Wow, busy day...

I love Fox but Lou won't play him...so we might as well trade him....BUT...don't give him away JH...get someone decent in return.

If we do trade Fox...I'd still like to see the Cubs resign Brad Snyder in his place...AND GIVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY.

Next up is Hoffpauir...another bench languisher in Lou's eyes...package him

with an arm for Davis (1rst base)AAA Moreland (OF) AAA.

And we're set for DLEE's replacement or

FUKO/Bradley...late 2010/early 2011 arrival dates.

For the record, I'm with cloycub in the

"DO IT RIGHT CAMP".

Glad Saito's gone. One less chance of a mistake.

-Melloman...are you and Aaron brothers?

Sorry...Dunn cannot be in the same outfield with Soriano...and that's a fact.

If you can arrange a new team for Soriano...then you can have Dunn....

Someone has to catch the ball somewhere.

-- The Phillies signed Placido Polanco to a three-year, $18 million contract on Thursday.

The contract with the two-time Gold Glove second baseman, who will move to third base, includes a fourth-year mutual option.

Polanco, who played for Philadelphia from 2002-05, will replace Pedro Feliz, who is a free agent and is expected to sign elsewhere.

"We're very happy to have Placido back in a Phillies uniform," said Amaro. "He's a professional hitter who will enhance our lineup. As a Gold Glove infielder, we're very confident that he will make a smooth transition back to third base. Polly also gives us some added versatility at second base if and when Chase needs a rest."

Polanco, a career .303 hitter, spent the past four-plus seasons playing second base for the Detroit Tigers, who acquired him in a trade with the Phillies in 2005 for relief pitcher Ugueth Urbina and infielder Ramon Martinez.

The Braves signed Takashi Saito to a one-year contract on Thursday worth a reported $3 million. An official announcement will be made during a 4:30 p.m. ET news conference at Turner Field. Saito will serve as a setup man for closer Billy Wagner, whose signing was announced on Wednesday.

The 39-year-old Saito isn't as dominant as he was during the 2006 and '07 seasons, when he combined to notch 63 saves for the Dodgers. But while posting a 2.43 ERA and limiting opponents to a .244 batting average in 56 appearances for the Red Sox this year, the veteran right-hander proved that he can still be an effective middle man.

Question and Answer with Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald on my Cubs blog from right now to about 4:35.

Join us if you have any Cubs questions for Bruce:

www.everythingcubs.blogspot.co...

Thanks,

Cubbiefan07

The problem is Fox is not generally considered to have much, if any, trade value. 27 year old career minor leaguers that can mash at the plate but have some trouble hitting curves, are slow, and are poor defensive players aren't that hard to find. Would he be a nice DH for an AL team ... sure? But not valuable enough that a team would deal much for him. He certainly doesn't make or break a deal for Upton or Granderson that would require multiple highly valued young talents (the often mentioned Marshall, Fox, Fontenot, Hoffpauer, etc do not fit that category).

Make or break no...but sweeten the pot to an AL team, maybe.

Without question, I'd trade Fox to an AL team. You want to deal this guy while his stock is high and the Cubs can get something of potential equal value in return.

Of course, it's unfortunate there's not a place for Fox to play in this lineup...he could very well turn out to be a MLB All Star player. But, with the situation what it is, Fox should go...it just makes the most sense.

Interesting point Beaker. If a team would take Miles together with Fox, it would be a good deal for the Cubs even if the Cubs got nothing in return.

Whoa Whoa Whoa back up the bus. I do not care if you trade Aaron Miles for an empty bottle of spit. But to say that you want to throw in Jake Fox just to make another team take trash off your hands like Miles, and get nothing in return is silly and counterproductive. I am not going to sit here and overvalue Fox. But I will say this...To an AL team that needs a RH thumper at DH and can sub in a pinch at 1B, 3B. LF, RF, and C. That guy has some value! Throw him in a deal that brings back something that the Cubs can use like in a deal for an Upton, or a Granderson(bleck), or a Davis. But do not include him for nothing and just for the purpose of dealing trash... that is not the way to go

Wooohooo MLBTR is reporting that the Braves are nearing a deal for Saito. That's one less overpriced WAY old free agent we can stop being linked to.

