Things are heating up for the Chicago Cubs in the Hot Stove League. John Paul Morosi of Fox Sports reports that the Cubs are showing interest in Carlos Pena. Ed Price of MLB Fanhouse says that the Cubs have "serious interest" in Brandon Webb and Peter Gammons tweets that the Cubs are one of 9 teams interested in Jesse Crain.
With the Cubs already linked to San Diego's Adrian Gonzalez, Texas' Chris Davis, free agents Lance Berkman, Nick Johnson and now Carlos Pena, its obvious that Jim Hendry is doing his due dillegence and checking out all the first base options. Pena is a good defender (former gold glove winner) and a left handed power hitter, which the Cubs have been lacking the last few years, but his high strikeout totals and .196 average in 2010 should give any GM pause. The Cubs might be able to sign him to a cheap one year deal as he looks to re-establish his value.
Brandon Webb missed all of 2010 while rehabbing from shoulder surgery. His agent, Jonathan Maurer, indicated back in August that Webb will not come cheap, saying that he is looking for a $7.5 to $10.0 million BASE salary, plus incentives. However, my hope is that other GM's will look at Webb's scouting reports from his instructional league play in September and October and shy away from him. However, it only takes one crazy GM to drive up the price on Webb and if it gets to the range his agent wants, the Cubs will likely pass.
As for Jesse Crain, he is exactly what the Cubs need for their bullpen and should be Hendry's top priority. He is the top right handed set up man currently on the market and would fit nicely behind Marmol in the Cubs pen, and, along with Sean Marshall, would give them a nice righty/lefty setup tandem. However, with 9 teams involved, the price may get too steep for the Cubs, especially with other holes to fill.
With the Winter Meetings next Monday and Tuesday, expect the rumors to continue to heat up over the next week or so and, as always, I will keep you up-to-date with the latest news and rumors.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Why are the Cubs pursuing starting pitchers?
Despite already having 5 starters on the roster that made 20 or more starts last year, Jim Hendry remains intent on adding another starting pitcher. Ryan Dempster remains the defacto "ace" of the team and while Carlos Zambrano appears to have regained his form in the second half, questions still surround him and the other 3 starters (Randy Wells, Tom Gorzelanny and Carlos Silva). Thus, signing another starter makes some sense.
However, 3 of the top pitchers on the free agent market (not named Cliff Lee) are already off the market: Jake Westbrook re-signed with the Cardinals, Jon Garland signed with the Dodgers and Javier Vazquez just reached an agreement with the Marlins. MLBTraderumors (via ESPN's Jason Churchill) reports that the Cubs have interest in 5 pitchers that are still on the market: Jeremy Bonderman, Aaron Harang, Kevin Millwood, Vincente Padilla and Brandon Webb.
Which begs the question: Why are the Cubs pursuing ANY starters, let alone these 5?
Sure the Cubs starters have some question marks. Zambrano is a headcase and could possibly be traded this offseason. Wells struggled in the first half of the season (4.61 ERA) before turning things around after the All Star Break (3.84 ERA). Gorzelanny had a respectable 4.09 ERA, but had a high whip (1.50) indicating that he was somewhat lucky. Silva pitched well in the first half, before finally falling back to earth in his last 4 starts and succumbing to an elbow injury.
But, even with those question marks, the Cubs still have some depth within their system. Casey Coleman pitched well down the stretch, while filling in for Silva, going 4-2 with a 3.33 ERA in 8 starts. Andrew Cashner, despite working exclusively as a reliever for the Cubs, was a starter in the minors and could return to that role in 2011. Sean Marshall, the Cubs setup man this year, is also a converted starter who has expressed interest in returning to that role. The Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Chris Archer, is said to be nearly ready and could compete for a rotation spot in the spring. Finally, three other Cubs prospects, Chris Carpenter, Jay Jackson and Trey McNutt are close to being ready too and could contribute in 2011.
By my count, that is 12 potential starting pitchers, including 8 with major league experience. Thus, if there is one thing the Cubs don't lack heading into the 2011 season, its starting pitching depth.
So, why would Hendry pursue another starter? Well, as pointed out above, there are questions regarding 4 of the Cubs returning starters. Coleman, despite his success down the stretch, had a 22/20 K/BB ratio as a starter in 48.2 IP, which does not indicate overpowering stuff. Also, despite their previous starting experience, Hendry would probably prefer to keep Cashner and Marshall in the pen. Finally, Hendry may prefer to give Archer, Carpenter, Jackson and McNutt more time to develop.
Which leads us back to the 5 pitchers the Cubs are reportedly interested in. Of the 5, pitcher listed, Bonderman, Harang and Millwood all had ERA's over 5.00 in 2010 and Webb missed the entire season following shoulder surgery.
As for Vincente Padilla, of the 5 starters the Cubs are interested in, Padilla posted the best numbers, going 6-5 with a 4.07 ERA in 16 starts for the Dodgers. After earning $5 million in 2010, Padilla is probably in line for a raise in 2011 and will probably ask for a contract similar to Jake Westbrook (2 years, $16.5 million). Chances are that will be a little rich for the Cubs liking.
Given the Cubs pitching depth and the questions surrounding the pitchers the Cubs are pursuing, I would probably go the low-risk, high-reward approach and sign Brandon Webb. He will probably be relatively cheap in terms of salary (I'm guessing less than $5 million for a one-year deal) and his upside alone makes it worth the risk. I would make sure that the contract includes at least one option year, so the Cubs can hold onto him, should he bounce back. If he returns to form, the Cubs could have an ace to replace Dempster when his contract expires after the 2011 season.
However, 3 of the top pitchers on the free agent market (not named Cliff Lee) are already off the market: Jake Westbrook re-signed with the Cardinals, Jon Garland signed with the Dodgers and Javier Vazquez just reached an agreement with the Marlins. MLBTraderumors (via ESPN's Jason Churchill) reports that the Cubs have interest in 5 pitchers that are still on the market: Jeremy Bonderman, Aaron Harang, Kevin Millwood, Vincente Padilla and Brandon Webb.
Which begs the question: Why are the Cubs pursuing ANY starters, let alone these 5?
Sure the Cubs starters have some question marks. Zambrano is a headcase and could possibly be traded this offseason. Wells struggled in the first half of the season (4.61 ERA) before turning things around after the All Star Break (3.84 ERA). Gorzelanny had a respectable 4.09 ERA, but had a high whip (1.50) indicating that he was somewhat lucky. Silva pitched well in the first half, before finally falling back to earth in his last 4 starts and succumbing to an elbow injury.
But, even with those question marks, the Cubs still have some depth within their system. Casey Coleman pitched well down the stretch, while filling in for Silva, going 4-2 with a 3.33 ERA in 8 starts. Andrew Cashner, despite working exclusively as a reliever for the Cubs, was a starter in the minors and could return to that role in 2011. Sean Marshall, the Cubs setup man this year, is also a converted starter who has expressed interest in returning to that role. The Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Chris Archer, is said to be nearly ready and could compete for a rotation spot in the spring. Finally, three other Cubs prospects, Chris Carpenter, Jay Jackson and Trey McNutt are close to being ready too and could contribute in 2011.
By my count, that is 12 potential starting pitchers, including 8 with major league experience. Thus, if there is one thing the Cubs don't lack heading into the 2011 season, its starting pitching depth.
So, why would Hendry pursue another starter? Well, as pointed out above, there are questions regarding 4 of the Cubs returning starters. Coleman, despite his success down the stretch, had a 22/20 K/BB ratio as a starter in 48.2 IP, which does not indicate overpowering stuff. Also, despite their previous starting experience, Hendry would probably prefer to keep Cashner and Marshall in the pen. Finally, Hendry may prefer to give Archer, Carpenter, Jackson and McNutt more time to develop.
Which leads us back to the 5 pitchers the Cubs are reportedly interested in. Of the 5, pitcher listed, Bonderman, Harang and Millwood all had ERA's over 5.00 in 2010 and Webb missed the entire season following shoulder surgery.
As for Vincente Padilla, of the 5 starters the Cubs are interested in, Padilla posted the best numbers, going 6-5 with a 4.07 ERA in 16 starts for the Dodgers. After earning $5 million in 2010, Padilla is probably in line for a raise in 2011 and will probably ask for a contract similar to Jake Westbrook (2 years, $16.5 million). Chances are that will be a little rich for the Cubs liking.
Given the Cubs pitching depth and the questions surrounding the pitchers the Cubs are pursuing, I would probably go the low-risk, high-reward approach and sign Brandon Webb. He will probably be relatively cheap in terms of salary (I'm guessing less than $5 million for a one-year deal) and his upside alone makes it worth the risk. I would make sure that the contract includes at least one option year, so the Cubs can hold onto him, should he bounce back. If he returns to form, the Cubs could have an ace to replace Dempster when his contract expires after the 2011 season.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Big decisions looming for the Cubs and Jeff Samardzija
Nearly 4 years ago, in January 2007, the Cubs signed their 5th round pick in the 2006 draft, Jeff Samardzija, to a 5 year major league contract. At the time, Jim Hendry did not want to lose Samardzija to the NFL and he overpaid to keep him with the Cubs.
Throughout his professional baseball career, Samardzija has struggled to find a role and the consistency needed to be successful. His biggest downfall has been his wildness and it doesn't appear that he has figured it out yet (67 walks in 111.1 IP this year at Iowa). Part of that could be the Cubs switching him back and forth between starting and relieving, but in any case it looks like he still is not ready to take the next step.
