The Tigers announced that they have acquired Jeff Baker from the Cubs in exchange for two players to be named later. The Cubs will receive the two PTBNLs either on or before October 31st.
Baker, 31, has a .269/.306/.448 slash line in 144 plate appearances on the year. The veteran has seen time at first base, second base, and the corner outfield positions this season and also has experience at third.
As for the Cubs, they will presumably bolster their farm system with this trade as they look to 2013 and beyond. Theo Epstein & Co. continued the youth movement today with the promotions of Josh Vitters and Brett Jackson.
Take that White Sox!
We’re laughing at this.
it was meant as a joke.
Tigers hoping Baker can do what they wanted Raburn to do vs LH Pitchers.
So that’s the player DD said he was discussing with Theo that wasn’t Soriano…
Detroit gets Baker and the PTBNLs? Nice trade.
What?
The article was written incorrectly at first. It’s since been edited.
I would’ve sent one PTBNL w Baker to Detroit for them to take him!
Ryan Dempster approved of this trade.
Baker was solid in his time with the cubs, hopefully we get something decent for him in the 2 PTBNLs.
I highly doubt they get anything more that what KC got for Betemit last year.
What did KC get for Betemit?
Two no name minor leaguers.
And a bag of Cheetos.
Its tough to be a Cub fan these days.- From a disgruntled 50 year Cub follower.
These days? Or the last hundred years
Why? Baker is a nice complementary piece but he means nothing to a losing team. Dempster was a free agent, Johnson is a fourth outfielder (again, a great piece for a contender and not much for a team like the Cubs), Maholm is a back-end starter who got turned into a prospect with a very high ceiling. And even with those players the Cubs weren’t able to sniff .500.
This is exactly what needs to happen. The Cubs got stung by some Cubs-style bad luck (Garza’s injury, Dempster’s indecision) but they still picked up a few nice pieces and now we get a chance to see what a few other pieces we had have to offer. Honestly I’m more excited for the team right now than I have been all season.
I could not agree with you more. Thank you for totally getting it right.
Could not have said it better myself. Anyone who knows anything knows that this team needs a complete tear down and that takes time. If you have been a cubs fan for 50 years, 3 more won’t kill you. They’re finally headed in the right direction. Plus garza will be highly coveted this winter by the teams that miss out on Greinke/A Sanchez/E Jackson
as opposed to the other 49 years of losing you have endured?
Jim, coming from another longtime Cubs follower, I understand the frustration, but at least these guys have a plan. Previous GMs (except perhaps Dallas Green) just flew by the seat of their pants. I know it’s hard to convince Cubs fans like us to be patient, but it will be another 2-3 years before we’re competitive again.
is it true that Bjack and Vitters are being called up for sure?
Yes sir, its been confirmed and jackson will be in the lineup today.
love this! thank you so much!
Hopefully Vitters is too. I’m not that high on him but there is no reason he shouldn’t be playing every day on this team to find out exactly what he’s got.
i think that with Baker gone, vitters should be up. he can play 3b and Valbuana can take bakers role by backing up Barney and Vitters at 2b/3b. Man im so happy BJack is up!
you do realize that Jackson profiles more as a league average CF maybe slightly above league average right? Granted thats something the cubs have not had for years now but dont get too excited
Get off you high horse buddy, the Kid did a solid debut today, and i have every right to be excited! I’ve been following Jackson ever since he has been drafted. i made him in every 2k game from 2k7-2k12! and who cares what hes projected to be it what he does it what matters, I’m just happy to see him in the majors! cant wait to see him play in person
He’s looked pretty good today too! Vitters had the pinch-hit flyout, but I’m pretty pumped to see how he does as well.
he had a real solid debut! even with that weird ground out off his foot in his first Ab lol. cant wait to see how Vitters does over these next 2 games in San Diego vs those LHP they got!
the next Don Kelly???????
Thank goodness for the Tigers Hendry wasn’t still running the show, otherwise Baker would have been “untouchable.”
Ha
Who are the tigers demoting?
Raburn on the DL
When he comes back, I’m guessing him
Leyland might cry again if that’s the case
he is a pure split NL hitter, yes he mashes againts left handers but he can hit his way out of a paper bag against righties, can play every where but not really someone you trade for.
It is if you want a guy who can play 1B/2B/3B/OF against lefties like Sale, Quintana, Liriano, Sabathia, Lester, Doubront, Price, Moore, Romero, Wilson, Holland, Harrison, Milone, and Vargas.
They’re trying to make a push for the division title, and this gives them plenty of flexibility on defense while not sacrificing offense against lefties. And there are plenty of lefties in the AL they’ll be facing, quite a few tough ones.
alot of those lefties he has never seen though, just dont think that Baker is whats going to push the tigers into the 2nd wildcard or over the whitesox, im not saying he is horrible im just saying he is a one trick pony, and its not as if the managers for those teams wouldnt just bring a righty out of the pen to face him, im just saying he isnt a game changer, plus he wont be eligible for post season play im pretty sure
“its not as if the managers for those teams wouldnt just bring a righty out of the pen to face him”
Are you implying that he’s only going to be used as a pinch-hitter? He should get 3+ AB’s against lefties every time he plays, barring any sort of offensive outburst.
“plus he wont be eligible for post season play im pretty sure”
All he has to do is be on the 25 or 40-man roster by August 31. I think he’ll make it.
No, Baker is not going to propel the Tigers over the White Sox, but the White Sox inability to beat the Tigers and the fact that they have been heating up since July 1st tells me the White Sox have a lot to worry about the next few weeks.
Jeff Baker is a great bench or platoon player, but he has proven more than once that he can’t play every day. He is allergic to right-handed pitchers, and he can play many positions, but play all of them below average. Having said that, if any manager can get the most out of what Baker has to offer, I would think it would be Leyland.
For 2 months of a utility player, I doubt that either of the PTBNLs are anything more than organizational filler.
I’m slow getting here but here is my question for the whole year. Why wasn’t he playing 3B against LHP and pulled for D late in game or when RH put in? Cubs prefer sub .200 hitter!!! Sure D may be weak but how many difficult chances per game. I think he drives in more than Stewart/Valbuena than he would give up. 3B should have been platoon. At least Vitters has a chance to prove hisself.