I would gladly trade Fox as long as it’s stipulated in the trade that the team acquiring him takes one of the players we don’t wants and eats their contract. I really don’t know why Hendry thinks that the only thing a GM can do is spend to acquire and spend to get rid of, but there are many more things out there. Shipping someone like Miles in a trade with a valuable player may be the only way to not eat a horrible players contract.

Jake Fox is a 27 soon to be 28 year old prospect? Trade him and Hoffpauir while they might still have some resemblance of value. There is a reason that Jake Fox has spent his whole career in the minors...he's not that good.

JH needs to pull a deal for Granderson, and aqcuire a starting pitcher that can give the Cubs 200 innings. I think the offesne will bounce back, my main concern in the starting rotation and the pen.

I like Fox as a pinch hitter and sub at many positions, but if we could trade him for a more valuable piece, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I'd be surprised if a team would trade anything of value for Fox, but if we could deal Fox for a solid 2B (upgrade over Baker) or a high end middle reliever, I'd jump at it. Fox is at his peak value right now (which is still not very high) in the NL (he belongs in the AL as a DH).

It truly appears as if the Chicago Cubs are at a crossroads. The once mighty 97 win team...through awful AWFUL decisions turned into a team that we as fans could barely root for...and now we have a choice....endorse the right way to go about this, or endorse the way that we have gone about this for the recent memory.

The old way--Trade away valued prospects for veterans to fill needs. And throw money at the problem and overpay for undervalued free agents. Thus resulting in a depleted farm system, Albatross contracts, and untradeable pieces. See Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers ETC ETC ETC...

The new way--Develop your farm system from within. Trading valuable veteran pieces that may or may not fit for more valued prospects. Then you incorporate a system... Hit and Runs, 1st-3rd, sac bunts, sac flys, pitchers that throw strikes etc... and you filter that from top to bottom. Your prospects move through playing the same way with the same guys, and if your development staff coordinates with your scouting staff, and you find consistent players that gel they come up together and they cost a whole hell of a lot less. Not too mention the possibility that if you are close, you have a surplus of home grown MLB desirable talent that you can move for that one missing piece of the puzzle. Or you have the funds available to sign that one big free agent. I present for examples, Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles Angels and Dodgers, Colorado, and to an extent the NY Yankees.

Trading Castro, Vitters, Cashner, Jackson whoever for C-Grand is option one.

Let's face it, the Cubs win-now season was 2009. The window was closing on an aging team in 2008. They had Lee, Aram, and the best rotation in the NL on paper. They added their coveted lefty bat who supposedly brought fire to a hapless lackadaisical team, and a back end guy to aid in Marmol's progression.

Oops....The coveted lefty bat could not hit left handed, provided no spark, and definitely added fire... enough of a conflageration to blow up the entire club house. And that back end guy certainly added fuel to any teams offensive comebacks.

And now we see that Hendry wants to move Miles too. So lets recap.... Last seasons acquisitions to make that final push from a 97 win one and done to a world series contender in that itsy bitsy window were

Gregg (free agent)

Miles (looking to trade)

Bradley (Looking to trade)

Viscaino (Released)

Gathright (Traded)

Freel (Traded)

Heillman (Traded)

Case closed. Option one is no longer an option. And to move succesfully to option two, with the intended hope that if you bang on the perverbial playoff door long enough, eventually it will come crashing down, you cannot have Jim Hendry as your GM. And further more you cannot have Lou Piniella as your manager.

Ultimately I am resigned to the fact that this is going to be a year where we cannot get out from JH's messes. They will haunt us this year. But against what many have said I feel the turn around can happen as early as 2011 if JH does not mess it up by going with option one and Ryne Sandberg is the manager.

Bring on Option 2. I am not getting my hopes up for 2010...but if JH does not screw it up I can start to get my hopes up for 2011.

Go baby Cubs go!!!!!!!!!! We need you soon!

Oh man, Hendry better keep Fox, he's a hitting machine. He's also one of our farm guys who developed here. If he gets rid of him, then I am totally on the "HATE HENDRY" bus!

