With the Ricketts Family finally taking control of the Chicago Cubs last week, "Movin' Milton" gained a lot of momentum on Saturday. As first reported by Bruce Levine last Tuesday, the Cubs and Toronto have had discussions about possible trades ... and according to Levine two of the names that have been discussed are Milton Bradley and Vernon Wells.
A report on Saturday morning from the Toronto Sun indicated the Milton Bradley-for-Vernon Wells rumors "has legs" according to a source they spoke with inside the Cubs organization. The Cubs vehemently denied the report in the Toronto Sun according to Bruce Levine.
The Cubs organizational meetings get underway this week in Mesa with the GM Meetings in Chicago scheduled for November 9 - 11. The next several weeks and months figure to be filled with Milton Bradley rumors.
Here's the latest from the mill on the first day of November ...
Milton Bradley
The Toronto Sun reported the Cubs' idea "is to split the difference on monies owed - Wells' $107 million and Bradley's $21 million for a difference of $86 million. Each team absorbs $43 million." In other words, the Cubs would get Vernon Wells until the end of the 2014 season for $43 million.
The Toronto Sun doubts the Blue Jays would take on Bradley.
"While they have given players a second chance over the years, they haven't been big on taking on players who have had trouble with numerous teams."
The Sun said the Cubs "have to deal Bradley" and mention other possible trade partners with Jim Hendry for Bradley ... The Giants and either Barry Zito or Aaron Rowand, the Indians for Travis Haffner, the Dodgers for Juan Pierre and the Rays for Pat Burrell.
The only possibility in the list that would help the Cubs ... Aaron Rowand.
Bruce Levine reported the Cubs denied the Bradley for Wells trade talks. Levine stuck to his reports that the Cubs and Blue Jays have "had discussions about different scenarios." Levine said it would be hard for the Cubs to take on Wells' contract considering it is looking like the Cubs' payroll for 2010 will be roughly the same as 2009.
Levine indicated "more realistic opportunities to trade Bradley still exist in Tampa, with a possible trade for Pat Burrell, or possible scenarios with the Texas Rangers or the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Gary Matthews Jr. of the Angels is a name which has been speculated about in media reports over the last couple of days."
Gary Matthews, Jr. for Milton Bradley would be a swap of money but many do not feel Mike Scioscia would welcome Bradley to the Angels.
Buster Olney mentioned a few possible destinations for Milton Bradley Saturday morning before the report from Toronto surfaced.
- Carlos Silva and the Mariners. Silva is owed two years and $23 million and the executive Olney spoke with thought that made sense for both sides. "It would be dead money for dead money." Silva has been a bust in Seattle ... 1-3 in eight games, six starts, a year ago with a 8.60 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP, in 2008 Silva posted a 4-15 record in 28 starts with a 6.46 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. For his career, 60-64 with a 4.72 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP ... the right-hander will turn 31 on April 23.
- Derek Lowe and the Braves ... Bobby Cox and Milton Bradley do not figure to be a match but Lowe and the three years and $45 million could be a fit for the Cubs.
- Olney mentioned Gary Matthews, Jr.
- Carlos Lee and the Astros ... Where does the Cub killer fit?
- Barry Zito and Aaron Rowand of the Giants
- Oliver Perez and the Mets ... Milton in New York?
- Dontrelle Wills and the Tigers
- Scott Linebrink and the White Sox
- Pat Burrell and the Rays
Carrie Muskat stated, "the only thing certain is the Cubs plan on moving Bradley, despite hiring his former hitting coach, Rudy Jaramillo." Muskat mentioned Gary Matthews, Jr. as a possible swap with the Cubs for Bradley.
Crane Kenney on Talkin' Baseball
Crane Kenney, the Cubs' newly appointed team President, joined Bruce Levine and Jonathan Hood for two segments on Talkin' Baseball Saturday morning.
Kenney started off by saying how excited everyone in the Cubs' organization is that the Ricketts Family is finally in charge. Kenney talked about his new title of Team President and reminded Bruce Levine that the Cubs have not had a team president since John McDonough stepped down two years ago.
