Backtobanks

BtoB, Might it be easier to get Edgar Renteria? He had a better year than Tejada, and only has 1 year left on his deal. Boston has already paid Atlanta for his buyout clause. Hoops, I would rather get Renteria because of the cost, but when I saw on a few sites that the Orioles might have to listen to offers on Bedard because of their situation, I thought maybe we could obtain two players in one big deal. Renteria for Marshall plus Theriot?

Cubs trade: Marshall, Ohman, Patterson, Jones, Veal, Cedeno Cubs get: Tejada and Bedard Orioles save about $10 million and get a starter (Marshall) to replace Bedard, a SS (Cedeno) to replace Tejada, fill a need in LF (Jones), fill a need in the bullpen (Ohman), fill a need in CF (Patterson), and receive a future starting pitcher (Veal). Cubs fill their offensive need at SS and get a quality starter under their control for two more years. Lineup: Starters: Soriano LF Zambrano Derosa 2b Lilly Lee 1b Bedard ARam 3b Hill Tejada SS Marquis/Gallagher/Prior Murton RF Soto C Pie CF Sounds good to me.

With all of the teams that are desperate for starters in a very weak free agent market, I can't believe the Cubs would match their offers.

I've never been a fan of Dunn's, but if the Reds would accept this deal, I would jump on it.

I was not aware we had any players named Lurton. :wink: I really wanted Murton to have a fair shot at starting again. Though, it may be best to bring in an upgrade. Also, I don't see Murton bringing much in at the moment. His stock isn't low, but isn't exactly high and it would take another big piece to bring in a talented player. If we start Murton in AAA next year, and hurt his trade value some more, I'm going to scream. That said, I think we should package him with Dempster and someone like Patterson for a big bat at SS or RF this offseason. If Murton is to be traded, it should be in a package that gets us a young big bat for SS or RF. I don't want Murton traded for some 35 year old RF.

I'm all for going after Santana, but not at that price. Let's not forget that Santana might be a one-year rental. Also, you are assuming the Cubs will sign a big-name CF to replace Pie.

I disagree. I think Hendry realizes that the Brewers will be as strong, and maybe stronger, in 2008. Also, the poor performance in the playoffs certainly shouldn't make him complacent. I would imagine he will be looking at the SS options (Renteria, Tejada, Furcal) first and then possibly a middle-of-the-rotation starter.

I think Dempster is one of those names that the Cubs ought to quietly leak his name to assess his trade value. If someone is willing to give something of value for Dempster, or a package including Dempster, then go ahead and make the trade. In other words, I don't think he ought to be traded only as a salary dump.

Well, at least you didn't suggest anything unrealitic. :lol: Well, it't not COMPLETELY unrealistic: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2828947.stm Apparently the arm transplant is more realistic than the trade scenario. :wink:

Well, at least you didn't suggest anything unrealitic. :lol:

Most big market cities have a large African American population, so I don't understand him mentioning only Atlanta and Washington.

A player honest enough to admit he wants the money and not the ring.

I didn't see anything in there about increasing OBP, so until then, he's got a ways to go. He's had a lot of quotes over the last year where he mentions about how he wants to increase the teams OBP, in addition to the fact that when he sent Pie down he was quoted as the one thing he wanted Pie to work on was plate discipline. It may not have come into fruition on the roster yet (which ultimately is what matters if Hendry wants to keep his job) but Hendry's quotes from the first of the year on to that subject have been dramatically different from previous years. I do agree that this article was very nice for him. For example, he was asked the question about situational hitting where it would have been very easy to simply agree with the question but instead he made sure to disagree with it. He showed faith in some of his young players like Hill and Soto, and everything in the article indicated that he's taking the whole season as more important than the small 3 game playoff sample. All of those were criticisms of Hendry in the past both in his actions and his words (making too many decisions because of small samples, no faith in young players, focusing on the wrong things) and it's nice to see that his words have changed. Hopefully he'll show this offseason that his actions have continued to change as well. It was a nice article, but I am amazed by posters who dislike Hendry making a big deal about what he didn't say. He didn't say Pie would start in CF, he didn't say tha Soto was absolutely the starter for 2008, he didn't say anything about improving the OBP, etc. It seems to me that Soto and Pie playing regularly is a decision that the manager makes and not the GM. As for the OBP, it might improve with an off season acquisition or possibly with additional coaching by Gerald Perry. But its the GMs job to decide whether or not to go out an acquire someone, so yeah hes important in the decision as to how much time the young guys get. While Hendry has been the GM, he's had young players lined up to be the starters almost every season, but that was changed by Baker who ended up playing veterans.

