cubsfan26

I honestly don't buy the Bako over Blanco stuff because of the LH/RH crap. There bats mean very little for the Cubs next year. Neither guy will do much pinch hitting, and neither guy will be in a platoon with Soto. So I call that Hendry BS, it's either Blanco wanted more money to stay with the Cubs, or they didn't want him back due to club house issues. I have heard from members of the media that the Cubs weren't happy with Blanco last season. I dunno why, or what the reasons was. But maybe if Bruce stops by he could answer some of these questions.

I don't think Hill would have to return to his 07 form, for us to get something of value. He really probably just needs to make the Orioles rotation, and do ok for a little bit IMO. But I still don't see the Cubs getting a top 10 prospect even if he does well. I think in the 10-20 range is possible, or a young low level prospect with some decent potential.

Gaudin has started 50 Major league games, and has a career 4.71 era as a SP. Ten of those starts came when he was 20-22 years old, over the last two years he has had a 4.32 era in 40 starts. Gaudin has been around for a little while, so I don't think some people realize how young he is still. Personally I feel he could step in the rotation and give us a 4.40-4.50 era in 28-30 starts next year easily. But that could be why I feel much better about next season then most. Heilman is a bit of a wild card, I think he could turn into a pretty solid starter(better then Marshall and Gaudin). But we shouldn't count on it at all, with him not starting since 05. I do think Heilman has the potential to be Kerry Wood like good out of the pen though. i agree, i really really like the heilman trade Here's a interesting article on Heilman http://blog.stats.com/2009/01/whiff_profile_aaron_heilman.html

Gaudin has started 50 Major league games, and has a career 4.71 era as a SP. Ten of those starts came when he was 20-22 years old, over the last two years he has had a 4.32 era in 40 starts. Gaudin has been around for a little while, so I don't think some people realize how young he is still. Personally I feel he could step in the rotation and give us a 4.40-4.50 era in 28-30 starts next year easily. But that could be why I feel much better about next season then most. Heilman is a bit of a wild card, I think he could turn into a pretty solid starter(better then Marshall and Gaudin). But we shouldn't count on it at all, with him not starting since 05. I do think Heilman has the potential to be Kerry Wood like good out of the pen though.

Leo isn't the Orioles pitching coach anymore. Former Cubs Triple A pitching coach Rick Kranitz is now the Orioles pitching coach. I recall Rich Hill saying Kranitz was the guy who helped him figure things out in 2006, after he was sent back to Triple A. So that mixed with MacPhail probably being a big fan of Hill(wanted him for Roberts a year ago), makes me feel the Orioles wanted him alot. The Orioles are hoping that Hill working with Krantiz again will help fix his control issues. So I'm hoping that MacPhail was willing to overpaid a little bit to get the Cubs to send them Hill.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-orioles0129,0,3367706.story So lets all hope Hill is decent enough in spring training to make their rotation, so we can get a better prospect in return. Then of course he could lose his control again in May, and be released for all I care.

Hindsight is great, but if Hendry trades Pie/Hill for Roberts a year ago, most fans on this board would have demanded Hendry to be fired on the spot. Guys lose value, when a pitcher walks a batter per inning(and keeps doing it in the minors and winter league), and a outfielder struggles to hit big league pitching for the second year in the row, and has a average year in Triple A. Being out of options also hurts, if Pie/Hill still have options left, Hendry doesn't trade either guy right now. Trading Hill hurts winning now, did you really expect him to be on the team in 09? Terrible offseason? No Gm can be this big of an idiot? Nice overreaction, sometimes I wonder if people are doing it on purpose to be funny? I'm I missing out on a joke or something around here? Nobody can be patient and see if these moves are good or not, they already judged them as bad. When many of the same people were wrong about Hendry moves the past two years. But whatever people can say whatever they want. Maybe someday these threads will be as funny to read as the Mark DeRosa, Ted Lilly, Jason Marquis, Jim Edmonds signing threads were or Ryan Dempster moved to the rotation thread was.

I wouldn't be surprised if the player to be named later is based off Hill performance. If Hill makes their rotation, Hendry will have a better prospect to choose from. If Hill sucks, and doesn't make the team out of spring training, then the Cubs might get some crappy A-ball pitcher. I remember MacPhail/Hendry did something weird like that with the Trachsel trade. Like if the Cubs made the playoffs after getting Trachsel, the Cubs throw in another low level prospect. If the Cubs couldn't something that was potentially worth wild, I don't know why they would trade him at this point of the offseason. I know the Cubs might wanna clear his roster spot, but with four teams interested I think they could potentially get something for him. Plus I don't think his roster space is that important to have right now, that we would have to get rid of him right now.

