Cubs Rumors: Wood, Matsui, Crawford

The Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan has the latest on the Cubs this morning.

• It's been known for a few days now that the Red Sox like the idea of adding Kerry Wood as their setup man.  Sullivan confirms the interest, and quotes Cubs GM Jim Hendry saying Wood is "getting a lot of action around the industry."  In a pitching-starved market, teams will convince themselves Wood can stay healthy and dominant.  Sullivan speculates that it could take multiple years at $5MM per.  To see a team go 3/15 would not shock me.
• Kaz Matsui is still on the Cubs' radar for a three-year deal.  They could consider using him at shortstop or second base.  Two days ago Tracy Ringolsby had said Matsui "appeared headed to the Astros," but Ken Rosenthal chimed in noting the Cubs and Rockies are ahead of Houston in the Matsui derby.  Hendry met with Matsui yesterday, but no deal is imminent.
• A left-handed hitting outfielder remains on Hendry's wish list.  Carl Crawford hasn't yet been made available according to Sullivan, but the Cubs will surely look into it if he is.  Kosuke Fukudome remains a possibility as well.  Bruce Miles adds Ryan Church to the mix.
• The Cubs expect to increase payroll beyond last year's $110MM.

Comments

[wildo05]

My prediction is that the Red Sox end up dealing JD Drew to the Cubs.

[04Forever]

ok, thats a bold statement, why would the sox trade drew to the cubs and for what, you cant just say hes going to get traded to the cubs

[DunkinDonuts]

I don't know, wildo05... My prediction is that it'll cost the Cubs a package of Zambrano + Hill + Pie, plus cash considerations.

Seriously, assuming the Red Sox didn't volunteer to pay Drew's entire salary, can the Cubs really take on any more longterm contracts before they're sold?

[04Forever]

i think maybe he had one of those moments where you lose your inner monologue and blurted it out, cause that makes no sense, it didnt even make sense when the sox did it

[Aduncaroo]

If only Matt Murton was left handed...

[touchmymonkey]

04 - not overly bold statement. Its been thrown out there before
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/11/cafardos-latest.html#comments
Redsox have dumped underproducing players they signed the year before in the past ( Renteria) so its in the realm of possibility. That said I would love cubs to take a flyer on him but don't think we match up well. It would cost close to what TB supposedly wanted for crawford and I would rather give abit more and get him.

[04Forever]

sox have no interst in trading him, he hit over 400 in the playoffs and bounced back in september. besides, renteria had to go because his numbers were WAY below his par numbers, he couldnt handle the environment. besides, what would a deal look like, they wont give anything we can use, nothing that reaches a value of almost 50 million or so (remaining money on his contract)

[trober81]

when is the first stupid trade proposition for carl crawford gonna be posted?

"marshall, murton, and ohman for crawrod and throw in Kazmir"

[touchmymonkey]

I agree 04 - was just pointing out that wildo's statement was not as outrageous as you made it out to be. Not like he said Cubs were going to get Ellsbury for Pie - he just made a prediction - will it come true - most likely not but its one that has been thrown around abit by several people. Thats all I was trying to point out.

[04Forever]

you just posted it.....

[Oh Boy]

I know Drew is an upgrade over what we have, but he can stay in Boston. Until we get somebody, it's Murton, Pagan, Infante or DeRosa in RF I guess. Yikes!

[touchmymonkey]

murton and marquis for crawford... do i get a prize or something for most unrealistic trade?

[trober81]

hahahaha, no prizes for you, but hours of entertainment for me to get through the work day.

[04Forever]

i no you were, i wasnt trying unleash the fury, did it sound like that? if so then im sorry that i unleashed the fury. i just dont see it for more then a couple reasons thats all

[wildo05]

It makes a ton of sense. I didn't say that the Sox would get anything back. By the way...lets be honest Cubs fans I do feel bad for you. Your management team is awful. They manage the way the Sox did for so many years. All of your star players are so one dimensional. Dusty Baker destroyed Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. JD Drew would be a huge upgrade over Jaques Jones and Matt Murton.

[Aduncaroo]

"All of your star players are so one dimensional."

What do you mean by this???

