CuseCubFan69

Gammons just said that he wouldn't make the Tejada for Prior deal because Prior is an injury risk. They also mentioned (Gammy + Phillips) on how great Bedyard (sp) is. Isn't he older than Prior?

I don't think that Hendry is creative enough to go to the Yanks and ask about ARod. This one dimentional thinking by Hendry will continue to plague the Cubs for years. Yeah I like Tejada but ARod is the best out there and if he is available I think it would be worth it to see if it could be worked out. Florida wouldn't be the right fit because of their current salary dump so Miggy is out of the question regarding Prior. Pujols is the base of the Cards so I don't see that happening.

So you're giving all the positives of Zito and then describing Prior only as a guy who hasn't pitched a full season. I don't get the point. Are we talking about some third rate middle relief prospect coming of back to back tommy john surgeries? Are we talking about a 20 year old starting pitcher? Zito- full package Prior- full package The majority of baseball would value Prior higher. I'd rather have Prior however I don't think it's crazy to value Zito more. Zito has proven to be a durable effective pitcher. Especially if a GM has a lefty fetish.

That reminds me, I wonder why no one has picked up the versatile Macias.

im much more amenable to trade guys like pie for tejada now that prior's name has been thrown around Begin Rant: Now that you bring that up I'm thinking that Hendry does have a plan this offseason. When he signed Eyre I thought it was a bad idea. When he traded Pinto, Nolasco, and Mitre for Pierre I thought to myself "dang, the Eyre signing doesn't look so bad now." Then he goes out and proclaims he's excited that Jacque Jones is going to be our starting RF for the next three years. At this point I'm saying to myself "Gee, I'm actually kind of glad we have Pierre now and that Eyre signing looks like a bargain." Just a few days later Hendry "leaks" news that he's using Prior as trade bait to try and get Tejada. By now a kick in the craw and a can of Natty Light sound pretty good. If we only end up losing Pie, Hill, Williams, and Guzman for Tejada we'll think it's the biggest steal since D.B. Cooper's heist. It's pure genius. Just keep making progressively worse and worse deals and your previous transactions look better and better. Eventually Cubs fans will be dancing in the street because we have Neifi Perez locked up for a few million a year. End Rant. Good point. I just mentioned in another thread that the Hedry Propaganda machine may also be adding the Prior doesn't want to be here thought in case Mark is traded. But this isn't some public report, it's JeffH's "source". True....but it's here now. :D See how tricky Hendry is?

im much more amenable to trade guys like pie for tejada now that prior's name has been thrown around Begin Rant: Now that you bring that up I'm thinking that Hendry does have a plan this offseason. When he signed Eyre I thought it was a bad idea. When he traded Pinto, Nolasco, and Mitre for Pierre I thought to myself "dang, the Eyre signing doesn't look so bad now." Then he goes out and proclaims he's excited that Jacque Jones is going to be our starting RF for the next three years. At this point I'm saying to myself "Gee, I'm actually kind of glad we have Pierre now and that Eyre signing looks like a bargain." Just a few days later Hendry "leaks" news that he's using Prior as trade bait to try and get Tejada. By now a kick in the craw and a can of Natty Light sound pretty good. If we only end up losing Pie, Hill, Williams, and Guzman for Tejada we'll think it's the biggest steal since D.B. Cooper's heist. It's pure genius. Just keep making progressively worse and worse deals and your previous transactions look better and better. Eventually Cubs fans will be dancing in the street because we have Neifi Perez locked up for a few million a year. End Rant. Good point. I just mentioned in another thread that the Hedry Propaganda machine may also be adding the Prior doesn't want to be here thought in case Mark is traded.

