As the Christmas holiday quickly approaches, will Jim Hendry be able to deliver on his promise to Lou Piniella? The Cubs are rumored to still be interested in Brian Roberts and Erik Bedard, as well as Joe Nathan but has Hendry added his last piece of the puzzle this calendar year?
The Cubs did make a minor signing this past week with the addition of pitcher Tanner Watson. Here is the latest from the mill, more on Watson, Prior received an offer from a central division foe and the rest from around the league....
The Cubs
According to a report on Our Sports Central, the Cubs signed pitcher Tanner Watson (hat tip to the ProSports Daily Forum) last Friday. Watson was the Frontier League's best pitcher and he broke Riverhawks' records in career wins and single-season wins. Watson was "the only Frontier League player" named to Baseball America's All-Independent Leagues first team. He did not pitch until July of last season "because of visa difficulties" and finished the year with an 11-3 record and a 2.17 ERA in 15 games, 12 starts with 77 strikeouts, 31 walks and 64 hits allowed in 104 innings.
The Seattle Mariners drafted Watson in the 19th round of the 2000 draft. The right hander turned 25 last June.
Tanner Watson's Baseball Cube Page
In a report from the SunTimes, Neil Hayes stated the Cubs have "been slow to sign Japanese talent" but Kosuke Fukudome could be a good start. Fukudome, as mentioned last week, is the first Japanese player in the history of the Chicago National League Ballclub, Inc.
Gary Hughes was on XM Radio Saturday afternoon talking to Holden Kushner about this topic. Hughes said he was very impressed with the work ethic of the players in Japan, and apparently it pays off in the states....five of the last six World Series have included Japanese players.
The Cubs are the early favorites to win the NL Central in 2008, according to the sportsbooks in Las Vegas, hat tip to Hook's Center Sports Blog. Vegas is giving the Cubs 9/2 odds, the Brewers are second with 8/1 odds, the Cardinals third with 10/1 odds, the Astros are fourth at 20/1, the Reds are fifth at 25/1 and the Pirates are last at a 60/1 shot at winning the Central. It is too early to make predictions, but there is nothing wrong with seeing the odds.
Wrong versus right? Greg Couch recently debated which is the right way to build a team....the Cubs way or the White Sox way? Here's one....the Boston Red Sox. Two titles in four years, using the right mix of high priced free agents, excellent role players and a good farm system. Hopefully the Cubs new ownership will be very similar to John Henry and company in Boston.
Phil Rogers cited a report on Rotoworld that centered on the pitching dominated league that Felix Pie is participating in this winter. Rogers said Pie's stats are not as bad as they look from a distance. Pie and Sam Fuld will compete for the centerfield spot when Spring Training gets underway in a couple of months. Rogers also states that Andres Torres could fit into the mix, as well as Ronny Cedeno.
Erik Bedard
While Erik Bedard may remain on Jim Hendry's radar, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer the Mariners "may now be the favorite" to land Erik Bedard. The Mariners need starting pitching, and with losing out on Hiroki Kuroda, most are thinking the Mariners will make a big push to pry Bedard from the Orioles. With Dan Haren off the market, Bedard's price likely increased. It would take the Mariners including Adam Jones in any deal for Bedard.
The Reds are still in hot pursuit of Bedard as well, but any trade with the Reds for Bedard would have to include Jay Bruce according to XM Radio. If the Orioles are looking for the Reds and Orioles top prospects, would Jim Hendry part with a package centered around Felix Pie for two years of Erik Bedard?
Joe Nathan
Are the Cubs really interested in Joe Nathan? The Twins closer has 1-year left on his current contract and with the money being handed out to free agent closers, there is not a scenario in which Nathan does not test the open market. A 1-year rental would cost Hendry Major League ready talent and could make the Juan Pierre trade look like a salary dump....time to move on.
Mark Prior
Several clubs are very interested in Mark Prior. The Washington Nationals think Prior would be a good fit and would have a spot in their rotation as soon as he is ready to pitch. The Yankees, Mets and 10 other teams have contacted Prior's agent according to a report in the Newark Star Ledger. Prior is looking for a 1-year deal so he can rehab and then test the open market next winter. Prior's agent said he would be able to pitch again in May according to Dr. James Andrews....barring setbacks.
According to a report on ESPN, the Astros became the first team to offer Prior a contract for 2008.
Phil Rogers thinks the Cubs should have tendered Prior a contract.
From Around the League
The Dodgers signed Hiroki Kuroda over the weekend to a 3-year, $35.2 million dollar deal and introduced 'Mr. Complete Game' to the local media on the field at Dodger Stadium on Sunday. If Kuroda can pitch the way he is projected, a 4th or 5th starter in the Majors, Joe Torre will have a solid starting staff....if they can stay healthy.
