Crasnick's Latest: Kuroda, Marquis, Morris

Trades within a division are rare but I think the Cardinals would make a call to the Pirates about Matt Morris and Jack Wilson.

The Cardinals can afford to take on both Salaries, if the Pirates want to dump them both off for a modest return.

"The Cubs are listening to offers for Jason Marquis"

... (turn on audio) ...
http://new.wavlist.com/soundfx/014/cricket-2.wav

Giles is under contract for $9 million for 2008 and has a $9 million club option for 2009. If I were the Cubs, I'd deal Marquis for him. But, I'd probably deal Marquis for a basket of balls. I'm not his biggest fan.

Though, if the purpose of a deal like that would be to make room for Kuroda, it might have another consequence of making the Cubs not go after Fukudome.

Hes injury prone***

No clue why I said old (yet he isnt young)

If the Cubs do go ahead and trade Marquis, they had better have another SP lined up, hopefully two. As of now without Marquis the only ppl that are worthy of being in a MLB starting rotation are Big Z, Lilly, and Hill. Trade Marshall while were at it, get a real pitcher.I dont see why we arent making a pitch for Haren. Oakland wants a young CF, we have Pie. Seems like a fit.

I agree with the other poster, GmblngPtchr20. If Hendry's asking price is fair, he should be traded by the end of the winter meetings next week. I think more than a couple clubs would roll dice on Marquis. Especially the asking price for others in his same cost/performance range.

"Hmm, I hadn't noticed before, but Clement was a Cub at the same time as Prior and Wood, when Baker was manager. And all three developed serious arm troubles. Coincidence?"

Actually, Wood had arm trouble a few managers before Baker. He was logging heavy innings in high school with bad mechanics. The bad delivery carried over to the big club. Riggleman was his first manager. It did not help that he used Wood too much, as did Baylor, as did Baker. The over use and bad mechanics are bound to catch up and here we are still hoping for a injury free year.

I can't totally blame Clement on Baker. Though he is not good with pitchers. Clement's bread and butter is a hard slider. Lots of stress on the arm.

As for Prior, they say his arm slot is degenerative. There is movement in between the shoulder joint and arm. Meaning he has had it, will have it and has to learn to pitch through it. All I know is he has not been the same since the collision in between 1st & 2nd with Giles in '03. They say that is not the cause, but I say it did not help at all. Oh yeah, Baker used him wrong, too.

Bottom line, Baker is at fault and not totally at fault. But since he is horrible with pitchers, I see your point. Also, keep in mind Baker's Giant managing days. A few pitchers there like Schmitt, Ortiz and others had arm/shoulder issues, too. Again, I'm sure not all Baker's fault. He did not help with his bad managing.

"that 5 spot could go to Marshall, Gallegher, Hart, and Prior."

Apparently those in the running for the number 5 spot are Kevin Hart, Sean Gallagher, Sean Marshall and Mark Holliman according to Cubs.com.
My head might pop if anyone else mentions Prior in that group. Prior won't even be able to play until at least the second half of the year. It's not like he's going to show up at spring training with a miraculously healed shoulder (though I wouldn't put it past him to try to convince people he could).

If the Cubs dump Marquis, then there will be Z, Lilly, Hill, and then some combination of Hart, Gallagher, Marshall, and Dempster. Marshall will at least eat up innings and give you a chance to win the game, but the others haven't really had an opportunity to show what they can do as starters.

It just worries me that the Cubs are starting to dump guys that need to be dumped, but aren't filling the big holes that are being left behind; i.e. Jones.

"Marshall will at least eat up innings"

What? He barely got out of the 5th the majority of his starts last year. Gallagher is the innings eater. And as far as I know Prior should be back by the start of the season.

Hopefully they can dump Dempster and Marquis.