CUBZ99

Sounds like a negotiating ploy. Let him go to the AL, he could probably get more money and playing some time at DH surely couldn't be a negative.

That may be, but I would want to see some explanation of his theory other than just a blank statement saying that Gathright is better than 3 of the 4 FA's the Cubs are looking at. DexterMorgan makes some good points, from an observer's standpoint, if you told me that Gathright was a better overall option at RF than Abreau, Bradley, Ibanez, and Hermedia, I would think you were an idiot. In regard to where the Cubs stand now, looking at the overall offensive stats and my layman understanding of defensive metrics, I would find it hard to believe that Gathright would even be a better overall option than Fukudome, Pie, or Johnson. Hard to see how this move is an upgrade in any manner.

Did you know that Joey Gathright can jump over a car?

Good signing. You can never have enough CFers on your team and what is not to like about Gathright's career .632 OPS?

Wasn't there an article last year that ranked the Cubs among the top half teams in developing major league talent?

](*,) ](*,) Why do you keep saying this? What makes you believe they need to clear salary to sign Milton Bradley? Don't tell me you believe Muskat article. If her information was actually correct DeRosa would be off the table in trade talks for Peavy(which he wasn't), and Kerry Wood would had been offered arbitration. The payroll currently is at 134m, before agreeing to contracts with Gregg, Wuertz and Cedeno. If we keep all those guys(Wuertz might be gone), the payroll will probably be just above 140m.(possibly 139m if Wuertz is traded) The payroll this year IMO is gonna go beyond 145m, and probably closer to 147m. So that gives us more then enough money to sign Milton Bradley, and backload it to 5-7m the first year. Trading Marquis will just go to a contract we offer Randy Johnson or another pitcher. Just what the Cubs need more backloaded contracts. How about not overpaying for a 3rd CF and a reliever that put up worse numbers than Howry last year? Then the Cubs would have enough money to fill an actual need. Bradley making 2-3m extra in 2010 isn't going to kill us. Overpaying 3rd CF are you kidding me? Please just stop with that junk. I guess you feel comfortable with a career 223 hitter in Pie(who doesn't hit LH pitching well) and Fukudome who hit 217 in the second half as our options in CF and off the bench. First of all Johnson is our 2nd CF right now, and if Fukudome doesn't get it together, he will be our first CF next year. I'm sure Pie will get a chance to take Fukudome job if he's not traded, but I'm not counting on him coming through in this situation. I hate when fans don't realize how important having good depth is. During a 162 game season, guys get hurt, or guys don't perform like their suppose to. When those things happen(they do almost every season), it's nice to have other options to go to. Think back from 04-06, when that happen, and what kinda options we had. It makes no sense to want a guy like Milton Bradley, without good depth on this team. Odds are the guy will start in 100 games, and in games he's playing it's gonna be really nice to have a guy who hits LH pitching really well in his place. As for Cotts, I can understand you're point there. But the guy has a good stuff, he just has been able to put it together besides 2005. I guess the Cubs thought it was worth giving him a 300,000 raise to see if he could have a good season in a free agent year. Fans are well aware of what depth means to a team. Just look at 2006 when D-Lee went down. The problem is that you don't waste $3MM on a guy when you already have 2 CF's on the team and you need to shell out for a RF. I guess the only good thing about this deal is that Hendry didn't go crazy and offer him more than 1 year. BTW I wasn't talking about Cotts in regard to having a worse season than Howry. I was talking about the $2MM they paid to Gaudin. For some reason, some fans have an irrational love for a guy that has been terrible throughout his career. Its funny that some people will argue potential with Gaudin, but in the same breath say that Pie is worthless.

Pie/Fuku in CF? Boy, I'd love to see that combined batting line against lefties. Fukudome actually hit lefties better than rhp last year. Overall, I think the Cubs could live with Fukudome's .359 OBP in CF. Now if Fukudome had crazy splits depending on what hand the pitcher is pitching with I can see a platoon, but he doesn't. And we seriously don't know what the Cubs have in Pie.

