Trade Jes to NSBB.
Koyie Hill for Matt Kemp
Fangraphs article about Martin Prado's value, which concludes by determining he's worth more than he'll get paid but shouldn't cost much in a trade
It is hard to imagine that the Marlins can draw enough fans to pay for any of the three players.
He isn't worth 18 million per year, but if they have to eat, say 13 million just to get rid of him, they certainly won't bet a more valuable pitcher to replace him for 5 million.
"That way if he was a problem in the clubhouse or did not perform on the field they could release him without absorbing a major financial blow. "
If the Cubs are going to eat the contract if Zambrano acts up at the new club, why not just keep him, and eat the contract if he acts up with his old club.
If the new management get's rid of Zambrano just to get rid of him, they are no smarter than the old management. Zambrano has been a successful pitcher, and his value has certainly surpassed any "chemistry" problems. He isn't worth 18 million per year, but if they have to eat, say 13 million just to get rid of him, they certainly won't bet a more valuable pitcher to replace him for 5 million.
Just keep him, and let his manager earn his money.
If he pitches how he did in 2011, I'm not sure that's true.
I'll repeat what I said a while back. As an administrator I have NEVER regretted giving a student a second chance. I have ALWAYS regretted giving a student a third chance.
He who ignores history is doomed to repeat it.
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
Or having Dutch genes.
No one on the staff won more than a single game more than Zambrano did. And he had an ERA about equal to Dempster, who will be on the team next year.
Pitching wins may be meaningless over one season, but hardly over a long career. How many starting pitchers that have been in the league more than 5 years have a higher won/loss percentage than Zambrano?
He walked out on his team, as, I remember, did Sandberg a couple of times.
I trust our baseball operations leadership to make the right decision.
Please feel free to place me on ignore. It was presumptuous of me to advance ideas that are contrary to yours.
Barrett made an error, Z showed him up in the dugout, they went down the tunnel shouting at each other and Z sucker punched Barrett in the face and put him in the hospital.
I have no idea whether Cespedes is a potential superstar or a huge waste of money, but I do trust the Theocracy to make a good decision either way. With the Dice-K experience behind him, Theo will only outbid all of the other teams if he's comfortable that the Ricketts' money would be well-spent.
Then you must have missed the post I made a couple of days ago, making the same point.
If they decide to make a 50 million dollar offer, I would be surprised if they didn't run it past Ricketts first, just out of courtesy if nothing else.
It is the kind of thing the boss should be aware of, but should almost never interfere with.
In a video for ESPN, Bowden predicts that Crawford will have a “bounce-back” year in 2012, but predicts that it will come, in part, with the Chicago Cubs.
“I think by the July 31 trade deadline, the Red Sox and Cubs will work out a deal to send Carl Crawford to the Cubs to play left field at Wrigley Field,” Bowden says. “I don’t think there’s any question Crawford will hit 20 homers, steal 40 bases, and play plus defense.”
Bowden points out his belief that Red Sox owner John Henry didn’t want to sign Crawford in the first place, and that Epstein is still convinced Crawford will become the player he was expected to be before signing that monster contract. Taken together, Bowden concludes that Epstein will make a move before July 31 to bring Crawford to the Cubs.
Hopefully, though, it’s a mistake that he’s learned from, and doesn’t want to duplicate with the Cubs. That goes for new free agent signings, and for re-acquiring Crawford, himself.http://www.bleachernation.com/2011/11/10/lukewarm-stove-carl-crawford-to-the-chicago-cubs/ (http://www.bleachernation.com/2011/11/10/lukewarm-stove-carl-crawford-to-the-chicago-cubs/)
Craig - if it is within the budget, there is seldom any reason to run something past the boss.
But although I have not seen any firm numbers, it is my understanding that the Cubs spent somewhat less than 10 million dollars last year on signing domestic and international prospects. My guess is that 50 million dollars for one player would exceed whatever increase Ricketts has put into this year's budget.
I have no idea whether Cespedes is a potential superstar or a huge waste of money, but I do trust the Theocracy to make a good decision either way.