The Astros are making changes....Ed Wade has traded away their future in order to win next season. The Houston media is questioning his moves, but on paper the Astros have improved their offense and their bullpen, now they need to find starting pitching.
Tom Trebelhorn was recently named the manager of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (San Francisco Giants, Low-A). Trebelhorn managed the Cubs to a 49-64 record in the strike-shortened season of 1994.
Dayn Perry thinks "quality is dwindling" among the remaining free agents this winter.
The fallout from the Mitchell Report continued through the weekend and into Monday. According to a report in the Boston Globe, Doug Melvin was embarrassed when he saw Eric Gagne's name in the Mitchell Report. Here is the quote from the Brewers' GM:
"It's embarrassing to acquire a player and then have him appear on the Mitchell Report. We're just going to have to deal with whatever happens."Andy Pettitte admitted on Saturday he used HGH two times in 2002 to recover from injury. More and more players have begun to admit they used performance-enhancing substances. Former Cardinal and current ESPN analyst, Fernando Vina admitted to his use of performance-enhancing substances on Monday.
Roger Clemens is not one of those players, and his inclusion in the Mitchell Report could cost him on the convention circuit as well. Clemens is scheduled to be the keynote speaker next month at the Texas High Baseball Coaches Association's annual convention but the members are meeting on Tuesday to decide if Clemens will still deliver the speech.
A few unrelated commetns on stuff the last couple of days...
-- Pie's winter stats are slightly skewed downward due to the coaches having him work on specific things in his swing (per the Cubs hitting coach a couple months back). Apparently they've found some holes in teh swing and were working on correcting them - apparently he's a stellar athlete and they were completely redoing the swing and figuring that he'd have it converted to habit by the end of the winter. Sorry but I couldn't find a link to he story - it's lost to the mists of time :-)
...plus a good note above that he's in a pitching dominated league.
-- I'm personally expecting Bedard to end up in Seattle - I live in WA state and the M's have been having a horrid offseason and are being pressured to make a move... but I think them giving up Jones would be a mistake in the long run. The kid can rake.
-- Tanner Watson's stats in that independent league were amazing and he's referred to several times in teh article as the best pitcher in the league. The article lists some of the players from the league that were signed by MLB teams and none of them (to this point) have had any impact in the majors... but (1) there's always a first time and (2) good to know the scouts are out there beating the bush leagues for talent as well. Odds are against the kid contributing if I'm being realistic, but still... championship seasons always seem to have the feel-good story attached to a particular player that comes out of nowhere... could it be this kid or maybe Fuld? :-)
...plus he's Tim Raines' brother in law LOL
-- I'm thinking that Prior was never going to sign here even if offered a contract... so says Hendry should have offered him something (Phil Rogers above) is moot. Hendry wanted a year and a team option which I thought was a prudent thing... why pay for a guy while he's rehabbing and then after he finally gets healthy have him leave? Prior himself is only looking for a one year on the open market now so he can do just that... so it's obvious that Hendry wasn't going to get that option year since he's only wanting a one year deal from wherever he lands.
-- Dayn Perry and the "quality is dwindling" comment - way to go out on a limb there big guy. (smirk)
I personally was really pleased to read the post from Aaron last night, and totally concur with him. I don't get this interest in trading a Ramirez for a guy like Figgins or Furcal, and depleting our farm for the likes of Roberts. C'mon guys. IMO I can easily live with DeRosa and his good average, 60+ RBI's and really positive attitude anyday.
I also agree in that Bedard isn't the answer based on what it would take to get him. I'd rather jetison a Marquis and a Cedeno or Murton for AJ Burnett, and hope for his good health in 2008 while Samardzjia gets poised for 2009. Let's continue to fill the farm system with youth for has-been guys like Dempster, etc. And I, too, like the move with Tanner Watson. Regardless of the outcome, it's nice to see the Cub scouts identifying (and landing) good prospects.
Interesting to read that all Prior wants is a one-year deal so that he can go free-agent in 2009. Nice guy, and way to have any commitment to a team willing to sign him for 2008. Just continues to show his lack of character.
