Thanks guys....

Jim, I would do that trade again in a heartbeat.

Sorry I meant Pierre instead of Willis'

Neil...you rock! Great article. Since it was mixed with Van Halen I guess the theme song for it Should be "DREAMS". I'm pumped up!

Hey Aaron and Jason having the Cabrera and D.Train dreams? lol

Thats cool I also dream and believe me we have the talent to get them from the Marlins...What I think we don't have is much more money left to keep those two free agents and we could have a Willis dejavu' all over again. Specially after signin Big Z.

And I trully believe Elliot the 2 key players won't have to wait til the trade deadline...we have them allready-Murton and Hill. Also Floyd if healthy.

Important to note that apparently Z said he isn't demanding/expecting a contract longer than 5 years, which is in line with the stated max years that Hendry was willing to offer. This bodes well, as I think you can more easily stomach a $16-17 mil/yr deal for 5 years, on a pitcher, than you can going to 7-8 years.

After reading that, I feel more comfortable that this will get done at some point.

If Hendry had it in the back of his mind (and you just know he did) that maybe he could afford to let Z walk if Prior and Wood reverted to their "Ace" form, then I surely hope Wood's slippery hot-tub adventure banished all thoughts of planning your future rotation without Z in it.

I still have a bit of a hard time believing we spent all that money, and we are starting two guys at essentially new positions, in CF and at 2B, and that it is still up in the air as to who the 5th starter will be.

Should make for an interesting Spring Training, at least!

Jim, I'd still do it in a heartbeat...He was very instrumental in our success in '84 and '89. Do you think Carter would've really made a difference with those terrible pitching staffs that we had in the early '90s?

As for Nathanael...thanks for the props on creativity. I admit, throwing in Cedeno was kind of stupid, but he could be seen as a reserve for them, and as for Novoa and Mateo---they could be useful in their pen with Novoa potentially their closer. Wuertz was a great point as well. Pie would serve their CF needs, and I don't know if you knew this, but apparently there is some concern for both Anibal Sanchez and Josh Johnson in terms of health this year, so a few more arms wouldn't hurt. And I definitely...definitely think we have the pitching talent to get this deal done, and a clincher would be including Pie.

One, most clubs like the D-backs, Dodgers, Angels, Twins, known for their farm systems, do not have what the Marlins need. A 5-tool prospect like Pie doesn't come along everyday, and the D-backs are definitely not going to part with Chris Young. Most of the Angels and Dodgers prospects are middle infield, which would seem to eliminate them from consideration, and the Yankees are set with AROD at third, and an OF consisting of Matsui, Damon, and Melky Cabrera. They didn't even have room for an icon like Bernie, so I don't see them being very interested. The Red Sox OF is crowded. They have Lowell at 3B, so that might be an option, but who would they trade? Ditto the Mets, and they're also set at 3B with Wright. So immediately, that eliminates the major market teams-Yankees, Mets, and Red Sox. True, the Dodgers and Angels could get creative, but again, the Marlins are not looking to ADD payroll, but ELIMINATE it. Who knows? A Colvin or Harvey might get this deal done, though I'd hate to give up on Harvey, because I think in time, he'll be a great hitter, but we're in the business of winning now, and getting Cabrera at age 24, having him, Soriano, Lee, and ARAM in the same lineup for years to come would make us like the Murderers Row. Not to mention, with extensions, we'd be spending like the Evil Empire, and maybe we can buy ourself a championship like they have. A rotation of: Z, Willis, Hill, Prior, and Veal for the next few years wouldn't be too shabby either.

Ahhhhhhhh...we can dream, right?

Neil:

Nice work! What a year!!!

If you go back and be a time cop, would you still trade away Joe Carter for Sutcliffe? I was aked this question once and I admit in hindsight the Cubs traded away a slugger who probably would have been an icon at Wrigley.

