Jim Hendry addressed the media yesterday on the state of the team. So with that along with that come more Cubs rumors and news-
- Buster Onley said the Cubs are open for business and reports Jeff Baker and Kerry Wood are the most coveted players in the trade market since they are cheap and very useful for contending teams.
- Buster also said there is mixed results about Carlos Pena since he is a streaky power hitter. Pena has recently been linked to the Angels and Dbacks.
- The Pirates have contacted the Cubs about a familiar face, Aramis Ramirez.
- Kerry Wood is near the top of the Dbacks targets.
- Hendry said there will not be a fire sale because they will not trade away their young core which includes Carlos Marmol, Darwin Barney, and Starlin Castro.
- The Tigers are looking for starting pitching and could be contacting the Cubs about Zambrano, Dempster, or even Randy Wells.
- The Cubs released Doug Davis.
- The Cubs have kicked the tires on Scott Kazmir and are considering inking him to a minor league deal.
- Jim indicated he does not like the terms buyers and sellers because he considers his team to be both. He will sell off players that don’t fit into the future but may acquire impact players for next season.
- Levine adds more to the Ramirez trade rumors saying that Aram could change his tune considering his wife and child go back to the Dominican by early August for fall classes. Ramirez main concern about a trade is uprooting his family so he may accept a trade now compared to when he was originally asked.
- Levine also says teams like Detroit, San Francisco, and Cleveland could have interest in Aram. He said the Giants could move Sandoval to 1st to accommodate Aram. While the Indians and Tigers are getting little production at 3rd so they seen like a match. The Indians have a couple of players that really interest me; Carlos Santana, Lonnie Chisenhall, and Grady Sizemore. I think the Cubs could lump in Pena and Soto along with Ramirez and get Chisenhall and Santana in a deal. Now that would be building for the future!
- Kerry Wood will be activated off the DL on Friday.
- According to Sahadev Sharma of ESPN Chicago says players like Sean Marshall, Matt Garza, and Geovany Soto are not available because they are under team control and can still produce at a high level. He also states the Cubs will be looking to unload Zambrano and Soriano while getting value for Pena, Fukudome, and Aram.
- Cashner could start rehabbing this weekend and Hendry hopes to have him back sometime this year but it will likely be in a reliever role.
- The Cubs planning on keep Dempster for the rest of the season instead of trading him unless they are blown away by an offer and Dempster approves the trade.
- If the Cubs do trade Soriano and/or Zambrano then they will be even bigger players in the free agent market next season.
- Sources say the Cubs free agent target list is very short and could change depending on who they receive in trades. But right now 3 names top the list C.J. Wilson, Prince Fielder, and Yadier Molina.
- There is a lot of talk that Jim Hendry could make his last moves as Cubs GM at the trade deadline. Ricketts indicated that the Cubs management, the coaching staff, and players will be evaluated at the end of the season. Such speculation sparked the rumors of other GMs being interested in the Cubs GM job. Here is the list we have heard at HSC- Josh Byrnes, Billy Beane, Andrew Friedman, Ned Colletti, Greg Maddux, Rick Hahn, Pat Gillick, Allard Baird, and Ben Cherington. Out of those Rick Hahn, Billy Beane, Pat Gillick, and Andrew Friedman look the best. I view Maddux as a good option for President.
- Is Mike Quade’s job in jeopardy? Well considering he will be re-evaluated at the end of the season I would say it is not safe. It also depends if Hendry is retained or not. If Hendry and President Kenney are replaced, the guy coming in may decide to replace Q with “their guy.” Rumors have been circling that if the Cubs do make a change Ricketts would have more of an influence this go around on the manager. If you recall the rumors last season that Ricketts wanted Sandberg and Hendry wanted Quade. So one can assume if one goes the other one does as well. It also might be time for the owner of the Cubs to flex his muscles and give the fans what they want, Ryne Sandberg as manager!
- Little FYI on how Ryno is doing in the Phillies system. He has the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in first place with a 46-33 record. Before Ryno arrived the IronPigs in the past 3 season did not spend a single day above .500. Ryno is now 330-310 overall as a minor league manager. Ricketts needs to bring in his guy! Ryne Sandberg!
Until Next Time…
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
28 Players Under 28 Years Old: Yankees and Mets
Earlier this week I discussed a new series of posts called “28 players under 28 years old” and here is out first entry as we look at the Yankees and Mets.
Yankees-
Gary Sanchez-Catcher-Yankees
Gary Sanchez is rated the 30th best prospect in baseball according to Baseball America and is 4th best prospect in the Yankees farm system. Sanchez has declined some this year posting a 250 average with 6 homers and 27 RBI in 49 games. He is only 18 years old though and does have some attitude problems but it is likely he will mature out of that. Scouts say Sanchez is better defensively than Yankees top prospect Montero and even drawing comparisons to Yadier Molina and a young Ivan Rodriguez.
Sanchez could be available because the Yankees have Montero and Romine in their top 10 prospects. The Yankees do not need to 3 catching prospects so one could be expendable. The Cubs could use Sanchez for when Soto is traded or elects free agency. With Sanchez only being 18 he still needs time in the minors for seasoning. It is also not likely he would contribute right away but his acquisition could make Soto available. The Yankees have already stated they are not looking at Z or Dempster but that could be posturing, Grabow could interest the Yankees but the only way you get Sanchez is if you send a package to NY with Grabow included.
This is a long shot for the Cubs because the Yankees and Cubs do not match up well for a trade. Not to mention the way the Yankees value Sanchez but anything is possible.
Austin Romine-Catcher-Yankees
Another good overall catcher in the Yankees system and ranked 98th best prospect in baseball according to MLB.com. He is doing well for the Yankees AA squad hitting .291 with a .353 OBO and 4 homers in 48 games. Romine is only 22 but is closer to being ready for the Big Show than Sanchez. His throwing out rate has been above 20% in the minors which is good not great but combined that with his offensive numbers then he has the potential of being an everyday catcher.
The reasons why he is available, what the Yankees want, etc… is comparable to what I said about Sanchez above. The only difference is Romine is a LOT more available than the other two.
