THe three pospects are jeff stevens,john gaub, and chris archer
heresw the numbers
Stevens(25) in half a season at AAA; 29.2 IP 3.94 ERA 19H 44k's.

Archer (20) in low A; 115 IP 4.29 ERA 92 H 84 BB( yikes) and 106 K's

Gaub (24 at start on '09) in low A; 3.38 ERA 64IP 44H 100K's, pretty good peripherals but he ws kinda old (23) for low A ball.

marquis to the Rockies for luis vizcaino supposedly

The thing about the Peavy deal is, that Bruce Levine says that the ownership situation needs to be settled before that deal can be completed. I smell a Milton Bradley signing in the next few days...

The thing is, I don't think we can afford BOTH peavy and an OF like Bradley or Dunn....

Absolutely, positively NOTHING good can come out of this at all, unless they trade for Roberts. PERIOD. Its almost as if Lou and Hendry were sitting at home, watching Lovie Smith talking about the Bears and how their pathetic 9-7 season (probably the worst a winning record could ever be) was "Progress that meant not needing to add anything", heard that, and decided "Hey, we DON'T need to add anything. But we can sure subtract stuff. Let's start with our best postseason hitter!"

This trade is not going to make for anything good. We just traded the best guy we have offensively for prospects, and for a team that can get them right about 2 (Zambrano, Marmol) out of 1000 times (just about everyone else), that's retarded.

If the Cubs finish at or below 500 this season, we better be running Lou and Hendry out of town...Chicago coaches don't rebound...they get worse gradually.

God this is just stupid.

I'm really skeptical of these moves. For whatever reason, Mark DeRosa is out and Aaron Miles is in, even though Fontenot should be the starter at second base come April. Getting three prospects is fine whenever you have a veteran player who is at his peak of marketability, but not one who played such an integral part in the ENTIRE makeup of the team. If JH has something in the works where he'll spin off some of these three young kids and turn it into Peavy without letting go of the rest of the farm system, then fine. I'm totally alright with that.

But more than likely, because of this Miles signing, he's going to sit back and save money because of the economy. The Cubs are going to spend money, there's no question about it. But JH should be trying to pawn off Soriano and trying to replenish the farm with those prospects, not ones that you get for Mark DeRosa. All of the rumors that the Peavy talks are back on, I'm not so sure I buy into them. But we'll see I suppose.

The Brian Roberts 500 is on....

posters, START YOUR ENGINES!!!Happy New Year!

Ok now the Tribe is my favorite AL team.

moves like these are the reason we have not won anything in 100 years and counting. I don't care if this is a precursor to a peavy trade. At this rate we will not have a supporting cast to help peavy when he gets here. Here is a totally absurd idea, how about we trade the guys that do not produce (lee,soriano,fukudome) for us instead of the heart and soul of the team (derosa). I hope cleveland wins the world series this year because woody and dero deserve to be winners. 2 years from now lou will be laid up retired in florida and hendry will be standing in the soup line and we will still not be any closer to a world series title

How is Brian roberts back on?
i was just listening to paul sullivan on 670 and he said that they prolly wont be goin after roberts cuz we have a leadoff man MILES

BTW...I like this move, for once we get solid return from a veteran in his free agent year. I'll miss Mark[and Heidi for that matter] but after being swept 2 straight years in the playoffs; any player not named Soto-Zambrano-Harden is completly tradeable. I see a Peavy or BR move also.

Ughhh...man the inconsistent offense from last year just took a huge hit. The only way Bradley makes a difference is if he is healthy all year like DeRosa was. And Fukudome better have one hell of a rebound too. Otherwise our offense has gotten worse.

If these 3 pitches are included in a Peavy deal then also throw in Cedeno to the deal and possibly one other player that is not Pie or Marshall because then you're giving up too much for Peavy.

Overall, I like the moves. I'm a systems person so I try to look at these things in their totality versus individual transactions. Plus, as the old saw goes you have to break some eggs to make an omelet.

While DeRosa and Wood were personal favorites in today's baseball business model you can not keep players because you like them, you must move one or two valuable players a year.

Here's how I evaluate where the team is at:

You lose Wood, but you avoid $10m, Wood while a personal favorite is not worth $10m to a team with Marmol and adequate depth in the BP. Adding $10m would have prevented any other action beyond MLB minimum salary actions.

You get Gaithright on the cheap and he is quaranteed to be what Pie was thought to be. If Pie exceeds expectations Gaithright is expendable at low cost, if Pie flames out you're insured.

A Fontenot/Miles/whoever combo at second will work better than DeRosa as you get a left/right platoon and maintain good D. Plus, Miles is as versitale as DeRosa and you save $. For those who love to dream of Roberts it makes the hole for him to fill - I don't think that dream will ever happen though.

Marquis clears the way for Marshall or others to be the #5 and you save $. Some risk, but you never project your #5 to have better than a 50/50 record anyway and you're #5 is never key to a playoff series, so you can afford to experiment at this end of the rotation - even in a season when you project playoff potential.

