vance_the_cubs_fan

The truth is we have two options with Wood. One is to keep him for 2007 at 13 million or let him be a FA and try to re-sign him. If we do the second option, we're on equal footing with the other teams. The first option makes little sense, no matter how well he pitches the remainder of the season. While I'm not making this deal tomorrow, I think it would be part of an eventual sale. Furthermore, if Wood looks healthy, the Rangers (or Yankees or Diamondbacks) get maximum value by getting him sooner rather than later. You may be right, but if not Quentin, I'd take Carlos Gonzalez. If we're not going to contend, which we aren't, I keep my youngsters until at least the offseason. Marshall is a keeper for now...we'll determine how long in September. But it is a firesale. I'm not opposed to getting Cabrera or any other mega talent, but I'd wait and make those moves in the fall. Getting and keeping as much young talent now positions the Cubs to have lots of players and prospects to offer in those type of salary cutting moves this fall.

He'll probably trade the wrong guys....probably start with Walker. I don't have a problem trading Walker. He's a FA at season's end, so if we're not contending, he should be traded...as should Maddux, Hairston, Pierre, Mabry, Blanco and anyone else not signed beyond this season.

With our fourth loss in a row, 11th loss of the last 12 games, and 13th out of our last 15...this season is over. Wood's return will not turn it around. Neither will Lee or Prior. While those three might make us respectable, there is too big of a hole and too many teams to pass. The teams that are ahead of us in the division, while they may have holes, they aren't so weak to allow us to pass them. It's time for Hendry to realize that this season is over and begin the firesale early. The earlier the parts are traded, the more value they have. The fans are already tired of this team, so alienating them should not be an issue. Hendry failed to address the main weaknesses of this team in the offseason, so now he must bite the bullet and begin to position this club for the future. Acquiring young talent that can be utilized either with the team or traded next offseason to re-position this team is a must. Here are some hypothetical moves I'd look at. 1. Attempt to trade Kerry Wood to the Rangers for either Danks or Diamond. Wood would have to be convinced to waive his no-trade clause, but might be willing if Rangers' owner Tom Hicks agrees to pick up his 2007 option at 13 million. Danks has struggled this year at AA Frisco while Diamond is doing a little better. I'd prefer Diamond, but either would be a good return on Wood and would add to the young pitchers that the Cubs have in the minors. Acquiring one early would allow the Cubs time to assess whether they would like to keep the player or use in a future trade. I could see the Yankees having interest in Wood. Their talent shelf is pretty barren, but packaging Wood with another player like Walker or Jones could get the Yankees really interested. I'm not sure if Wood would waive his no-trade to go to NY, but like the Rangers, the Boss could pick up the 2007 option. I'd want C.J Henry and Phillip Hughes if I'm dealing with the Yankees, but neither of those guys excite me. 2. Maddux to the Padres for George Kottaras and Brad Barker. The Padres could use another pitcher, especially now with the injury to Woody Williams. Maddux should flourish in Petco and probably wouldn't object to pitching for the Padres. Kottaras would add a nice catching prospect who projects well. Another possible destination for Maddux could be Arizona. I'd want either Quentin or Gonzalez back in any deal with Arizona. A third possible destination could be Oakland. There's no way we'd get Daric Barton from Beane, so I'm not sure what direction I'd pursue here. 3. I'd openly shop Pierre and get as much value as possible. I'd look to hopefully find a team that overvalues him and doesn't look to closely at his current numbers. Packaging him with another player might help maximize his value. 4. I'd trade Williamson to whoever wanted him as well. I'd basically call all 29 teams and let them know he's available and take the best prospect or prospects I could get. 4. Any of Hairston,Rusch, Perez, Jones, and Walker would also be shopped. All of those players will have varying degrees of value across the league. I'd try to find players to build around the core of Lee, Ramirez, Barrett, Murton, and Cedeno. With Prior, Zambrano, Marshall, Guzman, Williams, Ryu, and Hill are the core of the rotation, but not all will be counted on for 2007. The remainder of the season will determine which to keep and which to dump.

Eh....there goes another four in a row. 11 losses out of our last 13. 13 out of the last 15. It's time for the firesale to begin. Lee, Wood, Prior, and Miller cannot fix this mess.

I think Pierre will be among a number of Cubs traded if we don't pull out. The only question is will Jim have the balls to start the firesale early enough to maximize value.

If Baker gets fired, but we never get back into it this year, would you still be interested? Depends on who we hire to replace him.

I'm starting to lose interest and it isn't even the end of May yet. :cry:

This just in----season's over.

I predict we'll only win 12 more games this year.

That's why I typically vote a homer ballot (or ballots...I think I'm over 8000 right now) early on and then refine it as it gets closer.

I'm just glad to finally have healthy Wood.

but it is a positive Jones thread. I mean he is better than average for the NL. that was the whole point and people are still mad. i just dont get it. If he never sees a LH pitcher, he'll do fine. But just as you, and I for that matter, expect Pierre's numbers to be remarkably different by season's end, I also expect that Jones will be worse than average by season's end. If he sits against lefties, he could be an assett. Right now that isn't happening, and I expect that Jones will end the season as a below average RF. That's not hate against Jones; it is what it is, a realistic expectation of what he's going to produce.

wasn't he on 'roids? and he still sucked....even roids couldn't make Sanchez a decent player.

no, not after 20+ pages of anti-Jones sentiment. i need blood in the water. Does that mean I can call you out on saying Pierre will do fine until he does?

i do, and i am waiting. have said all along that Pierre is his own worst enemy and DLee got in his head and freaked him out. He will be joining us soon though. Can you do me a favor and hold off posting Jones's numbers until you're ready to post Pierre's as well?

Sunny, Earlier you were tooting Pierre's horn. Do you have his numbers up to date?

Maybe this will make it easier to trade him in the July fire sale.

Or all the Wang jokes! Yeah...just think what would happen if we had a game we needed to snatch and Wang rises to the occasion.

I don't think a combination of Jesus, Buddah, Yahweh, Mohammed, Hare Chrishna, and Sung Yung Moon could save this season. We're toast.

Wow...I came home from my nephew's baseball game which I had taken my grandmothers to see (his great grandmothers) and started watching what I had TiVoed. Unlike other times, I had stayed away from the computer or radio, so I had no clue how this one would end. Dempster blowing it in the ninth sucked donkey balls is the nicest thing I can say. Ugh!

I agree. If the Cubs want to improve the line-up, they need to make a move that will have a difference after Lee returns. Something that upgrades rigthfield production against lefties is where to look.

Cubs Game Notes

"If the Phillies are ready to deal the All-Star, the Yankees probably wouldn't have to give up much talent -- maybe a couple of Grade B prospects -- in order to get him, because of the size of his contract." The Cubs had better get in on this if that's all it takes. I don't think Abreu could be had for a couple of "b" prospects. Maybe I'm wrong, but during the offseason, they wanted a top-of-the-line starter. Why would things be different now?

I have a feeling Soriano could soon find himself patrolling leftfield for the Yankees now that Matsui is out.

As was speculated on the broadcast, some of that may have been that Roberts bunted for a single late in a game in SD against the Cubs when the Padres already had a 4-run lead and then stole second. His stealing third in this game likely was icing on the cake to Barrett and Barrett likely told him so.