WeGotWood98

Moustakas' contact issue comes in the scouting. He swings at crap and still has trouble with breaking balls. He likes the high fastball too much, and it's an easy pitch to get beat on. How exactly is this different than Vitters? No one's calling Vitters one of the best prospects in baseball for it to start. Then Vitters is bigger, younger, a better athlete...Things I think play into their long term projection. Here's a pretty solid 2011 report that highlights my thoughts on Moustakas: http://projectprospect.com/article/2011/06/09/mike-moustakas-scouting-report Hitting highlights: Defense highlights: Appearance: Overall: I'm just not a fan.

Because there hasn't been any reason for him to. Do you think he wouldn't be capable of doing it? Because he's a really, really good 1B. He's probably capable sure, but it makes no sense to do so. Their OF is doing really well as a group, and with their aging left side of the IF he covers everyone's ass at 1B for the Yankees.

There's no reason for him to say otherwise. Well, it's not unheard of for NL power hitters to insist that they want to still play defense when they're coming up on FA. Fielder has been noticeably blase when pressed about the issue. I wouldn't want to publicly knock the Yankees or Red Sox out of the chase for my FA year either.

He's been there - they're probably giving other guys a chance to perform. I really want to see what Lake does there. So have BJax, Carpenter,Cashner and LeMahieu. I don't really get sending LeMahieu again, unless maybe he's going to work out at 3B with the intention of starting him there next year. I would have rather seen someone like Jae-hoon Ha or Rubi Silva go. That said, the main thing I'd like those two to work on is plate discipline, so maybe it's better they go next year once the running philosophy has been gutted. I'd so much rather LeMahieu become a 2B. The 3B thing should only happen if/when he starts hitting with some power.

Agree that Barney could very well be a starting SS somewhere. I disagree that makes him viable trade bait. I just don't see a team trading for Barney to be a starting SS until they see him play SS at the major league level for awhile, and hopefully that isn't going to happen on the Cubs anytime soon. I should have said that no team will actively search him out, but like many young Cubs he'd be appealing in a package....say for a OF bat or young pitcher.

Agree or disagree: Barney in today's run environment might be a viable starting SS somewhere, and therefore is trade bait this offseason. This is especially true when we have depth at 2B/utility guys I think.

I think he can end up a Marcus Thames-esque power bat off the bench.

I'm saying Prince Fielder is in great shape for his body type and height/weight numbers, yes. There's plenty of skinny people who are in absolutely disgusting shape, and there are plenty of big guys who are far more solid than they are fat. Fielder is one of those guys at this point in his life. Most of those big guys who are more solid than fat will still ridiculous while running. It's not a serious way to judge someone's conditioning. Neither is my eye, but that's for you to say...Personally, I think he's very into his conditioning and his career, and the vast improvements to his body that he's made since his rookie year speaks for that.

Just for the lawl....What're we giving up in this mega deal for Royals prospects? Moustakas is overrated as all heck....I'd do an uber-deal for Hosmer, but the Royals wouldn't.

look at adam dunn What about him? That's a completely different player. Dunn was never someone I'd say was in great shape.

AL East - Red Sox AL Central - Tigers AL West - Rangers AL WC - Yankees NL East - Phillies NL Central - Brewers NL West - Giants NL WC - Braves Tigers beat Yankees Phillies beat up on Giants Red Sox beat Rangers Brewers eke out series against the Braves Tigers beat Red Sox behind power pitching Brewers surprise the Phillies with a patient, powerful lineup and pitching that gets the job done Brewers beat Tigers - Verlander dominates, but it isn't enough.

They're not going to give Prince Fielder the kind of money he'll be getting to play DH/part time 1B. He's a 1B, and those teams that don't need 1B will be in rumors simply to raise the price.

Probably the most interesting group the Cubs have sent in years.

I'll put it another way...I'd prefer to give a 150+ million dollar contract to Pujols/Fielder. Both Upton and Kemp would be a secondary acquisition.

There's the outside shot this might be my first game thread. I think Garza will pitch very well tonight.

Patrick Peterson is the next Darrelle Revis.

K:BB is a personal favorite.

