According to a report from the Tribune, Sam Fuld accompanied the Cubs to Miami on Thursday and will take Reed Johnson's roster spot on Friday. The Cubs are expected to option Mitch Atkins to Triple-A to make room for Fuld.
John Grabow will be in uniform on Friday and available out of the pen for Lou Piniella. Grabow will wear number 43, he asked for 34 but told it was not available.
Tom Gorzelanny joined Dave Kaplan during Sports Central on Thursday night and indicated he would be joining the Cubs in Miami as well. Gorzelanny was officially sent to the I-Cubs but it appears he could be in the starting rotation shortly ... and possibly in time to make the start on Tuesday in Cincinnati.
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Tom Gorzelanny over Kevin Hart I am outraged. This trade might come back and bite us. So now our fifth starting pitcher for now until Lily come back might be a little shaky. Now another problem we have to deal with thanks a lot Jim Hendry for yet another bad trade.
Outrage is a pretty strong emotion. Hart was a "little shaky" in our rotation as well. Gorzelanny has put together an entire quality season at the major league level, something Kevin Hart has not done. Fans in Pittsburgh are upset to lose Gorzo in favor of Hart so there ya go. Maybe we all as fans need to stop falling in love with our own team's mediocre prospects. As was mentioned before, we got Kevin Hart as a PTBNL in the Freddie Bynum deal. We can get a new "Kevin Hart" and "Jose Ascanio" with the two draft picks we'll get in compensation when we let Grabow walk at the end of the year.
IT'LL BE OKAY!!!
First of all, some of you guys really don't pay attention to the overall climate of MLB. I think this past offseason was a record low number of guys offered arbitration. Why? Because teams didn't want to be saddled with enormous 1 year deals for guys like Dunn, Abreu, etc. It's precisely why Oakland traded Matt Holliday. They knew he'd command something in the $15+ million range in arbitration, and decided they'd rather take prospects now than draft picks later.
If Grabow, or any other players are offered arbitration, don't think for a moment they won't accept it. Why wouldn't they? All you have to do is look at all the veteran free agents still out there to understand that there's plenty of supply and little demand.
Chances are, yes, Grabow would be offered a multi-year deal from someone like the Yankees. But maybe not. Maybe he decides he wants a significant increase in salary for one year, and he loves Chicago...then we're saddled with a loogy reliever making about $4-5 million easily (probably more), and no draft compensation AND we're compounding the age issue on our team, constantly getting older, and we become the San Francisco Giants of recent years with an average age on the team over 32 years old. That, my friends, isn't going to be pretty.
You know what else won't be pretty? Watching the Cubs make horrible draft selections if by (remote) chance Grabow turns down arbitration, and we get the picks.
Aaron, who in AA (pitching) is the best bet to be
ready to help out if needed?
Right on Mike. I am big Cubs fan. I love to watch our young guys play as much as anyone. That is one thing that annoys me about some Cubs fans is they fall in love with mediocre prospects and don't step back and put it in perspective. I like the way Fuld hustles but I seriously doubt he will be anything more than a Ryan Freel.
first of all, they're NOT mediocre prospects. Hart has proven he can hold his own at the MLB level in 2007 and now 2009. His 2008 was an aberration, being shuttled back and forth, etc.
Ascanio has also proven in limited time with us that he can handle MLB hitters. In the minors, he also has the stats to back it up. Harrison, after being drafted in 2008, has come on really strong, is fast, and a great leadoff candidate for the future.
What are Grabow and Gorzelanny?
