CUBZ99

Garwilly never jokes. Must be real.

http://75.125.185.66/forums/images/smilies/slap.gif I don't agree with Garwilly much, but I know that he doesn't make stuff up. So he must have heard it. Good news for the Cubs.

:( Any internal discussions going on that Cub fans can be excited about? From the way things have gone so far this off season, it appears that Hendry is really restricted as to what he is able to do. They continue to talk about Peavy. :yahoo:

:( Any internal discussions going on that Cub fans can be excited about? From the way things have gone so far this off season, it appears that Hendry is really restricted as to what he is able to do.

Ricketts for Governor?

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jan/07/padres-towers-no-money-for-hoffman/?padres This is the first time in a while, I have felt pretty good about a potential Peavy deal. The fact that Hendry basically has his roster in place, and has spare parts like Pie, Cedeno, Stevens or Wuertz or Guzman or Hart around. Add those guys with Vitters, Castillo, Atkins and others with a third team getting involved we might be able to get something done. Hendry/Towers are pretty good friends, and other then adding a SP pitcher, and getting ride of some spare parts, Hendry offseason is basically done. Making a Peavy deal could get both things done at once. I'm also starting to wonder what the Phillies were really gonna trade to get DeRosa(maybe it wasn't Happ). It's possible that they were planning on giving up simliar talent we got from the Indians, and trading DeRosa was just to get his salary off the books. The fact that we have our RF now, got DeRosa/Marquis salary off the books, and got guys like Gathright/Miles for the bench. That puts us in a better postion to get a Peavy deal done. Depending on how much Bradley salary is backloaded or not, the Cubs payroll is current around the 140m range. Maybe they can get the Padres to take 2m of Vizcaino salary, and trade Wuertz to clear 3-3.5m of more salary. I still think we will have to wait until we know who the knew owner is, but hopefully that comes next week sometime. I don't think Hendry would have made the moves so far, if he didn't believe he would end up with Peavy. Talk about pressure on the new owner, the news so far is that Hendry is waiting for the new owner to get approval to add Peavy's salary for 2010 and beyond. If the new owner is chosen and this deal doesn't happen, most Cub fans are going to believe the commitment to winning isn't there. Kudos to Hendry.

This may be the only time I have ever agreed with Meph.

Is Steve Trachsel available?

Fuld is clutch. Good to see him getting his stroke back.

I'm going to give Bradley the benefit of the doubt. If he can play 100+ games next year and put up the numbers he did as a Ranger, the Cubs are in terrific shape. Whether he can stay healthy or not, we won't know until he gets on the field.

If payroll is really "frozen", they simply don't have the $$$ for that kind of signing New Chicagosports.com article says that Hendry has enough payroll to sign a fifth starter and names Lowe and Pettite as possibilities. Sheets would be a terrific pickup though. Marshall would still get some big innings between Harden and Sheets.

The Cubs could do alot worse than Hendry. Overall, Hendry has done a pretty good job with the club.

When are we going to get some good news this off season? I hope by using the word "obtain" you mean acquire by trade because I really don't see any affordable starting pitchers that would be an upgrade over Marshall. It's not necessarily about being an upgrade over Marshall, it's about allowing him to be in the bullpen and back up Harden. Plus I think there are a couple options through FA that are better than Marshall. Besides Sheets and Lowe? The way that Hendry had to dump Marquis and DeRosa in order to afford Bradley, I don't think the Cubs will have enough money to sign either one.

When are we going to get some good news this off season? I hope by using the word "obtain" you mean acquire by trade because I really don't see any affordable starting pitchers that would be an upgrade over Marshall.

Bradley led the AL in several offensive categories last year, so Hendry did get one of the best RF available. Lets just hope that he can find a way to stay healthy. If not, this will be a terrible deal.

And on that note I'm out for the night. :-)) It was fun Dexter and Kyle, but I really need sleep for work tomorrow.

Then why didn't they give him that contract to begin with? Are you serious? LOL Absolutely. Every team in baseball had a chance to valuate Soriano when he was a free agent. The Cubs presumably valued him more than anyone else, or else someone else would have given him more money. He has no trade value at his current contract. None. Zilch. And its impossible that his value changed due to inflation or the fact that he is improving his career numbers? To say he has no trade value is about as stupid as it gets. No, saying that 6/106 for a 33 year old player whose legs are breaking down is a contract is "as stupid as it gets". It's like you're under the impression that Soriano is likely to perform this way for the next 6 years. If he was 28 years old, okay, maybe. He's 33. Depending on who you listen to, a player's statistical prime is like 25-29 or likr 27-32. Either way, Sorianop is statistically out of his prime and you should expect to see some decline in performance around now. Obviously we don't know for sure when that happens, but it's a GMs job to try and anticipate that. I'll say it again, a 33 year old Soriano with legs that are breaking down is not worth 6/106, and that means he has no trade value. Its pointless to try to argue with someone that believes they know every thing. You refuse to argue with facts or anything other than hyperbole. Also, I've seen enough of your posts to know that you are more intelligent to truly thin that Soriano has zero trade value. Every player always has some trade value. Hyperbole? Please show me whewre I used hyperbole? I'd say the vast majority of people on this board would agree that Soriano has no trade value right now due to his contract. That's just obvious. So Barry Zito has some ttrade value right now? A team would trade players AND agree to take on that whole contract? That's what you just said. Soriano only has trade value if a big chunk of his contract is eaten or if we're taking back a different bloated contract, like the Marquis trade. Zito = Soriano in what world? Zito completely imploded after signing his big contract. Soriano has actually improved on his career numbers. Of course Zito is not worth much, but I would bet that there is some team that would be more than happy to take Zito if SF would agree to eat a big portion of his contract. There are not LF's that put up .876 OPS growing on vines. Annnddd now you're changing your story. I never said anything about Soriano. You said, and I quote That has nothing to do with Soriano. Please explain to me how Zito, with his contract, has trade value. Not to regress from Soriano, but Zito has some value. There is some team that would be more than happy to take Zito if the Giants ate part of his contract. Wasn't Hampton in exactly the same situation?

