Backtobanks

From MLBtraderumors.com: News comes today that Blue Jays pitcher Casey Janssen will miss the season with a torn labrum. He was a bullpen ace last year, and was expected to move back to the rotation this year. Robert MacLeod's above-linked article quotes Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi saying he might explore the trade market in the wake of the injury. Looking at what the Blue Jays have that we could use, how about: Marquis/Marshall + Murton for Reed Johnson + Scott Downs Might need to be tweaked a little, but Reed Johnson offers a right-handed bat that can play CF (64 games) with these numbers against lefties: .305 (BA), .380 (OBP), .451 (SLG), and .831 (OBS). Also an important point, not really a threat to take over Pie's job. Scott Downs gives us a second lefty in the pen.

That would be ideal.... Roberts Fukudome Lee Ramirez Soriano DeRosa Soto Pie Edit: Crap, I have 2 second basemen and no shortstop....Rammy is gonna need to cover a lot of ground.... Alert: 2 lefties in a row. Can't be done regardless of it making sense or not.

If Pie is really going to be given the starters job, I'd rather have Rajai Davis at a much cheaper price for a 4th OF.

Tracshel? =D> =D> =D>

I mentioned this on 2/21: After all of the dust settles in spring training, a possible cheap pickup might be Rajai Davis as a backup CF. His stats are good against lefties and he is blocked by Rowand in San Francisco. Not a big move, but it would be cheaper than Byrd or Payton. Might be a decent 4th OF who can play CF against some lefties.

Not hitting lefties has always been a mystery since the Cubs are (and have been) predominantly a right-handed hitting team.

Red Sox News doesn't like the rumored offer of Jason Marquis and Sam Fuld for Crisp. More likely they believe a package of Josh Donaldson and either Bobby Howry or Carmen Pignatiello could be accepted by the Sox. Donaldson + Pignatello for Crisp ?

As for being a good GM, sometimes all it takes is to catch lightning in a bottle (i.e. Kenny Williams) to be considered a good GM. Williams went from being a joke as a GM to being a genius, but he's working his way back down.

Dayn Perry from Foxsports predicted Geovanny Soto as NL ROY. Mentions Fukudome, but predicts Kuroda will finish 2nd. Of course, his predictions mention the fact that Bruce and Votto probably won't get enough playing time in Cincinnati to win it.

I go along with Hendry being an average GM. Of course we all know that all of the posters on NSBB would be better than Hendry. (Disclaimer- we have hindsight on our side.) :lol:

I think it's a great idea. An extra 20-30 points on BA is more valuable than a few HRs. He's big and strong enough to get his share of HRs.

I have trouble believing that, for whatever reason Lou and Hendry think the world of Theriot. A little grittiness goes a long way.

If Mark Loretta, Brendan Harris and Jeff Keppinger can do it, so can DeRosa. The Cubs are a better team if they add Roberts and move DeRosa to SS. The Cubs are a better team if they move Soriano to 2b, start Murton in LF and DeRosa to SS. The Cubs are a better team if Patterson plays 2b and DeRosa plays SS. The Cubs are probably a better team if they go with Cedeno at SS. While I may agree with some of what you posted, I wonder if DeRosa's days at SS were when he was much younger. Playing Murton in LF is great, but the Soriano at 2B and Derosa at SS could really get ugly without a whole lot of practice time. The last two points are moot because it's obvious that Lou has more confidence in Theriot over Patterson and/or Cedeno. Let's hope the Roberts deal happens soon because Cedeno certainly isn't increasing his trade value this spring.

I think I saw a family promotion for Atlanta last year, something along the lines of $75 for 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, and 4 drinks (not beer). That's a good deal, especially since it encourages bringing kids back to the ballpark.

I think they're looking at Loretta to give them depth and to take the pressure off of players like Patterson, Cedeno, Luis Hernandez, etc. Also, it buys time for these players to develop their skills and buys time for MacPhail to go after another MI prospect (Antonelli, Hu, etc.)

