Bleacher Bums Forum

Here's the post referenced by CUBluejays earlier:

Cubs have put together a significant package to present to Miami (have yet to discuss name with team)... View this as a 'once in a generation' opportunity and are determined to 'make it difficult for Miami to say no'... Have done exploratory work on potential three and four team opportunities, possibly flipping MLB SP for prospects as well...

If the Marlins decide to trade Stanton, I think the main thing it would do is open the door for the Cubs to trade for one of the Diamondbacks outfielders.  If the Marlins trade Stanton, then the smart money is on him ending up with the Rangers.  If the Rangers got him, they'd be out of the market for Upton or Kubel...and they've seemed like the DBacks most aggressive suitors the entire offseason.  The Diamondbacks pretty much have to move one of their 5 or so starting quality outfielders before the season starts.  If Texas was no longer a match, the Cubs might be able to sweep in and pursue Upton or (much more likely) Parra.

Cubs.com has a space for Jackson on the roster.  Not sure if they're correct, though...I don't remember anyone being taken off at any point for him.

Also, Rosenthal tweet:

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal
Lots of interest in #Marlins’ Stanton, but sources all but rule out a deal. One source says chances are “as close to zero as they can be.”

I would trade Baez for Stanton in a heartbeat, for all the reasons that Craig gives, and more.

The problem is, Miami would scoff at that offer.

Getting Stanton in a trade would take more than Baez.  It would take more than Baez and Castro.  It would probably take as much, or more, than Baez, Castro and Soler.

In my opinion.

Of course the Cubs have enough.  I suspect an offer of Samardzija, Castro, Rizzo, Baez, Soler, Almora, Vizcaino and Almora would be acceptable to Miami.  Those they had no use for could be traded for some that they needed.

If you meant that they didn't have enough to spare, I agree.

You can look that up with a filter in MLB Trade Rumors' free agent tracker:



So far:

Swisher, Hamilton, and Upton have changed teams, and their old team gets a draft pick.

Ortiz and Kuroda declined qualifying offers but remained with the same team, so no pick is awarded.

Lohse, Bourn, LaRoche, and Soriano have declined qualifying offers and could still give their old team draft pick compensation.

Samardzija, Soler, and to a lesser extent Castro would have limited interest to Miami.  They have Nolasco at around $10 million, and then their next highest salary is $2 million.  Know Samardzija/Garza could get traded for prospects but your still going to go up against some farm systems that have high-end, MLB ready talent that is cheap. 

3 so far.  2 1st rounders were eliminated, 1 second rounder.  Bourn, LaRoche, Lohse, Soriano are the remaining free agents that will cost a pick.

Assuming LaRoche re-signs with Washington and the other three sign with teams without a protected first-round pick, the Cubs' second-round pick would be #40. There are 31 first-round picks (Pittsburgh gets a comp pick for not signing Appel), six lottery picks, the Yankees' comp pick for Swisher (the Indians first-round pick was protected) and the Astros' second-round pick ahead of us. If all four remaining qualified free agents sign with teams with protected first-round picks, our second-round pick would fall to #44.

To put this into perspective, our comp picks last year were #43 (Pierce Johnson) and #56 (Paul Blackburn), and our second-round pick was #67 (Duane Underwood).