I think Miles will be better then Cedeno, and I do think Johnson has a chance to be as good to. He had a big second half, and his back might have been 100 percent in the first half. But the rest of the bench could appear better depending on how you line it up. If you compare Fontenot to Hoffpauir and Gathright to Ward it doesn't look quite as bad. Even though Gathright OPS still probably won't be as high as Ward was last year, his defense and speed will help. I also think the Bako/Blanco stuff is a little debateabe. Blanco was much better from 05-07, but if you look at Bako numbers after 120 AB's(what Blanco got last year), Bako has the high OBP and OPS. Overall the back up catcher spot is a very minor downgrade if anything.

How do you figure? Who plays 1b? Were's the power off the bench? Thats not gonna happen, unless we add someone else. Then we can make a judgement on the bench. BECAUSE LOU PINIELLA WON'T GO WITH ONE BACKUP IF Lou Piniella wouldn't go without a back up 1b either. Especially when he has commented about giving Lee a little more rest. Hoffpauir is either on the roster, or we will bring someone else in. Lou Piniella wouldn't have a bench with Reed Johnson as the most powerful hitter either. Stop assuming negative things, thats exactly what I'm talking about. Because even if we bring someone else in I expect Hoffpauir to have a chance to win a roster spot still with a big spring. Theriot can play 2b and SS, and Miles can play 2b,SS, and 3rd. Even Piniella mentioned during the Cubs convention that they could use Fontenot at 3rd in spring training. I dunno what Hendry has planned, but as of now the bench isn't as that bad with Hoffpauir on it. If we make another move to bring in a bench player, then I'll make a judgement on the bench.

How do you figure? Who plays 1b? Were's the power off the bench? Thats not gonna happen, unless we add someone else. Then we can make a judgement on the bench.

I seen that a few times but I don't get how the bench is all that worse then last year. 08 Ward Johnson Blanco- Fontenot- Cedeno- 09 Johnson Miles Bako Gathright Hoffpauir/ F/A Fontenot/Hoffpauir or F/A- This is the one spot I have a concern about. But If Hoffpauir could do what he did last year for another 150 AB's we will be fine. This bench spots could get alot less AB's next year though. I personally don't think the bench was all that good last year. But I don't think we went from a good bench to a horrible bench with these moves. The DeRosa trade is really the only move I'm kinda questioning right now. I'm not really questioning the talent we got in return, because I think thats probably the best we could get. The only way that move makes sense is because they wanted Fontenot to get alot more AB's. So Hendry took a risk here deciding to go with Fontenot over DeRosa. If Fontenot hits like he did in the minors, or so far in the majors it will look like a good trade. Especially if one of those three prospects turn into something. But by doing this he is also counting on Hoffpauir or a free agent to replace DeRosa production when having to play in the outfield. This move could very easily work out well for us, but in a win now situation I question it a bit. The rest of the moves so far this offseason, I actually am ok with. Even though I'm a little worried about Ceda potential, but Hendry usually does a pretty good job on knowing what prospects to trade and what ones not to trade. Well of course that horrible Juan Pierre trade.

What did Raul Ibanez get? From what I heard the Rays and other teams were offering Bradley 2y at 18-20m. So I don't how guarantee Bradley 2y at 20m, and giving him a extra year at 10m if healthy is overpaying. Burrell/Dunn are both LF/DH, and were both horrible fits for this team. How many runs they would let in would offset the possible offense advantage over Bradley. As for Abreu he sucks in RF, and is in the decline. Plus he was asking for 3y at 48m, a few months ago. I still think Bradley has the most upside of those hitters playing half his games in Wrigley now. If it was 2007, after he made alot of bad decisions in 05-06, I can understand this stuff. But nobody is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on many of these moves. I recall at one time people were saying we overpaid for Ted Lilly, Mark DeRosa and Jason Marquis was a horrible contract. They were pissed off when they heard Dempster would get a shot in the rotation, and Theriot would be our SS again in 08. Some didn't even like that Kerry Wood was brought back in 08. Even last year people were upset that we traded Jacque Jones last year for nothing. Same thing goes with picking up Johnson/Edmonds for nothing. The only moves that I remember Hendry making that actually got mostly postive feedback recently is the Harden trade and Fukudome signing. I'm not saying Hendry is the perfect GM, and I felt he made some very poor moves in 05-06 seasons. But after what he's done the last two years, I feel he deserves the benefit of the doubt alot more then he gets.

