CUBZ99

Really? Cause the Padres are in desperate need of OFers, and the Cubs have Pie to offer up. And if Murton isn't foolishly included in a Roberts deal (though he will be), the Cubs would have both Pie and Murton to offer for Greene. After the signing of Fukudome, there is almost zero chance that Pie would be included in any deal.

All of this is incorrect. All of it. Hendry even came out once in 2004 or 2005 and ripped Prior for coming out of a game when "nothing was wrong with him". They waited until 2007 (!) to have his shoulder properly examined and operated on. No, sorry, you're imagining a sentiment that didn't exist. I'm aware you wouldn't be convinced otherwise, especially since Prior is headed out, and I'm not sure what the point would be in debating arbitrary perceptions of a third-party's feelings - however, in all my dealings and with people I've talked to, I've never thought "the front office is sure treating Prior like garbage!" This is just the way some fans interpret the business. In all your dealings? Please share your dealings with the front office of the Cubs in relation Prior. All you have to do is dig up a Paul Sullivan article crica. 2005-2006 regarding Prior. Where would Sullivan and half the radio morons get the "Prior is soft" stuff from if not from Hendry and crew, saying "we can't find anything 'physically' wrong with Mark"? According to Dusty, we still don't know if there was anything physically wrong with Prior.

That is good enough for me to believe it.

Nice signing by Hendry. :D

Can you provide the link to the nikkansports page you're alluding to. Let me see if I can translate better. http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.nikkansports.com/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dnikkan%2Bsports%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26pwst%3D1 My perception is the article is merely stating the Cubs have made the largest offer - 4 or 5 years 60 million. Just IM'd my friend from Japan, who happens to be a Dragon's fan and he said the article states that Fukudome is "probably" going to the Cubs.

Haven't heard that one Bruce are you in Japan following the Fukudome story? :lol:

Maybe Hendry is getting indications that the Cubs are going to lose out on Fukudome and is trying to spin the story, to make him look good if he only gets Roberts.

According to the dudes on the Comcast Sports show a few minutes ago, Dan Plesac said earlier today that he felt Fukudome and Roberts were an "either or proposition" and that the Cubs wouldn't go after both of them. Which led to a discussion of which one would you prefer and a lot of discussion on how much Fuk's Japanese stats should be discounted. I don't like the sound of that. Considering Roberts only makes about $6MM or so this year, I highly doubt that is the case.

ST #s last year: Theriot: 347 .405 .520 Cedeno: 328 .427 .516 Spring Training can be very misleading. It's a small sample size, players are just getting back into the swing of things again, and they're playing against varying skills of pitchers. They can be misleading, but unfortunately, it is the one time where players such as Cedeno have an opportunity to make an impression on the manager and the club.

What's idiotic is not being able to comprehend that the reason people keep using Cedeno's 2006 and Theriot's 2007 stats is because those are the ONLY FULL SEASONS THAT EITHER PLAYER HAS TO COMPARE. It's really not that hard to understand or comprehend. We are not talking about the potential of the two players, we are talking about their production. Who's stats are the top lines? Not Cedeno's. So the animosity is because you think I'm racist or something? I'm not even the ethnicity you are implying! My guess is that many of the people that are saying Cedeno couldn't possibly as be as bad or worse than Neifi Perez(2006), are the same ones saying Cedeno will certainly be better than Theriot. And, Theriot didn't get the SS job last year because he was white or because he was gritty. He got it because when Cedeno and Izturis were struggling he took advantage of his opportunity and had his biggest month of the year. You'll have to excuse me if I don't join in on the Cedeno pity party, because he consistenly blows opportunities that he has been given with the Cubs. In fact, if I remember right, Lou gave Cedeno the first shot to take the SS job from Izturis last year. When Baker gave Cedeno a shot to play in 2006 Cedeno answered with a terrible season and had two ENTIRE months of sub .500 OPS ball. Even during Theriot's worst months this year, he didn't accomplish that feat.

Pretty much anything an agent says is just a ploy to up the ante. My guess is that they want San Diego to get closer to Chicago's offering price and if it did come down to geography, San Diego wins. Agreed. My guess is that Towers is pretty confident that is the case also.

he's a baseball player, not a samurai. Ever been to Japan? Yes. You're focusing on one stereotype when there's a bevvy of others that could just as easily not be applicable. No, I'm focusing on the facts that are applicable. His agent has stated Fukudome is going to take the best financial offer and that geography will only come into play as a tie-breaker. If Hendry shows the man the proper respect (read Money), he'll be a Cub. If he doesn't, he won't. It's as simple as that. http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/20071210-9999-1s10padres.html I don't have much faith in his agent. The guy doesn't seem to know what is going on. Even Rosenthal scooped him on Fukudome's annoucement of his intent to come to the US.

San Diego must be pretty confident that he wants to play for them next year. Otherwise, Towers has a very strange negotiation strategy by making the lowest offer and then pressure the guy to make a decision as soon as possible.

As has been pointed out earlier IMB's post was a joke. If you click the link you get rick rolled. I hope your right about the financial aspect, but I can see why he would be tempted to want to play on the west coast.

Wow, its sad that the thread has sunk to Rick Rollin'. Shouldn't that be an automatic 10 day ban or something?

Hendry doesn't see Fukudome's OBP. All he sees is his left handedness. Untrue. He also sees that he has speed and is Japanese. He can also catch the ball. No, no. "Catch the ball" was two years ago. This year Japanese is in. If Hendry's Cubs ever won the World Series how would he copy himself? It would be like trying to make sense of time-travel movies. How is Japanese in this year? There is hardly any available FA talent available to fill the holes that the Cubs have. It just so happens that Hendry and his scouts determined that Fukudome would be the best fit for the Cubs. If anything, going after a Japanese player in the past for teams has by and far turned out to be a disaster. Can you imagine the Cubs being stradled with the Dice-K contract for a pitcher that barely put up better numbers than Jason Marquis?

Its official now http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/12/08/sports/s212138S91.DTL

I'm guessing he is making it look like he is taking his time so that he will not look like he is disrespecting the Giants when he announces he is coming to the US.

Rosenthal hasn't had a clue this whole offseason. good point

So who is correct? Rosenthal or his agent? His agent sounds like he doesn't have a clue.

Yeah, it doesn't sound good at all. The reports are making it sound like as long as a west coast team's offer is close to the Cubs offer, he would prefer to play on the west coast.

They are saying decision tonight or tomorrow. :lol:

Why in the world would anyone want to get Silva? Especially for the money he is due to make in his new contract. Many were on here complaining about Marquis' 3 21MM contract. Last year Silva was barely better and is rumored to be looking for 4/40MM.

Tim, I don't know if you've seen the latest Sullivan article but there is absolutely zero chance that Cedeno starts at SS next year according to Lou. Lou made a statement to the effect that Theriot is "his guy" and that when opening day comes around Theriot will be playing SS. I think Cedeno is as good as gone or will be viewed as a back up next year.

It must be Gallagher, Murton and Cedeno. Levine made a guarantee that Cedeno was part of the package. I agree with you though. Personally, I don't want to see Gallagher in any trade this offseason.