Wheelimus

Seriously guys, this is Kenny "HOLY MOLEY FLEECE THE HELL OUT OF ME! OOOH YEAAAAH!" Williams, I don't think it would be too hard to sell him on a "gold glove caliber defender who will provide near league average production at shortstop". Just TRY to say it with a straight face :lol:

To be honest, if I want to see my fans rattle the pitcher, I want it to be because they're CHEERING the guy at the plate so loud that the pitcher can't think at all. Not because they're jeering the guy out of the ballpark.

Doesn't matter unless we're not one of the 21 or so teams he doesn't have a no trade clause to. He only has a limited one. If he goes someplace he didn't say he wouldn't, he's gone.

I certainly think Alou & Schmidt puts us over the hump and into the wildcard. I mean, I know a lot of people don't like him because he didn't live up to his contract a couple years, isn't a defensive genius in LF and is an idiot on the bases, but come on, he's put up monster numbers. Any guy we can deal for with a .400 + OBP is ideal. Hell, if you can get Dusty to get over his "Dude, speed at the top of the lineup", bat him leadoff :D

Anyone know where Schmidt is likely to fall as far as free agent class? Like how we got screwed over by Clement being under classified and we had to take a lower comp pick. I think giving the Giants better than they'd get in the draft and a good prospect or so would seal the deal. Moises would certainly have use on the team next year as well.

Isn't Schmidt a Free Agent after this season? That and him having a "down" year might drop his trade value. I'm not quite sure we'd have to give up the world to get Schmidt and Alou, if we take on all the money owed including Moises next year.

Dempster would be closer, a closer needs to be able to go back to back days easily, and I hope we can all agree Wood should NOT be doing that. Dempster closer, let Williamson and Wood alternate setting the table for him. Minimal work (and risk for more injury) to both oft-injured players.

Well, at this point if Corey helps us at all this year, it's a bonus. I just think of him like I would a guy on an extended DL stint right now...forget about him this year. Williamson is great to hear, we need him to be able to set the table for Ryan. Wiliamson->Dempster could be a nasty tandum.

All I know is, since Ryan has took over at closer, when they (once in a while) get the game to him in the 9th with the lead, I don't worry about blowing it... Hope he keeps it up...

Well, i'd have no problem taking him off their hands now if the price was cheap, haha, hmm, Glendon Rusch for Johnny Damon :D

Deal for Kearns now, sign Dunn after next season when he's a free agent...or deal for him midseason next year when the Reds are finished (again) and you can get him for just a little better than the draft pick compensation they'd have to settle for if they let him walk :D

Wood is either going to have to fix things (and if it takes MPH off of his pitches, i'm cool with that, i'd rather have a little more control anyway) or just accept he's going to be pitching with pain for what will likely be a relatively short major league career.

1) disagree. Up to now Dempster has been nothing but consistent in the closer role. Everyone blows one now and then, it was his turn. He was brought in to a bad situation and it blew up in his face. It happens. 2) well, he's done nothing transaction wise. They've done a lot of in house tinkering all year. Williamson will be back soon and that will give a shot in the arm. But they could stand to deal for 1 more arm. 3) they were banking on Corey Patterson working all off season to become a leadoff hitter. Didn't pay off. I'm not 100% sold on Hairston either, and he's underperformed since going full time. Right now the only real alternative i'm seeing is Juan Pierre... 4) disagree. We're stacked in starting pitching. Glendon Rusch hasn't done well in the bullpen but has always been quality for the Cubs as a starter. We've got Sergio Mitre. Rich Hill is close to being ready. Etc. And I don't think Prior is the problem. How on earth can you blame Mark for getting beaned with a hit ball? Wood, well, you're preaching to the choir...

So, anyone think that, say, Woody is out 2 weeks, we should think about (at least for this year) moving him to the bullpen to set the table for Ryan? Especially if whoever gets the chance at his spot does well. Edit: and, if we're going to trade him, we'd be better off doing it in the winter, hopefully after letting him establish some sort of value to end this season. Right now, you'd be lucky to get a good prospect without eating major cash.

So, lets assume that the offer was real, and the Reds told the Cubs they'd take those 3 guys for Dunn. Do you counter-offer? Maybe we could get him for just Patterson and Mitre (since it seems the organization values Hill most of all to not even offer him), or maybe even just Mitre and another pitching prospect....

Sometimes I think Timmah from South Park is more likely to break a story than Gammons... And you would sure think if the deal is really this close to going down, no way Hill starts...