I didn't see anything in there about increasing OBP, so until then, he's got a ways to go. He's had a lot of quotes over the last year where he mentions about how he wants to increase the teams OBP, in addition to the fact that when he sent Pie down he was quoted as the one thing he wanted Pie to work on was plate discipline. It may not have come into fruition on the roster yet (which ultimately is what matters if Hendry wants to keep his job) but Hendry's quotes from the first of the year on to that subject have been dramatically different from previous years. I do agree that this article was very nice for him. For example, he was asked the question about situational hitting where it would have been very easy to simply agree with the question but instead he made sure to disagree with it. He showed faith in some of his young players like Hill and Soto, and everything in the article indicated that he's taking the whole season as more important than the small 3 game playoff sample. All of those were criticisms of Hendry in the past both in his actions and his words (making too many decisions because of small samples, no faith in young players, focusing on the wrong things) and it's nice to see that his words have changed. Hopefully he'll show this offseason that his actions have continued to change as well. It was a nice article, but I am amazed by posters who dislike Hendry making a big deal about what he didn't say. He didn't say Pie would start in CF, he didn't say tha Soto was absolutely the starter for 2008, he didn't say anything about improving the OBP, etc. It seems to me that Soto and Pie playing regularly is a decision that the manager makes and not the GM. As for the OBP, it might improve with an off season acquisition or possibly with additional coaching by Gerald Perry.

M's Guillen to opt out of contract? Jose Guillen's agent says the Mariners right fielder probably will terminate his contract and become a free agent. "That's the way it's headed," Adam Katz said during a brief telephone conversation. The contract Guillen signed last Dec. 4, which paid him $5 million this past season, included a "mutual option" in 2008 worth $9 million, or a $500,000 buyout. -- Mariners.com He certainly would look good in RF for the Cubs. I like Murton, but acquiring Guillen could make Murton available in a package deal for a SS (Tejada, Renteria, Furcal).

When you say "from all the posts" you must have just not read many of them b/c I don't think #2 is true at all. I and others have made it pretty clear that if an improvement is not acquired, Cedeno should be starting. I frankly don't care if he struggles a little in ST either. Theriot could OPS .900 in ST and then suck for 5 months (like the 5 months he sucked this year). I guess I shouldn't have written "from all the posts", but there were some posters who felt that Theriot should start. My point in #2 is that neither player has produced enough at the major league level to be handed the starting job and I stand by that statement. Many people have pointed out that Cedeno is younger and has a higher ceiling, but so far his major league numbers have been terrible. All of this gets back to the question of whether the Cubs can afford to be patient with Pie, Cedeno/Theriot, Murton, and Soto all in the starting lineup while the team tries to contend.

Sign ARod and you don't have to worry about Cedeno/Theriot and Murton and Pie in the everyday lineup. Case closed.

The networks must love the thought of a Colorado-Cleveland World Series.

From all of the posts that I've read on this topic, I think everyone can agree on these points: 1. If the Cubs can improve at SS in a trade, they definitely should explore this option. 2. Neither Cedeno or Theriot has shown enough at the major league level to be declared the obvious starter. Without a trade, SS should be open competition. 3. The Cubs will definitely need to have upgraded production from RF (Murton/Trade) and C (Soto) to balance out the expected offensive struggles with Pie and Cedeno/Theriot in the lineup.

Obviously, the Cubs will go into 2008 as contenders, so I wonder how long of a leash Pie, Murton, and Cedeno will have as starters. Putting those three players in the starting lineup along with Soto at C really requires that they (the individual players and the team) had better get off to a good start.

Found this on Foxsports.com: Recent talk out of Pittsburgh has the Pirates potentially trading the face of their franchise, Jason Bay, in order to help replensish a impoverished farm system. Bay is regarded to be the best moveable part not starting in the rotaiton right now, as he's due $13.25 million the next two seasons. The Rumored Asking Price: The papers have people predicting a Bartolo Colon/Mark Teixeira deal. That won’t happen. More likely, an average pitching prospect and a positional player prospect will get it done[/b], though a third guy could be included. Who knows? If this person's blog is reasonably accurate, Marshall plus Patterson (with Fontenot if needed) for Bay?? That would open up trade possibilities of packaging Murton with others for a SS.

IF Torre leaves, Mattingly will be the manager.

I don't think he has a chance to get $14 million, but I'm sure he won't get 6 years either.

Phils Rowand wants $84 mil? The Phils are not optimistic they'll re-sign All-Star center fielder Aaron Rowand, who is weeks away from free agency and seeking a humungous payday on the heels of a career year in 2007. Hoping to build a foundation for a new deal, Phillies management had a recent chat with Rowand's agent, Craig Landis, and was floored to discover Rowand is seeking a six-year, $84 million contract. -- Bucks County Courier Times I think Rowand might get $40-45 million over 4 years. Craig Landis must be taking lessons from Scott Boras.

As long as we're talking about the Yankees, let's get back to the "Dempster to the Yankees" speculation from last year. Dempster wants to start, the Yanks need starters. Rivera might leave, Dempster has experience closing. While we're at it, package Marquis and Dempster to the Yanks.