Perrotto's Latest: Reds, Dempster, Silva, Lugo

I'm glad the Tigers are confident in Joyce. What will it take to pry Wilson loose? Do the Pirates need OF help?

I'm a Met fan and accept your apology, Steve.

I wouldn't mind Silva on two conditions. 1) He only costs Aaron Heilman. 2) The Mariners pay $20M of the $34M owed to him.

Hague is a college guy putting up nice batting averages in the low minors against younger competition. I'd slow down before lumping him in with Alvarez, LaRoche, and Walker.

I love it that the Cubs have that fine problem to deal with. Although Dempster is significantly better than Marquis. Trade Marquis for a bag of chips.

What are you smoking Perotto??
Cubs not resign Dempster, why would they not. Big Z is signed thru 2012 and Lilly thru 2010. Harden has an $ 7 million option for next year( iam sure the Cubs will pick it up). Marquis has been pretty much a bust and will gone after next year. I know they have Hill (if he gets his head screwed on straight) and Samardziija. But those 2 are sill unproven as starters. Dempster like to play for the Cubs the Cubs like him and I can see a realative contract around $12 million. The Cubs are not foolish anymore they know that a part of the sucess this year is Dempster and will try and resign him.

Barroid,

I don't see the Marlins being players for Atkins. Remember, they're thinking of trading Olsen to keep the payroll low, and adding a guy like Atkins would only add to it.

If I had to make a wager as to where Atkins ends up, I think the Twins would be my best guess.

1. The Two teams have had discussions surrounding Atkins in the past.
2. Third base is a weak spot for MN, who also have a good deal of young pitching.
3. New GM Bill Smith has shown he's not afraid to trade that pitching for offense (Matt Garza for Delmon Young)
4. Minnesota has a new stadium coming in 2010, and their attendance is up a lot this year given their surprising playoff push. They could afford to sign Atkins to a long-term deal, and I think you'd be crazy to not like the idea of Mauer/Morneau/Atkins as your 2-3-4 or 3-4-5 for the next few years.

As for Olsen, I think a team like Houston or Texas could be players for him. Both teams have solid offenses but lack anything resembling an effective rotation. The Rockies may be a good fit also. I wouldn't rule them out, but the Marlins will be looking for prospects in return, not a guy with a salary like Atkins.

Mariner fans everywhere would love that Silva to Mets deal to go down. The M's will have to eat some salary, but Silva for Aaron Heilman will work. The M's won't contend for a while, and getting rid of dead money is the best thing they can do.

"I think the Pirates could use an OF to replace Jason Bay and Xavier Nady. The Dodgers will need a SS, so I think the two teams could re-open negotiations for Wilson."

With Furcal ready to resign for a discount, the Dodgers have no real need for Wilson. The Pirates missed their chance to get max value for Wilson this year.

"I'm surprised Andre Ethier didn't get moved to Pittsburgh in the Manny Ramirez deal, but I think he could be a nice trade chip for the Dodgers in a trade for Wilson."

LMAO. That is so damn hilarious. One, if the Bucs had insisted on Ethier as part of the Bay deal, the Dodgers would have said no thank you. Two, if they wanted Ethier for Wilson straight up, they would get laughed out of baseball. Ethier is a FAR superior hitter to Wilson in every way, and plays excellent outfield defense. All that and Ethier will be a Super Two, which means an extra year of team control.

"Perrotto feels that the Mets could make a push to trade for Carlos Silva in the offseason, in the hope that a reunion with his close friend and former teammate Johan Santana can revitalize him. "

I've made a better rationalization of an awful idea 12 beers deep eyeing the fat girl at the end of the bar.

"No matter how cheap the McCourts are, there is no way they re-sign Furcal, even at a duscount. The last thing they want to do is sign another injury prone player. The McCourt's need Ned Colletii, or whomever is the GM next year, to spend money wisely."

You apparently haven't followed the news. If anything, Furcal's decreased value because of the injury just upped his chances of being resigned, particularly if he returns in September to tear things up in what will probably be a platoon with Nomar. Last year's injury happened because of a freak accident, so the fact that Furcal was injured again this year doesn't make him "injury prone".