Actually, it makes perfect sense to do the deal while The Cubs are in town, especially since Mitre is with the Cubs and all that has to happen is Hill and Patterson report to the Reds minor league affiliate (assuming they don't bring Patterson up quick like)

dunn...Dunn..DUNNNNNnnn (Pun intended) The plot thickens! Will be interesting to see if Hill makes his start tonight

Well, if the person who posted this rumor would be willing to identify their username on these other boards, we'd be able to do some quick research and report back if the person seems to be a common non troll poster on those boards or not. If so, the odds of them just being your average net troll go down, because it isn't common for someone to be a good valued poster at one board and go troll another which pulls posters from the exact same fandom pool. AKA "if he makes a habit of this, people would go back to his usual home and call him on it". Note that if he does this, and things don't pan out, you can't go back and give him crap on his usual board....

37 years old, fairly durable. I have no doubt that Luis has another good season in him. I'd take him back in a heartbeat, so long as the price isn't a top prospect. He's making $10 million this year (so he's owed less than $5 million) with an $11.5 million option next year. No clue if that auto kicks in upon a trade. So, he's owed less than $5 million this season, and $11.5 next. How about this, Cubs trade two decent quality prospects. Nobody at the Dope or Pie level, just two young players who can play a part in the future of Arizona. The Diamondbacks pay $1 million of his salary this season (surely we can come up with $3.? million) and $5 of his salary next season. They get two guys who can help them in the future, and save $6.5 million, about what they'd be out anyway if they just let him walk (surely he has a buyout of that 11.5 option) The Cubs get an elite level offensive threat, at a bargain price of $7.5 million for one and a half seasons. And he doesn't block any of our outfielders of the future. And he also doesn't keep up from also pursuing Adam Dunn if we so please (as Jeromy Burnitz can play center field). How's this for a lineup? Walker Garciaparra Lee Dunn Ramirez Gonzalez Barrett Burnitz

Well, I won't be overly skeptical because I LOVE yapping about trade rumors :lol: Wouldn't be the first time in a fandom that unexpected insider info inspired someone to go new places to spread it, so here's hoping it's true. If not, flame retardent suits are on aisle 5... As to the deal, have to say, I like it. I like it because I accept that, to get a player the quailty of Adam Dunn, you're going ot have to give up something of value. Sergio Mitre was built to pitch in that ballpark, and while I'm high on him as a player, by the time he really got his shot with the Cubs, he'd be about ready to hit free agency anyway. We can afford to lose Sergio Mitre and not be hurt this year or next year, and that's a big deciding factor for me on pulling a trade. Corey Patterson hurts, and I would love to see the Cubs sneak someone else in his place, but he has become expendable due to his ineffectiveness. If I were the Cubs I'd try to keep him, but if it's the choice between him or Adam Dunn, give me Adam Dunn. Rich Hill, ouch. But you knew the Reds were going to ask for a top prospect. It hurts, but it's not someone we can't afford to give up. If I'm the Cubs, I try to get a position player prospect back with Dunn, but if that's a deal breaker, I take it. Adam Dunn's don't come along every day, that perfect combination of power and getting on base if you can't drive it. Just hope Cubs fans realize the unique type of player he is and don't boo him because of his batting average.

IF Corey goes down, reinvents his swing, really learns to read pitchers and only swing at balls he can do something with, he can turn it around. He has all the tools and is young enough. And you know what? He can prove that he's back by owning down in AAA, and working his butt off. Get back up and help the big league club

Surely there is some team who needs a guy off the bench who will claim him... I'm just shocked he's never landed in the AL where he could DH, wouldn't his high OBP be worth a DH spot to somebody? Helloooo A's, are you listening? lol...

Honestly, I hope they keep Grieve and send down a pitcher. Just be honest with Ben and say "we need you to become a PH specialist". The man will get his butt on base at a .350 clip. You don't send that to AAA... Gerut and Hairston's versatility are key here. With Gerut on the team, Jose Macias should never, EVER, get another start. NEVER. Oh, he still will, he just SHOULDN'T. Need to spell an infielder? Hairston can play 2B to rest Walker, play 2B and shift Todd to 1st to rest DLee, of course, to "rest" Neifi (and he should be "resting" by sitting his butt on the bench but that's another thread) you start Ronny. Only position that (thus far) can't be spelled by using JHJ in the equation is 3rd. All in all, regardless, I think I'm going to love this trade. Gerut was hurt during the years he should have broke out. He's not old, so there's no reason he can't rekindle his rookie year. If he can, that'll look damn good down in the order. His minor league numbers and splits seem to indicate that he can be a damn good OBP guy. Just never, EVER, start him against a lefty. And if he's spun (or causes someone else to be spun) in a deal for an impact bat, then I'm all the more for it.

Crazy thought. We know the Reds want to move Randa. Can probably get pitching for him. We know Freels natural position is 3B We know that no matter the question, Aurilia is not the answer. Reds deal Randa, move Freel to 3B, 2B is open. Cubs deal Hairston, Mitre, and a prospect for Dunn... Dunn to LF, Gerut to center (until Corey earns it back)... Just a random thought, not endorsing