professional who added a lot to the offense. I would think that if you picked an MVP on the Cubs for the two-year span of 2007-2008, DeRosa would probably be in the top three.

bigbird Plus Member since 03/02 Hall of Fame Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 8,118 O's could be getting Marquis -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As usual read as little or as much into this as you want. Here's the deal I was told that was on the table to the Cubs: Cubs get Peavy from SD Orioles get Pie, Marquis + 4 million cash from CHI Phillies get Derosa from CHI SD gets Hill, Vitters, Cedeno from CHI, Olson form Bal, Happ from PHI I have trouble believing we're giving up 6 players to get Peavy, leaving us with possible holes at 2B, sub MI, and RF plus giving up our top prospect. I would still like to get another usable piece in this trade, i.e. Scott from the O's or Hairston from the Padres.

The thought of trading DeRosa scares the daylights out of me. Fontenot has been great in selected spots but has he shown enough to be an everyday 2B? RF with some aging, crippled vet (Abreu, Ibanez, Bradley) is going to need an adequate sub along with LF (Soriano) who seems to visit the DL yearly. Also, ARam needs a decent backup for his occasional injury. I'm hoping that somewhere in this deal the Cubs can get another usable piece (Scott from O's, Hairston from Padres, etc.).

The Cubs are interested in free-agent infielder Rich Aurilia as a backup at first and third base, but only if they part with shortstop Ronny Cedeno or second baseman Mike Fontenot in a trade. The team's pursuit of Padres right-hander Jake Peavy remains in a holding pattern, unchanged. The Cubs would need approval from their still-unidentifed new owner before taking on the rest of Peavy's contract, which will pay him $63 million over the next four years. ...

Using the rumored Yankees ($140 million) and Brewers ($110 million) offers the difference in state income tax is about $500,000 per year times 6 years = app. $3 million. That leaves a net profit of app. $27 million for NY's offer over the Brewers. Of course, there are other considerations (cost of living, etc.), but that would probably be balanced out by other things (increased endorsements in NY, etc.).

I don't know the tax rates in the states involved, but they would have to be pretty outrageous to eat up an extra $30 million over 6 years.

Not sure you're going to get Abreu for $9 million since he made 12.5, 13, and 15 million over the last three years. Unless it's backloaded, I'm thinking he might get 3/35 from somebody. I still think the best way to handle it is the trade for Scott from the O's. He's cheap, easy to platoon, and has decent power. No way in hell anyone gives Abreu that. He's older, hasn't produced during that contract like he did before, his defense is in a serious decline, and the overall market is suppressed right now. That last contract was his last prime-years contract. My guess is he'll be working off of 1-2 year deals for the rest of his career unless he gives someone a decent discount for 3 or more years. Maybe you're right, but I still don't think you going to get Abreu for $9 million.

I'm not expecting a lot offensively. He'd be out there for his defense. If he's hitting at replacement level (or below), then you shift Fukudome to CF, put DeRosa in RF and use mighty might at 2B. The point is that we have options out there and I'm not thrilled about allocating that many resources to the options that are available on the market. If we were getting Abreu about four years ago, I would have been thrilled (and was heavily pushing for it at the time). But with my guess on what he's going to get in the market, I really don't want to pay for the declining years of a guy who has been plagued by allegations of a lack of effort throughout his career. I have no interest in Ibanez. I'd be thrilled with Dunn, but I don't think the Cubs will go there. I'd be thrilled if we traded for Hermida, but the Cubs don't have the resources to get Peavy and Hermida. Who else is there? btw - people have asked you to expound upon your disdain for Pie in the past, but I don't recall you've ever really explained the depth of your confidence that he'll not only suck but suck hard. Scott

That's you, Backtobanks. Me, personally, Peace of Mind is worth more to me then an additional $30 million over the life of the contract. There's a reason why CC is stalling the Yankees. Could he end up in New York, yes. But gut feeling is saying talking the Yanks offer would be the last option he would do. I believe he is waiting for a "home town team" to offer a competitive offer, one he would jump at. I honestly believe in this case, CC does not want to pitch in New York, but will if it comes down to that. I guess we can all say we would prefer the money or the peace of mind since none of us are in that position. Having taught in the inner city for 34 years, I would think that the extra $30 million could buy me a lot of "peace of mind". Peace of mind = no financial worries for me, my children, my grandchildren, my extended family, vacations, 2nd (and 3rd) homes anywhere in the world, etc. To put it another way, that "extra" $30 million is the equivalent of the average lifetime earning of 15-20 people. I'll take my chances on the "pressure" of pitching in front of Yankee fans 15-17 times a year.

If this much is true, the Brewers could have a decent shot. Its clear at this point that if CC wanted to play for the Yanks, hed have signed by now, as nobody will match that offer. I know that the reason hes taking so long is that hes waiting for one of the Cali teams to match the offer, or at least come close, but if they dont, he could choose Milwaukee, as he enjoyed his time their, and was treated like royalty, where as with the Yankees, as soon as he has one non quality start he'll be booed out of town, and he could take a $30 million bath to be in a lower pressure environment, as long as the players union and his agent dont intervene. If this does happen, we need to step it up for Peavy. I guess when you're making this much money a few million may not mean much, but I can't see leaving $30,000,000 on the table because I don't like NY. For that money, I would learn to love NY.