2B isn't the most obvious place for him to move. SS move because of decreased range, 2B still need range. I'm thinking 3B or LF. Regardless, once you move him out of SS, the premium you pay for production at SS is more than you should pay for production at 2B. You don't trade young top 10 pitchers for a guy you might have to move in a couple years. I hate when other people post "I have a source" stuff, but I'll do it anyway. Take it with a grain of salt. I would do the same if I were in your position. I have a source I respect who tells me that Mark Prior absolutely hates everything about the Chicago Cubs organization. It's almost a 100% sure thing that he's leaving as a free agent the very instant he can. You could be looking at Tejada for four years versus Prior for three years. Obviously, I don't know this for sure. Just something to consider. What's the problem he can't going surfing in April in Chicago?? I wouldn't be surprised if he wants to head back home to SoCal. The Cubs should just move the franchise to Long Beach. :x It does seem he always wanted to play for SD...at least in my head anyway. Maybe this is just that famous Hendry propaganda machine to get us to dislike Prior like he did with Sosa. Ah. Is he from San Diego then?? I thought he grew up closer to LA. SD makes lots of sense for any pitcher given the park. I don't remember where he's from, I just pictured SD for some reason. I'm sure either team would be fine with him but given the realtionship between the Cubs GM and the LA GM I don't see anything happening there anytime soon.

2B isn't the most obvious place for him to move. SS move because of decreased range, 2B still need range. I'm thinking 3B or LF. Regardless, once you move him out of SS, the premium you pay for production at SS is more than you should pay for production at 2B. You don't trade young top 10 pitchers for a guy you might have to move in a couple years. I hate when other people post "I have a source" stuff, but I'll do it anyway. Take it with a grain of salt. I would do the same if I were in your position. I have a source I respect who tells me that Mark Prior absolutely hates everything about the Chicago Cubs organization. It's almost a 100% sure thing that he's leaving as a free agent the very instant he can. You could be looking at Tejada for four years versus Prior for three years. Obviously, I don't know this for sure. Just something to consider. What's the problem he can't going surfing in April in Chicago?? I wouldn't be surprised if he wants to head back home to SoCal. The Cubs should just move the franchise to Long Beach. :x It does seem he always wanted to play for SD...at least in my head anyway. Maybe this is just that famous Hendry propaganda machine to get us to dislike Prior like he did with Sosa.

So the Twins trade Jones for White. I'm curious on how this will turn out.

I raised both. I have to agree that Prior may have something against this organization. I often wondered if it started when the Cubs waited to call him up thus setting his free agency back a year. Of course it could be the way the team has gotten worse since 2003 or both.

Not any more! Wow that's true. Toronto has a #2 making 11 for 5 years. Yeah, but just because they did it doesn't mean the Cubs should. Zito isn't worth that much. Like I said, Zito could easily have an ERA in the high 3's low-to-mid 4's for the next 4 years. I don't want to be locked into that for that long for that much. I'd rather keep Bedard, who has the upside to be at least that good. I agree raw but who knows what's going on in Hendry's mind right now.

Exactly why this is disturbing. I know there were several people that wanted us to grab Tejada during the FA period and Hendry made improvements elsewhere. Well, here we are about to give up one of our best pitchers for the same guy we could have had. IMO that's where Hendry lacks the true vison to be a successful GM. He should have seen what many of us saw coming and there is no reason to have painted himself inot a corner like this. But......he did and I'm hoping he has learned from that but I doubt it and he will continue to rob Peter to pay Paul.

So who is pitching first...Clemens (May 1st) or Wood?

Not any more! Wow that's true. Toronto has a #2 making 11 for 5 years.

I heard on Tuesday that AZ was looking to move Glaus in the next 48 hours and Anaheim looked like the likely destination. The Angels need a 3B? I don't understand why they didn't push for Nomar then.

We better be getting Manny AND Tejada then... Manny AND Tejada? World Series here come the Cubbies =P~ That would be nice but since Boston doesn't have a SS I would think Tejada would be going there.