The problem is that he HAS to take the next step. Jeff is out of options and, since he has a full no-trade clause, the Cubs will have to keep him on the 2011 major league roster or risk losing him on waivers. With that in mind, these are the decisions the Cubs and Samardzija will face for 2011 and beyond:
Starter or Reliever ?
When he was first called up by the Cubs late in the 2008 season, Samardzija was used exclusively as a reliever. He pitched so well down the stretch (2.28 ERA in 27.2 IP), there was talk of making him the closer in 2009. However, he failed to repeat that success out of the pen in 2009 and the Cubs decided to make him back into a starter.
He worked in the minors and the winter leagues as a starter and was given a chance to win the 5th starter job this year in spring training. However, a poor spring relegated him back to the bullpen to start the season and 4 poor outing sent him back to Iowa. He continued to work as a starter at Iowa and was called back up in September and given another chance to prove himself as a starter and failed miserably (6.19 ERA and 14 walks in 16 IP).
With the Cubs' other minor league starting pitching prospects passing him by, its likely that Samardzija's days as a starter are over. He will likely be relegated to long relief/mopup duty to start the 2011 season and will have to prove himself to become anything more than that.
Beyond 2011
The Cubs have options on Samardzija for the 2012 and 2013 seasons at around $3 million each. Its pretty obvious that the Cubs will decline those options, unless Jeff suddenly figures out how to pitch. The question is whether the Cubs will try to keep him beyond 2011 (at a reduce rate).
A lot depends on how he fares in 2011 and what the market rate for his services might be as a result. If he continues to pitch like he has, the Cubs could decline his options, non-tender him (as he is still arbitration eligible) and then try to sign him to a minor league deal. I'm sure that Jim Hendry would be willing to give him another shot, if only to try to get a return on his investment. However, one would think that, even if he doesn't figure it out this year, there will still be teams interested in a guy possessing a 98 mph fastball and the Cubs probably will not get into a bidding war for his services (once bit, twice shy).
Baseball or Football
Back when he signed his contract with the Cubs in 2007, Samardzija chose baseball over football. If the Cubs decline his options and non-tender him after the 2011 season, then Samardzija will likely face this choice again.
He will be 27 by then and still could fashion a career in the NFL. It will come down to choosing between the sport he loves (baseball) and the sport he is probably better at (football). Chances are that, if he chooses football, he will make more money in the long run, but it will mean giving up on his dream playing baseball.
My Prediction
I'm guessing that Samardzija does figure it out somewhat this year and has a decent year in the Cubs pen. The Cubs will still decline his options and resign him for less, so that Jeff can continue to play the sport he loves.
Throughout his professional baseball career, Samardzija has struggled to find a role and the consistency needed to be successful. His biggest downfall has been his wildness and it doesn't appear that he has figured it out yet (67 walks in 111.1 IP this year at Iowa). Part of that could be the Cubs switching him back and forth between starting and relieving, but in any case it looks like he still is not ready to take the next step.
The problem is that he HAS to take the next step. Jeff is out of options and, since he has a full no-trade clause, the Cubs will have to keep him on the 2011 major league roster or risk losing him on waivers. With that in mind, these are the decisions the Cubs and Samardzija will face for 2011 and beyond:
Starter or Reliever ?
When he was first called up by the Cubs late in the 2008 season, Samardzija was used exclusively as a reliever. He pitched so well down the stretch (2.28 ERA in 27.2 IP), there was talk of making him the closer in 2009. However, he failed to repeat that success out of the pen in 2009 and the Cubs decided to make him back into a starter.
He worked in the minors and the winter leagues as a starter and was given a chance to win the 5th starter job this year in spring training. However, a poor spring relegated him back to the bullpen to start the season and 4 poor outing sent him back to Iowa. He continued to work as a starter at Iowa and was called back up in September and given another chance to prove himself as a starter and failed miserably (6.19 ERA and 14 walks in 16 IP).
With the Cubs' other minor league starting pitching prospects passing him by, its likely that Samardzija's days as a starter are over. He will likely be relegated to long relief/mopup duty to start the 2011 season and will have to prove himself to become anything more than that.
Beyond 2011
The Cubs have options on Samardzija for the 2012 and 2013 seasons at around $3 million each. Its pretty obvious that the Cubs will decline those options, unless Jeff suddenly figures out how to pitch. The question is whether the Cubs will try to keep him beyond 2011 (at a reduce rate).
A lot depends on how he fares in 2011 and what the market rate for his services might be as a result. If he continues to pitch like he has, the Cubs could decline his options, non-tender him (as he is still arbitration eligible) and then try to sign him to a minor league deal. I'm sure that Jim Hendry would be willing to give him another shot, if only to try to get a return on his investment. However, one would think that, even if he doesn't figure it out this year, there will still be teams interested in a guy possessing a 98 mph fastball and the Cubs probably will not get into a bidding war for his services (once bit, twice shy).
Baseball or Football
Back when he signed his contract with the Cubs in 2007, Samardzija chose baseball over football. If the Cubs decline his options and non-tender him after the 2011 season, then Samardzija will likely face this choice again.
He will be 27 by then and still could fashion a career in the NFL. It will come down to choosing between the sport he loves (baseball) and the sport he is probably better at (football). Chances are that, if he chooses football, he will make more money in the long run, but it will mean giving up on his dream playing baseball.
My Prediction
I'm guessing that Samardzija does figure it out somewhat this year and has a decent year in the Cubs pen. The Cubs will still decline his options and resign him for less, so that Jeff can continue to play the sport he loves.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
CBGB just got a whole lot bigger!!!
In case you didn't notice, CBGB just expanded from 13 posts to 308 (seemingly overnight). This is because the guys over at Fanball were gracious enough to give us former Fanball bloggers the opportunity to import our blogs from our former site.
Thus, I was able to import 295 of my posts from Cubspack.com to here (I deleted a couple that were not relevant to this site).
I would like to thank Fanball for allowing me access to do this. I hated to think that all my old posts would go to waste and now they are here for all to see (for better or worse).
Thus, I was able to import 295 of my posts from Cubspack.com to here (I deleted a couple that were not relevant to this site).
I would like to thank Fanball for allowing me access to do this. I hated to think that all my old posts would go to waste and now they are here for all to see (for better or worse).
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Ranking the Cubs first base options
With the free agent signing period only a little over two weeks old, the Cubs first base options are already dwindling. Aubrey Huff has resigned with the Giants, Victor Martinez (who prefers to play catcher anyway) has apparently reach an agreement with the Tigers and Adam Dunn appears to be out of the Cubs picture due to his defense.
What options remain for the Cubs? Well there are a few first basemen that have already been linked to the Cubs, including Adrian Gonzalez, Nick Johnson, Carlos Pena and Chris Davis, as well as other options on the free agent and trade markets, such as Lance Berkman, Adam LaRoche, James Loney and Yonder Alonso.
Given that list of 8 first base options, here is how I would rank them, based soley on my somewhat biased opinion:
What options remain for the Cubs? Well there are a few first basemen that have already been linked to the Cubs, including Adrian Gonzalez, Nick Johnson, Carlos Pena and Chris Davis, as well as other options on the free agent and trade markets, such as Lance Berkman, Adam LaRoche, James Loney and Yonder Alonso.
Given that list of 8 first base options, here is how I would rank them, based soley on my somewhat biased opinion:
- Adrian Gonzalez - Gonzalez is the Holy Grail of first base targets for the Cubs and is also probably the most costly one in terms of talent the Cubs would have to give up to acquire him. Still, if the Cubs could acquire him without giving up Brett Jackson, I'd say go for it, as long as the Cubs are given a 48 hour window to sign him to an extension. He has Dunn-like power, but can actually play defense.
- Yonder Alonso - blocked by NL MVP Joey Votto in Cincinnati, Alonzo could be available in a trade. Its not clear if he's on the market or what the Reds would want in return, but it would probably be a lot less than what the Cubs would have to give up for Gonzalez. He should develop into a good all-around hitter in the bigs, but his defense is suspect.
- Carlos Pena - considered an excellent defender, Pena has a ton of power but strikes out a ton as well. He is a free agent and could come cheap, as he tries to re-establish his value after a year in which he hit just .196/.325/.407 (albeit with 28 HR's in 484 AB's). If the Cubs can sign him to a 1 or 2 year deal, for $4-5 million per year, I'd be OK with that.
- Chris Davis - reminiscent of Pena, but not as skilled defensively, Davis has a ton of power and also strikes out a ton. However, he is still young, has room to grow and might be worth taking a chance on. The Rangers are looking for a catcher, so the Cubs could offer either Welington Castillo or Robinson Chirinos. I'd be willing to give up Castillo for him, but not Chirinos.
- Adam LaRoche - LaRoche is generally good for 20-25 HR's a year and a batting average around .270. He is a free agent and would probably cost more than Pena (around the $8-9 million range), so the Cubs will probably pass.
- James Loney - Loney is reportedly the Dodgers' position player most likely to be traded, as they look to add more power. He plays good defense, can hit for average and drive in some runs (sounds kinda like a former Cubs first baseman we all know), but he offers little power. However, it now appears that he will stay with the Dodgers.
- Nick Johnson - Johnson could have played the role of Elijah Price in "Unbreakable", as he is VERY injury prone. He played in just 24 games for the Yankees last year, getting just 72 AB's. He is an on-base machine when healthy, but rarely is healthy. If the Cubs could sign him for cheap (say $1-2 million, plus incentives), it might be worth it to give him a chance, but they would have to have a backup plan.