Then why didn't they give him that contract to begin with? Are you serious? LOL Absolutely. Every team in baseball had a chance to valuate Soriano when he was a free agent. The Cubs presumably valued him more than anyone else, or else someone else would have given him more money. He has no trade value at his current contract. None. Zilch. And its impossible that his value changed due to inflation or the fact that he is improving his career numbers? To say he has no trade value is about as stupid as it gets. No, saying that 6/106 for a 33 year old player whose legs are breaking down is a contract is "as stupid as it gets". It's like you're under the impression that Soriano is likely to perform this way for the next 6 years. If he was 28 years old, okay, maybe. He's 33. Depending on who you listen to, a player's statistical prime is like 25-29 or likr 27-32. Either way, Sorianop is statistically out of his prime and you should expect to see some decline in performance around now. Obviously we don't know for sure when that happens, but it's a GMs job to try and anticipate that. I'll say it again, a 33 year old Soriano with legs that are breaking down is not worth 6/106, and that means he has no trade value. Its pointless to try to argue with someone that believes they know every thing. You refuse to argue with facts or anything other than hyperbole. Also, I've seen enough of your posts to know that you are more intelligent to truly thin that Soriano has zero trade value. Every player always has some trade value. Hyperbole? Please show me whewre I used hyperbole? I'd say the vast majority of people on this board would agree that Soriano has no trade value right now due to his contract. That's just obvious. So Barry Zito has some ttrade value right now? A team would trade players AND agree to take on that whole contract? That's what you just said. Soriano only has trade value if a big chunk of his contract is eaten or if we're taking back a different bloated contract, like the Marquis trade. Zito = Soriano in what world? Zito completely imploded after signing his big contract. Soriano has actually improved on his career numbers. Of course Zito is not worth much, but I would bet that there is some team that would be more than happy to take Zito if SF would agree to eat a big portion of his contract. There are not LF's that put up .876 OPS growing on vines.

Do you honestly believe that? That there's no player in the entire league (or even theoretically possible?) to have a player with a contract so bad no one would take him for free? How do you get "free" out of my post?

Teixeira is not 33, and Soriano is not Ramirez. At the very least, please stop the "stupid" and "ignorant" crap in every post, you are embarassing yourself badly enough as it is. You are exactly right about what they are willing to pay. Two years ago, nobody was willing to pay what the Cubs were willing to pay. The only thing that has changed is that Soriano is two years past his likely prime and the economy is collapsing, so there's utterly no reason to think anybody would be willing to pay that again. :-)) Talk about embarrassing. How about you actually start using facts instead of making "ignorant" statements. Of course the Cubs were willing to pay more, they signed him. Next thing you know, you'll be claiming that grass is green and that the sky is blue. It still doesn't change the fact that to date Soriano has earned his contract and last year exceeded his career numbers. Sure GM's are supposed to anticipate that players might regress, but in the case of DeRosa, he actually improved significantly after he was 32.

Then why didn't they give him that contract to begin with? Are you serious? LOL Absolutely. Every team in baseball had a chance to valuate Soriano when he was a free agent. The Cubs presumably valued him more than anyone else, or else someone else would have given him more money. He has no trade value at his current contract. None. Zilch. And its impossible that his value changed due to inflation or the fact that he is improving his career numbers? To say he has no trade value is about as stupid as it gets. No, saying that 6/106 for a 33 year old player whose legs are breaking down is a contract is "as stupid as it gets". It's like you're under the impression that Soriano is likely to perform this way for the next 6 years. If he was 28 years old, okay, maybe. He's 33. Depending on who you listen to, a player's statistical prime is like 25-29 or likr 27-32. Either way, Sorianop is statistically out of his prime and you should expect to see some decline in performance around now. Obviously we don't know for sure when that happens, but it's a GMs job to try and anticipate that. I'll say it again, a 33 year old Soriano with legs that are breaking down is not worth 6/106, and that means he has no trade value. Its pointless to try to argue with someone that believes they know every thing. You refuse to argue with facts or anything other than hyperbole. Also, I've seen enough of your posts to know that you are more intelligent to truly thin that Soriano has zero trade value. Every player always has some trade value.