Prior is a greedy purse toter! After all the time and money the Cubs invested in him, he has the stones to demand they pay him to rehab so he can sign a huge payday next season? Maybe Prior & Scott Boras are the same man... hmm... At any rate, he & his agent Boggs know that Santana will probably not be an UFA next winter & if Prior wins 7 games after returning he could be in line for a 10-14M p/season payday. My resentment starts w/ the fact that after all the babying and coddling the Cubs management has done for this puke over the last 3 seasons, he can't be "underpaid" for 1 damned season? If he granted that option in 09, won 15 games (behind a good offensive club) he'd be in line for an 18-20M payday in 10, not the 10-12 he'd get after completing an injury shortened 08. IDIOTS... again - PRIOR IS A GREEDY PURSE TOTER!
Brian Roberts has admitted to one-time steroid use.
The article is at:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3159406
Neil,
BTW, I just checked my email box that you mailed to. I rarely use it, and sorry that I couldn't reply to in time.
The Nikkan news about Fukudome said nothing more than a rumor of him joining the Cubs (this is a day before the official announcement of signing him). I guess it needs ain't no more to translate...
Just curious:
How does Roberts' admission of guilt affect everyone's opinion of him? Do you still want him to come here?
This is a little off track, but you guys gotta check out a short comedy video about steroids in baseball. It's at MyBlueCollar.com and the link is www.mybluecollar.com/videos/414ed2fa78. It's really funny.
Adam -
This Mitchel stuff is turning into a religious debate - everyone with their own opinions and beliefs and not likely to be changing them anytime soon.
Looking at the comments from readers associated with the article linked above - comments range from "I'd still want the guy in my clubhouse" to "ummm... I only used it once - how dumb do these guys think we are?"
Personally I'd still love for him to be a Cub - he's a clubhouse leader and a borderline star. Look at the guy - he's not exactly an imposing physical specimen. I can completely understand the "I'm going to try it to see what the big deal is" or the "I was hurt and I did it so I could get back on the field" thing. A lot of players are coming out and admitting it with those angles and while I don't agree with their choices, I can understand them at least.
To me it doesn't make them horrible people or even really "cheaters" in the classic sense of the word. It just makes them guys that made bad decisions. As long as they realize it was a mistake and don't do it again....
Now the Bonds thing (a guy simply doesn't put on that much muscle and become that ripped at 36 without prolonged help) or the Sammy thing ("no speaky the englesh" in front of congress) - yeah. But to my mind even McGwire with the andro (which was legal and not banned) wasn't such a big deal because he had the body of a lumberjack as a rookie - he could have absolutely done it without doing anything illegal.
Hard work does enter into the equation at some point, doesn't it?
ANYWAY.... like I said - it's a religious debate - there's no right or wrong (in most cases anyway)... there's just opinion and belief
Although some folks can get pretty spun up if you don't share their opinion or belief :-)
Can anyone think of a pitcher that has missed major parts of three seasons in a row due to shoulder/arm/elbow issues and come back to perform at an allstar level ever? My friend and I discussed this topic this morning and couldn't think of one ... which makes me think that Prior most likely will never be terribly missed.
Some things old, some things new. Almost no one felt trading Aram for Figgins or Furcal makes sense. I see Furcal as almost a throw-in for taking on his salary. Aram plus for Billingsley, LaRoche and Elbert isn't one sided in my view, and was another twist on getting enough better to think seriously about the World Series.
We do need to add a strong right hander and a lefty reliever to get beyond the LCS, I fear. My first thought as to a "doable" was Burnett a few weeks ago, and that still works for me. With the Rox putting lefty reliever, Fuentes on the block because they can't handle his $7 million salary I hope JH tries to get him.
If Carrie Muskat's column suggesting that what we (now) see is pretty much what we get, then we may get a year about like last year--with four or five more wins in regular season. We should be better than last year--but so will some others.
The thoughtful Aaron points out how hard it is to have trades that make lasting sense, but I think he makes as big and risky a bet on our youth as I do talking about getting Burnett or Lowe or a blockbuster deal for Billingsley, LaRoche and Elbert. Our system has produced quality in Hill, Marshall, Marmol, Soto and Theriot--but it could be a couple of years before we have a (needed) 1-3 starter or a 1 reliever or a top position player come up. So with Aaron's (and others' way) we may have to be patient for a couple more years--and that could be the best option.
The Reds may not come up with enough pitching, but I think they will challenge in our division. Their young position players, with last years part or full time numbers include Votto .321/80 games; Keppinger .332/67 games; Ross 17hr/112 games; and Hamilton .292/90 games are impressive. Add Dunn, Phillips and Griffey 100 hr and 293 rbi plus some other decent bats and you have offense probably superior to ours.