- Lance Berkman - Berkman's best days may be behind him as he has seen a decline in his numbers each of the last two years. There is a chance he could have a bounce-back year and at 34 years old, he is not totally over-the-hill. He is another guy that I would consider if the price is right, but only as a last resort.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Arizona Fall League wrapup: Vitters finishes strong
For those of you who keep track of prospects, you are probably aware of the importance of the AFL. Often, it is a proving ground for top prospects and can serve as a springboard to the majors. Starlin Castro used a strong performance in the AFL (as well as the first month of 2010) to earn an early promotion to the bigs (and likely "super two" status).
This year the Cubs sent 7 of their top prospects to the AFL for some additional seasoning. Here is how they fared:
Josh Vitters - after missing much of the last two months of the regular season, Vitters struggled in his first 33 AB's in the AFL, hitting just .242/.278/.394. However, Vitters was able to turn it on late and finished the season with a .253/.308/.398 line. He is still considered the Cubs top third base prospect, but needs a strong 2011 season to solidify that standing.
Ryan Flaherty - Flaherty also had a solid, but not spectacular AFL season, hitting .268/.362/.305. What impressed me was his ability to take a walk (12 in 27 games), however he didn't show any power in Arizona.
Brett Jackson - Jackson's AFL season was cut short after just 4 games due to a bacterial infection in his shin. He went 3 for 12 with 5 RBI's in his limited action.
Chris Carpenter - Carpenter struggled a bit in his AFL stint, allowing 9 walks in his 14.2 IP, which led to a 5.52 ERA. However, he was the only Cubs player to make MiLB.com's top 20 prospect list.
Kyle Smit - Smit had a decent stint in the AFL, posting a 4.05 ERA in 13.1 IP. He needs to cut down on the walks too (8), but helped earn himself a spot on the 40-man roster.
David Cales - Cales put up the strongest performance of all the Cubs pitchers with a 1.80 ERA and 8 K's in 10 IP. The former 24th round pick's stock is rising within the Cubs organization and he should get a chance to help out the Cubs bullpen at some point in 2011.
Jake Muyco - Muyco had the most disappoint AFL season amongst the Cubs pitchers, posting an unsightly 10.48 ERA in 22.1 IP. He worked as a starter in Arizona, but was more effective as a reliever for Tennessee this season. He may end up as nothing more than a long reliever in the bigs (NTTAWWT).
I will try to provide updates on how the Cubs prospects are faring in the other winter leagues in the coming weeks.
This year the Cubs sent 7 of their top prospects to the AFL for some additional seasoning. Here is how they fared:
Josh Vitters - after missing much of the last two months of the regular season, Vitters struggled in his first 33 AB's in the AFL, hitting just .242/.278/.394. However, Vitters was able to turn it on late and finished the season with a .253/.308/.398 line. He is still considered the Cubs top third base prospect, but needs a strong 2011 season to solidify that standing.
Ryan Flaherty - Flaherty also had a solid, but not spectacular AFL season, hitting .268/.362/.305. What impressed me was his ability to take a walk (12 in 27 games), however he didn't show any power in Arizona.
Brett Jackson - Jackson's AFL season was cut short after just 4 games due to a bacterial infection in his shin. He went 3 for 12 with 5 RBI's in his limited action.
Chris Carpenter - Carpenter struggled a bit in his AFL stint, allowing 9 walks in his 14.2 IP, which led to a 5.52 ERA. However, he was the only Cubs player to make MiLB.com's top 20 prospect list.
Kyle Smit - Smit had a decent stint in the AFL, posting a 4.05 ERA in 13.1 IP. He needs to cut down on the walks too (8), but helped earn himself a spot on the 40-man roster.
David Cales - Cales put up the strongest performance of all the Cubs pitchers with a 1.80 ERA and 8 K's in 10 IP. The former 24th round pick's stock is rising within the Cubs organization and he should get a chance to help out the Cubs bullpen at some point in 2011.
Jake Muyco - Muyco had the most disappoint AFL season amongst the Cubs pitchers, posting an unsightly 10.48 ERA in 22.1 IP. He worked as a starter in Arizona, but was more effective as a reliever for Tennessee this season. He may end up as nothing more than a long reliever in the bigs (NTTAWWT).
I will try to provide updates on how the Cubs prospects are faring in the other winter leagues in the coming weeks.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Cubs add 4 to roster, Marquez Smith left unprotected
A couple of Cubs news items hit the wire on Friday and while a lot of people were discussing the biggest item, that Larry Rothschild has left the Cubs to become the pitching coach for the Yankees, the other item is what caught my attention: the Cubs added 4 players to their 40 man roster.
In particular, the Cubs added Chris Archer, Brandon Guyer, Kyle Smit and Alberto Cabrera to their 40-man roster. Combined with the departure of Micah Hoffpauir to Japan, this puts the Cubs current roster at 39. Chances are they will not be adding any more players to the roster prior to the December winter meetings, which means that we now have a clearer picture as to who amongst the Cubs prospects might be taken in the annual Rule 5 Draft.
The biggest name left unprotected is third base prospect Marquez Smith. It was somewhat surprising to not see his name added to the roster. Smith re-established himself as a legitimate prospect after hitting .314/.384/.574 with 17 HR's in 303 AB's at AAA Iowa this year. With Aramis Ramirez' contract expiring after the 2011 season and his recent injury problems, it would behoove the Cubs to have a legitimate backup on their roster, as Josh Vitters and Ryan Flaherty have proven that they are not ready yet.
Adding Chris Archer and Brandon Guyer to the roster were no brainers, as was adding Kyle Smit, who the Cubs acquired from the Dodgers in the Ted Lilly/Ryan Theriot trade. The biggest question mark is the addition of Alberto Cabrera. Cabrera pitched well for high A Daytona (3.28 ERA), before struggling at AA Tennessee (6.33 ERA). Chances are it came down to a choice between him and Smith, with Smith losing out. The reasoning may be that its more likely for teams to select a pitcher in the Rule 5 draft, as its harder to carry a hitter on the roster the whole year, whereas a pitcher can be used as a long reliever/mop-up guy.
In any case, I wouldn't be surprised if some small market team, such as the Florida Marlins, takes a chance on Smith and selects him in the Rule 5 draft. The Marlins currently do not have a third baseman on their roster and have utilized the Rule 5 draft successfully in the past (Dan Uggla was selected from the Diamondbacks in the 2005 draft).
There are some other interesting names that have been left unprotected, such as Tony Thomas, Steve Clevenger, Ty Wright and Craig Muschko, but its unlikely that any of them will be selected, as they have yet to establish themselves as decent prospects.
Thus, for now at least, we have to cross our fingers that Marquez Smith makes it through the Rule 5 draft as a Cub, as he is one prospect I would hate to lose for no reason other than a numbers crunch.
In particular, the Cubs added Chris Archer, Brandon Guyer, Kyle Smit and Alberto Cabrera to their 40-man roster. Combined with the departure of Micah Hoffpauir to Japan, this puts the Cubs current roster at 39. Chances are they will not be adding any more players to the roster prior to the December winter meetings, which means that we now have a clearer picture as to who amongst the Cubs prospects might be taken in the annual Rule 5 Draft.
The biggest name left unprotected is third base prospect Marquez Smith. It was somewhat surprising to not see his name added to the roster. Smith re-established himself as a legitimate prospect after hitting .314/.384/.574 with 17 HR's in 303 AB's at AAA Iowa this year. With Aramis Ramirez' contract expiring after the 2011 season and his recent injury problems, it would behoove the Cubs to have a legitimate backup on their roster, as Josh Vitters and Ryan Flaherty have proven that they are not ready yet.
Adding Chris Archer and Brandon Guyer to the roster were no brainers, as was adding Kyle Smit, who the Cubs acquired from the Dodgers in the Ted Lilly/Ryan Theriot trade. The biggest question mark is the addition of Alberto Cabrera. Cabrera pitched well for high A Daytona (3.28 ERA), before struggling at AA Tennessee (6.33 ERA). Chances are it came down to a choice between him and Smith, with Smith losing out. The reasoning may be that its more likely for teams to select a pitcher in the Rule 5 draft, as its harder to carry a hitter on the roster the whole year, whereas a pitcher can be used as a long reliever/mop-up guy.
In any case, I wouldn't be surprised if some small market team, such as the Florida Marlins, takes a chance on Smith and selects him in the Rule 5 draft. The Marlins currently do not have a third baseman on their roster and have utilized the Rule 5 draft successfully in the past (Dan Uggla was selected from the Diamondbacks in the 2005 draft).
There are some other interesting names that have been left unprotected, such as Tony Thomas, Steve Clevenger, Ty Wright and Craig Muschko, but its unlikely that any of them will be selected, as they have yet to establish themselves as decent prospects.
Thus, for now at least, we have to cross our fingers that Marquez Smith makes it through the Rule 5 draft as a Cub, as he is one prospect I would hate to lose for no reason other than a numbers crunch.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Cubs eyeing Rangers' Chris Davis?
Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago floated an interesting rumor today suggesting that the Cubs could match up with the Texas Rangers in a trade for first baseman Chris Davis. Texas is in need of a catcher and could be interested in either Welington Castillo or Robinson Chirinos.
On the face of it, this seems like it could be a good trade for the Cubs. They have a good supply of catching prospects, who are blocked at the major league level by Geovany Soto, and Davis is a young (25), cheap, lefthanded power hitter.