Grabow-30 yr old "loogy" that throws VERY similar to Glendon Rusch. Though he hasn't started, he also has very similar stats to Rusch. So Grabow=Rusch=NOT WORTH IT. By the way, here's his ERA #'s in all his full seasons:
2004-5.11 ERA in 68 games
2005-4.85 ERA in 63 games
2006-4.13 ERA is 72 games
2007-4.53 ERA in 63 games
2008-2.84 ERA in 74 games *also gave up 37 walks and 9 hr in just 76 IP
2009-3.42 ERA in 45 games
Gorzelanny-27 yr old lefty starter that had 2 good seasons as a starter
2006-3.79 ERA in 11 starts, 61 2/3 IP
2007-3.88 ERA in 32 starts, 201 2/3 IP
2008-6.66 ERA in 21 starts, 105 1/3 IP
2009-5.19 ERA in 9 games, 8 2/3 IP
versus:
Hart-26 yrs old
2007-0.82 ERA, 8 games, 11 IP
2008-6.51 ERA, 21 games, 27 2/3 IP
2009-2.60 ERA, 8 games, 4 starts, 27 2/3 IP
Ascanio-24 yrs old
2007 (ATL)-5.06 ERA, 13 games, 16 IP
2008-7.94 ERA, 6 games, 5 2/3 IP
2009-3.52 ERA, 14 games, 15 1/3 IP
**(know what Zambrano's ERA was when they brought him up, taking him from starter to reliever, just like Ascanio? 15.26 ERA, 6 games, 1 start, 7 2/3 IP)
Look, experience really doesn't matter when you have nothing to work with to begin with, right? Grabow=Rusch. His stuff is just enough to get by, but nothing dominant like some of you make him out to be. So, you have to look at it from that angle. Would you rather have a 24 yr old Ascanio, who has shown dominance, and filthy stuff, or a 30 yr old "loogy"?
Would you rather have a 27 yr old lefty who couldn't hack it at the MLB level, and is sitting in AAA right now, or a 26 yr old righty that has done an admirable job filling in for 2 injured pitchers while compiling a 2.60 ERA?
So, as I said before, this is yet ANOTHER poor move by Hendry this year in the mold of "more balance" like he wanted in the offseason when he acquired/signed the likes of Miles, Bradley, Gathright, and Bako. 2 of the 4 are no longer with the organization. One can't even hit left-handed, and Miles is barely hanging on at AAA right now.
Do you supporters of this trade even stop to think about how bad this move really is? Do you even know the purpose of a lefty in the pen? The purpose is to get other lefties out, is it not?
Then why is it that in his career (488 AB's from lefties against him), has he given up 132 hits, 14 doubles, 3 triples, and 13 hr, and 40 walks vs 140 K's and a .270 Batting average against? In fact, this year is even worse, with lefties batting .275 against him with a .362 OBP
I was curious to see just how bad he is, so I cross-checked Marshall's career #'s against lefties. Know what I found?
293 AB's, 66 hits, 10 doubles, 5 triples, 10 hr, 32 walks vs 55 K's, and a .225 batting average against
In fact, BJ Ryan, even in his down year this year, has held lefties to a .250 avg (and he was released from the Jays even). In his career, Ryan has held lefties to an unbelievably low avg of .179 avg, .285 OBP
LOL...what a joke of a deal, especially when folks don't take the time to look up what this really means to us. We gave up our 5th starter for a loogy that can't even do his job and get lefties out. We gave up a future lead-off hitter in Harrison with great speed, AND Ascanio, for a lefty starter also in the mold of Glendon Rusch that just can't hack it in MLB
Nice trade? I think not! In fact, those of you citing media as liking this trade, need only look at what they were saying about Milton Bradley. They LOVED that signing for us.
Did you read Hendry's drivel in today's Trib? to paraphrase Jimbo:
...it became apparent we weren't gonna get Grabow with adding Hart. We've been liking Grabow for awhile and "Grabow is pretty darn good" That is his quote! yeah, you gotta love that 4.50 career ERA, pretty darn good, Jim! and Littlefield has been watch Gorzy and he's getting more like he "was". Huh?
He couldn't make the roster of a last place team! So Jim will give him a start with the Cubs. what the hell? he's "looking better" in AAA!
