Murton Late Scratch; Payton Talks Itensify
UPDATE: While perhaps shopping Murton, the Cubs have had significant talks regarding Baltimore's Jay Payton. The Cubs would send over two mid-level prospects; does Murton fit that criteria? Payton will make $5MM next year to finish his contract.
UPDATE 2: RotoWorld says Murton was scratched tonight to allow Cliff Floyd to play and then get Sunday off.
Matt Murton was a late scratch for tonight's Cubs-Reds game. Does it mean anything? We should know soon enough. This time of year, every scratch or unexpected mid-game substitution is magnified.
The Cubs have been talking to the Rangers about lefty reliever Ron Mahay and catcher Gerald Laird, so maybe there's a connection. The Rangers could definitely find room for Murton in their outfield.
Take it with a grain of salt, but a Cubs source of mine confirms Felix Pie's availability (huh?) and says the Cubs made an inquiry on Torii Hunter. While intriguing, I wouldn't expect either player to be traded.
Laird: i wouldn't do it.
Mahay: sure
Posted by: wood34 | July 28, 2007 at 08:33 PM
They should have just drafted Weiters...
Anyway, I believe the Cubs are part of Hunter's limited NTC and has said in the past how much he dislikes the Cubs. I don't have proof but it somehow sticks in my mind.
Posted by: buehrlebro | July 28, 2007 at 08:46 PM
My guess is that the trade is for Mahay. Either way, if it is for Mahey, this could effect the Braves trade for TEX because the braves wanted Mahey in the deal, or at least he was the most likely reliver to go in the deal. Now, if it is Mahey, that makes it even less likely Gagne, Benoit, or Wilson will come to the braves (if Gagne is not the one who went to the cubs), and thus will make the trade for Tex alone, which may make the braves new package salty, harrison and lillibridge.
Of course, if the trade is for laird, that makes it more likely that the Braves and Rangers will do a deal, as they will have an opening for salty, and maybe make it more likely we could get a reliever along with Tex, which would make our package to the rangers be the original salty, harrison, and andrus.
Posted by: bravesbeast | July 28, 2007 at 08:48 PM
Murton just struck out on 3 pitches. Maybe we can still get a bag of baseballs for him?
Posted by: Derrick Martin | July 28, 2007 at 08:49 PM
For what it's worth... and I would be able to understand this at all, Felix Pie has been held out of the Iowa Cubs lineup tonight. They better not be trading him thats all I have to say.
Posted by: integr96 | July 28, 2007 at 09:16 PM
edit above comment: I would not be able to understand...
Posted by: integr96 | July 28, 2007 at 09:17 PM
I'm with you '96' on the Pie thing. I still believe the Cubs are a year away from being bonafied contenders. To trade away the future now would be idiotic. But...it IS the Cubs. One the bright side, we're going to gain one and a half games tonite. Cubs win 8-1. Brewers down 5-2 in their last at-bat after losing to the Cards earlier today. Nice!
Posted by: Derrick Martin | July 28, 2007 at 09:27 PM
The cubs really aren't a year away when you think about it.
No, they are definitely not a great team but there isn't even a good team in their division. Milwaukee is a below .500 team in the AL and may yet finish there anyhow.
Besides the NL Central having nothing, the whole NL has no great team in it.
The NL is so weak that the cubs could very conceivably make the World Series.
And, I'm not even a cub fan.
Let's be honest - the Tigers, Red Sox, Indians, Angels, Yankees and maybe even the Twins and Mariners are better than any team in the NL.
Posted by: Blutarski | July 28, 2007 at 10:43 PM
Looks like Murton was a late scratch so Floyd could play Saturday and take Sunday off.
Posted by: JoeM | July 28, 2007 at 10:47 PM
murton pinched hit in the 8th i think
Posted by: bravesrule14 | July 28, 2007 at 11:33 PM
If the Cubs are dead set on getting a CF, they could do a lot worse than Jay Payton. Payton plays very solid defense in CF and hits well enough that it doesn't hurt your lineup. On the A's he got a lot of big hits for us, very versatile, plays all 3 OF positions well...I enjoyed him a lot on the A's personally.
Posted by: Droptop | July 29, 2007 at 02:00 AM
Jay Payton?! Why?
If they're going to do a deal with Baltimore I'd prefer Jamie Walker. We need help in the bullpen the most, especially from the left side.
BTW, the Angels, Yankees, Mariners & Twins are NOT better than any team in the NL. The AL is the better league but not that much better. As a Cub fan the only teams that would stike fear in me is the Indians & the Tigers. Even the Red Sox are beatable.
Posted by: chicagobubbleblog | July 29, 2007 at 02:09 PM
I thought Torii Hunter would never play for the Cubs because of the brick outfield wall?
Posted by: Teetz | July 30, 2007 at 07:21 AM