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Backtobanks

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  1. Backtobanks
    I can't see how the Pirates would be will to trade Wilson and Bay (McLouth is untouchable) without getting a ton of top prospects plus Cedeno. The Dodgers have been reluctant to pull the trigger on other deals, so I don't know if they would be willing to toss in some top pitching prospects. I would think it would be something like: Dodgers get Wilson (From Pirates) and ???? (from Cubs) Pirates get Marshall & Cedeno (from Cubs) and Kemp (from LA) Cubs get Bay (from Pirates) and Hu (from LA) Also, we get into the "shifting Fukudome to CF controversy" again.
  2. Backtobanks
    Do you think the pitching-starved, offensive-rich Tigers would think about this trade? Marquis, Wuertz, + Cedeno for Carlos Guillen or Marcus Thames
  3. Backtobanks
    Sexson can't hit while play regularly, so I doubt he could do much as a pinch hitter. I forgot to include Blake as an option, but my first choice would be Rivera. He's young enough that he could help next year or bring something when used as trade bait. I would assume Hendry (and Lou) would rather go with the older guys (Millar or Aurilia) because they've been through it before.
  4. Backtobanks
    After yesterday, we need a long reliever in case/for when Marquis gets pounded? Thats my best guess. Marshall Marshall, Lieber, Gaudin, and Wuertz would all be candidates.
  5. Backtobanks
    I was trying to find RH power help for the bench and came up with these names: Millar (O's), Rivera (Angels), and Aurilia (Giants). Millar adds a lot to the clubhouse and the bench, but getting MacPhail to agree on a reasonable price might not be worth it. Rivera is still young and is starting to come out of his slump with some additional playing time. I'm not sure what the Angels would ask for him. Aurilia might be an interesting addition because he should be cheap and his numbers aren't bad. Of course the best option is Milton Bradley (switch hitter), but I think Hendry is afraid of what would happen in the dugout (and clubhouse) with Bradley. Hendry realizes that the Cubs have a good thing going and while Bradley would probably help on the field, he might mess up the team chemistry that has carried them this far.
  6. Backtobanks
    Not exactly the big bopper we're looking for, but probably could be acquired for very little (Marquis or prospect?). Twins dealing Cuddyer? With the emergence of Denard Span in right field, it will be interesting whether the Twins put Michael Cuddyer on the trading block and try to remove $8 million per season from the payroll for the next three years. -- Pioneer Press According to Cot's he's owed: 08.......$5 million 09.......$6.75 million 10.........$8.5 million 11.........$$10.5 million (Club option....$1 million buyout) 29 years old, righty, can play RF, LF, and 3B. Career avgs. 18 HR, 79 RBI, .269, .344, .442, .786
  7. Backtobanks
    Sorry, but that sort of thinking, in and of itself, is very high risk. You cannot simply ignore the longterm ramifications just because some people have a 100 year itch. Yes, they are trying to win now, as well they should. But in doing so they've put themselves in an interesting situation for the future. The next owner is going to have to approve substantial increases in payroll, otherwise they are going to lose Dempster and Wood, and will need to rely on Harden staying healthy next year. They will once again have fewer trading chips to find what they need, and will have fewer internal options, including nobody on the roster who could reasonably fill-in for Fukudome or Soriano if they go down (a job Murton could have filled). They still have Wuertz, Eyre, Cedeno, Fontenot, Marshall, Pie, Hill, Veal, etc. as trading chips. I would think that they ought to be able to get what they need with a package from that group.
  8. Backtobanks
    Weak Division? In the last 5 seasons, when we haven't won the division (2004, 2005, 2006), a team from the NL Central has played in the World Series. The Central's the best division in baseball this year. You can't really blame Hendry for 2004 either... you definitely can for 2005/2006 though. That really doesn't mean all that much. Doesn't mean the division was strong those years. It may have been (in 2004, it certainly was), but the fact that the teams from the division made the World Series doesn't mean the division was strong.That said, the NL Central is certainly a very strong division right now compared to others. How do you determine the division is strong? What other criteria can you use? The All Star game (an exhibition game)? Best record (with unbalanced schedule)? East Coast media bias? The bottom line is that the winner of the WS is the best team and the loser in the WS is the 2nd best team.
  9. Backtobanks
    I would think the Cubs might make another deal because they still have some desirable trade chips: Wuertz Eyre (possibly) Cedeno Marquis Marshall (possibly) Pie Hill
  10. Backtobanks
    Yeah, and I don't agree with him at all when he says the Cubs are taking a bigger risk than the Brewers. For one thing, We'll still have Z and Harden next year. Sheets and Sabathia are both goners (CC for sure, probably Sheets), and they gave up LaPorta, who was the likely replacement for Fielder when Prince leaves (though they still have Gamel, but I like LaPorta more). Gallagher is good, but none of the other players the Cubs gave up have any future on the team, nor were they elite prospects. Put it this way: if the worst were to happen and the Cubs implode down the stretch, we're still in fine shape going into 2009. If the same happens to the Brewers, they will have suffered a net loss (LaPorta and the PTBNL). Though if the Brewers did nothing they likely enter 2009 with Gallardo as their ace, but they still would have had their top ML ready prospect. Even if Harden were to suffer a catastrophic injury tomorrow, the Cubs wouldn't be out that much. Especially after the Cubs sign Sabathia as a free agent this winter. Zambrano Sabathia Harden Dempster Lilly \:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/
  11. Backtobanks
    indeed. hopefully we won't be changing our tunes come october. In this year of presidential politics, NSBB has a lot more flip-floppers than the Republicans or Democrats. I've been a supporter of Hendry since the begining and for all of the jokes and personal insults, I think he is constantly working on making the Cubs better. His biggest weaknesses are a tendency to overpay certain players and to trust his managers (esp. Baker) too much. All of us (myself included) "armchair GMs" forget that it takes 2 teams to make a trade. There should be no reason to "change our tunes come October" because Hendry has done what he has had to do to get us to October (assemble the best team in baseball). If injuries happen or players fail, don't put the blame on Hendry.