[HoratioAlgae]

Just a question...What happened with Mark DeRosa as the Cubs' secondbaseman? Wasn't he one of last year's stellar signings?

[Mike Simms]

Why would the Cubs want Matsui? He can't play shortstop, and they already have have two good Cajun's in Fontenot and Theriot, and Mark DeRosa to boot. Makes no sense to me. But hey it keeps the Astros from wasting money on him.

[trober81]

Fontenot is not good. he had ONE good month. He is nothing more than a backup infielder. however, i would have thought a theriot-derosa double play combo would have been feasable.

[04Forever]

ok, i will entertain a Drew/Cubs deal, but here is what it would take for the Cubs to aquire Drew

Rich Hill/Geovany Soto/Matt Craig(AAA/Josh Kroeger(AAA)

The Sox would need to eat half, or maybe a tad bit more then half but that is a good deal, i think

[JD]

If you think that they should trade Drew, then Lugo should be on the block as well. He'll be getting $9MM per for a few years and just seems completely overrrated to me, not to mention a terrible '07. Here's a proposal (albeit not a good one):

Red Sox send:
J.D. Drew
$20MM in subsidies over 4 years

Cubs send:
Ronny Cedeno
Michael Weurtz

[04Forever]

with my deal, the cubs get a solid OBP and possible 30 homers a year, back in the NL it might be easier for him. For the sox, Hill makes the Rotation indestructible, Soto solves the catching problem, Craig helps being a prospect 3rd baseman to replace Lowell in 3 years, or less, and Kroeger, well, its a always good to have an outfielder in the wings

[metafrantic]

HoratioAlgae, DeRosa actually had a pretty good year for the type of player he is. He had a .371 OBP, set a career high in BB (oky, it was still only 58), and played 6 different positions at least once. He was incredibly versatile and still managed to give half-decent numbers (.293/.371/.420, 10HR, 72 RBI, 28 2B), mostly from 2B and SS. All that for $2.75 million. Not bad at all.

[wildo05]

Soriano = Terrible Defense with no On-Base

Aramis Ramirez = Plays Big on During Contract Run

Derek Lee = Declining Power

Mark Prior = Fried Arm

Kerry Wood = Overworked

Ryan Dempster = Garbage

Carlos Zambrano = Not a Big Game Pitcher and a Complete Head Case

Look at your payroll. You have a $100 million dollar payroll and it is pure garbage. I want the Cubs to do well and I root for them eventhough I am a Sox fan, but you need to can Jim Hendry. Ted Lilly vastly overpaid. You are trying to sign Kaz Matsui, cmon guys! You need one of these young up and coming general managers who think out of the box. Also I forgot Lou Pinealla. He should have been fired after pulling your best pitcher after 80 pitches. He is so overrated because he gives good sound bites. I am looking out for you guys! I am not a Cub hater!

[DunkinDonuts]

First of all, Red Sox fanboy that I am, I think you're underestimating the independent values of Hill and Soto.

Second, in all these armchair shenanigans, who plays RF for the Red Sox in 2008?

[Aduncaroo]

"Red Sox send:
J.D. Drew
$20MM in subsidies over 4 years

Cubs send:
Ronny Cedeno
Michael Weurtz"

That is a done deal as far as the Cubs are concerned...probably not so much for the Sox.

There is NO WAY IN HELL the cubs trade EITHER Hill or Soto...let alone both. Not saying it wouldn't be "fair", but its just not happening for another bloated long term commitment on an oft injured guy.

By the way, Fontenot is bad..really bad. He is nowhere near a starter...he is lucky to make the roster. Patterson is twice the player he is right now...let alone for the future.

[04Forever]

coco crisp plays right field, or ellsbury, thats easy

[Aduncaroo]

"

Soriano = Terrible Defense with no On-Base

Aramis Ramirez = Plays Big on During Contract Run

Derek Lee = Declining Power

Mark Prior = Fried Arm

Kerry Wood = Overworked

Ryan Dempster = Garbage

Carlos Zambrano = Not a Big Game Pitcher and a Complete Head Case

Look at your payroll. You have a $100 million dollar payroll and it is pure garbage. I want the Cubs to do well and I root for them eventhough I am a Sox fan, but you need to can Jim Hendry. Ted Lilly vastly overpaid. You are trying to sign Kaz Matsui, cmon guys! You need one of these young up and coming general managers who think out of the box. Also I forgot Lou Pinealla. He should have been fired after pulling your best pitcher after 80 pitches. He is so overrated because he gives good sound bites. I am looking out for you guys! I am not a Cub hater!"

