NorthsideAvenger

What's to discuss? KC's had an offseason leaps and bounds better than ours. If you were HIGH.

2B isn't the most obvious place for him to move. SS move because of decreased range, 2B still need range. I'm thinking 3B or LF. Regardless, once you move him out of SS, the premium you pay for production at SS is more than you should pay for production at 2B. You don't trade young top 10 pitchers for a guy you might have to move in a couple years. I hate when other people post "I have a source" stuff, but I'll do it anyway. Take it with a grain of salt. I would do the same if I were in your position. I have a source I respect who tells me that Mark Prior absolutely hates everything about the Chicago Cubs organization. It's almost a 100% sure thing that he's leaving as a free agent the very instant he can. You could be looking at Tejada for four years versus Prior for three years. Obviously, I don't know this for sure. Just something to consider. Considering this is a "I have a source" theory, I simply chose to believe that somebody ELSE is putting words into Prior's mouth. I realize Prior (and who wouldn't, right now) could have a legitimate beef with the Cubs, but I simply don't see any evidence to show one or another. And say what you want, but Hendry is a straight shooter, meaning if he was going to trade Prior, he would tell Mark what's going on. But seeing as this is a "I have a source" theory, you can't agree with something, that hasn't been acknowledged. Until, I see proof that Prior does "hate the Cubs organization", I would chalked this up to overzealous creative writing.

Of course. Nothing is unexpected with this organization. Nothing. Winning Can we plz close this thread, now? 40+ pages of JACQUES JONES is more then enough.

I wouldn't say Prior is "inexpensive." He made $3.55 in 2005, and will no-doubt exercise his right to accept arby sooner rather then later. So Prior, IN ESSENCE, is about to become very EXENSIVE, very quickly. Hence the reason, why the Cubs didn't instantly nec. say no to a Abreu for Prior deal, and the reason why Prior's name has popped in Tejada talks. So the question is....who is more desparate for what: the Cubs for more offense or the Orioles for more pitching?

If RosenD'uh has some truth to this....and that the Cubs are considering a Prior for Tejada deal, then a couple of things will happen....the Cubs WILL get Bedard with Tejada. Baltimore ain't getting BOTH Prior and Pie, and expec the Cubs to eat the contract of Tejada's. If the Cubs have to eat the entire contract then my guess would by Tejada/Bedard/Narkakis (sp?) prospect for Prior/Pie. The other thing that comes out of this is that the Cubs may be nearing a deal for a pitcher in the Millwood, Zito, Weaver mold. This deal isn't as bad as some think, but the Cubs needs to get more the a very GOOD, EXPENSIVE SS, for reasonably cheap young pitcher.

The Cubs would have to get somebody ELSE with Delmon Young from the DRays (say Scott Kazmir) to make that trade happen. Felix Hernandez, at his peak, will be JUST as good (not better, just as good), so that would a lateral move. I would want more then Delmon Young or Felix Hernandez (from their respective teams) before I'd consider a Z trade. Cabrera/ARod/Pujols/Santana are the ONLY ones on that list, I would trade Zambrano for, straight up.

Everybody's favorite Tribune comedic writer is BACK at it again, with a brand new edition: Z/Pie/Perez for Tejada...for the love of baseball god....why won't somebody plz hut him up. Millwood/Weaver/Zito would have to be in the Cubs possession before I would even consider trading Zambrano for Tejada. Trading Z for Tejada, and "hoping" to sign Millwood, etc is not very sound.

Yes, the did, and Winn is clearly the better player right now. Which means....Finley is the league's MOST expensive bench player at $7 million. Nonetheless, why did Sabean go after Finley, when Rickey Henderson was still available? At this stage, I would clearly take Rickey Henderson available? What Sabean couldn't convince Devon White, Goodwin and Goodwin (Tom and Curtis) to come play for the Giants? Was the local AARP out for lunch, and Sabean wasn't patient enough? Anybody who EVER consider Sabean a "genius" is borderline nutso.

There is no chance in heck that Boston trades Manny, right now. As somebody on ESPNnews just said---maybe it was Gammons---but you can't trade Manny for ".50 cents on the dollar" type trade. Meaning, right now....seeing as there is nothing sort of "joke offers" on the table for Manny, I don't see Boston JUST giving Manny away. In others words....MANNY WILL BE MANNY.........IN BOSTON.

This means the "highly anticipation arrival of the king of the new Cardinal throne" Anthony Reyes won't be starting the season in St. Louis, not to mention....it gives the rest of the NL Central,a NEW Matt Morris to pound on.

Don't have too much room for Meche, but I still consider taking that trade.

Correct me if I am wrong, BUT wasn't David Ortiz "less then impressivee" when he was with the Twins? Didn't he "blossomed" when he finally left Minny for Boston and with the help of ManRam, formed "BASEBALL'S most fear 1-2 punch" of Ortiz/Ramirez? Don't get me wrong, I don't expect Jones to turn into a MVP Candidate, but is it possible that LEAVING Minny for a more hitter friendly atmosphere, could help Jones become a better player? I mean in Minny the best "power" he played with was Tori Tunter/Justin Morneau/Matt LeCroy/Ortiz, and now in Chicago he will get to hit behind Ramirez and Lee, and excluding Ortiz, Jones never played with the offensive talents of a Aramis Ramirez, and/or Derrick Lee.....till now. I know I will take poopy for this....but I expect a .281/.335/.496 24 hrs/91rbis in Chicago next yr. Now give me the poopy talk!!!

Coco Crisp is my guess. Nah....It'll be Jeremy Reed. OR maybe Torii Hunter.