However, there are some red flags. First, Davis has struck out a ton at the big league level, with 278 K's in 806 AB's (about 34%). He reminds me of Arizona's Mark Reynolds or, going back a few years, Milwaukee's Gorman Thomas from the 70-80's. He's not going to hit for a high average, but he will blast several homeruns along the way.
Second, he doesn't walk much. He has just 59 walks in around 865 plate appearances (just under 7%). Hendry might think that Davis would be Adam Dunn light (all the homeruns at a minimal salary). However, even with all his faults (high strikeouts, poor defense), Dunn still manages to draw a bunch of walks every year and has a career .381 OBP.
I'm not trying to make a case for signing Dunn nor am I totally opposed to trading for Chris Davis. I just hope that, if they do acquire Davis, they have a good backup plan.
On the face of it, this seems like it could be a good trade for the Cubs. They have a good supply of catching prospects, who are blocked at the major league level by Geovany Soto, and Davis is a young (25), cheap, lefthanded power hitter.
However, there are some red flags. First, Davis has struck out a ton at the big league level, with 278 K's in 806 AB's (about 34%). He reminds me of Arizona's Mark Reynolds or, going back a few years, Milwaukee's Gorman Thomas from the 70-80's. He's not going to hit for a high average, but he will blast several homeruns along the way.
Second, he doesn't walk much. He has just 59 walks in around 865 plate appearances (just under 7%). Hendry might think that Davis would be Adam Dunn light (all the homeruns at a minimal salary). However, even with all his faults (high strikeouts, poor defense), Dunn still manages to draw a bunch of walks every year and has a career .381 OBP.
I'm not trying to make a case for signing Dunn nor am I totally opposed to trading for Chris Davis. I just hope that, if they do acquire Davis, they have a good backup plan.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
GM Meetings wrap: Day two
Day two of the GM meetings is winding down and while a potential target of the Cubs, Jake Westbrook, signed a 2-year deal with the Cardinals, things remained pretty quiet on the Cubs front. However, Jim Hendry had reason for optimism, noting that trade discussions are more prevalent than in years past. This is encouraging news for Hendry, as the Cubs will likely pursue more trades this offseason as they look to move Kosuke Fukudome and possibly Carlos Zambrano, while also pursuing a first baseman.
There were also a couple minor transactions of note:
Cubs sign Scott Moore to a minor league deal
Scott Moore, who was traded to the Cubs from Detroit in 2005 and then traded to Baltimore in 2007 as part of the Steve Trachsel deal, hit .280/.345/.476 this year at AAA. For his career, he has hit .223/.270/.370 in 184 AB's in the majors. He is mainly organizational depth for the Cubs.
Micah Hoffpauir signs with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan
Micah Hoffpauir hit .251/.312/.421 in 394 AB's with the Cubs over the last 3 years. At 30 years old, he has become the typical AAAA player and while I wish him well in Japan, he will not be missed.
That wraps up the GM meetings. Here are some important upcoming dates:
There were also a couple minor transactions of note:
Cubs sign Scott Moore to a minor league deal
Scott Moore, who was traded to the Cubs from Detroit in 2005 and then traded to Baltimore in 2007 as part of the Steve Trachsel deal, hit .280/.345/.476 this year at AAA. For his career, he has hit .223/.270/.370 in 184 AB's in the majors. He is mainly organizational depth for the Cubs.
Micah Hoffpauir signs with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan
Micah Hoffpauir hit .251/.312/.421 in 394 AB's with the Cubs over the last 3 years. At 30 years old, he has become the typical AAAA player and while I wish him well in Japan, he will not be missed.
That wraps up the GM meetings. Here are some important upcoming dates:
- November 23rd - Deadline for teams to offer arbitration to their own free agents
- November 30th - Deadline for players to accept or decline arbitration offers from their former teams
- December 2nd - Deadline for teams to tender contracts to arbitration eligible players
- December 6th-9th - Winter Meetings, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
- January 18th - Teams and players exchange salary arbitration figures
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
GM Meetings wrap: Day One
Today was the first day of the GM meetings in Orlando, Florida and while Jim Hendry was busy trying to explain the Quade/Sandberg selection process, the Marlins traded Dan Uggla to the Atlanta Braves for a questionable return (I bet Hendry wishes he could have gotten in on that).
So, right of the bat, its pretty clear that the Cubs are not looking to make a big splash at the meetings. Hendry told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Sun Times that very thing a couple days ago, adding that "it's really imperative that we have two or three really good moves.''
Its also pretty clear that Hendry will not be going on a spending spree, as Paul Sullivan of the Tribune points out. So, we can be thankful that we will not be seeing any Alfonso Soriano or Carlos Zambrano type contracts being doled out this year.
What are the 2-3 good moves that Hendry is looking to do this offseason? (1) Find a first baseman, (2) add a veteran starting pitcher and (3) add a right handed reliever for the late innings. You can probably add (4) try to find a trading partner for Kosuke Fukudome to that list as well.
I will try to go into more detail as to Hendry's options for each of these moves over the next week or so, but needless to say, Hendry has a busy offseason ahead.
So, right of the bat, its pretty clear that the Cubs are not looking to make a big splash at the meetings. Hendry told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Sun Times that very thing a couple days ago, adding that "it's really imperative that we have two or three really good moves.''
Its also pretty clear that Hendry will not be going on a spending spree, as Paul Sullivan of the Tribune points out. So, we can be thankful that we will not be seeing any Alfonso Soriano or Carlos Zambrano type contracts being doled out this year.
What are the 2-3 good moves that Hendry is looking to do this offseason? (1) Find a first baseman, (2) add a veteran starting pitcher and (3) add a right handed reliever for the late innings. You can probably add (4) try to find a trading partner for Kosuke Fukudome to that list as well.
I will try to go into more detail as to Hendry's options for each of these moves over the next week or so, but needless to say, Hendry has a busy offseason ahead.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Minor moves can be a big deal
One of the reasons that I enjoy baseball so much is that it is a yearlong spectator sport. When the regular season ends the hot stove season begins and that can be almost as fun to watch as the games.
When watching the moves the Cubs make over the offseason, its interesting to look at them and think of the hidden meanings and implications some of the moves have (or could have) in the future.
A few such moves occurred over the last few weeks and if you were not paying attention, you may have missed them. Here they are, in no particular order:
Angel Guzman released and then resigned to a minor league deal
I originally expected the Cubs to just non-tender Guzman and part ways with him, however this is a good, low risk move for the Cubs that could pay dividends next season. Guzman is coming off of major (possibly career threatening) shoulder surgery last spring and is hoping to be ready for the start of the 2011 season. He was the Cubs tops setup man in 2009 and hopes to reclaim that role in 2011.
If the Cubs can get any production out of him, it would be a plus and could even help to shore up an otherwise shaky bullpen. However, even if it doesn't work out, its still good to see them giving Guzman a chance, no matter how long the odds are.
Brad Snyder outrighted to Iowa, declares for free agency instead
This is a move that could come back to bite the Cubs in the butt. Snyder, a former 1st round pick of the Indians, had a strong season at AAA Iowa in 2010, hitting .308/.381/.568. At 28, Snyder is a little old to still be considered a prospect, however there are always instances of late-bloomers, such as former Cub Casey McGehee.
With the emergence of Tyler Colvin, the Cubs must have felt that Snyder was expendable, I just hope they don't regret it later.
Robinson Chirinos added to the 40-man roster
This is probably my favorite move so far. Chirinos has shown drastic improvement with the bat over the last couple years, hitting .294/.396/.519 in 2009 and following that up with a .326/.416/.583 line this year. As such, the Cubs couldn't keep him off the roster any longer.
Being added to the roster means that we are likely to see Chirinos in a Cubs uniform at some point in 2011, as the Cubs are more likely to call up someone on the roster than someone not on the roster. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing what Chirinos can do at the big league level.
Jeff Gray, Blake Parker and James Adduci outrighted to Iowa
The result of these moves is that these players are no longer on the 40-man roster. This is significant in that, combined with the moves above, the Cubs now have 36 players on the 40-man roster. That leaves 4 spots open for free agents and/or trade acquisitions (such as Adrian Gonzalez).
One other thing to note here is that Jeff Gray, one of the players acquired in the Jake Fox trade last offseason, is now officially a bust. He could still salvage his value in 2011, but it is obvious that the Cubs lost patience with him. Gray elected to become a free agent and will likely get a minor league deal with another team.
Going forward, I will continue to watch the wire to see what other moves the Cubs make, that may be lost in the shuffle, and give my take on what the impact will be.
When watching the moves the Cubs make over the offseason, its interesting to look at them and think of the hidden meanings and implications some of the moves have (or could have) in the future.
A few such moves occurred over the last few weeks and if you were not paying attention, you may have missed them. Here they are, in no particular order:
Angel Guzman released and then resigned to a minor league deal
I originally expected the Cubs to just non-tender Guzman and part ways with him, however this is a good, low risk move for the Cubs that could pay dividends next season. Guzman is coming off of major (possibly career threatening) shoulder surgery last spring and is hoping to be ready for the start of the 2011 season. He was the Cubs tops setup man in 2009 and hopes to reclaim that role in 2011.
If the Cubs can get any production out of him, it would be a plus and could even help to shore up an otherwise shaky bullpen. However, even if it doesn't work out, its still good to see them giving Guzman a chance, no matter how long the odds are.
