Rebuilding the Cubs

[bamadeuce2]

Re: Rebuilding the Cubs

I traded Byrd to Boston for matt Albers. No harm no foul.
About 40 games in I'm a few games under 500. I called Sczur up and he is lost, I'm tempted to bring up a 19 year old Soler but will probably go with Jackson.

Any good ideas to pick up a 2nd basemen? I'll part ways with anybody except Castro, Campana, Lehair, Garza, Samardzia, Soler, and Jackson

[PowerofRed25]

Re: Rebuilding the Cubs

I traded Byrd to Boston for matt Albers. No harm no foul.
About 40 games in I'm a few games under 500. I called Sczur up and he is lost, I'm tempted to bring up a 19 year old Soler but will probably go with Jackson.

Any good ideas to pick up a 2nd basemen? I'll part ways with anybody except Castro, Campana, Lehair, Garza, Samardzia, Soler, and Jackson

Do you still have Soto? See if you can't flip Soto to a catcher-weak team for a more established 2B. The Angels could be a fit, getting Howie Kendrick back as he's a 2013 FA. A super utility type might work too, think Mark DeRosa but younger and more athletic. Maybe a Ryan Roberts type if you want a 1 or 2 year stop gap before a prospect comes up.

If Javy Baez is in your system, you could work him out at 2B since he's blocked by Starlin at SS, but that's a few years away.

[TheKT]

Re: Rebuilding the Cubs

If Javy Baez is in your system, you could work him out at 2B since he's blocked by Starlin at SS, but that's a few years away.

I don't know why more people don't like Barney, he's not all world or anything, but if all you're looking for is a stopgap then why not just keep him?

Anyway, if you have OSFM then there's a guy in the minors named Junior Lake, I believe he is an "A" or "B" pot SS. I usually move him to 2B and move Baez to 3B that, with Rizzo at 1B, will give you a pretty good infield in a couple of years.

[PowerofRed25]

Re: Rebuilding the Cubs

I don't know why more people don't like Barney, he's not all world or anything, but if all you're looking for is a stopgap then why not just keep him?

Anyway, if you have OSFM then there's a guy in the minors named Junior Lake, I believe he is an "A" or "B" pot SS. I usually move him to 2B and move Baez to 3B that, with Rizzo at 1B, will give you a pretty good infield in a couple of years.

Barney is alright but there is a guy who hit 2 HR in just under 600 plate appearances last year, didn't even hit .280 and didn't steal double digit bases. No power, no speed, no average. He's cheap and under team control for a while and maybe he can provide enough until a free agent or prospect option presents itself, but he isn't that great.

I suppose if Darwin Barney at 2B is the worst of your problems, you're not doing so bad.

[TheKT]

Re: Rebuilding the Cubs

Barney is alright but there is a guy who hit 2 HR in just under 600 plate appearances last year, didn't even hit .280 and didn't steal double digit bases. No power, no speed, no average. He's cheap and under team control for a while and maybe he can provide enough until a free agent or prospect option presents itself, but he isn't that great.

I suppose if Darwin Barney at 2B is the worst of your problems, you're not doing so bad.

I know he's not Robbie Cano or BP but he's an old school second baseman. Good defense, and a good situational hitter. I know that stuff doesn't really translate to the digital world but I like him.

I was just saying that if you are just looking for a stopgap type player, instead of trading for Roberts or some other similar type player, just keep him, as you said, hes cheap and under team control.

[JoeRyan33]

Re: Rebuilding the Cubs

I don't get the "trade Garza" line of thinking. He's still young, has a tremendous arm with plenty left in it. He wasn't an overused workhorse prior to coming over, only asked to go 200 innings twice. Good character guy as well, someone the Cubs should be building around.

LaHair should be moved into the OF to give Rizzo time at 1B.

DeJesus was a bad signing, Stewart was a bad trade, I'd be looking to shift the pair.

Soriano IRL is unmoveable due to the contract, but if you can he's definitely one to consider moving for something.

I wouldn't deal Dempster because he's a positive presence on young players, and a pretty good pitcher.

Deal Marmol for anything you can get, he's never understood how to pitch - relievers like him tend to accrue value quickly as closers and teams overpay for them at the deadline.

