Little Slide Rooter

Add a bat one way or another, and we could be looking at a fringe contender, one that would have minimal effect on the future plans, aside from the sucking for 2-3 years part.

I'm with you 95% of the time, but this year feels a bit different. Me too. Basically, the past several years we've grown accustomed to being in the mix for all of the top tier free agents. However, now the mentality has been altered to stocking the farm system and aquiring the highest reward reclamations possible. Kind of like growing up upper class, but dad was laid off and started a new job at a lower level, but an upstart company, so there's room for him to move quickly through the corporation. However, for now, we're learning to appreciate bargain bin DVDs and candy bars for christmas, and if we get a $20 I Tunes card, it's a pleasant surprise.

Vizcaino. A 100% healthy Vizcaino would be in the question for 1-3, but then again, we never would have acquired a 100% healthy Vizcaino for scraps.

No, 3/12 total was the rumor of what he wanted. I think with as much buzz as he was getting some thought he might exceed that though. Sounds like they plan on using him as an everyday 3B. With this in mind, any interest in buying low in Brent Morel as a buy low candidate if it's on the table?

It'd be pretty bad. He's basically a replacement level player at this point even if you give him some BABIP credit for last year. But at 1-2 Mil+incentives: Best case scenerio: he re-finds himself as a MOH bat, or at least replaces 2012 Soriano production. helps Cubs not be awful. Worst Case Scenerio:He's horrible and we waste 1-2 MM on a low risk/high reward who's not blocking anyone Middle range scnerio: he's decent, but not nearly enough to help the Cubs avoid being eliminated by mid June, and we trade him for prospect(s)

wut If we were to trade for Soriano for something of value, would signing Bay as a bounceback candidate at 1-2 mil really be horrible?

My drum is "the front office isn't doing a good job unless they field a good baseball team at the Major League level." I know that's crazybuckets and it means I don't understand the "plan," but it's my drum. I definitely see where you're coming from. Back to the building competive big league team and building a strong farm system doesn't need to be an either/or propsition for a high revenue organization. While there's no reason not to give the right players 3-5 year contracts, it could just be that the right players aren't willing to sign at "our price," at least not this early in the offseason. Guys like Marcum and McCarthy, or at least their agents who realistically should end up with 3-4 year deals are probably waiting for Greinke and Jackson to be off the market, in hopes that teams will over pay for them. And looking at how many team are in the hunt for starting pitching, I wouldn't be surprised if it pays off for them. As for the available outfielders, after seeing what Victorino got, I don't think we want to go to in on Bourn. The other option is to go all in and overpay for someone who might be better than what we have, but not enough so that they warrant a a bigger contract than they're worth. The one exception might be Hamilton, who warts and all is someone who could catapult us right into contention.

I know it's been discussed in the past, but we should be pursuing Hellickson aggressively. Their acquisition of Escobar might make Barney a less attractive option for them, but then again, Zobrist will be 32 in May, and is a free agent after 2013, and he could be an expensive one, so they might consider flipping him. Barney, DeJesus, and Vogelbach for Hellickson? Zobrist has 2 cheap option years I guess I read it wrong on BBR. But still, they could probably get a very nice return for him.

#2 I'm strangely over excited about the Rule 5, not just to see what we get, but which if any of our guys are taken. Looking over the list and how it corresponds with our needs, I'll be surprised if we don't take Chaffee or Fields. Chaffee seems the most likely due to age, but if the Astros take one, we'll take the other. 24 year old Reds SP Tim Crabbe looks interesting, but a stater's a lot harder to hide than a reliever.

Is this for Hellickson, or for one of Hellickson's used jocks? If it's actually for Hellickson, think Garza trade, except the Rays would want more. Anyway, it's Shields who will be traded. The Garza trade was prospect heavy. They're getting two cheap, productive big leaguers here as well as a high ceiling prospect. Remember, they sent us back a few prospects in that trade, one intriguing low level and a filler. But if they want a Sam Fuld and Robinson Chirinos thrown in, sure, have Campana and Rohan.