Breakthrough possible? From MLBtraderumors.com: The Baltimore Sun is now reporting that the Orioles have an interest in Mark Loretta. Hopefully this is a sign that the Brian-Roberts-to-Chicago saga will soon mercifully come to a conclusion. Loretta apparently isn't slated for regular duty in a Houston infield that now features Miguel Tejada, Kaz Matsui and Ty Wigginton, which is why he might be in play. The Astros sent a scout to watch the O's on Sunday.

We have to make sure that any substitute CF the Cubs acquire is not good enough to play on a regular basis, thus forcing Lou to give Pie the shot he deserves.

And the fact that he's not an ideal CF defensively is good because it might stop Lou from using him regularly and letting Pie develop as the starting CF.

I don't want to give up Wuertz and I think the Tigers are finding out that nobody wants Inge.

Meanwhile, on the left coast, the Angels' Juan Rivera finds himself the odd man out in L.A.'s crowded outfield, but isn't getting worked up about it. The L.A. Times says Rivera wouldn't mind sitting the bench, if it comes to that. "There's no pressure from the owner, no pressure from the fans, no pressure from the media," Rivera says. Both Crisp and Rivera are candidates to be dealt by the start of the season. The Times points out that the Angels could trade Rivera for pitching depth, given that Kelvim Escobar and Chris Bootcheck will start the season on the disabled list and John Lackey and Scot Shields are fighting nagging injuries Rivera can play all 3 OF positions (38 games in CF) and might be a decent RH platoon for Pie and power bat off the bench. LAA has deep pockets and might not blink at Marquis' contract. Marshall might be another option.

Gordon Wittenmeyer wrote in today's Southtown Star that he expects the CF competition to end up with the Cubs acquiring a veteran and Pie would be on the bench while Fuld goes to AAA. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

That's the only thing I can think of as to why this trade is being held up. I am believing that Baltimore is hoping (for the lack of a better word) for an injury, and that a team will need a 2b (PERHAPS, White Sox), and that they can finally get a bidding war for Roberts. I simply wish Hendry would get off this Roberts for leadoff gibberish, and go with the team as is. Wasting 3 months for a player like Roberts is not worth it. And if Roberts REALLY wanted out of Balitmore, he would go publicly about wanting to be traded. It wouldn't be much of a bidding war if they're counting on the White Sox prospects.

The bigger question is: What do the Rays do with Rocco Baldelli after 2008? 2009 is the first of three option years on Rocco's contract. If the Rays exercise the 2009 option it will cost them $6 million. If they choose not to, it will cost them a $4 million buyout which is a very steep price. At this point the 2010 ($8MM) and 2011 ($9MM) options (which have to be picked up together) are a pipe-dream for Rocco. There is little chance of the Rays picking those up. Further complicating matters is that the Rays have to decide on Rocco's 2009 option on April 1st, of this year...as in three weeks from now. But can the Rays trade Rocco? Not likely, unless they are willing to accept a similar package that they received for Elijah Dukes (i.e. a no-name low-A pitcher). The best scenario for all parties might be for the Rays and Rocco to renegotiate his contract. The Rays might be able to get Rocco to agree to $4 million for 2009 (the price of the buyout) with 2 more years guaranteed in 2010 and 2011 at $5-6 million per season. If the Rays could get Rocco to renegotiate for 3-years and $15 million, that essentially means that anything Rocco produces in 2009 is bonus as they would have had to drop that amount either way. And that will give them the 2008 and 2009 seasons to wait for medical technology to perfect hamstring transplant procedures. If both conditions were met, would he be worth the risk? 1. The Cubs could get him for "a no-name, low A-ball pitcher". 2. The contract could be renegotiated at $4 million for 2009 with a team option $6 million for 2010 and $7 million for 2011 based on games played in 2008-2009.

They will probably ask for 2 more prospects plus Marquis (7 for 2 deal) because they're doing us a favor in taking Marquis.

I really don't think more time on the farm is going to help. Fuld is the classic gritty overachiever. He is someone that can come up and show some flash (catch in the OF, steal some bases, keep a rally going with a 1B or BB, etc.) for a week or two and the fans love him, but there's no real hope of him becoming a major league starter (i.e. Augie Ojeda).