You get a left handed bat - Bradley or whomever and you spend the $ you saved from above. We all know why this is vital. Yes, Bradley may not be you're favorite, but if you are spending money to get the left handed bat versus trading you pick from the pool that is available.

Peavy - who knows. If it does happen I don't see it until mid-year when everyone's ownership issues are clearer - Padres and ours.

From my perspective the team winds up stronger than the one that won 97.

That's one perspective, welcome dissenting opinions.

I'd rather see Zambrano go before Derosa. He brought a lot of the chemistry with him and we may be hurting without it. Demp is not the clubhouse leader....let's hope that for once they all come together.

I see Miles and Fonty splitting time at 2nd. That way Miles can sub for Aram and anyone else. The fact that he's a leadoff type hitter makes it more interesting however. Maybe move Sori to leadoff when Miles isn't in and then move him down when he is. At least two of these prospects had better be in the works on on another trade however. If we give up DeRo for 3 guys who will 'someday' pitch for the cubs major league squad, then we'll probably be disappointed.

Do you really want Milton Bradley as our new RF? These stats below made me think otherwise.

Milton Bradley's missed games from Bleedcubbieblue.com (this is a boat load of missed time):

Also, here are Bradley's appearances by position in case anyone is really worried that we won't get more than 100 games at best from him:
2008: 20 OF (19 in RF)
2007: 59 OF (4 in RF)
2006: 94 OF (94 in RF)
2005: 72 OF (none in RF)
2004: 141 OF (31 in RF)
2003: 93 OF (none in RF)
2002: 94 OF (none in RF)

Sep 19, 2008: Missed 2 games (left wrist injury).
Sep 16, 2008: Left wrist injury, day-to-day.
Sep 12, 2008: Missed 2 games (wrist injury).
Sep 6, 2008: Wrist injury, day-to-day.
Aug 18, 2008: Missed 2 games (illness).
Aug 16, 2008: Illness, day-to-day.
Aug 10, 2008: Missed 5 games (strained left quadriceps).
Aug 5, 2008: Strained left quadriceps, day-to-day.
Aug 4, 2008: Missed 5 games (quadricep injury).
Jul 30, 2008: Quadricep injury, day-to-day.
Jul 12, 2008: Missed 1 game (left knee injury).
Jul 11, 2008: Left knee injury, day-to-day.
Jun 24, 2008: Missed 1 game (strained left quadriceps).
Jun 22, 2008: Strained left quadriceps, day-to-day.
Jun 20, 2008: Missed 2 games (quadricep injury).
Jun 18, 2008: Quadricep injury, day-to-day.
May 31, 2008: Missed 1 game (dizziness).
May 30, 2008: Dizziness, day-to-day.
May 16, 2008: Missed 2 games (right shoulder injury).
May 13, 2008: Right shoulder injury, day-to-day.
May 2, 2008: Missed 1 game (hamstring).
May 1, 2008: Hamstring, day-to-day.
Sep 24, 2007: Torn ACL, sidelined indefinitely.
Sep 21, 2007: Missed 12 games (right oblique muscle strain).
Sep 11, 2007: Right oblique muscle strain, day-to-day.
Aug 8, 2007: Missed 4 games (hamstring).
Aug 4, 2007: Hamstring, day-to-day.
Jul 7, 2007: Missed 8 games (oblique injury).
Jul 1, 2007: Oblique injury, 15-day DL (retroactive to June 21).
Jun 20, 2007: Missed 16 games (calf injury).
Jun 8, 2007: Calf injury, 15-day DL (retroactive to June 3rd).
Jun 3, 2007: Calf injury, day-to-day.
May 30, 2007: Missed 14 games (hamstring).
May 23, 2007: Hamstring, 15-day DL (retroactive to May 15th).
May 22, 2007: Hamstring, day-to-day.
May 19, 2007: Missed 4 games (hamstring).
May 17, 2007: Hamstring, day-to-day.
May 11, 2007: Missed 15 games (hamstring).
Apr 23, 2007: Hamstring, 15-day DL.
Apr 20, 2007: Missed 6 games (hamstring).
Apr 13, 2007: Hamstring, day-to-day.
Sep 1, 2006: Missed 1 game (ankle injury).
Aug 30, 2006: Ankle injury, day-to-day.
Jul 14, 2006: Missed 20 games (shoulder injury).
Jun 20, 2006: Shoulder injury, 15-day DL.
Jun 19, 2006: Shoulder injury, day-to-day.
Jun 6, 2006: Missed 36 games (right knee injury).
May 7, 2006: Right knee injury, 15-day DL (retroactive to April 27th).
Apr 27, 2006: Right knee injury, day-to-day.
Oct 2, 2005: Missed 38 games to the end of the regular season (Torn left Patella Tendon).
Sep 2, 2005: Transferred from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL (torn left Patella Tendon).
Aug 25, 2005: Torn left Patella Tendon, 15-day DL (retroactive to August 23rd).
Aug 23, 2005: Knee injury, day-to-day.
Jul 23, 2005: Missed 47 games (finger injury).
Jun 3, 2005: Finger injury, 15-day DL (retroactive to May 30).
May 31, 2005: Finger injury, day-to-day.
Sep 29, 2004: Suspended by the Los Angeles Dodgers for the remainder of the season.
Aug 13, 2004: Missed 1 game (hamstring).
Aug 12, 2004: Hamstring, day-to-day.
Jun 30, 2004: Missed 4 games (suspension).
Jun 3, 2004: Suspended by MLB for 4 games.
Jun 1, 2004: Missed 2 games (ankle injury).
May 31, 2004: Ankle injury, day-to-day.
May 4, 2004: Missed 3 games (ankle injury).
Apr 30, 2004: Ankle injury, day-to-day.
Aug 29, 2003: Missed 46 games to the end of the regular season (back injury).
Aug 15, 2003: Back injury, 15-day DL.
Aug 10, 2003: Back injury, day-to-day.
May 8, 2003: Missed 12 games (strained right hamstring).
Apr 26, 2003: Strained right hamstring, 15-day DL (retroactive to April 23).
Apr 23, 2003: Strained right hamstring, day-to-day.
Apr 19, 2003: Missed 1 game (hamstring).
Apr 18, 2003: Hamstring, day-to-day.
Aug 30, 2002: Missed 16 games (appendicitis).
Aug 14, 2002: Appendicitis, 15-day DL (retroactive to August 12th).
Jun 4, 2002: Missed 29 games (eye Contusion).
May 2, 2002: Eye Contusion, 15-day DL.
Apr 17, 2002: Missed 4 games (right quadricep).
Apr 11, 2002: Right quadricep, day-to-day.
Mar 1, 2002: Agreed to terms with the Cleveland Indians to a one

