Backtobanks

I agree with you although I still don't quite understand including Hill in this "untouchable" list. Pie isn't going anywhere, period.

I started a post ("A New Idea") asking the same question the other day. Getting Rowand would not fit the role of a leadoff man which would mean getting Ichiro for RF, Furcal for SS, or Castillo or M. Giles for 2B (with Cedeno moving over to SS) to bat leadoff.

Everyone knows the Cubs interest in Pierre. Why not Castillo as well? What would it take to get both players? If the Cubs sign Furcal, could they afford to offer both Walker and Cedeno in a deal for Pierre and Castillo? If the Cubs could get Pierre and Castillo without trading Cedeno, then they don't need to spend the $10 million on Furcal. Use the saved money to sweeten the pot for Giles in RF. Pierre and Castillo could bat #1 and #2 with Cedeno and Castillo solidifying the middle infield. In 2007, the Cubs would have plenty of money to spend when Maddux comes off the books and Pie replaces Pierre. You would then have a solid base with a mix of veterans and young players (Murton, Pie, Cedeno, Zambrano, Prior, etc.).

You wonder what they might do if they ever win a WS. Probably double the prices.

Sorry about that. I meant Hill.

In today's Tribune, the White Sox story mentions that they were after Eyre to replace Marte. Also, the story mentioned that they might use Rowand as trade bait as they look for middle infielders who can play defense. How about a deal that includes Neifi and Hall (possible LOOGY) plus whoever for Rowand. (I know this won't happen because of Hendry's love of Neifi and Hall, but bear with me.) This gives you a reasonably cheap CF with some power, which means you go after Ichiro to play RF and leadoff. Other possibilities are Castillo or M. Giles at 2B (Cedeno moves over to SS) and go after Giles, Abreu, Dunn, Floyd, Wilkerson, or Mench for RF. The bottom line is that it doesn't matter which position givesyou a leadoff hitter and which positions give you power numbers, as long as there is some balance to the lineup.

I agree with you. I've been saying to all the JH critics that I have faith in him to get the players we need one way or another. Right now, I see Patterson, Walker, Rusch/Williams, Mitre, and Welly as available trade bait. Obviously some of our prospects are also in that group. Other possibilities (depending on who we obtain) are Hairston and Novoa. With all of those possibilities and money to spend, I think more than one big transaction is going to happen.

I agree with you. I've been saying to all the JH critics that I have faith in him to get the players we need one way or another. Right now, I see Patterson, Walker, Rusch/Williams, Mitre, and Welly as available trade bait. Obviously some of our prospects are also in that group. Other possibilities (depending on who we obtain) are Hairston and Novoa. With all of those possibilities and money to spend, I think more than one big transaction is going to happen.

I agree with you. I've been saying to all the JH critics that I have faith in him to get the players we need one way or another. Right now, I see Patterson, Walker, Rusch/Williams, Mitre, and Welly as available trade bait. Obviously some of our prospects are also in that group. Other possibilities (depending on who we obtain) are Hairston and Novoa. With all of those possibilities and money to spend, I think more than one big transaction is going to happen.

So much of this "reporting" has to do with spin. A player asks for $100 million and a team says they're not going to get into a bidding war with other teams. I think Hendry has a good idea as to how much a player is worth to the Cubs and if the bidding is too high, then he should move on to plan B. Giles is a perfect fit for RF, but not at $13-$14 million over 3-4 years. It would be great to get Dunn for RF, but not if it's going to cost us Prior and Pie. If we have Furcal (Lugo or Cedeno) at SS, Cedeno (or M. Giles, Castillo, etc.) at 2B, Pierre (or Bradley, Wilkerson, etc.) in CF, and Mench (Floyd, Giles, Abreu) in RF, we could win the division assuming some semblance of health. We aren't going to win if we have prolonged DL stints from Zambrano, Prior, Wood, Lee, or Ramirez no matter who we put in those other positions.

It would be interesting to see what Boras would ask for if he had a real star free agent this year. Looking at these numbers, Pujols would be looking at $500 million over 15 years, Zambrano would be worth $200 million over 10 years, and Cabrera would be worth $400 million over 15 years. What a joke, cut the money and years each in half and you might have a starting point.

I'm not sure this is a great deal. We spend another $7.5 million and we still don't have a SS, CF, RF, or lead off man. Soriano is a good player, but let's fill some holes first before we try to upgrade a position that's filled.

By my count, that means the Cubs are interested in every available SS, RF, SP, RP, lead off man, and power hitter. If half of these reports are true, Hendry will have met with about 700 agents.

Except Cedeno looks like he can hit.

I know Dusty doesn't like him, but I think Hairston has more value on the team than on the trade front. I don't think you'll get very much for him. Assuming we get Pierre and get rid of Patterson, Hairston might be the only guy who could back up CF.

Is there anyone that Todd Walker isn't being traded for?

I love Sammy, but I'm not crazy enough to agree to give him $1 million to sit on the bench. Let's take that $1 million and add it to the "Furcal Fund" or "Giles Fund".

Also, M. Giles might be available, if Furcal re-signs with the Braves and there have been rumors about Castillo.

I think Sosa's future is in Japan. He could go over there and make a lot of money, hit a lot of homers, and be idolized. He's not going to do any of those three things in the majors anymore. I really don't think Sammy's ego could take sitting on the bench and pinch hitting once a week.

Does anyone really think Sarge would have any idea of who Hendry is after?

Cliff Floyd is the perfect fit for RF assuming he stays healthy. That has always been the question mark about him. The stats you provided show what he's capable of doing as long as he stays healthy.

Thome, to me, is a perfect player for the AL. He can be an excellent 1B, but with his back problems the future is more likely part time 1B/part time DH.

I think having Wilkerson would be fantastic, but do you think they are looking at him as a CF or as a RF? Furcal Murton Lee Giles/Abreu etc Ramirez Wilkerson Barett Cedeno Wow. Wilkerson doesn't have the production numbers to play RF. Bradley or Wilkerson have great numbers for a CF, but would be below average in production for RF.

I agree with you, I just don't see what Hendry is sseing in this guy. To put him on the same "untradeable" level as Pie is ridiculous. Having said that, I hope Hill learns a third pitch and proves me wrong.

That would be good I haven't been a big Pierre fan. I've been pretty interested in picking him up as a salary dump, while paying little. If Cubs also acquire Furcal, and trade for Pierre and he bats second, he might lose all his SB value; how often will he try to steal in front of Lee and Aram? When there was talk of Pierre for Corey, I was enthused about that, because Corey at $2.5 is way expensive for a guy who isn't going to start. He's an expendable guy, so if Corey is a central piece, add in a Mitre and you've maybe got a deal, awesome. But with "young arms" plural, it depends on the arms. Now we aren't just talking about unloading Corey's lousy contract. Thinking it's going to be Wellemeyer/Novoa types, guys we don't want anyway, is wishful thinking. Nolasco and Marshall, that's a different equation. Nolasco and Hill, that's a different equation. I see Corey, Mitre, Wellemeyer, and Novoa as guys who are expendable. Corey's salary is too high and he's pretty worthless if you've acquired an every-day CF. Mitre and Wellemeyer are out of options, and don't seem qualified to make the team, so they'll need to be exposed to waivers come March. Even if they do make the team, they seem unlikely to be productive players. So giving up guys like that, great; that's sacrificing nothing, really. But if it's two out of the Hill, Nolasco, Marshall, Guzman, Mateo pool, that's a different and much more serious cost. I would hold on to Novoa if possible. I thought he did a pretty good job last year. Of course if a big time trade depended on including Novoa, then go ahead and do it.