The GM Meetings began on Monday with a flurry of rumors ... and little to no action as predicted. The GMs spent Monday night at dinner and in private one-on-one meetings. Tuesday will be filled with talks centering around the game and instant replay at the O'Hare Hilton ... the annual gathering concludes around noon on Wednesday.
The games might be over for the winter, but baseball's busy season is gearing up. Here is the latest from the mill including updates on Milton Bradley, Rich Harden, Carlos Zambrano and Elias Rankings ...
So which area should Jim Hendry be focused on? A bullpen arm, a starting pitcher, a leadoff man, a centerfielder or a veteran middle infielder ...
Milton Bradley
Until Jim Hendry is able to move Milton Bradley he will dominate the headlines and the rumor mill. In bullet point format, the newest episode from 'Moving Milton'
- Lee Hamilton (XM Radio) reported on Saturday that the Cubs have talked to the Rangers about a Brandon McCarthy for Milton Bradley swap.
- According to a report from Bruce Miles, Jim Hendry has had "talks with three or four other teams about Milton Bradley in this last 12 or 13 days, but nothing is close yet."
- The Cubs will not be releasing Milton Bradley according to Bruce Miles
- Bruce Levine reported, "The Cubs' main objective in the offseason is to improve the talent on the field and the character in the clubhouse. Both moves could be accomplished with a trade of Milton Bradley."
- The Cubs have talked to the Blue Jays, the Angels, the Rangers and the Mets about Bradley according to Bruce Levine.
- Bruce Levine reported on Saturday that Hendry is hoping to move Bradley in the next 30-45 days; on Monday Levine altered his timeline significantly. Levine thinks Hendry is hoping to move Milton during the GM Meetings ...
- Jim Hendry has spoken with Milton Bradley's agent since he suspended Bradley ... but not Milton.
- Jerry Crasnick from ESPN asked eight questions to baseball executives. Number eight, which player would be more difficult to trade, Milton Bradley or Vernon Wells ... Wells "won" by a 20-0 mark. Wells' contract could be the worst in the history of baseball.
- ESPN tossed out an idea on Monday ... a Bobby Jenks for Milton Bradley swap. Jenks would help the Cubs pen and Bradley could play a little right field and DH on other days. What would the Crosstown Classic be like next season?
The biggest noise made on Monday from the Bradley rumor front was the report about a possible three-way deal involving the Mets and Blue Jays from Ken Rosenthal.
Jim Bowden joined Joe Castellano (XM Radio) and briefly discussed the possibility of the three-team trade. Bowden reiterated what Rosenthal reported that Alex Anthropolous would not want Milton Bradley to be the first trade he made as the Blue Jays new GM.
The most interesting tidbit from Rosenthal's report:
"The Cubs intend to move Bradley, and are willing to assume a chunk of the $21 million remaining on his contract. But they believe that there is enough interest in Bradley for them to avoid paying the vast sum that many outsiders project will be necessary to complete a deal."
Bruce Levine confirmed the Cubs have spoken with the Mets about a trade that would send Bradley to the Mets for Luis Castillo ... and Mr. Talkin' Baseball said the proposed three-team trade has "some validity to it."
Paul Sullivan reported the Blue Jays "want no part of Bradley" and shot down Ken Rosenthal's report.
Billy Williams said he's not ready to "give up on Milton Bradley"
Carlos Zambrano
Some have speculated the Cubs will listen to offers for Carlos Zambrano this winter. Bruce Miles ran into Zambrano's agent, Barry Praver, at the GM meetings on Monday and asked about Zambrano. Praver told Miles, "The Cubs and Big Z have not discussed Big Z waiving his no-trade clause." Praver described the Zambrano trade rumors as a "non-story." From Miles, "In other words, the Cubs are not trading Zambrano this winter."
Chone Figgins
According to a report from Bruce Miles, Chone Figgins doesn't look like "a monetary fit for either team in Chicago."
Other Rumors
- The agent for John Grabow "will talk to the Cubs about hammering out a two-year deal."
- The Cubs are looking to add a veteran middle infielder on a short-term basis with Starlin Castro in the wings.
- Rich Harden and Kevin Gregg will not be back.
