soapy

If the Cubs got Vidro that would pretty much seal the Walker to whoever deal. IMO, Wash is a little in a corner with the mulitple 2B's so I think that Hendry could get a pretty decent deal here. What I would wonder is, can you hold onto Walker long enough to be sure that Vidro is going to be healthy and/or ready to start the season. If he is, you could then move Walker during Spring Training. The down side being that you're not going to get as much for Walker if everyone knows you are going to trade him. Another option would be to move Walker to the super-sub role he was supposedly signed to two years ago. Play a little corner OF, some 1B, some 2B, some 3B, etc. If he would accept it. That would basically make him a more talented (offensively) John Mabry. Good idea and I'd like to see if Walker could play another postion. Did he play anything other than 2B last year? Didn't Vidro used to play 3rd? He could back up ARam. He played 1B a few games last year when Lee was out. IIRC, when he originally signed, it was to play some 2B, some 1B and some LF. That never happened and he basically ended up platooning with Grudz (until Grudz was injured). If Vidro can play 3B, all the better. One less position for Walker to have to attempt. I'd think he could be servicable as a backup in LF. Not sure he has the arm for RF.

If the Cubs got Vidro that would pretty much seal the Walker to whoever deal. IMO, Wash is a little in a corner with the mulitple 2B's so I think that Hendry could get a pretty decent deal here. What I would wonder is, can you hold onto Walker long enough to be sure that Vidro is going to be healthy and/or ready to start the season. If he is, you could then move Walker during Spring Training. The down side being that you're not going to get as much for Walker if everyone knows you are going to trade him. Another option would be to move Walker to the super-sub role he was supposedly signed to two years ago. Play a little corner OF, some 1B, some 2B, some 3B, etc. If he would accept it. That would basically make him a more talented (offensively) John Mabry.

But after 2 years of decline, what leads you to believe that Jones can rebound (if that's even what you're saying)? One down year would be one thing, but two in a row is a lot more troubling. Sadly, I'd probably prefer Patterson to Wilson or Jones when you consider price, age and potential. That's not to say that Patterson is good, that's just how bad I think Jones and/or Wilson will be.

Williams for Church makes more sense for both sides IMO. It's less of a contract/injury risk for the Nats. Obviously Williams isn't the kind of front line starter that Kerry is (when healthy), but I think he'd be pretty good for them. However, some of the motivation for the Nationals would be to get rid of Vidro to make room for Soriano and Williams for Church doesn't solve that.

:pukel: Awful. Just awful. I predict very bad things for this thread...

They probably told him to quit dragging his feet and he could run faster. Also, keeping his pants from dragging on the ground would help.

Ummmmm....He does realize we don't currently have a RF, right? Unless he considers Patterson or Mabry to be it. Here... we.... go... again.... Where we going? He's referring to how Dusty has dismissed any thought of John Mabry starting anywhere for the Cubs in 2006. And yes, that's actually true. It's also true that our starting RF is Corey Patterson. But hey, we filled our two biggest needs according to Hendry. Yeah, I know it's only December. It bothers me anyway.

That is an absolutely huge gamble to take. One the Cubs should not need to take at all. You have giant question marks at the 6, 7 and 8 spots (not to mention Neifi will be playing instead of Cedeno). Is it possible that lineup would be productive? Yes, but it's unlikely IMO.

Not even God can get Dusty to take Neifi out of the lineup? I'll be damned.

You're right. I've never watched, or even played baseball. How did you guess?

Wilson: 2003 .282/.343/.537 (600 AB) 2004 .248/.315/.391 (202 AB) 2005 .260/.325/.467 (520 AB) Patterson: 2003 .298/.329/.511 (329 AB) 2004 .266/.320/.452 (631 AB) 2005 .215/.254/.348 (451 AB) Patterson outproduced Wilson as recently as 2004 (when Wilson's home park was Coors Field). However, Wilson only had 202 AB that year due to injury. Corey was pretty close to Wilson in 2003. Wilson is five years older. As extremely pissed as I would be if Patterson was in RF to start 2006, I really don't see how Wilson is much of a better option. Corey would be a huge risk because of his 2005, of course. But it's also possible he could bounce back into the .270/.325/.470 range which is probably better (sadly) then what Wilson will provide.