Can't say I'm a big fan of either. The HS bunch next year looks mediocre at best. Nick Williams reminds me of Gerald Williams.

They will in a couple of weeks when their offseason comes around. He's going to have to put some weight on this offseason. At some point, maybe. It'd be pretty sweet if he impressed enough to make the team right out of ST. Good to hear Vitters hits a HR. I miss high K McNutt, and I hope he returns next year.

BJ = Keenen Ivory. More like Marlon.

Bolded - Yet since he'll be entering FA as a CF he'll ask for CF money. The contract could/should easily top 100 million because of that positional value, which I'm sure he and Boras have already thought of. 1 - Upton's a better fielder, better base runner, slightly better base stealer, and is a competent offensive player in his own right. He's a significantly better glove at that IMO, and I have no questions about his ability to man CF in the short and long term. He's one of those gliders who makes it look lazy (which is the new easy since people like to see a good gritty effort). Kemp delivers those good gritty efforts by diving, but they'd be unnecessary if he was a better defensive CF. 2 - Upton plays for a team that consistently overachieves rather than underachieves year in and year out. Not all that significant in today's numbers driven world, but something that I put some value in. 3 - Upton's 2007 wasn't a complete fluke. This was a player, a former #2 overall draft pick and top tier prospect, who was playing up to his true talent level. It was within the realm of possible outcomes. The problem is that after that he hurt his shoulder, and his game got untracked a little. We're seeing his LD% go back to what it was before the shoulder injuries (it's over 18% for the first time since '08), he's working with a BABIP (.272) a good 50 points off of his career BABIP (.324), and he's also playing half his games in a pitchers park in the AL East in a severely diminished run environment (the run environment will also drive Kemp's price up given his season). - Upton is a prime change of scenery candidate. He's hitting .170 at home this year, and that's just the number I'm using. The guy is one of many who absolutely hates playing and hitting in Tropicana Field. The place is truly a dump, and he's one of the players who's let it be known that he thinks so. This isn't about saving money to me at all, at least not in the way you're painting it. It's about getting bang for the buck. I've always wanted the Cubs to be one of those teams who buys low on high end talent if its there. Upton is that kind of player to me. I also just don't buy that Kemp is the kind of player I want to see the Cubs give 100+ million to. He's very good, but it takes more than that for me to want to see my team spend money like that on you. Soriano was a good, even very good, player when we gave him his money. That's not to say that Kemp is going to go Soriano on his big money deal, but as a future/probable COF who'll be getting CF money he'd be off to a good start. No, really I expect that size and power will start taking over his game when he gets his big money contract, and he'll gain big there while dropping his speed and defense. He's a very big dude as it is and that makes him a candidate to lose his CF speed earlier than BJ (and it's already worse). I don't see him as THE GUY, and landing and then paying him would make him just that. I'd much rather give 5/50-60 to Upton than the money and years Kemp will command. I could see Upton throwing up at least a couple .270/.350/.450 seasons in his prime with top of the line CF D and 20+ SBs a season at a good rate. I'd like to get in on that while more desperate teams are throwing their money at Kemp. Hopefully by the time the Cubs are looking for an OF bat they'll have landed another player teams will be desperate for, one of the 1B Pujols or Fielder. Of course with one of those guys Kemp makes a whole lot more sense too...For now my thought is buy the 1B, surround him for home grown and outside bargains, buy a TOR type pitcher or two in the next couple of years, and go from there. So many words.

Fine true enough. OTOH despite that Upton has been the more consistent and well rounded player...throwing in baserunning and defense. Not to mention hes the same age, plays the same position better, has played in the tougher division, has won in that tougher division, and won't be getting franchise money to play a position he's not really suited for in the long term. It's just a more sensible move to me, if they're going to chase a CF bat.

Rhee over McNutt is hard to do, but he's had a strong season. Has he come all the way back from his surgery? The numbers are solid this year, but he hasn't shown McNutts ability to dominate like McNutt did last year. Wells will be up there in time. One of the better sleepers in the system...I expect he'll move slowly but surely through the system as he's got to get in better shape/condition.

Thanks Quakers.

Or maybe in 2013 look at David Wright instead, if Ramirez isn't here.