Thursday, June 17, 2010

Lots of Talk....

UPDATES!- CSNNE.COM is reporting that the Cubs approached the Red Sox about trading them Fukudome. The Red Sox did not engage talks or talk players but with the Cubs willing to eat 13 million of the 26 million left on his contract they could get the Red Sox (or another team) to take on Fukudome.

The Mets are looking for a
top of the rotation starter and according to sources are interested in Ted Lilly and Ryan Dempster. One of the sources said the Mets have already had "some talks" with the Cubs about both starters.

In other news the Cubs have come to terms with first round draft pick Hayden Simpson.

- Ryne Sandberg might make it to the big leagues soon but it might not be with the Chicago Cubs. Sandberg told the Des Moines Register that he has enjoyed climbing up the ladder in the Cubs organization and his ultimate goal is to manage in the big leagues and hopes to get “chance with someone” soon. Former Chicago Cubs team president Andy MacPhail is looking for a long term managing solution in Baltimore for the recently fired Dave Trembley. So far no call has been made to Ryne but he said he would listen if he did call. A lot of Cub fans just assumed that Ryne Sandberg would take over the Chicago Cubs after the Lou Pinella Era was up. Well after this season (hopefully sooner) Lou’s contact is up so a decision will have to be made. Promote Ryne Sandberg to Chicago Cubs manager or look elsewhere? Ryne said he is ”waiting for an opportunity” and everyone will be wondering if it will be with Chicago or somewhere else. Personally he better be the Chicago Cubs next manager and if he is not that is a HUGE MISTAKE!

- The Twins are looking for an upgrade at the hot corner and the Cubs could benefit. The Twins are looking for a power hitting middle of the lineup 3rd baseman that can help them on the road to the playoffs. The Twins recently called up top-prospect Danny Valencia to help but he is no guarantee. The Cubs are 7 games under .500 and could be getting ready to sell off this team unless they start winning a lot and very soon. The Cubs have two third baseman that could help the Twins. The affordable Chad Tracy has not been great but is an up grade over what they have now but the Twins could try to catch lighting in a bottle with Aramis Ramirez. Ramirez has been struggling and his trade value is low and his contract is big, which could in fact help the Twins. The Twins could trade for Aramis without giving a lot of young players and still have him opt out of his deal at the end of the year getting the Twins off the hook of 16 million. Not to mention if the Twins did trade for Aramis you have to believe the Cubs would pay a big part of this contract. Since the Twins are looking for a 3rd baseman the Cubs should trade them one!

- The Angels suffered another injury losing Maicer Izturis and Erick Aybar. The Cubs once again my benefit from this by trading them Ryan Theriot. MLBTR labels Cesar Iztruis, Omar Vizquel, Stephen Drew, and Ryan Theriot as possible targets. No on has been contacted via trade yet because GM Tony Reagins says they are not at the point. The Angels could have interest in Mike Fontenot as well who has played both SS, 3rd, and 2nd.

- The Cubs have interest in recently DFA player Renyel Pinto from the Marlins. The Cubs traded Pinto along with 2 other former Cubs in the Juan Pierre deal so there is some history with Pinto. Pinto has been good but his wildness has designated him for assignment. Pinto only makes $650,000 this season and is under control for 2011 and 2012. Pinto went 15.2 innings this season with 16 K’s and 8 BB. He has actually been better against righties than lefties and averages a K per inning thought out his career as a reliever. Since Pinto is cheap financially the move makes perfect sense for the Cubs.

- Jim Hendry still feels Lou Pinella is the guy to get this team out of the dumps. Jim continues to say that Lou’s job is not in jeopardy. Last night was great, don’t get me wrong, but come on! Lou has lost his step and it seems like a cardboard cut out of Lou has been managing this team not the Lou that took this team to back-to-back playoff appearances. The Cubs need a new manager and if our GM does not see that, maybe there should be a change there too!

Until Next Time....

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

So you think it's a great idea to trade Aramis to the Twins for little to nothing while still paying most of his salary??? You are a moron. Please explain how this benefits the Cubs!

Nick I Cub Fan said...

The cubs which are one of the worst
defensive teams in baseball are trading their best defensive outfielder. Also he has the 2nd best OBP on the team. Yes i guess thats a move the cubs would make.

Lilly and Dempster both doing a good job for the cubs. I guess you have to trade some one good to get good prospects in return.