wow after all this crap from suck lou and jh that were actually getting better after letting wood go which still hurts i mean why would you keep the guy for 10 years while dealing with injury problems then when he is fully healthy and became a very good closer,signed traded away a future dominate reliver or good trade chip to get kevin gregg who cant save a game for his life, and now this letting mark ''plays any where you want'' derosa for a 23 year old single a guy that wont make the majors, another sinlge a baller and a closer from team usa, we should have gave dero an extention!!! last year we one 97 games and we only played 161 games and after all this i cant see us winnig 79 games,

For Sale: One White Flag with a Big Blue "W" on it. I license plate with a CUBS emblem on it. Best offer or will trade for a Durham Bulls hat.

hmm....

eseentially DeRosa for Aaron Miles and 3 prospects with borderline 4.00 ERAs in the minors...

Neil, I'm interested to get your take on this. You have been quite the JH supporter.... I think he's doing a Steve Phillips here with marginal messing-around....

I'm not the hugest De-Rosa supporter.... but he ain't no Aaron Miles

Hey campers!

The Cubs won 97 games, but couldn't hit in the playoffs with consistency, so what do they do?

1. let their CF go (Edmunds, a slugger left-handed bat)

2. they then proclaim their desire for a slugging left-handed bat...bringing up rumors of Adam Dunn, Bobby Abreu, and Milton Bradley, etc...

3. they let their closer go

4. they trade a supposed top pitching prospect (seen as a possible relief guy down the road) for an older middle-relief guy with less upside.

5. they sign a guy named Joey that...I am bored already writing about him. But he is fast or something.

6. they don't trade for Peavy (a Cy Young Ace)...reasons mentioned, among others, is that Lou Piniella couldn't bear to be without his BFF, Mark DeRosa.

7. Cubs trade Lou's BFF, DeRosa, to the Indians for a bunch of unproven farm stiffs.

8. Cubs sign some guy named Miles that the Cardinals no longer wanted. (take that, LaRussa!)

So, to sum up for those keeping score at home:

Not sure who is playing CF
Not sure who is playing 2B
I guess Marmol is our closer, but not sure who else is in our bullpen I trust at this point.
We have no capable backup catcher.
Our rotation is 2 Aces in Z and Harden (good news!)
Our rotation has 2 older guys that may have had career years lately in Dempster and Lilly (possibly bad news).
Our 5th starter is Marquis, cause why would we ever want to start Sean Marshall and actually give him a full year to show what he can do?

Nice job, Hendry, and happy new year to you, Sam effing Zell!

Hey, at least Milton Bradley wants to play. He's had freak incidents, and yes, bad decisions sometimes, but he gets hurt most of the time playing his @ss off while on the field. He has worked on becoming a better person and I don't think any teammates had anything but great things to say about him last year. The great majority of that injury list was short-term day-to-day stuff which makes the length of the list more impressive but really would be OK for the Cubs since they have so many spare outfielders to fill in with and he would be available to pinch hit late in the game in a crucial spot. Think of him as an offensive Rich Harden. Long injury history, incredible production when healthy, needs a few extra days off and care. The thing I hated the most about the last two years in the playoffs was that, other than Derosa and Zambrano maybe Dempster, nobody showed any outward emotion that they cared. I got so tired of the camera shots showing Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, etc. being silent and looking slightly depressed. Nobody wanted to lead emotionally and give light a spark under other teammates to get some good positive emotions flowing. I think you need a mix of some rookies succeeding and being excited about proving themselves in the majors (Rays last year, Kerry Wood, hell, Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith in 89) and someone to get upset, play his heart out, and show others how much it matters to him, as it should to all the players. I think that Milton Bradley could do that. Just my reasons for wanting to see some excitement.