Aaron, I love your creativity and your interesting opinions. And looking at the Marlins history, I see how you could see them making this move. I just think several of the players you mentioned that we could trade don't make sense. They're not going to want Cedeno. They've got Hanley Ramirez and Uggla for the middle infield for the next 5 years. They're not going to want pitching unless it's truly exceptional (think Veal/Gallagher), since they have so much depth in the minors, so I think Novoa, Mateo, Marshall are out. I think they would want Pie, and they would probably want Colvin. Other than that, i can't see how we would match up. Maybe they'd like Wuertz, and have him close. But I just think that if teams found out that Willis/Cabrera were available, there would be teams with a lot more to offer (Angels, Diamondbacks, etc.). But I agree with you that particularly Cabrera would be an amazing player to have on our team, and make our lineup unstoppable. I just don't see how it could happen. But if they could do it, I'd be as delighted as you. Keep up the brainstorming, Aaron!

oh...also...just a fun little fact:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/cabremi01.shtml

check who Cabrera is linked to through age 23 in terms of stats thus far:

Hank Aaron, Orlando Cepeda, Joe Medwick, Mickey Mantle, Andruw Jones, Ken Griffey Jr., Vlad Guerrero, and Al Kaline

Now that's some great company, and well worth trading top talent to get him

BTW...i know a lot of you, Nathanael...you'll probably say my idea is ridiculous, but I'm just having fun with ideas....and with the Marlins---you never know. Consider how we got Lee (for Choi), and Clement and Alfonseca (for Willis, Jorgensen, Cueto, and Tavarez)...or how the Marlins traded Beckett---considered an ace to many, along with Lowell, AND Mota (for Ramirez, Sanchez, Delgado, and Garcia). Essentially, what the Marlins look for is great talent for the unloading of contracts---Lee, Clement, Alfon-sucka, Beckett, Lowell, Mota, etc.

Look, we have our own stable of good prospects with Marshall, Marmol, Mateo, Guzman, Gallagher, etc. I'm pretty sure, given the history of their acquisitions, that they would require one or two of those names and a Cedeno, or perhaps a contract such as Jones' to get the deal done.

A lot of you laugh at that, but if you look at some of the prospects they've required in trades, their stats generally aren't eye-popping.

I believe they see a lot in Pie, as a lot of other teams have, and if you include Pie in any deal, I believe it has to be for a guy like Cabrera, or you give him another year in AAA and bring him up. As for our pitching prospects---it's pretty apparent that we have a crowded rotation, so something has to give. Why not use it to our advantage and kick the Marlins' tires on a Willis and Cabrera deal.

Well, since I don't plan on counting on Floyd to be injury-free, I'd say you'd have an OF of Murton in LF, Soriano in CF, and Cabrera in RF. Cabrera actually reminds me a lot of Pujols, believe it or not---just needs to add more muscle. Pujols, if you remember was a LF, RF, and 3B before he settled at 1B. He was more than adequate at all positions...same for Cabrera. That's why I'd love that trade, because it puts less stress on a GM to find great bench help when you have a guy capable of playing 4 positions in the event of an injury. Soriano is versatile in that way too, though I don't think you'd want to see him at 2B anymore. In the case that we can obtain Cabrera, I'd say you part with Pie in a heartbeat if you can work out an extension with Cabrera, and maybe include a few prospects and Cedeno. We know they need a CF and have coveted Pie before, so maybe this deal works. With the article about Cabrera's disenchantment with Marlins management over "$700,000", and the Marlins management throwing egg on his face through the media, I believe a deal could definitely get done. Include Jones, Cedeno, Pie, Marshall, Novoa, Mateo, and cash, and I believe you can land both Willis AND Cabrera...Now, how great would that deal be? Either way, I believe it'll take 3 players to get each one...maybe more. Taking into consideration what they've received before from other trades of high end talent, I believe that's a fair statement. Keep in mind, Pinto, Mitre, and Nolasco were not considered tremendous prospects, and only Mitre had MLB experience before the Pierre trade, so I think our package of MLB ready talent and high end prospects would be more than sufficient to make this trade work. We all know how cost conscious the Marlins are, and with 2 players taking up nearly half the team payroll, I believe they are prime trade bait no matter what anyone else says.