- The Cubs would like Reed Johnson back but he is seeking a multi-year deal (in the two-year, $6 million range) and it appears the Cubs will let him walk.
- Rich Harden is one of the ten riskiest free agents this winter according to SI.com
- Jim Hendry and Randy Bush hope "to meet with five or six teams and figure to look more to trades than free agents this winter."
- The Cubs are close to a two-year deal with John Grabow worth more than $3 million a year according to the Sun-Times
- According to a report from the Tribune, Rich Harden is hoping to return to the Cubs and his agent (Arn Tellem) is in Chicago and plans to meet with Jim Hendry soon.
Elias Rankings
The annual Elias Rankings were officially released on Monday. The rankings determine what type of compensation teams could receive for losing players in free agency.
Link to complete list from Fanhouse
Cubs' Free Agent Rankings:
- John Grabow - Type A
- Kevin Gregg - Type A
- Rich Harden - Type B
- Reed Johnson - Not Ranked
- Chad Fox - Not Ranked
If a team loses a 'Type A' free agent they receive a first round pick, unless that pick is in the top 15, then it goes from a first round to a second round pick and a sandwich pick (round in between the first and second rounds).
If a team loses a 'Type B' free agent they receive a sandwich pick, as compensation but the current team must offer arbitration to the player by the December 1 deadline.
Jim Hendry on Milton Bradley
"He's still with us. He's on our roster, and that's how you have to go into the offseason."
"A lot of people have had worse exits at the end of the year than that and they return. There will be a lot of things that change personnel-wise over the winter, I'm sure, and the goal is to do the best we can to put a good club on the field by Spring Training. Until people aren't here, as a general manager, I approach it like they are here."
Parting Words from the Cubs' GM:
"We were very pleased with the way the organization meetings went. We had a chance to meet the Ricketts family, and we feel they are going to be tremendous owners for the city of Chicago. Randy and I are working to make the club better, and maybe we can start some of that dialogue this week."
Starlin Castro's Batting Practice and Warm-up from the Rising Stars Game Saturday
Random Cub of the Day
Today's random Cub comes courtesy of Joe S in San Diego ... Porfi Altamirano
This sidearm throwing reliever was involved in the trade that set the table for the Cubs magical 1984 season. On March 26, 1984 Altamirano, along with Bobby Dernier and Gary Matthews came to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Bill Campbell and Mike Diaz.
Altamirano pitched the 1982 and 1983 seasons with the Phillies and appeared in a combined 60 games. With the Cubs in 1984 he appeard in just 5 games and was traded at the end of the season to the New York Yankees along with Rich Bordi, Henry Cotto and Ron Hassey for Ray Fontenot and Brian Dayett.
Porfi Altamirano's Page from The Baseball Cube
Follow the CCO on Twitter ...
A quick reminder to check the CCO's Community Blog ... excellent posts and different opinions from the Faithful.
If you don't have an account on the CCO ... sign-up for one to share your thoughts and interact with the rest of the Faithful.
Well, that's the latest ... and I'm sticking to it!
Subscribe
"According to a report from the Tribune, Rich Harden is hoping to return to the Cubs and his agent (Arn Tellem) is in Chicago and plans to meet with Jim Hendry soon."
I would absolutely love Rich back if he were to give the Cubs a break. The Cubs protected his arm this season (to mixed results) but its rare that you can find a guy with his talent.
If Rich can't get a megadeal, I'd kill to have him for a one year, minimal risk, incentive laden deal, especially with Lilly an uncertain all of a sudden.
Matt, on the basis od a one year,
incentive laden contract...I agree with you...The Cubs would be foolish not to
take that...But at the same time...you can't count on him being healthy...a fully healthy season by Harden would be something to see.
From Jon Heyman:
"Some of these Milton Bradley rumors are wild, but he has to go somewhere. Word is, many of the Cubs stars won't even talk to him."
Neil, if it were not for that aspect of it...I'd say keep him and forget about the other poor "bad contract" scenarios.
The fact is...the guy really needs true
mental therapy...for someone to be that maladjusted with every advantage in the world...screams "Help."
That being said...I don't see how the Cubs ever put him on the field in "Cubbie Blue" again.