Oh, and I like to hear the old announcers making a remark about Milton Bradley being a "gamer" because of the board game company name and thinking that they are clever and that it has never occurred to anyone else even though every announcer for his entire career makes some attempt at a joke at least once per game.

What the hell...

I come back after my vacation and find out my entire team has been blown to hell.

Aaron Miles. No DeRo?

Whoa...

Although i love derosa, we are going to love miles more beacuse now we can move soriano down to the 5th or 6th spotin the lineup which will add about 50rbi's mayb more
also were getting a winner in aaron miles, because tony larussa makes his players win cuz he gets them to think they will win and that will carry over to the cubs next year

See, though, Aaron Miles isn't even CLOSE to a solution at leadoff, number one, and number two, from what I remember, Soriano was only really willing to move down for a legitimate leadoff guy, which is where Brian Roberts came into play. Not to mention the fact Soriano seems incapable (or maybe unwilling) to hit anywhere else in the lineup.

Instead of trying to pull out all these numbers, statistics, and other things, let's just admit: this is a bad decision made to justify another signing made only to smite the Cardinals, ala Marquis.

Ok heres aaron miles stats leading off
AVG:286
OBP:329

Now im not saying that i would rather have Miles over Roberts but Miles stats leading off arent that bad and if we dont get a legit leadoff man than miles can handle the job

WTF! Why in the hell would you do a thing like that? Trade Derosa for nothing? Then, you sign Aaron Miles? Now there are people thinking that Milton Bradley is going to help us? He's weak. Lookin g at Ryno Tiger's post, pisses me off! So we get Bradley, that means we'll have Fukadome, Johnson, Edmonds, Soriano. I don't see success there. I'm just a liitle pissed! Now freeing up the 8 or so million $ we better go and get Peavy!

I have been a Cub fan my whole (59 yrs) life. I am still hurting from the way last season ended. Today was the last straw. I am done with this era where there is no loyalty to a team or a city. The Indians have received two of the most loyal and consistent players from last year’s team. They were also two of the best club house players in the team’s history. Good things will begin to happen in Cleveland and Cub fans will probably endure another 100 years without the smell of a World Series. Why Hendry has fallen in love with a leadoff hitter that has a poor OBP and a league leading double play hitter over the likes of Woody and DeRosa is beyond my comprehension.

I will turn my attention to ACC Baseball. Go Pack!

Happy New Year,

A few thoughts.

* With DeRosa and possibly Marquis and their salary off the books, I am sure that the savings will be toward and FA signing and/or a trade.

* Is Miles our starting 2b or a bench guy?

* Miles, Theriot, Fontenot, Gathright. Not a lot of thunder there.

* Anyone think Soriano might go back to 2b?

So far, so bad. But the jury is still out. Not one of the three Indians prospects ranks anywhere in anyone's top 10 or top 20 list. We have to get Peavy or someone close to him plus Bradley or a reasonably comparable bat to have these deals make good sense. But will Towers take any of the three in a deal for Peavy? Do we have to trade Marshall, Fontenot and Pie and a better prospect or two than we are getting to get Peavy? I sure hope not.

I can accept giving up Wood, DeRo, Marshall and Marquis in effect for Peavy, Bradley, Miles and either Stevens or Gaub. (We keep one of the two--preferably Stevens.) But I don't want Vitters and Fontenot in a deal too.

I am seeing Wood and Marquis for Bradley as dicey but an aggressive move for a possible major bat. I would see DeRo and Marshall plus a couple of prospects outside our top 4 as reasonable for a true ace pitcher. If we don't get a couple of top players back when this is all over with, JH has been dumping payroll.

And now, I'm going to take the rest of the year off! Happy New Year everybody!

SPEECHLESS...but will add this:

1)lets closer walk who had very good K/9 ratio, low walks, great stuff
*replaces with equally amazing guy (Marmol), but who was unproven in that role, and cost 10 times less (who knows though, given Kerry's quotes about returning on a one yr deal)
2)lets Howry walk, which was a good move, but trades top pitching prospect with VERY high ceiling (Ceda) for Howry's replacement (Gregg), who essentially is the same pitcher as Howry, but with less history, and less K's, which as set-up man, you've got to be that bridge, AND is coming off knee surgery to boot.
3)trades away our 3rd-4th best hitter (DeRosa)who had 20+hr, 80+RBI, .285+avg, .360+OBP in favor of Fontenot, who, at this point, let's face it, is a relatively unknown commodity, and Miles, who will give about 2-3 hr, 30-40 RBI, .285-.300 avg, .330-.350 OBP, and more importantly NO speed at all (and I keep hearing things like, "he'll lead-off", which is laughable)
4)trades an overpriced, but valuable innings eater in Marquis, for a guy that doesn't even belong in the big leagues right now. It's not as if Luis Vizcaino was a "has been"...he's a "never was". At least get yourself a few good prospects Jim, geeze!!!
5)signs Gathright for twice what Pie makes, thus paving the way for giving Pie away outright, which is a travesty, or packaging him for the likes of Roberts or Peavy (which is an absolute pipe dream by many of you)

