Cubs Rumors: Teahen, Edmonds, Marquis

"The Cubs don't really consider Teahen the middle of the order bat they require."

If I was a cubs fan the fact that there is even a remote possibly they do consider him that would scare me in several ways.

What in the world are these "other reasonable options to clear payroll other than trading Jason Marquis?" Lilly? Lee? Maybe there's actually a decent trade market for Fukudome?

Ooh, Adam Dunn trying to play Defense in Right Field in Wrigley would be HILARIOUS to watch.

I mean Dunn can barely play Defense in a regular stadium with no wind so just imagine him in an asymetrical stadium (with a brick, ivy covered wall) and fighting the swirling winds?

Also, look at what happened to Dunn's Home Runs once he was traded away from Cincinnati. Now think about what would happen if he is playing in Chicago, where in April and May, it is cold and the wind blows IN from the lake?

Also, if you look at Dunn's stats in September, he virtually disappears. Now imagine the overweight and out of shape Dunn playing all of those day Games in July and August and think about what would happen to his Offense in September?

Dunn choked as a Quarterback at the University of Texas.

Dunn choked as the leader of the Reds in September, 2006 and then again after the Reds traded King Griffey Junior away in 2008. Now just imagine the pressure he would have on him in a pennant race in Chicago and what he would do?

So, as a Reds fan, I say GO FOR IT CUBS!!!!! SIGN the Donkey to a HUGE contract!!!!

I wonder why the cubs dont offer arbitration to wood now

I wonder if kenny lofton has stayed in shape.......lol jk

Hey lets dig up jeromy burnitz again

Seriously what ever did happen with jeremy gonzales and burnitz

Roberts is far from the perfect player for the Cubs. The Cubs have one very good 2b(Derosa), and another that is possibly pretty good (Fontenot), wasting money/prospects on yet another 2b is one of the stupidest things they could possibly do.

jillybohnson, I wholly disagree. Roberts is worth more than either DeRosa or Fontenot. Not only does he put up better numbers, but he steals more bases and is left-handed (though Fontenot is, too, I know). DeRose and Fontenot can't lead off, either. I've watched Roberts play for 3-4 seasons now, and I wish I had him every one. DeRosa and Fontenot are "settling" options. We need a legit leadoff hitter to win this thing.

Or just let Pie try and be that guy once and for all...

AL at BCB thinks the Cubs should sign Kevin Millar for his clubhouse attitude. Al knows nothing about baseball and his website is an abomination.

The source is off. If the Cubs get the feeling Wood will accept arbitration, decline to offer him, and lose out on two draft picks...I'll eat my shoe. There is no chance that happens.

Aduncaroo- I agree with you completely. Having Edmonds last year play very well was a plus. Let's take that good season and let him go. I know he played really well but how more seasons of good baseball can he still have left in that body?
I would really hate to see Fontenot go anywhere. He should clearly be the second basemen of the future, with the exception of possibly Tony Thomas down at Daytona I believe. They should not be dealing him for anyone. The other thing that makes me sick is that the Cubs didn't protect Veal. He is still projected to be a stud and seemed to be making strides at the end of the year. Please offer Wood arbitration!

"The other thing that makes me sick is that the Cubs didn't protect Veal. He is still projected to be a stud"

His ceiling is as a LOOGY. He has regressed and has also been awful this offseason in the Winter League.

teetz-al's come up with some travesty trade ideas, i agree, millar being one of them. i happen to enjoy BCB, and generally like what al says, but whatever, this isn't BCB. my point was that his source was right on about roberts NOT coming to the cubs from the get-go. doesn't matter, anyway, i was just throwing it out there.

anyway, i'd hate for derosa to get traded, but he's precisely the sort of guy to get traded. he's had 3 consecutive very good years, each year being better than the previous one. i don't think any of the big bats (lee, soriano, soto, ramirez) are going anywhere, and i see no possible way lilly is going anywhere either. he's arguably the surest thing in that rotation. he's no ace, but you pretty much know exactly what he's going to give you. though i suppose it must be said he'd bring back pretty good value in a trade.
fontenot can't be any worse than matt murton or cliff floyd were in right, can he? (that's a joke, kind of)

Did Bill Plaschke create 100 usernames and is he writing comments through all of them on each Cubs thread? Good lord.

rockstrongo-

Excellent point. Soriano looks decent during the season because they face so much bad pitching. During the playoffs, not so much. I want a leadoff hitter who hits BOTH good and bad pitching. I do NOT want to watch Soriano anchor the top of the lineup with wild swings at outside sliders that nobody can hit.

Tim-

Could you please clarify a rules question about a free agent player like Kerry Wood?

Scenario 1:
If the Cubs don't offer Kerry Wood arbitration, won't they lose the ability to negotiate with him until a certain date early in the season, (something like May 1st or so?)

Scenario 2:
If they offer Wood arbitration and even if he declines, they could still negotiate with him without restriction.

Scenario 3:
If they offer arbitration and Wood accepts they would either come to an agreement on a 1 year deal (or multi-year) or go to an arbitration hearing after exchanging figures.

Is that correct?

I agree, 100. Lilly stays put since he is a lefty and solid. I thought he had a partial NTC, but might be wrong. DeRosa makes sense and I was thinking that a couple weeks back when many were saying Lee goes. I don't think Lee goes, but DeRosa might. Like you pointed out, he has had three solid years and not a no trade clause. Plus, as much as most Cub fans like him, he is being squeezed out of playing time. Lou wants to give Fonteno more at bats, they have a left handed bat in mind for right field and Mark makes too much and is too good to play every few days. I bet they are thinking of a cheaper, athletic version of DeRosa. I hope not, but it makes you wonder at least.