Question: if a Rule 5 eligible player who was left unprotected is traded, can the new team still add them to their 40 man and protect them?

Ah yes, if only the Cubs had gotten the "let's give out terrible contracts because that will totally help us compete" memo. If you think they're lined up to be a lot better than last year, I've got some news for you. I bet they win more games than the Cubs do next year. A lot of teams will win more games than the Cubs next year. They seem to have long since accepted that. The hope is that by 2014, there will be less teams that win more games than the Cubs. Even less in 2015. With this in mind, I like my plan of filling any roster spots not occupied by players that factor into 2015 and beyond with low risk/some degree of reward fliers such as Stewart, Sweeney, Jurrjens, Kazmir, etc. Each one that works out is one less spot to fill.As long as they're OK with suckage, may as well hold 6 months worth of auditions.

I know it's been discussed in the past, but we should be pursuing Hellickson aggressively. Their acquisition of Escobar might make Barney a less attractive option for them, but then again, Zobrist will be 32 in May, and is a free agent after 2013, and he could be an expensive one, so they might consider flipping him. Barney, DeJesus, and Vogelbach for Hellickson?

On MLB TV he claimed he shot two birds right after it happened. Not sure if he was joking or not at that point, because it's him. I bet if Starlin Castro had his ear blown off, he wouldn't even be able to play the next day. Maybe more. $@&! kids today.

Sveum strikes me as the type of guy who could have an ear blown off, pick it up, put it on ice, and carry on with his business.

Holy [expletive] why? I have a hard time believing that, it makes so little sense. While Frenchy is the polar opposite of everything this regime wants in a player, if we were to be able to trade both Soriano and DeJesus for decent value, I could see them seeing if they could get him for scraps just for a veteran body in the outfield. And I havn't seen this here, and I don't have a link, but last night, The Astros traded Wilton Lopez to the Rockies for Alex White and a minor leaguer. I know that White's stock has taken quite the plunge, but he's still a nice pick up for the Astros, who are also in Logan's Run mode.

Man they really sound like they know what they're doing in Miami... Should have sent him the Giants just for fun.

Not sure how I feel about that. LOL Honestly, I'd be OK with both Reynolds and Keppinger(even at 3-12) I'd be better with Ian Stewart at whatever he would have made via arb.

My guess is that it's an unoffical 3 team trade of some sort. When you have some of the best young pitching on Earth, you don't just give up a 25 year old superstar and top trade chip for a 35 year old. I know Arizona's in the hunt for a SS, so it could be that something pre-arranged. Texas?

Dear god no. 2007 was the last time he had a positive bWAR. Not only does he have a career .682 OPS, but it comes with a career -2.6 WAR/-3.1 DWAR. What's not to like?

Which user? lol Also, ABTY7 thinks Cubs are interested in Dave Murphy I'm willing to bet that virtually every GM has had some talks with Scott Boras, and Edwin Jackson's name came up in most of the conversations. Epstein's probably checking in on every free agent pitcher to see if he can get them at "his price."

Now if we were to send them Soriano and DeJesus and picked up a pretty big chunk of salary, they could probably afford a 3rd basaman. Not that there's really any available out there.

I think they're going to sign LaRoche and shop Morse for bullpen help. [expletive], I'll give them Marmol and Russel for Morse. If bullpen help is what they seek, is anyone going to top that? Then we turn around and sign Schlereth and Moylan to minor league deals or incentive based big league deals.

Cain is a lot better than Fuld. He already has 2 2 WAR seasons under his belt in part time duty. If I were to use my lackluster analytical skills to give Cain a ceiling, I'd go with Angel Pagan, who has done pretty well for himself. To clear it up, yes, Brett Jackson's ceiling is higher than Cain, but Cain is a safer bet to be a productive big leaguer at this point.

Wow Good deal for both sides, really. Yea just surprised it was the Nats for some reason. Great move for them. Edwin Jackson's likely to move on. They have a great, young 1-4. 13MM could buy them the best 5 starter in baseball if all goes well. If not,they can trade for an average 5 starter mid season.