SB Nation User Blog: Cub Style

Granderson trade talks might just be all talk

Cub Style — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:59:11 -0000

Granderson trade talks might just be all talk

This guy could be just as credible as Phil Rogers though.

Options I'd like to see the Cubs explore.

Cub Style — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:20:42 -0000

This doesn't really mean I want them to make these moves, but just to see the market so they can fully evaluate their moves.

Roy Halladay

You kind of have to at least call them. It most likely won't happen unless we send some nutty offer that includes Vernon Wells. I remember hearing a Bradley-Z for Halladay-Wells swap but I highly doubt it has legs or would even work.

Luis Castillo

He'd free up bench space by letting us get rid of 2-3 of the 4 utility players we have at 2B and give us a decent top of the order hitter.

Curtis Granderson

I'm not a fan, but we are kind of committed and I see very good reasons including the lack of CF depth in the system.

Mike Cameron

In my opinion a cheaper, older, short-term fix for CF in comparison to Granderson.

Matt Stairs

Provides power off the bench. Theoretically, a home run or K guy.

Brad Hawpe

Probably my favorite RF option. High OBP and SLG, his UZR is kind of scary though. Of course Fukudome would have to play CF. Also has a very reasonable contract. His splits are also pretty balanced in Home/Away terms.

Chieng-Ming Wang

If he rebounds, we have ourselves a gem with an incentive-laden deal. In my opinion, he'd be a better number 1 than Zambrano is.

Josh Beckett

If his option is not picked up.

Octavio Dotel

He would give us a dynamite set up man, which I love.

Kiko Calero

Bullpen depth.

Billy Wagner

He'd be a good mentor to Marmol-aid.

Placido Polanco

Hell of a #2 hitter and 2B, he'd cost us some money though.

Orlando Hudson

Good 2B. Plays good D.

Any offers involving Soriano, Bradley, and/or Zambrano

The only one that's worth anything is Zambrano, so that's the only one I'd expect to get anything for. Bradley is worth something if we pay the most of his contract. Soriano, oh boy.

I'd like to see what the rest of you have to say.

Red Sox Acquire Victor Martinez

Cub Style — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:59:33 -0000

Red Sox Acquire Victor Martinez

Nick Hagadone and Justin Masterson for Victor Martinez. Cleveland got 2 quality starters for Victor, I wouldn't think they'd get much more.

Just a thought about Soriano

Cub Style — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:46:11 -0000

I don't like this guy, never have, never will. I was just thinking, and this is totally hypothetical and probably unrealistic, who could we deal for by sending the other team Alfonso Soriano.

Here's a few I came up with:

Vernon Wells

Michael Young

Ichiro Suzuki

I like all the players out of that group. Probably the most possible would be Vernon Wells, which I would think would be a good value pick up. Wells coming from the AL would benefit from NL pitching, he plays a good CF, and we could play Micah Hoffpauir and Jake Fox in LF from time to time and maybe ship Reed Johnson if we wanted to for whatever.

Michael Young would fit contract wise but i doubt the Texas Rangers would do it unless it were a 3 way deal involving a pitcher.

Ichiro probably would only happen with prospects because of the state of the Seattle Mariners.

Could we "Woody" Rich Harden?

Cub Style — Sun, 17 May 2009 20:45:56 -0000

The definition of "Woody"- Moving a career starting pitcher with electric stuff and injury problems to the pen.

Harden out of the pen would increase his velocity, but he will need to learn to get ready faster and pitch often. Then again that did work pretty well for Woody. I mean this just came to me out of the blue, I honestly don't think it will happen, especially mid-season, but it's an idea. Thoughts?

Bullpen Options

Cub Style — Fri, 15 May 2009 21:38:06 -0000

First off, I'd like to say that, as much as I love him, Samardzija isn't an option. What made him sooo good last year was his ability to change speeds between his 93-98 mph fastball and his 88 mph split. That split is down to about 84 now, which makes the pitch very discernable to hitters, thus losing his deceptiveness.

Option 1:

Move Randy Wells to the pen when Zambrano gets back.

Although I do think Randy is more suited to be a starter, he's one of our best options as a long or middle relief man in the system right now.

Option 2:

Trade for Scott Schoeneweis.

He is a lefty specialist, .182 AVG, .318 SLG, 1 EXBH, and 4 K in 22 ABs. The Diamondbacks aren't going to compete in my opinion, so Schoeneweis should be available. Maybe not now, but later.

Option 3:

Get Cotts in with big leads for work.

Neal needs to improve his control, he's forcing ground balls but they're just finding holes. He can be pretty damn good, he just needs to hit his spots.

Option 4:

Go after a closer on a losing team at the trade deadline.

Brian Wilson, Huston Street, Frank Francisco, Heath Bell, etc... could all be had. Now I do not think Kevin Gregg is a problem, but I think he would be best suited to start the 7th inning rather than the 9th.

Option 5:

Get a setup man to compliment Marmol-Aid

Octavio Dotel, David Weathers, Bobby Seay, Jim Johnson, etc... could all be had at the deadline as well. This would free up the 7th inning, and give Marmol more days off.

Of course it will take more than one of these options to completely fix our pen up for a run in the playoffs.

In the Wake of Nick Adenhart's Death

Cub Style — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 21:28:44 -0000

Being an avid Cubs and baseball fan and avid fan of the minor leagues, I have my favorites from around the league, both Major and Minor Leaguers, Nick Adenhart was one of them. In the eve of this season, I was anticipating seeing him pitch again in a Major League game and couldn’t wait to see a Cahill-Adenhart matchup because those were two of my favorites. Now seeing his career disappear like that, it just makes me sad. You wonder, what did this kid do to deserve this? He didn’t do anything, he just played the game of baseball, and played it very well. But I’m glad I at least got to see him pitch a few times. Rest in peace, Nick.

Maybe Halladay? If not, then maybe Harden?

Cub Style — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:07:17 -0000

I know Halladay has not been rumored to be available, but doesn't it seem logical for the Jays to move him. Over 11 seasons as a Blue Jay, they have not once made the playoffs. Now this team is in last place of an amazing division, the logical thing would be to deal your high value players and rebuild for the future. So hey let's take a look at what Halladay might cost us.

Prospective Deals:

Tony Thomas Jr, Donny Veal, Eric Patterson/Tyler Colvin, Josh Donaldson/Jake Fox, and Marquez Smith for Roy "Doc" Halladay.

Here's how I look at this, Thomas Jr. can possibly move to SS or Hill can(I know I'm being a little optimistic), Smith can give another option for the future at the corners than Ahrens, Donaldson or Fox can do the same as Smith but with Arencibia, Patterson or Colvin can be a MLB ready replacement if they deal Wells or decide to trash Lind, and Veal gives them a power arm. They do have Snider coming up in the OF and guys like Ahrens and Arencibia as well but they have not been progressing as well as they should, IMO.

Tony Thomas Jr, Donny Veal, Eric Patterson, Jake Fox, and Marquez Smith for Harden.

Another situation where I could see a Thomas Jr. position switch. Smith gives the A's one thing their system lacks, a good 3B prospect, Patterson and Fox give them MLB ready bats, and Veal is yet again the power arm.

My logic my be flawed here so please feed me your thoughts.