I hate to go all spaztic on people here, but JUMPIN' JEBUS of YESTERDAY'S NEWS, what the fraud are your problems? I understand 3 yr and $16 mill is WAY TOO MUCH for Jones, but let's face it the Cubs had NOBODY ready to play RF for atleast 3 yrs, and no Carlos Lee, or Cliff Floyd are not RFers. I hate the fact Hendry gave JJ the deal, but...it's not the end-all contract that will destroy the Cubs season. If JJ is used properly, he is worth the contract, the problem is....the Cubs won't know how to use JJ properly. But, I do think keeping Walker now becomes a priority, regardless of Hendry's "ability to catch the ball" theory. Jones WILL BE FINE for the Cubs, the negativity justs bums me out. Seeing as there was no 'trade on the horizon' for a big bat like Dunn/Abreu/Huff (cause the Cubs don't have the parts needed) and the OTHER choice for RF was Juan Encarnacion....who would you rather have? You don't have the info on what players are available, and regardless of what the media says....I highly doubt Tejada, Abreu, and/or Huff are TRULY available. I do think, 3 yrs and $16 mill is abit much, but stop overreacting, cause you people reaction makes me wanna go and watch "Glitter", to which I really don't want to.

If Texas signs Millwood they COULD have a very solid top of the rotation with Millwood/Eaton/Padilla with Dominguez, Wilson, Benoit competing for the final two spots (with Diamond/Danks coming up fast), the Rangers could finally stumble into some good pitching. Or Millwood could be the next Chan Ho Park, complete down to the agent.

That's right and if you read those quotes they both say the Cardinals are still in the running for JJ. :wink: :lol: Yeah, it was a real double whammy - the Cubs get him and we don't! I felt a rush of joy... But you kow Jockerty, he'll end up signing Juan Encarnacion. Cause you know Jockerty doesn't want to play 2nd fiddle in the race for crap. But knowing the superhuman powers that is hidden behind the Cardinal on the front of the jersey....Encarnacion becomes the 2nd coming of Vlad Guerrero

I'm am so glad to know that this board has alot of people who can control the market for certain players. I mean, come on...it's easy to say Wilkerson/Dunn/Huff/Tejada, etc are available but th question is "how available?" I mean, Wilkerson was available, but Soriano's "percieved value" was apparently worth more to Jim Bowden thant what the Cubs could/would offer. You can't blame Hendry if Bowden is an idiot, who's in love with toolsy player. I seriously doubt Dunn was available, period. Huff, who knows if he is available, but I do know...whoever the GM is...he learn from Lemar. Hendry, IMO, is trying to compare "perceived value" a player has (in reference to how much it will take to get him) to "real value" (how much improvement would that said player would bring). I hate to break it down to people but there isn' an impact OF bat available. Abreu is not available to the Cubs, unless Zambrano or Prior is going to Philly. What I am trying to say is....there is NOT ONE OFer who is rumored (excluding Abreu, seeing as he isn't available to the Cubs for less then Z/Prior) to be on the market that is considered an "impact bat." Personally, I'd offr Jacques a 1 yr deal, with a mutal option (with no incentives, b/c we all know Baker loves to get his players to reach their incentives, don't we). If that don't make it happen, then I would try and sign Reggie Sanders to a 2yr deal.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=2936 Talk about adding a "threat" to your bench. I would love the Cubs to sign this cat. Perez (the good one, not Nefti) and Mabry would be a dang good 1-2 option in the late inning.

OH- mein Wort, ist dieses ein neues Tief für Junge Ventilatoren, zum Traum über ein All-Deutsches oder sogar ein ALL-FRENCH von?

(theme to Mission Impossible is now playing)

And maybe Hendry can trick Mark Shapiro into trading Cliff Lee to the Cubs, and then we would have something....

Joan Rivers oh yeah, joan jett. James Jett (that took me a while) James Andrews. Thea Andrews Thea Hackett. she's a character in one of my short stories. Buddy Hackett Buddy Love. bob love Bob Marley jacob marley Jacob Bell Jakob Dylan

I gladly take Preston Wilson at ONE yr deal, especially if the Cubs keep the flexibility and wait till next yr when Cliff Floyd, and Carlos Lee becomes available.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/aggregate?statType=batting&group=9 The Cubs and the Sox HAD VERY SIMILAR offensive seasons. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/aggregate?statType=pitching&season=2005 The White Sox were clearly better then the Cubs in 05, pitching wise, but not significantly better. In other words: anybody who considers Williams a "genius" and Hendry a "idiot" clearly is not using facts. What separated the WSox and the Cubs is the Sox found the "formula" first, that's it....otherwise....Sox and the Cubs were VERY similar in 2005. I'm not knocking the Sox for their great season, but they were a fluke, and most likely they would have finish as badly in 2006, as the RSox did in 05--if the WSox made the playoffs (hence the reason why they went out and got Thome and Vazquez, they are trying to disspell the truth that they are flukes). And I will argue till the end of times that KWilliams is a genius, which he clearly IS NOT.

Why would you want to downgrade at the GM spot? KW is a terrible GM, who got EXTREMELY lucky with his moves last yr. My bet....Javy Vazquez will stink with the Sox. KW is by far a better GM than Jim Hendry. Sure there is some luck involved, but he works with half the payroll that Hendry does. KW is not "by far a better GM than Hendry", he is far luckier. Kenny Williams was consider a crappy GM by the White Sox fans, just now he has a World Series trophy to blind them from the fact that Kenny Williams is still a crappy GM. In the past 3 yrs Hendry has been far "better then Williams." Hendry and the Cubs have been unfortunate with the breaks. I GUARANTEE it, after then end of 2006, White Sox fans will be screaming to get rid of Williams, again.