ok :roll: Thats all very debateable stuff, especially saying overpaid on some of those guys, when the market would say otherwise. I'm sorry but many of you same people have been saying this same type of crap about Hendry moves the last two years. So I'm willing to bet you're dead wrong about half of the things you just said. You guys always think you're right, without giving the benefit of the doubt to someone who has proven you wrong the last few years. You're already assuming negative results from these guys, by saying we overpaid. Just like you did, with MANY of the previous Hendry moves the last two seasons. Sure you guys were right a few times, but were wrong alot more then right. Maybe I'm different and when I have been wrong about something in the past, I remember it, and am willling to give a GM the benefit of the doubt because of it. I think some just pretend they were never wrong about previous moves, and don't let it effect their opinion on current questionable moves.

I understand, but what I'm trying to say is this team is still very good and give some of these moves a chance. This offseason could either be really bad or really good. Thats why I call them questionable moves, but many already assume these moves are bad. But nobody is willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, when many simliar questionable moves worked out very well for us the last two years. If Mark DeRosa is still on the roster, are people all of the sudden happy with the offseason? Is that the one move that made this a horrible offseason? Because I recall most being happy with going after Bradley, most wanted more AB's for Fontenot, most wanted Marquis traded, and most figured Wood might go. Most also knew we probably weren't gonna get alot for Pie or Cedeno either with them being out of options. So I really don't know what Hendry could have done that would have changed the out come of the offseason so much besides not trade DeRosa.

Agreed. A whole lot of offseason maneuvering to be worse than they were last year. Way to work them phones, Jim! I find it funny that people are agreeing with that. I guess if you think negative stuff first, it does seem not as good. I could easily say the bench can be just as good as last year, with adding another bench player. The rotation had even more question marks a year ago, and almost every teams rotation has question marks. Plus you only factor in, possible regression, without considering possible improvement. Having Soriano for another 30-40 plus games also offsets alot of the extra AB's Fontenot got last year. But hey if it makes people feel better thinking things are more likely to go wrong then work out. I'm sure last season people were saying even worse things about the team, and most were dead wrong. Odds are the Cubs will have at least 3 starters who make 30 plus starts, and even if some guys regress, other guys will have better years then last season. When you have a team as talented as this team, things tend to even out. Rarely do good teams have everything just go wrong due to injuries and major player regession. This team has four good starters, with good depth, that most teams would love to have. Alot of teams would be happy with Gaudin/Heilman or Marshall as their number 5, and would be fine with one of those other guys filling in. It also has 7 hitters who could have 350 plus OBP guys, and 5 hitters who could be 850-900 plus OPS guys, and a bunch of very talented hard throwers in the bullpen. How many teams have what we have? Especially in the NL, so we can try to compare the current roster to last year, and whatever but it doesn't really work out that way. If people would just stop comparing to last year or whatever and just look at the roster, it's pretty damn good.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3866896&name=fantasy_baseball If Heilman actually does have a era around 4.00 in 25 plus starts next year, this will be one of those trades that will work out very well for us. Even if he struggles as a starter in spring training, I still expect him to be a very good 7th or 8th inning reliever.

Wow that thread, brings back bad memories from the Heilman thread earlier today. It just goes to show how people can freak out about a move without giving it a chance. In two years DeRosa went from being a minor upgrade over Neifi Perez, to being a huge loss to this team. You would think that after bashing Hendry so bad, and being wrong, he would get the benefit of the doubt a little more? Oh well, here's some funny comments(without calling anybody out) that were made in the first few pages. I'm sure that thread only got worse the longer it went on.

Zambrano is entering his prime in many people opinions(age 28-31), and Ramirez is still in his. Lee might not be in his prime any longer, and I don't expect him to be a 900 plus OPS guy. But I think it's very possible that last season was just a down year, and is capable of being a 850-860 OPS guy still.