Mets-
Josh Thole-Catcher-Mets
This guy is not going to WOW anyone with his offensive numbers. His career in the minor leagues has him hitting .289 with a .376 OBP and 16 homes in 450 career games. His ML career stats are slightly lower hitting .273 with a .350 OBP and 4 homers in 149 games. But he is another player that could be available because he is young, a left-handed bat but a righty behind the plate, and he is under team control. One thing I give Thole credit on is CS percentage in the majors. In 2009 he had a 33% rating, in 2010 he had a 44% rating, and in 2011 it did drop to 20%. But it should be noted most of those SB against him this year came against a slow pitcher on the mound like RA Dickey.
Thole is available especially if the Mets stay in the WC chase and the Cubs could target him as their long-term catcher and ideal #2 hitter in the lineup. The Mets could target a variety of players on the Cubs like Carlos Pena because Ike Davis looks like he is lost for the season. The Mets could also look at pitching and outfield as well, especially if they deal Beltran who did say he would waive his NTC.
I see the Cubs targeting Thole because he provides so many things Geovany Soto does not. Plus he is a lot more affordable considering Soto has the chance to make a lot more money via arbitration. I put the chances of them acquiring Thole at 25% because they had interest in him last season as well.
David Wright-3b-Mets
David Wright is a guy that is going to create a ton of interest for many teams in baseball. Rarely a superstar 3rd baseman is rumored to be on the block let alone traded (unless you are Arod) but that is not the case for David Wright. A couple of things make Wright a double edged sword 1) he is not back from his fracture in his back and could still be a huge injury risk 2) if traded he will become a free agent after the 2012 season and 3) he may not be ready to go before the trade deadline. These things give most teams worries so the Mets might hold onto him until next offseason. Either way the Cubs will be in on David Wright.
Wright could be dealt because of finances, to stock the farm system, and/or they are looking for money to give to potential free agent Jose Reyes. The Cubs would target him because he is a superstar 3rd baseman and the Cubs long-term players for 3rd (Vitters and Aram) are either not ready or going to be let go because of money. Wright would make an immediate impact on the Cubs and if acquired I believe the Cubs would not hesitate to sign him to an extension. Once again the Mets could look at Pena, Aramis, and pitching for the Cubs but they also could value prospects Flaherty, Vitters, and McNutt to build up their farm system.
The percentage I put on this happening is below 10% at the deadline but near 20% if both teams wait until next offseason to discuss Wright.
That concludes our first installment of “28 players under 28 years old” look for the next four by next week. We will be addressing players from the Marlin and Twins.
Until Next Time…
Yankees-
Gary Sanchez-Catcher-Yankees
Gary Sanchez is rated the 30th best prospect in baseball according to Baseball America and is 4th best prospect in the Yankees farm system. Sanchez has declined some this year posting a 250 average with 6 homers and 27 RBI in 49 games. He is only 18 years old though and does have some attitude problems but it is likely he will mature out of that. Scouts say Sanchez is better defensively than Yankees top prospect Montero and even drawing comparisons to Yadier Molina and a young Ivan Rodriguez.
Sanchez could be available because the Yankees have Montero and Romine in their top 10 prospects. The Yankees do not need to 3 catching prospects so one could be expendable. The Cubs could use Sanchez for when Soto is traded or elects free agency. With Sanchez only being 18 he still needs time in the minors for seasoning. It is also not likely he would contribute right away but his acquisition could make Soto available. The Yankees have already stated they are not looking at Z or Dempster but that could be posturing, Grabow could interest the Yankees but the only way you get Sanchez is if you send a package to NY with Grabow included.
This is a long shot for the Cubs because the Yankees and Cubs do not match up well for a trade. Not to mention the way the Yankees value Sanchez but anything is possible.
Austin Romine-Catcher-Yankees
Another good overall catcher in the Yankees system and ranked 98th best prospect in baseball according to MLB.com. He is doing well for the Yankees AA squad hitting .291 with a .353 OBO and 4 homers in 48 games. Romine is only 22 but is closer to being ready for the Big Show than Sanchez. His throwing out rate has been above 20% in the minors which is good not great but combined that with his offensive numbers then he has the potential of being an everyday catcher.
The reasons why he is available, what the Yankees want, etc… is comparable to what I said about Sanchez above. The only difference is Romine is a LOT more available than the other two.
Mets-
Josh Thole-Catcher-Mets
This guy is not going to WOW anyone with his offensive numbers. His career in the minor leagues has him hitting .289 with a .376 OBP and 16 homes in 450 career games. His ML career stats are slightly lower hitting .273 with a .350 OBP and 4 homers in 149 games. But he is another player that could be available because he is young, a left-handed bat but a righty behind the plate, and he is under team control. One thing I give Thole credit on is CS percentage in the majors. In 2009 he had a 33% rating, in 2010 he had a 44% rating, and in 2011 it did drop to 20%. But it should be noted most of those SB against him this year came against a slow pitcher on the mound like RA Dickey.
Thole is available especially if the Mets stay in the WC chase and the Cubs could target him as their long-term catcher and ideal #2 hitter in the lineup. The Mets could target a variety of players on the Cubs like Carlos Pena because Ike Davis looks like he is lost for the season. The Mets could also look at pitching and outfield as well, especially if they deal Beltran who did say he would waive his NTC.
I see the Cubs targeting Thole because he provides so many things Geovany Soto does not. Plus he is a lot more affordable considering Soto has the chance to make a lot more money via arbitration. I put the chances of them acquiring Thole at 25% because they had interest in him last season as well.
David Wright-3b-Mets
David Wright is a guy that is going to create a ton of interest for many teams in baseball. Rarely a superstar 3rd baseman is rumored to be on the block let alone traded (unless you are Arod) but that is not the case for David Wright. A couple of things make Wright a double edged sword 1) he is not back from his fracture in his back and could still be a huge injury risk 2) if traded he will become a free agent after the 2012 season and 3) he may not be ready to go before the trade deadline. These things give most teams worries so the Mets might hold onto him until next offseason. Either way the Cubs will be in on David Wright.
