Little Slide Rooter

I really dont see that deal flying. Besides, now that the Angels are bowing out of the Teixara hunt, dont be surprised if they jump in and make him a much higher offer.

I agree, but the team to watch out for is Cincinatti. With Bruce, Votto, and Phillips making up the heart of their lineup for years to come, and if Volquez has another season anything like last and Harang can be good again, and Cueto can have a breakout season, they could be legit contenders sooner than later.

Garrett Anderson was everyone's favorite "most underrated player in baseball" which of course wound up making him overrated. Funny how Milton Bradley gets a similar sentiment these days. Will we be having a similar thread on him 5 years from now?

You know how Hendry works though, he never likes to leave an off season empty handed, and if he somehow misses out on Dunn, Bradley, and Abreu, I could see him going after Anderson just so he could say he did something, as he did with Jacque and Burnitz before.

Back on topic: Anderson is still a serviceable player, but not what we need right now. He's a decent lefty bat that would fill in nicely as a number 6 or 7 hitter for a contender, but were looking for a 4 or 5. He'll probably be signed by either a team who misses out on Dunn, Bradley, and Abreu, or perhaps overpaid as a spare part by someone like the Yankees or Red Sox, or even back with the Angels. I read on one of the rumor sites that the Rays had him eyed as a back up if they missed out on Bradley, but they need a righty.

Floor has to be lower than that. Francoeur had a bad year last year but is still a good young player. No he doesn't have disapline but had a good average up until last year (I know OBP is more important but average still counts for something). He has good power and plays GG defense. If at worst Vitters is a career .270, 20 hr, GG defender I don't know many teams that wouldn't be very please with that. His floor is some guy no one remembers because he bombed out once he got to AAA/Majors. I don't think Vitters will but he could. Floor: Gary Scott

Nobody deserves that kind of money, even if they rescue a burning school bus full of orphans. However, its not about deserving, its about supply and demand, and if teams are willing to pay that much money, players are going to demand it.

Deja...wait for it...Vu

Is that really news, though? I think most of us knew that no matter what they said, this wasn't entirely over with. Hell, Bruce confirmed as much immediately after the deal was declared dead. Its basically the Elvis of baseball trades. Its dead, and not coming back, but there are those who refuse to let go.

Laugh if you will, but Raw Dog can be very dangerous. If not cooked thoroughly, you can get all kinds of worms and parasites.

Are you kidding? A ground ball pitcher at Wrigley? Considering all of those wind blowing out home runs that would be lazy fly balls in a lot of stadiums, Id welcome Lowe with open arms.

Face it, this is what your going to have to pay for quality. We're in a baseball world where mediocre players are getting good money, good players are going to get great money, and great players will be able to afford their own small country complete with all of it's residents and resources.

He had a decent 74 games in 2007, but other than that, I trying to figure out how hes better than Sam Fuld.

It's official. Yay us.

This seems like the main question mark for the team. Not who you want, who you think.

Who knows, maybe there is a deal near for Bradley and Gathright would be an insurance policy if he goes down.

Really? Because of the four offseason RF targets the Cubs had going into the winter meetings, Gathright is better than 2-3 of them (depending on how many games you think Bradley will last in the outfield). And that's BEFORE you take contract value into account. If we're considering those targets to be Ibanez, Hermida, Abreu, and Bradley, than there's no argument to be made that Gathright is even close to as good as any of them. Why is this comparison even being made? There's zero rumors floating out there even remotely linking us to Hermida. Ibanez is a Philly. Abreu and Bradley are being looked at as replacements to Kosuke in RF so he can platoon in LF. No one ever advocated Gathright as a substitute to Abreu and Bradley. He signed a minor league contract for crying out loud. If Pie gets traded, then Gathright basically replaces him as "organizational depth." did you even read the series of posts you're replying to? doesn't sound like it. This is the big IF. If Pie gets traded, for something of value than I wouldnt mind Gathright as a replacement. However, I just hope it would be for something of value, not just to get him off the team. Still, when you have Pie for league minimum, I dont understand throwing Gathright 1-2 mil when by all accounts, were trying to shed some pay roll.

Yeah...signing guys like this to compete for the last couple roster spots is such a clueless move. What are we thinking? Yeah...instead of signing him, we should be going after Abreu and Dunn in addition to Bradley. Abreu and Dunn can compete for at bats from our bench. I don't know what our organization is thinking...why are they being so cheap with a minor league contract for our last bench spot when everyone knows a team is only as strong as it's weakest link. If Gathright makes the roster out of ST, then that means we have a team of Gathrights, right?!?! If you're not a former all-star, or have all-star potential, go play for someone elses bench! Its not about wanting a team of all stars. It not a spot that has to be filled. If we we needed a few extra bench players, then Id be all about signing him. However, as is we have a full bench. All assuming we end up signing that lefty for RF, We have Cedeno, who we need as a back up SS. We'll need a back up catcher of some kind. Unless we trade one,. we'll have whichever of Johnson/Fukudome isnt starting. We'll have Fontenot and Hoffpauir, as well as Pie, who will not only fill the same need Gathright would, but should be a more complete player, plus the fact that were already paying him. This is already a full bench, and chances are, there wont be room for all of these guys. Two problems with your post...number one, do you understand what a minor league contract is and what purpose is serves? Number two, no, our bench is not full. If it is a minor league contract then go for it, but from the way it sounds, its a big league deal. If they have some kind of trade planned out for Pie, then he can fill that role, I just hop that its not a throwawy trade. And our bench is essentially full, this is assuming that we do land that coveted lefty bat. Cedeno Johnson/Fukudome Fontenot Hoffpauir Pie backup C

Yeah...signing guys like this to compete for the last couple roster spots is such a clueless move. What are we thinking? Yeah...instead of signing him, we should be going after Abreu and Dunn in addition to Bradley. Abreu and Dunn can compete for at bats from our bench. I don't know what our organization is thinking...why are they being so cheap with a minor league contract for our last bench spot when everyone knows a team is only as strong as it's weakest link. If Gathright makes the roster out of ST, then that means we have a team of Gathrights, right?!?! If you're not a former all-star, or have all-star potential, go play for someone elses bench! Its not about wanting a team of all stars. It not a spot that has to be filled. If we we needed a few extra bench players, then Id be all about signing him. However, as is we have a full bench. All assuming we end up signing that lefty for RF, We have Cedeno, who we need as a back up SS. We'll need a back up catcher of some kind. Unless we trade one,. we'll have whichever of Johnson/Fukudome isnt starting. We'll have Fontenot and Hoffpauir, as well as Pie, who will not only fill the same need Gathright would, but should be a more complete player, plus the fact that were already paying him. This is already a full bench, and chances are, there wont be room for all of these guys.

Rotoworld gets it. Even if Gathright would be a decent signing for someone as a back up, we really dont have a use or a spot for him.

Im sure that the fans for a lot of teams a few years ago who were like "OMG get Patterson!"

It's really not though. Theres 0 Logic, especially when it gives me the sickening feeling that it could be the only signing of the off season. Hes the type of player who would be good to have around in September as an extra set of legs, but thats about it.

Im really not seeing anybody praising the signing. It's incredibly pointless, especially when you have a guy like Pie on the team who has the potential to be a far more complete player.

Hey, hes a lefty, and hes name isnt Felix Pie, so thats good enough for Lou. Offseason over.

This would have been a decent signing had Pie been moved in a deal for Peavy. As it stands, it's kind of pointless. Pie is younger, has some power, and more of an upside.