Cubs Acquire Jeff Baker, DFA Ryan Freel

Wow. They did't even wait for him to return after injury. Interesting to see what this means for Atkins as he is now the only other corner utility player on the Rox. I really liked Baker, too bad his injury prevented him to create any type of real trade value.

Is this the end of Aaron Miles? As in unconditional release.

"Interesting to see what this means for Atkins as he is now the only other corner utility player on the Rox"

What about Ian Stewart?

RoyalsRetro:

Stewart, despite being cold right now, is still the Rockies 3B going forward. We have enough OF and MI depth that he doesn't need to be utility.

Hurdle and Tracy are very different in this regard. Hurdle will slide his bench players all over the field in interest of getting them starts. Tracy sticks with a consistent lineup and uses his bench players as the occasional spell and PHs, not as a team of utility players juggling around 4 or 5 consistent starters.

As it stands, Atkins has regained the 3B position, but it could just be a setup to get him traded. Stewart will more than likely play as a PH and/or defensive replacement until then, rather than bumping Spilborghs or Smith out of potential starts in the OF or Barmes from 2B.

Does anyone else hate that this takes time away from Fox? I don't care if he is below average at 3rd...he can rake.

SuzysMan really? Send Blanco down when he gets to every ball, while Aaron Miles sucks. And no that bench help sucks. Fuld is back in Des Moines once Reed comes back, Freel is gone once Aramis is back. Fontenot has not been hitting this year he lost his spot to Blanco. Fox is the only bright spot in that bench

I don't consider Baker poor. I just love Fox's bat. Its as simple as that. I guess if Baker gets most of his time at 2nd then sure, as long as it means Miles and Freel are the ones losing time here, not Fox.

"SuzysMan really? Send Blanco down when he gets to every ball, while Aaron Miles sucks."

Yep, Blacno will go when Miles is activated. Well, unless Hoff goes and then Blanco is around till Baker makes it here. Not sure when we should expect him. No matter, Miles makes a load of cash, both this year and next. They wont release him for Blanco, but they cant keep both. I guess it is possible Fontenot is gone with Miles and Blanco staying, but he is the strongest hitter of the bunch (yes, I realize that isnt saying much)

And yeah, isnt our bench horrendous?

"Does anyone else hate that this takes time away from Fox? I don't care if he is below average at 3rd...he can rake."

Not really. I imagine Fox will still get the ABs in the OF that are currently going to Hoffpauir. But I am also fearful of saying someone can rake just because he sits with a career 7 doubles and 2 home runs. Extreme small sample size, and we just say what it did to Micah, so I am not getting to excited yet.

I always liked Ryan Freel so I hate it for him.

http://panthersfanatic.net/

Joe stop spamming your web site on every post you make.

Or, I guess we keep Hoffpauir and DFA Freel. Which I hate because it means Fuld is sticking around for a while. Reed being out with back issues, we might need the 3rd CFer. I liked having Freel for the spot as he could cover CF and some in the infield as well. He was like our fixall at the end of the bench that we never used anyway. I dont understand Fuld even being here. But whatever.

"I don't know if I would say what "it did to Micah"...him doing badly isn't much of a bigger sample size than him doing great."

His small sample size that looked so great evened itself out when given more ABs. I expect the same from Fox. Unlike you, I dont see anything in either that says they are really "above average big league hitters", and I am a tad surprised to hear a fan even say it.

Like Fontenot, they can be serviceable in really small doses. Anything more, and we are probably in trouble.

How about Ryan Freel to the Twins? I know a light hitting utility player is not exactly what the twins need at the moment, but with freels ability to play multiple positions, the Twins could send Buscher or Tolbert back down to the minors and play Freel at 2nd and 3rd? Freel has put up decent numbers before, and has relatively good speed too.

The Phils supposedly coveted Baker in the offseason, but Colorado said they wanted Kyle Kendrick in return then. Now he goes for a 23-year-old single-A reliever? Philadelphia could have used the bat, considering they're carrying Paul Bako on the roster and using Chris Coste in the exact role Baker would have filled.

That said, Freel would also be a perfect addition - if the Phils can get him, that works for me too.

"I am a tad surprised to hear a fan even say it."

So what you are saying is that you are surprised to hear that a fan thinks that Fox and Micah are capable of putting up a 101 OPS+ over a full season? I hardly think that this "fan" is the only one that believes that

Keep in mind both Fox and Hoffpauir are older rookies because neither have proven they have developed a position. Both have shown they can hit in the minors and really have nothing more to prove there. I'm not saying either is 'all that', but you can't just look at age as why they did not make it to MLB so far. Both are MLB bench guys or AAAA right now. We don't know yet. The sample is too few of ABs. I do like Fox's compact swing. Obviously, how they adjust to pitchers adjusting to them, will tell all. On a small sample size, Fox seems ok in the field...not pretty, but gets it done.

"I can't believe the Rockies got a whole city for Baker. Thats crazy. I sure hope the Isotopes come with the package."

If you are referring to the Simpsons episode where the Isotopes are moving to Albuquerque, it would be super hilarious because that episode is on right now. and I see you made that post quite a while ago.

"I'm not saying either is 'all that', but you can't just look at age as why they did not make it to MLB so far."

Yes, I know why there are the ages they are. But if they were truly better hitters then 50% of the league and we had no use for them, some one else would have taken them from us long ago. Would have brought a very good bullpen arm if nothing else. Or, more likely, would have been taken in the Rule-V. And then you would also have to question Hendry burying hitters that are better then 50% of the league while spending a fortune every single year on outfielders if it was the case. Just cant imagine it is.

The way I see it, we have a couple guys with some talent who can do a solid enough job filling in when needed. Fulltime duty, we might be in for some trouble. Spot starts here and there with some pinch hit appearances, we stand a good chance of being thrilled.

No offense Wrigleyterror. But Im going to go pound a bunch of Jameson so I can better understand what you wrote. I like that no strike call today in the game.