Brad Snyder outrighted to Iowa, declares for free agency instead
This is a move that could come back to bite the Cubs in the butt. Snyder, a former 1st round pick of the Indians, had a strong season at AAA Iowa in 2010, hitting .308/.381/.568. At 28, Snyder is a little old to still be considered a prospect, however there are always instances of late-bloomers, such as former Cub Casey McGehee.
With the emergence of Tyler Colvin, the Cubs must have felt that Snyder was expendable, I just hope they don't regret it later.
Robinson Chirinos added to the 40-man roster
This is probably my favorite move so far. Chirinos has shown drastic improvement with the bat over the last couple years, hitting .294/.396/.519 in 2009 and following that up with a .326/.416/.583 line this year. As such, the Cubs couldn't keep him off the roster any longer.
Being added to the roster means that we are likely to see Chirinos in a Cubs uniform at some point in 2011, as the Cubs are more likely to call up someone on the roster than someone not on the roster. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing what Chirinos can do at the big league level.
Jeff Gray, Blake Parker and James Adduci outrighted to Iowa
The result of these moves is that these players are no longer on the 40-man roster. This is significant in that, combined with the moves above, the Cubs now have 36 players on the 40-man roster. That leaves 4 spots open for free agents and/or trade acquisitions (such as Adrian Gonzalez).
One other thing to note here is that Jeff Gray, one of the players acquired in the Jake Fox trade last offseason, is now officially a bust. He could still salvage his value in 2011, but it is obvious that the Cubs lost patience with him. Gray elected to become a free agent and will likely get a minor league deal with another team.
Going forward, I will continue to watch the wire to see what other moves the Cubs make, that may be lost in the shuffle, and give my take on what the impact will be.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Cubs Top 5 Prospects for 2011
For you fantasy players out there or those of you who just get excited about the next great propsect, I put together a list of prospects each year who I think could have an impact on the Cubs and your fantasy team. These are prospects who I think could get the call in 2011 and could get some significant playing time.
For 2011, I came up with the following 5 players who could have an impact:
For 2011, I came up with the following 5 players who could have an impact:
- Chris Archer - after an excellent season split between high A Daytona and AA Tennessee, Archer vaulted himself to the top of the Cubs pitching prospects. There is talk of him possibly breaking camp with the Cubs in 2011, but more likely he'll spend some time at AAA first and get the call once one of the starters falters or is injured. Look for a mid-season callup and around 75 IP in 2011. Could be a good late round flyer in fantasy leagues.
- Darwin Barney - Barney impressed Mike Quade in a late-season callup and will battle Blake DeWitt for the starting second base job in Spring Training. However, he's more likely to end up in a utility infield role, due to his versatility (he can play third, short and second). Look for him to start the season with the Cubs and get around 250-300 AB's. Could be a decent middle infield option in fantasy leagues.
- Welington Castillo/Robinson Chirinos - one of these two catchers will likely be Geovany Soto's backup in 2011. Castillo got a taste of the bigs at the end of 2010, whereas Chirinos spent most of the year at AA Tennessee. Castillo is likely to start the year as backup, but I like Chirinos' upside better (he has simply raked in the minors). Either might be a good reserve pick or 2nd catcher in deep leagues.
- Christopher Carpenter - while Archer may be at the top of the pitching prospects, Carpenter is not far behind. He has pitched well at every stop and should start 2011 at AAA Iowa. As its rare for a pitching staff to go through a whole year intact, look for Carpenter to get the call sometime after the All-Star break or at least a September call-up. He could get 25-50 IP in 2011. A good reserve pick in fantasy leagues.
- Brett Jackson - he has only made it as far as AA Tennessee and he is blocked by others at the big league level, however we said the same things about Starlin Castro prior to 2010. If Kosuke Fukudome is traded this offseason, the chances of a Jackson call-up greatly increase. However, he should still get the call in September. He could get around 100 AB's in 2011 and is a good reserve pick or late round flyer in fantasy leagues.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
To (Cliff) Lee or not to Lee--that is the question
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the goats and Bartmans of Cubs misfortune or to acquire arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them.....
(OK, I'll stop while I'm behind.)
If some of you are wondering what the heck I'm rambling about, according to Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News, the Cubs have apparently expressed interest in free agent lefty Cliff Lee.
This goes against a recent Sun Times article which says Hendry will not pursue the big name free agents (Cliff Lee and Adam Dunn).
While it makes more sense that the Cubs will pass on Lee (and Dunn), given their payroll limitations, its rumors like this that make you wonder what is going on. Perhaps Hendry is trying to give the illusion of not having money to spend, so that he can avoid a bidding war and swoop in at the last minute with a winning bid. Or, perhaps its just spin to make Cubs fans think that Hendry tried to land the big fish, but was just outbid by the Yankees and Red Sox (or whoever Lee and Dunn end up with).
So, while the Cubs may kick the tires on the likes of Cliff Lee and Adam Dunn, its more likely that they'll end up with Jon Garland and Nick Johnson instead.
Well, at least they can say they tried.
(OK, I'll stop while I'm behind.)
If some of you are wondering what the heck I'm rambling about, according to Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News, the Cubs have apparently expressed interest in free agent lefty Cliff Lee.
This goes against a recent Sun Times article which says Hendry will not pursue the big name free agents (Cliff Lee and Adam Dunn).
While it makes more sense that the Cubs will pass on Lee (and Dunn), given their payroll limitations, its rumors like this that make you wonder what is going on. Perhaps Hendry is trying to give the illusion of not having money to spend, so that he can avoid a bidding war and swoop in at the last minute with a winning bid. Or, perhaps its just spin to make Cubs fans think that Hendry tried to land the big fish, but was just outbid by the Yankees and Red Sox (or whoever Lee and Dunn end up with).
So, while the Cubs may kick the tires on the likes of Cliff Lee and Adam Dunn, its more likely that they'll end up with Jon Garland and Nick Johnson instead.
Well, at least they can say they tried.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Would you trade Brett Jackson or Chris Archer for Adrian Gonzalez?
I was going to put together a piece to catch up on all the latest news regarding the Cubs, (such as an alienated Ryne Sandberg turning down the Cubs AAA job and likely leaving the Cubs for good; or the possibility of Kerry Wood returing to the Cubs; or that, due to a lower payroll, Jim Hendry may be lowering his sites from Adam Dunn to the likes of Nick Johnson) but some interesting rumors caught my eye.
Seems that Padres GM Jed Hoyer is willing to listen to offers for Adrian Gonzalez this offseason. That is not big news, as everyone figures Gonzalez will be traded before his contract runs out after the 2011 season. Its only a matter of when. With Hoyer announcing he is willing to listen to offers, he is more likely saying "if someone blows me over with an offer, I will deal Gonzalez now, otherwise I will just wait until next July".
We also know that Gonzalez would be interested in signing with the Cubs after 2011, he said as much in an interview during the Cubs series with the Padres in late September. Don Norcross of Signon San Diego, confirms this and lists the Cubs as one of 5 potential suitors for Gonzalez when he becomes a free agent.
The question is, do the Cubs try to trade for Gonzalez now, to fill their first base void for 2011, with the hope that he will love Chicago so much that they can sign him to an extension and if so, how much do you give up for one guaranteed year of his services with only a possibility of more?
The Friarhood offers up some players the Padres might be interested in if they were to trade Gonzalez to the Cubs: Starlin Castro (fat chance), Tyler Colvin, Brett Jackson, Jay Jackson, Andrew Cashner, Chris Archer, Wellington Castillo and Brandon Guyer.
For a bit of perspective, I took a look at the last big name hitter that was traded, which happened last offseason when the Yankees traded Austin Jackson and Phil Coke to the Tigers for Curtis Granderson. Jackson was rated as the Yankees top propsect and Phil Coke was in the Top 10 prior to being called up in 2009. That's pretty good haul for Granderson. I would say that Gonzalez is a better overall hitter than Granderson and they're both considered good fielders. The one thing Granderson has over Gonzalez is that he was still under contract through 2012, with an option for 2013. Thus, even though Gonzalez is a better hitter, the contract offsets it.
Judging from the above, its likely that, if the Cubs want to land Gonzalez they will have to pay a pretty steep price. I'm guessing it would take one of their top prospects, either Brett Jackson or Chris Archer and probably someone at the bottom of the top 10, such as Brandon Guyer or Jay Jackson. Since the Padres would probably not want two pitchers or two outfielders in one package, a package of Brett Jackson and Jay Jackson or Chris Archer and Brandon Guyer would probably do the trick.
Which gets us back to the main question posed in the title of this blog: Would you trade Brett Jackson or Chris Archer for Adrian Gonzalez?
My short answer is yes. I would trade Chris Archer and Brandon Guyer for Gonzalez and here's why.
First, although Archer is looking like he will be a quality starting pitcher in the bigs, possibly a #1 or #2 starter, the Cubs have some depth with their starting pitcher prospects. Andrew Cashner, Chris Carpenter, Jay Jackson, Trey McNutt and Casey Coleman all rank amongst the Cubs top prospects and are close to major league ready.
Second, Gonzalez is cheap, as he is set to earn only $5.5 million in 2011. Thus, he would fit nicely in the Cubs lower payroll budget, while giving Hendry leeway to sign other players (such as Kerry Wood for the bullpen).