Then why didn't they give him that contract to begin with? Are you serious? LOL Absolutely. Every team in baseball had a chance to valuate Soriano when he was a free agent. The Cubs presumably valued him more than anyone else, or else someone else would have given him more money. He has no trade value at his current contract. None. Zilch. And its impossible that his value changed due to inflation or the fact that he is improving his career numbers? To say he has no trade value is about as stupid as it gets. Wait, inflation? Have you seen what's been going on this offseason? Have you not heard about the economy? Adam Dunn is probably only going to get like 2-3 years. I haven't Burrell's name once. Manny is coming off yet another monster season and barely anybody wants to pay him. Outside of what the Yankees are doing, contracts are down, not up. K-Rod just got 3/37 when a year ago Cordero got 5/50. Tex just got a ridiculous contract, or are you not up to date on those things? And as far as Manny goes, we don't have any idea what Manny will get. To claim that nobody wants him is once again an ignorant statement. Its not a matter if anybody wants him, its a matter of how much they are willing to pay. And I'm not great at math, but isn't 3/37MM more per year than 5/50???

I see why you are having such a tough time grasping this. YOU are the one that's NUTS! It is BOSTON that is desperate, not the Cubs! The Cubs would be dealing from a position of strength, and regardless wouldn't be putting Soto or any regular, other than Soriano, in such a package. Most teams wouldn't be willing to give up such an offensive threat, and that makes a deal for Soriano even more attractive. Remember, I didn't say this was GOING to happen, only that it might. But if the Red Sox were indeed willing to see Beltran as a real offensive threat, how much more valuable would Soriano be to them? Are you Alfonso Soriano's mom or something? No, the old timers on this board know who I am, but for your info, I am someone that reads a lot of "lines", and because of my pedigree in the game, I know what needs to be done, and how to get it done. I am also able to read between those "lines", and keep my ears open. Although my contacts in the game are diminishing due to age and health issues, I still have a few of those, too. I'd love to believe you have a clue what you're talking about. Most people here would love to believe Soriano has positive trade value. But most people here live in reality, where it's clear that Soriano's contract was atrocious even when they thought he could stay healthy and play center field. Now that we know he can't do either of those things, the Cubs are stuck paying a superstar salary to a pretty good but declining player who is already more trouble than he's worth. You're talking two different things: Whether I have "clue" or not, and whether Soriano has any trade value. The answer to the latter is YES, how much will be settled like most barters, by what you get in return, WHEN that bartering is finished, not before! We'll see if Boston can get what they are looking for without coming after Soriano. Is that possible? Sure! Not likely, but sure! To the first, I'll debate any portion of the game you or anyone else would care to debate, but I'd hate to embarrass anyone, that's not my thing...but sometimes I have to come close just to get the attention of some of these dolts! You're really not understanding. If Hendry called Theo Epstein and said "You can have Soriano, all you have to do is take on his entire contract", Epstein would say no. Soriano is not even close to being their type of player, and even if he was, they wouldn't want that awful contract. If Boston was really as desperate as you say they are, they would have caved and given Teixeira that extra 15 million or whatever it was. Now you are sounding as ridiculous as you claim that BroLight sounds. Epstien would gladly take Soriano and his contract if he didn't have to give up anything. Its not like the Red Sox are hurting for money and its not like Soriano hasn't earned his contract to this point. It's not aobut earning his contract to this point. It's about whether or not he'll earn the rrest of his contract. You know that perfectly well, and it's the reason why people think the contract is awful. He's basiaclly be making 18 million until he's 39. Not good. I reallllly don't think he'd take Soriano back with that contract. I'm like 99% positive. I mean, think about it signing him as a free agent right now. We all know how Boston builds offenses. When was the last time they spent good money on a non OBP/walk guy? Plus there's his age and the fact that his legs look like they're breaking down. We all know how good the Red Sox usually are with not keeping guys too long and getting locked into many bad contracts. I mean, other than the draft pick they'd hypothetically lose, it's basically like they'd be signing a free agent. You think if Soriano was a free agent right now the Red Sox would give him a 6/106 contract? Forget the fact that he's 33 and showing signs of breaking down physically.... he's just not at all their type of player. They've been successful by avoiding those types of players and fully embracing sabermetrics (I mean, come on, they employ Bill james). So no, I don't see how you can call what I said ridiculous. To me it's ridiculous to think they'd give Soriano 6/106 now. To me that's about as likely as them trying to bring Manny back. Soriano would have been one of the top producing Red Sox last year. I know its popular to dump on Hendry for every move, but you should really try to argue facts instead of hyperbole. An .876 OPS isn't something that teams come by everyday. And yes, if Soriano was a Free Agent some team would pay him at least 6/106MM in the current market.

Then why didn't they give him that contract to begin with? Are you serious? LOL Absolutely. Every team in baseball had a chance to valuate Soriano when he was a free agent. The Cubs presumably valued him more than anyone else, or else someone else would have given him more money. He has no trade value at his current contract. None. Zilch. And its impossible that his value changed due to inflation or the fact that he is improving his career numbers? To say he has no trade value is about as stupid as it gets.

Then why didn't they give him that contract to begin with? Are you serious? LOL