Soriano - led the league in outfield assists...from left field!

Ramirez - played big LAST YEAR, AFTER signing a huge contract. Played his best D ever, among the best in baseball! How about that walk off HR to beat the division leading brewers?!?!?

Derrek Lee - GG winner, hit .317 with an OBP over 400!!! SLG was still very very good, despite drop in HR.

Zambrano - Not a big game pitcher??? 1 ER in game one of the playoffs in 6 innings...so his playoff era was 1.5. Not a big game pitcher? Are you serious?

Prior - just had his FIRST arm surgery ever....ever.

Wood - Helped us a great deal in the stretch run last year, not making big money.

Dempster - Did you really include him on this list??

Anyway...you assessment is horrendous.

[04Forever]

besides, when your asking for a trade with a guy that is not technically available and being openly shopped, then the asking price is going to be high. hill or soto would have to be involved, one way or the other, and two prospects. never mind the fact that the cubs get JD Drew for about 6 million per year if that, not that crappy of a deal

[Aduncaroo]

by the way...Lilly is vastly overpaid?? Do you really believe that? He was a very solid #2 pitcher last year...and is only making an average of 10 mil. How much does your teams #3 pitcher make??

[bravesbeast]

Wildo, nice analysis, only problem is that soriano, lee, aramis, wood, zambrano, all those guys took the cubs to the playoffs for the first time in a while. I hardly think that that is a wasted payroll. You leave out all the obvious positives of each of those players and just go with one negative.

Come on man, get a clue. The Cubs do have a good team that can win now. Zambrano is a big game pitcher, he did well in September (3.44 ERA) and looked good against the D'backs in the playoffs, he just had no run support, as the cubs were going against a debatable cy young candidate. While the offense can be a bit feast or famine, that offense in wrigley for 81 games is still one of the better offenses in the NL, and in the weak nl central, that offense combined with zambrono and lilly and an improving hill is a force to be reckoned with for a least the next few years.

[04Forever]

i love the cubs, if they had just one or two more power batters, they are a World Series team, there management just blows. If Mark Cuban or Donald Trump buys this team, i think the cubs could be alot better

[wildo05]

Last time I checked outfield assists are about meaningless is the number of balks a pitcher has. Manny Ramirez led the American League in assists does that mean he is a good fielder (See I can be objective). I didn't know you paid a guy a ton of money to give you all glove and no bat. Who cares about one meaningless homerun. What did ARam do in the playoffs? Exactly...nothing. The same is true with Derrek Lee. Gold Gloves are the most overrated award. Alex Gonzalez last year committed three errors at short and still lost the glove to Derek Jeter and is 28 errors. His ERA was 1.5 that is laughable. He pitched in one game who cares. Try pitching like Beckett or Schilling then talk to me about a big game pitcher.

[mmontice]

Why would any team give up valuable players for J.D. Drew? He's completely overpaid, usually injured, will be 32 years old next year, and no longer has significant power. The dude made $15M last year.

[04Forever]

if you cut drews contract in half in the trade he only makes 6 million a year, 6 from each team, thats not bad, considering he was superb in september and october, when it counts

[bravesbeast]

Well, in the case of wildo, i guess you truely cannot debate with pure ignorance.

[bravesbeast]

The Cubs just need to sign fukudome, do not have to give up any prospects, you can infuse the the aura of a good japanses player into the large chicago market, you are going to get good defense along with a nice lefty bat to compliment a right-heavy lineup, plus he will come at a price that will not top drew's, the cubs and fukudome do make a lot of sense

[Aduncaroo]

"Try pitching like Beckett or Schilling then talk to me about a big game pitcher"

He did...right? He only pitched in one game, and was FANTASTIC. What are you talking about??

You think Aramis had a bad year?? Are you serious??? Take a look again buddy...