](*,) ](*,) Why do you keep saying this? What makes you believe they need to clear salary to sign Milton Bradley? Don't tell me you believe Muskat article. If her information was actually correct DeRosa would be off the table in trade talks for Peavy(which he wasn't), and Kerry Wood would had been offered arbitration. The payroll currently is at 134m, before agreeing to contracts with Gregg, Wuertz and Cedeno. If we keep all those guys(Wuertz might be gone), the payroll will probably be just above 140m.(possibly 139m if Wuertz is traded) The payroll this year IMO is gonna go beyond 145m, and probably closer to 147m. So that gives us more then enough money to sign Milton Bradley, and backload it to 5-7m the first year. Trading Marquis will just go to a contract we offer Randy Johnson or another pitcher. Just what the Cubs need more backloaded contracts. How about not overpaying for a 3rd CF and a reliever that put up worse numbers than Howry last year? Then the Cubs would have enough money to fill an actual need.

Hendry loves to overpay for mediocrity. Why not just let Pie and Fukudome fight it out for the CF job in ST? Hendry is going to end up paying Fukudome $12MM a year to be a bench player. Granted his numbers were not great last year, but he would be an acceptable CF if the Cubs sign Bradley. It's called a platoon, and outfield depth. 3m for a guy who had hit 303/358/778 and 333/399/848 against LH is a good move. Bringing back Johnson was a no brainer, I'm shocked anybody is questioning this move. If you have an unlimited payroll it is a decent move. But then don't complain about not having enough payroll to make a trade for Peavy or needing to move players to sign Bradley. I would much rather have Peavy and/or Bradley than Reed Johnson.

Hendry loves to overpay for mediocrity. Why not just let Pie and Fukudome fight it out for the CF job in ST? Hendry is going to end up paying Fukudome $12MM a year to be a bench player. Granted his numbers were not great last year, but he would be an acceptable CF if the Cubs sign Bradley. :?: I'm guessing stichface was talking about the news that the Cubs are targeting Randy Johnson, and not that they signed Reed Johnson. Also, Reed was good last year and would look good in a platoon with Fukudome. Don't see why his signing is a bad one. You are probably right that he meant Randy. But I'm not a real fan of the Reed Johnson signing. Don't get me wrong, I think he is a decent enough player, but the Cubs are stacked with already signed CF options for next year. $3MM is a lot of money to pay a guy when you have two guys there already signed.

Hendry loves to overpay for mediocrity. Why not just let Pie and Fukudome fight it out for the CF job in ST? Hendry is going to end up paying Fukudome $12MM a year to be a bench player. Granted his numbers were not great last year, but he would be an acceptable CF if the Cubs sign Bradley.

Wasn't D-Cab a good prospect at some point?

where does that even come close to saying the trade is back on? all that is is the opinion of an agent...an opinion that most of have. of course it could heat back up. nothing new there. I don't know. The tribune website has a tease as the title "Cubs may get 2nd shot at Peavy" Maybe this thread can gain steam again and push ahead to 200+ pages...

Now the reports are that the Cubs need to dump salary just to get Bradley. If that is true, there is no way that Peavy will fit under the budget.

LOL Kinda funny how that one never materialized, or even close to it. I wonder if Theriots name was ever mentioned in trade talks. Good thing the Cubs didn't make that trade. Theriot is the 2nd or 3rd best SS in the league and can play multiple positions.

haha, finally a funny comment after 137 pgs.

The Cubs got that Patton kid from the Reds in the Rule 5 draft, they don't need Jake Peavy.

He's worth about 3 more wins than Marquis for 2009, which could easily be made up by getting a real RFer via FA. So there's no need to commit long-term large money to a starting pitcher (rarely a good idea), let alone the prospects as well. And this is easily the best team in the division with only one of those upgrades, no need to do both. If you honestly believe that Peavy is worth 3 more wins than Marquis in 2009, I have some property to sell you. Don't insult someone for analysis and then try to argue that Peavy is barely more valuable than Marquis.

Its a shame if the deal is truly dead. If the reports were accurate regarding the players involved, it should have been a no brainer.

The Cubs have room on the 40 man, I wonder if they will take a flier on a player today.

Surprised to see no news yet today. I understand Hendry's posturing, but there is no way that he lets this deal get away.

Hopefully he has more news to report than last night.

Go all the way to the bottom where a reader responded to the Blog...it's HOOPS.... Where's he been lately? Hoops left the board after a member questioned his integrity or something like that. We should start a "bring hoops back petition" and whatever happened to Mark Peel?

Yeah, my heart's just oozing with sympathy for the guy. Especially considering Hendry was the only GM crazy enough to offer him a 3/$12MM deal at a time when everyone thought it was ridiculous. DeRosa should love Jim Hendry.

Sweaty means that things are heating up!!!