Crane Kenney will be in charge of the day-to-day operations of the team and Jim Hendry will report to him. Kenney said he relies on his baseball people (Jim Hendry, Randy Bush and Oneri Fleita) to make the right decisions.
Kenny said all of the disappointment in last season made them feel like they won only 40 games. Three years over .500 is a good accomplishment that no one is content with achieving, they expected more. Kenney admitted he was reminded the three straight years of winning baseball is the first time in 70 years that the organization has accomplished the feat.
Kenny added, "If we keep getting into the playoffs, one day we will win it."
The Cubs have spoken to Bob DuPuy about hosting the 2014 All-Star game ... which would be the first Mid-Summer Classic on the North Side since 1990. Kenney said Major League Baseball was open-minded to the idea despite the fact 2014 would be the year an American League city was due to host the event. MLB recognizes the importance of the 100th birthday of Wrigley Field. Kenney stated the conversation between MLB and the Cubs are not past the initial stage at this point.
Some parts of the Cubs' philosophy will change now that the Ricketts Family owns the Cubs according to Crane Kenney.
The Cubs' President spoke briefly about the Cubs' farm systems and the crop of prospects they have coming up. Starlin Castro, Andrew Cashner and Josh Vitters are playing good ball in the Arizona Fall League. Kenney spoke about the good job Ryne Sandberg has done in Tennessee and admitted there is a lot of depth in the Cubs' organization from Double-A down.
"The future of the Cubs is coming through Tennessee."
Kenney briefly talked about the Cubs' off-season and said they would receive more direction next week at the organization meetings. Jim Hendry will have to be creative this winter and Kenney said (and Bruce Levine agreed) that Jim would be at the top of creativity among GMs around the league.
The Cubs are expecting players that did not perform last season to bounce back in 2010. Kenney said they scored 148 less runs in 2009 than in 2008, which accounts for 10-15 wins ... if they win 10 more games they are in the playoffs.
The Cubs have looked at the Red Sox business model and must find ways to generate revenue outside of just raising ticket prices. Crane Kenney used the concerts at Wrigley as well as the Winter Classic as examples of how the Cubs can generate revenue that is not shared with the league.
Tom Ricketts is going to hold people accountable in the organization. Kenney said they will be given resources from the Ricketts Family to do their job and if they fail they should lose their job. Jim Hendry is very excited about Tom Ricketts owning the team and Kenney admitted he has not seen Hendry this excited before.
Crane Kenney finished his time on Talkin' Baseball by saying, "I would say buckle up. We have a lot to do. Will be a lot of change in the next three to four years that hopefully includes a championship."
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Well, that's the latest ... and I'm sticking to it!
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NO WAY! BRING CARLOS LEE (RF) HERE NOW!
Sign O-Cab for short and move Theriot to 2B
Kosuke Fukudome
Ryan Theriot
Derrek Lee
Aramis Ramirez
Carlos Lee
Alfonso Soriano
Geovany Soto
Orlando Cabrera
Pitcher
Are you F"in kidding...would be the greatest lineup ever...obviously this wont happen but you gotta assume a bounceback to a .265-.275 30 HRs from a healthy Soriano and prolly a .270+ 20+ HRs from Soto...
if there was a way to pull this off i would go insane
Otherwise...do everything possible for Lowe
I rank the options from best to worst like this:
1. Carlos Lee
2. Derek Lowe
3. Aaron Rowand
4. Barry Zito
5. Pat Burrell
6. Vernon Wells
7. Oliver Perez
8. Gary Matthews Jr.
Also i think if we could find a way to snag Luis Castillo it would not be as bad as some think.
Well, the organization is forming a structure. As disappointing as last year was, I am glad that Kenney and Hendry are be given the oppurtunity to fix the mess that they created. I like that Hendry has to be creative in order to fix this. The FA market is thin and Hendry will be better off by making trades.
For those of you interested, here is the link to JimK's obit:
http://www2.indystar.com/cgi-bin/obituaries/index.php?action=show&id=109752
There seems to be a technical difficulty
in getting through to the Indianapolis Star this am. The link is correct. Try again later if you can't get through.
