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Backtobanks

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Everything posted by Backtobanks

  1. Backtobanks
    And when the prospect is ready to play in the majors, you could trade Renteria.
  2. Backtobanks
    And if he is only seeking 3 years/$30 million, why are people suggesting JH offer him $39 million over 3 years.
  3. Backtobanks
    I think signing Giles makes a heck of a lot more sense than trading away your best prospect, and I have a feeling that Hendry has as much interest in trading Pie for Abreu as he does for signing Giles. That's true. But then again, Pie is only the Cubs best prospect because they are so bereft of top flight prospects after slowly falling down the list of top farm systems. He's got some pretty large flaws for all the we can't trade him for a current start talk. I'm not advocating trading Pie instead of signing Giles. I'm all about Giles. But if the GM won't open his eyes to the obviousness of signing Giles, he has to trade for an impact corner OF someway and somehow. And I'd like to see them trade prospects other than Pie to get that corner OF. But I would not let Pie and his slim chance for greatness stand in the way of making a trade, if he was a dealbreaker. He's not worth it. He's got more potential and less flaws than a guy named Lou Brock had when the Cubs dealt him to the Cards. I think he went on to have a decent career. Obviously, with a 20-year old in the minor leagues, you can only speculate as to whether he will reach his potential, but there aren't many guys his age with his tools who strives to improve like he does.
  4. Backtobanks
    I think your payroll would be much higher than $110 million. Also, you don't have Henry Blanco or a substitute catcher.
  5. Backtobanks
    The bottom line is that it's hard to judge Hendry or his plan until he is finished building the roster. Everyone criticizes Hendry until he pulls off a trade for Abreu or Dunn and then he's a genius. I think JH has done a great job over the past 3 years and those teams would have been competitive but for injuries and Dusty Baker.
  6. Backtobanks
    How do you know he won't be great for at least 3 years? Pujols and Cabrera didn't take 3 years to become stars. Every GM will ask for Pie, but I think Abreu can be obtained with a package of players without Pie included. Hendry has accumulated a ton of spare parts, rule 5 players, and prospects to put together a decent package.
  7. Backtobanks
    I'd set the line at 18/1 that Pie becomes a 5 time all star or better. Abreu's been an All Star twice in nine seasons. Seems like a silly measuring stick to me. Good point - how about finish in the top 3 in VORP for his position for at least 5 years? What's the point of your question? Does Pie have to turn into a HOF worthy player to make trading him a questionable idea? It just seemed to me that most people on here were overrating Pie's chances to be a top tier play. I asked the question to confirm that belief. I don't think the posters on NSBB are overrating Pie. All Hendry would have to do is float his name as trade bait and watch every executive in baseball come running. When people who have spent their whole lives evaluating players gush over a player like Pie, then I think we have a right to be excited about the possibility that he might be a superstar. Everyone knows that there are no guarantees, but his age, speed, ability, and attitude sure looks like the real thing to anyone who has watched him play.
  8. Backtobanks
    I think everyone agrees that Abreu would be a fantastic fit in RF. The only question involves what you have to give up for him. While I've been waiting a long time for a WS, there's no guarantee that Abreu gets you into the WS next year. All of those big names are great, but the Cubs won't go far with an extended DL stint by Lee, Ramirez, Prior, Zambrano, or Wood. Everybody stays reasonably healthy and the Cubs can win with some of those lesser names in RF (Mench, Floyd, Wilkerson, etc.).
  9. Backtobanks
    I think I heard somewhere that Braves think Betemit is bulking up and they think he may need to be moved to a less-athletic position than SS.
  10. Backtobanks
    Don't forget Pie is 20 years old and expected to be playing regularly in the majors at 21. I don't know what you consider a "can't miss" prospect (or if there is such a player), but he's the closest this organization has had in a long, long time.
  11. Backtobanks
    I agree with you although I still don't quite understand including Hill in this "untouchable" list. Pie isn't going anywhere, period.
  12. Backtobanks
    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.
  13. Backtobanks
    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.).
  14. Backtobanks
    You wonder what they might do if they ever win a WS. Probably double the prices.
  15. Backtobanks
    Sorry about that. I meant Hill.
  16. Backtobanks
    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.
  17. Backtobanks
    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.
  18. Backtobanks
    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.
  19. Backtobanks
    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.
  20. Backtobanks
    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.
  21. Backtobanks
    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.
  22. Backtobanks
    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.
  23. Backtobanks
    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.
  24. Backtobanks
    Except Cedeno looks like he can hit.
  25. Backtobanks
    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.
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