Transmogrified Tiger

There's maybe five, six 2B in the game that are clearly better than Walker. If you want someone better than Todd, you're going to need to get Giles, Utley, Roberts, or the like. Walker is good.

Benjie isn't a wash offensively, it's a pretty huge downgrade. This was the best offensive season of Molina's career, and he wasn't within 40 OPS points of Barrett. It was also the first time in his career he's cracked a .750 OPS, while Barrett has been an .825 OPS guy since he's been here, and is two years younger. Actually, if you want to use the stats objectively (instead of subjectively, as many people here do when they have a point to prove) you would see that, in their careers, Barrett does have a better OPS... .740 to Molina's .704. .036 points. That's not a great deal. Barrett is a higher OPS guy, but hitting in the 7th or 8th spot, I want avg. Not OBP. Hits drive in runs that low in the order. OBP gets you on for a pitcher who gets on base at a .185 clip. Power is basically even. OBP and SLG are pluses for Barrett, no doubt. But, it's fairly even. And, with the defensive upgrade we'd get (a pretty big one, at that) I feel that Molina would be a nice pickup, especially if it netted us a RF and SP. Hey, you are entitled to disagree with me. I'm just not on the NSBB OPS Bandwagon, necessarily. The game is actually more than that. Average actually matters, too... though you'd never know it from around here. Using their career numbers is deceiving because of the age gap and the fact that Barrett is a markedly better hitter than earlier in his career. The power is not basically even. Barrett's consistently has been around a .200 since he's been a Cub, which are much closer to what he's likely to do going forward. The highest IsoP Molina has ever had is around .160, and for his career, which doesn't have nearly the variance as Barrett's does, it's .120. As far as average goes, without sidetracking into a philosophical discussion, I'll disagree that average is more important than OBP or even SLG, no matter the spot in the order. Even then, Barrett and Molina are going to put up similar AVG numbers, and Barrett's going to do so by hitting significantly more extra bases and getting on base more often. I'm not saying Molina is a terrible player, and I'm not completely against the idea of trading Barrett to upgrade elsewhere while signing someone like Molina. But Barrett and Molina aren't similar offensively, Barrett is easily superior in that aspect.

Assuming they were DH's, I'd almost agree with you. Unfortunately for that analysis, though, SS is the most important defensive position in the game. And Lugo is a great defensive SS, no worse than Furcal. I don't know which of those statements is more ludicrous but if you believe either, I can't believe you've ever seen Lugo or Furcal play. I haven't seen either play a ton, and I'd guess not many people have seen enough of both to make an accurate visual assessment, that's why I trust other things. Furcal and Lugo are similar in just about every single fielding metric you can find, with Furcal having a career year defensively last year.

Ahh, the Brewers - everyone's sexy sleeper pick! Although Zambrano is more durable Sheets has been the better pitcher the last two years with WHIP of 0.98 and 1.07 compared to Z's 1.22 and 1.15. I'm not knocking Z - he's awesome but Sheets has been better IMO. Not sure why whip is the only stat you're including. A closer look at the stats shows that Sheets has better control. Thus, the better WHIP. But that's it in favor of Sheets. Let's look at their careers. Big Z: 1.27/.228/3.26 Sheets: 1.22/.258/3.83 That's career WHIP/BAA/ERA. Aside from the nearly idenitcal WHIP, Z has the advantage, and it's a fairly healthy one. Other pertinent stats: Big Z: 7.73 K/9 • 1.97 k/BB • .341 SLG • .656 OPS Sheets: 7.57K/9 • 3.79 k/BB • .417 SLG • .717 OPS Nothing surprising here. Z has the better numbers except for a lopsided advantage for Sheets in K/BB. But Z's OPS against is over .050 better, primarily because when people hit Sheets, they hit Sheets much harder. Factor in the age (24 vs. 27) and the durability, and it seems to me the Z is a prett clear cut winner. Sheets gets hit more often and harder than Z. He gives up more runs and Ks less people, too. Don't get me wrong, he's a great pitcher, but it seems like the only thing he's got on Z is control. You're using career stats however Sheets has made a huge step forward in the last 2 years. If Sheets puts up a full year of baseball next year I think it's probable he puts up better numbers than Z. My post "I'm not knocking Z - he's awesome but Sheets has been better IMO." was misleading. Isn't that unfair to Z since he's several years younger and still has those years to "step forward"? He's outperformed Sheets to date at a younger age, that means he's been better.