...so, without our closer, top 3-4 guy in the lineup, losing our top pitching prospect for another joke of a pitcher, and getting a no offense "speed" guy in place of a former top prospect who's never been given a true chance, to trading a much-maligned, but fairly valuable 5th starter for next to nothing....For the life of me, I just can't figure out why Hendry would do this.

A lot of people on here were saying, "don't blow up this team," blah blah, blah...after the loss in the playoffs, bu essentially, that's what he's doing:
closer-gone
starting 2B and potential RF-gone
5th starter/innings eater-gone
top pitching prospect (future closer/set-up man)-gone
potential starting CF/former top prospect-good as gone

for Wood, DeRosa, Marquis,Ceda, and Pie, we have:

Marmol (basically a wash here), Miles, Vizcaino, Gregg, and Gathright.

Way to go Jim, you just made us a 2nd or 3rd place team in the central a best!!!!!!!!!

Last time I checked, to be a lead-off hitter, you had to have a fairly decent OBP and speed. Miles has none of that. Last time I checked, if your team is interested in saving money, and you don't intend to bring your closer back because he'll command a lot, then that's one thing...but when you trade your best pitching prospect for a guy who might be not even be fit to be a set-up man, and makes $4 million to boot---it's especially puzzling. And when your team is interested in saving money, and you already have a former top OF prospect with speed, and is still young enough to finally put it all together, and you sign a guy that makes twice what he does and already has had a real chance to prove himself, and still hasn't shown why the heck he should even be given another shot in MLB and is 4 years older than Pie...And you get rid of an overpaid 5th starter that eats innings for a guy that makes half his salary, but shouldn't even be in the big leagues right now, instead of dumping him for prospects that make nothing...and you trade your starting second baseman for a guy that makes half his miniscule salary (in productive player terms for DeRosa), and that replacement player doesn't even produce a third of what DeRosa can....

HOW in God's name does this guy still have a F$%$ing job right now!!!!!!!!

Soriano-ridiculous salary (coming off career year when he got it)
Marquis-ridiculous salary (why? especially 3 years)
Lee-ridiculous salary (coming off career year)
Dempster-ridiculous salary (career year)

that's $52 million for players that never should've gotten those deals, and especially the length of deals. He has nobody to blame but himself for handcuffing the organization dollar-wise. My guess is Dempster will flop, just like Soriano, Lee, and Marquis did before him. We have Marquis off the books now, but we've added Gregg and Vizcaino, which have wiped out any savings dumping Marquis would've provided---a most disturbing revelation.

Hendry is a retard, and DESERVES to be fired...great, if he adds Roberts AND Peavy, AND Dunn, then I get egg on my face. But what are the chances of that, guys, really....c'mon!!!

think more along the lines of adding the fragile Bradley, and being in a desperation mode come the trade deadline, perhaps even a firesale because Hendry couldn't be proactive, and threw his money at players that had HORRIBLE track records for the contracts they received.

Am I honestly the only one that researches the player's stats, etc.!?!? I almost feel like it sometimes. If you don't believe me, then look at Soriano, Lee, Marquis, and Dempster, and you look at their historical stats----then tell me if they deserved 4-5 year contracts on average with about $14 million/year (averaged between them)

Not a chance in hell they deserve that. Not a chance in hell Bradley even deserves $8 million per over 2 years, much less 3 years. When you think of consistency, you think of guys like Randy Johnson, Andy Pettitte, Beltran, AROD, Manny, Ortiz, ARAM, Thome, Pujols, Dunn, Abreu, Mussina, etc., where you at least no what you can count on year after year....With Lee, Bradley, Dempster, Marquis, Soriano, and others we have already/are considering, they have one thing in common: NO FRICKIN' CONSISTENCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

when you look at our failures, and inability to get over the top when all we needed was one or two pieces, think Hendry...his stamp is ALL over this team, and we've endured the likes of Lawton, Gerut, Burnitz, Neifi, Hairston, Hawkins, Marquis, and now Gathright, Gregg, Vizcaino, and Miles, instead of REAL pieces.

This guy's a joke, and there's no defending him. 7 years and one of the top 5-6 budgets in all of baseball during that time is WELL ENOUGH to get over the hump, and he's failed to even reach the playoffs in 4 of 7 seasons ('02, '04, '05, '06), and finished miserably in '02, '05, and '06.

Like Shanahan with the Broncos, how long can this guy possibly survive the success of 2003 and how close we came?!?!