UNREAL.
oh I know....he said Miles was a great addition, scrappy hitter, blah blah blah, and Bradley was a high energy guy with a competitive fire that we needed....and Gregg was a solid closer, blah blah blah. Really? First of all, we had plenty of options in the minors both in prospects and veterans (Scales) that could easily fill Miles $5 million+ hit to our payroll for $400,000. Secondly, if he even did his research on Bradley instead of buying into Bradley's sales pitch himself, he would've noted that Bradley had a career year last year, and from the left side in this career (other than last year of course), hit under .270 from the left-side, which is what they so badly needed....and averaged around 85 games played per year, AND had at most 22 hr in his entire career (which lefty POWER is something we needed), AND had a cancerous attitude in the clubhouse. Hey, but what's not to like? LOL....Then, we trade a 100 mph flame-throwing Ceda for a guy coming off knee surgery and 9 blown saves. LOL...and Hendry sold us on that crap, just as he sold us on needing Steve Trachsel down the stretch in 2007, and everyone was left scratching their heads saying, "now why the hell did we just give up prospects for a guy that was going to be waived by the O's?" (ironically, Gregg also was going to be non-tendered by the Marlins as well...LOL)
You also have to wonder about the Gathright vs Pie strategy. Really? Gathright at least got an opportunity to showcase his talent, AND FAILED!!! Whereas Pie had been shuttled back and forth for like 3 years, never getting an opportunity to play everyday. He's probably never going to be an everyday player, but he's a decent back-up, which Gathright isn't even good at, because he can't steal first base, and doesn't have near the power Pie does to make up for it. Additionally, Gathright signed for twice what Pie made, which also made you scratch your head, especially after Hendry was crying about the budget, saying that's why we had to trade DeRosa.
So, from an offseason of contradictions, and poor decision-making, is it really any surprise that Hendry makes yet another confounding move? 3 good prospects (2 with very good results at the MLB level) for 2 pitchers on the verge of being DFA candidates and out of baseball. I threw the stats out there for you...Grabow has 2 seasons with under a 4.18 ERA. If you thought Cotts was bad...wait until you see this joker. Gorzelanny had 2 good seasons like 3 years ago. Big deal! Rich Hill had a great season 2 years ago...he could never get it together, and Gorzelanny probably won't either.
To those supporters of this trade...What do you have that can back it up that it is actually a good deal for us? Any good stats you can throw around? Any good observations? Because, what I've observed first hand is Hart is MORE than adequate as a 5th starter, and Ascanio is MORE than adequate in middle relief for us (certainly better than Samardzija and Heilman). That's what I've observed this year.
same thing last year when we traded away gallagher.. he pitches a couple games, wins a few, and some fans are kinda bummed when he's traded (for harden).. fans want to keep every young player that shows the slightest bit of potential
It's about time! Fuld can play. Now L-O-U, don't just let him rot on the bench.
Soto's coming back soon--who's out? Fox?
Frankly I am not ready for Soto to play for us real soon since we are winning without him, and since he wasn't contributing much.
Are you kidding? He was starting to hit homeruns again and hit the ball again before he got hurt. In fact, chances are that, now that he's got in some actual practice that he missed due to the WBC, it'll only take him a game or two to get back up to where he should be.
I would not care who was ready to come back (soto, miles), I would not tinker with the chemistry on this team right now. Hill is virtually non existant with the bat but no one steals bases on him. Soto was not hitting and not throwing out runners. I think the reason our young pitchers have performed so well lately is due in part to koyie hill's influence. Let all these young guys play and continue to contribute. The only move I would make at this point is to trade heilman for a new cooler or a bag of balls if anyone would even do that deal.
Ronald, The main piece of the puzzle in the trade was to get the lefty reliever Grabow. Hart as a potential 5th STARTER can be replaced by any one of 100 pitchers next year if need be. He has control problems and has a 2 pitch resume similar to Samardija, who would obviously be a potential 5th starter next year ahead of him based on the $$ commitment. Let's play for THIS year and worry about the rest later. I'm tired of waiting! Ripsnorter, Fuld will possibly platoon with Bradley but as long as Fukudome is raking in the leadoff position as he has since being put there, he may only see CF time to get Fuki a breather. I'd still like us to go out and get 1 more bat, maybe we're finally ready to gel this season and have a nice run THROUGH the post season this year!!
