Backtobanks

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).

Yeah, I don't know why anyone would be surprised by this. Why do you think there's been all this speculation about Payton, Crisp, Figgins, Cody Ross, etc. Do you think it might have something to do with the fact that Fuld isn't a serious major league prospect?

Rough spring for CFs - Crisp with a sore groin and Pie with a twisted testicle.

They must have something worked out because I'm with you on this one. I'm sure C-Patt could have signed a low pay, one year deal with some team.

The latest rumors aren't 4 for 1 anymore, there more like 5 (or 6) for 2. However many players are going to the O's, it better not include any more top prospects.

After the Roberts' trade: Cubs flip Payton to the Reds for Bruce. We might have to include a relief pitcher to make Krivisky happy. Dusty gets a veteran to platoon with Corey Patterson and gets rid of a pesty youngster wanting a job.

"I'd pay good money to see: Roberts Fukudome Lee Ramirez Soriano DeRosa Soto Pie" Looking at the ticket prices you'll pay good money to see any lineup.

Well, we know they're out there for their offensive skills and not defense. Oh wait, sometimes I get confused. #-o

For those of us still interested in the original topic, the latest from OH "insider" Belkast: For What it's worth..... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi gang!!! Just wanted to pass along some information. It looks as things with Roberts are finally coming to a end. According to my information, we have received final offers from two teams, Cleveland and Chicago. AM and his staff are reviewing each offer and willl be attempting to make a decision in the near future. The good part is that each team has a fair offer on the table, so either deal would benefit the O's. Now it is also of my understanding that we could decide to decline both offers and just hold onto Roberts for now. Either way the club has kept Roberts in the loop and have promised him that a decision will be made quickly. On a side note---- We are now looking at inquiring another vet pitcher to add to the rotation. Maybe something will finally happen to end this thread. =D> :beg:

Saw a quote on another website that the Cubs might be looking at Cody Ross from the Marlins. Not anything to get excited about, but certainly would be cheaper than Byrd or Payton.

From MLBtraderumors.com: Evan Grant believes the Rangers would want Jose Ceda or Donald Veal in a deal for Marlon Byrd. :pig: :pig: :pig:

the cubs are the #3 draw on the road. the "most cubs fans go to wrigley to get drunk" statement is a myth. partially. i think a good number go to Wrigley to get drunk, but if you banned those people from going to games, the place would fill up with people who actually like baseball. in other words, there are a lot of good baseball fans who can't go to wrigley because of the drunk d-bags It certainly would be a long, tough year for all the bars and other businesses in Wrigleyville.

Don't jump all over me for saying this, but Ojeda actually did a good job filling in for Hudson last year. I'm sure it was a fluke, but I included him because he is listed on their depth chart.

I'm not sure what the DBacks would want in return, but Hudson = Roberts. The DBacks have Chris Burke and Augie Ojeda with a hot shot prospect (Bonifacio) as backups. Some serious trade discussion might give us some leverage in the Roberts situation. D-Backs Hudson could be on move? Because Orlando Hudson is eligible for free agency after this year, some wonder if this will be his last spring training with the D-Backs - as much as he says he wants to stay and as much as they seem to appreciate his play. Hudson makes no secret where he stands, saying "I want to spend the rest of my career here. I love it here. "Right now, I'm just thinking about getting my team better and about getting to the postseason again - winning the World Series. I'm not thinking about no contract - no way, shape or form," he said. "If I do what I'm supposed to do, everything will be taken care of, anyway." -- East Valley Tribune

I think opposing teams do more research than that when evaluating players. I don't think their opinion of Matt Murton is going to drastically change because Lou said some nice things about him. Do you really think Angelos would come running into MacPhail's office and say, "Andy! I read in the Tribune that Lou said Murton is a great option to sub and has some pop off the bench! Let's pull the trigger on the Roberts trade!" I see a few posters jumped on the Murton situation, but nobody mentioned Cedeno. What if Lou really gave him a chance to win the SS job? You don't think other GMs would take notice? Look at all of the trade rumors about Murton. Nobody is offering anything for him because they know he's worthless to the Cubs. What harm would it do to talk up these players instead of dissing them? The Cubs have to sell low most of the time because they have dissed the players they're trying to trade. A perfect example is Jacque Jones.

So you're saying to trade those 3 guys for a slightly better than average 2nd baseman? :grin: With the way they are being treated and "showcased" to the rest of baseball, we might be lucky to get Macias. All Lou had to say was Gallagher has a shot at the 5th starter slot, Cedeno will be battling in the spring to beat out our starter at SS, and Murton is a great option to sub in LF and RF and to provide some punch off the bench. Instead we get Gallagher has no shot to start, Theriot is the starter and there's no competition at SS, and Murton is behind Fuld (and DeRosa if the O's trade happens) in the OF. It would be great to buy a used car from Lou, he would tell you everything that's wrong with it and lower the price significantly.

Another great PR move. Now Gallagher has lower trade value along with Murton (5th OF) and Cedeno (backup to Theriot).

Not that I think that it will happen anytime soon, nor am I sure whether or not that was a sarcastic comment, but at this point in spring training, I doubt that they'd wait to allow another sport to have their spotlight. Both teams would want to get the players involved in the trade into the swing of things with their new clubs sooner rather than later. We've been kidding around with 'not taking the spotlight away from' stuff ever since it was actually speculated (I think at OH) that the deal was done but we weren't announcing it to give something its spotlight - may have been the Fukudome signing. The rate this trade has been going they might not want to take the spotlight away from the World Series.

Gallagher, Veal, Cedeno, and Fontenot for Roberts and Payton. http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-osqa222,0,1982196.story Gallagher, Veal, Cedeno, and Fontenot for Roberts and Payton. I dont mind that. I would miss Gallagher. I am not sold on Veal or Cedeno. The Fontenot era was fun while it lasted, but bye-bye! And :cry: on Payton. I don't like him at all on this team. As long as Payton is a throw-in on the Roberts deal and he understands his role (4th OF), I think he might help. I think he is preferable to anyone we could get in a separate trade (plus we would have to give up more prospects in a separate trade).

Gallagher, Veal, Cedeno, and Fontenot for Roberts and Payton. http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-osqa222,0,1982196.story Gallagher, Veal, Cedeno, and Fontenot for Roberts and Payton.

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.