Sandberg has one of the best starting rotations in AAA and the team is only slightly over .500.
He would not be my pick to manage.
Let him go to Baltimore to manage.

I don't see Minnesota trading with the cubs. They keep winning cause they have the best defensive team in baseball. Tracy maybe ( I haven't seen enough of him yet) But Ramirez they won't have him.

The Angles getting Theriot and Nady
maybe even a starting pitcher could be a block buster trade for both teams.

Just my opinion. Keep up the good work i enjoy your site.

Todd said...

I really enjoy reading what you have to say. Sorry to say,but the brown and cubbie blue print you have used on here lately are a cool thought but really hard to read.(make out)Not sure if anyone else if having problems. Maybe it's just me. Keep up the Great work !!

Todd said...

Perhaps you go with White.

Anonymous said...

Hendry is on a short lease with the Cubs since he is a holdover from the last regime. He knows this and as a result he will not be waving the white flag on this season as quickly as us fans are.

The last straw for me was the horrible stretch against the bottom feeders of the NL Central a couple weeks ago. It is June now and nothing has changed. There are no more excuses of waiting for the weather to heat up for the bats to heat up.

The Cubs should definitely be trading pending FAs as rental players for the contenders. I agree Lilly is the most attractive chip. Silva is right behind him. Theriot is expendable with all the middle IF prospects we have. Fonty and Baker are expendable because they are part time IFs that could be nice bench options for contenders. I guess the same can go for Tracy.

Trade D Lee cause he is also in the last year of his deal. Only problem with this is I'm not sure who would take over 1B (don't say Hauffpour). Trade Nady if you can.

I don't trade Demp unless he asks to be traded. I still hesitate to go into full build up from the farm mode because Chicago is still a big market. I know it has worked for the Rays and for a closer to home example in another sport, our Blackhawks, but Soriano and Fuku are veterans with contracts that are near impossible to move (I hate the option of eating double digit salaries), along with valuable vets like Demp who are still signed long term, that we can "build around". I know build around is a misnomer since Soriano and Fuku suck, but the fact is theri contracts dictate that they will be around. Have Soriano and Fuku split time in 2011, and have Byrd and Colvin start every game in the other two OF spots. Castro stays at SS and one of our many middle IF prospects gets time at 2B. With Rammy on the DL and the market value very unlikely to be more than the rest of the money left on his deal, we will see Rammy back at 3B.

That leaves us with finding affordable options at 1B, in the rotation (if spots can't be filled by Gorz, Shark, Wells, and prospects). A pen arm or two and maybe another option at C since Soto is still a question mark.

Bottom line, lets get some above avg prospects, since I don't think we'll be able to get top level prospects for our chips, and odds are one or two of them will pan out. Think of what we can get back as a whole for Lilly, Silva, D Lee, Gorz, Nady, Theriot, etc. - Joe

Nick I Cub Fan said...

I agree with Todd and most of what Joe said. Hendry is not going any place all GM's make mistakes, he's still better than most.
Cubs players who's contracts are up this year. Piniella, Lee, Nady, Tracy, Hill, Lilly, Howry. Cub players that could replace them. Quade manager, Spencer IB, Snyder OF, Barney inf, Chirios C, Diamond
P, Samardzija RP. This will give the cubs over 30 million to spend on free agents. End of next year the same Ramirez, Fukudome and Grabow gone another 33 million to spend. But i'm not sure who will play 3B cause Vitters is a bust, all hype no play.

Nick I Cub Fan said...

Cubs AA team just won first half crown. The minor league teams have 150 wins 124 loses. Maybe some of the prospects are paying dividens.
If Chirinos can catch as good as he can hit i say trade Soto and bring the kid up. I don't know whats the matter with Vitters, he seems to have minor injuries every year that keep him from performing.

andrew said...

Tom Ricketts will not pay money to get rid of bad comtracts or, fire people and pay them off. If the goof Hendry was unable make the kind of trade he did with Bradley,(sending no money), Bradley would still be here.The Hayden Simpson pick was made to save money,which they did.Don't be fooled by Ricketts,he has done some unpleasent things to companies in buyouts.Ricketts will bring the payroll down asap,to maybe 100mil.While he has the highest ave. ticket prices in baseball.Ricketts,in time, will prove as an owner, to be nothing more than a, more polished version than Trib Co;with a visable face.