More On Harden, Sabathia Trades

Amen Macky

bjguess-agree with you that Beane gets top value the majority of times, but he goes about it in a better way. He sets the bar high at the beginning of talks and if the price can’t be met, the deal doesn’t get done. He doesn’t start backpedaling in desperation to get a deal done when he sees that the other party is backing out. You know from the start where he is coming from. It’s an open an honest process.

The others I mentioned, they’re the dirtiest kind of used car salesmen you’ve ever met. Not just trying to win a deal, but trying to fleece and embarrass the other party:

Daniels: I’m not sure who gave you this bad information. Marlon Byrd is much more than 4th outfielder. Sure he’s hitting .238 w/ 3 HR, but he’s an integral part of our championship future. Also, he’s got low miles and runs like new…was owned by a little old lady that only took him out on Sundays on her way to church. My manager would fire me on the spot if I let him go for any less than Murton and one of your three best pitching prospects.

Hendry: click…dial tone….(deletes Daniels contact info from cell)

Another reason to admire Beane. I'd give kudos to Hendry as well, he knew he didn't have the type of horse the Indians wanted for Sabathia, so he didn't waste their time either. Hendry remains an underrated GM, when McPhail and Daniels tried to fleece him this offseason he stood his ground and looked elsewhere to make some key additions. The bottom line is when you've got too good, honest GMs negotiating you get a good, honest deal. As I've said before, I think this Harden deal will work out for both teams.

Jim Hendry and Billy Beane both simply understand how to do business the right way. They realize how to strike a balance between getting the best deal for their team and still doing things fairly, evenly, and with integrity. And they're proof that you can do things that way regardless of whether you run a small market, payroll-conscious team that covets young, talented players with upside that are under contract control (like Beane does), or a big-market, big-spending team that can afford to spend big money to contend (like Hendry). Kudos to both of them.
As a Cubs fan, it's refreshing to have a GM in this town who is committed to putting a winner on the field and utilizing all the resources available to him, while still being responsible. Hendry has no problem making a big splash when necessary (The Soriano signing, the Nomar trade, the Harden trade), knows how to take care of his own players (Zambrano, Lee, and Ramirez extensions), and is agressive in the trade market when necessary without overpaying. (I.E., not overpaying for Brian Roberts this spring and then turning those exact same players into Rich Harden a few months later.)
I hope whoever the new owner of the Cubs turns out to be realizes what he has and keeps Hendry around for a long, long time.

beane did the same in haren dealings, obviously it was mentioned he did not ask for upton/youngdrew etc it doesnt hurt in asking in my opinion. why not ask for their best prospect, if unavailable, find a common ground who is available.plus why trade for murton/patterson then trade them? no interest in pie/coliv, ceda, hill/marshall/veal instead?

All I know is that I am thrilled with what we gave up for 1.5 years of Harden, even with the risk, rather than what we would have had to give up (apparently we didn't even have enough) for 2 months of Sabathia.

Other than Gallagher, whom I like, our entire farm system is still in tact as far as players that we might actually use in the future.

I'm sorry but you guys are missing the most important part of this post.

"The Royals spoke internally about Sabathia, but it never got to the point of a discussion with the Indians."

ROFLMAOO!
Imagine the Royals. Now imagine Sabathia on their team. Now imagine them trying to win outside of Sabathia pitching.
But at least they don't have to face him anymore.