Lee is one of the best defensive 1st basemen in the game...and thats a fact.

Soriano was rated by the fielding bible as being in the middle of the pack. Add that with all the assists and you have an above average left fielder...so what are you talking about?

I'm sorry...but your analysis just isn't good.

[ozziethesaint]

Wildo does have some valid points. Sori is horrible in LF, he led the league in assists only because teams were running on his noodle arm every single change they got. Z is a headcase that can blow up at any minute. DLee did seem to have his power sapped this past season. ARam puts up good numbers over a whole season but is not really clutch. Prior is probably washed up already. And Lilly and Marquis are grossly over paid. Pointing to Lilly's 2007 stats is nice and all, but let's see if he can do it again in 2008 before we call him a bargain.

Aduncaroo, you really can't be that short sighted to claim assists make Sori a good LF'er can you? He just had more chances to throw someone out because no one was afraid to run on him.

[Aduncaroo]

"Sori is horrible in LF, he led the league in assists only because teams were running on his noodle arm every single change they got."

All I need...a Cards fan to give me an assessment.

Noodle arm??? He has a GREAT arm....you are on crack. Ask anyone, ask any scout. His arm is terrific. Fielding Bible says he is average...but I guess you know better.

"ARam puts up good numbers over a whole season but is not really clutch."

Really?? Are you sure?? He was known as "money" by his teammates this year because he was SO clutch. You obviously didn't watch him at all...because he was the best clutch hitter they had this year...so again, what are you talking about???

"And Lilly and Marquis are grossly over paid. Pointing to Lilly's 2007 stats is nice and all, but let's see if he can do it again in 2008 before we call him a bargain."

The Cubs only paid him for 07...and they got a bargain for that year. We will see over the life of the contract...but OBVIOUSLY, he was not overpaid last year. Obviously.

Oh...and I'm not claiming he is a good left fielder...I'm saying that fielding bible says he is average. So you think otherwise?

[ozziethesaint]

Considering I live in Central Illinois I see just as many Cub games as I do Cards games. While your LF'er is better defensively than ours, he's hardly good. And Sori most certainly does not have a great arm. And if you really want, I can call up a scout and ask him...

[Aduncaroo]

Please do. Don't ask him about anything than Sori's arm. I don't know ANYONE that has ever claimed that he doesn't have a good arm....you are the first. Can anyone else give me some feedback on this??

[Aduncaroo]

If you want to actually analyze him...fine, I can tell you all about it.

Strengths - Good speed can make up for a lot, and he has good speed. His arm also throws out nearly everyone that attempts to run on him.

Weaknesses - Sometimes takes bad routes and is totally scared of that brick wall...he won't go near it.

On a side note...I might throw up if I have to watch him continue that little hop before me makes a routine catch for the next 7 years.

Anyway, like I'm saying...he is average..not good, but not horrible either. You are right, you have an example of what horrible looks like.

[ozziethesaint]

While he's no Podsednik, he defintiely doesnt have a good arm. Even as an infielder the knock on him was a below average arm

[TTH]

Did someone actually suggest the Cubs would trade Rich Hill/Geovany Soto/Matt Craig/Josh Kroeger for the overrated dog known as JD Drew? The Red Sox would have to pay that entire horrible contract to make that even a consideration. 30 Hr potential, that's funnier than that trade poposal. I guess Sammy Sosa should be on a lot of teams' radars. He has 60 hr "potential". He's hit 60 more times that the $14 million dog has hit 30 (once). But JD did hit a whopping 11 last year!

[ozziethesaint]

Well I can match your scouting report

Defensively, it didn't get any worse than Soriano at second base. The move to the outfield was inevitable and he's become serviceable, if not average, in left. His recognition and routes are both below average but his sheer speed allows him to outrun the ball and cover a lot of ground. His arm strength is a tick below average in left.

That was posted last winter in the paid version of scout.com

[EM3]

that drew proposal would make boston real happy.

the cubs should go all out for fukudome, but that's it. save this payroll increase for next year.

http://mlbfleecefactor.com/2007/11/21/cubs-payroll-expected-to-rise/

[04Forever]

TTH, if you read my earlier post about when teams ask for unavailable players, the price goes up, you would know why i throw out those players you dont want to get rid of. besides, people are saying the cubs WANT drew, we arent forcing it down their throats, but im certain that is going to be were negotations start with Theo Epstein.

