vance_the_cubs_fan

you'd have written the same thing about ryan harvey and luis montanez a year after they were drafted. So because Montanez and Harvey were busts, Vitters will be too. God, that's freaking ridiculous. And Vitters is performing much better than Harvey a year after he was drafted and better than Montanez as well. And in time we'll see who was the better pick out of Vitters and Wieters. But trying to use the Sabathia trade to justify your position is asinine.

It appears the Rangers are asking MLB to investigate Iona's signing. Link.

Here's an article from MLB.com.

I don't know. I think LaPorta is a better hitter than Wieters, but Wieters adds value from the catcher's spot. It might be a lot closer, but who knows? You have to consider that LaPorta might have been a target of Shapiro's. Wasn't it reported that Hendry wasn't really involved with the CC talks, and Cleveland spurned a different package from the NYY? I know you hate yourself some Vitters, but Weiters might not have changed the equation. i think vitters was the wrong pick for the cubs. the main reason i brought this up was because it was apparent that the indians were looking for a good hitter who could contribute by next year, and wieters would have fix that bill. I think it's too early to judge the Vitters pick. He's hitting and doing what he was expected to do and is still very young. Making picks because you think might need to trade the player a year later is the wrong way to handle the draft. Sure, in hindsight, we could just say if the Cubs had drafted LaPorta instead of Vitters, we could have made this deal. But to look a year ahead and guess that an AL team would be unloading a pitcher is crazy. You didn't like the Vitters pick at the time. You no longer can call Vitters a bust because he's doing what is expected of an 18-yr old prospect even if it is a low A. So, now you're banging this drum. Vitters wasn't a bad pick at the time, and he's not a bad pick now. The deal for Sabathia doesn't change that.

Did they say anything else in detail? The probably just piggy backed the article that was in the Sun-Times.

Bad news. We'll be facing Lincecum again on Sunday.

I don't know. I think LaPorta is a better hitter than Wieters, but Wieters adds value from the catcher's spot. It might be a lot closer, but who knows? You have to consider that LaPorta might have been a target of Shapiro's. Wasn't it reported that Hendry wasn't really involved with the CC talks, and Cleveland spurned a different package from the NYY? I know you hate yourself some Vitters, but Weiters might not have changed the equation. Why not just ask what would be different if we took LaPorta over Vitters?

I don't know. I think LaPorta is a better hitter than Wieters, but Wieters adds value from the catcher's spot. It might be a lot closer, but who knows?

Of course. But Oakland is still in it -- would Beane trade such a piece while still in WC contention? Beane operates on the maxim that you're either all in or all out. If he believes that the A's are all in, he won't trade, but if he believes they are all out, he will. He won't let emotion or fan reaction get in his way. I have no idea where he sees that team. My guess is he'll be all out, but that he may not make that decision for another two weeks or so.

Veal has been inconsistent this year, but he's doing much better than last season. I'd like to see him continue to do well.

If I were an Indians fan, I'd probably like the deal. I would have realized that Sabathia is gone and at least with LaPorta you get a prospect that might make a difference next year.

As much as I want Hudson, I can't mind any source other than the one here that says he's available. The Braves would have to be committed to rebuilding if he's dealt as he's not an impending FA. I'll admit that he would move to the top of my list if he were on the market, but I have doubts that he is. But if he is available, my guess is the Braves would have interest in Pie. I know they have Schaffer in AA, but I think Pie would be a player that would intrigue them. They'd probably want one of Marshall or Gallagher too. Hoffpauir would be a nice throw-in as a replacement if they don't keep Tex. That package might be enough to get the ball rolling if he truly is available. My feeling is he isn't. That means the focus is on either Harden or Burnett. I'd take Harden if that's the case.

Simply not true. LaPorta in the deal made it nearly impossible the Cubs could have matched up with the Indians. The Indians were looking for an offensive player that could fit in the line-up next year. LaPorta has that potential. While the other three players were easily matched, the Cubs couldn't match-up with the centerpiece of the deal.

There is another big name he mentioned that has been discussed here, but he asked me not to say what he told me. He's available and should come very cheap. I like that Harden is available, but it seems like a long shot since a third team would have to be involved. It would be typical for the Brewers to get C.C., the Cards to get Harden, and the Cubs settling for Joe Blanton. Edit: By the way, his mainpage has some stuff on the Cubs/Cards too, but it's mostly the same stuff that he said in the e-mail. I have no doubt that if Harden is the guy Hendry wants, he will make it happen. Besides this is one man's opinion, and not fact, so, who knows the truth. If it's true that Hudson is available, he should be the target.

Grr. Even if he relieves down the road, he needs starter innings to hone his breaking pitch. Plus it's worth seeing how his improvement in stuff his jr year translates as a starter. We'll see about the late summer guys who go to wood bat summer leagues (a la Alex Wilson). I guess they don't plan on signing Gray. :( Not that I expected to, but I would have loved it if we did.

Why would the Blue Jays give away Burnett for close to nothing? That would be a horrible deal for them. They wouldn't be giving him away for nothing. And I guess it all depends on how motivated they are to move him. Some reports are that they are trying to trade him to anyone who will give a young SS in return and the interest is lukewarm. That to me also indicates they aren't happy with Eckstein. This deal allows them to get out of that deal and get the SS they are seeking. We might have to add a better player than Veal or maybe a fourth player. The deal might not fly at all, but I think it could be possible considering the reports that have come out about the Jays unable to stir up interest in Burnett.

For those worrying that the Brewers may make another deal to bolster the bullpen, I wouldn't be so sure of it. The Brewers will now be adding the remaining salary of Sabathia to their payroll which pushes it near if not over 90 million. Maybe the new owner will authorize Melvin to take that higher, but I'm guessing that's close to their spending limit.

I wonder if the Jays would do a deal of Marquis + Cedeno + Veal (or comparable prospect) for Burnett + Eckstein. Eckstein would take Cedeno's place as back-up middle infielder. We'd take on a bad contract in Eckstein, but would unload Marquis's money for next year.

Cashner expected to sign this week. Link

I like Bradley, but I'm not sure where he fits unless we plan to move Fukudome to CF. I don't think his knees can hold out in CF any longer.

I don't think not getting Sabathia has anything to do with Hendry not wanting to go all in. We didn't have the prospect to match the Brewers deciding to use LaPorta in the deal.

We could have topped these scrubs. WOW. We could have topped the throw-ins, but this deal was made with LaPorta...and NO, we could not have matched that. Quit being so melodramatic. It's worse than my nine-year-old niece!

Could the Braves be persuaded to trade Tim Hudson even with him having a couple more years left on that deal?

I'm not counting on Hill for anything. Me neither.

I don't see the A's giving up on the season enough to trade Harden. I'm not impressed enough with Harang and think the Reds would want too much for him. Bedard is being skipped in his next start, and the Mariners asking price is too high there. Burnett is probably the best bet. I think Burnett, Wolf or Maddux is it. I'm not certain Maddux would be much of an improvement. Wolf? I'm not sold on him either. I'd rather take my chances that Burnett goes Rick Sutcliffe in a return to the NL.