"Just because Ethier is a superior hitter, it doesn't mean anything. The Dodgers need tofill position. Its surprising Ethier wasn't moved because the Dodgers added Manny and they already had a crowded outfield. Now LA has Andruw Jones and Juan Pierre hardly playing. So why is it so funny to think that Andre Ethier should have been moved? Obviously trrading Ethier for Jack Wilson would be stupid, but in a package it makes more sense."

The Dodgers don't really have a need to fill at short. Either they resign Furcal, which is the most likely scenario, or they go with Hu, who seems to have rediscovered his bat speed at AAA and is a defensive genius.

Further, who is to say they don't have a need in the outfield? Jones has been historically bad and Pierre is ill-suited to a lineup that already has plenty of speed but lacks significant power. As it is, outside of Manny, Ethier has been the Dodgers' biggest power threat this year and that can't be overlooked. Anyway, even if the Dodgers resign Manny, Ethier is still necessary because Jones will probably be a huge tax write off, and because he is a superior offensive and defensive player to Pierre.

I heard that the Royals are thinking to go after Furcal heavily this off season. Pretty good idea and move Mike Aviles to second and they also might go after Teixiera to play first and have Billy Butler to DH.

'You apparently haven't followed the news. If anything, Furcal's decreased value because of the injury just upped his chances of being resigned, particularly if he returns in September to tear things up in what will probably be a platoon with Nomar. Last year's injury happened because of a freak accident, so the fact that Furcal was injured again this year doesn't make him "injury prone".'

Furcal has had a dislocated shoulder, ankle problems, and "freak injury" that needed SURGERY! You really think that Furcal will be the same Furcal we saw earlier this year? He will never be the same. And the McCourts, no matter how incentive laden a deal Furcal's agent offers, will not sign off on another player like that. They are fed up.

"Further, who is to say they don't have a need in the outfield? Jones has been historically bad and Pierre is ill-suited to a lineup that already has plenty of speed but lacks significant power. As it is, outside of Manny, Ethier has been the Dodgers' biggest power threat this year and that can't be overlooked. Anyway, even if the Dodgers resign Manny, Ethier is still necessary because Jones will probably be a huge tax write off, and because he is a superior offensive and defensive player to Pierre."

Of course Ethier is a better OF option than Pierre or Jones. But thats why he has so much value. The Dodgers don't have to move him, but they will...for what they need.

"The Dodgers don't really have a need to fill at short. Either they resign Furcal, which is the most likely scenario, or they go with Hu, who seems to have rediscovered his bat speed at AAA and is a defensive genius."

You can't compare AAA Las Vegas to the majors. Hu's vision may have been corrected, but he still has to prove he can hit MLB pitching. Cashman Field in Vegas is a hitters park, his improved numbers are meaningless.

"Rodney for wilson?"

As in Fernando? The Buc will be looking for prospects. Not great ones, obviously, but I doubt they'll want one crappy reliever for him. We already took Denny Bautista (who has perfomed adequately, though).

Whoever lands Scott Olsen will be plesently suprised. He's a tough guy with confidence. He is a bulldog that eats up innings. His numbers do not reflect his performance. He has had a few tough luck losses as well as a few games that should have been wins that the pen let slip away. As a Marlins fan, I want him in South Florida but I don't doubt he can help any team in the MLB

Wood will stay a cub for the rest of his career.

I'm really not so sure about all these Wood/Dempster predictions by Cub fans. Have you seen their payroll situation for next season? Even with dropping payroll from Wood, Dempster, Howry, etc...it will still raise more than 5 M dollars. To resign Wood and Dempster will probably take 25 M.

So Cub fans are predicting the team will raise payroll 25 M this offseason. Seems a bit far fetched to me.

Hey Cubs land the Red Sox have a lead in the wild card.

Anyone think the Buccos got a shot at landing the Dempster? Assuming Johnny's right and he won't be a Cubbie?