Wright could be dealt because of finances, to stock the farm system, and/or they are looking for money to give to potential free agent Jose Reyes. The Cubs would target him because he is a superstar 3rd baseman and the Cubs long-term players for 3rd (Vitters and Aram) are either not ready or going to be let go because of money. Wright would make an immediate impact on the Cubs and if acquired I believe the Cubs would not hesitate to sign him to an extension. Once again the Mets could look at Pena, Aramis, and pitching for the Cubs but they also could value prospects Flaherty, Vitters, and McNutt to build up their farm system.
The percentage I put on this happening is below 10% at the deadline but near 20% if both teams wait until next offseason to discuss Wright.
That concludes our first installment of “28 players under 28 years old” look for the next four by next week. We will be addressing players from the Marlin and Twins.
Until Next Time…
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Going East, Going Home, and Having 2nd Thoughts???
Rumors and news are ramping up so let’s get to them-
- Bobby Scales left the Cubs to play in Japan.
- Marlon Byrd in his first live game action got plunked in the left shoulder. He is fine and said it was good for him to have it happen so soon.
- Barney also got hit yesterday and he is OK. He is expected to be back with the Cubs on Weds.
- Cubbies Crib says Hendry will be revaluated at the end of the season which leads to their speculation that he will be fired. It should be noted CC cited a source that is very reliable.
- Ricketts is willing to eat some money on Fukudome and Soriano both to get them traded according to sources.
- A friend of Aramis Ramirez says he maybe more willing to waive his no-trade clause if it is “to the right team and the right situation.” Speculation says he would be willing to go to contending teams like the Angels, Tigers, Phillies, Giants, and Braves. The friend also said Aram would expect his 2012 option to be exercised before any trade is completed.
- The Angels have interest and have been scouting 3 Cubs players recently; Geovany Soto, Carlos Pena, and Aramis Ramirez. No discussions have taken place between the teams as of yet but expect trade talk to gain steam right after the All-Star break.
- Just throwing this out there about sending Soto, Pena, and Ramirez to the Angels for Mark Trumbo, Hank Conger, and Mike Trout?
- Here is a three way trade that got into my inbox, probably sparked by the rumor yesterday that the Rangers are interested in Beltran and K-Rod. Mets get Chris Davis, Mel Olt, Chris Carpenter, Jay Jackson, and Jurickson Profar, Cubs get David Wright, and Rangers get Beltran and K-Rod. Pretty interesting trade for everyone involved but the Mets get a slew of good young prospects in this deal.
Until Next Time….
- Bobby Scales left the Cubs to play in Japan.
- Marlon Byrd in his first live game action got plunked in the left shoulder. He is fine and said it was good for him to have it happen so soon.
- Barney also got hit yesterday and he is OK. He is expected to be back with the Cubs on Weds.
- Cubbies Crib says Hendry will be revaluated at the end of the season which leads to their speculation that he will be fired. It should be noted CC cited a source that is very reliable.
- Ricketts is willing to eat some money on Fukudome and Soriano both to get them traded according to sources.
- A friend of Aramis Ramirez says he maybe more willing to waive his no-trade clause if it is “to the right team and the right situation.” Speculation says he would be willing to go to contending teams like the Angels, Tigers, Phillies, Giants, and Braves. The friend also said Aram would expect his 2012 option to be exercised before any trade is completed.
- The Angels have interest and have been scouting 3 Cubs players recently; Geovany Soto, Carlos Pena, and Aramis Ramirez. No discussions have taken place between the teams as of yet but expect trade talk to gain steam right after the All-Star break.
- Just throwing this out there about sending Soto, Pena, and Ramirez to the Angels for Mark Trumbo, Hank Conger, and Mike Trout?
- Here is a three way trade that got into my inbox, probably sparked by the rumor yesterday that the Rangers are interested in Beltran and K-Rod. Mets get Chris Davis, Mel Olt, Chris Carpenter, Jay Jackson, and Jurickson Profar, Cubs get David Wright, and Rangers get Beltran and K-Rod. Pretty interesting trade for everyone involved but the Mets get a slew of good young prospects in this deal.
Until Next Time….
Monday, June 27, 2011
28 players under 28 years old
With the news that Jim Hendry, scouts, and other team officials are meeting today and Tuesday to discuss possible trades and targets for the Cubs I bring you “28 players under 28 years old.” In this post I will give you 28 players from contending and non-contending teams that could interest the Cubs. I will also label Cub players that other teams (mainly contending) have interest in which could make a potential trading match. These are also players that will make an impact next season or in the near future. Here are the 28 players in no particular order-
Billy Butler - Royals
Chris Davis - Rangers
Mark Trumbo - Angels
Alex Gordon - Royals
Lars Anderson – Red Sox
Kila Ka'aihue - Royals
James Loney - Dodgers
Justin Smoak - Mariners
Christian Yelich – Marlins
Gaby Sanchez –Marlins
Josh Bell – Orioles
David Wright – Mets
Danny Valencia – Twins
Josh Thole- Mets
Francisco Liriano – Twins
Hank Conger – Angels
Carlos Santana – Indians
Brandon Belt – Giants
Martin Perez- Rangers
Travis E. d'Arnaud - Jays
J.P. Arencibia – Jays
Derek Norris- Nationals
Gary Sanchez – Yankees
Austin Romine- Yankees
Chris Carter- A’s
Dayan Viciedo – White Sox
Matt Rizzotti- Phillies
Bobby Borchering- Dbacks
These are the 28 players under the age of 28 that could help build the Cubs for next season and/or the future. Many of these players are available for one reason or another. In the d”Arnaud and Arencibia case both are up and coming catchers in the Jays system so they could make one available via trade to address other needs which is why I put both on my list. Another example is block prospects like Lars Anderson who has been blocked by Adrian Gonzales at 1st. Players like David Wright might be dealt for financial reasons and players like Gaby Sanchez could have a young prospect like Christian Yelich knocking at his door (both on my list). The most unusual I added to the list is Brandon Belt who could be dangled to get more offensive help or catching help for a playoff run, the same could be said for Smoak, Davis, and Liriano. Even a team like the Indians and White Sox could dangle some young prized stars to get more impactful young players from the Cubs. One thing I did not include is the teams in the NL Central, I don’t believe the Cubs will deal for any young talent within their own division mainly because it is tough to do.