Actually, I made a mistake...JimK's obit should be in the community blog section.
give me a few minutes to post it there.
And then if you would be kind enough to
leave any comments re Jim K...in the community section. Will have this up in a few minutes,
Back to baseball, I really don't like how this is shaping up....Not one change under Rickett's so far.
Jim Hendry does not have a good track record at being "creative".
If Hendry is not careful...trading Milton
might hurt the Cubs more than help.
He's got to look at expanded multiplayer
deals instead of just bad contract for bad contract. It appears that the periphial players in a multiplayer deal for Milton...might actually be the key
to the Cubs getting better.
I hope the Ricketts come to their senses
and replace Kenney with a baseball guy in the near future.
If they really want to emulate Boston's success...they have to put more emphasis
on statistical analysis re player evaluation...ala Bill James/Theo Epstein's model....Hendry is a handshake and gut guy...not statistics oriented when evaluting talent...(age etc).
Maybe they could make Hendry president
and bring in a GM that fits Boston's model better. Or viceversa.
Suzy:
Ricketts is being fair and he is going to give Hendry the chance to fix what he broke last offseason. No one knows the roster better than Hendry.
I agree with you on multi player trades. I bet that Milton Bradley plus player(s)
will be traded for another bad contract and someone of significance.
Todd Hundley was traded for Mark Grudzielanak. Eric Karros was thrown in to off set the money. We got Grudz, because the LA G.M. hated him and wanted him out of LA.
Jim (TP), I'm a little worried about this new regime like Suzy is, given the news conference and responses by the Ricketts.
I have a feeling that they are more concerned about the business side of things than they are about baseball. I realize no MLB franchise is not-for-profit, so I can't fault them for wanting to make money, but at the same time, the Red Sox were thrown about in their conversations as a model they'd like to follow. Do they realize that the Red Sox spent a LOT of money to win the World Series, having, I believe the 2nd highest payroll at the time they first won it. Then, all the significant upgrades they made to the ballpark cost a pretty penny too. Given Tom Ricketts' response to questions regarding payroll and stadium upgrades, it sure seems that they're going to operate at a snail's pace here, and basically "stick it" to Hendry for his awful personnel decisions, and let everyone know that they gave him a chance to turn it around, and he couldn't (in all likelihood), so next year they'll be able to fire him with cause (even though they have it right in front of them right now).
Here's the biggest problem I have with all of this. Kenney and Hendry are morons, and that has already been established by their track records. Why hold onto them if you really wanted to win right now?!? Furthermore, Hendry even described himself as lacking creativity. If I were an owner, and saw that, I'd fire him IMMEDIATELY. I mean, saying something like that is almost admitting defeat before even trying.
We all know the moves we need to make. We have to get more versatile, more powerful, and more speed on this team (both foot speed and velocity).
We know the names that almost certainly need to come up in trade/FA conversations, and yet we also know that we're more likely to win the Powerball than Hendry making the right moves.
Guys like BJ Upton, Crawford, Dunn, EY Jr., Billy Wagner, Felipe Lopez, Josh Fields, etc. all make a tremendous amount of sense for us, but I would venture a guess that Hendry won't land a single one of them, nor will he even try to land them, because in his infinite wisdom, he's delusional enough (and so is Kenney) that our roster full of 30-somethings can all of a sudden turn their performances from last year around. About the only thing I have to say about that is that will most certainly happen...Here's what I mean...
Derrek Lee will regress exponentially on his performance from last year (yet another career year type of performance for him). So, technically they're right....LOL
But in all seriousness, about the only guys you can expect anything "more" out of are Fox, Hoffpauir, Soto, Fuld, and Baker...because they're young enough.
I'm frustrated by Hendry and Kenney getting a free pass. It's absolutely ludicrous that they're given that, because they had $140 million to make it work, and failed miserably. Isn't that enough of a sample to go off of? Why put us in a position where a self-proclaimed, non-creative GM has to make creative moves to win it.
