Cubs Rumors: Hendry, Bradley, Iwamura

"The club's direction depends on its ability to move Milton Bradley and the $21MM remaining on his contract. Sullivan speculates on a possible trade that would send Bradley to the Rays for Akinori Iwamura and Pat Burrell."

I would be okay with this deal under two assumptions: that Iwamura's $4.25M option was being picked up by Tampa, and that the Cubs would pay around that amount to the Rays to offset the salaries

That would be $17.50M to the Cubs in 2010 for Burrell and Iwamura and part of Bradley's deal, and $16.75M to the Rays, so they're paying Bradley $3.5M net for the next two seasons, or $7.5M net if they would decline Iwamura's deal either way.

Iwamura gives the Cubs an everyday second baseman for the top of the order that can cover at third if Ramirez goes down, and Burrell probably gets released, while Bradley gives the Rays a high-upside switch-hitting DH for their lineup.

Not the worst suggestion.

"Move 1 - fire Hendry"

Well yeah, we can all dream.

But everyone knows that Hendry is going to get at least one more year to get this thing figured out before Ricketts decides to go in another direction.

For better or worse, old-school Hendry is sticking around.

"i cringe at the thought of burrel in right field, but if you're able to spin him somewhere, then great (obviously)."

Oh, there's no way that I play Burrell in right field.

You just try to dump him on someone else or release him.

In this deal, the Cubs would be getting Bradley out of the clubhouse while filling one of the holes in the lineup, and while the club would have to take on money in 2010, it would save a lot of money the year after, giving the team some flexibility as Lee and Lilly's deals come off the books too.

Ideally, I would try to expand the deal to go after Matt Joyce, too.

Maybe something like Burrell, Joyce and Iwamura for Bradley, Tyler Colvin, Aaron Shafer and $5M?

Why would the Rays want any part of Bradley. With all the young guys on their team, he is the last guy they need hanging around. I am stunned that Jim Hendry still has a job when someone the quality of Eric Wedge is out of a job.

Bradley for Burrell makes sense, but Iwamura is basically a 2.5 WAR player when he's healthy, you dont trade that for a giant question mark/psychopath in Bradley.

I still think Bradley+Soriano for Rowand+Zito is the fairest deal out there.

I would say that maybe there is a piece missing, maybe a mid-level prospect coming from Chicago along with this deal. I can't imagine the Rays picking up Iwamura's option to trade him without some sort of prospect coming back.

If the Cubs are taking on Burrell, I don't see them dumping him (at least not right away). Not sure what his trade value is, but I am sure its low. He might be a nice bat off the bench. I mean if you are going to pay the man, he might as well see what he can do as a pinch hitter. Anyone agree. I am not sure if there is room though.

Could the Cubs ask the Rays to pick up Iwamura's option and then the Cubs just pay it, in this deal? It would be like a Burrell for Bradley deal with the Cubs paying Iwamura's option. I still would love to see the Cubs go after Figgins.

"Could the Cubs ask the Rays to pick up Iwamura's option and then the Cubs just pay it"

I'm sure the Rays would love some other team to pay their player's salary. :0)

"Could the Cubs ask the Rays to pick up Iwamura's option and then the Cubs just pay it"

I'm sure the Rays would love some other team to pay their player's salary. :0)

Posted by: A | November 03, 2009 at 10:48 AM

Thanks A for that one...Obviously the Cubs would then recieve Iwamura as part of the deal. Nice

"and they'd also like to acquire a speedy leadoff hitter."

Walt Jocketty called. You can have Willy Taveras for a bucket of used balls and a Chicago deep dish from Giordano's. He's willing to negotiate on the baseballs.

"I still think Bradley+Soriano for Rowand+Zito is the fairest deal out there."

Sure, that seems fair if you're a Giants fan. Rowand + Zito does nothing for the Cubs other than worsening their offense and gaining a really expensive #4 starter. At the very least when Soriano and Bradley are playing up to their abilities they're very good hitters. What does Rowand offer? Zito? This trade would potentially fix the Giants offense and break parts of the Cubs that they're trying to fix.

The Giants need to keep those bad contracts, it would be a terrible deal for the Cubs.

I really don't see the Rays messing with their chemistry and dealing for a guy like Bradley. If they deem Iwamura's option too pricey, just move Zobrist to 2B and bring in an inexpensive outfielder to compete with Desmond Jennings. Either that or leave Zobrist in RF and try Sean Rodriguez at second base. Considering he hit .299/.400/.616 in AAA last year, I'd love to see what that guy could do with regular playing time.

Tampa wants to dump Burrell and might not want Iwamura's option increase. Then Hendry spins around and trades Burrell for very little of anything. My guess is two guys burried in the minors that will end up being released in the end. That's ok. Tampa gets rid of Burrell. They get a cheap costing Bradley at a price they can ship him out without much payroll effect when he acts up. The Cubs get Iwamura at 2B to lead off. Move Baker as a cost effective, utility guy (the role I want to see him play). So long as the Cubs would not keep Burrell, I would think this might work for both teams.

even if the cubs got burrell he doesnt have anywhere to play

even if the cubs got burrell he doesnt have anywhere to play

Posted by: gosox22 | November 03, 2009 at 11:44 AM

He would play RF

thats pointless because you wouldnt pay a guy as much as his contract is to pinch hit

cubs suck

sox sp rotation is ten times better than cubs

Yea, sign John Grabow thats gonna help!! There is an absolutely 0% chance the Rays make that trade for Bradley.

"thats pointless because you wouldnt pay a guy as much as his contract is to pinch hit"

Which is why the Cubs would just release him. The idea would be to try to save some money while filling the 2B hole with Iwamura, not to acquire Burrell.

"all the rays pay is $3.5 of bradley's 21
that's $17.5 plus aki's 4 plus burrel's 9 = another $30.5 on the Cubs' books."

The Rays would only be paying $3.5M for Bradley because they'd be subtracting the $13M that they'd be paying Burrell/Iwamura anyways.

In the end, the Rays would end up paying the majority of Bradley's contract, but given that they're also shedding Burrell and Iwamura's contracts, the net increase in their payroll is about $3.5M over two seasons.

The Cubs would probably have to include some additional talent with Bradley.

How about Milton Bradley, Jake Fox, Tyler Colvin, Welington Castillo and $5M for Pat Burrell, Akinori Iwamura and Matt Joyce?

"fox colvin castillo ... can the cubs afford to trade any of their meagre farm system just to sweeten a pot that still costs them money ?"

Yeah, because Fox, Colvin and Castillo aren't big parts of the future, and Joyce and Iwamura would fit really nicely into the lineup.

Too bad that Iwamura appears to be on his way to Pittsburgh.

keep what we have, and keep the other losers where they are, as far as we areconcerned in this house bench soriano and bradley and use only in case of emergency. get the players who believe in the game and give us 120% AT ALL TIMES

"How about Milton Bradley, Jake Fox, Tyler Colvin, Welington Castillo and $5M for Pat Burrell, Akinori Iwamura and Matt Joyce?"

That has to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Lets give away a player who is one year removed from leading the AL in OBS (last I checked, there are allot of good hitters/batters in the AL). On top of that give away one of if not the top prospect in the farm system (Even though Tom Rickets said in an interview, he was to rebuild the team through the farm system and development.) Add to that a player that will be a hot commodity come trade deadline for teams looking for a DH. PLUS $5 Million for a would-be pinch hitter a second baseman, and a guy (who in my opinion) has less potential than Tyler Colvin.

The only positive I would see out of any deal for Burrell/Aki would be adding a decent bat to the bench, upgrading the middle infield and giving fukudome someone to talk to other then his interpreter.