Assuming they were DH's, I'd almost agree with you. Unfortunately for that analysis, though, SS is the most important defensive position in the game. And Lugo is a great defensive SS, no worse than Furcal.

IsoP = SLG-AVG It's a true measure of power as it removes singles. If 2 guys have a .400 SLG, and one hits .300 and the other .200, who has more power? The .200 hitter, since he gets the same amount of TB in fewer hits. IsoP shows that.

Just let Wilson play right. No need for a platoon if he's going to outproduce the partner. Or sign the habitual stop-gap (Sanders). At this stage, both Gibbons and Wilson are scheduled to start in RF for both clubs. Tracy doesn't like Wilson though, he doesn't fit into Tracyball. He probably won't get non-tendered, but I'd be surprised if he wasn't available, or even being shopped.

Just let Wilson play right. No need for a platoon if he's going to outproduce the partner.

Only problem is, this isn't a new rumor or a new offer made by Hendry. It is one that has been on the table for a while and has yet to be accepted by Tampa Bay while they hold out for something better. So don't expect anything to happen on this front soon because there is no reason for either team to do anything quite yet. They are still waiting for the other person to blink. However, if the deal does happen, whenever it happens, I will be a happy Cubs fan. Exactly. It's apparently been on the table for a good week now, so that must mean he was right--Tampa is holding out for Hill, and Hendry won't cave. I don't know, if you're Hendry and you have to choose between Guzman and Hill, it's really a 50-50 crap shoot, isn't it? Guzman would seem to have the higher ceiling, but Hill seems ready to help right now. We're in such a tough spot for RF facing alternatives like Jones, I think Hendry needs to blink as you put it and give Tampa the pitcher they want. Our need for that outfielder is greater than our need to choose between two pitching prospects, IMO. He could be waiting until the non-tender deadline to see if someone like Craig Wilson or even the aforementioned Gibbons becomes available, before deciding to up the ante for Huff. I'd rather have Wilson and Gibbons. For me, it's Wilson > Huff > Gibbons, but my preference depends on the cost of each.

Benjie isn't a wash offensively, it's a pretty huge downgrade. This was the best offensive season of Molina's career, and he wasn't within 40 OPS points of Barrett. It was also the first time in his career he's cracked a .750 OPS, while Barrett has been an .825 OPS guy since he's been here, and is two years younger.

Pie and Dope being the other two?

Only problem is, this isn't a new rumor or a new offer made by Hendry. It is one that has been on the table for a while and has yet to be accepted by Tampa Bay while they hold out for something better. So don't expect anything to happen on this front soon because there is no reason for either team to do anything quite yet. They are still waiting for the other person to blink. However, if the deal does happen, whenever it happens, I will be a happy Cubs fan. Exactly. It's apparently been on the table for a good week now, so that must mean he was right--Tampa is holding out for Hill, and Hendry won't cave. I don't know, if you're Hendry and you have to choose between Guzman and Hill, it's really a 50-50 crap shoot, isn't it? Guzman would seem to have the higher ceiling, but Hill seems ready to help right now. We're in such a tough spot for RF facing alternatives like Jones, I think Hendry needs to blink as you put it and give Tampa the pitcher they want. Our need for that outfielder is greater than our need to choose between two pitching prospects, IMO. He could be waiting until the non-tender deadline to see if someone like Craig Wilson or even the aforementioned Gibbons becomes available, before deciding to up the ante for Huff.

You get to choose after Cadillac's 23 yard performance? That's a nice luxury.

I'd give Gonzalez an NRI, but considering his age, health, and production when he has been healthy, I don't think we can think of him as a guy who will produce, even if healthy. By my count, Ordonez still has 4/60 left on his deal, so half would be 7.5M per.

Certainly seems to me that the Rangers would be more willing to trade Dellucci than either Mench or Wilkerson so this could be doable, but what evidence is there that shows Blasko has any trade value at this moment? Blasko really isn't that important, he's a high risk guy with potential, who in addition with a mid-level prospect from Texas, makes a good package for Kennedy. Anaheim doesn't have great pitching depth in the minor leagues, so since they're getting rid of their excess in Kennedy, Blasko is a good risk to take, especially since they're getting another pitcher(albeit probably a lower ceiling/higher floor guy) from Texas.