  12. Backtobanks
    I may be wrong, but it really sounds like Bruce is sugarcoating things. We have the talent, but we don't match up? Yeah, in other words, we don't have jack. I don't think is sugarcoating anything. Some teams may want positional prospects while we may have an overabundance of pitching prospects or vice versa. A lot of times teams don't match up even though they might have valuable trading chips.
  13. Backtobanks
    I agree with the poster who said Hendry ought to ask for a 72-hour window to talk extension before parting with Cedeno, Gallagher, Vitters, plus one more top prospect.
  14. Backtobanks
    The problem with all of the talk of getting Sabathia and even if he leaves you get 2 draft picks is that 2 draft picks is a crapshoot at best for any team (not just the Cubs). It might be 3 or 4 years before you have any idea whether one or both draft picks will be major leaguers. So I'm not saying you don't make the deal, just realize that getting 2 draft picks is not a great reason to trade away somebody like Gallagher. As I posted earlier, if there was some guarantee that we could sign Sabathia to an extension, then full speed ahead.
  15. Backtobanks
    And I hope Hendry jumps in hard and fast!! I have no doubt Hendry will make a play. Whether it will be enough, I don't know. I am convinced that Jim will do what he can. I am too. Hopefully we can find a good third trading partner, because I think that's what will be necessary. I saw an article the other day that suggested the Dodgers trade a middle relief pitcher or a prospect (both with a live arm) for Juan Rivera of the Angels (who like hard throwing prospects). Perhaps Ceda for Rivera and then flip Rivera to the Indians as part of the Sabathia deal.
  16. Backtobanks
    yeah but sabathia is probably going to be asking for $20M a year. if you do that you've got about $60M next year going to 4 starters, and beyond then you've got nearly $50M a year going to 3 starters. tack on $13M for lee, $12M for fukudome, $15M for ARam and about $17M for soriano - that's $108M and you still need a bullpen, 2 more starters, 4 more position players and a bench. unless you're the yankees, this is not doable. I'd do the deal even if he's a 3 month rental. The problem is that there would be no guarantee of signing Sabathia to an extension after giving up Gallagher. I'm not sure Sabathia as a 2-3 month rental is worth Gallagher plus others. Gallagher looks to be an important part of the rotation for this year and in the future.
  17. Backtobanks
    Murton? Who is this Murton guy you speak of?
  18. Backtobanks
    I read that the Sox draped a big "L" flag over a counter after Friday's game. I try to be objective, but the White Sox have to be #1 in lacking class.
  19. Backtobanks
    I remember the good old days when we used to have an OF with red hair named Murton. If Patterson is replacing him in Lou's doghouse, maybe Murton can replace Patterson in LF. Crazy idea.
  20. Backtobanks
    He had better have an 4 year extension signed if we are trading 6 prospects for him.
  21. Backtobanks
    From MLBtraderumors: As we've written before, A.J. Burnett is like a rental, but worse. He either pitches well and opts out or pitches poorly and you're stuck with him. Stark adds that despite Burnett's willingness to pitch for the Cubs, he's not on their list.
  22. Backtobanks
    When Rogers picked his All-City team, he selected Crede over Ramirez at 3B and Guillen over Lou for manager. Lou ran circles around Ozzie and I guess I don't have to mention what happened in the 3B competition.
  23. Backtobanks
    and then about Ozzie's rats comment.... Eyre has it wrong, White Sox fans eat the cockroaches and use rats as pets. \:D/
  24. Backtobanks
    All of those guys have enough value to net some decent players like Raul Ibanez or so. If you want to go after an ace like CC, then you need one of baseball's top prospects as a centerpiece for a package. Very few GMs will trade a star for a quantify of good, but not great, players. It's too bad that we can't trade future draft picks like in the NBA, that would certainly help us this year. If you read the Sabathia thread, two scouts were discussing what the price for Sabathia would be and 2 major league ready prospects (and possibly a 3rd lower level prospect) was the consensus. Depending on their needs, I would describe Cedeno, Murton, Marshall, Gallagher, and Hart as major league ready with Patterson, Colvin, Hill, Pie, and Veal major league ready in a year or two. Again "major league ready" doesn't necessarily mean Bruce or Longoria.
  25. Backtobanks
    They would, but Gallagher currently is a starting pitcher for the Cubs, they will need someone to replace marquis in a matter of weeks (let's say that's Marshall) and one Cedeno/Patterson/Fotenot is the back-up infielder. (let's say that's Fontenot) Cedeno, Murton, Veal, Patterson, Colvin, Hill, Pie is not real compelling except for an Expos/Marlins sort of tank job with nothing but minimal payroll in mind. Thankfully, the Cubs don't need much, but if Zambrano is out for a while Hill, Marshall, Gallagher become even more important -- they might need 2 pitchers back in exchange for those three. I disagree. I think any team rebuilding with young players might look at Cedeno, Murton, Hill, Hart, and Marshall. I think all 4 of them could be starting on a rebuilding team. If a team is looking to the future, Pie, Patterson, Veal, and/or Colvin look to be major league starters. Gallagher is the only player named who is currently playing a significant role on this team. You can't expect every prospect to be Jay Bruce.
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