It will be nice to see Fuld's energy
again...interjected this time into
an energetic 1rst place team instead
of the lethargic struggling team we were.
The Cubs have cost two pitchers their jobs since the all-star break. Tavarez and Ortiz.
Your Right!
will we be retiring Kerry Woods number 34? is that why he couldnt hav it?
At this point I think it is just out of respect. It may be considered some years in the future after Woody has retired.
Please, you are crediting Sam Fuld for the recent surge? He's been in Iowa for the entire outburst.
And I have to rant a little more about Hart for Crapow and Gorzelanny. Those of you who are saying it was the right time to sell high on Hart and that Gorzy had a good season two years ago: this isn't fantasy baseball. You don't "sell high" when your starting rotation is 3/5 healthy and the subs are winning games. I don't trust Dempster's toe, and plus Hart has pitched better than Demp for a month. What if his toe isn't healed? Then Gorzelanny goes into the rotation?
Why is he even with the big league club? Seriously, he couldn't keep a roster spot with a last place team! So now he's in our bullpen!? Does that make ANY sense?
Now it's time to pray that Demp gets his toe out of his ass and the Lilly can get back quick and strong...and that Grabow isn't Heilman 2.0, and that pulling Marshall doesn't implode the bullpen, and that BJ Ryan's makes a miraculous come back...
Right when this team was getting all together and playing like the team they should have been, and the one that, ironically, Hendry kept telling us they were, he blows it up! Pitching has been the least of the problem this year.
If it aint broke tinker with it till squeaks...shit.
What are you reading? Who credited Fuld
with the recent surge?
No one. I guess I misread something and was wrong. All the energetic interjection confused me.
V-Mart going to Bean Town. Look out.
Interesting thing on prospects and willingness to give them up: the Cardinals gave up their #2, #3, and #4 prospects according to Baseball America in Wallace, Todd, and Perez this year.
Can you imagine the outcry if we traded Samardzija, Cashner, and Castillo? (I didn't include Dae-Eun Rhee because the last I read he had Tommy John surgery and no one knows how he will bounce back yet)
I understand they got Matt Holliday, but if he's just a rental..seems steep.
Hart I don't mind giving up, I was never sold he would be in the long term plans. I was a little partial to Ascanio, but I'm not overly pissed about it.
Things that struck me since the beginning of the year: many thought Guzman would never really live up to his potential. I'm not sure he has lived up to the hype he once had but he has definitely pitched well this year. And Patton now seems like a hindrance at this point in the season. When was the last time he pitched? And when was the last time he pitched when in a meaningful situation?
patton is on the "DL" with a "groin strain"
actually, he's "re-habbing" in AA, where he's been lit up recently, but since he's spent enough time on the 25-man roster this year, he can essentially find his way to the 60 day DL (which is looking likely at this point even though he's "rehabbing")
Ahh yes, I forgot that is where we shipped him, my mistake.
Does anyone know if Dae-Eun Rhee is going to be able to do Fall League or is otherwise on schedule?
last I heard, Rhee's recovery has been slow...very slow, so I don't know anything other than that, and that he spent time at Extended Spring Training trying to strengthen his arm. The last update I saw was about a month ago, so anything could've transpired recently.
Thanks for the response.
Aaron, do you openly root against the Cubs in hopes of being proven "right"? If Gorzelanny pitches Tuesday will you be more excited if he gets lit up or throws a no hitter? I mean how many trades has Hendry made that have come back to haunt us? Pierre for Nolasco? Yes, DeRosa could but it's still too early to tell. On the contrary he picked up two cornerstones in Lee and Ramirez for nothing. Not to mention Karros and Grudz for Hundley and Garciaparra for nothing. All these "above mediocre prospects" like Hart, Ascanio, and Ceda were obtained for Freddy Bynum, Omar Infante and Todd Walker so what's that say about the other GM's? We can debate signings all day and "non-trades" but as far as actually trades are concerned I think Hendry has come out ahead. I just don't understand why you enjoy being negative all the day. You seem to have good baseball insight but you always look for the negatives instead of postives. We all follow the site because we love the Cubs, even if we don't agree with everything they do we're still gonna love them so sit back, drink a beer and enjoy the ride.