Aaron: I think a lot of us are frustrated over Hendry et al, and would have felt vindicated if Ricketts' first move was to fire Hendry.
A couple thoughts:
1. As you point out, and I think it is accurate, giving Hendry/Kenney one more year with the team they've assembled (dis-assembled) will give the family just cause for firing them if (when) they don't win a pennant in 2010.
(Kenney's incredibly low bar for success - three seasons over .500, and this theory that "if you keep making the playoffs, eventually you'll win" is less than stoopid and enough to warrant firing him, imo)
2. While it is highly unlikely, they still could fire Hendry, I mean, you didn't expect his first press conference to be an announcement re: terminating the entire management of the team did you?
3. I don't think they've said enough to pass judgement on whether they are willing to spend more to win and who the value winning vs. profiteering.
Stadium improvements are really quite important right now. Right or wrong, most people in the organization still believe they have the players to win (based on 2008) and so, let's just hope that we are right, and this is Hendy's last chance to fix whats broke and leave the rest alone...and then he's gone (because we know it isn't in his bag of tricks to do it right).
Aaron, the other side of the coin is we're going into the critical part of the offseason...If Ricketts were to fire
Hendry and Kenney now...without having their replacements already in hand...it would be a mess.
If they were going to do that...they would've already had their duck's in a row coming in...and they didn't.
So I'll give them the benedit of the doubt right now...with full expectations
that both Kenney and JH will not be in their current positions by next fall...
Unless the unlikely happens and we do win the World Series...but that's not happening this year.
Agree...Hendry creative? excuse me while I roll on the floor laughing. He is as blunt as an air hammer and has acheived most of the playoff success with a style akin to killing misquitos with a shotgun.
Crane with all due respect, you lost me when you pulled the unfathomable stunt with the holy water so I consider you to be... well, let's just say less than a serious authority on anything baseball...and BTW you have a $140mm salary in a division where your competitors spend a fraction of what you do so you should be winning every year...it is insulting to say fans ought to remember the record of accomplishment. It has been a mediocre performance at best and the teams on the field are sloppy, poorly disciplined, unsound, and unbalanced with emotionally unstable core investments...how about not making us gulp every time a routine fly ball goes to left or cringe at taking a pitcher off the hook by swinging at unhittable pitches 6 inches off the plate or fidget as we grabb for the worry beads at the start of the ninth inning with a one run lead...even with a winning record painfully difficult to watch.
Aaron:
I would love to see the team get younger and better. If Hendry can't do that then he will be gone. Ricketts seems to love Kenney and his ideas and it seems like they have more confidence in him.
Back the Bradley - Wells rumor for a minute...the Cubs idea to split the difference and thus each team taking on the other's cast-off and $43 million sound like the kind of "bargain" Hendry would love right now. I can hear him playing up Wells' past accolades and saying we get this All-Star for 6 years at ONLY $43million - "only" $7mil per - Wow! What a crappy deal! On the other side of the deal, who in their right mind would pay Milton Bradley $43 million or $21.5 million per year for 2 years!!! That's Manny Ramirez $$. Whoever the new GM in Toronto will be surely would not make that his first marquee deal.
This whole rumor is ridiculous.
It is interesting to note that Ricketts likes the Boston Red Sox model. And where will the Red Sox have a new world class spring training complex? Right here in FL. I can see a world class spring training complex to match or be better than the Red Sox in FL for the Cubs. With Daytona Cubs (High class A) and Tennessee in the south, just makes sense to have a top spring training site in FL. Don't be surprised if Ricketts and Crane Kenney have already talked with John Henry about spring training in FL.
B.J. Upton strikes out to much. I will trade Bradley and cash to the Rays for Carl Crawford. Second order of business offer Rich Harden arbitration or thy to resign him. I do not trust our starting rotation. Dempster and Zambrano is to inconsistent. Gorzelanny is horrible and the Shark need a full year in the triple A rotation to develop "properly". Third order of business after Guzman and Marmol who are we going to use in the seventh inning.Heilman is a bust and we ll know that we do not want to see Kevin Gregg again.