Suzy...Heyman 'tweeted' something similar just a while ago.
Jon Heyman on the SCORE 8:30am:
"Texas makes the most sense for Milton...He had success there...only one
mild blowup (good for him says Heyman)...and the Rangers may lose Marlon Byrd to free agency."
The Cubs will have to pick up a substantial portion of his salary.
The Rangers had a 1 year $6 mil offer on the table when Chicago swooped in with it's 30 mil offer last year.
The Rangers have no bad contracts to trade.
Somehow, someway...maybe here is where we could get Davis or Moreland.
The Rangers do have Millwood who makes 12 million in 2010 is a bad contract kind of.
Waldo, Just read Bruce Levine in the Trib...He said if Bradley goes to Texas...it would be Millwood coming back...the sticking point is still...how much would the Cubs eat?
Here's a link ...
http://espn.go.com/chicago/columns/blog/_/post/4641371/name/levine
Also mentions long talks with the Rays
I like seeing Brandon McCarthy's name mentioned in reference to the Cubs. As far as I know he is a good young SP. But yes if we can add a Chris Davis to this deal, please make it happen.
What would it take for a Bradley...Fill in the blanks
For a McCarthy/Davis package??? But where would Davis Play??? As far as I know he is a 1B. We have DLee...He can also play OF, in RF??? Where does Fuky go???
I am also liking the sounds of Crawford's name. I think Soto, Fontentot + pitching can get us there too.
Make then a supplemental trade with what you have left to get EY Jr and you just got cheaper, younger, faster, and filled all the above needs...
SP-McCarthy
OF-Crawford/Davis
IF-EY
and most importantly losing Milt.
At this point I know this is dreaming, but my faith would start to be restored if the above mentioned occured.
How about Bradley, Fontenot, and Heilman/Marshall/Samardzija plus some cash for Moreland or Smoak and Kinsler?
They get Bradley back replacement for Kinsler and a back end starting pitcher. We get a potential replacement for Lee and instant upgrades in the clubhouse and the Sandberg type second baseman.
Also, Hendry when asked about his infield
said he loves Theriot and expects both Miles and Fontenot to bounce back.
We don't enough talent to land even one of Smoak, Kinsler and Davis, let alone two of them. Bradley, Fontenot, Heilman, Marshall, Shark and cash in a package wouldn't be enough for any of them ... that package might be enough to acquire Moreland alone (if you threw in a ton of cash to pay for most of Bradley's salary and a portion of Shark's). Fontenot and Heilman have zero trade value right now.
Bradley for Millwood would be a decent deal.
Miles has always been horrible. Mike Fontenot I was just exposed. I say we keep Milton Bradley unless we can get someone like Carl Crawford. I say we gave Harden a one year contract and a option for a second year depending on how much starts he makes.
It always comes back to: "where does Fukudome go" or Soriano's 5 years left. So frustrating because there a lot of potential OF upgrades available through trades. But the Cubs have no room for anymore corner OFers...hell, they have a couple young ones on the roster already that didn't get to play last year! I'd love Crawford, but he is a Left fielder. I'm sure by talent along he could get by in CF, but it is not his natural position.
I wonder what the hell Hendry thinks Fontenot is going to "bounce back" to? Being a decent bench player? Fine. He never proved he can do anything for an entire season, so that is just Hendry paying lip service. No way are they planning on going into the season with Fontenot and Theriot up the middle again.
I agree. Hendry really did a nice job hamstringing us....But there is a glimmer of hope.
The sticking point with Bradley is the amount of $$$ as we all know.
Rosenthal, in his Foxsports blog suggests
Bradley could restructure his deal deferring some of the money due to facilitate a trade out of Chicago....and
thought he was likely to do it.
I can't see us putting Soriano out there another 5 years straight...and wondered about some creative restucturing last summer. I was told it wasn't done.
But if it can happen with Bradley...it can happen with Soriano...on a much larger scale of course...
Re Fontenot and Miles...what else is he going to say publicly? If he wants to trade them somewhere...he can't very well say they suck.