He's not that bright, guys...not one bit. He might try really hard, and I admire that, but he just doesn't have "IT" to get us over the top, while others do, and he gets absolutely TAKEN in almost every non-salary dump trade (for the other team)that he makes.

Here's another thing on Miles: if he's so good, why'd the Cardinals, who don't really have a better option at 2nd, get rid of him? And why was his asking price low enough for a team that can't afford any mid-to-big names? These don't add up for someone who's "a good pickup".

Whoaa aaron i think you are exxagerating a little bit, well actually ALOT
How in the hell do you thik that we will finish 2nd or 3rd when the rest of the division hasnt done anything!
Let the guy do his damn job the offseason isnt over yet and im sure he will make more moves in the future.
PLUS
why one second you say that sign ing marquis was an idiotic move and then say your pissed he traded him away cuz he is "valuable"
also you keep goin on about the gregg for ceda deal and then say that we need CONSISTANT guys. this gregg guy has been pretty consisten over his careeer and you expecting this ceda guy who has a hell of an arm but cant get it over the plate. THERE IS A REASON THE PADS TRADED HIM FOR NOTHING he threw uper 90s while with the pads, but he had NO CONTROL you cant be a good pitcher with no control i dont give a crap how hard you throw cuz theres plenty of gus in the bigs and minors that throw hard with no control and SUCK
With all that said im not disagreeing on everything but most of the things you are saying ae stupid and you need to wait till the offseason is freaking over till u say that these moves are complete busts

nope, didn't exactly explain that...I never liked the signing---didn't make sense then, and didn't now. I was inferring that signing Marquis was a mistake, but practically giving him away for a guy (Vizcaino) who doesn't even belong in MLB considering his historical stats was a huge mistake.

You're right, the offseason is NOT over, but you ARE wrong, in that you say these moves are NOT complete busts.

Why do you say that? Do you honestly think Hendry will offload Fukudome and sign a big bat? Because that's the ONLY way Gathright makes sense. Do you honestly think that Vizcaino will be flipped to another team? Who would want him anyway? Because that's the only way that trade makes sense? Do you honestly think that Cedeno, Fontenot, and Pie can be traded in a package one way or another to obtain Roberts? Because that's the only way signing Miles and trading DeRosa makes sense. Here's why:

Team as constructed right now (position players only)

middle infield: Theriot, Fontenot, Cedeno (out of options), Miles
corner infield: ARAM, Lee, Hoffpauir
OF: Soriano, Johnson, Fukudome, Gathright, Pie, ? (big signing)
C: Soto, ?

that's 15 players for 13 spots. Cedeno is our best option at SS if Theriot is ineffective/goes down, so trading him creates a hole. Miles CANNOT offer even close to what Theriot offers at SS in the field (and Theriot isn't that great according to range factors, etc.), so putting him in there is a HUGE mistake. Fontenot hasn't hardly played SS at all. Gathright is nothing more than a pinch runner, which is a horrible waste of space on the team. At least Pie can hit for extra base power, has great speed, and awesome defense. Gathright can't offer anything remotely close to that but speed, and as we all know, if you can't get on base, what good is speed---so basically that would relegate him to pinch running duty, which, as mentioned, is an absolute waste of space. Another reason why trading DeRosa away was bad,is that at 5'8", Miles would be an absolute joke at 1B, so Hoffpauir HAS to remain on the team to fill in there (which is good, in my mind).

So doublep16, please tell me how it's not a failure when we have Gregg, Vizcaino, 3 minor league prospects, Gathright, and Miles to show for losing Wood, Marquis, (essentially Pie for Gathright), and DeRosa.

Yup, you sure look like a genius with that. Even if Hendry signs Bradley, which it looks like the JOKER will actually do----he'll give us 80 games for $10 million, and he'll be injured. Genius...If Hendry signs him, he's hoping for pie in the sky wishes, just as he did with signing Soriano, Lee, and Dempster to HUGE contracts after career years. He might think that magically, Bradley might actually play 140-150 games a year (he's done so only ONCE in 7 full seasons as a major leaguer). Hendry was criticized for relying on Wood and Prior to be healthy post 2004, and now, it looks like he's putting all his eggs in one basket, and the eggs are all cracked.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out you Hendry apologists out there. You state, "Karros, Grudz, Lofton, ARAM, Lilly, Lee, DeRosa, etc." Great, how many championsips has that produced? How many playoff appearances in 7 season at the helm with top 5 payrolls? How many times past the first round of the playoffs? Exactly.

Right now, our bench blows.

Gathright (Has speed)
Miles (If Fontenot starts)
Bako (Rumored to be our back up catcher)
Cedeno ( I am not a fan of turtle neck)
Johnson (OK)

Well to start off gathrite isnt a done deal. from what hendry has said is that he is COMPETING for a sport on the roster. that means that pie could beat him for it.
Also by the signing of bradley, who else out there is better? Dunn? are you kidding me? Milton Bradley is the best fit out in rigtht and who cares if he plays 120 games, i guess that means we will have hoff for 40 which you said he was good so there is his oppurtunity.
And for SS thing..Nobody ever said miles or fonty was going to be our SS. they said that they COULD fill in when theriot needs a break so he doesnt get burned out.
Visciano is a solid reliever just coming off a bad season. Nobody is saying that hes gonna set up games...hes just another freakin reliever who is at least an under 4 era guy, plus we get rid of freakin bum in marguis and sayve 5 million.

