Jason Kendall a Cub

[funky_chicken]

I am watching the Cubs-Giants game with the local announcers. They have the Cubs general manager in the booth and he set they just completed a deal to acquire Jason Kendall from Oakland. They have not said what they gave up for him. Nice upgrade in the catching department for the Cubs.

[Jistic]

Re: Jason Kendall a Cub

Yep, was just gonna post this. Don't know all the details yet.

[Birdsonbat]

Re: Jason Kendall a Cub

They said on ESPN that it was Rob Bowen and Jerry Blevins.

[funky_chicken]

Re: Jason Kendall a Cub

Yep, was just gonna post this. Don't know all the details yet.

It's Kendall for Rob Bowen and a minor league pitcher. The Cubs got Bowen when they traded Michael Barrett to San Diego.

[yvesdereuter]

Re: Jason Kendall a Cub

Its a good trade. I wonder what will become of Blevins though. Oakland seems to always make out with pitchers that they get in trades.

[BaseballCtchr]

Re: Jason Kendall a Cub

I for one hope this gets the trade ball rolling for other clubs. But on another note I like the trade for the Cubs I dont know much about the minor league guy but could it get worse production wise from behind the plate.

Prediction: Kendall gets average up to .280 and scores 60 runs to end the year.





P.S. the Cubs make the playoffs.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Jason Kendall a Cub

Strange considering the number of catchers the Cubs have. Personally, I'd let Soto have a chance as the starter.

[DrDoom77]

Re: Jason Kendall a Cub

Blevins is a 23-year-old lefty. Here are some of this stats at the Cubs AA affiliate this year:

2-2, 1.53 ERA, 29.1 IP in 23 games, 23 hits, 8 walks, 37 Ks. .215 BAA.

And Kendall is hitting .226 this year, and (I vaguely recall - correct me if I'm wrong) is a poor defensive catcher with a poor arm. I don't like this deal. I'd prefer having light-hitting catchers who have good arms, since the rest of the lineup has shown it can make up for that.

[BaseballCtchr]

Re: Jason Kendall a Cub

Blevins is a 23-year-old lefty. Here are some of this stats at the Cubs AA affiliate this year:

2-2, 1.53 ERA, 29.1 IP in 23 games, 23 hits, 8 walks, 37 Ks. .215 BAA.

And Kendall is hitting .226 this year, and (I vaguely recall - correct me if I'm wrong) is a poor defensive catcher with a poor arm. I don't like this deal. I'd prefer having light-hitting catchers who have good arms, since the rest of the lineup has shown it can make up for that.

I thought his arm had gotten better from his earlier days but I do know his drop and block skills are good. I dont remember his PIT days and dont get to see a lot of OAK on the East Coast. So take it for what its worth.

[snepp]

Re: Jason Kendall a Cub

Kendall is having himself a historically bad year at the plate on top of having a noodle attached to his shoulder.

[DrDoom77]

Re: Jason Kendall a Cub

Wait, now I heard on ESPN that the Cubs sent SP Sean Marshall to the A's? Since when do we have enough depth at SP to trade our #3 starter? Yikes.

Edit -- Well, the news articles I'm seeing all say it was Blevins that was traded. Maybe ESPN screwed up.

[mjb2124]

Re: Jason Kendall a Cub

IMO Kendall is overrated. Even when he was in Pittsburgh and had his best seasons, he wasn't that great of a defensive catcher or that good at calling games. He could hit for average and had a pretty good OBP back then, but that was it. With his hitting skills diminishing, I don't see him being worth much of anything.

[dalnet22]

Re: Jason Kendall a Cub

True, but Kendall is a veteran, while our other options were Hill, Bowen, and maybe Blanco. Soto is a potential future (probably a backup), but I'd rather have Hill and Kendall up here than Soto and Bowen.

It was ultimately Blevins and Barrett for Kendall. Not bad.

[ZM Punk]

Re: Jason Kendall a Cub

Wait, now I heard on ESPN that the Cubs sent SP Sean Marshall to the A's? Since when do we have enough depth at SP to trade our #3 starter? Yikes.

Edit -- Well, the news articles I'm seeing all say it was Blevins that was traded. Maybe ESPN screwed up.

They better not have traded Sean Marshall for an over the hill catcher.

Really don't like the deal for the Cubs, I thought they were going defense at the catcher position. Hopefully the deal pans out.

[SPTO]

Re: Jason Kendall a Cub

If this was the Kendall of 2-3 years ago I'd say this is a good trade but the guy has declined to the point that he's living on reputation more then anything else. He'll probably have a higher average in Chicago just because he's playing in Wrigley now but other then that the only thing he gives the Cubs is veteran leadership.