iowacub

Playing cf is actually easier than playing lf or rf. You just have to have the physical tools to be able to cover some ground and have a strong enough arm to get the ball over the mound in cf. RF in Chicago is a tough position to play so I would assume with Pie coming up that you would want to put Soriano in right (definetly has the tools to do so) and shop for a cf. Either 1) trade jones or 2) you could plattoon him in lf with murton or 3) have jones as your 4th of. If I remember right, Jones' contract was front loaded and the last 2 years are very reasonable and he is terrible against lefties. In a side note, with 3 players locked up long term and Zambrano probably next, I think that I am trading Barrett this offseason unless the Cubs are going to committ long term to him. You have to get something for him and not let him walk after next year.

Love the deal...i have read how fans are upset over 8 years....in 8 years I could be dead....lets win now and spend like the yankees for all I care...Soriano is only 1 of 4 to post 40 hrs, 40 sbs in the same year(Canseco, AROD, and Bonds)...he is the only player ever to post 40 hrs, 40 sbs, and 20 outfield assissts....he earned his money, the cubs have it...now get us some starting pitching and 1 more bat please...

Bruce--loved the article....excellent job and couldn't agree more. I would personally like to see the Cubs get a manager with some fire in his belly, show me as a fan some competitiveness. Too much this season it looks as if the Cubs players' are just going through the motions. Just my two cents..

1)Just heard that as of tonight the Angels have switched gears and are trying to work something out for Soriano....Cubs are still talking to the Angels though but they seem to have hit a stumbling block....not sure what it is.. 2)Ramirez likely will opt out (barring injjury in next 3 months) to get more years and more money..is very Happy with Chicago but wants "market" value. Even if he is traded, it is a high probablity he would re-sign with the Cubs.... 3)The Maddux sweepstakes have heated up and are down to the Dodgers and Padres....with the Dodgers leading the way. I am told that the Cubs are believed to be asking for 1 pitcher and 1 postion player, both from the Las Vegas roster. No information on names... Source is from within the Cubs organization...we are currently in Las Vegas with the AAA Cubs for the weekend series.

i was told the cubs asked for kendric(not sure) or wood, were told no way instead of aybar

i was told that if tejeda is NOT dealt, that is the fall back plan for the Angels..they want tejeda to play 3rd..

the Tejada deal to Anaheim does not fall through. Hearing SS Erik Aybar and P Ervin Santana...Don't post much here but according to a person in the Angels front office it has been discussed. Take it for what its worth...

that is basically the way i understood the trade talks as well...the Cubs were and are not shopping prior like some may think.

Personally, I do not think that the Cubs ever had an "offer" on the table. They asked about Tejeda, Orioles asked for Zambrano. Cubs said no but what about Prior, O's said no, only Zambrano. Names got tossed back and forth but their never was a real "match" for the talks to get super serious. I was told that the White Sox, Red Sox, and Astros have or are preparing their "best offers" for Tejeda over the weekend. Presumably, the O's will probably go after the best offer if they are going to trade Tejeda. Personally, I think that they have to trade him now.

quinton will not be traded...the dbacks are going to rebuild from within and they havve enough minor league positional talent to win the NL West for years to come....byrnes will be the cf for one year while keeping the seat warm for their young ofs.

good point...One thing as fans that we have to remember is that players and teams each have ALOT of money....when you sit these guys down in a room and hash things out egos and a lot of other things get in the way..powerful men with egos sometimes don't make a lot of common sense decisions like we as fans do.

IF he is told that the only way that he can get out of Boston is via Baltimore and that the Sox have explored all possibilities, then I think he would go. If he wants privacy, he'll get it in Baltimore...if he can't, then he should be out of the game.

I have a strong feeling that Baltimore and Boston will make a deal....I heard that their is 22 million dollars difference between manny and clement compared to tejada's contract. If boston agreed to pay half ($11 million) it would be a done deal...pending manny's ok.

On the 6:30 pm update on the Score(I know its the score), they claimed that their sources with the Cubs say that the Cubs have not talked to the Orioles in several days about a trade for Tejeda...however, they do remain very interested in acquiring the SS. Wierd..

My first reaction to this was " what are the Cubs thinking?" But after thinking about it, it might not be a bad idea. It depends on what you get....someone mentioned that Prior may be unhappy here, who knows? But Prior is going to become expensive very fast. At the end of the day, it depends on what you get.