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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Manny, Peavy, Cubs

By Cork Gaines [October 24, 2008 at 1:55pm CST]

A look at what is being written around the Blogosphere...

Sox and Pinstripes has eight questions the Red Sox must address this offseason including whether or not to re-sign Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield.
Dodger Thoughts notes that there is not a lot of substance behind the rumors of the Dodgers offering Manny Ramirez a contract worth $60MM for two years.
Fanhouse wonders if Ramirez could make more money in the long run if he signs a two-year deal with the Dodgers now.
Gaslamp Ball wonders if the Padres are not getting the offers they expected for Jake Peavy and are starting to get "cold feet."
Talking Chop notes that Frank Wren's public posturing during the Peavy negotiations is in stark contrast to what Braves fans are accustomed.
Bleed Cubbie Blue projects a Cubs '09 roster, including Aubrey Huff at first base and Luke Scott in right field.
The Sports Bank says the biggest need for the White Sox lineup is to add speed. They look at some potential moves and project an '09 lineup that includes Rafael Furcal and Chone Figgins.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

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I like Al at BleedCubbieBlue...but the thought that the Giants would trade Cain for Derrek Lee, and then we would flip Cain to the Marlina for Nolasco makes absolutely no sense to me, and wouldn't happen anyway.

I also don't like dealing with McFail at all...

So while I like Al...I'll pass on that offseason plan.

Posted by: Aduncaroo | October 24, 2008 at 01:38 PM

Seriously, are all Cubs fans really this delusional?

The guy at Bleed Cubbie Blue wants Cain AND Hinshaw for Derrek Lee?

That's as bad as when someone on here was proposing Marquis and Pie as components of a Jake Peavy deal.

They'd be lucky to get just Hinshaw for Lee... Cain is flat out ridiculous.

Then he has Cain and Pie landing Nolasco (plausible), but FELIX PIE starting in CF over Cameron Maybin? This is supposed to be serious?

Some of these blogs are terrible. That's not a rumor, that's just garbage.

Posted by: MorneauVP | October 24, 2008 at 01:43 PM

MorneauVP: Agreed

Cubs want Cain = good bye Vitters.

Posted by: melonis rex | October 24, 2008 at 01:55 PM

"Seriously, are all Cubs fans really this delusional?"

no, and it drives me nuts when people characterize an entire fan-base a certain way.

that said, that lee-cain-nolasco trade scenario is ludicrous. i read it when it was first posted and i couldn't believe what i was reading. al's usually not one for something so insane (he usually jumps all over commenters for crazy trades and is pretty knowledgeable overall) so i was shocked when i saw that. poor guy must have taken the end of the season really hard (you should have read his recap of game 2 of the nlds, you'd have thought a relative died).

anyway, luke scott is underrated and i'd like to have him, but i'd rather not endure another winter of cubs-o's rumors, wouldn't you?

Posted by: 100backeduptrucks | October 24, 2008 at 01:59 PM

Last off-season, we learned Andy McPhail was only willing to make a deal with a team if he could rob them blind.

Hence, why a trade between the Cubs and O's never happened and why only a team desperate (Mariners) traded with Mr. McPhail for the delicate Bedard.

Posted by: cowsarecool220 | October 24, 2008 at 02:06 PM

I expect the cubs to address RF through a trade because we dont have enough money to sign Abreu or Ibanez, so Scott is realistic, however id like to see a little more power.

All the cain talks are crazy, it would take a legit stud like Fielder, plus a prospect. The cubs main concern shouldnt be SP, it should be resigning Demp and going with Z, Harden, Demp, Lilly, Marquis/marshall/gaudin/hill. The bullpen could be an issue because alot of those guys dont go deep into games, so id like to see another power arm added. Also a LHP would be great because cotts is more effective against RH.

Posted by: chicubs25 | October 24, 2008 at 02:07 PM

Sorry 100, that wasn't meant as a shot I suppose. I realize there are just fans who are delusional about their own teams, period. It just seems like every time someone's rumored to be traded, a Cubs fan jumps up and yells "we've got Felix Pie available!" thinking that he still has massive value.

