Cubs Focused On Lefthanded Bat

Hence why I keep saying the Braves are the frontrunners. Speculation is just that. The fact if the Cubs are really players for Peavy or not is not going to make or break my offseason hopes in what Hendry gets done. Peavy would be great, but other needs have to be addressed.

Been saying all along that the Braves are the team that NEEDS to get this done out of the trio of San Diego/Chicago/Atlanta. While it'd be icing on the cake for the Cubs, they'll be a great team without it. Atlanta needs Jake Peavy to be a serious contender.

Still wish we'd keep Pie and give him a shot, but that ship has sailed it seems.

Always been a huge Hermida fan, but that tidbit about them needing to be wowed worries me. He's a solid player in the Giles type, but not someone I want to have to wow someone for.

"Been saying all along that the Braves are the team that NEEDS to get this done out of the trio of San Diego/Chicago/Atlanta. While it'd be icing on the cake for the Cubs, they'll be a great team without it. Atlanta needs Jake Peavy to be a serious contender."

Huh? It's the Padres that needs to get it done because Peavy's value won't be higher than it is this offseason, because he isn't as relatively cheap next offseason.

The Braves can always keep Escobar and the other players, use a few of them in a deal for an outfielder, and sign 1-2 FA starters, like Lowe and then a low level signing. Or trade for a Matt Cain or Jonathan Sanchez (I could see Sanchez for prospects, and then the Braves picking up a frontline starter via FA). The Braves have options.

Peavy is a Righthanded bat. Sorry Cub fans!

Edmonds would be better and cheaper than Ibanez.

Anybody know the players the Red Sox and Padres agreed on in last year's vetoed Giles trade? I would assume the asking price will be similar. Considering the Red Sox weren't desperate for Giles, I assume the prospects coming back would have been second tier at best.

"Huh? It's the Padres that needs to get it done because Peavy's value won't be higher than it is this offseason, because he isn't as relatively cheap next offseason.

The Braves can always keep Escobar and the other players, use a few of them in a deal for an outfielder, and sign 1-2 FA starters, like Lowe and then a low level signing. Or trade for a Matt Cain or Jonathan Sanchez (I could see Sanchez for prospects, and then the Braves picking up a frontline starter via FA). The Braves have options. "

Nah not buying it. No one out there is a frontline starter like Peavy outside of CC who is going to have some demands that Atlanta can't match. San Diego can string this out. There is always going to be suitors for Jake Peavy unless he blows out his arm. This package from Atlanta isn't a once in a lifetime offer. San Diego can wait this out further into the offseason. Atlanta can't. They're going to have to make this deal happen to be a serious player in the East next year. Derek Lowe or A.J. Burnett is not going to push them over that hump like Peavy can.

Additionally, I would think Sabean would want (I would hope) a more top level prospect in a deal for Cain.

"Edmonds would be better and cheaper than Ibanez."

I actually agree on this...but it seems that ship has sailed whether we like it or not.

Also, Edmonds would take a one year deal, which would be ideal for us.

Unless Sean Marshall is part of a package for a pitcher, they need him on the roster.

Bravesfan89

Giles will turn 38 in a few months. The cliff is near.....

"Bravesfan,
Are you the guy that said Flowers and Schafer are better prospects than Vitters? Umm...yeah, you are. Go away."

Haha, there goes any potential credibility.

I guess I should throw in an LMAO to make him understand how much of a clown he is. That seems to be the only language he understands.

Raul Ibanez is gonna hit right around a .820-.840 OPS in RF and play horrid defense. Some combination of Fontenot 2B/Derosa RF or Hoffpauir RF/ Derosa 2B can surely come close to those numbers.

Give me Dunn's 40 HRs, 100 RBIs and 100 Rs. Even if it means a lot of Ks and really bad defense.

A combination of Soriano, Fukudome and Dunn might be one of the worst defensive outfield's of all time.

Superman would have to play center to make up for the corners.