So over the next weeks I will be breaking down this list into 7 groups of 4. In each group I will discuss these questions-
Why is the player available?
Why would the Cubs want him?
What impact will he make on the Cubs?
What the other team could value from the Cubs?
What are the chances this could happen?
Look for my first “28 players under 28 years old” post sometime this week as we discuss the players from the Yankees and Mets.
Until Next Time..
Billy Butler - Royals
Chris Davis - Rangers
Mark Trumbo - Angels
Alex Gordon - Royals
Lars Anderson – Red Sox
Kila Ka'aihue - Royals
James Loney - Dodgers
Justin Smoak - Mariners
Christian Yelich – Marlins
Gaby Sanchez –Marlins
Josh Bell – Orioles
David Wright – Mets
Danny Valencia – Twins
Josh Thole- Mets
Francisco Liriano – Twins
Hank Conger – Angels
Carlos Santana – Indians
Brandon Belt – Giants
Martin Perez- Rangers
Travis E. d'Arnaud - Jays
J.P. Arencibia – Jays
Derek Norris- Nationals
Gary Sanchez – Yankees
Austin Romine- Yankees
Chris Carter- A’s
Dayan Viciedo – White Sox
Matt Rizzotti- Phillies
Bobby Borchering- Dbacks
These are the 28 players under the age of 28 that could help build the Cubs for next season and/or the future. Many of these players are available for one reason or another. In the d”Arnaud and Arencibia case both are up and coming catchers in the Jays system so they could make one available via trade to address other needs which is why I put both on my list. Another example is block prospects like Lars Anderson who has been blocked by Adrian Gonzales at 1st. Players like David Wright might be dealt for financial reasons and players like Gaby Sanchez could have a young prospect like Christian Yelich knocking at his door (both on my list). The most unusual I added to the list is Brandon Belt who could be dangled to get more offensive help or catching help for a playoff run, the same could be said for Smoak, Davis, and Liriano. Even a team like the Indians and White Sox could dangle some young prized stars to get more impactful young players from the Cubs. One thing I did not include is the teams in the NL Central, I don’t believe the Cubs will deal for any young talent within their own division mainly because it is tough to do.
So over the next weeks I will be breaking down this list into 7 groups of 4. In each group I will discuss these questions-
Why is the player available?
Why would the Cubs want him?
What impact will he make on the Cubs?
What the other team could value from the Cubs?
What are the chances this could happen?
Look for my first “28 players under 28 years old” post sometime this week as we discuss the players from the Yankees and Mets.
Until Next Time..
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Cubs Set Dates For Action....
- Even with a sweep of the White Sox the Cubs will have to do a lot over the next 4 weeks to make them buyers. Rumor has it Ricketts and Hendry have set two evaluation dates for the Cubs, July 10th after the Pirates game and July 25th an off day for the Cubs. I am hearing the factors being taken in will be the Cubs record, how far they are out of the wild card and division lead, injuries, and how the Cubs are currently playing. Basically I see if the Cubs are 10 games out on July 10th they will begin to sell of parts of this team.
- That brings me to my next thing. The term fire sale has been spoken in the front office team sources have said. We have seen the Marlins go through a fire sale to bring in youth and reduce payroll and I think that is exactly what the Cubs need. Except one difference, I expect the Cubs to be huge factors in free agency next season.
- Ricketts said the Cubs WILL HAVE money to spend this coming offseason on big ticket free agents if they choose to go that route. The Cubs have been linked to Fielder, Pujols, Sabathia, Wilson, and Yadier Molina.
- The Cubs are expected to make all their veteran players available via trade. Here is a list of players I have compiled via email and other websites of players that will be made available
Doug Davis
Ryan Dempster
John Grabow
Rodrigo Lopez
Jeff Samardzija
Randy Wells
Carlos Zambrano
Koyie Hill
Geovany Soto
Kerry Wood- Only if he approves the trade since he took a discount to stay here, very unlikely he is traded.
Aramis Ramirez- Says he will not waive it but will change his tone as the deadline approaches.
Jeff Baker
Blake DeWitt
Carlos Pena
Marlon Byrd
Tyler Colvin
Kosuke Fukudome
Reed Johnson
Lou Montanez
Alfonso Soriano
- Marlon Byrd is expected to make his rehab start with Iowa next week. It will be good for the Cubs and their fans to see Byrd back in action.
- The Cubs have been scouting all levels of the KC Royals, San Francisco Giants, and the Texas Rangers recently. The Giants have been scouting Geovany Soto so the Cubs could pull off a deal with them. A couple of players that could interest the Cubs on the Giants side are Brandon Belt or one of the many young arms they have in their system. The Cubs have also been scouting the Royals because of their youth and depth at positions the Cubs need upgrading for next season. The Royals have prospects Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas filling the corners for years to come. They have recently signed Billy Butler to an extension but he has been pushed to full time DH will the emergence of Hosmer. It is also rumored they would consider trading Butler for young pitching or a solid young inexpensive catcher. Since the Cubs main areas of upgrading for next season is likely 1st and 3rd base players like Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, and Kila Ka’aihue could be targets for Cubs scouts. Adding Gordon or Butler would be a nice addition for the Cubs going into 2012. In Texas the Cubs have been exclusively been targeting Chris Davis who is hitting .364 with 14 homers in 25 games at the age of 25. He can also play 1st or 3rd! But I have been told they are also keeping an eye on Micheal Olt but he is not ready for the show and is currently on the DL. He is in high A ball hitting .286 with 10 homeruns and a .395 OBP in 54 games. To me I can see the Cubs exploring the young and inexpensive route before eventually spending big bucks on Fielder or Pujols. If the Cubs can land Fielder I would love if they could trade for a Chris Davis or Alex Gordon to play 3rd base for them next season.
Until Next Time..
- That brings me to my next thing. The term fire sale has been spoken in the front office team sources have said. We have seen the Marlins go through a fire sale to bring in youth and reduce payroll and I think that is exactly what the Cubs need. Except one difference, I expect the Cubs to be huge factors in free agency next season.