I agree that he probably isn't a 999 OPS guy, but I'm willing to bet that his OPS is alot closer to 900 then 827 next year. When you factor in what he has hit the last two years, and on the road in 05-06. I think there was a payroll problem, before Ricketts took over. But the main reason DeRosa was traded was to give Fontenot 400 plus AB's. Even Crane Kenney said on the radio yesterday that when the Cubs had their meetings, one of the goals was to find more AB's for Fontenot. They did that and were able to cut some salary at the same time.

Yes that is true, but having Soriano healthy for 140-150 games will help that. Derrek Lee is still capable of having a much better season, even though he was pretty subpar the final 5 months. Carlos Zambrano is also capable of having a better year and same goes with Ramirez. Rich Hill, Jon Lieber and Sean Gallagher also had a 4.80s era in 16 starts before we got Harden. So you're taking into count possible regression from Theriot, Soto, Dempster and maybe a few others. But you're not taking into account that Soriano missed 53 games, Lee had his worst season since 2001, and Ramirez was a little worse either. So there is room for improvement with other guys. Sure if other guys stay at the same production or get worse mixed with other guys not being as good there will be some regression. But nobody can really predict what kind of years these guys will have. But usually with teams as talented as the Cubs things tend to even out. So yes they might not win 97 games, but I don't see how this team will be all that worse even if they only win 93 or 94.

\:D/ I love the overreaction. Were doomed, we swapped a crappy back up catcher for a crappy back up catcher, and added a pitcher that will help us in 09, while trading away two players who probably won't. We added a 999 OPS hitter for RF who's hit very well on the road in his career, and replaced Wood with a guy who might allow 2-5 more runs then him next year. We let a 2b who had 900 plus OPS last year(799 career OPS in minors) play more. We traded away Jason Marquis? and we will probably add another starter and bench player. Look at it this way. Added Milton Bradley More Fontenot/Miles lost Edmonds DeRosa Cedeno * Bradley is a stud when he's not on the field and not playing half his home games in horrible hitters park. He's currently healthy, and have passed all the Cubs physical tests(changed his offseason work outs to hopefully keep him healthy as well). He's a upgrade over Edmonds, and more dependable to come through against good pitchers. DeRosa was unlikely to match his 08 numbers, so there was nothing wrong with going with a guy like Fontenot who has done nothing but hit. If for some reason Fontenot isn't as good as we hope, it's not impossible to find a 780 OPS type 2b pretty cheap during the season. Cedeno is a better defender then Miles, but Miles is a much better hitter, especially the last two years. Added Kevin Gregg Aaron Heilman Luis Vizcaino Lost Kerry Wood Bob Howry * Kevin Gregg isn't much worse then Wood result wise, and Heilman was pretty simliar to Wood from 05-07 as well. Vizcaino/Howry is pretty much a draw, but Vizcaino stuff is still good. So I think there's a chance he's much better then Howry was in 08. With Guzman healthy, and Gaudin possibly being in the pen for a full year. There's a good chance the bullpen is better next season. Right now the only issue I have is rotation depth and outfield isn't quite as good with not being able to use DeRosa out there and Marquis in the rotation. But if we add another bench guy, and a starter better then Marquis(doesn't have to be Peavy). I will be happy with the offseason, and feel we have a better team in 2009. But thats just my opinion

We have no clue Blanco would have signed for 750k to stay with the Cubs. Remember with the Cubs, Blanco only will get 120 AB's or so. With the Padres Blanco, could get 250 plus AB's next year, when playing with a poor hitting rookie in Hundley. I think it's very possible(from what I heard) that Blanco was willing to take less money to get more playing time. It's alot easier for Hendry to come out and say we wanted a LH back up catcher, instead of saying we didn't wann pay Blanco 1.5-1.7m to come back. . Bako also had 299 AB's last year, and numbers were worse due to playing too much. Last year Blanco had 120 AB's, Bako numbers after 120 AB's were 258/341/755. Blanco will be 38 this year and hit 292/325/717 in 120 AB's. Blanco and Bako career numbers are also very simliar.

Right now both Looper and Wolf are getting offered 1y at 5m, with incentives. I don't see any way Hendry adds another 5m plus salary for 2010, unless it's Peavy and we get the Ok from Ricketts.

Olson has like number 4 starter potential, he's not going to be a deal breaker. The Cubs just might now have to include Marshall in the deal or get a third team involved.