Here's a quick thought I was just bouncing around. Cubs send: Walker and Blasko Cubs get: Dellucci and Kennedy Rangers send: Dellucci and a mid level pitching prospect Rangers get: Walker Angels send: Adam Kennedy Angels get: Rangers prospect and Blasko The Rangers may not be ready to go with Kinsler at a middle infield spot, but Daniels is a smart guy. Dellucci + a mid level prospect for Walker is an upgrade talent wise, and he also isn't forced to rush Kinsler if he doesn't have to, and doesn't use anything he will likely need to deal for other needs. The Angels have a glut in the middle infield, this allows them to get a little pitching for Kennedy, who's an impending FA and has been rumored to be traded for some time. The Cubs lose some slugging going down from Walker to Kennedy, but some of it is made up in defensive upgrade. They throw in a pitcher with good stuff but injury troubles(I know, a rarity in our system) and also get Dellucci, who is a decent OF. It doesn't preclude the Cubs from still upgrading in the OF, since they haven't given up from their pitching strength, and Dellucci has good/great platoon splits if they choose to pursue that route.

He walked a ton at the Major League level last year, but he really didn't walk a ton of guys at AA and especially AAA. I think that's why the home runs went up, becuase he's made some adjustment to be around the plate more. Looking at his career, before this year he walked an insane amount of hitters, and didn't give up very many HR. Last year, he walked guys at a pretty reasonable rate, and gave up a bunch of HR. Seems to me that it's almost like an either/or with the BB and HR, not both.

But don't you question his mental toughness? I do. I did when he was here also. I say been there, done that. That baseball to the head knocked the mental toughness into him. Seriously though, starting pitching should be considered after we fill the incomprehensibly void black hole in RF.

A platoon would be better than some of the options, but not Hairston. Rondell White, Craig Wilson, and David Dellucci among others are some options if you are unable to get a big stick in RF.

Wouldnt these just be two or three separate trades. The deal between SEA and BOS have no effect on our deal between SEA and PHI. I think this is highly unlikely, but interesting to consider. It has an effect. If Seattle doesn't trade Reed, then there's no reason for them to take Patterson.

Murton could barely put up a .190 IsoP in college, and aside from his brief MLB stint, hasn't been within 35-40 points of that mark in his professional career. I don't think it's very feasible for him to make that jump in power. IMO, his best bet for higher production is continued luck/ability with Balls in play combined with a boost in power. Something like .300/.360/.450. You make very good points, but I'd be interested to see something on minor league power numbers vs. major league ones. Murton hit for much more power in a limited sample size, but just how abnormal is that? Plenty of young players have come into the league and had an increase in power numbers Bay and Sizemore stick out. Plenty others have been able to at least maintain their minor league power production. Despite the fact that the pitching is much better at the major league level, I believe that it is strongly possible that HR power (and maybe XBHs as a whole) is easier to come by at the ML level than it is in the majority of minor leagues. Maybe I'm being overly optimistic, but I think Murton playing 40 games with the wind blowing out in Wrigley, 8 in MMP, 8 in GABP, 8 in Miller, and a few games Colorado, Philly, Cleveland will enable him to hit for more power than he showed in cavernous parks in the Florida State and Southern Leagues. That's certainly possible, and Murton's been rumored to put on a BP show, so it's not like he's without potential to hit for power. My point is just to temper some of the expectations with Murton. If he does improve on his past IsoP numbers, fantastic, but it shouldn't surprise anyone in the slightest if he doesn't.

As a Cleveland fan I wouldn't want that trade. Marte is an absolute beast. He alone is worth more than Crisp, and you get Mota to take Howry's spot in the pen. It's a steal for the Tribe. Marten hasn't proven anything yet at the big-league level. Coco has? And are you honestly even beginning to compare Mota to Howry? I said Mota was going to take Howry's spot, not that he was similar to him. Crisp has put up some good numbers, but he's probably not going to get a whole lot better. His ceiling is that of a pretty good offensive CF or a subpar offensive LF with good defense. Marte has the chance(as well as the likelihood) of being much better than that. If I had to guess who would produce more this year, I'd probably put my money on Marte.

Apparently that package for making the NC game, including a PSP, Madden '06, and a Rose Bowl watch, wasn't quite enough for some.

Several sources have speculated 36-38 million over 4 years.

I happened upon a link to this site since they sponsored B.J. Ryan's baseball reference page. It only went live recently, but it looks very promising. It's got some good stuff for major and minor league players that I haven't been able to find elsewhere, like BABIP, RC, and SecA for hitters, and some fielding independent pitching stats.