- Ricketts said the Cubs WILL HAVE money to spend this coming offseason on big ticket free agents if they choose to go that route. The Cubs have been linked to Fielder, Pujols, Sabathia, Wilson, and Yadier Molina.
- The Cubs are expected to make all their veteran players available via trade. Here is a list of players I have compiled via email and other websites of players that will be made available
Doug Davis
Ryan Dempster
John Grabow
Rodrigo Lopez
Jeff Samardzija
Randy Wells
Carlos Zambrano
Koyie Hill
Geovany Soto
Kerry Wood- Only if he approves the trade since he took a discount to stay here, very unlikely he is traded.
Aramis Ramirez- Says he will not waive it but will change his tone as the deadline approaches.
Jeff Baker
Blake DeWitt
Carlos Pena
Marlon Byrd
Tyler Colvin
Kosuke Fukudome
Reed Johnson
Lou Montanez
Alfonso Soriano
- Marlon Byrd is expected to make his rehab start with Iowa next week. It will be good for the Cubs and their fans to see Byrd back in action.
- The Cubs have been scouting all levels of the KC Royals, San Francisco Giants, and the Texas Rangers recently. The Giants have been scouting Geovany Soto so the Cubs could pull off a deal with them. A couple of players that could interest the Cubs on the Giants side are Brandon Belt or one of the many young arms they have in their system. The Cubs have also been scouting the Royals because of their youth and depth at positions the Cubs need upgrading for next season. The Royals have prospects Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas filling the corners for years to come. They have recently signed Billy Butler to an extension but he has been pushed to full time DH will the emergence of Hosmer. It is also rumored they would consider trading Butler for young pitching or a solid young inexpensive catcher. Since the Cubs main areas of upgrading for next season is likely 1st and 3rd base players like Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, and Kila Ka’aihue could be targets for Cubs scouts. Adding Gordon or Butler would be a nice addition for the Cubs going into 2012. In Texas the Cubs have been exclusively been targeting Chris Davis who is hitting .364 with 14 homers in 25 games at the age of 25. He can also play 1st or 3rd! But I have been told they are also keeping an eye on Micheal Olt but he is not ready for the show and is currently on the DL. He is in high A ball hitting .286 with 10 homeruns and a .395 OBP in 54 games. To me I can see the Cubs exploring the young and inexpensive route before eventually spending big bucks on Fielder or Pujols. If the Cubs can land Fielder I would love if they could trade for a Chris Davis or Alex Gordon to play 3rd base for them next season.
Until Next Time..
Friday, June 17, 2011
Making the Pitch...
With the Yankees in town trade speculation picks up. So let’s get to it.
- Top advisors to Brian Cashman were scouting Carlos Zambrano the last road trip. Of course Z has gone back and forth on whether he would waive his no-trade but one of his friends has said he would waive his no-trade to go to a contending tem, introducing the Yankees.
- According to Bruce Levine the Yankees might actually be more interested in Ryan Dempster than Big Z. Dempster has been a better pitcher, teammate, and less erratic than Zambrano in the past few years. But like Z, Dempster has a no-trade clause and has a great relationship with Chicago.
- Even though the Cubs won 3 of 4 against the division leading Brewers I still expect them to become sellers at the deadline because the hill they have to climb is really steep.
- Soriano had a good take on being traded’ “"This is my fifth year, but if they say they want to trade me, then why wouldn't I want to go somewhere else. I wouldn't stay here." Soriano wants to stay in Chicago and does have a no-trade clause but said if he is asked to waive it he would not get in the way.
- Ricketts gave this team, Mike Quade, and Jim Hendry a vote of confidence but for Hendry it sounded more run down than Q. Saying you have confidence in Hendry to get the season back on track. Therefore if Hendry does not do that it decreases the confidence he has in Hendry causing his job to become in jeopardy. I was also informed that regardless Hendry will be will the team the rest of the season and a President and GM change would not take place until after the World Series. I guess we shall see.
- Would you trade Soriano and his 4 year roughly 61 million for Adam Dunn and his 4 years roughly 50 million on his contract? Is that even a fair trade? Honestly if I was GM I would make that happen even I have to pick up some the difference in cash. Adam Dunn is only 32 while Soriano is 35 and in baseball years that is a huge difference. Both are defensive liabilities but with Dunn you can play him at 1st or LF. Dunn also provides you with more power and a back-up for 1st if you don’t land a guy like Fielder or Pujols this coming offseason. The only downfall to this trade is Soriano’s numbers this season are actually better than Dunn’s. Other than that I do not see a downfall to having another big power left-handed bat in the lineup. What is your take?
- If the Yankees are serious about adding Dempster or Zambrano to their staff I think the Cubs should insist on one of these prospects being in any deal for either pitcher-
Austin Romine- The Yankees have 3 of the best catching prospects in baseball. He is the 5th best catching prospect in baseball and the Yankees 5th best prospect in their system with good defensive and offensive skills. At only 22 years old he is playing AA ball hitting .298 with 4 homers and a .362 OBP.
Dellin Betances- This RHP cracks MLBs top 50 prospects at #45 and you can see why by his stats in AA. He is only 23 years old and in 8 games started he is 3-1 with a 1.82 ERA.
Manny Banuelos- This LHP is the 28th best prospect in baseball at the ripe age of 20. In AA he has started 10 games and sports a 2.12 ERA.
Gary Sanchez- The 25th best prospect in baseball and ranks 2nd in best catching prospect. His offensive numbers have yet to translate to his potential but the upside is definitely there.
Jesus Montero- The Yankees top gem! Their number 1 prospect and the 7th best prospect in baseball. He is close to ML ready and it shows with his numbers in AAA. He is hitting .303 with .343 OBP, and 4 homers.
I think the Cubs should demand at least one of these prospects as a park of a package for either Dempster or Z. I also would entertain trading Z or Dempster along with Geovany Soto to the Yankees for Jesus Montero, Manny Banuelos, and another mid-level prospect. I think that would entice both the Yankees and Cubs.
