Little Slide Rooter

NO NOT THAT, ANYTHING BUT THAT I dont think any Cubs fans would care either way. Had the Cards hired him, some of the meatier would have had a fit, but I don't think that your average Cubs fan really has any idea about the ongoing Theo drama between the two teams. I think you underestimate the meatheadedness of a significant chunk of Cub (really any team's) fans. I could somewhat understand people not wanting one of their icons going to a rival, especially an arch rival, but if they're really a fan wouldn't they want to see him get a job somewhere?

To this day, I don't know why they didn't just try to get some prospects as opposed to a guy whose ceiling was, well, Cesar Izturis.

NO NOT THAT, ANYTHING BUT THAT I dont think any Cubs fans would care either way. Had the Cards hired him, some of the meatier would have had a fit, but I don't think that your average Cubs fan really has any idea about the ongoing Theo drama between the two teams.

Yes, because he was bad at his job, often focused on the wrong "areas of need", and was more than happy to pay up to get his man. To his credit, there weren't very many trades he made that came back to haunt the Cubs. There were a few in which we came up on the short end,but none in which we really got shafted. The closest was Juan Pierre although for a time it was looking like Dontrelle was one that we'd regret for years to come.

Yeah, I know theres the massive Cubs manager thread, but now that it's pretty much official, I thunk it deserves it's own home. In past years, this would have gotten a great big WTF from the masses, myself included but I thunk that theres enough respect for Team Epstein that I for one am very happy with it, especially considering that no only Team Epstein, but Cherington wanted him equally, so there must be something to him, although I beleive he was both teams #2 behind Maddux.

smart, we're just going to blow him away with the first offer Maybe because we already plan to spend so much on Pujols and Darvish.

But that doesnt make sense. If there was a guy who would need protection who they want, why would they risk the chance someone else the opportunity to draft them.

Just went to Nation- looks good. Can't believe I hadn't stumbled across it before. Ace Cubbies the writer. Pops up here now and then.

So they think they'll get Byrd, Samardzjia, or Marshall huh? Not bloody likely. Here's my favorite Yes, please do us a favor and take a chance and take our 25 year old former top prospects who could still be a closer or a 2-3 starter off our hands in exchange for something that we already have.

This might not seem like it belongs in this thread, but could it mean that the Brewers have un surprisingly officially been priced out on Fielder and Reyes? They're reportedly now looking at cheaper SS options like Furcal and Barmes, which I'd originally speculated could mean that they're trying to scrape enough coin for Fielder, but it could also mean they're actually being smart and filling the need they've had all along. I really don't see both Greinke and Marcum re signing, at least not this offseason, but definitely I could see one signing this offseason if they don't land Fielder or Reyes, which isn't looking likely and then signing Pena or Kotchman for 1B and a cheap SS and let McGehee and Gamel battle it out for 3rd.

I like how he's proud of himself for suggesting Castro as compensation -- yep, that was a big step forward. Remember the ranting among Rosenbloom and others about how Ricketts mishandled the Theo negotiation by not settling on compensation before striking the deal with Theo? From the article above: “They should have never made the deal to let Theo go without the compensation being resolved,’’ said an executive from an American League team. “How can you expect Theo to be able to negotiate a deal for himself? How is he supposed to reach agreement on a significant player for himself? I think that’s asking something unrealistic.’’ And now the fact that we gangstered their top managerial candidate despite the fact that he was clearly our 2nd choice will add fuel to their fire. Give em Jeff Baker and Casey Coleman and tell them to sod off.

I keep confusing Bleacher Report and Bleacher Nation. Just so I'm on board, Report=bad, Nation=good?

Chin-Feng Chen? Wei-Yin Chen. Hung Wen Chen?

One thing I find a bit ironic. A few years ago when the Brewers had their window wide open but the problem was they couldn't find a good manager, cycling through the likes of Yost, Macha, and I forget who before Yost with Sveum having a brief stint. However they had Sveum and Maddux, who 2 of baseballs top brain trusts have been swooning over right under their noses all along. I guess they werent willing to work with the Brewers hit enough home runs to overcome awful pitching philosophy they had until last year.