PS - JD Drew did alot more production in October then 4 of your best hitters combined, fun fact

[Pilk12]

The simple fact is, that when people run on Soriano, he throws them out. He has shown that ability with both the Cubs and the Nats. Regardless of how strong you think his arm is, it is obviously strong enough to get the job done. Like I said, more times than not, when people try to run on him, they get thrown out.

As for his defense in general...well, that's shaky at best. Some of the routes he takes to balls are attrocious. Fortunately, he has the speed to make up for many of those bad jumps.

[ozziethesaint]

Actually Pilk, it's not fair to say he throws out he throws out the runner more times than not, other teams tend to run on him more than most LF'ers so it's only a given he would have more chances for assists

[Aduncaroo]

By the way...PECOTA gave him a +9 defensive ranking for 2006. Why? Those assists probably had a lot to do with it. What did he do this year? The same.

Ozzie...even if they were right about his arm strength being a "tick below average", he certainly more than makes up for it with accuracy. Not exactly "noodle" of an arm though..huh?

The Cubs won't even consider trading Hill or Soto in a deal for a guy who is always injured...making ridiculous money...and has hit 30 HR one time in his life. Please stop acting like its even a consideration.

[Aduncaroo]

"Actually Pilk, it's not fair to say he throws out he throws out the runner more times than not,"

Why isn't that fair? Its a fact. Percentage wise, when there is a chance to throw the runner out, he does it more than almost anyone. Look at the numbers the last two years. Its beyond fair...it happened.

[Pilk12]

O4Forever, I don't think it was Cubs fans wanting Drew, maybe I'm wrong, but I don't really care. If the Cubs were going to trade Hill, I can guarantee it won't be for Drew, Crawford...maybe, but I think that too would be ill advised.

Hill is a solid #3 in the N.L., and Soto will be our started next year. Trading those two for Drew would create two holes, and fill another that could get the same production from Murton at league minimum. I know Hendry wants a lefty bat, but not at that price.

[Aduncaroo]

"PS - JD Drew did alot more production in October then 4 of your best hitters combined, fun fact"

Fun Fact - Drew gave the production of about a Matt Murton during the regular season. Nice signing, and very fun fact.

[Pilk12]

Thank you Aduncaroo.

[ozziethesaint]

Aduncaroo, when you get more chances at something, you're more likely to occasionally get it right. It's just a given fact. It doesn't mean that he's better than anyone else, it just means that he gets more opportunities. The guys with the best arms generally don't get as many assists because no one runs on them nearly as much. I'll use a Cardinals example since they are my team. After the assist that Ankiel got in Wrigley gunning the guy at 3rd, he probably only had another 2-3 real chances at an assist because runners weren't taking as many chances against him. It's the same for Vlad and all the other guys with Cannon arms. You absolutely can not say assists equal an above average arm.

[TTH]

"PS - JD Drew did alot more production in October then 4 of your best hitters combined, fun fact"

First of all, they're not mine. And one week sample sizes to justify one of the worst contracts in the league is kind of foolish. Fun fact, Ted Williams had a career World Sewries ba of .200, therefore, by your standards, guys like Bucky Dent (.349 WS ba) are more valuable.

You're right, though. Teams will give up four players for the right to pay $14 mil to a player whose numbers have declined for three straight seasons, plays when he feels like it, and is attrocious vs. lhp because he had 6 decent games on TV.

[Aduncaroo]

I'm not saying assists equal above average arm. I'm saying he HAS an above average arm and sooner or later the runners are going to stop acting like retards. PERCENTAGE WISE, he throws out more runners per chance than most left fielders...THAT is what I'm saying. I can't prove it, because I don't think there is a stat for chances to throw a runner out. If there was, it would prove my point.

By the way...Ankiel has literally the best arm that I have EVER, EVER seen. I was at the game where he threw that runner out...and it was WELL beyond impressive. I was almost happy to see the guy thrown out just because I got a chance to witness it...and that is saying a BUNCH being a Cubs fan.