Finally, trading for Gonzalez now would give the Cubs exclusive negotiating rights with Gonzalez for a year, so that they can try to work out an extension. And, with the contracts of Carlos Silva, Kosuke Fukudome, Aramis Ramirez, Jeff Samardzija and John Grabow all coming off the books after the 2011 season, the Cubs will have plenty of money to throw Gonzalez' way to convince him to stay.
So, if I'm Hendry, I'm calling Hoyer and offering him Archer and Guyer for Gonzalez. I'll even throw in some lower rated prospects for good measure. If Hoyer says he would rather have Brett Jackson, I hang up the phone, sign Nick Johnson to a 1 year deal to play first and then try to sign Gonzalez after the 2011 season (if he's still available). However, if Hoyer says yes, then I very well may have landed my first baseman for the next 7-8 years.
Seems that Padres GM Jed Hoyer is willing to listen to offers for Adrian Gonzalez this offseason. That is not big news, as everyone figures Gonzalez will be traded before his contract runs out after the 2011 season. Its only a matter of when. With Hoyer announcing he is willing to listen to offers, he is more likely saying "if someone blows me over with an offer, I will deal Gonzalez now, otherwise I will just wait until next July".
We also know that Gonzalez would be interested in signing with the Cubs after 2011, he said as much in an interview during the Cubs series with the Padres in late September. Don Norcross of Signon San Diego, confirms this and lists the Cubs as one of 5 potential suitors for Gonzalez when he becomes a free agent.
The question is, do the Cubs try to trade for Gonzalez now, to fill their first base void for 2011, with the hope that he will love Chicago so much that they can sign him to an extension and if so, how much do you give up for one guaranteed year of his services with only a possibility of more?
The Friarhood offers up some players the Padres might be interested in if they were to trade Gonzalez to the Cubs: Starlin Castro (fat chance), Tyler Colvin, Brett Jackson, Jay Jackson, Andrew Cashner, Chris Archer, Wellington Castillo and Brandon Guyer.
For a bit of perspective, I took a look at the last big name hitter that was traded, which happened last offseason when the Yankees traded Austin Jackson and Phil Coke to the Tigers for Curtis Granderson. Jackson was rated as the Yankees top propsect and Phil Coke was in the Top 10 prior to being called up in 2009. That's pretty good haul for Granderson. I would say that Gonzalez is a better overall hitter than Granderson and they're both considered good fielders. The one thing Granderson has over Gonzalez is that he was still under contract through 2012, with an option for 2013. Thus, even though Gonzalez is a better hitter, the contract offsets it.
Judging from the above, its likely that, if the Cubs want to land Gonzalez they will have to pay a pretty steep price. I'm guessing it would take one of their top prospects, either Brett Jackson or Chris Archer and probably someone at the bottom of the top 10, such as Brandon Guyer or Jay Jackson. Since the Padres would probably not want two pitchers or two outfielders in one package, a package of Brett Jackson and Jay Jackson or Chris Archer and Brandon Guyer would probably do the trick.
Which gets us back to the main question posed in the title of this blog: Would you trade Brett Jackson or Chris Archer for Adrian Gonzalez?
My short answer is yes. I would trade Chris Archer and Brandon Guyer for Gonzalez and here's why.
First, although Archer is looking like he will be a quality starting pitcher in the bigs, possibly a #1 or #2 starter, the Cubs have some depth with their starting pitcher prospects. Andrew Cashner, Chris Carpenter, Jay Jackson, Trey McNutt and Casey Coleman all rank amongst the Cubs top prospects and are close to major league ready.
Second, Gonzalez is cheap, as he is set to earn only $5.5 million in 2011. Thus, he would fit nicely in the Cubs lower payroll budget, while giving Hendry leeway to sign other players (such as Kerry Wood for the bullpen).
Finally, trading for Gonzalez now would give the Cubs exclusive negotiating rights with Gonzalez for a year, so that they can try to work out an extension. And, with the contracts of Carlos Silva, Kosuke Fukudome, Aramis Ramirez, Jeff Samardzija and John Grabow all coming off the books after the 2011 season, the Cubs will have plenty of money to throw Gonzalez' way to convince him to stay.
So, if I'm Hendry, I'm calling Hoyer and offering him Archer and Guyer for Gonzalez. I'll even throw in some lower rated prospects for good measure. If Hoyer says he would rather have Brett Jackson, I hang up the phone, sign Nick Johnson to a 1 year deal to play first and then try to sign Gonzalez after the 2011 season (if he's still available). However, if Hoyer says yes, then I very well may have landed my first baseman for the next 7-8 years.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
What can the Cubs learn from other (more successful) teams?
After over 100 years of futility, its obvious that the Cubs need to come up with a new model for building a championship team. So, I have decided to help Jim Hendry out by looking at how other teams have built a champion and see if their strategies can be applied to the Cubs.
Florida Marlins (Scouting and Player Development)
It is widely believed that the Marlins have one of the, if not the best, scouting departments in all of baseball. Not only do they draft and develop a lot of talented players, but they also are able to use their scouting to acquire talented players from other teams.
Just looking at this year's roster, the Marlins had 5 regulars that were drafted and developed by them (2009 ROY Chris Coghlan, Gaby Sanchez, Mike Stanton, Josh Johnson and Chris Volstad). In addition, superstar shortstop Hanley Ramirez was acquired from the Red Sox (for Josh Beckett) and second baseman Dan Uggla was acquired from Arizona in the 2001 Rule 5 draft.
Because of their superior scouting and player development, the Marlins are able to compete despite a low payroll. The Marlins are consistently at or near the bottom of the league in terms of payroll, but have won two World Series Championships in their 18 years of existence.
The problem here is that the Marlins constantly appear to be in rebuilding mode, trading away players when they become too expensive and hoping that their replacements develop quickly enough for the team to contend. This often leads to long dry spells between successful seasons (they have not reached the playoffs since their 2003 championship).
So, what can the Cubs learn from the Marlins? Obviously, that scouting and player development are important to building a championship caliber team. The Cubs seem to have learned this lesson as their minor league system has improved the last few years, producing such quality players as Geovany Soto, Starlin Castro, Carlos Marmol and Tyler Colvin. In addition, Tom Ricketts seems intent on putting more money into scouting and player development.
New York Yankees (hold on to your talent)
It is common to look at the Yankees and think that they just go out and buy a championship each year, but what is often overlooked is that they have also developed their share of talented players. A good example of this is their run of 3 straight World Series titles from 1998-2000. At the heart of those teams were 5 players who were drafted and developed in the Yankees farm system: Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera.
The difference between the Marlins and Yankees is that New York has the money to hold on to their best players. Of the 5 players listed above, 4 of them have spent their entire careers with the Yankees, with the lone exception being Pettitte, who spent 3 years in Houston.
The lesson here is that, once you develop the talent you need to hold on to it. Of course, the problem is deciding who to hold on to and who to let walk. The Cubs have had two instances of bad decisions in this department: (1) letting Greg Maddux leave via free agency and (2) signing Carlos Zambrano to a long-term extension. These are two extreme examples of poor decisions in this area, as Maddux went on to a Hall of Fame career with the Braves and Zambrano has become more and more ineffective each year (and more of a headcase too).
St. Louis Cardinals/Walt Jocketty (Trade excess talent to fill other needs)
During his tenure with the Cardinals, Walt Jocketty built a reputation as being a shrewd trader. Often, he would be able to swing a deal, right before the trade deadline, to plug a hole and boost the Cardinals into the playoffs. He was not shy about trading prospects for proven major leaguers, if he felt it would help the club.
Some examples of his trades are:
Thus, the best approach is to trade from your strength. For example, if you already have a good young shortstop on the major league roster that you have under control for 5 more years (Starlin Castro) and you a few other shortstop prospects that other teams might covet (such as Hak-Ju Lee, Junior Lake and Darwin Barney), you can probably afford to trade one of them (as well as a few other prospects) for a player you need (such as a firstbaseman named Adrian Gonzalez).
It remains to be seen what Jim Hendry is going to do with the abundance of middle infield prospects that the Cubs have. Other than the shortstops named above, the Cubs also have good depth at second base with prospects D.J. LeMahieu, Ryan Flaherty, Tony Thomas and Logan Watkins. Now is the time to trade some of this excess to fill some holes on the major league roster.
Boston Red Sox/New York Yankees (When all else fails, fill the holes with free agents)
Here's where having deep pockets really helps. When you cannot fill a hole on your roster through the minors or a trade, you need to go out and get a free agent to fill that need. The Yankees and the Red Sox are notorious for spending whatever it takes to do just that.
The problem here is that the Red Sox and Yankees usually have their pick of the best free agents each year, with only the other team as competition. Whereas the Cubs have to compete with several other clubs for the next tier of free agents. Thus, Jim Hendry may have felt like he had to overspend to get the free agents he wanted (Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome and Milton Bradley).
The lesson here is to spend wisely. In recent years, many teams have been able to wait out the market and get a good player on a reasonable, short-term deal. The perfect example of this is that the same year (2008) that Hendry signed Milton Bradley to a 3-year, $30 million deal, he could have waited and signed Bobby Abreu (who ended up signing with the Yankees for 1 year and $5 million).
Overall, it seems like a simple enough process, you develop players, hold on to the best ones, trade the excess to fill holes and supplement with free agents. However, there are many ways that one can go astray in the process, as Hendry has found out.
Tom Ricketts seems to have confidence in Hendry's ability to get it right. Me, I'm not so sure.
Florida Marlins (Scouting and Player Development)
It is widely believed that the Marlins have one of the, if not the best, scouting departments in all of baseball. Not only do they draft and develop a lot of talented players, but they also are able to use their scouting to acquire talented players from other teams.