"An .876 OBP from the leadoff spot is "stinking it up..?"

you mean .340?

I think he was quoting his OPS...but a .340 OBP isn't as bad as people make it out to be either...he just isn't the prototypical leadoff hitter, but that doesn't mean its all that bad.

With the production the Cubs had from the bottom of the order last year...it really wouldn't have made much of a difference where he hit, at least in the regular season.

"They're grooming him to turn into a shut down lefty relief pitcher with a dominating fastball and a sick slider. Know what you're talking about. "

Sre you talking about Donald Veal??? I've read that the Cubs are going to leave him off the 40 man roster and make him available in the rule 5 draft. Doesn't seem to me they think too highly of him anymore. Otherwise I'm sure some team would take a chance on him in the draft.....

"Derosa makes 5.5 mil this year. Does he really need to be moved to sign a RF thats going to make 12 mil for the next 3 years??? Obviously, Derosa will not be traded."

How do you see it as obvious? Maybe 5 1/2 mil is savings to them. What I see as obvious is the fact the payroll is on max. Wood was willing to do whatever it took...1 year deal to come back. His good friend and boss let him walk and could not sign him. Hendry declined Henry (no pun) Blanco the 3 mil and wants to resign him at a lesser amount. He did a great job last year. In the past, Hendry does not do that. Economics have changed and that is playing a role here. I hope DeRosa stays and I am not saying he is on the block. All I am saying is it makes sense. Just trying to figure out what angle Tim's source was going.

"Brian Giles is no longer a power bat. Maybe he hits 15-20 homers in Wrigley. Maybe."

We don't need him to be a power bat. We need a leadoff hitter that can put the ball in play, draw walks, and not strike out! That is Brian Giles. That then enables them to move Soriano to 5th and there is your power bat. Lee, ARAM, and Soriano in the middle of your order works pretty well.

clarknaddison,

No, I was talking about Braves OF Brandon Jones

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=6987&position=OF

He was a top 100 prospect last season that projects to to be an average (maybe a little above average) RF. Still, his numbers at AAA last year weren't very impressive (in part bc of a poor BABIP) and his 2B power has yet to transform into HR power.

I'd think from the Cubs perspective saving ~5 million (very approximate) and getting Brandon Jones in return for moving Marquis might make sense.

"This is just a shot in the dark - DeRosa and Pie to the Giants for Winn and Correia?"

Wouldn't that add payroll not subtract?

"Also, look at what happened to Dunn's Home Runs once he was traded away from Cincinnati. Now think about what would happen if he is playing in Chicago, where in April and May, it is cold and the wind blows IN from the lake?"

Cincinnati isn't anymore of a hitters park than Arizona.

"Dunn choked as a Quarterback at the University of Texas."

Good Lord.

"Dunn choked as the leader of the Reds in September, 2006 and then again after the Reds traded King Griffey Junior away in 2008. Now just imagine the pressure he would have on him in a pennant race in Chicago and what he would do?"

He would probably hit .240 with 40 HR and have a .900 OPS and be more valuable than anyone else we have in our other OF spot right now.

E K

Didnt' either Hendry or Piniella say the Cubs are looking for a power lefty more than a leadoff hitter?

Also, I don't know many 37 year old leadoff hitters.

Comment below hits the nail on the head. We need a lead off guy who can get us started early or at least good at bats. Teams who get to the bullpen early by being patient win in the playoffs. We need a lead off hitter who is patient and battles good pitching. Soriano just like Sosa used to typically produces in the most non-critical scenarios against sub-par pitchers.

"Soriano looks decent during the season because they face so much bad pitching. During the playoffs, not so much. I want a lead off hitter who hits BOTH good and bad pitching. I do NOT want to watch Soriano anchor the top of the lineup with wild swings at outside sliders that nobody can hit."

I can only assume the above was a joke... sooo...

"Cincinnati isn't anymore of a hitters park than Arizona."

You can also make the same arguement that PetCo isn't any more of a pitchers park than Chase Field, as they are both about as far from reality as possible.

Home Run Park Factors:

GASP (It's called Great American Small Park for a reason): 1.263 #3

Chase: 1.046 #13

Wrigley: 1.052 #11

Studio- He was never on the 40 man roster. He was the top pitching prospect in 2006. He hasn't lost favor, he just hasn't developed quite like they had hoped he would. They're trying him as a relief pitcher now to fully utilize his live arm and hoping he becomes a dominant lefty. Who knows, perhaps he can become the dominant lefty that they are craving in their bullpen. Pitching everyday might help the kid.

"Do you not see Donald Veal is no longer considered a top level prospect from when he was drafted #2 in 2005?"

I meant when he was drafted in round #2 in 2005.

"Now if you can also explain why no team wants to trade for Felix Pie you would be doing this site another great service."

Teams do want to trade for Pie. The problem is Hendry still wants too much for him. As usual, Hendry overvalues all his players until they prove they are not great players and their value disapears. Pie is still young enough that he COULD prove to be useful.

what do you guys think of Garrett Anderson in RF? a few years ago he played 90 some games in CF. If he can handle the position decently defensively he could be the LF bat they are looking for. close to .300 ba, 15 hr, 80 rbi is extremely reasonable expectations from him.