Theo, Jed, Justin and the rest of the front office will make a state-of-the-art evaluation of Cespedes and tell Ricketts what they think he's worth.... they will spend the time and resources to do the evaluation properly.
include me in the group that has faith in Cub leaders to make a smart, well-informed decision.
This article contends smart guys like Theo/Jed are good for baseball.
http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/11/5/2538326/the-smartest-guys-in-the-room
I think my favorite is whomever Epstein & Hoyer pick....
Crawford has always been very overrated, I'd have no interest unless the Red Sox took Soriano and paid a lot of the money from 2015-2017.
Completely agree with BR. If and only if they take Soriano and pay a huge chunk, you can't saddle this organization with that size of a contract for Carl Crawford.
Craig - all we have to go on now is pure rumor, but from what I have been reading, he is expected to bet a signing bonus of about 30 million or more, in addition to whatever salary he would get. I would like to think that he could immediately move into the starting rotation, like Fukudome did. Have there been many Cuban refugees that were able to do that without any minor league experience at all. I have no idea, but none come immediately to mind.
Would the Chicago media be for it or against it?
One thing #Mets have: Depth/duplication among Davis, Murphy, Duda. Won't trade Davis. But maybe one of other two. #MLB
Mets executives tell Sherman closer is the only position at which the team is willing to exceed a one-year contract, and Sherman feels they may top out at two years with an option. The Mets consider themselves two years away from contention, writes Sherman, so Alderson intends to avoid big multiyear commitments.
Cubs president Theo Epstein attempted to deflect speculation about his team's interest in Pujols by noting that Lozano also represents free agent pitcher Rodrigo Lopez, another Cubs target. However, the Post-Dispatch confirmed early this morning that the Cubs submitted a bid for their rival's longtime offensive centerpiece.There aren't any more details in the story.
Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/pujols-talks-gaining-momentum/article_0425278d-e5ee-506c-8c85-280166eb5c4c.html#ixzz1fmJB6Oyz (http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/pujols-talks-gaining-momentum/article_0425278d-e5ee-506c-8c85-280166eb5c4c.html#ixzz1fmJB6Oyz)
MILW playing it right in the way they're negotiating with Fielder, but Cubs could grab this thing by the throat with Ryan Howard-type offer.
If we're all pretty convinced we're gonna suck for at least the next 2 years, why would we want to sign a big free agent now? Especially Pujols doesn't make sense to me. His best two years are likely to be 2 we aren't contenders anyway, so why pay all that money for someone who will be declining by the time we're relevant.
If we're all pretty convinced we're gonna suck for at least the next 2 years, why would we want to sign a big free agent now? Especially Pujols doesn't make sense to me. His best two years are likely to be 2 we aren't contenders anyway, so why pay all that money for someone who will be declining by the time we're relevant.
I know we have a hole at first, so it makes Fielder and Pujols appealing, but I'd rather get some lesser pieces in place, and save the big signings for next winter or the one after. (Admittedly, I haven't looked at who projects to become available then.)
At least two other teams have come close to the St. Louis bid, believed to be 10 years and at least $200 million, according to multiple sources at baseball's winter meetings. The other two teams have not been identified, although the Cubs always seem to wind up in the speculation, whether it is warranted or not.The Yankees are laying in the weeds waiting to find out what it is going to cost them.
The Yankees are laying in the weeds waiting to find out what it is going to cost them.
If we're all pretty convinced we're gonna suck for at least the next 2 years, why would we want to sign a big free agent now? Especially Pujols doesn't make sense to me. His best two years are likely to be 2 we aren't contenders anyway, so why pay all that money for someone who will be declining by the time we're relevant.
I know we have a hole at first, so it makes Fielder and Pujols appealing, but I'd rather get some lesser pieces in place, and save the big signings for next winter or the one after. (Admittedly, I haven't looked at who projects to become available then.)
If the Twins can't re-sign Cuddyer, they're interested in the Chicago Cubs' fourth outfielder, free agent Reed Johnson, a right-handed hitter who batted .309 with five homers and 28 runs batted in in 111 games last season. Johnson, who turned 35 on Thursday, is a nine-year major league veteran.