Cubs Rumors: Fukudome, Dempster, Wood

I believe that this spells the end of the Felix Pie era in Chicago, and he will likely be a part of any package to get a left handed bat for right field.

My preference is Giles, not only because I like him, but I'm really hoping to see Pie go to a place where his range can be utilized in a big outfield. Not sure if they have room for him though...

Howry has already been replaced by Samardzija. Dunn will be too expensive unless they can dump Marquis' salary and didn't sign one of Wood/Dempster....IMHO.

I don't believe the O's would want Pie, already having Adam Jones. Who else has a need for a young center fielder?

I like Giles too but Hermida is younger and cheaper. Giles is certainly winding down and he could very well fall off the cliff next year, that happens to quite a few players his age. He's not a long term solution and he might not even be the solution for 2009.

Fukudome to center makes plenty of sense, his bat is more of a CF bat than a RF bat. Having Reed Johnson around to platoon with him and cover the other outfield spots is nice. I still think Fukudome will turn it around and be more productive next year. He was good for about 1/2 year, why do we assume that the second half was the real Fukudome? He'll adjust. He may never be as good as everyone was hoping but he'll still be pretty good.

Again I say that any Cubs fan that wants to trade Aramis Ramirez is an idiot and Derrek Lee just needs to be moved down in the lineup, he's still a productive hitter and great defensively.

I don't think Kerry Wood will be enticed to go anywhere else. He's one of the very few loyal baseball players left in the game.

Can't decide who I want in right field but I like the idea of platooning Fukudome.

Please take Giles. Please.

At this stage, Giles is a guy that has to be expendable. he's on OBP machine who runs bases well enough, but ultimately that only has value if you have guys behind him who can hit.

SD talks about cutting payroll. Here's a guy with an expensive contract (for SD anyways) who does little to contribute to the score since we can't bring him home. He clearly has more value to other teams than for SD, especially for a team which can use his OBP. TRADE HIM. He should be on the block way before Peavy. I actually think he'd do well for the Cubs.

Unfortunately, Giles has a no trade clause and he really likes SD (he blocked a trade to Boston before the deadline, which clearly shows he has no desire to chase a ring and is happy living his comfy life in 80 degree weather year round). For that reason, he's not going anywhere. I still think he'd be the most interesting player to trade, since he would produce more for other teams, and we could use the trade to improve the team. Shame. Waste of talent and lack of ambition on Brian.

I think it's premature to call Fukudome a bust. I mean yeah, last season was a bust, but you have to remember that he had never played American baseball before. The guy was still a rookie who posted a .359 OBP and great defense in right.

Even if he can get his batting average up to around .280, then he would be worth it. That would make him a .280/.380/.420 hitter with solid speed and plus defense in right. As far as I can tell, that's pretty close to being worth $12M.

I'd still much rather give Fukudome 4/48 than give Rowand 5/60.

Tomfromsd, why do you say that Giles has no heart. He plays hard, every game, and wants to win. He just didnt want to play in Boston, if you will remember he has a limited no trade clause in his contract, not a full. He didn't have ten-five rights at the time of the wavier claim. Boston was on his no trade list, and he said there was a reason for Boston being on that list (thou he never gave a reason publicly). Who knows why he didnt want to play in Boston, it could have been for a host of different reasons.

But that does not mean he would not go the cubs if present the option. I know that its been said that he doesnt want to leave SoCal, but he hasnt said publicly meaning that its speculation as to thats why he blocked the trade to Boston. None of its known.

But I dont know what would convice mean to waive his no trade rights now. Plus you have to think of what the Padres would want in return. But it would be a nice pick up for the cubs if they could swing it, thou i have a feeling it would be an arm coming back to SD not Pie, or maybe a Pie and an arm. Thats still a large price to play for one year of Giles.

I also like the idea of Fukudome platooning with Reed in center.
As for right field I like the idea of bringing in Ibanez. I think he is better defensively than Dunn. He is a consistent hitter, drives in runs and could potentially hit close to 30 home runs in wrigley

I would love to see Wood back, but I am just not sure if he will be worth the money he can command especially with Marmol waiting in the wings

Giles would not only be the leadoff hitter the Cubs are looking for, but he was the best defensive RF in baseball last year. He's an ideal candidate. Giles cannot block a trade to the Cubs as his NTC is limited to Baltimore, Boston, Detroit, Tampa Bay, Florida, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Washington.

Raul Ibanez would be idiotic as he would not be as good as Edmonds and would require a multi-year deal. Hermida is intriguing, but risky. Manny/Dunn would only come in the team sale went through ASAP, which isn't happening.

It's silly to talk about the Cubs gung-ho approach to get more lefties in the lineup. A lefty RF is essentially going to replace Edmonds bat in the lineup (which was outstanding), so the lineup will still have the same Lefty-Righty ratio.