What has kept you off the bus this long????

It seems to me much of the offseason "debate" is whether the Cubs trade Milton? Whether the Cubs trade Jake Fox? Whether the Cubs trade Aaron Miles? Whether the Cubs can sign a CF? Whether Soriano can re-vitalize his career? Whether Fukodome's defense is worth $12m a year? Whether Rameriez can stay healthy? Whether Soto can become the same player he was his ROY year? Whether the Cubs will bite the bullet and move Theriot to 2B and Castro to start the season at SS? Whether to negotiate a 1yr extension with DLee? Whether Zambrano and Dempster are worth the $25m a year we pay them? Whether Gorzolany or Marshall will be able to step in to the #5 spot in the rotation and produce? Whether Wells can repeat his '09 performance? Whether Rudy J can bring a spark to the Cubs offense? Whether Rothschild remains a pitching coach for the entire season? Whether Ricketts will open his checkbook at the trade deadline? Lastly, whether Lou Pinnella shows some intensity this season instead of his "I don't give a crap" attitude!!!!!!!!!

WOW...Almost like playing 20 questions with MLB's 4th highest paid payroll.

Well, let me give my 2 cents worth. Now, this is my opinion only.

The Cubs will win the division. Season record 93-69. 4 games better than the Cardinals. Lee, Rameriez, Soriano, Soto will all hit at least 25 home runs and 85 RBI. Zambrano, Lilly, Dempster, Wells will all win at least 13 games. Marmol will save 35 games this season with 6 blown saves (stuff happens!!!) Our newest newcomer, Castro, will win ROY. We will make it to the Division Series vs the Phillies. We will lose in 5 games.

Oh yeah, Bradley will remain a CUB!!!! (I hope I am right about this. Him and Rudy J together, I see a great #2 hole hitter here. He will need to make amends with the players and fans though).

Lastly, Cubs acquire a BIG NAME at the trade deadline in '10 season. Any guesses who?

It is about time we put some positive spin on our beloved "Loveable Losers". To much negative energy!!! Does anyone remember this:

“Go Cubs Go”

Bradley won't be back.

All the players can't stand the guy.

Simple as that. He's a cancer. Hendry is not going to let that happen again.

And to the guy who recommended that Fuku play second. I have one thing to say.

Please put down the bottle. Holy cow.

:-)

Once again the cubs are looking in the wrong direction. The biggest problem this team has is a middle of the order run producer! that's why they brought in bradley. it failed! Solution,look no further than the washington nationals. Mr. Adam Dunn. I will take his defensive shortcomings any day, knowing that everytime this man steps to the plate he can turn a game around. Once the Bradley dude is moved, the focus should be Adam Dunn. Contractually, it can work!The man's a game changer. the focus on a centerfielder is misguided. Kosuke did an adequate job. If it's not Dunn you will still have the same problems. no major run production. I like Dunn. I want to see hime in Wrigley LEE DUNN a health RAMIREZ. Come on!!

Happy Holiday to all!

I am a little confused why people are so worked up about trading Fox? He would be much better suited in the AL and he is one of a few major league expierienced trading chips we have. The guy can hit a fastball like most mlb hitters can,but he looks as bad as Soriano chasing breaking balls...PERIOD!Sori is the LF get over it, he's not sitting on the bench to play FOX! Unless you want to move Soriano back to 2nd and take his lumps there (IMO it couldn't be any worse)he's roaming LF as long as he's healthy. I was pumped when we signed him, he was a stud his 1st yr in outfield assists, he helped take us to the playoffs 2 yrs in a row, I'm not ready to walk away from him yet, he's still young enoughto make a huge contribution physically but will never be a clubhouse leader. Fox does look like a Catcher he should go back to that permanently and if we wanted to use him as our back up and use Hill as trade bait that works for me, I think his numbers would be more inline with that scenario. All that contigent on Soto coming to play this year! I had another thought that I would like to get laughed at for....I think Fuki would be a capable candidate to transition to 2nd base, I'm not saying throw him there and tell him that's his new position, just let him try it in spring training and see what happens. We have him on the books for a couple more years and that frees up RF for a power hitter. I think he has the tools defensively and his numbers match up well for that position too. He may rise to the occasion. To everyone involved I read this site 2-3 times a day and enjoy reading everyones input, for the record I'm in the win NOW camp, the last40+ years, I'll go young the day after we WIN the WS, Let's hope JH/Ricketts have a few surprises under our Christmas tree!!!