As for this statement:

"For the life of me, I cannot figure out you Hendry apologists out there. You state, "Karros, Grudz, Lofton, ARAM, Lilly, Lee, DeRosa, etc." Great, how many championsips has that produced?"

Thats exactly why hendry is shuffling some things up! It didnt work so hes trying something new!
i just dont get how you say that we should keep wood,keep Dero but they didnt bring us a championship!
So why not let these guys go and get some new guys AKA BRADLEY AND PEAVY WHICH WILL HAPPEN CUZ HENDRY HAS A TRACK RECORD OF GETTIN THE DEALS DONE (besides roberts LOL)
so basically we are replacing wood and dero for peavy and bradley WHO WOULDNT DO THAT?
I gurantee you that every expert out their would do that in a heartbeat excpecially when you got guys that can sup out there when the dude needs a break.
And , how the hell am i COMPLETELY WRONG when the moves arent even finished? They traded dero simply for the prospects to send to the pads for peavy, plain and simple dont beleive me? well just because the two gms havnt gone public about it doesnt mean i aint happening (remember towers said that if it went on again we wouldnt know about it)
Also LOU said that he hated the thought of losing dero, so do you really think he would let hendry trade him if he werent getting a star player in return?
please man GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT

Next year seems to be the year after next with these kind of moves. All we needed was a few key players not a different nucleus of guys. J.H. better have something big up his sleeve.

once again...what the hell are you thinking doublep16?

1)Gathright has an $800k MLB deal...sure seems guaranteed to me. Of course Hendry is going to say that...most GM's will do that, even though they've essentially dropped their drawers anyhow...they don't want to destroy trade value.

2)ummmmmmm...are you kidding with the Bradley thing?!? 120 games alright with you? I can think of $10 million reasons why his ass better be on the field for 140+games. Think about that for a second...losing 20 games off that, is losing an entire month of the season----not exactly getting your money's worth is it?

3)Miles: 107 games at SS, 18 errors=HORRIBLE (never even played SS in the minors)
Fontenot: 4 games at SS, 2 errors=HORRIBLE (29 games, 3 errors in minors)

4)Vizcaino, "just another reliever"...you must be kidding, right? $4 million+incentives says he's not. You do NOT give that kind of money to a non set-up man, and that's the truth. Eyre and Howry were about there, but both were considered set-up men for us when signed.

5)Peavy?!? Are you kidding me? Marquis and DeRosa were supposed to bring us prospects to flip in the trades. Marquis brought us an overpriced, underachieving middle reliever, and DeRosa brought 3 marginal pitching talents who were all old for their respective minor league stops. Think that's going to get us Peavy? You're delusional. Marquis and DeRosa were supposedly our main trading chips in that deal to net us the necessary prospects. Here's what was rumored from us for Peavy: Marquis (to 3rd team for prospects), Marshall, Hart, Vitters, Cedeno, Pie, Ceda (already traded away for overpiced, underachieving Gregg). So, if Marshall, Hart, Vitters, Cedeno, and Pie weren't enough before, then how in the hell do you think they'll be okay now?!? Do you honestly think the pitching "prospects" will get it done? All three are marginal prospects. Stevens, Archer, and Gaub don't even make the top 20 prospects list for the Indians, nor do they even make the 15 honorable mention list. Do you realize how bad that is? Hendry's reaching there with that deal, hoping, yet AGAIN for pie in the sky, unless, in the highly unlikely case, that the Padres had interest in those guys (very, VERY unlikely) http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/12/29/704258/cleveland-indians-top-20-p

6)ummmmmm...actually, you need to be better informed, and do your own research buddy...I can't believe you pulled out the "Hendry has a track record of getting things done" What exactly is that...can you elaborate? Ever since Patterson failed at lead-off, he's been searching for the right lead-off guy. That's 7 years, in case you haven't been counting. Ever since Sammy left town, he's been trying to find a better RF, often going the route of veteran re-treads like Burnitz, Jones, etc., and when they didn't work out, he plops HUGE money for an unproven MLB talent in Fukudome, and he promptly starts strong, then can't make any adjustments to MLB pitching, and probably never will, because of his disciplined approach, which every Japanese hitter has---it's so difficult to change their approaches, because they're drilled on it since high school---which is a LOT of practice you must replace---not conducive to adjustments that US players can make. I mean, these guys are drilled like the Marines in their approach, and many people don't know that. So much of their approaches stem from a form of leg kick, which they use for timing, and that's really, really difficult to change, which is why Rueben Sierra and his high leg kick were on a hiatus from MLB for awhile, because it took him awhile to re-adjust everything. So, please tell me how Hendry has made signings/trades that helped us reach the playoffs. And don't say Karros/Grudz and Lofton/ARAM, because we all know, and even articles today about the DeRosa deal mentioned those previous trades as nothing more than exchange of bad contracts (Hundley for Karros/Grudz) and a salary dup for the Pirates with Lofton/ARAM. He whiffed on Beltran and Furcal two years in a row, so he desperately overpaid for Soriano who was coming off a career year. Two years later, he looks like an $8 million player/yr at best, though he makes $17 million. He signed Marquis to a horrible deal the same year when he already knew the two best pitching coaches in the game---Mazzone and Duncan couldn't get through to him.