I heard plenty of outrageous scenarios last year myself when Twins fans were apparently going to fleece the Red Sox of Ellsbury, Masterson, Lowrie, AND Buchholz for Santana, who was demanding a ridiculous extension... yeah, ok... Theo will go for that.

I think Scott would fit perfectly into your Cubs' plans though, I agree. He's a very underrated bat. Not sure about his glove, but the guy can hit.

Posted by: MorneauVP | October 24, 2008 at 02:10 PM

Marshall, Cedeno, Wuertz and Mitch aren't enough for Luke Scott much less Huff. Marshall is the only one of those players to have ANY value. The others have no value outside of Chicago and NONE to the O's who have plenty of AAAA middle infielders and corner guys. Wuertz is an ok pen arm but nothing special esp. when the O's have arms like Sarfarte, Sherril, Johnson, Albers, and Ray.

I also think BleedingBlue needs to understand Arb. better Scott will be going for the first time meaning while he will get a raise it will be something in the range of $2.5-3 million not some outlandish figure like Blue suggests.

Speaking of arbitration Nolasco isn't getting anything near $7-8 million this year, maybe after next year but not in his first go around with arb. and coming off only one really good year.

Posted by: Steveo26 | October 24, 2008 at 02:13 PM

J. Peavy

1. P. Hughes
2. I. Kennedy
3. A. Jackson

Posted by: arod13 | October 24, 2008 at 02:20 PM

I don't like Al from BCB and he knows nothing about baseball. The entire post is ridiculous and poorly written. Almost like a little kid with a baseball christmas list. Please don't link to his hack website again.

Posted by: Teetz | October 24, 2008 at 02:24 PM

I hadn't thought of Furcal on the White Sox but it does make perfect sense. I don't think Alexei Ramirez has the glove to play 2B, much less SS.

Posted by: Teetz | October 24, 2008 at 02:26 PM

Bleed Cubbie blue is a good blog but that offseason plan is a joke
Bring in Ibanez for right resign Wood and Dempster and call it day

Posted by: tborcub1 | October 24, 2008 at 02:28 PM

Not much you can do to a 97 win team

Posted by: tborcub1 | October 24, 2008 at 02:29 PM

morneau-no harm done. we cub fans may have gotten a little spoiled with hendry robbing the pirates all those times when littlefield was still GM. hendry should either go to the HOF or to jail for a few of those.

anyway, re-signing dempster should be the only SP concern the cubs worry about. no need to bother with names that may or may not be out there. the team needs to resign its own FA's and get a LH bat to play right. i believe there's in-house options to bat leadoff: theriot, johnson can, and even with his nosedive in BA., fukudome's OBP didn't change all that much, and he's got speed and is a good baserunner. i still think he'll end up a productive player.

Posted by: 100backeduptrucks | October 24, 2008 at 02:34 PM

tborcub1: Yea there is, it called winning a game in the playoffs.

Posted by: cubs land | October 24, 2008 at 02:34 PM

Andy MacPhail was very right not to make any of those proposed deals with the Cubs. Roberts for all 7 of the usually named players would have been a bad deal. So you are very wrong--as is Bleed Cubbie Blue--to call MacPhail dithering or hard to deal with. You wanted to rob MacPhail blind.

The proposed Huff-Scott deal for more mediocrity is also ridiculous. Both players are much better than any of the players Bleed Cubbie Blue suggests should come back.

The MacPhail bashing at this site is ludicrous. He was never offered a reasonable deal by Hendry; he was smart to pass.

Posted by: Playwright | October 24, 2008 at 02:41 PM

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

The fact of the matter is no one actually takes Al Yellon at all seriously beyond the rarified, Yellon-selected confines of Bleed Cubbie Blue.

No one.

Nor should you.

The only reason he isn't roundly mocked over there, day in and day out, is because he so quickly moves to ban anyone from the site who fails to kowtow to his superior grasp of the game.

Does it matter to Al that Huff would make for a massive defensive downgrade at 1st? That he "has primarily been a DH for the past 2 seasons (and probably should have been before that)"?

No. "This is a 'win now' sort of move," he responds.