Bedard isn't really all that impressive either. He's 3 years older than Jerome Williams, and his major league numbers aren't any better. He does have a nice minor league record, but is it any better than Rich Hill's? Probably a little. But seriously, if Bedard, Hill and Williams battle for a spot, do you see a clear-cut distinction? If I'm dealing a pre peak, pre free agency, top ten pitcher, and getting back a post-peak top 10 position player, I need more than a Bedard to sweeten the pot. My point is that this isn't Smith for Schiraldi and Nipper. It's a fairly equitable talent exchange. Foolish or not, it would be a really ballsy move that would completely change the look of the franchise. I don't think I'd have the stones to do it. It would be a gutsy move by both teams or a 3rd if that's what this gets into. I wonder if Hendry is feeling some heat right now because he didn't get the RF of his choice?

Boston needs to make a big splash right now with the Damon thing blowing up in their face....this should be interesting.

Zambrano is, but Prior is not. When did Prior leave Boras? I could have sworn Prior didn't have Boras as his agent. Let me do some digging. Boggs has been his agent from the get go. The sex crazed chicken eater?

They aren't even at free agency yet. Sign them to 3-year deals now. If you can give 3/15 to Jones you can give 3/30 to both of these guys. I wouldn't do that if I were them (Prior+Z)....not with the money that is being thrown around this off season unless they REALLY want to remain in Chicago. I think it would be a very good idea for Hendry to do just what you said though...at least try. Why wouldn't you do it? Zambrano won't reach free agency for 2 years, Prior, for 3. Neither will come close to making $10m this year. They might get $8-10 in 2007 on arbitration, if they have great 2006 seasons. So, you offer them deals that pay them $7m in 2006 (more than they'd be expecting). In 2007 they'd be guaranteed $11m, and in 2008 they'd get $12m. Zambrano would possibly get more than that in 2008, his first year of free agency. But he'd be making more now and getting security. It's a no-brainer for Prior, he's not giving up any free agency time. Why would the Cubs do this? To save money in case of a crazy arbitrater? I'd try to lock them up a little past free agency so both sides are giving a little bit.

Zambrano is, but Prior is not. When did Prior leave Boras?

The Wood contract was handed out knowing that Wood has an established history of injuries and that there was a good chance that he would see time on the DL during that contract. Sosa, on the other hand, had so much going into that contract and the way it all played out that I really don't think many people saw it coming, especially given how the last offseason went. Personally, I wanted to trade Sosa while his value was at its highest, but that's in the past. Also, if they don't want to remain in Chicago, then I would hope that the myth of players wanting to play for Dusty Baker since he's such a great player's manager would be shattered once and for all. If he can't keep his top two aces happy, then who the heck does he keep happy? Is it just the crappy washed up veterans who had no value to begin with? This team better not give The Maddux Treatment to Prior or Zambrano, or else I seriously will give thought to giving up on the Cubs. I haven't boiught the Baker Boy myth since he's been here. He has proved to do just that...overplay the mediocre and that's his veteran love he gets. I am curious on how Prior and Z feel about Johnny B, my money says it's been lip service for the press and that's about it.

They aren't even at free agency yet. Sign them to 3-year deals now. If you can give 3/15 to Jones you can give 3/30 to both of these guys. I wouldn't do that if I were them (Prior+Z)....not with the money that is being thrown around this off season unless they REALLY want to remain in Chicago. I think it would be a very good idea for Hendry to do just what you said though...at least try. Let me also add that the Cubs would be taking on a 12 salary with Tejada. That has to come out of somewhere.

BINGO I don't advacate the trading of Z or Prior, but that is a very realistic point. Remember not trading Sammy in 01 I think? Big mistake. Hindsight is always 20/20. That is seriously financial irresponsibility on the Cubs' behalf, especially considering the contracts they just handed out to Jock, Eyre, and Howry. I don't think so. They were burned on the Sosa and Wood contracts and handing out a long term deals to both of those pitchers may scare the heck out them. Burnett just got a 5/55 and both of these guys are going to get bigger deals then this. Also, who really knows if Prior or Z really want to remain in Chicago? I'm not sayin they don't but I have no idea how they really feel about playing there.

It'll cost you a $9m and a $3-4m pitcher to make up for the loss. So Juan Guzman and Danny Jackson will work out perfectly. I'm just simply thinking that the Cubs may be on this train of thought.