I dont honestly believe Hendry has any plan of using a Fontenot/Miles platoon at 2nd base but come on guys....he cant flat out say 'these guys suck' he has to be politically correct and as long as they are Cubs he will be 'confident that theyll bounce back' Lets think on a deeper level...
Its like players saying 'we just didnt play our best today' when you know in their head they know exactly who and what got messed up but wont say it outloud.
Not to mention the fact that if Hendry has any intentions of trading Fontenot in a package hes gonna continue to talk him up...
OK. I feel like a silly fantasy proposal.
The Mariners have a lot of pieces that I think could help the Cubs. Rumor has it they could move Felix because they probably won't be able to afford him. I love Jose Lopez at 2B. He isn't fast and not special with the glove, but young (24-25) and that kid can hit and doesn't K. Jack Wilson has an 8.4M$ option that could be considered "bad". Carlos Silva is owed 11.5M$ in 2010-11 with a 12M$ option for 012. That is bad enough to swap for Milton and maybe GET some $$. Sure he's a bum, but a #5 sinker baller?
Bill Hall is owed 8.5M$ next year with a 2011 option, backs up Aramis, Soriano, and didn't he even play CF in Mil-town?
I'd take any mix of those players with Felix and Lopez the obviously desirable parts. Silva only as a swap of bad contracts with you know who. I think Seattle would actually be a nice place for Milt to play, he could DH, it's a large gap-hitter friendly park and the atmosphere is so laid back no one would bother him. Griffey might have a nice effect on him too. Dome would be very comfortable there playing with Ichiro and there a lot of Japanese fans as well as media. Then toss in any combo of Theriot/Fontenot et al to replace Wilson/Lopez whatever. The Cubs could re-sign Harden then ship him over too, he'd be close to home and help replace Felix, or package some young arms.
There are a lot of completely crazy options here!
They are talking multi year extension with Jack Wilson...so take him off the list. Their desire to move Felix is questionable...both the Red Sox and Yankees poked around that deal last summer...and lately their GM said they are not interested in dealing him...BUT...that could be posturing.
I really think that might be a likely destination for Fuko after we take care of Bradley...but Fuko is a bigger contract to deal with (26 mil over 2 years)...so it is probable we won't be able to entertain moving him until the trade deadline next summer at the earliest.
Any of the rest of it is fine...I like it...But for the record...of the rumors
I've heard...I like Millwood for Bradley
and we pay 5mil each season of Bradley's contract...It's reported Texas would want us to pick up 15 mil...but throw in a prospect or 2 to get it done.
Millwood has decent #'s in a notorious
hitters park....and we;d have the choice of adding him to the rotation or trading him for need...12 mil is not bad for a GOOD SP.
Not to change the subject, but does anyone else have a problem with the adds always showing up on top of the comments left to an article. I can only read the first 8-10 comments and then the right side of everyone's comments is covered up by adds.
I'm on IE8 and have no problems CubsfaninBama.
You could be on IE6. I have checked IE7, IE8, Firefox and Safari, everything is fine on my end.
Let me know.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
Thanks Neil and Suzy. I'm on IE6...I'm probably going to have to upgrade. I just hate upgrading sometimes because I like this setup.
Works fine on Google Chrome too. If you are upgrading from IE6 I highly recommend it. They minimized alot of the bulk that IE uses to speed up the internet. Its fantastic.
I just upgraded to IE8 and everything works fine now. Thanks to all!
Folks, here's a question dealing with Bradley and conventional wisdom:
In real estate, in a fixed number of properties in one prime or even secondary area like MLB, the seller should best wait. With cars, the buyer should best wait.
With baseball trades, should the seller wait? I don't know the answer. But I'm trying to learn from past cases as well.
On top of my head: The 2007 Johan Santana trade was coined by many as "a hand overplayed," and the mainstream bunch jumped on that boat saying the Twins waited too long; that they should have jumped on the first offer, whatever that was. I don't know. I had doubts back then that the only contenders other than Mets--BoSox, the Yanks--never offered a real good package of prospects. I still have doubts now, but I don't know.
With Bradley, it's a similar case that baseball knows JHendry needs to deal him away. The question then, again, is which approach is the best? Wait and listen to all deals? Or get it done as quickly as possible, for there can never be a better deal as we march to spring training?