Huff would be a Cub for just one year. "After that, you look for another answer at first base."

I guess defense only matters long-term, and certainly shouldn't be a concern if you just want to "win now."

What a simpleton.

Posted by: Dan | October 24, 2008 at 02:59 PM

"The MacPhail bashing at this site is ludicrous. He was never offered a reasonable deal by Hendry; he was smart to pass."

Wow, I didn't know you were involved in those negotiations.

Posted by: Aduncaroo | October 24, 2008 at 03:14 PM

It seems to me that Jim Hendry has not only spoiled us as cubs fans but also changed our perspective on what we should look for in a trade. Why else would we keep proposing Lee for Cain, Pie or Cedeno to anybody who doesn't think their AAAA, any trade for Chone Figgins, and Soriano or Marquis to anybody looking to get rid of big contracts of their own? I saw an offer of Soriano's $106 mil for Vernon Wells' $100 mil; only because Hendry has warped our wee little minds... in a good way.

Posted by: jmancubsfan | October 24, 2008 at 03:59 PM

I'm glad most people think Al's suggestion is as goofy (to put it nicely) as I think it is. I'd also like to reiterate what others have suggested: many Cubs fans have come to know of him, he does not speak for us no matter how many times he's given the opportunity to do so, and most us don't think he knows what he's talking about.

I'm still not seeing Lee being open to a trade since he's playing for a contender.

I'm also not a believer in giving Hendry too much credit. Most of his high profile moves have involved fleecing teams who were dumping salary (which usually happens in salary dumps) or signing free agents to contracts that are over market value, or are too long term, or both. It would be nice to see him start to move players after they've peaked.

Posted by: JDay | October 24, 2008 at 04:55 PM

That BCB 2009 line up and rotation is out there and no way those deals happen.

I guess the first order for Hendry is to resign Wood and Dempster. Wood being the tricky one because he could command 3-4 years and Hendry is not looking at that long. I hope they can agree on a 2 yr. deal, good for both sides. Marmol would slide to the closers role. But it sure is nice having Woody and Marmol at the back end.

I also hear they are seriously thinking of moving Theriot to 2B. I doubt they can afford Furcal, so what gem does Jim (bad pun) have in store at SS?

Posted by: Sports Photo | October 24, 2008 at 08:51 PM

We need to try to unload players to free up some space. Starting with the following..

Jason Marquis- 1 year 9 mil left needs to go. Plus, Marshall, Samradzija, Guzman could take his place.

Henry Blanco- We should NOT pick up his 3 million deal option. Just sign at a lower offer.

Rich Hill- I don't want to see this guy in a Cubs uniform next season. Him and 400,000,045 he made this season.

Any other people you think we should dump or trade. Please no Soriano, Lee, Ramirez nonsense. Their no going to get traded. So why bother argueing.

P.S.- Cubs should look to trade guys like Jake Fox, Casey McGehee, in deals that can land us younger, or cheap players that can help us.

Posted by: BLEEDINGCUBBIEBLUE | October 24, 2008 at 09:02 PM

"Rich Hill- I don't want to see this guy in a Cubs uniform next season. Him and 400,000,045 he made this season."

I'm not even sure what this means...and there is no reason to trade him. It would be like selling stock you bought for 5 bucks when it hits rock bottom, and taking 2 cents for it...even though it has a longshot of being worth 20 bucks in a years. Personally...I just don't see the logic there.

"Cubs should look to trade guys like Jake Fox, Casey McGehee, in deals that can land us younger, or cheap players that can help us."

Sure, if they can get us anything. But for all of these guys like this, many other teams has the same types in their system.

I think you try and package a deal with Marquis and either Pie or Colvin, maybe along with a pitching prospect to and see what it can bring back...but all of it depends on both teams needs.

Posted by: Aduncaroo | October 24, 2008 at 10:16 PM

"Any other people you think we should dump or trade. Please no Soriano, Lee, Ramirez nonsense. Their no going to get traded. So why bother argueing."

