The trading deadline is still 43 days away and everyday seems to bring another rumor. Most believe the Cubs are interested in adding a starting pitcher. Names such as A.J. Burnett, C.C. Sabathia, Randy Wolf, Greg Maddux and Gil Meche have been mentioned as possibilities. And with all of the changes taking place in Seattle, the Erik Bedard to the Cubs rumors resurfaced on Monday.
Paul Sullivan reported in the Tribune on Tuesday night that the Cubs could have recalled Matt Murton just to showcase him for a possible trade. Sullivan stated Murton "is not in the Cubs' long-range plans" and it was no secret that Jim Hendry was trying to trade Murton this past winter. And this is where is gets a little interesting....
According to Sullivan, "Jim Hendry sent special assistant Ken Kravec to scout Boston this week in Cincinnati and Philadelphia." The Cubs are apparently still interested in Coco Crisp "and now may be willing to include Rich Hill in a multiplayer package."
With Jim Edmonds performing quite well, how would Coco Crisp fit? And who else could the Cubs be interested in?
Stay Tuned....this could get very interesting.
Neil,
I saw that too...I couldn't help but think immediately it was to showcase him, given they have avoiding calling him up all year. Perhaps teams are finally interested in moving forward on a deal for him. It was also interesting to see Hill's name as potential trade bait. I mean, he's the same age as Murton, so the two are hardly considered prospects, and as we all know, as pitchers get older, they get ineffective and hurt.
I don't like Crisp though, so I'm not sure I'd like that deal, unless we got some prospect in return for Murton, Hill, and whoever else. I still think we need Sabathia, but we also need a reliever or two, as I'm very concerned about Wuertz, Howry, and Cotts. As mentioned last night, opponents are RAKING against Howry, and Wuertz and Cotts constantly get into trouble.
Why would we want a guy like Crisp. Crisp is not a team player. He would not fit in with this team. There is now way I give up Murton and Hill (who has the makings to be a great lefty) for Crisp and a prospect. We need to go out and get a #1 or #2 pitcher. That is the first thing that should be taken care of. Burnett already said he would come and that has all ready became a distraction for the Jays. I don't know if Burnett is the right guy for us, but we would get him for longer than Sabathia and we could probably get him for less. After the pitcher is taken care of, then go out and get a OF if needed. I have heard Randy Winn (AVG. 302) is available. He would be better than Crisp. I honestly think that if we can get another top tier pitcher, that would push this team from Playoff contender to World Series Contenders. Lets go Jim Hendry, pull out all the stops and lets win this thing this year. GO CUBS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Actually Burnett can opt out of his contract after this year... so you may not have Burnett locked up at all. If he did opt out though and we decided to sign him then yes we definitely would get him for less than C.C... but in my opinion i would rather have C.C. as a short rental because C.C. would put this team over the top.
Scott I am with you. I don't see the need for Crisp, and the few times I have seen him play this year he seems like a hot head. No thanks. Our platoon of Edmonds and Johnson is working fine right now.
Plus, I am not sure if we can count on him anymore this year, but Pie looks as if he is starting to make strides down in Iowa, hopefully he has that new swing figured out.
Jim just needs to go out and get us a #2 starter (hopefully Sabathia). Just imagine Big Z and Sabathia. I guess I would also settle for Burnett or Harden IF they could stay healthy.
I'm not a fan of a potential Crisp deal. I agree that we need to shore up the bullpen. What about Fuentes? I've read rumors of him being dealt to the Yankess, but why not us. He should be available for a couple solid prospects and would be a huge addition to the bullpen for the stretch and the playoffs.
I saw a rumor recently that the Cubs were interested in Carlos Beltran. And another the were looking at Randy Winn. I chalked it up to pure speculation by some one who was uninformed. It seems to me the outfield is pretty well set when Soriano gets back.
Now there is talk about Crisp again. Just doesn't make sense.
I can't see any reason for them to go after coco crisp. Unless its to to have a backup in case someone gets hurt. They may have been scouting someone other then Coco.
Try to keep these trades as quiet as you can, because the discussions are sill in the sensitive stage. It's a 3 team deal with Hill, Ceda and Murton going the Red Sox. Crisp, Hoffpauir, and Veal are going to the Mariners. And the Cubs are getting Bedard and Sean Green (29) RRP from the Mariners and lefty hitting, OF prospect Bubba Bell (25)from the Red Sox. Bubba's line at AA is .291-10-34.
Are you guys serious? You don't want to get Winn or Crisp because Edmonds and Johnson are doing well now? Both Crisp and Winn would be an uprgade. They are both good versatile fielders and have speed and pop. Plus they hit from the leftside. I think they both switch.
However, I will say the a good pitcher is the priority. Sabathia would obviously put us over the top, but who knows if we'll get him and how much it'll take. If we can't get him, Burnett, Greinke, and Bedard might be good options. Although Bedard hasn't had a great year and I'm not as high on him as others are.
is that the biggest hole on the team? CF? come freakin on!!!
Even the starting rotation looks fine....
How about a couple of bull-pen arms to help poor Woody and Marmol...
Package Wuertz, Howry, Murton, Hill and all the other bums for a Troy Percival type guy.
jimk....are you serious? Do you work
for the CIA? Where do you get this information?
It sure sounds good!
hey Sanchez is killing the league....
agustin...The deals are as sensible as any I've seen, and I did have a top secret clearance in an earlier life. Bedard is the "doable" alternative to Sabathia and Sanchez or Cain, and he is a controlled player for another year. Green is a late bloomer who has been lights out in June and throws a lot of ground balls and strikeouts. Bubba was drafted beyond the 1000th pick, isn't on the top prospects lists, but his record and my sister in Maine says the young man can play.
Bedard has been a little iffy with the Mariners but should return to #2 status with us, and they get a + starting CF, a starting first baseman, and two guys that have made some top prospect lists. The Red Sox see the need for another lefty starter and Ceda is a suitable replacement for a guy like Timlin in another year. Murton fills in for the gimpy Manny and in lefty pinch hitting roles.
I still would thank the big CIA director in the sky and J. Marie R... of Puerto Rican Intelligence if we could get Sanchez--who pitched a 5 inning no hitter last night before giving up a run in the 6th and tiring in the 7th. But I now fear that we needed to get him before he did so well the last month or two.