No to mention, it seems they have a stable of young arms that are more than capable of stepping in if a Willis trade happens, and look at all their position talent with Ramirez, Uggla, Jacobs, Hermida, Olivo, Stokes, Willingham, and I guess you could even include Borchard (though I think he's pretty much not considered a threat anymore). Jacobs, Uggla, Ramirez, and Willingham seem capable of picking up the slack from a Cabrera trade, and Pie would fill their void in CF. Aaron Boone was signed as well, which could be an indication that they're primed for a Cabrera trade. While you can't replace 30 hr 120 rbi .430 OBP and .320 avg...I think it's a risk the Marlins would be willing to take, and Willis didn't exactly perform to expectations last year....so who knows?

All I'm saying is that anything is possible

I don't think that Micheal YOung is out of the question though

We just don't have what it would take to get Cabrera or Willis. Our prospects aren't good enough. Sorry.

Oh, Neil fantastic article. You are like a fine wine.

Where would Cabrera play? Its friday and i am bored at work so I thought that this would be a fun discussion.

If we could land D-train that would be phenomenal. I would love to see Micheal Young playing SS for us.

I am just getting way to excited about the upcoming season. i always get this way in Feb and March

Neil,

I echo that sentiment....very very well written.

Jim,

In terms of trade, it might be a little too early to speculate, mainly because we don't yet know the health of the three-headed injury monster that is Prior/Miller/Wood...If Wood is the only healthy one, then we're in for a lot of trouble. I believe one of Prior or Miller has to be healthy for the Cubs to be successful from day 1. However, if Marquis can revert to form with a sub 5 ERA, then a rotation of Z, Lilly, Hill, Marquis, and Veal/Guzman/Marshall/Cotts, should be more than adequate, considering we don't need a 5th starter until mid April. But if Hill struggles in his sophomore season, which I don't see happening, we'll probably package Jones, Novoa, Ohman, and perhaps Cedeno for Dontrelle Willis.....better yet, we might even try to make a play for Miguel Cabrera, and dangle Pie to the Marlins if we find that Soriano can handle CF.

I say give it a few weeks...but as for your question, I believe the trade that puts us over the top is one for either Cabrera or Willis, and maybe even Ichiro if the Mariners are out of contention and find it difficult to sign him. I would definitely, definitely pay attention to a 2008 FA list that could be changing addresses in the near future due to signability concerns, including: Ichiro, Michael Young, Carlos Guillen, Ivan Rodriguez, Andruw Jones, Tori Hunter, Adam Dunn, Aaron Rowand, Jason Jennings, Freddy Garcia.

I don't believe the Mariners, Rangers, Reds, and Phillies will be in contention, so those could be potential trade partners. As for the Tigers, I believe they're on the bubble, and can ill afford to have injuries to Verlander and Zumaya, which I think will happen, so I would definitely go after Guillen, one of the most underrated players in the game for SS.

Either way, we can all consider Jones a goner----it's just a matter of who needs him most, and what they're willing to give up....with his modest salary, and including a few young prospects, whould that be enough to pry a disgruntled Cabrera away from the Marlins? They seem to love our prospects---so maybe a Willis or Cabrera trade is in the cards....stay tuned..

I am talking about a guy that would come in mid-season. Like Sutcliff did. This is more for fun.

The guy(s) that will put us over the edge are Matt Murton and Rich Hill.

Neil, I would agree with jerljr. I think that was your best written piece. Great job.

So who will be the player we trade for that will put us over the top this year? Will it be a pitcher? or someone else?

OH BY THE WAY, VER WELL WRITTEN ARTICLE. ONE OF YOUR BEST. IT MEY BE THE SUBJECT MATTER BUT WELL DONE.

Did you guys see that Zambrano backed off of his statements. He stated that he didn't mean that he wouldn't sign with the Cubs if they didn't get it done before opening day, he meant he didn't want to hear anymore about it till after the season was over if they didn't get something done before the season. Plus Kerry slipped getting out of the tub and injured himself. He cant throw for a few days.