Jehrico

Not to hijack the thread but... Zambrano #'s and innings + Boras + Beckett $ = Crazy Huge Contract The Cubs have always been good at keeping the guys they want to keep. The last stud that walked that they really wanted to keep is Maddux. Of course, that's always been easy because there's only been maybe two guys at a time that had fallen into that category during our dismal '90s. Nonetheless, I'm not worried about their ability to keep Zambrano, Prior, Aramis or Lee.

How about the Midwest?

I don't know if I'd put much validity behind the report. Stark and Gammons both work for ESPN, Gammon's comment was probably in reference to Stark's article. Stark has never been a great source for rumors that come true. I can't see, in any circumstances, 23 million being dedicated in one off season to a couple of middle relievers. If it is true, while I think he is overspending, I'm happy to see Hendry turning a team weakness into a strength. Adding Eyre and Howry makes Wuertz better too, as he's likely to not be overused. Same with Williamson, in his first full post-operation season. We'll see how Dempster holds up, he'll get a lot of save opportunities with that pen.

Good catch in Mitre, I knew I was missing someone. That makes yet another pitcher they can trade. I have a feeling we're not going to get rid of some of these excess relievers until we see who flops during ST. I hope I'm wrong, and we're able to get something decent for some of these young guys by the winter meetings.

I was thinking Dotel when I read Howry in a post above as I was typing that. IF Hendry goes after another reliever, Dotel's who I'd like to see him target. Honestly, I think we have enough to form a good bullpen without giving up another draft pick.

Does anyone else think FLA jumped the gun by not seeing how many offers they could round up before the winter meetings? I'm still amazed they jumped that quickly on that offer, which wasn't that great of an offer.

I don't know about that. They signed Renteria clearly hoping for a rebound year. They signed Millar hoping to a return to the 900 OPS range. They clearly had rebound in mind when they got Damon. Ortiz wasn't necessarily a rebound, but they were expecting an emergence after a few years of stagnant mediocrity got him non-tendered in Minnesota. Bellhorn was a cheaper rebound project. I would call both the Clement and Wade Miller signings as hope for a rebound type acquisition. I'm sure they'll try and flip him if they can. But they aren't going to eat all the money and get back nothing. Boston can find value in a guy like Lowell, and part of that value might be hoping for a rebound. They have been that kind of team in the past, but after winning the series, and after being right there with the hated Yanks this year, and with their payroll, I can't see them doing to much of that vs going for the sure things. I could be wrong, but I don't see them fishing for comeback players this year. (no pun intended)

If we acquire another reliever, and if you believe Hendry is looking for another starter, here's our candidates for next years pitching staff: Dempster Eyre to-be-acquired RH RP Ohman Wuertz Novoa (could go back to AAA) Williamson Wellemeyer (does he have any more options?) JVB (could repeat AAA) Rusch Wood Prior Zambrano Maddux Williams to-be-acquired starter That's 16 pitchers, at most we'll start with a 12 man staff, probably only 11. Someone will invariably start the season on the DL and one or two might go to AAA, so we don't necessarily have to trade anyone yet, but if we sign two more guys (Burnett and Howry, please...), then someone has to be on their way out. I'm resigned to the fact we've seen the last of Wellemeyer, Novoa and Williams are strong trade candidates. Williamson is guaranteed a spot in the pen (no trade value, and we just picked up an overpriced option, so he's not going anywhere), as are the obvious candidates of Dempster, Eyre, Wuertz, and Ohman. That only leaves 1-2 more bullpen spots (dependong on 11 or 12 man staff). Hopefully, with all of those options, we can find at least 5 good relievers, and a serviceable mop-up guy.

Maybe they will, but Florida isn't the type of team that can live with a Kerry Wood like contract situation, paying uber millions for an injured pitcher. Josh has never thrown 200 innings, his career high was the 179 from this year, which was also his best season. He's 2 years from free agency, but they might have decided to minimize their risk and get the best they could get now, before paying big arbitration money, and instead of risking he gets injured again this coming season and has less trade value. A team in dire financial straits has a greater need to spread the wealth around when it comes to player contracts. They could have afforded Beckett this season, but perhaps not the following season, and almost certainly not from 2008 on. And whenever you can get rid of that big committment to an underperforming player like Lowell, you do it. They could have done better than Hanley "Boston's next great SS for the last 5 years" Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez. I don't question trading Beckett, considering his health and their finances. But guys like that don't come around very often, and they were in the drivers seat. They didn't even have him on the market that long. Had they kept haggling with teams, seeing what they could have gotten, they could have gotten a better deal by the time the winter meetings rolled around. I don't see a reason for them to have pulled the trigger on this that quickly.

I'm not sure Lowell is useless to a team like Boston. His 2005 numbers were abysmal, but prior to that he was as good or better than Bill Mueller, and, I believe he was better defensively. They could still turn around and deal Lowell to a team desperate for 3B help, especially if they eat some salary. Boston isn't a team to play guys hoping for a rebound year. I bet they flip him to MN for a PTBNL, depending on how much $ they have to pick up in the deal.

AZ might pick up a chunk of that, so he might be had at $6 per, give or take a mil, depending on what AZ got in return. Couple that in with the fact that he's likely to return closer to his career norms (i.e. improve over last year), he could end up being a decent value for the $ yet.

