Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Figgins, Halladay, Uggla

Okay great...let's say the Cubs trade Bradley for Burrell. Now the Cubs are stuck with Soriano and Burrell in an OF with Fukudome in CF? Yikes. The Cubs will have to try and dump Burrell back on an AL team again. In the end the Cubs will probably wind up paying for Bradley, Burrell, and whoever winds up playing RF. What a mess. I'm not sure how you can field a competitive team by paying 3 people to play one position.

"The Phrontiersman warns that giving up Cole Hamels is too much for Roy Halladay."

Well, F*ing duh!

"Okay great...let's say the Cubs trade Bradley for Burrell. Now the Cubs are stuck with Soriano and Burrell in an OF with Fukudome in CF? Yikes."

Worst part comes in our bench under those circumstances.

As it stands, we dont have a 2B so we are looking at the possibility of keeping 4 Utility Infielders to fill the spot (Miles, Baker, Fontenot and Blanco) - all of which are out of options for 2010. With an OF of Soriano/Burrell on the corners and Fukudome up the middle, we will probably need 2-3 extra Outfielders to make up the difference though. But up to 3 of the 5 bench spots are taken by the UIs and we need a backup C.

Realistically, as it stands, our bench ends up looking like Miles/Fontenot/Blanco/Fox/Hill or Miles/Blanco/Fox/Hoffpautr/Hill (with Fontenot Non-Tendered). How would that make up for Burrell in Right? (or Left with Soriano moving over) It cant as far as I can see. So we need another OF, but how do we do that without a bench spot to put him?

I just dont see how we can take Burrell unless we fix 2B.

The Reds attendance sagged this year to 1.7 million which is why they will be tighter on payroll in 2010. If Jocketty trades away Phillips and Harang or Arroyo, that will only exacerbate the Reds attendance and payroll problems as Reds fans will not support a loser heading south fast. I could see getting rid of one of Harang or Arroyo, but not both and certainly not Brandon Phillips who is a middle infielder with 30-30 talent and only making $6 million. Yes, should the Reds trade away Phillips, you'll see even lower attendance at the Great American Ballpark this year. No, they need to go out and trade for a decent catcher and shortstop and then maybe more fans will come out therefore raising attendance and consequently the payroll.

Suzysman, agreed. I would hope the only way the Cubs would take Burrell is if they have a pre-arranged trade. Hopefully for a 2b who can lead off.

The Twins and Yankees blogs are vomit-inducing. Citing batting average w/r/t a player's quality, getting facts wrong (Hughes' era in the bullpen was in the 1s you idiot), and wanting an extreme flyball pitcher like Jarrod Washburn in New Yankee Stadium? Barf

I don't see 2B as a big hole, because I read somewhere that Starlin Castro may be ready for the big leagues by mid-season, so their probably going move Theriot over to 2B, but in the mean time, I think the Cubs should look for an everyday second-baseman until Castro is ready, someone like Luis Castillo, sure, he doesn't hit for power, but her gets on base, and he or Theriot could lead-off. This could possibly work out for the Mets because I hear their trying to sign Orlando Hudson, but I'm not sure the Mets would want a guy like Bradley, but then again, they could always trade someone else for Castillo and trade Bradley somewhere else, either way the Cubs would have to eat a good portion of Bradley's contract.

how bout the cubs get roy halladay. cubs trade vitters, cashner, castro, milton bradley, and jake fox for halladay and vernon wells.

Posted by: CubsGM | November 13, 2009 at 01:49 PM

That would be THE worst trade ever

Cubsfan25, you could be right. It probably depends on whether Theriot is a long term answer. He's a late bloomer and those guys tend to decline after a few good years. Still he could hold the spot long enough for Hak Ju Lee (sp?) to be ready. That would make a nice homegrown DP combo and 1-2 punch at the top of the lineup. I think another advantage in acquiring someone like Castillo that in addition to filling the 2b/leadoff hole, he allows the Cubs to hold off on rushing Castro who's still only 19. Castro is so talented, however, that he may just "force" the Cubs to call him up by midseason.