Here is the Cubs free ageants. I did not include the players like Fontenot or Soto who have 1 or 2 years of service.
Jim Edmonds/Reed Johnson I think the Cubs will resign both as this 2 headed platoon is just as good as any free agent or Pie.
Dempster He loves the Cubs and vice versa. He will sign if given decent salary.Plus the Cubs have 1 year left of Marquis.
Harden 7 million $ team option and Gaudin both will be risigned.(Dont think Cubs would give up that much talent for 2 rent a players)
Wood He will resign he know he owes the Cubs.
Blanco- decent backup catcher and the reason behind sotos sucess he will be back.
The players I dont think will be back
Bob Howry
Jon Lieber
Daryl Ward--Hoffpauir will take his place.
Jake Fox.
The Cubs dont have any serious holes to fill for next season.
CF One player that could play of a daily basis.
Mid/Long relief
maybe a backend rotation starter. Marquis is allright, Cubs could use another arm if Harden gets hurt or any other pitcher

Posted by: ryno23 |

I couldn't have put it any better.

Winter* I meant to say in regards of trading Wilson.

I like Ward, but there is no way they should be resigning him. They have Hoffpauir who continues to rip up AAA, has raked when being called up, and plays better defense than Ward. He would make the minimum...so I think its a no brainer to let Ward go. Blanco deserves another contract...if he will take about half of what he is making now. 3 mil for a backup is just too much money.

Howry, Eyre, Ward, Lieber, and possibly Edmonds will not be back.

I think they resign Blanco and Reed Johnson. They have Reed play a lot of CF as a right handed hitter, and try Pie out again. If thats just not working, they can have Fukudome play a good amount of CF if Hoffpauir continues to rake, playing him in RF and spelling D-Lee occasionally as well.

But, all that is next year. Lets see how this one turns out. A lot of this depends on how things finish up...especially Edmonds.

...and God, I pray we don't get mixed up in any deals for Wilson or- worse- Lugo. Baltimore needs a talented young SS for the long term, not an aging vet who would cost us prospects. Ugh. I feel sick just thinking about it.

Actually Joel, a guy that has an average of a 4.65 era and throws 195 innings every year of the contract without missing a start is probably worth 7 mil in the market today. its sad...but true. Marquis has really been just about what was expected. He is among the best 5th starters in the game honestly...but also among the highest paid.

However, if the Cubs offered him up and paid half his salary, I am nearly certain that there are teams that would love to have him at a price tag of 3 mil or so, knowing he will make every start and give you around 200 innnings.

Cubsland, Howry is a FA after this year. No need to trade him, he is gone anyway.

The Cubs will re-sign Dempster despite the contract of Marquis. He has been great this year, and has closer experience. They have 1 more year of Marquis and are wining this year despite him. It would be silly for the Cubs new owner to not re-sign him.

Joelcards, the Cubs future is pretty bright if you ask me. They have a respectable, but not great farm, and a solid team returning next year.

The Cubs re-sign him but I think they get a contract that is Cubs Friendly but may have some financial escalations if he gets traded. Having an extra starter with the history of Harden is not a bad idea.

"wasnt he bumped from the rotation earlier this year?"

Not that I know of...I think they might have skipped him once when there was a couple of off days before the break so they could get Z and Dempster 1 more start each...but thats more about Demp and Z being good than Marquis being bad.

"u just cant pay z, lilly, harden, marquis, and dempster."

We already are...

"sure if the cubs ate half his salary other teams might want him but then why would the cubs trade him?"

So they can give Dempster his raise...

"trading lilly makes sense but his contract is backloaded(they all are) and the cubs might want to keep a lefty."

Thats why I brought up Marshall and the off chance Hill does something. But moreso Marshall at this point...

"one bad thing about having a great year like this is that all these guys r going to want to get paid in the offseason. ive been saying for the last year that the cubs would be good but the future is grim."

I agree...to a point. Hendry made an obvious win-now play and so far, it is working. We'll see if they win the series though, which is all that really matters. The good thing is that the Cubs can afford a 150 mil payroll...so the future isn't exactly "grim". We have players like Theriot, Fontenot, Soto, Marshall, Samardzija, Marmol, and others that are going to be contributing for years to come for very little as far as the payroll goes. When the players like Soto and Marmol are due for big raises, guys like Lee, Lilly, DeRosa, and Fukudome will be coming off of payroll completely.

"when a team has a good year u lose good players."

Maybe, but the Cubs fans are trying to tell you that we are betting on Wood and Dempster to take less money to stay. We may be wrong...but we believe that about those 2 specific guys. Aramis did it, Kerry did it this year, Zambrano did it, and so forth. Especially with those two...I just think they will make it work because they don't want to play anywhere else. We could just be dreaming....we won't know until the season is done.

