To everyone knocking Young's numbers from last season you should know that he played all of last season with two broken fingers. That resulted in his first season batting under .300 (he's a career .320 hitter) and his first season without 200 hits. Before that every season he had at least 200 hits. If the Cubs could get him it would be a huge addition to the top of the line up.

I hope Ricketts gets the Cubs. He's a diehard Cubs fan who will have the fans AND teams best interest at heart. I even heard he met his wife in the bleachers at a Cubs gm years ago!

If Hill and Pie had much trade value, JH would have dealt them already. I still like both of those players, but Lou and JH don't. I expect both will be dealt for very little (maybe a couple low tier prospects) in return.

Carrie Muskat should be writing for National Enquire...I don't even read her articles anymore. She is definitely out of options but the club sould try to convince her to accept a being sent down to Iowa or if not...DFA her!

Has anyone read the article on cubs.com about Pie and Hill. I don't think it is a very smart thing to be reporting on by carrie muskat. I wonder if she thinks before she writes sometimes. That article has to demolish any leverage Jim Hendry had in trades with other teams involving those two guys, especially Pie. Other teams now know that the Cubs really don't want these guys anymore so Hendry has no leverage.

While I am not a big fan of Carrie either, her writings have absolutely zero impact on other major league GM's.

Highly unlikely any GM is sitting at his desk surfing team websites to see what their beat writers are saying about their players...lol

The fact Hill was thrown to the minor leagues and the Cubs are actively pursuing a starter shows the Cubs arent counting on Hill. The fact the Cubs went and got Joey Gathright shows Pie is not high on the list either.

Carrie Muskat's writing have nothing to do with those players values.

Young is too expensive for the Padres. I think it was Joe S. that mentioned they're trying to get down to $40 million payroll.

To Suzy, I think it would be worth it to move Harden, though that's the first I've heard of that being a possibility. Harden is $9 mil less than Peavy, and a real discount, but Peavy is a better pitcher, and much more solid. Consider Buster Olney's article on ESPN.com : http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3831815&name=olney_buster

As he puts it, Derek Lowe will be making about the same as Peavy costs now, with about 1/2 the upside in age and dominance. The market continues to bloat despite the economy, and Peavy's contract locks him up for a good little while. Plus he WANTS to be a CUB.

Prolly not gonna happen but imagine this scenario

trade soriano for young

then trade for peavy

but wait..whos gonna play left field?

thats right,

MANNNY RAMIREZ

You think the Cubs would get Manny Ramirez? You got to be out of your mind, Joe. Having Milton Bradley we can handle, but both Manny and Milton... not smart. Plus all that money Ramirez wants is not what the Cubs are going to take.

no if you would read what i put before that i said it prolly wouldnt happen

Im just saying it would be nice no way am i thinking it qould happen

While unlikely to happen....I certainly would go for Manny Ramirez regardless of ANY situation. The man is a winner. While I hate all the talk about trading Soriano....Manny is the one player I would take over Soriano any day.

The same reason I like Bradley, the Cubs need intensity and swagger. Manny can be Manny in Chicago ANY day for me!

Yes I wouldn't mind Manny too but doesn't he want around 20-25 million a year? There isn't really a point to that much of an upgrade. He is a righty who has power in the middle of the lineup. Sounds like some Cub players I already know. If the Cubs were to get Manny they wouldn't be able to get the 5th starter in the rotation anymore either.

Yeah, but Manny is one of the few types of players who is a gamechanger. While Soriano and Ramirez are good....Ramirez is GREAT....

I'd take him over Peavy or any other 5th starter anyday.

Yes, Young would balance the line-up but it won't free much cash at all. Not worth it and this trade WILL NOT HAPPEN. The Rangers need to pitching. I think what is more likely is the Rangers trading Young for Peavy. This will give the Rangers better starting pitching of course. While the Padres would use Young to build around. Makes much more sense to me.

The Padres are cutting payroll which is the only reason they are trading Peavy. They are not going to acquire Young under ANY circumstance. Their payroll is being cut to around 45 million dollars. Young has an 80 million dollar contract....forget that idea.

Soriano won't get traded unless his new team can take his increasing salary cap figure. His 8 year deal was heavily backloaded ($18M was just the average) and in year eight his salary will be almost $24M. The only Sori deal I can see right now is with either the Yankees (Nady + AA prospects) or the Dodgers if Manny doesn't re-sign (package would have to include a one year salary dump of Jason Schmidt or Andruw Jones along with Ethier and other kids). Either way Sori still has to veto his no-trade to make it happen. If Hendry can somehow move Soriano it would a miracle. Peavy seems to be the only move left for a truckload of our kids (Pie, Hart, Cedeno, etc.). I don't like the idea of including Vitters but given our history of lousy development of minor league position players in tend not to get hung up on their POTENTIAL talent (see Choi, Patterson, Pie, etc.).