I would guess that Epstein's deputy/Ass't GM (whoever it was) is acting GM until a replacement is named. I'm surprised that whoever it is has the power to make moves like that at this time. He must have gotten special approval on that one from Lucchino. Florida is going to regret this trade for years to come, IMHO.

I think Ramirez > Pie is justified given that Ramirez plays a more valuable position in SS. But Lester > Williams? I'd be willing to buy that if they had comparable playing time in the majors, but Williams has an established track record in the majors and has seen his fair share of success. I think anybody keeping tabs on him knew that, coming into the season, Williams had a ton of personal issues. He was overweight. His mother had died tragically. His father was ill. He still wasn't over all of them by the end of the season, either. Yet, he managed to put up some solid numbers towards the end of the season. But, give him an offseason to get his head together and get himself back into playing shape and I think he could break out in a big way next season. He commands four pitches that range from average to plus. He has playoff experience. He's going to be 24 for all of next season. Lester will be cheaper for longer, but if I'm a GM, I think I would take Williams over Lester. But that's just my preference. Williams is a nice player but Lester is a 21 year old grade A pitching prospect with a very high ceiling. I'm pretty sure if you polled all the GM's in baseball I don't think one would take Williams over Lester. I wouldn't agree with that. How many grade A high-A level pitchers with high ceilings actually come close to reaching their potential? Not many. Williams has a pretty high ceiling, but at least you have an idea where his floor is, which as of right now, is quite a bit better than Lester. Lester's floor is that he could still be a minor league flameout who never reaches the majors, while Williams floor is a serviceable #4 or #5 starter (depending on team) in the majors. Some GMs will put more value into the higher floor, some will put more into the higher ceiling. Basically, what you have, vs what you might get.

No. He'd wear his Adam Dunn Cubs Jersey. Or maybe his ARod Cubs Jersey :D

No. He'd wear his Adam Dunn Cubs Jersey.

LMAO...I didn't know TB claimed him in the expansion draft, then promptly traded him to Philly for....Kevin Stocker....That's about on par with the Lou Brock trade for us.

Isn't this time much more likely, though? No stadium deal, no Burnett, no Penny...I see some parts being sold off as they reload from their system. I agree. Also, I would give up Pie and Williams in a heartbeat to get Beckett. I'd give Pie, pay Lowell's salary, and let them keep Lowell, in exchange for Beckett. Beckett's a special guy that only comes available once in awhile, and the one thing we have plenty of this year is $$. Considering Loria's background, and the Marlins need for $, we should be able to make something happen. As for Lowell, if we can't get a Giles or Dunn type, if we're looking at a Jacque Jones type instead, what about seeing if Lowell can play RF? He's got good enough of an arm and is quick enough, I believe, to pull it off, just not the experience. He was horrible last year, but I think it's likely he'll return to his career norms (or what they were before '05): .345-.350 OBP, 25 HRs, .275 BA? His numbers, like Lee's, could benefit from leaving Pro Player stadium too, so it's not too unrealistic that he could exceed his career norms by a little bit. The Marlins are selling low on Lowell, and are going to lose an elite pitcher in the process. I would love to see Hendry jump in on this action.

Quentin and Vasquez for Williams and CPatt? Do they need a CF? If not, throw in Koronka or someone like that. Koronka showed over the fall he can pitch in Arizona :roll:

He has about as good of control as Randy Johnson had at that stage of his career. I think the Cubs see value in him because they believe, for one reason or another, that at some point, he's going to figure it out like Johnson did, and could eventually be groomed into a pretty darned good closer.

Why would they want an OF with both Podsednik and Pierre at the same time? Seems redundant and stupid. However, I thought most of their moves last season were stupid though...

In that case, I guess we have to hope he clears waivers, then he's ours to keep. Otherwise... I think he'll be bundled in a trade within the next week.

Is that the "you have 10 days to trade him" move? If another team picks him up, he has to stay on their 25 man roster the whole year (either that, or the DL). If he doesn't stick, he gets returned to us, and the team gets a little money out of the deal. that's the rule 5 process, he was talking about designating for assignment, which is defined as removal from the 40 man roster without immediate assignment to a minor league roster. But since he doesn't have the time, isn't he put into the rule 5 pool? He cant refuse the assignment, so I don't think there's anything particular with him being DFA'd. I could be wrong though. The thing that pisses me off the most about this move is we used a 40 man roster spot on him, he did about how we expected last year, now we're dropping him when we could have used him last year to protect Sisco. And Dopirak? Why is he protected? He's obviously not ready to stick on a roster. Sounds like Hendry is going to the opposite extreme after losing Sisco last year.

Is that the "you have 10 days to trade him" move? If another team picks him up, he has to stay on their 25 man roster the whole year (either that, or the DL). If he doesn't stick, he gets returned to us, and the team gets a little money out of the deal.

Is that 11 guaranteed (assuming the option is picked up), or is that max w/ possible incentives?

he may have a lot of appearances but he usually only comes in to face 1 or 2 batters per outing. He averages more than two outs an inning (about .8 innings per appearance last year). I don't think the fact that his manager only uses him to get less than 3 outs per inning waters down the fact he pitched effectively at the end of the season after appearing in over half of the games that season. Keeping an ERA under 3.00 for the month of September after pitching that often throughout the season is quite an accomplishment, IMO. My only fear might be that he could be an injury waiting to happen, with that kind of mileage on his arm.