[Oh Boy]

Btw, I thought I would chime in on Crawford. Would I like to have him, yes. Would I like to have him for Hill in any combo package, no way. The Devil Rays...I mean Ray's...are hard to make trades with other teams. Plus, Crawford would demand a good return. The Cubs don't have all that much to give up that would cripple their team. I don't see it happening.

[ozziethesaint]

If there was such a stat, i think you'd be surprised to find out it would make my point. Considering how many times players try and take an extra base on Sori compared to some of the other LF'ers in the NL

[Aduncaroo]

by the way Ozzie...another fun fact. You live in ILL as a Cards fan...I live and work in St. Louis, my office is 2 blocks from Busch. Ironic...

[Aduncaroo]

I think you are wrong. Not as many ran on him this year as you think. People are learning...and not that many tried to take the extra base as you think, because he kept throwing them out. Believe me, it would prove my point.

[04Forever]

first off, yes it does make a difference, you know why, because of that october, we have atleast one more world series then you. and if that ted williams bucky dent fact is true, then yes, he is more valuable in the PLAYOFFS. yeah, thats what it would cost, what do you want me to say, im not the GM, but thats what it would be, and they wouldnt pay 14 million per year, if you read ANYTHING ive written on this post, ANYTHING, you wouldve read they would only have to pay half of his salary. oh, and his numbers didnt decline for three straight years, 06 was his best career year, 07 was mild and got hot in september. and he hit better off lefties this year then any other year he was with the dodgers.

one more thing - I DONT EVEN CARE!! I dont even want to trade him, get over it!

[Oh Boy]

"Also I forgot Lou Pinealla. He should have been fired after pulling your best pitcher after 80 pitches. He is so overrated because he gives good sound bites."

Uh, just so you know, Zambrano was not our best pitcher last year. Marmol was our best pitcher from start to finish. In fact, he was a lock down, stud out of the pen. His ERA and (most importantly) runs scored on stats was top shelf. Pinella put him in that game against the D-Backs, in post season and Marmol just wet his pants in that situation. That decision is not why the Cubs lost.

[Aduncaroo]

04,

Its good that you don't want to trade him, because no one else wants him. Good luck with him deciding when he wants to play for the next 4 years.

[ozziethesaint]

Yea I live in the heart of Cubs land. Peoria is filled with Cubs love, but luckily the local company has love for both teams so we get Comcast sports and Fox midwest So I can se almost all the Cards, Cubs and Wsox games on local cable. I dont see how Sori could all of a sudden have an average arm even. Everything i can find says his arm is below average for a LF'er which is usually the worst arm of your OF'ers

[Aduncaroo]

"Also I forgot Lou Pinealla. He should have been fired after pulling your best pitcher after 80 pitches. He is so overrated because he gives good sound bites."

I missed that...someone actually said that?? Yeah, I guess the best reliever IN THE GAME wasn't a good decision to put in....

Come on...you think the Cubs would have even MADE the playoffs without sweet Lou?

By the way, the Sox made the playoffs IN SPITE of JD Drew and the millions he stole from you...not because of him. He just happened to chip in for about 10 games once you got there.

[Aduncaroo]

I haven't really seen that. I think his throwing motion is what scares people...but if you listen to what ML scouts have actually said, and people who watch all the time like Steve Stone, they will tell you that it looks awful, but he is one of the better "throwers" from LF in the game. Its probably that his accuracy is making up for pure strenth, and so his overall "arm" is very good....I think thats where the confusion is coming in.

[TTH]

04:.1005 ops (contract year)

05: .932 ops

06: .891 ops

07: .796 ops

I'd call that a downward trend

vs. lhp in 07: .224/.285/.353/.638
Pitcherlike numbers.

How bad was hs vs. lhp for LA.

He's not even worth half of that awful contract. contract.

[Aduncaroo]

Yeah...I always thought Atlanta was easily he best year...and those OPS stats seem to agree.

[04Forever]

Aduncaroo, im not just saying the cubs want him

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/11/cafardos-latest.html#comments

read that, the cubs do want him, research it before you say "nobody wants him". The Cubs are known for making god awful mistakes anyway, this wouldnt be the worst they ever made

[Aduncaroo]

It would be among them...and sure, the Cubs might want him if Boston will pay half his salary and take a trade of Ohman, Wuertz, and Murton. So basically....realistically, the Cubs don't want him.

