Cubs Eyeing Ibanez, Giles, DeJesus

One left-handed hitter out there generating zero talk is Barry Bonds (1.051 Career OPS). Can't explain that one.

If Huff isn't being discussed, then he will most likely be the one traded. Maybe he's the reason the Mets were scouting Baltimore?

Wouldn't Randy Winn accomplish the same purpose for the Cubs at a cheaper price? I do like the idea of having one of these guys join Fukudome and Johnson to split time in CF/RF, with Edmonds moved to a bench/PH role to replace the awful Daryle Ward. Edmonds' production is regressing back to the mean this month, and now his 36 yo body is creaking and complaining again. Cubs should count themselves lucky they got two nice months out of Edmonds.

I like a Winn trade for the Cubs more than Ibanez simply because the Giants will want young bats instead of young pitchers like Seattle, and the Cubs have some young bats in the minors available for trade.

huff to the mets doesnt make much sense. delgado is on a tear and dreaming up any scenario with huff playing a position other than first is horrifying. i'm betting the reason that he hasnt been mentioned much is probably because the market for 1b on contending teams isnt exactly hot. diamondbacks might make sense as tracy and jackson have some position flexibility but youd still be forcing reynolds, tracy, or jackson out of the lineup somehow.

I hope for the red sox sake this were to happen only b/c the mets might take a lil more interest in manny...but were comin down to the wire so I doubt it.

I kind of like the idea of a Raul Ibanez-Randy Winn type pick up, but only if the Cubs could help another AL contender by trading them Scott Eyre and Daryle Ward, for a few minor leaguers. The Cubs' farm system isn't has stacked with talent has everyone seems. What about a Michael Wuertz for Randy Winn deal? Giants get a nice young bullpen arm, while the Cubs get a versatile OF. Again, I would want to trade Ward, at least, first. Edmonds/Winn/Fontenot has the LH bench bats would be enough. When Winn doesn't start, that is.

I'm perplexed by this rumor. Edmonds/Johnson have been getting the job done in CF. Fukudome is more comfortable in RF and signed a contract because the Cubs would play him in RF. Ibanez, in my opinion, is not worth bruising the Fukudome/Cubs relationship. I'm not saying the Cubs shouldn't make a trade, but make one for a player that will solidify their run to a World Series Win.

When did Camden Yards become a 'hitter's park'? I'd always heard it was pretty neutral. Where are you getting this?

Yeah about Raul Ibanez..................................................................................................................I like our OF so why? If you look for a left- hander of the bench go for Aubrey Huff he can play 1B/ 3B and RF and LF and his stats don't lie.
.302 average
22 homers
71 RBIs
67 runs
2 SB
I would love to see the Cubs get him.

I think one reason you don't see any speculation regarding the Cubs and Huff, or Sherill for that matter, is that Hendry had enough talking with the O's during the winter regarding the failed Roberts talks. The O's are very difficult to deal with, and I wouldn't fault Hendry at all if he simply concluded he didn't need the aggravation.

Besides Winn and Ibanez, I saw Mark Kotsay's name mentioned on another site, another good option IMO. If I remember right, there were Kotsay to the Cubs rumors a couple of winters ago, I think Hendry (or one of his scouts) really likes him.

I think the cubs should get rid of Howry when they still can. i think once wood comes back there is no need for him. (not that there was much of a need for a mediocre 1 pitch guy anyways)
the new rookie they just picked up has proved he has the right stuff for the big leagues, and what better way to get him the experience, than by putting him in major league situations. the cubs need another decent arm in the bullpen that will give up very few runs and get outs. not a guy that throws 91 mph fastballs over and over again until the batter kills the ball.

When Howry is one, he's one of the best middle/late relievers in the game. The problem is, he's been off as much as on this year. Last year, the only issues he had were early on... and he was very close to lights-out in the second half. I hold out hope that he can do the same this year.

By the way that "new rookie" in Smardie was the team's #2 pick just a couple of years ago behind Colvin. He's been the subject of debate since then as to whether or not he was what it takes to make it in a lot of places (this site included). I don't think he has long to be in the pen, for I think the team has ideas of him and Veal being the future of the rotation.

Cotts has been pitching well. Marshall has been alright... and is a strong guy to have as a long man. Lieber was pitching well before he got hurt (btw, he's on the DL... HE CAN'T BE TRADED!). Marmol is returning back to form, as I believe Howry will as well. Smardie's looked good thus far. Guadin has also looked very good thus far. So, I think a pen of Marshall/Lieber, Cotts, Guadin, Smardie, Howry, Marmol, and Wood will be a great pen once Wood gets back. That means Eyre, Wuertz, Hart can all be moved for whatever can be had.

As far as any OF options at all. The only one I'd really put much consideration into is Kotsay. He wouldn't downgrade the defense... and he'd be alright with the bat. However, he's not much more than Johnson. Honestly, I think I'd rather just stick with what we have right now for the offense, bench, and pen... and see if it's possible to upgrade over Marquis.