What is your take?
Until Next Time…
- Top advisors to Brian Cashman were scouting Carlos Zambrano the last road trip. Of course Z has gone back and forth on whether he would waive his no-trade but one of his friends has said he would waive his no-trade to go to a contending tem, introducing the Yankees.
- According to Bruce Levine the Yankees might actually be more interested in Ryan Dempster than Big Z. Dempster has been a better pitcher, teammate, and less erratic than Zambrano in the past few years. But like Z, Dempster has a no-trade clause and has a great relationship with Chicago.
- Even though the Cubs won 3 of 4 against the division leading Brewers I still expect them to become sellers at the deadline because the hill they have to climb is really steep.
- Soriano had a good take on being traded’ “"This is my fifth year, but if they say they want to trade me, then why wouldn't I want to go somewhere else. I wouldn't stay here." Soriano wants to stay in Chicago and does have a no-trade clause but said if he is asked to waive it he would not get in the way.
- Ricketts gave this team, Mike Quade, and Jim Hendry a vote of confidence but for Hendry it sounded more run down than Q. Saying you have confidence in Hendry to get the season back on track. Therefore if Hendry does not do that it decreases the confidence he has in Hendry causing his job to become in jeopardy. I was also informed that regardless Hendry will be will the team the rest of the season and a President and GM change would not take place until after the World Series. I guess we shall see.
- Would you trade Soriano and his 4 year roughly 61 million for Adam Dunn and his 4 years roughly 50 million on his contract? Is that even a fair trade? Honestly if I was GM I would make that happen even I have to pick up some the difference in cash. Adam Dunn is only 32 while Soriano is 35 and in baseball years that is a huge difference. Both are defensive liabilities but with Dunn you can play him at 1st or LF. Dunn also provides you with more power and a back-up for 1st if you don’t land a guy like Fielder or Pujols this coming offseason. The only downfall to this trade is Soriano’s numbers this season are actually better than Dunn’s. Other than that I do not see a downfall to having another big power left-handed bat in the lineup. What is your take?
- If the Yankees are serious about adding Dempster or Zambrano to their staff I think the Cubs should insist on one of these prospects being in any deal for either pitcher-
Austin Romine- The Yankees have 3 of the best catching prospects in baseball. He is the 5th best catching prospect in baseball and the Yankees 5th best prospect in their system with good defensive and offensive skills. At only 22 years old he is playing AA ball hitting .298 with 4 homers and a .362 OBP.
Dellin Betances- This RHP cracks MLBs top 50 prospects at #45 and you can see why by his stats in AA. He is only 23 years old and in 8 games started he is 3-1 with a 1.82 ERA.
Manny Banuelos- This LHP is the 28th best prospect in baseball at the ripe age of 20. In AA he has started 10 games and sports a 2.12 ERA.
Gary Sanchez- The 25th best prospect in baseball and ranks 2nd in best catching prospect. His offensive numbers have yet to translate to his potential but the upside is definitely there.
Jesus Montero- The Yankees top gem! Their number 1 prospect and the 7th best prospect in baseball. He is close to ML ready and it shows with his numbers in AAA. He is hitting .303 with .343 OBP, and 4 homers.
I think the Cubs should demand at least one of these prospects as a park of a package for either Dempster or Z. I also would entertain trading Z or Dempster along with Geovany Soto to the Yankees for Jesus Montero, Manny Banuelos, and another mid-level prospect. I think that would entice both the Yankees and Cubs.
What is your take?
Until Next Time…
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Addition by Subtraction
Buster Olney has stirred up the baseball world the past couple days by breaking the rumor of division realignment, execution of divisions, year around interleague play, and the additional two teams added to the playoff format. Today I will do my best to talk through the points laid out by Buster Olney along with adding things I have heard from my sources on this.
Transferring from NL to AL
According to this format one NL team would have to transfer to the AL to make both divisions at 15 teams. According to several sources if the new CBA says the divisions will remain in tact then there are only 3 viable teams to move from NL to AL. The Astros, Diamondbacks, and Rockies all could move to the AL West. It would be easiest for the Astros because they could just move from the NL Central to the AL West but the only thing holding them back is start times; in the Houston area for games in Seattle and Anaheim maybe too late effecting the TV market greatly. The other two options still affect the Astros because in both scenarios Houston would be sent to the NL West while either the Diamondbacks or Rockies would be sent to the AL West. Rockies make more sense here because it would not affect the TV market as bad making the transfer but still having Houston move to the NL West would cause TV issues in Texas. Of course all of this would be a mute point if they go to a “non-divisional AL/NL league.
If MLB decides to go to the non-divisional leagues for the NL and AL then pretty much any team from the NL could transfer to the AL. According to my sources MLB wants to go to this format and has a short list of teams they would consider to transfer to the AL which include the Pirates, Astros, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Marlins, Nationals, and yes… the Cubs. In fact most of the teams I listed may have their fans, GM’s, Presidents, and Owners asking to transfer leagues for many reasons, but number one being revenue. AL teams historically make more money on TV and in ticket sales than NL teams, not to mention the buzz around the transferring team going to the AL. If you are the Cubs and you transfer to the AL you will see teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, Rangers, Angels, etc… teams your fan base usually do not have access to which in turn will generate more ticket sales in your home ball park and also in other ball parks where Cubs fans are present.
Having said all that the Astros to the AL makes the most sense and what they will eventually do.
Death to Divisions
If the transition does take place I think having two 15 team leagues is the only way to go. Yes the excitement for the race for first place and the wild card in the present divisional alignment is great but not fair. How is it fair that a team with an 86-76 record wins a division but a 90+ win not make the playoffs because they don’t win their division or the WC. Removing the divisions eliminates this because the 5 playoff spots in each league will be the 5 best teams in each league. Another thing that would benefit is the trade deadline, with only 5 spot and 15 teams in each league by the deadline it would be easier to determine if you are a buyer or seller. Two leagues with no divisions sound like a win-win to me!
More Playoff Teams Please!