Heh, you're griping about the prospects going in that proposal? What about taking on Vernon Wells?

"Count me as one of those people who think its a good idea to give Hamels for Halladay. I'd like to hear your reasons why you disagree."

Hamels was nearly exactly the same in 2009 as he was in 2007-08 - the only difference comes in a fluke BAbip. His WAR has been between 3.8 and 4.5 each of the last three seasons - including last year. And he is under control for 2 seasons instead of one, while he is in his proto-typical peak years - not past them. Hamels likely will get batter where Halladay will probably regress by an unknown amount (likely just a small amount, but still)

Factor it out
about 8 WAR (4 WAR each) over 2 seasons at 16 MM cost with strong likely hood of getting better

about 7 WAR over 1 season at 15.75 MM cost with likely hood or regressing

Total Value = advantage Hamels
Control = advantage Hamels
Cost = even
Age = advantage Hamels

Ya I did forget to mention that. I wouldn't do the deal if it didnt include Wells.

Cork

By linking to the Twins Overlook posting on the Santana trade you just lost some credibility as that has to be one of the worst analysis/arguments I have seen.

Twins Overlook is far from the good Twins blogs. Try AaronGleeman.com TwinkieTown Seth Speaks or TwinsGeek. All much better blogs with some very talented writers where you wont have to read vomit like that

"how bout the cubs get roy halladay. cubs trade vitters, cashner, castro, milton bradley, and jake fox for halladay and vernon wells."

In that we get 1 year of a pitcher we cant afford to pay, take on possibly the worst contract in the game (where we already have 2 in Soriano and Zambrano) and give up prospects the team desperately needs because of the contracts we already have. No thanks.

Posted by: SuzysMan | November 13, 2009 at 02:08 PM

I've heard Soriano and Zambrano for Halladay and Wells. It makes some decent sense, but I doubt it has legs.

I've heard Soriano and Zambrano for Halladay and Wells. It makes some decent sense, but I doubt it has legs.

Posted by: baseball52 | November 13, 2009 at 03:19 PM

It makes absolutely NO sense for the Blue Jays. Why would they trade one bad contract for two, while not getting any young assets in return for Halladay?

Posted by: monstermash | November 13, 2009 at 03:54 PM

Whoops sorry it was Bradley.

I love how this has turned into the cubs getting halliday and wells when the artical says the cubs should try to get C.Granderson.
Presonaly i like the guy it would be nice if the cubs could get him. I would think the cubs should offer Jake Fox and M.Bradly for Granderson maybe the cubs throw in a prospect and the new teams pay the contracts.

Now with 2nd bace i say keep what u got baker, blanco and or fontenot can play 2nd base but miles has 2 go! Also bc we got alot of talent in the minnors at 2b and ss.

"124 starts over the last 4 seasons is now injury prone?

Thats an average of 31 a year - something only 24 ML pitchers have done over the last 3 seasons."

Professional includes the minor leagues. I never said ML.

I get what baseball52 is saying. Similarly, if you look at his life-span, Hamels is prone to being aged 1-21. I expect Suzyman will reply by citing his current age, but s/he should bear in mind, I never said that he's between the ages 1-21 currently.

"Suzysman, I was implying they are saying its a steal for the Dodgers. But that giving up Hamels for Halladay is dumb for the Phils... However, they have had similar career's, minus the postseason of 08... about 5 starts."

Oh. Well thats just because people have a tendency to overreact at the most recent minute SSS evidence. Anyone saying that would have to be using the last month or so almost exclusively as their basis - hardly reliable.

Agree 100% SuzysMan. I think you can see why many Dodger fans, me included, get really angry at some of the packages offered for players, while a similar package for the same guy, but from a different team is thrown away like garbage...

And all that is why fans/bloggers/sport media members making up trade offers is nothing but nonsense. The GMs actually understand value.

If the phillies don"t trade Hamels they are looking at potential nightmare at Citenzens bank park after his comments in the world series (he can"t wait for the season to be over with)if i"m amaro I nip it right now get this spoiled brat out of here. Halladay trade makes to much sense also will keep the yankees from getting him.