Thursday, May 28, 2009

Nationals Fire Sale Could Benefit Cubs.

Newsday's Ken Davidoff had this to say today on the trade front-

Nick Johnson, or (Josh) Willingham, or (Austin) Kearns, anyone on our roster, if we can make a good baseball trade and improve ourselves, not only for our present but also for our future -- a player that can impact us -- we have to make those kinds of trades."

He also stats that the Nationals are seeking young, athletic players with high ceilings in trades. So what this means for the Cubs is that with Milton Bradley's chances of getting injured, lack of offense until recently, and Aramis being out, the Cubs use another bat in the lineup. This also could effect positions if they acquire an outfielder. Lou talked earlier this week that the unlikely possibility of moving Soriano back to 2nd base (Wow!).

The players listed above do not really help the Cubs anymore than what we really have besides the veteran bat of Nick Johnson. But Ken does say "anyone on our roster" which means guys like Willie Harris, Christian Guzman, and even Adam Dunn could be available and all could interest the Cubs in some way or another.

I am personally in favor of acquiring Adam Dunn just like I was before we landed Milton Bradley this offseason. There are a lot of options for Lou if he gets Dunn and here they are-

1. Trade Lee put Dunn at 1st.
2. Move Soriano to 2b, put Dunn in LF.
3. Put Bradley in CF, put Dunn in RF.

I personally think the Cubs should sacrifice defense for offense for this. What a lineup with Dunn this would be!

1. Soriano LF
2. Theriot SS
3. Bradley CF
4. Dunn RF
5. Lee 1st
6. Soto C
7. Freel 3b
8. Fonty 2b

with Ram back-

1. Soriano LF
2. Theriot SS
3. Dunn RF
4. Aram 3b
5. Bradley CF
6. Lee 1st
7. Soto C
8. Fonty 2b

Wow! What a lineup that would be!

Keep an eye on the Nationals situation, because it could benefit the Cubs!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is fine and dandy except you are taking Fukudome completely out of the lineup, and you quickly have the worst defensive outfield in the league.

Anonymous said...

and Fukudome is where? the best hitter so far into the season..i disagree with you on ur line-ups.. Fukudome is by far the best hitter we have right now....

Tanner said...

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE DUNN IN A CUBS UNI!

cubsfan82 said...

While I do agree that right now Fukudome is our best hitter I want to say that Bradley is overall a better hitter. The lineup I posted is just one of the many Lou could use and the one I would.

I am also fine with Fukudome in CF and Bradley on the bench. Or Fukudome in CF, Bradley in RF, Dunn at 1st, and Lee on the bench. There is so many options for the Cubs with Dunn on this team.

Another thing people have to realize that sometime down the long strech of the season Soriano, Fukudome, Johnson, or Bradley is going to go down for a period of time or need days off.

If you add Dunn you can have the option of resting them without losing production in your lineup.

Anonymous said...

Bradley has not proved anything yet and until he does, Fukudome is the center fielder and currently the best hitter of the team.

Unbelievably 30ish said...

Lee has a no trade clause. He certainly isnt going to the Nationals. Fukudome has a no trade to specific teams, and I guarantee you that the Nationals are at the top of that list.

The Cubs have no money people. Hendry has said repeatedly that his hands are tied by the pending sale. If he had freedom to shop, there would be someone else manning third base, other than our 2B. He would also have stepped in on Peavy, his white whale, when the White Sox were ready to step in. The team you are looking at is the team you will see down the stretch, no matter how badly all Cubs fans wish that were not true.

cubsfan82 said...

Andrew you make some valid points but there are some flawed points as well.

I never said that Lee would be traded to the Nationals. I just said that Lee "could" be traded as a senerio. If the Cubs did trade Lee they would also trade away most of his 26 million due to him over this season and next. That would provide the Cubs with the money to acquire a guy like Adam Dunn who is owed 20 million over the next 2 years.

The Cubs would actually be saving money in a deal that would involve the Cubs getting Dunn and trading Lee.

Derrek Lee has said before that he "may" waive his no trade clause to go to a west coast team but only a west coast team. He already rejected a trade to the O's this offseason. So the no trade protection is an obsticle but not an improbablity.

For example-
Cubs get Adam Dunn and Chone Figgins

Nationals get Jake Fox, Angel Guzman, and Kevin Hart

Angels get Lee and Aaron Miles

This trade could be a possiablity. By implying that this is not possiable is not true.

I also want to add that the Cubs hands are tied at the moment but will not effect everyday needs for the Cubs according to sources. Plus the issue will be resolved by July when Ricketts takes over.