Along with all the talk about the possible changes in the new CBA one thing everyone is over looking is each league will gain one playoff team. I am in the minority in thinking the addition of another playoff team does not water down the field but increases attention paid to MLB and attendance around baseball. Not to mention if this does go to non-divisional leagues then the top team in each league would get a first-round bye causing more teams to play their everyday players down the stretch which would also increase competiveness in the later parts of the season. Just adding more teams to playoffs make sense baseball wise and financially.
More Interleague Play???
By baseball making both leagues even they are actually making each one odd. Having 15 teams in each league mean one team from each league would have to play each other because you cannot go everyday with two teams sitting out. Even if you rotated the days so you play 14 games then got the 15th game off it still would not work because of travel, scheduling, etc… So the only option is making interleague play year around which again I think increases TV viewing and tickets prices in a good way. I am all for interleague play!
What about DH?
Since I established that we will have a two 15 team leagues with year around Interleague play that brings up one of the most touchy things in baseball circles; the DH. Now logically you say you just leave it how it is and when you play in an AL park you use the DH and in the NL you let the pitcher hit. Honestly I think all of baseball should go to where the pitcher hits but that causes another big problem. You would have 15 DH players being paid a large amount of cash to basically be a part-time player or they could force another everyday player to rid the bench more. So if they did implement that then you would have a shift players and positions which would just cause a headache in baseball. You could go to the DH only in baseball but trying to get the owners and fans in the NL to approve that would be too difficult so keeping it the way it is just makes sense.
A Case for the Cubs in the AL
Now I know I rocked some boats by saying the Cubs are on the short list of teams that could be moved to the AL. Don’t kill the messenger, I am just reporting what I am hearing and I don’t like the idea either. But for journalism sake I am going to play the devils advocate and look at the pros of transferring leagues-
1. More excitement initially around the Cubs.
2. More revenue generated from the move to the AL. Renewed interest in the team.
3. Chance to play against teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, Rangers, etc…
4. The chance to actually use the DH on an everyday basis.
5. The DH can solve your “Soriano in LF” problem. You place him at DH and you don’t have to worry about him getting hurt or hurting the team in the field.
6. Allows the Cubs to build their team differently.
7. Easier to lure big bats and non-hitting pitchers to the AL than the NL.
8. Increases the rivalry between the White Sox and Cubs while creating new rivalries with teams like the Twins, Tigers, Royals, Indians, etc…
9. Creates a new excitement around Chicago Cubs baseball and would be a marketing coordinators dream.
10. No matter what they will still be the Chicago Cubs.
Again having the Cubs in the AL would hurt me and I think hurt baseball because the Cubs are National League baseball. To think the Cubs winning the World Series but hoisting it up as the winner in the AL does not feel right to me. I will say out of the “short list” of teams I think the Cubs are the less likely to make the move to the AL which is fine by me.
So what is your take on the possibility of Divisional Realignment and everything it entails?
Leave a comment! Discuss!
Until Next Time….
Transferring from NL to AL
According to this format one NL team would have to transfer to the AL to make both divisions at 15 teams. According to several sources if the new CBA says the divisions will remain in tact then there are only 3 viable teams to move from NL to AL. The Astros, Diamondbacks, and Rockies all could move to the AL West. It would be easiest for the Astros because they could just move from the NL Central to the AL West but the only thing holding them back is start times; in the Houston area for games in Seattle and Anaheim maybe too late effecting the TV market greatly. The other two options still affect the Astros because in both scenarios Houston would be sent to the NL West while either the Diamondbacks or Rockies would be sent to the AL West. Rockies make more sense here because it would not affect the TV market as bad making the transfer but still having Houston move to the NL West would cause TV issues in Texas. Of course all of this would be a mute point if they go to a “non-divisional AL/NL league.
If MLB decides to go to the non-divisional leagues for the NL and AL then pretty much any team from the NL could transfer to the AL. According to my sources MLB wants to go to this format and has a short list of teams they would consider to transfer to the AL which include the Pirates, Astros, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Marlins, Nationals, and yes… the Cubs. In fact most of the teams I listed may have their fans, GM’s, Presidents, and Owners asking to transfer leagues for many reasons, but number one being revenue. AL teams historically make more money on TV and in ticket sales than NL teams, not to mention the buzz around the transferring team going to the AL. If you are the Cubs and you transfer to the AL you will see teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, Rangers, Angels, etc… teams your fan base usually do not have access to which in turn will generate more ticket sales in your home ball park and also in other ball parks where Cubs fans are present.
Having said all that the Astros to the AL makes the most sense and what they will eventually do.
Death to Divisions
If the transition does take place I think having two 15 team leagues is the only way to go. Yes the excitement for the race for first place and the wild card in the present divisional alignment is great but not fair. How is it fair that a team with an 86-76 record wins a division but a 90+ win not make the playoffs because they don’t win their division or the WC. Removing the divisions eliminates this because the 5 playoff spots in each league will be the 5 best teams in each league. Another thing that would benefit is the trade deadline, with only 5 spot and 15 teams in each league by the deadline it would be easier to determine if you are a buyer or seller. Two leagues with no divisions sound like a win-win to me!
More Playoff Teams Please!
Along with all the talk about the possible changes in the new CBA one thing everyone is over looking is each league will gain one playoff team. I am in the minority in thinking the addition of another playoff team does not water down the field but increases attention paid to MLB and attendance around baseball. Not to mention if this does go to non-divisional leagues then the top team in each league would get a first-round bye causing more teams to play their everyday players down the stretch which would also increase competiveness in the later parts of the season. Just adding more teams to playoffs make sense baseball wise and financially.
More Interleague Play???
By baseball making both leagues even they are actually making each one odd. Having 15 teams in each league mean one team from each league would have to play each other because you cannot go everyday with two teams sitting out. Even if you rotated the days so you play 14 games then got the 15th game off it still would not work because of travel, scheduling, etc… So the only option is making interleague play year around which again I think increases TV viewing and tickets prices in a good way. I am all for interleague play!
What about DH?