Minor moves, but since Lou does not think much of Cedeno and seems like he has had it with Pie, they might get delt. Both are out of options and I can't see either heading into '09 unless there are not takers, or one or both somehow win a spot. I know that is not flashy, but who knows how this offseason will be for Hendry. It really could be busy if he gets creative, or just minor moves.

Btw, I think a big contract could be delt, contrary to your point. It depends on the market and who goes where and who comes back. Silly trades have been discussed on these boards, but I don't rule out a possible real trade of someone. Let's see what the GM/Winter Meetings dictate. I heard Steve Stone say the Cubs are seriously thinking of moving Theriot to 2B if they can get a SS (did not say Furcal or anyone. Cedeno? Doubt it), going to TRY and trade a big Cub contract or two and likely drop Soriano down in the line up. Stone usually is on top of these things.

Posted by: Sports Photo | October 24, 2008 at 11:23 PM

I mean by the Rich Hill thing maybe we can deal him and he will be better some where else. I mean he's 28 and his years in Chicago before 2 seasons ago have been terrible. I just it would be better if we traded him and Marquis and sign Dempster and let Samardzija or Marshall duke it out for the #5 spot.

Posted by: BLEEDINGCUBBIEBLUE | October 25, 2008 at 12:09 AM

We wouldn't get anything back for Hill right now worth having...so why trade him? Lets say there is a 20% chance he gets it together next year. If we trade Marquis, which is a possibility, can you imagine how sweet our rotation would be if he were the #5, and was pitching like 07? Again, makes no sense to trade him when you can get nothing back.

Posted by: Aduncaroo | October 26, 2008 at 01:28 AM

You're right, they did not watch one Sox game. They didn't even watch Baseball Tonight's top Web Gems of 2008. Alexi had the top defensive play (Cub fan here...Reed Johnson's catch was 3rd) in '08. Alexi was a real nice KW pick up.

Posted by: studio179 | October 26, 2008 at 08:49 PM

Cubs 2009

If the Cub fans and organization wants to win it in the next few years, here is what they have to do before becoming the Seatle Mariners sooner than we think. Keeping in mind that the payroll will not go up dramatically in 2009..

What do the Cubs really lack, and lets be honest here, and reflect on the last 5 years.

1. They have no number one starter... Period.. None. No one that will just shut down the opposition, no one.....
2. They have no lead off hitter. A table setter.
3. They have no one who strikes fear in the opposition in our lineup.

Therefore..

1. Trade Zambrano, Marquis, Hill and Pie to Texas for Josh Hamilton...
2. Sign C.C. Sabathia from the monies from the Hamilton Trade...
3. Throw the Farm at Baltimore and get Roberts...

The Lineup.. With the option of having 4 left handed bats in the lineup...

1. Roberts
2. Theroit
3. Hamilton
4. A. Ramirez
5. Lee / Hoffpauir
6. Soriano / Hoffpauir
7. Soto
8. Fukudome / DeRosa

Rotation....

1. CC
2. Dempster
3. Lilly
4. Harden
5. Marshall / Gaudin

Sign Wood if you have the money, otherwise promote Marmol..

And you get a bit more athletic, as Lou wants...

Posted by: e=mc2 | October 27, 2008 at 03:25 PM

Cubs 2009

What do the Cubs really lack, and lets be honest here, and reflect on the last 5 years.

Therefore..

1. Trade Zambrano, Marquis, Hill and Pie to Texas for Josh Hamilton...
2. Sign C.C. Sabathia from the monies from the Hamilton Trade...
3. Throw the Farm at Baltimore and get Roberts...

The Lineup.. With the option of having 4 left handed bats in the lineup...

1. Roberts
2. Theroit
3. Hamilton
4. A. Ramirez
5. Lee / Hoffpauir
6. Soriano / Hoffpauir
7. Soto
8. Fukudome / DeRosa

Rotation....

1. CC
2. Dempster
3. Lilly
4. Harden
5. Marshall / Gaudin

Sign Wood if you have the money, otherwise promote Marmol..

And you get a bit more athletic, as Lou wants...

Posted by: e=mc2 | October 27, 2008 at 03:28 PM

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Manny, Peavy, Cubs

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