[PowerofRed25]

Re: Rebuilding the Cubs

I don't get the "trade Garza" line of thinking. He's still young, has a tremendous arm with plenty left in it. He wasn't an overused workhorse prior to coming over, only asked to go 200 innings twice. Good character guy as well, someone the Cubs should be building around.

LaHair should be moved into the OF to give Rizzo time at 1B.

DeJesus was a bad signing, Stewart was a bad trade, I'd be looking to shift the pair.

Soriano IRL is unmoveable due to the contract, but if you can he's definitely one to consider moving for something.

I wouldn't deal Dempster because he's a positive presence on young players, and a pretty good pitcher.

Deal Marmol for anything you can get, he's never understood how to pitch - relievers like him tend to accrue value quickly as closers and teams overpay for them at the deadline.

In the case of both Dempster and Garza, the situations are a bit more complex than them being talented and good guys.

Dempster is a free agent at the end of this season and in both real life and the game, he will command a much higher price tag on the free agent market than the Cubs can afford or should pay. He'll be 36 and will ask for and receive a 2 or 3 year contract at about $10M per year. Not worth it. Dempster will not be a Cub in 2012 and should absolutely be traded before the deadline. At worst, he stays and a compensatory pick is given.

Garza is a bit different, as he is at the prime of his career, has top notch shelf and is a good guy to build around. However, as a Super Two player, he is arbitration eligible one more time than other players and is arbitration eligible in 2013. The Cubs avoided arbitration this season and signed him for $9.5M when he wanted $12.5M. He'll get $12.5M and change easily in arbitration if it came to that in 2013 and he'll easily warrant a 5 year/$60-80M contract if he was extended.

That is A LOT of money, especially for a team that barely has a Major League ready starting pitcher once you get past Samardzija and Dempster (who will be gone). In real life, I'm not sure the Ricketts can pay that money. We'll see what happens but I wouldn't be opposed to trading him at all, in a franchise or in real life.

Agree on the rest. DeJesus is a 4th outfielder, nothing more and the pressure to play him is blocking LaHair from moving to RF and Rizzo coming up. Stewart is garbage and is just keeping the spot warm for Vitters. Soriano won't be going anywhere but personally, I wouldn't be against just eating his salary and shipping him somewhere. Call it the price of development for younger players.

[CubFan23]

Re: Rebuilding the Cubs

In my Cubs Franchise the White Sox offered me Peavy and Addison Reed for Rizzo. I declined

[PowerofRed25]

Re: Rebuilding the Cubs

In my Cubs Franchise the White Sox offered me Peavy and Addison Reed for Rizzo. I declined

Good. Peavy is making $22M on a team option next year and it is a worry if he'll walk off the mound in one piece after each start. Great talent, too expensive and too broken. Reed is incredibly talented but not worth it. Rizzo is 22 and under team control for 5 more years I believe.

There aren't many deals I would do to ship Rizzo out.

[CubFan23]

Re: Rebuilding the Cubs

I don't get the "trade Garza" line of thinking. He's still young, has a tremendous arm with plenty left in it. He wasn't an overused workhorse prior to coming over, only asked to go 200 innings twice. Good character guy as well, someone the Cubs should be building around.

LaHair should be moved into the OF to give Rizzo time at 1B.

DeJesus was a bad signing, Stewart was a bad trade, I'd be looking to shift the pair.

Soriano IRL is unmoveable due to the contract, but if you can he's definitely one to consider moving for something.

I wouldn't deal Dempster because he's a positive presence on young players, and a pretty good pitcher.

Deal Marmol for anything you can get, he's never understood how to pitch - relievers like him tend to accrue value quickly as closers and teams overpay for them at the deadline.

I'm gonna have to disagree with you on these two in red. The Cubs were not gonna go out and make big moves, they got 2 left handed bats with some power, which they needed, inexpensive contracts, and 2 guys who could fill the spots until they're ready to make a run. If you ask me Theo and Hoyer made 2 moves that fit their plan perfect!

Dempster is on the wrong side of 30 and the Cubs could get a decent prospect at the deadline from a desperate contending team.