Just looking at this year's roster, the Marlins had 5 regulars that were drafted and developed by them (2009 ROY Chris Coghlan, Gaby Sanchez, Mike Stanton, Josh Johnson and Chris Volstad). In addition, superstar shortstop Hanley Ramirez was acquired from the Red Sox (for Josh Beckett) and second baseman Dan Uggla was acquired from Arizona in the 2001 Rule 5 draft.
Because of their superior scouting and player development, the Marlins are able to compete despite a low payroll. The Marlins are consistently at or near the bottom of the league in terms of payroll, but have won two World Series Championships in their 18 years of existence.
The problem here is that the Marlins constantly appear to be in rebuilding mode, trading away players when they become too expensive and hoping that their replacements develop quickly enough for the team to contend. This often leads to long dry spells between successful seasons (they have not reached the playoffs since their 2003 championship).
So, what can the Cubs learn from the Marlins? Obviously, that scouting and player development are important to building a championship caliber team. The Cubs seem to have learned this lesson as their minor league system has improved the last few years, producing such quality players as Geovany Soto, Starlin Castro, Carlos Marmol and Tyler Colvin. In addition, Tom Ricketts seems intent on putting more money into scouting and player development.
New York Yankees (hold on to your talent)
It is common to look at the Yankees and think that they just go out and buy a championship each year, but what is often overlooked is that they have also developed their share of talented players. A good example of this is their run of 3 straight World Series titles from 1998-2000. At the heart of those teams were 5 players who were drafted and developed in the Yankees farm system: Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera.
The difference between the Marlins and Yankees is that New York has the money to hold on to their best players. Of the 5 players listed above, 4 of them have spent their entire careers with the Yankees, with the lone exception being Pettitte, who spent 3 years in Houston.
The lesson here is that, once you develop the talent you need to hold on to it. Of course, the problem is deciding who to hold on to and who to let walk. The Cubs have had two instances of bad decisions in this department: (1) letting Greg Maddux leave via free agency and (2) signing Carlos Zambrano to a long-term extension. These are two extreme examples of poor decisions in this area, as Maddux went on to a Hall of Fame career with the Braves and Zambrano has become more and more ineffective each year (and more of a headcase too).
St. Louis Cardinals/Walt Jocketty (Trade excess talent to fill other needs)
During his tenure with the Cardinals, Walt Jocketty built a reputation as being a shrewd trader. Often, he would be able to swing a deal, right before the trade deadline, to plug a hole and boost the Cardinals into the playoffs. He was not shy about trading prospects for proven major leaguers, if he felt it would help the club.
Some examples of his trades are:
- Acquiring Todd Stottlemyre from the A's for Allen Battle, Carl Dale, Bret Wagner and Jay Witasick
- Acquiring Mark McGwire from the A's for Eric Ludwick, T.J. Mathews and Blake Stein
- Acquiring Darryl Kile from the Rockies for Manny Aybar, Brent Butler, Rich Croushore and Jose Jimenez
- Acquiring Jim Edmonds from the Angels for Kent Bottenfield and Adam Kennedy
- Acquiring Scott Rolen from the Phillies for Placido Polanco, Mike Timlin and Bud Smith
- Acquiring Larry Walker from the Rockies for Jason Burch, Luis Martinez and Chris Narveson
Thus, the best approach is to trade from your strength. For example, if you already have a good young shortstop on the major league roster that you have under control for 5 more years (Starlin Castro) and you a few other shortstop prospects that other teams might covet (such as Hak-Ju Lee, Junior Lake and Darwin Barney), you can probably afford to trade one of them (as well as a few other prospects) for a player you need (such as a firstbaseman named Adrian Gonzalez).
It remains to be seen what Jim Hendry is going to do with the abundance of middle infield prospects that the Cubs have. Other than the shortstops named above, the Cubs also have good depth at second base with prospects D.J. LeMahieu, Ryan Flaherty, Tony Thomas and Logan Watkins. Now is the time to trade some of this excess to fill some holes on the major league roster.
Boston Red Sox/New York Yankees (When all else fails, fill the holes with free agents)
Here's where having deep pockets really helps. When you cannot fill a hole on your roster through the minors or a trade, you need to go out and get a free agent to fill that need. The Yankees and the Red Sox are notorious for spending whatever it takes to do just that.
The problem here is that the Red Sox and Yankees usually have their pick of the best free agents each year, with only the other team as competition. Whereas the Cubs have to compete with several other clubs for the next tier of free agents. Thus, Jim Hendry may have felt like he had to overspend to get the free agents he wanted (Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome and Milton Bradley).
The lesson here is to spend wisely. In recent years, many teams have been able to wait out the market and get a good player on a reasonable, short-term deal. The perfect example of this is that the same year (2008) that Hendry signed Milton Bradley to a 3-year, $30 million deal, he could have waited and signed Bobby Abreu (who ended up signing with the Yankees for 1 year and $5 million).
Overall, it seems like a simple enough process, you develop players, hold on to the best ones, trade the excess to fill holes and supplement with free agents. However, there are many ways that one can go astray in the process, as Hendry has found out.
Tom Ricketts seems to have confidence in Hendry's ability to get it right. Me, I'm not so sure.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
2011 Cubs Top 10 Prospects
For my first article on my new blog, I thought I'd start off with my picks for the Cubs 2011 Top 10 Prospects. As I am not a scout (and I rarely get to see these players in action anyway), these rankings are based more on an statistical point of view, as well as the scouting reports of others (Baseball America, in particular). As such, I tend to place more emphasis on recent performances (i.e. their current year's stats), thus you will not see any 2010 draft picks amongst my Top 10, unless they saw significant playing time after signing.
With that said, here is my Top 10:
Next week I'll take a look at my Top 5 Cubs prospects who could have an impact in 2011.
With that said, here is my Top 10:
- Brett Jackson, CF - with Starlin Castro graduating to the majors, Jackson is clearly the best Cubs prospect still in the minors. The Cubs first round pick in 2009, Jackson has plus speed and enough pop to hit 15-20 HR's in the bigs. He made it as far as AA this season and with another year under his belt, he could be the Cubs starting center fielder for 2012. Cubs fans are just hoping he doesn't turn into the next Corey Patterson or Felix Pie.
- Hak-Ju Lee, SS - After Jackson, its really a toss-up between the next 3 prospects as to who should be number 2. However, I elected to go with Lee. An excellent defender with plus speed, Lee could eventually push Starlin Castro to second base. He's tall (6'2") and wiry (170 lbs) and will need to add strength. He played the whole year at class A Peoria and will likely move up to high A Daytona to begin 2011.
- Chris Archer, SP - Archer shot up the charts this year with an outstanding season split between high A Daytona and AA Tennessee. He compiled a 15-3 record, 2.34 ERA and 149 K's in 142.1 IP and earned the Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year award. He should start 2011 at AAA Iowa and could be the first pitcher the Cubs call upon when there's a need.
- Chris Carpenter, SP - while Archer may have been getting all the headlines, Carpenter continued his steady accent towards the majors. He spent most of the year at AA Tennessee, where he posted an 8-6 record, with a 3.16 ERA and 100 K's in 119.2 IP. He struggled after getting a late-season promotion to Iowa and will likely start 2011 there.
- Josh Vitters, 3B - despite a down year in 2010 (.247/.312/.405), Vitters still manages to sneak into my Top 5 based mostly on talent. Although Vitters reached AA Tennessee in 2010, its unlikely he'll be ready to take over for Aramis Ramirez, when his contract expires after the 2011 season. Baseball America considers Vitters a potential .300 hitter with 25-30 HR power and he has shown flashes of his ability in the past. However, he still needs to prove he can put it all together.
- D.J. LeMahieu, 2B - before Hak-Ju Lee pushes Starlin Castro to second, LeMahieu may earn the starting job. LeMahieu was named to the Florida State League Postseason All-Star team for 2010. He is rated as the Cubs best pure hitter, hitting .314 in 2010. He will move up to AA in 2011.
- Trey McNutt, SP - Another one of the Cubs bevy of young starters, McNutt compiled a 10-1 record to go along with a 2.48 ERA and 132 K's in 116.1 IP. His mid-90's fastball, power curve and effective changeup allowed him to pitch at three levels in 2010. After finding success at Peoria and Daytona, McNutt struggled at AA Tennessee and will likely start 2011 there.
- Brandon Guyer, OF - the Cubs Minor League Player of the Year, Guyer had a breakout season in 2010 hitting .344/.398/.588 at Tennessee. Guyer's year helped to re-establish himself as a prospect after he dropped out of Baseball America's Top 30 Cubs prospect list in 2010. He could battle for a bench role with the Cubs in Spring Training, but is more likely to start 2011 at AAA.
- Robinson Chirinos, C - another prospect who elevated his status this year, Chirinos ranked 26th on Baseball America Top 30 Cubs prospects for 2010. But that was before he hit .326/.416/.583 between AA and AAA. Between Chirinos, Wellington Castillo and Chris Robinson, the Cubs have ample depth at the catch spot for 2011 and should be able to rid themselves of Koyie Hill.
- Jay Jackson, SP - rated as the Cubs 5th best prospect by Baseball America, Jackson's stock dropped a bit in 2010 after posting a 4.63 ERA at AAA Iowa in 2010. However, there is still hope for him as he posted a 3.64 ERA in the first half of the season, before falling apart in the second half (6.20 ERA). Also, if he doesn't work out as a starter, he could find success as a reliever as he posted a 1.17 ERA in 15 IP as a reliever for Iowa in 2010.