They've added Cordero 44 saves and have two stud rookie pitchers in Bailey and Cueto to go with Harang, Arroyo and some mediocre role players. I think they are much better than 5th, and I don't want to help them with pitching in a trade for Hamilton. They also have Hopper .329/121 games to play center, and giving up (say) Marshall and Dempster could turn out to be painful. JimK
Hey guys, I love all the thoughtful comments on this site. I check it everyday, but I don't post very often - great stuff on here. Anyway, I agree with JimK. While no one likes to give up farm talent, I'm not sure this team has the luxury of waiting for the emergence of future farm stars down the road. This team is good NOW, but I don't think they're quite ready to be sure-fire contenders without adding a few more pieces. The Fukodome signing was a great start, but I still think we need a couple upgrades.
We pretty much know, and appreciate, what we're going to get from most of the guys on this team (soriano, lee, aram, big z, lilly), but Theriot and Pie are still offensive question marks (Soto is a bit of a question mark, too, but given how hard it is to get a decent catcher, I think we're ok to stick with him). I love both of those kids and I'd love to see them thrive, but they just haven't proven yet that they deserve the starting job everyday, and I really don't like a 7-9 of Pie, Theriot, and pitcher.
Still, they both bring enough to the table in terms of defense, speed, and heart that having one of them on the everyday starting roster is manageable, but I don't think you can start both of them everyday and expect to knock off teams like the Bosox, who have proven talent all over the lineup. You do need young guys on the team, but it's best to give them a chance when proven guys in their prime are for some reason stinking it up, and sometimes the kids play so well that you can't sit them down anymore (see Ellsbury, Jacoby). Dusty's problem was that he wouldn't sit the veterans even when they deserved it, but I don't think we need to overcompensate now by offering the kids the job and hoping they will grow into it. When you're a team like the Cubs that has plenty of resources, you can afford to take a chance on big name guys - even if it costs you some great farm talent - because you're so close to putting together something that is downright special.
I believe this team is a starting pitcher and high OBP guy (preferrably at SS or CF) away from being just plain scary, and I'd be willing to trade just about any guy that's relatively unproven (murton, cedeno, pie, patterson, veal, gallagher, marshall, theriot, fuld, marquis or anybody from the farm) to make that happen. Yes, it's costly, but I think it's worth it (and I think a Bedard and a Roberts would do it).
ZTH said, look for a SS or a CF, and some things clicked. JH and Lou said, "Be patient", and JH stockpiled relief pitchers. A possible surplus cf came to mind. Could it be that Coco Crisp is our new cf?
If Boston doesn't trade Elsbury (sp) in a deal for Santana, Elsbury plays CF for the sox. Red Sox spokespersons say that they would like to add some pitching--especially to bolster their pen, and they say they would trade Crisp if Elsbury stays.
The Santana watch brings about the patience that our braintrust warns about. Maybe it's Marshall and Ascaino or Petrick for Coco, a 28 year old switch hitter with a lifetime .280 average and an excellent run and catch guy. He was .268-6-60 last year with 28 sb and a so-so .335 obp. He had a couple .300 years in the recent past. I suppose Dempster could fit in a deal too. Crisp would look good batting second in our lineup. JimK
All these trade scenerios got me dreaming about a possible opening day lineup:
2B Roberts
CF Crisp
1b Lee
3b Ramirez
RF Fukudome
LF Soriano
c Soto
ss Theriot/Cedeno
P
Or:
LF Soriano
SS Furcal
1b Lee
3b Ramirez
Rf Fukudome
2b DeRosa
C Soto
Cf Pie
P
I MISS CHICAGO CUBS BASEBALL!
Jim and the faithful, How about:
LF Soriano (r)
CF Crisp (b)
1b LEE (r)
3b Aram (r)
RF Fuk (l)
2b DeRo (r)
C Soto (r)
SS Riot (r)
P* Burnett (r) * = Game 3 starter
JimK
If Hendry can land Burnett at the right price, that would be sweet!
I couldn't agree more. I think Burnett, if he can stay healthy, would be a huge addition to our starting rotation.
ZTH...I think I love you. LOL! Hey, your last paragraph should be emailed to JH. Wait, ask Neil to call him and give it to him. [I guess what I'm trying to tell you is that I totally agree with you.]
One thing I like about Lou being the manager is that JH seems to have found a north. For the first time in years I feel that JH is attacking our flaws...of course there was that little "almost thing" with the wrong Matsui, but almosts don't count. Hey I too believe we are a solid starter and a high OBP guy away of being very good...The thing is whether thoose two are allready in the organization[Gallagher/Vitters-Samardja/Fuld] or we need to trade for them. Bedard/Roberts Honestly I don't care I just want to win now.
Hey Jim...I hope Big Z starts doing his yoga and therapy for the next series. Big Z vs. Ben Shits' lol!