Since I established that we will have a two 15 team leagues with year around Interleague play that brings up one of the most touchy things in baseball circles; the DH. Now logically you say you just leave it how it is and when you play in an AL park you use the DH and in the NL you let the pitcher hit. Honestly I think all of baseball should go to where the pitcher hits but that causes another big problem. You would have 15 DH players being paid a large amount of cash to basically be a part-time player or they could force another everyday player to rid the bench more. So if they did implement that then you would have a shift players and positions which would just cause a headache in baseball. You could go to the DH only in baseball but trying to get the owners and fans in the NL to approve that would be too difficult so keeping it the way it is just makes sense.
A Case for the Cubs in the AL
Now I know I rocked some boats by saying the Cubs are on the short list of teams that could be moved to the AL. Don’t kill the messenger, I am just reporting what I am hearing and I don’t like the idea either. But for journalism sake I am going to play the devils advocate and look at the pros of transferring leagues-
1. More excitement initially around the Cubs.
2. More revenue generated from the move to the AL. Renewed interest in the team.
3. Chance to play against teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, Rangers, etc…
4. The chance to actually use the DH on an everyday basis.
5. The DH can solve your “Soriano in LF” problem. You place him at DH and you don’t have to worry about him getting hurt or hurting the team in the field.
6. Allows the Cubs to build their team differently.
7. Easier to lure big bats and non-hitting pitchers to the AL than the NL.
8. Increases the rivalry between the White Sox and Cubs while creating new rivalries with teams like the Twins, Tigers, Royals, Indians, etc…
9. Creates a new excitement around Chicago Cubs baseball and would be a marketing coordinators dream.
10. No matter what they will still be the Chicago Cubs.
Again having the Cubs in the AL would hurt me and I think hurt baseball because the Cubs are National League baseball. To think the Cubs winning the World Series but hoisting it up as the winner in the AL does not feel right to me. I will say out of the “short list” of teams I think the Cubs are the less likely to make the move to the AL which is fine by me.
So what is your take on the possibility of Divisional Realignment and everything it entails?
Leave a comment! Discuss!
Until Next Time….
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Quick HIts...
- Baker could be activated on Monday or Tuesday.
- Reed Johnson was taken to a Des Moines hospital after being hit in the head with the ball. He received stitches and it is unknown when his return date may be.
- Soriano may return Tuesday or Weds.
- Aramis Ramirez made statements he would not accept a trade out of Chicago. Aramis will have 10/5 rights this season and has to approve any trade. Sources have said that Aramis maybe just doing the "grown up thing" by saying that so he does not hurt his trade value.
- Brad Snyder was DFA to make room for Casey Colemen in the pen.
- Angel Guzman looked great in his rehab relief appearance in A ball. He threw 21 pitches and struck out two pitchers. Guzman could be activated as early has the end of June.
Until Next Time..
- Reed Johnson was taken to a Des Moines hospital after being hit in the head with the ball. He received stitches and it is unknown when his return date may be.
- Soriano may return Tuesday or Weds.
- Aramis Ramirez made statements he would not accept a trade out of Chicago. Aramis will have 10/5 rights this season and has to approve any trade. Sources have said that Aramis maybe just doing the "grown up thing" by saying that so he does not hurt his trade value.
- Brad Snyder was DFA to make room for Casey Colemen in the pen.
- Angel Guzman looked great in his rehab relief appearance in A ball. He threw 21 pitches and struck out two pitchers. Guzman could be activated as early has the end of June.
Until Next Time..
Thursday, June 09, 2011
Hendry and Kenney Packing????
So I learned mobile uploads are only so many characters long. Bummer! Anyways here you go!
According to Phil Rogers, Jim Hendry and Crane Kenney could be on there way out the door. Phil says the Ricketts family may fire both before the end of the season thus putting the blame on both for the past two awful seasons. Rumor has it that guys like Pat Gilick, Andrew Friedman, Allard Baird, Ben Cherington, or Ned Colletti could be replacements. i would also add Steve Stone and Greg Maddux to the short list. Tim Wilken would be less likely to leave if they hired Gillick because he worked with him in the past which is a huge selling point!
According to Phil Rogers, Jim Hendry and Crane Kenney could be on there way out the door. Phil says the Ricketts family may fire both before the end of the season thus putting the blame on both for the past two awful seasons. Rumor has it that guys like Pat Gilick, Andrew Friedman, Allard Baird, Ben Cherington, or Ned Colletti could be replacements. i would also add Steve Stone and Greg Maddux to the short list. Tim Wilken would be less likely to leave if they hired Gillick because he worked with him in the past which is a huge selling point!
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Improvements and Changes...
I am proud to present some much needed changes and improvements to Hot Stove Cubbies.
First off I am now going to be doing rumor and news updates via twitter as well as on here on HSC. Please feel free to follow me to get the latest news and rumors regarding your Cubs. Follow me @HotStoveCubbies by clicking on the follow me link located in the top right column of the page.
Another improvement that is beneficial for everyone is I am now able to do mobile updates via text message and it sends directly to the blog. One unfortunate thing that blogger does not address is the posting option on the mobile device. You will not be able to post comments to mobile updates from me on the blog until I am able to enable them by accessing the website which I will do. This will allow me to spend more time away from the computer screen and with my family but still not neglecting my devoted readers and posters. Not to mention this should make posting easier and more frequent so everyone wins!
Let me know how everything is working and if you are enjoying the changes by posting here or talking to me via twitter.
Thank you and Go Cubs!!!!!!!!!!!
First off I am now going to be doing rumor and news updates via twitter as well as on here on HSC. Please feel free to follow me to get the latest news and rumors regarding your Cubs. Follow me @HotStoveCubbies by clicking on the follow me link located in the top right column of the page.
Another improvement that is beneficial for everyone is I am now able to do mobile updates via text message and it sends directly to the blog. One unfortunate thing that blogger does not address is the posting option on the mobile device. You will not be able to post comments to mobile updates from me on the blog until I am able to enable them by accessing the website which I will do. This will allow me to spend more time away from the computer screen and with my family but still not neglecting my devoted readers and posters. Not to mention this should make posting easier and more frequent so everyone wins!
Let me know how everything is working and if you are enjoying the changes by posting here or talking to me via twitter.
Thank you and Go Cubs!!!!!!!!!!!
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