Loney is a guy probably capable of something like a .275/.800 with 15-20 HR in Wrigley. If he was a center fielder, a 2nd baseman, or even a 3rd baseman, we'd probably be all over him. As a 1st baseman, he won't be able to produce nearly enough power and it's not like we make up for it somehwere else. Now if Pujols or Fielder were completely out of the question, I guess I'd be OK taking a chance on a 1 year commitmant for Loney as long as we don't give up too much, and I'm talking minimal rather than a multi year deal for Pena or Kotchman. I guess that what it comes down to for me when it comes to my propblem with trading for Loney isn't as much Loney himself but more so the fact that it would pretty much be the end of any Pujols/Fielder hopes.

So what do we have of real value as far as big leaguers go beyond Castro and Garza? -Marhall: Maybe we could get someone in the back 25 of the BA top 100 or a few guys from the back of somebodies top 10 -Soto: Probably similar to Marshall. I'd definitely listen on him and gamble on Castillo -Marmol: with the high price for closers, as the other trade suggests he could bring a decent return. -Byrd: Probably a similar package to the DeRosa one -Soriano: if we were to eat enough money we could probably get A. a few decent high ceiling guys B. some former top prospects whose teams are about ready to give up. C. another bad contract -Dempster: We could get something good for him, but I'm assuming he picked up his option in an particularly weak FA starting pitching class because he wants to stay and I think he has a full NTC. -Zambrano: if anyone was going to give up anything of value for him, they'd have him by now. -Wells: perhaps about what we got for Gorzo. -Samardzjia: hard to say if 2011 was enough for anyone to give up enough to make it worth our while. Whatever we'd get is probably less valuable than the possibility that he can be a decent 3-4 starter with the right coaching, and Maddux(take your pick which one) would be the epitome of the right coaching. -Russell, Colvin, DeWitt, Baker, Barney: maybe middling big leaguers/big league ready minor leaguers, 1-2 low level guys, or be used as throw ins in other deals. -LaHair: around $1,000,000 from Japan or be used as a throw in. -Coleman, Campana: throw ins.

Garza and Castro are the only true untouchables. If we could get something worthwhile for Marshall, so be it. When they say build a competitive team for the future, I'm not sure if that means we can forget about any big ticket free agents this offseason or that they plan on rebuilding the farm system and will do what it takes for the right offer. If they plan on any big name free agents and competing in the next few years, Garza should not be on the table.

More than I'd give him. Chen is a serviceable starter, but not something we need. We need a front end starter. We have enough back end options if need be.

They'll probably make the team out of ST and be the Astros 3-4 hitters.

Sounds good. Yeah. That's intriguing and I'm certainly happy to hear it. Though I haven't paid much attention to how much Darvish will cost. Nothing can preclude getting Fielder or Pujols though. Darvish, Cespedes, and Pujols or Fielder would make for a very happy offseason.

Dead serious. JockJones wasn't. Dammit. I knew I read a quote almost exactly like that recently and part of me thought it was a reference to it, but I bit anyways. As did I. You really can't always tell without the green.

Umm, what? Cespedes is looking for something similar to Aroldis Chapman's 6/$30 deal, maybe pushing up to $40. I thought Chapman was making more and that Cespedes was looking for more. At age 26 For 5-6.5 mil a year, I'd definitely take a chance without question.

Are both of you guys serious? Dead serious. Spending a ton of money on the best guy out there is not wise. On the other hand, when it comes to a true elite hitter like Pujols or Fielder it's a completely different story. Cespedes doesn't fall anywhere near the Fielder/Pujols catagory. I'd be interested in him but not if you're going to pay him like an elite hitter.

Because spending a lot of money on the best hitter in baseball is such a Hendry move, and we have moved past those days. No, foolishly spending money on the best AVAILABLE hitter is a Hendry move. Big difference.