Trade Deadline Thread - MLB

[tiggerhawk]

I don't think DeWitt is the plan at 3B nor do I think Theriot is an upgrade over him for the Dodgers. Defensively at 2B they are about equal and offensively Dewitt has had a much better bat this year especially plus he's much younger and cheaper. I'd expect Ramirez to be back at 3B next year and DeWitt to battle it out for a starting spot at 2B with some of the farm hands unless they pull off another trade for a 2B over the winter. However, he is definitely a nice util player and probably is the end of Baker and Fontenot who will both probably be gone this winter. DeWitt is a stop gap at 2B who should be able to hold it down for a year or two before the Cubs bring up Hak Ju Lee and shift Castro to 2B.

Hopefully the Cubs will shift Colvin to 1B for next year and spend whatever they have to to land Carl Crawford. They could then go after a FA pitcher and should be much improved. They'd have a lineup of Crawford, Castro, Byrd, Ramirez, Colvin, Soriano, Soto, DeWitt.

I definitely agree with you that Ricketts wants to move the transition process along and Z, Fukudome and Lee will all be gone over the winter. It wouldn't surprise me to see them attempt to move Silva as well. Hopefully Diamond will make a good impression over the next month or so while he starts for Lilly as he could be a nice possibility for next year.

I would not expect more offense from Dewitt than Theriot; less more likely. Two-thirds of this season is s smaller record than their career totals. Theriot went into this year with a 288 average, about 30 points higher than Dewitt. Neither have any power, but Theriot steals more than 20 bases a season, Dewitt is a sub-par runner for an infielder.

You may be right about Ramirez; still, I'm inclined to think that Hendry is hoping that the recent revival at the plate will be enough to evoke interest from a contender (there is derth of 3B with Ramirex record for driving in runs, and in his option year the Cubs are going to have to be willing to eat much of his big contract--they haven't a choice in any case). My guess is that Hendry clearly knows that the Cubs are going to have to pay Ramirez & Fukadome to play for other clubs, but wants to get some young talent in exchange (by paying more of the money due than less).

Agree that young Lee is the eventual SS, Castro to 2B for a mid-infield of great range & strong arms.Also that Derrek Lee is history, no matter how much he would like to come back even at a greatly reduced salary. But my assumption is that it will be Soriano who moves to 1B: why Colvin who is a vastly superior LF?

The Cubbies have less chance of signing Crawford than they have of being a contender next year (the reason why he wouldn't give the Cubs a moment's thought). Moreover, the Cubs are NOT going to be adding $$$$ to the payroll, not with Soriano still around & most if not all of Ramirez & Fukadome contracts still being paid by them--NOT in a rebuilding year, especially not when the money they spend is going to have to go to replace Lilly & Zambrano, maybe Dempster, upgrade for Gorzilany to have at least one dependable lefthander (they should, butwon't, move Marshall to a starter's role). Certainly there is no reason to anticipate that Cubbie pitching will be better; quite the opposite (they will do well to entice a free agent pitcher who will perform like Lilly has in Chicago). The good news IMO is that the scarcity of pitching in the majors means that Hendry will be able to unload Zambrano & his contract and still possibly get a decent prospect or two in the process.

Expect the Cubs to write CF prospect Brett Jackson into the lineup, either in April or by mid-summer, moving Bryd to RF. Which would be the best defensive Cub OF in memory.

Do not expect much pitching help from the farm system. Diamond is an illusion, a six-year veteran minor league free agent having a career year in Des Moines. Jackson & Coleman are modest talents, not ready in any case. Archer will be great--when he arrives two years or so down the line. In the meantime, the Cubs pretty much have to keep Silva; they can't trade Dempster for younger talent otherwise.

IMO fans need to recognize that (a) the Cubs are NOT going to catch up with the young improving Cincy Reds, let alone compete with the Cards the next couple of years; (b) that the Cubs already have brought up the prospects that are ready to help the parent club--Castro, Colvin, Cashner, next year jackson; (c) knowing they are several years away, and are saddled with the Soriano, Ramirez, Zambrano, Fukadome in the interim--the Cubs will try to REDUCE the payroll over the next two years, not increase it with more huge $$$$ long-term contracts to free agents.

Time to appreciate the fact that the Cubbie management seems FINALLY to be aware that they had grossly over-estimated the potential--and misjudged the chemistry--of the 2006-2010 version. Perhaps it took Piniella giving up in his Last Hurrah for the brutal truth to sink in totally for Hendry.
In any event, the team now clearly seems to be committed to renewal. What is not to like about that?