I can't see Gaudin non-tendered. He's 25 years old with experience both as a starter and a reliever. If he was non-tendered, he would be snapped up in 5 minutes. I would think Wuertz would be a better candidate for being traded since he was in Lou's doghouse last year. I think he's more likely to be traded than non-tendered. But when you're likely to be as much as $5M over budget, the $3M Gaudin's likely to get through arbitration is meaningful. My preference would be to see Gaudin and Marshall held and Cotts and/or Wuertz traded, but I doubt that's possible with a Peavy trade. Would Gaudin get that much of a raise though? He made 1.7m last year, and got a solid raise because he was a SP most of 07. Since he was a reliever most of 08, and overall had a subpar year. I could see him agreeing to something like 2.2-2.3m for 09. I also heard Gregg might make more in the 4-4.5m range, he blew 9 saves and lost his closer job in September. So I can't see him getting a huge raise either. If Gregg only makes something like 4.3m, and Gaudin makes something like 2.2m. It would allow them to trade or nontender Wuertz and stay in the 148-149m range. Plus they can also backload their RF a little bit more for 09. Especially with there being a good chance we get a RF for a bargin 7-9m price, with the market so bad right now. If we could pick up Scott from the O's, we could solve the RF problem cheaply. I would love to get the Peavy deal done, get Scott, and re-sign Wood to a 1-year deal.

Not sure you're going to get Abreu for $9 million since he made 12.5, 13, and 15 million over the last three years. Unless it's backloaded, I'm thinking he might get 3/35 from somebody. I still think the best way to handle it is the trade for Scott from the O's. He's cheap, easy to platoon, and has decent power.

I can't see Gaudin non-tendered. He's 25 years old with experience both as a starter and a reliever. If he was non-tendered, he would be snapped up in 5 minutes. I would think Wuertz would be a better candidate for being traded since he was in Lou's doghouse last year.

Chill out people, it's Paul Sullivan for goodness sakes. Next thing you know, you'll believe what Phil Rogers has written too.

He seems to have moved past those issues. Take his numbers on a bad KC team in the AL (with DH) and translate those into a good team in the NL (without DH) and you might be talking about a great young pitcher.

For all of the rumored names that we're trading for Peavy and HOF-bound Garrett Olsen, maybe Hendry ought to look at some other pitchers. The two rumors below would bring outstanding, young, cheap pitchers. I'm not comparing Greinke or Sanchez to Peavy, but taking into consideration their ages and contracts, they could have nearly the same impact. With the money saved, Hendry could sign Ibanez or re-sign Wood (assuming he wants to). If nothing else, leaking the fact Hendry is looking elsewhere might make Towers and MacPhail get off their rear ends and make something happen. From Foxsports: Royals Greinke to Texas? Yes, I've also heard the Royals have no interest in moving right-hander Zack Greinke. But I also know the economy is making everybody think real hard about every big contract. The Royals have multiple holes to fill. The Rangers have lots of farm-talent depth. At one point, there was some thought the teams would be the best possible match - if Kansas City was willing to deal. It's worth checking back in with Dayton Moore. -- Dallas Morning News From MLBTR: From MLBTR: Brown also says the Giants have discussed trading Jonathan Sanchez to the Marlins for Jorge Cantu.

I've tried to be patient and have listened to all of the arguments defending MacPhail, but at some point we need to tell him to stick it. I don't mind trading some of these players to the O's, but MacPhail acts like we need to give him 2-3 starting players for Garrett Olsen. I understand Olsen helps in the Peavy deal, but these rumors are ridiculous. The rumor about AM asking for Headley and Greene in the deal is so absurd, it has to be true.

I don't dislike MacPhail at all, but you must admit that his slow moving pace and his overvaluing his players can be really annoying. I think he might be the wrong man for the job to rebuild the O's if you are an impatient O's fan. He might get it done, but it won't be done quickly.

It's not 4 for 1, Boone Logan going to the Braves.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8882368/Sources:-Braves-look-to-deal-for-ChiSox's-Vazquez?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=49 hopefully this offically takes the Braves out and moves this Peavy thing along. Ramirez moving to SS and now they add Lillibridge to Getz and Nix at 2B?

Sifting through Hendry's individual transactions and picking out the good ones (I would even be willing to stipulate that there are more good than bad - it's irrelevant) is not meaningful. With the resources this organization has, there is no reason that the Chicago Cubs should be anything but a perennial powerhouse, winning 90+ games a minimum of six out of every ten seasons, with a couple of 85-90 win seasons in there also. There is also no reason that the Chicago Cubs should have anything but one of the very best farm systems in all of baseball, producing a consistent stream of top major league talent. Just because Jim Hendry is better than the ridiculous collection of knuckleheads who have held the title of Cubs GM over the past 30+ years doesn't make him good. He has some fine qualities, but he has demonstrated that he can't get the job done. "Having the resources" should describe just about an major city baseball team (Yankees, Mets, Angels, Dodgers, White Sox, Red Sox, Phillies, Tigers, etc.), so how many of those teams have perrenial powerhouses and top notch farm systems? Let's not forget our friends in Baltimore that have a billionaire for an owner.