Did you guys see what Boston did"
1) Acquire Adam LaRoche from Pittsburg
2) Acquire Victor Martinez
3) Trade LaRoche to Atlanta straight up
for Casey Kotchman.
(LaRoche 2.48 BA/Kotchman .284 plus Martinez...pretty slick.
Yup...difference is Epstein actually knows how to hold the line on their very good prospects, while getting the most out of trades for spare parts. That's the difference of 2 Championships in 5 years versus none in 101 for the Cubs
Good upper management=good results on the field. Don't believe it? Look how Dallas Green improved the Cubs in 1984. Look how Dombrowski turned around the Marlins, and then the Tigers in short order. Look how Pat Gillick turned around the fortunes of the Blue Jays, Orioles (who hadn't won much of anything prior to his arrival), the Mariners, and then the Phillies.
Look how Kenny Williams bold moves put the White Sox over the hump. Look how Walt Jocketty turned around the Cardinals fortunes after his arrival. We just don't have that with Hendry. Aside from his heists getting ARAM and Lofton, and Karros and Grudz, he's done nothing to speak of since then. He doesn't know how to make shrewd moves because he simply isn't near creative enough to pull them off.
Aaron...it's a dead horse issue...I for one am looking forward to Rickett's ownership and a NEW management.
Hendry may have one or 2 low level August
deals in him...(a bat/an injury?)...but we might have just seen his final salvo...Either way, we are on the cusp
of change....let's hope it is a good one.
mlbtraderumors.com is reporting a tweet
from SI (Heymann) that Peavy has been traded to the White Sox again...no ther info.
Bruce Levine is reporting Jake Peavy was traded to the South Side again. The deal is going through, Levine is on ESPN 1000 right now.
Deal has been made.
I will update if deal is approved by Peavy.
SI.com quoted his agent that said the deal was approved.
This is about the most amazing bunch of complaints i've ever heard in my entire life. This team is in first place down the stretch for the third year in a row. The same team that lived in the cellar every single year outside of 2003. I can't imagine having to be a Cubs fan like many of you are. I want to enjoy baseball and cheer on the team that we put on the field. For some reason Kevin Hart has magically become the next ace of the staff. I'm ok with trading a struggling guy that we acquired as a player to be named later as well as two minor league players. Who cares how "live" Ascanio's arm is. He isn't helping us by pitching in the minors, and if he was the answer, then he would've been called up instead of the 5-10 other pitchers that have been in the last month. Give me a break and quit crying for 5 minutes. Go Cubs!!
if their anger on CCO translates into real life then most of them will probably have a heart attack or stroke before they hit 45.. it's quite sad really.. they're only killing themselves ;(
I have to tell you...I like Kenny Williams...not always right...but bold in his moves.
Peavy approved, he is officially a Southsider. Not back until September.
This again proves the insignificance of the no-trade clause people whine so much about. In the end, the player accepts more times than not.
Really Paul K? You really wanna go there? Pretty sure this deal was held up since December from happening because Peavy only wanted to come to the Cubs or the Dodgers. Pretty sure Lee wasn't moved in the offseason because he refused to waive his no-trade. Pretty sure Boston didn't get Brian Giles last year because he refused to waive his no-trade.
Really? No-trades insignificant? Hardly
Apparently you have a skewed view of the term significant.
Sure, there are a few exceptions. Please do your research and find the amount of trades approved and not approved, then get back to me.
Spent the day at the Seniors U. S. Open. An amateur, Tim Jackson leads the likes of Norman, Langer, Sindelar and Watson as the 2nd round is now ending. How refreshing that everyone waits at least until the first nine are played before making their "final" predictions.
It's seems different here. Fates are decided before a single inning is pitched and the hauntings of the trade "victims" are upon us before the guys are fitted for their new uniforms. It may be about time for another round of differentiating "what you think" and "what you know." Don't worry. This is just a reminder that we need a couple of games (at least) before we bury more dead.