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Author Topic: Around Baseball 2/16/11 - 5/9/13  (Read 147831 times)

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Re: Around Baseball
« Reply #5025 on: November 28, 2012, 05:11:18 pm »
All that is true, which is why Upton is worth something like a 3 year, $35-$40 million deal.  But 5 years, $75 million?  That's a lot.

I mean, he's a good player.  But I mentioned Chris Young in my previous post, and that's essentially who Upton is.  And the Diamondbacks wanted to see Young gone so bad that they took a mediocre middle infielder and the remains of Heath Bell for him.  I think Young was hugely undervalued in that deal...but if no GM in baseball thought it was worth it to give the Diamondbacks more than that for Young, it just doesn't make sense to me that anyone would want to pay so much for Upton.
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Re: Around Baseball
« Reply #5026 on: November 28, 2012, 05:24:58 pm »
Chris Young has had a OPS+ of 98 over the last two seasons, which is similar to what Marlon Byrd did with the Cubs in his poor 2011 season. 

Upton was 112 over that period. Don't see much of a comp there.

Also, Young's career HIGH is 108.  Hard to see any upside at all in Young (who is also a year older), as Upton has reached 136 in his career year.  Also, don't see giving five years as a problem for a position player who will be 28 almost all of the 2013 season.  As far as the yearly salary, I think we're about to see a period of significant salary inflation, what with the many new local TV deals.  Will be curious to see what Bourn gets now that Upton is off the board. 
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Re: Around Baseball
« Reply #5027 on: November 28, 2012, 05:36:32 pm »
In the free agent market, you don't find too many bargains out there.
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Re: Around Baseball
« Reply #5028 on: November 28, 2012, 07:39:15 pm »
For Soria on a 1 year deal I really wouldn't care how much the Cubs would have to spend because there is going to be a lot of money on the sidelines.  Angels writer saying the Japanese closer is down to the Angels as a set-up guy and the Cubs as a closer. PSD "insider"  Marlin is saying Barney may be traded soon.
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Re: Around Baseball
« Reply #5029 on: November 28, 2012, 08:05:52 pm »
INteresting rumors, BlueJay.  Fun to just have some interesting ones. 
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Re: Around Baseball
« Reply #5030 on: November 28, 2012, 08:25:55 pm »
I saw the Barney thing too...anyone know if that Marlin guy has any credibility?  I know their other "insider" at that board has proven that he's full of crap.
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Re: Around Baseball
« Reply #5031 on: November 28, 2012, 08:35:35 pm »
Marlin is pretty good.  I think he knows somebody(s) within the Cubs org, or at least did during Hendry era.  But, I think there are lots of "maybes" in trade discussions.  I suspect there are so many "maybe" discussions of which only a fraction get completed.  Some Cub insider, whether it's Theo or Hoyer himself, might not now whether a "maybe" deal will get actualized.  And most guys who are not quite Hoyer/Theo might not even know where they would draw the line on a trade, much less the other side. 

All of which rambles to my point that a guy can have info, and in the 95% likelihood that Barney doesn't get traded it doesn't really mean either Marlin or his source are baloney. 
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Re: Around Baseball
« Reply #5032 on: November 28, 2012, 08:43:29 pm »
Both ABTY and Marlin provide info.  ABTY is from scouts and inside the Royals.  Marlin is supposed to b in/know someone in the Cubs.  I think their are sooo many moving parts in this that unless your Theo/Jed your going to be more wrong than right.
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Re: Around Baseball
« Reply #5033 on: November 28, 2012, 09:23:36 pm »
The problem with "inside" information, of course, is that when someone says that a player "may" be traded, or something else that is somehow conditioned, well ... obviously there is no way to show it is or was wrong.  As a result I'm extremely skeptical about such things unless there is very tangible evidence of the nature of the "inside" information.

As to the possibility of a specific Barney trade, how many people within the Cubs organization would actually know that at this point?  I doubt it would be more than a handful, if that many.  I think there was real evidence that other teams wanted Barney last year, and that the Cubs have no particular interest in trading him - unless they were to get a a very substantial return.  So I'm skeptical.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but it seems like I recall both of those guys saying something definitive was going to happen in a trade or signing that never did. 

On the other hand, I suppose it's possible that one or both does have inside information. I don't think there will ever be any way to prove either possibility.  And it's always fun to speculate this time of year.
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Re: Around Baseball
« Reply #5034 on: November 28, 2012, 10:25:50 pm »
The Royals are apparently trying to dump Bruce Chen and his $4 million to clear some salary room to pick up another starting pitcher.  There are probably more attractive swing man options out there for the Cubs, but he might not be a horrible guy to have as the 6th starter. 

Unlike going after a free agent, if you trade for him, you don't have to promise him an opportunity to compete for a rotation spot.  He'd pretty much be resigned to having to wait for a spot in the rotation to come open.
« Last Edit: November 28, 2012, 10:30:06 pm by JR »
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Re: Around Baseball
« Reply #5035 on: November 28, 2012, 10:52:23 pm »
Barney for Wil Myers and Bruce Chen? DONE!!!
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Re: Around Baseball
« Reply #5036 on: November 29, 2012, 09:22:20 am »
Not entirely sure this is the right thread, but Patrick Mooney has an interesting piece on how the Nats signing of Jason Werth may be instructive for the Cubs.  Rizzo's description of what he saw in Werth is reminiscent of the way Epstein and Hoyer describe the type of players they want to get.

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Re: Around Baseball
« Reply #5037 on: November 29, 2012, 09:51:42 am »
Werth is from Springfield (Chatham, a suburb) and is highly thought of here; spends time here in the off season.
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Re: Around Baseball
« Reply #5038 on: November 29, 2012, 10:53:06 am »
While I was still living in the DC area and paying more attention to the Nationals, I had the impression that Werth was still highly regarded by his teammates, and seen as a team leader, even during his worse struggles at the plate. 

Intangibles are not highly valued here, for the most part, but Rizzo clearly disagrees. Epstein and Hoyer appear to as well. While there have probably been successful teams in which qualities like leadership, performing the fundamental aspects of the game well, and mutual trust and support were not evident, those sorts of qualities do matter in any team sport, even if they don't show up in box scores or in stats.
« Last Edit: November 29, 2012, 10:54:42 am by Ron »
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Re: Around Baseball
« Reply #5039 on: November 29, 2012, 04:06:36 pm »
Nationals get Denard Span for Alex Meyer.  That takes another team out of the CF market, and they do it without taking a player the Cubs would've had much interest in. 
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