[04Forever]

good

[Pilk12]

04, did you seriously use that link as justification for saying the Cubs want Drew. It sounded a lot more like unsubstantiated speculation by a sportswriter.

[04Forever]

no touchmymonkey did, and i am totally against a trade involving drew, if you read my previous posts (which nobody seems to have), i said the only way the sox would entertain a drew trade if hill was involved

[Cynic81]

This is getting almost as ridiculous as the Crawford posts. Hill and Soto aren't going anywhere, especially for a right fielder unless a 29-year old Tony Gwynn is involved in the deal. The Cubs aren't going to reopen the revolving door at catcher or blow a hole in the rotation.
And with Drew's salary, there is no chance in hell.

People need to stop judging the Cubs players based on the playoff series. They went from last place to first in one year. Regardless of which division it was in, and I know it's the NL Central, but it's still better than should be expected. Every team blows a playoff series once in a while.

"when you get more chances at something, you're more likely to occasionally get it right. It's just a given fact. It doesn't mean that he's better than anyone else, it just means that he gets more opportunities."
Getting more opportunities may equal more successful attempts, but it almost always drags down the percentage. Soriano throws out more people from the OF than pretty much anyone. Regardless of whether it's because people are running on him, it's still an out coming at 2nd or home usually. I don't care if Soriano had the weakest arm in all of baseball. If he can throw out people at home, that's the most valuable out you can get.

And dogging Lee for having problems with his power is almost like picking on a model for a zit. He still hit 22, most of them in the second half, won a Gold Glove, had 43 doubles, and hit .317 with a .400 OBP. If he can do that every year, I won't complain about that he didn't hit 46 like he did in '05. He'll hit at least 30 again next year. Don't forget he came off of a season with a broken wrist and only played 50 games. Find me a player that had a year like Lee's in '06 and played as well as he did this year, regardless of his "declining power."

[Aduncaroo]

Bravo Cynic, Bravo.

And don't get me started with the Ramirez only plays well in a contract year and isn't clutch comments....those are going to send me through the roof. If you watched him AT ALL this year...you would know better than that.

[RandomScrub]

I read through this with my iPod playing, and the Imperial march from Star Wars came on ironically. Yes, I am a geek, and no, I'm not serious. But hopefully neither is 04Forever.

The reason why the BoSox have such a substantial fan base is the decades they went without winning a world series, decades of a curse that made them as lovable as the Cubs. And while it's hard to deny their status as an evil empire-knock on our players as you will, sometimes not everyone pay 53 million just to negotiate with a player-I would hope that true Red Sox fans would remember what it was like to go a span without a championship.

But your posts are laughable, and disappointingly you defend them. JD Drew for Soto and Hill is an insult, and this is a website more for speculation than comedy. Go on remember 2004 for as long as you'd like, but how bout for a moment remembering why that year meant so much

[04Forever]

what in the hell does remembering 04 have to do with a JD Drew trade? your trying to pair them up so i look like i dont care about my team. paying 53 million dollars ended up being a good idea, 100 millon for 6 years, in this pitching market, was a good idea. and for christ sake, for the 100th time, it was a baseline, a joke as to what would be asked for by the red sox, i know that the cubs wont give it up, but that is what would be asked for. dont challenge my merit as a sox fan my friend, you dont know me, that year means alot to me, so much that this year felt almost smaller then a grain of salt. and dont give me that crap, like I (myself) control the team, its not my fault they make the plans they do, im just lucky that they do cause they produce a good team, its not my fault your team doesnt.

[Aduncaroo]

We did have a good team...just not a great one. Add 50 mil in payroll and we would be on the same level...as your outcome and your payroll.

[04Forever]

once again, not my fault, take it up with your team president

[Aduncaroo]

We don't have one at the moment....

[04Forever]

well if that doesnt help my argument nothing will will it lol

[Aduncaroo]

I'm not really sure how it turned into what it is now...but nothing is going to convince anyone that acquiring JD Drew is going to help if it costs any more than half his contract and any A prospects.