Please, do your research before you start a debate.

Dunn might not be the "ideal" fit long-term, but he's a guy that will give you huge offense and 150+games/year and a power lefty bat we need. He's never been a problem in the clubhouse, and he actually wants to come here. Bradley might give you 141 games (his all-time high), or he might give you 61 games---you just don't have a clue. He also might give you 10 home runs, or he might give you 22 (all-time high last year). He also might give you a .267 avg (his avg from playing 141 games) and a .362 OBP, or he might give you a .321 avg and a .436 OBP (which he did last year in 126 games)with 80 walks, and 112 K's,

or

you can basically count on 155 games, 40 HR, 100 RBI, .245 avg, .390 OBP, 110 walks, and 165 K's

and the funny thing is, both offer about the same defense, AND both cost about the same, though Dunn probably would want a 4 year versus a 3 year deal, which Bradley might get.

It's a no-brainer there, especially when you're gambling with $10 million +/year...you go with the sure bet. You take those average numbers over "career year" numbers anyday, and Dunn blows Bradley out of the water, and truthfully, if Bradley could stay healthy for 155 games like Dunn has accomplished 5 times in 7 full seasons, then Bradley would probably strike out at least 30 more times, which would put him at about 150 K's.

Please, do your research before you speak, and it will all be good

Aaron you are off base. Doublep16 I agree. people need to settle down this is just the beginning.

Every move has set the Table for the Peavy Deal. There is a Peavy Checklist and the way i see it at two big checks are Marquis and Dero. This all fits with a Peavy trade. Never for a second thought this deal is dead. Once Peavy made it known he wanted to come to the Cubs. The Padres have to shed his salary plain and simple.

Stop jumping the gun guys. I have a feeling there may be more moves. If we get Peavy I could see Harden being traded.

Ok i never said 120 games would be alright with me im just saying that if it did happen we have a backup plan so therefore i think bradley is worth the risk.
And jeff stevens did make the list on the indians top 30 prospect list #19(report from Steve Stone) but if you look at the player the pads wanted (OLSON) from the oriols his numbers are horrific so i dont really see the difference between the two.
Soriano isnt a complete bust HE HAS BEEN INJURED and he still produced very good numbers and i gurantee you that one healythy season next year will change everybodys mind.
And Gathright is competing for the spot or else he wouldnt have said it.

And Again at the SS thing dude like i said, nobody is saying he is our shortstop, those two are our second basemen. I just mentioned the SS thing because of how versatle the guy is(never said he would be our SS)
And im not taking bradley just for his career year, his career numbers are very solid and i have a friend from arlington and he said this guy was very good in the late innings cuz he never gave up an at bat. Now you tell me what would happen in the 9th with two outs and a runner is at 3rd and all we need is a single, who would you want up? Bradley hands down, the dude doesnt K 50 percent of the time, he is a gamer and a better fit for the cubs.

So i dont see how i didnt do my research because i never said that miles was gonna be ou SS never said i wanted Bradley to only play 120 games.
Visciano was just a trade to get rid of salaries. NOBODY WANTED MARQUIS
The only other trade partner the cubs would have supposedly was the mets for aaron hielman
now who would you rather have?
So why dont you stop freaking out on hendry and wait to see what happens.
cuz i dont think lou would have allowed this trade if they werent gonna get a star player in return by that i mean taking those prospects and sending them in a deal
So stop saying that i dont know what im talking about by saying hendry is making the right moves cuz im not saying he is YET YOU JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT HE DOES WITH IT BEFORE YOU JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS=]

Aaron,

I agree 100 percent. This is one of the dumbest trades I have ever seen. I don't care what we end up with in return, you don't trade a guy who can play 5 positions well and hit. Dero hustles every play. We need more of that kind of player, not less. Im so mad I want to vomit. I hope Im wrong but I see this as a huge step in the wrong direction.

doublep16,

Hell yes. Bradley is a cancer- wait and see. He'll never have another year like he did last year. Remember George Bell? Bradley couldn't tote his bag. If we are going to go after a left handed outfielder we need to put a package together for Swisher. Once again, players that play multiple positions well are not easy to come by. I know you are going to say that his average sucks and all that, but he's never gone after anyone in the stands. Oh and one more thing- Aaron effin Miles is a joke. He sucked in Colorado, he sucked in STL and he will suck some more with us. Look, I want us to win with every bone in my body, I just don't see how this makes us a better team. This is the first time they've broken my heart in January.