Giles would be a nice addition, but I would be ok with them signing Edmonds for one more year and having the same lineup that won 97 games. They're still likely to be the class of the division and I don't necessarily believe in "built for the playoffs" lineups. Just keep making the postseason and one year it'll click. It's all you can ask for as a fan.

Letting Wood go also nets a solid draft pick, but Hendry will never let Wood go. Last year Wood essentially let Hendry sign him to a blank check contract.

Why do so many feel the Cubs need a leadoff man? We already have one! All it takes is for Lou to get off his ass and stop babying Sosiano. I guess a guy hitting .307 with a .387 OBP (which was over .400 for 3/4 of the season, exactly 1 K per 10 AB, and 25-30 SB potential doesn't make up a leadoff type these days. That's what Ryan Theriot did this past season, people!

Besides, Giles isn't a leadoff type. Yes, he carries a huge OBP, but he isn't as speedy as he once was. Plus, get him out of PetCo and he has a good capability of putting of 20+ HR and filling the role of a run-producer. Lou has already wasted two years of a topnotch run-producer by hitting Sosiano in the leadoff spot. Why do the same with Giles when we're looking for a LH run-producer?

First off, let me mention that lineups don't matter. So leadoff, run producer...etc. means nothing to me. I'm just saying it's what the Cubs/Hendry would ideally want. Soriano can bat wherever he wants, as long as he's OPS'ing in the high 800's-low 900's I'll be happy with him on the Cubs. Theriot-Giles....Giles-Theriot...it'll be one of the two combos at the top of the lineup. Also, Theriot's speed is rendered useless because he gets caught stealing at one of the worst rates in baseball.

AirmanSD: Giles had a limited no trade clause USCD, not he has 10-5 rights. And its was only 6 teams on his no trade listed. Pit/Bos/TB/NYY/ and two others i cant remember. But i do not believe the Cubs were on that list, i of course could be wrong.
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Yes, he had a limited NTC. However, if the Padres exercise his option (which is what is expected) Giles will have 10-5 rights. This past season was his 5th full season with the Padres, and he has 12 full seasons under his belt. So, at the moment the Padres exercise his option, Giles will have 10-5 rights and complete veto power over any trade to any team.

Teetz: First off, let me mention that lineups don't matter. So leadoff, run producer...etc. means nothing to me. I'm just saying it's what the Cubs/Hendry would ideally want. Soriano can bat wherever he wants, as long as he's OPS'ing in the high 800's-low 900's I'll be happy with him on the Cubs. Theriot-Giles....Giles-Theriot...it'll be one of the two combos at the top of the lineup. Also, Theriot's speed is rendered useless because he gets caught stealing at one of the worst rates in baseball.
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Lineups don't matter? HA! All you have to do is take a look at Sosiano's career stats and dispute that. When he's had guys getting on base in front of him, he's driven in 90+ RBI. When he hasn't, he's driven in 75 or fewer in all but one fluke season in Washington. Yeah, I'm sure it's better to have a guy that barely gets on base (Sosiano and his career sub .330 OBP) in front of the guys that can hit for power and drive in runs than it would be to have 2-3 guys who get on base at a big rate (Theriot, DeRosa, Lee - all with .375 or higher OBP's this past season) increasing the odds for the run-producers to drive them in or even hit multi-run HR.

As for Theriot's getting caught rate... that was this past season. For his career, he has 63 SB and 19 CS... for a 77% success rate. In 2007 he stole 28 while getting caught 4 times. Soriano in his career has stolen 248 bases while being caught 69 times for a 78% success rate. Brian Giles has stolen 108 bases wile getting caught 45 times for a 71% success rate. Brian Roberts, the guy so many want the Cubs to trade for, has stolen 226 bases and has been caught 57 times for a 79% success rate (he also had very similar SB/CS numbers in 2004 and 2005 as Theriot this past season). Wish to retract that comment?

As far as a lineup goes, with Giles in the fold, I'd set it up like this. Why? I believe it holds the highest productive potential.

SS Theriot (.380+ OBP, 30 SB potential)
2B DeRosa (.370+ OBP, 15-20 HR, moderately solid contact)
RF Giles(L) (.390-400 OBP, excellent contact, power and RBI surge out of PetCo)
3B ARam (Best run-producer on the team)
LF Soriano (Better utilized as protection to ARam and as a run-producer)
C Soto (Solid run producer, high K's hidden deep in order)
1B Lee (Could return to his run-producing status, good OBP to keep the lineup moving)
CF Fukudome(L)/Johnson (Gotta put them somewhere in the lineup. Moderate to good potential of keeping the lineup flowing through the pitcher and to the top of the order)