Well, Grind, by the time the postseason comes around... and hopefully the Cubs are involved... I'm sure Kerry Wood will be back and in the closer role. That means Marmol goes back to the setup role. At that point, Howry becomes a late/middle reliever with Guadin. The only concern I'd have is who will be the DH if we make it to the WS... but I'm not about to begin thinking of that yet. There's still 2 full months left to go... and 2 dangerous teams in our own division to worry about before October rolls around.

And while I'm reveling in beating the Brewers in the first 3 games of this current season... and I'll be holding my broom as I watch tomorrow night's game... I wouldn't begin to count them out. I also wouldn't take my eyes off of St. Louis, Philly, or even the Mets at this point. I also wouldn't make the mistake of believing this one series writes off Milwaukee either. If they can get either Guardado or Rhodes for their pen... that will change things a bit, considering their pen has been one of their biggest weaknesses this year.

We do have a chance to open things up a bit though. We send Harden against Bush tomorrow. Hopefully we can finally get Harden some credit for his great performance thus far... and get him his first win since the trade. Our next six are hosting Pitt and Houston. Then a week from Friday we begin a 3-game homestand against the Cardinals. Meanwhile the Brewers go to Atlanta and Cincy... then host Washington.
The Braves may be 10 under .500, but they are 8 above .500 at home. Cincy has also been tough at home. The Cards host Philly, the Dodgers... then come to Wrigley.

By the way... where's all the "bad division" talk now when it comes to the NL Central? 3 teams with 60 or more wins (and the top 3 records in the NL, 3 of the top 6 in the entire MLB)... and our last place team would be challenging for the NL West crown right now. It's also the only division besides the AL East where all teams have at least 50 wins... and our division has 6 teams, not 5 like the AL East.

Wouldn't DeJesus take some decent prospects considering he's signed cheaply for the next couple years?

Crap, I forgot the quotes "" up there, I wish I could edit it. Sorry for making it difficult to read.

New, I apologize if redundant, but has anybody mentioned Frank Catalanotto? If so, what's been said about him? Aren't the cubs looking for a left-handed batting outfielder? Doesn't he fit stated criteria?

"DeJesus has WAY more value to the Royals than anyone else seeing as he's their best hitter. He's an above average CF all around that's locked in cheaply until 2011. Why would they deal him for a garbage deal like the one proposed above?"

Because the fact of the matter is that DeJesus is a 28 year old .280/.360/.450 hitter with little or no upside remaining. Right now he has a lot of value around baseball because he's under contract so cheaply and is still fairly young. I think that now (slash this offseason) would be a good time to move him, ya know, strike while the iron is hot. I mean yeah, he's a good player, but he's not Bay. I would expect a Nady-like package.

Pie/Thomas is a pretty solid offer for DeJesus. Presumably the Royals would want Pie included, as he could immediately take over in CF for the Royals long term. Honestly I feel like a Pie/Cedeno/Thomas/Hart offer would be pretty interested for the Royals. They need all the help they can get. A potential stud CF, a good middle infielder, a good 2B prospect and a solid reliever is a pretty good haul. Maybe the Royals would be interested in Rich Hill, but they could probably land more though so I don't see anything happening anytime soon.

I got into the discussion about Howry being a type A or B about a month or two ago...

Here is the deal. Before the season started, he was easily a type A. However, it only uses his last TWO seasons of work, so his 06 season will not count toward it, and it will be last year and this year's performances combined. I was confident that he would be a type A, because the last three years his numbers after the break were outstanding. However, he is starting to scare me. He doens't seem to be getting the late life that he did last year on his fastball, which took it from being a 91 mph average at best fastball, to being a "heavy" 94 mph heater that everyone knew was coming and still couldn't hit. If he doesn't get that back...we will probably have to hope for a type B. However, a sandwich pick would be just fine with me. He would surely reject an arbitration offer because of this ridiculous market for relievers.

"Pie/Cedeno/Thomas/Hart"

I would think that package would definitely get it done. Not sure I would want to do it from a Cubs perspective, since I see Thomas taking over 2nd base eventually...

Also, if the Cubs are going to trade Pie, and with Colvin's performance, what in the world would their future plans be for CF?? I think they hold on to Pie...but just my opinion.

David DeJesus? Ha, how about the Cubs using IVAN DeJESUS again!

"I would think that package would definitely get it done. Not sure I would want to do it from a Cubs perspective, since I see Thomas taking over 2nd base eventually...

Also, if the Cubs are going to trade Pie, and with Colvin's performance, what in the world would their future plans be for CF?? I think they hold on to Pie...but just my opinion."

Of Course I never said I necessarily wanted to do the deal, I'm just saying that's probably what the deal would look like. I think Thomas can be a pretty good 2B as well, a .300/.360/.410 kind of guy that'll give you a little speed and defense. He's not too close though so he's far from a lock. I want Pie to be there as well though so I expect them to hold onto him as well.