Joel, Something you didnt consider was that the Cubs have more payroll coming off the books after 09. Quite a bit more. So, maybe they get creative? Lower pay for Dempster/Wood in 09 big raises in '10. Its not to difficult to get creative. Pitching wins pennents. And Where do you get 8 Starters?

Z, Lilly, Dempster, Harden, and Marquis. Then they have Marshall in the pen. Again you have Marquis/Harden pitching on extra days rest when you can. It would be a good Idea. And 130-135 isnt out of the realm of possiblity espcially if they can get to the WS. WS TV time alone will pay for Dempster and Wood's resigning.

Also remember that if the team is awarded to Cuban he dosen't give care much about money... just about winning.

They will resign Dempster, and there are plenty of teams who need 195 inning guys for 8 mil a season. Espcially if they dont have to give much in return.

"the cardinals r building a team the right way. the cubs r just trying to buy a championship"

The cubs are trying to do the best job that they can of signing guys that will help them win a championship ALONG with developing guys like Fontenot, Theriot, Soto, Marmol, Samardzija, and for that matter, Wood. Still working on guys like Guzman, Pie, Hill, and others that could still be a part of this future. If you have the money, why not use it? Their farm system isn't the greatest, but its certainly respectable. Gallagher was the big peice that netted us Rich Harden, and that has to be taken into account as well. Not to mention Donaldson, Patterson, and to some extent, Murton, were all from the farm as well.

"ill take a marginal aaa starter over him anyday. he is mentally fragile."

Maybe, but you might be in trouble there. If you have a guy that you know for sure can hold down the 5th spot and give you 190 to 200 innings every year without missing a start, then you know you can try out guys like Samardzija, Marshall, Hill, and others and not have to rely on them pitching every time out. Marquis is no great pitcher, but he certainly holds his value, and while 7 mil is a lot, it was not a horrible contract. It wasn't great, but they have got about what they paid for. They wanted a guy that wouldn't miss a start that would give you 190 to 200 innings and an ERA in the mid 4's...7 mil for that is market value, like it or not.

That being said, I would rather it have been a 2 year deal and would love for them to let him go now that we have Samardzija and Marshall that seem ready to make that jump to the rotation. (Marshall more than Samardzija, who is still very fresh)

With all that being said, let me try and clarify my position on this:

1. Fukudome is by no means an all-star. The fact that he started was pretty much a joke. We overpaid for him, like many other teams were willing to do...lets just hope he comes back around. If he can hit how he was in the first half...he is worth the money.

2. Marquis isn't good. His value lies in the fact that you know exactly what you are going to get. 4.7ish era and 200ish innings. 7 mil is too much for that in my book...but its about market value (sadly).

3. Payroll is literally anyone's guess. we don't even know who will own the cubs this offseason...let alone what they will decide to do. I am just saying that I think they SHOULD resign Dempster, Johnson, and Blanco, and let the others go. I don't know if they have the money for that or if they will choose to use it. If I were GM, I would trade Marquis (paying half his salary), and then trade Lilly if it meant keeping Dempster. His season has been just too good to let him walk. Also, I don't know if we will be able to keep Harden after next year, so Dempster seems like a must have when faced with a rotation for 2010 of

1. Z
2. Lilly
3. Samardzija
4. Marshall
5. Hill/Veal/?

"Despite a great season, the Cubs may be hesistant to re-sign Ryan Dempster to a long-term deal because they already have Rich Harden, Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, and Jason Marquis signed for 2009."

What??? Well, a rotation needs 5 guys, not 4, doesn't it? If the Cubs were to let Dempster go, that would be the most colossal of screw-jobs. They'd be better off letting go Marquis (or Lilly...or maybe even the Big Inconsistent Z, who one day is going to break his hand in one of his idiotic rages) than Dempster. Hopefully, the team will be sold before such a decision needs to be made. It would be tragic to see Dempster go just because Sam Zell doesn't feel like putting up the extra cash to keep the team together for the new ownership (whomever they may be). If this happens, maybe all the Cubs fans can get together and cancel their Tribune subscriptions and boycott WGN.

Keep Dempster and trade Marquis.