i agree with tim that giles' option will get excercised making the trade talk useless. trying to force fit dunn/ibanez and others into right, which we discussed ad nauseum in the other cubs post, doesn't seem like the wisest choice, especially given the cubs payroll constraints (which they definitely have). hermida's probably our best bet for that, since he's young and athletic, something lou has said he wants more of. he seems like one of those that could use a change of scenery, but i'm not sure how the cubs/fish match up.
and i'd forget about roberts now, too. if we didn't have enough to get him last offseason when the o's were trying to trade him, how can we get him now that they're trying to lock him up, especially since we gave up 4 players to get harden and gaudin?
i also think fontenot's numbers merit more playing time, and other players' availability that we haven't talked about (derosa, fontenot, johnson) maybe those guys get brought up in trade talks, not just the high salary guys. not that i think any of those will or should get traded, just a thought...

so much for those "new look" cubs that management and everyone was talking about... this is shaping up to be the exact same team but instead of edmonds, another slightly above average outfielder to play RF instead of CF.

If we aren't going to go after a RF via FA like Bobby Abreu, then we have to somehow acquire a new lead off hitter for there to be significant change

Brian Giles has 10 & 5 rights (10 years in MLB, 5 with same team) which mean he has full no trade protection to all 29 other MLB teams.

The partial no trade that was written in his contract was overridden as soon as he became eligible for 10 & 5 rights.

I think the Cubs first choice should be Roberts. They can move DeRosa to RF and then have Roberts at 2B.

Line up would look like
Roberts
Theriot
Ramirez
Soriano
Lee
Soto
Derosa
Fuku/Johnson
P

But if they cant get Roberts then Abreu should be 2nd choice.

Then it would look like
Theriot
Fuku/Johnson
Ramirez
Abreu
Soriano
Lee
Soto
DeRo
P

Lou does not like Theriot leading off for some reason. Not sure why, but more than one reporter has made that point.

I'm thinking the Giles talk will turn out to be just that...talk. I believe he stays. Forget Roberts, that song has been played out.

So Lou says Fukudome will be in CF with Johnson. I agree, the Patterson...I mean Pie experiment is over in Chicago. I was hoping Pie would stick, improve his hitting and maybe he and Johnson platoon. Then let Pie take over in '10, if he does well. It's obvious guys like Felix Pie and Rich Hill are not Lou types of players.

I don't think FA signings like Abreu or Dunn happen, with or without Dempster and Wood's status. Abreu or Dunn are big contracts. Neither is the answer anyway. Read the articles linked with this thread. I agree, it will happen via trade more than likely. Besides, Lou keeps harping he wants more athletic players. We all know half the big club has the NTC, so they don't leave. Besides, what could Pie bring when Lou announces he is not even in consideration for a starting job. His already low value, just got lowered.

Dlee,Wood,and DeRo are not classy? that team is full of class

After reading Phil Rogers make the claim that the Cubs are trying to make a deal for Peavy & Adrian Gonzalez I first laughed along with reading all the criticism, but then started thinking if there was anyway possible to pull off the trade... this is what I came up with:(I know this is far fetched but figured worth speculating) Cubs trade Derrek Lee to the Giants for Matt Cain, but then the Cubs spin Matt Cain along with Sean Marshall, Josh Vitters, Felix Pie & Micah Hoffpauir to the Pads for Jake Peavy and Adrian Gozalez. The Cubs get another top of the rotation quality starter in Peavy and add a left handed Power bat and long time first base solution in Gonzalez. The Pads get 2 MLB proven ready starters (a lefty and a righty in Marshall & Cain), a "cheap" centerfield option in Pie, a left handed power hitting 1st base replacement for Gonzalez in Hoffpauier, and a former first round draft pick and probably best prospect in the Cubs system in Vitters. The Pads also dump salary and get younger. I know this is far fetched and is dependent on the first trade of D Lee to the Giants but let me know what you all think. If this looks familar I also posted as Cubsfan77 at Cubs.com

PS Forget Phil. You was right to laugh. Besides, I believe Towers has already said Gonzalez will not be traded. Ofcourse, like most anyone, if he is knocked over with a trade proposal...

I Don't See why the Cubs couldnt get Brian Roberts....Hes another lefty bat to even up lineup I think Line-up should be something like this

1.Roberts(Switch Hitter,Good OBP,30+ steals)
2.Theriot(With Roberts on good contact hitter,move Roberts.Gets on base for Big Boys)
3.D.Lee (Lots of singles and contact knock in Roberts or Theriot,Takes walks get on base for Ramirez)
4.Ramirez(Hit the ball out of the park :p)
5.Soriano(Still more power not much contact)
6.Fukudome(Gets on base cuz of good eye)
7.Soto(If Fuku gets on base forces pitchers to throw to him,offers bottom of lineup power)
8.Hermida(Dont know much about)
9.Pitcher