[04Forever]

ok, im really just tired of fighting now, can we call this a draw please??

[Aduncaroo]

deal...I forgot what we were even fighting about...Happy Thanksgiving!!!

[04Forever]

haha, happy thanksgiving!

[ozziethesaint]

Why would anyone even want a one year wonder like Soto to start with? Are the Cub fans gonna try and make him into the best thing since oh Matt Murton?

[X-Factor]

Just after browsing these posts, I've got a few things to point out.

On Soriano:
He's not a great defensive outfielder, and he doesn't run good routes...but give this guy time, remember he's been an outfielder for a total of 2 years. Most major league outfielders have been in that position for over 20 years. Those who say his arm is weak...I'm assuming you just never watched a Cubs game. The guy's arm is blazing. "Frozen Ropes" are exactly what this guy throws. And regardless of all of this, he wasn't even signed for his defense. He got a big contract due to his offense. It wasn't completely there this year, but it will make it. It was his first year in Chicago. Any defense he gave us was a plus.

Ramirez:
For those that say he's not a big-game hitter, you again are anti-Cubs fans that here a friend at school or work say such nonsense and believe it to be true. He gets hurt once a year, out for about a month, and comes back tearin' it up, plain and simple. And his defense has been spectacular over the last couple years. He gets to balls most 3rd basemen don't, and makes good strong throws across the diamond.

Derrek Lee:
Declining power? Are we forgeting he broke his wrist last year? He really started coming on towards the end of the season, when he said his wrist was bout 90%. His power will be back, and he's the best defensive first baseman in baseball.

Lou Pineilla:
Yup, we made a bad move here. He took a last place team to the playoffs in one year, managed guys like Zambrano and Barrett (until Barrett got knocked the hell out of Chicago, literally) and made a terrible move by taking out a starter for the best middle-relief guy in baseball in '07. Why didn't we sign someone else?

My point:
Do the Cubs have flaws? Of course, probably more than just about all of last year's playoff teams. But are Soriano, Lee, Ramirez and Lou the reasons we struggled when we did? That's laughable. They didn't have a good post-season...and that's tough. But if it weren't for them, we wouldn't be in the post-season. They'll get back there, and they'll do better. If you want to look @ the Cubs flaws, start with guys like Ohman, Jacque Jones (who did play 100x better in the 2nd half, and was still "average"), Matt Murton, and Ryan Theriot. I like most of those guys (especially Theriot), but they struggled off and on all year. How Ohman is still in baseball purplexes me.

/soft-rant.

[darkstar1661]

Here, I think I can help you out for the future Tim…

The rumor:
“The cubs are interested in trading for everyone, and are contemplating signing everyone”

The replies from posters after this “rumor”
“OF COURSE the Cubs WILL sign him!!! They are the FAVIROTES because EVERYONE wants to play for the Cubs”
&
“OF COURSE the Cubs WILL trade for him!!! A package of Marshall & Murton would easily get it done…”
Followed by something to the extent of:
“This team WILL be UNSTOPABLE! NO team in baseball is EVEN CLOSE to as good as the Cubs…”

Then when all is said and done they will probably just have a ton of 4th OFers, utility INFers and 3-4 SP-types while the rest of us will hear about how amazing each of these deals are for the next year…

Well, atleast that is how it normally goes…

[X-Factor]

Darkstar, care to point out where anything remotely close to that was said?

[darkstar1661]

Huh, what? Oh I didn’t read all the posts, it wasn’t about them ~ it’s just a Cubs rumor thread and that’s what they go like 99% of the time…

[Aduncaroo]

Don't worry X-Factor...he isn't basing it on anything. He just likes to give it to Cubs fans when he can.

[darkstar1661]

Well hey, if 99% of posted rumors about the Cubs go that way then why go through it? I figured giving Tim an option like that would save tons of people tons of needless bickering over pointless possibilities which wont come true. I mean seriously, none of us need to hear over and over again about a package of Marques/Murton/Cedeno landing Crawford… And they have been rumored for just about every player fitting their OF, INF, RP & SP needs/wants so…

But whatever, I’m sure this conversation was stimulating and so sorry to interrupt it…