Wow. There are tactiful ways to say that you are still looking to upgrade. Besides, I'm not saying he isn't, I'm saying I have a problem with him saying, “Our two biggest needs in the winter were obviously adding quality people in the bullpen in front of (closer) Ryan Dempster and addressing the largest deficiency we had in the leadoff spot" when there is a huge freaking gaping hole the size of the grand canyon in RF. If he's just posturing, fine. But I'm starting to think he's not. He's already said (allegedly) that Hill and Pie are untouchable. Now he brings in (and overpays for) Pierre and claims (I know, he could be posturing again) that he wants to extend him and signs Rusch to a two year deal. I can't wait until the "we got outbid" excuse comes out in Feb/March after we've wasted millions on the likes of Neifi and Rusch. That will be sweet.

Ummmmm....He does realize we don't currently have a RF, right? Unless he considers Patterson or Mabry to be it. No one considers Mabry the RF. Even Dusty ruled it out. Which means we don't have one. This is true. But being desperate for a RF and acting desperate for one are two different things. If Hendry publicly states he really needs something, he is going to get gouged. Having said that, Wilson or Jones will be our RF in 2006, I fear. Something tells me that other GM's aren't going to be stupid enough to believe that we don't need a RF.

Ummmmm....He does realize we don't currently have a RF, right? Unless he considers Patterson or Mabry to be it. No one considers Mabry the RF. Even Dusty ruled it out. Which means we don't have one.

I'm fairly certain the Cubs will be out of the race if Preston Wilson is the starting RFer. Especially if they still trade Walker (which I believe they will). I really can't believe we're at the point that people are trying to put a positive spin on the Jones/Wilsons of the world.

Ummmmm....He does realize we don't currently have a RF, right? Unless he considers Patterson or Mabry to be it.

PLEASE SPEAK UP! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!

Maybe he's just not that good. That's pretty much the way I see it. Definitely not good enough (offensively) to play RF.

Possibly off topic: Does anyone know the reason for Kotsay's decline in both OBP and SLG last year? He took a significant step down from 2004. 2003 wasn't that outstanding either. Certainly not productive enough for a RFer.

Oh...My...God... I feel like that guy on Airplane that lights himself on fire because he can't listen to Striker talk anymore. I think I'll go ahead and go do that.

Cliff Floyd was a solution to last year's left field problem. Cliff is a left fielder and not a particularly adept one. If the Cubs get Cliff that will mean Murton goes to the bench. If they also get Ecanarcion/Jones that might not be a bad thing at least until Cliff goes on the DL. You may be right. I know Floyd's primarily a LFer. I guess I just keep trying to convince myself that he or Murton can handle RF. Not likely. I think the best bet is probably to hold onto Walker (which won't happen).

I would probably do the deal but I'd REALLY like to keep one of Hill or Williams if at all possible. If not, so be it. However, I'd only do this deal if the Cubs are keeping Walker. The reason being, if they don't, I think Neifi is your starting 2B. Hendry will see Tejada as such an upgrade that he'll let the offense at 2B dip. Tejada + Perez + Jones/Encarnacion/etc. will not be good enough IMO. Tejada + Walker + Jones/Encarnacion/etc. is much better. However, I guess if Walker was dealt for Floyd, that could be interesting: Pierre Murton (will actually be Neifi) Lee Ramirez Tejada Floyd Barrett Neifi (will actually be Murton)

Mench could be a nice platoon partner for him. I can't believe I just said (typed) that. I'm going to go vomit now. I like Mench more than most. I'd use him as more than a platoon player. If I already had him in the fold, I'd certainly wouldn't get Jaqcue Jones to platoon with him. Of course, one might say the same thing about Wilson, but he's not a very good defender, and hasn't been a full-time player, so depth may be better in that instance. It would give you some depth in the OF (assuming for a moment that Dusty would platoon them properly and not just bench Murton outright in favor of Jones/Mench). Having said that, I just can't see Dusty putting J. Jones into a platoon at all.

I really haven't seen Mueller play much 2B. If he's as bad as people are indicating, I can't see Hendry targeting him considering his new found affinity for defense.

Mench could be a nice platoon partner for him. I can't believe I just said (typed) that. I'm going to go vomit now.