I agree with Bryce. It would be a bad trade. It doesn't free up much cash at all, and Young seems to be declining a bit. Very few stolen bases so you can't put him in the lead-off spot. As much as Soriano sometimes makes me cringe, I'm fine with him hitting .280 and 35 homers in the 3/4/5 hole, where he should be, with adequate protection around him. Regardless this rumor seems highly speculative.

The more I read about Peavy the more I want the CUBS to put a package together for him. I think its a very rare opportunity for the club to acquire another top-flight starter. The rotation would be unbelievable (Harden as your #5 starter?!), and that would trickle down to the rest of the club.

Joe...what if the cost of Peavy includes

Harden? After all...he is in the last year of his contract...@ $7 mil.

If the Cubs had to move Marquis & Dero

to acquire Bradley & Miles...they might have to move another salary to acquire

Peavy...look at the team...Harden's 1 year at 7 mil might be the cost.

So... at that Price...along with the prospects San Diego will want...is Peavy still worth it to you?

Well, a different Joe will answer that one...lol

While I don't think it will mean Harden will be traded, I would still do it if I had to.

Harden still needs to prove he can stay healthy and pitch a full season without being on too much of a leash. His trade value is diminished because of his past arm concerns.

But, should we need to trade him to make it happen for Peavy. Absolutely. Peavy is signed for the next several years, has much less health risk than Harden and was never on a leash here in San Diego as far as innings pitched. As of this moment, Peavy has a greater upside than Harden.

I can't see the Rangers trading for Soriano. They have a great prospect in David Murphy in left field. X-number one choice of the Red Sox. He can play all three outfield positions. The Rangers need pitching.

Bottom line: Soriano has a no trade clause. Cubs are a contender next year, and the Rangers are not. Would you approve a trade to a crappier team? I know I wouldn't. We are stuck with Soriano, we need to accept that and make the best of it.

Sorry but there is no way the Padres would accept Young in a trade for Peavy. They are trying to save money. If Soriano is so much better of a player than Young, maybe we could get Young and some middle relief or a prospect for Soriano. If the Rangers want more, we could throw in Vizcaino or Hill or Cedeno or Pie or anybody else that we wouldn't use anyway.

"Ideal" world...not idea......sorry, didn't proofread

I don't see that as a likely trade, but I would do it. There is no doubt you get more offensive production out of Soriano, but the lineup would be better balanced with him gone. In an idea world you would swap those two then use Young in a trade to get Peavy. Then if Dunn is still on the Market pick him up too. How about that...again, not likely to happen, but would be cool.

Theriot

Miles/Fontenot

Bradley

Aram

Dunn

Lee

Soto

Fukudome/Johnson

Pitcher

That's a winner

I'd rather have Soriano than Young, and no way I trade Vitters right now, not even in a package for Peavy.

No Way Young straight up for Soriano!

Didn't Texas trade Soriano for a bag of baseballs a few years ago? Why would they want him back now?

Oh my goodness. How can you people say you want that trade done?

Michael Young: 32 years old, makes 16m a year on average over 5 years. He puts up less numbers than Soriano in HR, Doubles, RBIs, SB. Young also hit .284 last year? Michael Young is more of a basehit hitter which the Cubs need but giving up the Athletic Soriano straight up? Soriano makes on average under 18m a year. To me its not worth it straight up. Crazy.

It is very good to hear the sale of the team is close to being done. I am also very happy to hear the Rickets group is leading the pack. I was a fan of Cuban, but after he dropped out I was hoping for Rickets after reading up on him. He seems like the right guy for the job not only will he be the owner, but he is a fan of the team.

If the rumors would be true about a possible trade between the Rangers and Cubs Young for Soriano do it. Not only would that free up money we could maybe go after Peavy with, but here is also another thought. The cubs are reportedly looking for a Japanese player to help Fukudome settle in and the 40 yr old pitcher wouldn't be the answer I say spend a little money and sign So Taguchi. I know his numbers aren't great but he is a proven player here in the U.S. He can also play all three outfield spots. Better than picking up a pitcher with no experience here and might pitch 1 maybe 2 yrs. Since we lost Derosa we let Miles be the super sub and trade Cedeno and Hill or Vitters for a mid relief pitcher This way we would have the starting 5 to die for and Fuku would have someone to help him and we could plug some mid relief pitching holes and have a solid infield with decent back up players to allow the rest to our every day starters to get some rest from time to time. Just a thought

Who would you get for Vitters? I would not trade him for middle relief unless is is for a closer and prospects or great relief and prospects

A Soriano for Young trade would be a dream come true. However, we know that Soriano has a no-trade clause, and when asked after the end of last season if he would approve a trade if one could be worked out, told Hendry he will not approve of one for any reason. Period.

The real exciting news is the sale getting close to done and thus relieving this transaction paralysis. Go Tom go.