Year Tm AB R H HR RBI SB BA OBP SLG 2009 3 Teams 211 50 67 8 36 13 .318 .418 .488 2009 Cubs 11 6 5 0 4 0 .455 .533 .636 2009 Boise 88 14 29 1 15 2 .330 .443 .398 2009 Peoria 112 30 33 7 17 11 .295 .383 .545 2010 2 Teams 491 103 146 12 66 30 .297 .395 .493 2010 Daytona 263 56 83 6 38 12 .316 .420 .517 2010 Tennessee 228 47 63 6 28 18 .276 .366 .465 2 Seasons 702 153 213 20 102 43 .303 .402 .491Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table Generated 11/5/2010.
Year Tm AB R H HR RBI SB BA OBP SLG 2009 Boise 264 56 87 2 33 25 .330 .399 .420 2010 Peoria 485 85 137 1 40 32 .282 .354 .351 2 Seasons 749 141 224 3 73 57 .299 .370 .375Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table Generated 11/5/2010.
Year Tm W L ERA SV IP H BB SO WHIP 2006 2 Teams 0 3 7.71 0 21.0 19 18 22 1.762 2006 Indians 0 3 7.45 0 19.1 17 17 21 1.759 2006 Burlington 0 0 10.80 0 1.2 2 1 1 1.800 2007 2 Teams 1 7 5.88 0 56.2 61 24 53 1.500 2007 Indians 1 7 5.64 0 52.2 56 21 48 1.462 2007 Lake County 0 0 9.00 0 4.0 5 3 5 2.000 2008 Lake County 4 8 4.29 0 115.1 92 84 106 1.526 2009 Peoria 6 4 2.81 0 109.0 78 66 119 1.321 2010 2 Teams 15 3 2.34 0 142.1 102 65 149 1.173 2010 Daytona 7 1 2.86 0 72.1 54 26 82 1.106 2010 Tennessee 8 2 1.80 0 70.0 48 39 67 1.243 5 Seasons 26 25 3.67 0 444.1 352 257 449 1.371Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table Generated 11/5/2010.
Year Tm W L ERA SV IP H BB SO WHIP 2008 2 Teams 4 2 4.64 0 33.0 34 23 25 1.727 2008 Cubs 0 0 18.00 0 1.0 2 1 1 3.000 2008 Boise 4 2 4.22 0 32.0 32 22 24 1.688 2009 3 Teams 6 7 2.82 0 130.2 100 52 118 1.163 2009 Peoria 4 3 2.44 0 73.2 55 33 60 1.195 2009 Daytona 2 1 1.44 0 25.0 15 8 33 0.920 2009 Tennessee 0 3 4.78 0 32.0 30 11 25 1.281 2010 2 Teams 8 6 3.41 0 134.2 137 57 112 1.441 2010 Tennessee 8 6 3.16 0 119.2 118 48 100 1.387 2010 Iowa 0 0 5.40 0 15.0 19 9 12 1.867 3 Seasons 18 15 3.29 0 298.1 271 132 255 1.351Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table Generated 11/5/2010.
Year Tm AB R H HR RBI SB BA OBP SLG 2007 2 Teams 51 2 6 0 3 1 .118 .164 .118 2007 Cubs 30 0 2 0 2 0 .067 .094 .067 2007 Boise 21 2 4 0 1 1 .190 .261 .190 2008 2 Teams 273 39 88 5 38 1 .322 .357 .495 2008 Boise 259 38 85 5 37 1 .328 .365 .498 2008 Peoria 14 1 3 0 1 0 .214 .214 .429 2009 2 Teams 458 63 130 18 68 6 .284 .314 .456 2009 Peoria 269 42 85 15 46 4 .316 .351 .535 2009 Daytona 189 21 45 3 22 2 .238 .260 .344 2010 2 Teams 316 44 78 10 39 6 .247 .312 .405 2010 Daytona 110 16 32 3 13 4 .291 .350 .445 2010 Tennessee 206 28 46 7 26 2 .223 .292 .383 4 Seasons 1098 148 302 33 148 14 .275 .317 .435Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table Generated 11/5/2010.
Year Tm AB R H HR RBI SB BA OBP SLG 2009 2 Teams 164 21 53 0 34 3 .323 .376 .384 2009 Cubs 12 2 5 0 4 1 .417 .429 .583 2009 Peoria 152 19 48 0 30 2 .316 .371 .368 2010 Daytona 554 63 174 2 73 15 .314 .346 .386 2 Seasons 718 84 227 2 107 18 .316 .353 .386Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table Generated 11/5/2010.
Year Tm W L ERA SV IP H BB SO WHIP 2009 2 Teams 3 1 0.98 0 27.2 14 15 28 1.048 2009 Cubs 0 1 0.00 0 7.1 5 3 7 1.091 2009 Boise 3 0 1.33 0 20.1 9 12 21 1.033 2010 3 Teams 10 1 2.48 0 116.1 93 37 132 1.117 2010 Peoria 6 0 1.51 0 59.2 43 24 70 1.123 2010 Daytona 4 0 2.63 0 41.0 29 9 49 0.927 2010 Tennessee 0 1 5.74 0 15.2 21 4 13 1.596 2 Seasons 13 2 2.19 0 144.0 107 52 160 1.104Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table Generated 11/5/2010.
Year Tm AB R H HR RBI SB BA OBP SLG 2007 2 Teams 143 19 35 1 19 11 .245 .327 .315 2007 Cubs 72 10 16 1 5 6 .222 .309 .347 2007 Boise 71 9 19 0 14 5 .268 .346 .282 2008 Peoria 327 55 88 14 38 22 .269 .331 .498 2009 2 Teams 454 62 128 3 46 30 .282 .339 .385 2009 Daytona 265 40 92 2 32 23 .347 .407 .453 2009 Tennessee 189 22 36 1 14 7 .190 .236 .291 2010 Tennessee 369 76 127 13 58 30 .344 .398 .588 4 Seasons 1293 212 378 31 161 93 .292 .352 .464Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table Generated 11/5/2010.
Year Tm AB R H HR RBI SB BA OBP SLG 2001 Cubs 154 15 36 2 15 4 .234 .292 .351 2002 Boise 231 35 57 8 38 5 .247 .311 .433 2003 Lansing 362 51 84 7 39 10 .232 .298 .370 2004 Lansing 319 56 77 7 39 7 .241 .313 .401 2005 Daytona 231 30 63 7 27 3 .273 .325 .390 2006 Peoria 433 74 105 9 47 19 .242 .360 .383 2007 2 Teams 366 46 90 5 36 9 .246 .357 .358 2007 Daytona 239 35 62 3 20 8 .259 .385 .372 2007 Tennessee 127 11 28 2 16 1 .220 .298 .331 2008 3 Teams 236 39 65 5 29 4 .275 .394 .441 2008 Cubs 13 5 6 0 3 1 .462 .632 .692 2008 Daytona 120 22 34 5 18 3 .283 .431 .475 2008 Tennessee 103 12 25 0 8 0 .243 .304 .369 2009 2 Teams 262 44 77 11 52 2 .294 .396 .519 2009 Daytona 227 40 68 11 47 2 .300 .400 .546 2009 Tennessee 35 4 9 0 5 0 .257 .372 .343 2010 2 Teams 319 63 104 18 74 1 .326 .416 .583 2010 Tennessee 264 53 84 15 64 1 .318 .412 .580 2010 Iowa 55 10 20 3 10 0 .364 .435 .600 10 Seasons 2913 453 758 79 396 64 .260 .350 .422Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table Generated 11/5/2010.
Year Tm W L ERA SV IP H BB SO WHIP 2008 3 Teams 4 2 2.88 0 50.0 40 13 72 1.060 2008 Boise 0 0 5.00 0 9.0 7 1 14 0.889 2008 Peoria 2 2 3.00 0 24.0 22 5 37 1.125 2008 Daytona 2 0 1.59 0 17.0 11 7 21 1.059 2009 3 Teams 8 7 2.98 0 127.0 109 46 127 1.220 2009 Daytona 2 2 1.64 0 38.1 31 4 46 0.913 2009 Tennessee 5 5 3.70 0 82.2 73 39 77 1.355 2009 Iowa 1 0 1.50 0 6.0 5 3 4 1.333 2010 Iowa 11 8 4.63 0 157.1 153 48 119 1.278 3 Seasons 23 17 3.74 0 334.1 302 107 318 1.223Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table Generated 11/5/2010.
Next week I'll take a look at my Top 5 Cubs prospects who could have an impact in 2011.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Hello everyone
Welcome to the blog formerly know as Cubspack.com. I started writing Cubspack back in June 2009 for the Fanball network. However, the powers that be decided in October 2010 to discontinue the use of bloggers on their network and Cubspack was locked down. You can still read some of my old posts over there, but this is the place to be for the latest info.
As for me, I remain an accountant by day and a baseball fanatic by night. I hope to bring you a different perspective on the Cubs, from the minors up to the big league team. A lot of my articles have a statistical bent to them, but I will also provide my perspective on the latest news and rumors involving the Cubs.
As for me, I remain an accountant by day and a baseball fanatic by night. I hope to bring you a different perspective on the Cubs, from the minors up to the big league team. A lot of my articles have a statistical bent to them, but I will also provide my perspective on the latest news and rumors involving the Cubs.
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