Absolutely trade Jake Fox now. The fact is he could hit a fastball a mile, but teams picked up on that and started throwing him breaking balls which he can't hit worth a lick. Trade him now while he has some value. I don't believe the nonsense that he lost his hitting touch sitting on the bench. Either you could lay off a breaking ball or you can't.

Same could be said about Castro. I’m not saying trade Castro for someone like Granderson, but if the right deal comes along where a proven young stud could be had, do it. The Cubs finally have a player where the hype may be more than the substance. I don’t know if he is the real deal or not, but trading an unknown for a young known commodity would be ok with me.

Not debating your point Paul...but I'd like to see what our new (world class) hitting coach can do with the likes of Fox, Vitters, Castro, etc.

IMHO Jake Fox is a solid off the bench/25th man type of player. I do admit he will not win any gold gloves but in a pinch he can play LF/3B/1B/C.

His hitting is what will keep him in the majors. When the cubs use up their 2 catchers in one of those long extra inning games, I would rather see Jake Fox as the #3 catcher than Randy Wells, Carlos Marmol, et all.

If the Cubs trade away Jake Fox, who during the spring and early summer was just mashing the ball in AAA, I will officially announce my retirement as a Cub fan, this guy could fit into right somehow for Bradley, yes his defense is bad, but with work over the winter and spring leading into the season he could get better, in limited time he hit just fine, this is a joke, we were a 97 win team just two seasons ago, now all of a sudden everyone thinks we have to retool like we lost a ton of components, we still have all the pieces, just the one piece we have and dont need is Mad Milton Bradley, deal him away, eat the majority of the contract and stabilize that clubhouse, basically by eating that large portion of that contract is what we are paying for in returns for a stabilized clubhouse, a price I think we should pay

Sure, let's trade Fox. He got a real fair shake under Hendry/Pinella. The guy was a hitting machine last year, but ooops, we have no room for that on this current spectacular roster.

And I love the comment in that the knock on him is his defense. Truly, can he be any worse than our sorry-ass incumbent in LF? Why would any youngster want to play in our farm system based on our leadership mentality and these types of media comments.

Just unbelievable.

Don't forget Hendry has made some pretty good trades to acquire D. Lee and Aramis. Even some of the recent trades to acquire Grabow and Gorzelanny and 3 very good prospect pitchers for DeRosa...seem like winners long-term for Cubs. He gave up nothing for Jeff Baker. Hendry definitely made some bad moves with Soriano, Bradley and Miles....but his history indicates there is hope that repairs can be made.

I believe that a successful trade in getting rid of Bradley is a player in return of the likes of Castillo and saving us at least $4 million in 2011. Am I wrong? For us to have any chance this year, Bradley can not be in this clubhouse ruining this team, Period!!

As for Miles, it doesn't matter. Trade him for a bag of balls or a gatorade machine. As long as it opens a spot on our roster do it. Hendry is going to have to take his lumps on these two guys, but they have to go.

Ain't that like JHendry: trade Fox, keep Bradley. I say keep Bradley because he is untradeable. And the same with Miles. There is no one on planet earth taking either one of them unless it's fer free. And if they are free, why not make Sorry-oh-no available for free, too? This, my friends, if what lousy management looks like.

Because that is what Jim Hendry like to do make bad trades.

Shoot me. I know I've always been the eternal optimist but I have no faith in 2010 so far.

We're going to prepare for the upcoming season by eating two outlandish contracts probably by receiving two lesser players while meanwhile only receiving a modest increase in payroll.

I've always said that I'd much rather keep Milton if receiving crap in turn is the alternative.

Jum Hendry made his bed with sheets of Bradley and Miles and he best lay in it instead of fixing a problem with more problems..