San Diego really can't afford to try and wait Atlanta out on this one. If Escobar is going to be part of the deal, the Braves need to know that going into free agency. If these trade talks drag more than a few days into the FA period I imagine the Braves pull Escobar's name off the table and dare the Padres to find a similar deal with Atlanta basically out of the bidding.

Adam Dunn is a horrid defender, but Raul Ibanez is equally as brutal.

Milton Bradley still makes the most sense to me. The Cubs have the depth and the talent level gap in the division to survive if Bradley goes down for part of the season and the upside is clearly the highest without having to shell out as large/long deal as most of the other top free agent OF'ers.

I have a feeling it will be Dunn...Dont know if it will be a good thing of not. Does anybody here think that the Cubs should look into trading Lee or Soriano?

"I have a feeling it will be Dunn...Dont know if it will be a good thing of not. Does anybody here think that the Cubs should look into trading Lee or Soriano? "

I still feel like the Cubs should trade Lee to the Giants for Winn. Winn is a switch hitter, plays good D, and wouold push Soriano down the order. Then sign Dunn to play first. Cry all you want about his d, but he should be able to handle 1B. Dunn gives us a lefty in the middle that has hit 40+ homers the past 5 years. Not to mention hes only 28 and in his prime.

Cain's value is much too high for that...he would take a Peavy type package.

Maybe Lee, cash, and a reliever for Sanchez, if we are lucky.

And of course, Lee would have to waive his NTC, which wouldn't make any sense.

Lee has expressed his desire to stay in chicago and with his NTC he isn't going anywhere. Cain is out of the question, we'd have to deplete the entire farm system for him and the same goes for Roberts, he's going to stay in baltimore until that love fest ends. I think the cubs are going to settle on Dunn and I think hes going to do well at Wrigley. Not as expensive as some of the other options and although perhaps a defensive liability I think its a decent trade off for the power and walks. Not to mention hes been playing for losing teams or non-contenders, I think he'll jump at the chance to join the cubs. Also, Soriano is going to be our leadoff guy, Pinella has stated this time and again and our record last year when he was leading off shows that we're better off with him int he 1 spot.

LF Soriano
2B Fontenot
1B Lee
3B Ramirez
RF Dunn
C Soto
SS Theriot
CF Pie/Johnson/Fukudome

Im pretty sure we can expect this lineup opening day unless something unexpected happens.

guys-i don't think any of the big guys are getting traded. remember right after the WS ended and lee's name came up once or twice? then, a report came out saying lou said he didn't want lee traded (i remember seeing that, at least). since then, no mention of lee in the papers whatsoever. i don't see it happening, nor do i want it to. hendry isn't going to break up any part of the current major league team, IMO. (side note-i think lou's input in trade talks is vastly understated from what we're reading. he knows what's going on with this team, he's just not letting on as much. the cubs are serious about peavy, and lou knows it).
i like the younger, cheaper guys like hermida and scott, not sure what it would take to get them though, over giles. and if the marlins want to be wowed by a package for hermida, that's probably not going to happen. they've taken many a GM to the cleaners in trades (hendry included, which is rare), so i'd probably steer clear of it. i really like him, but if they're asking for the moon, we don't need him that bad.
i'd take scott in a heartbeat. however, i imagine it would take more than cedeno for him, but it's a start i guess...

"Cains value is high?

he went 8-14 with a 3.76 ERA

thats not too high for lee
"

Please don't cite wins or losses as a part of your argument...its hard to take you seriously when you do that. He posted a 3.76 era at 23, and is cheap for years to come. Thats very, very valuable. Checked Zambrano's ERA lately?

I don't see any realistic way Hendry and Piniella decide Adam Dunn in RF would be acceptable.

As for Milton, I think an AL team will offer at least a 3 year deal. It's possible the Cubs can go higher dollars shorter years, but I think it'll take 3 years and an option somewhere in the 10-12 mil range.