2008-2009 Cubs Offseason Thread

[GYBE]

Yeah, holding onto Marshall is important. A team with such injury risks needs a strong 6th starter.

Sucks that we're going to lose Vitters. We'll have no one worth caring about in the farm if he goes.

[SportsWorld]

Reports are saying the Twins could be another potential 3rd team and DeRosa could be heading there.

[ChronicKerr]

[quote="GYBE"]Yeah, holding onto Marshall is important. A team with such injury risks needs a strong 6th starter.[/quote]

Rich Hill?

[mattbulls]

Losing DeRosa makes me a little sad. He's one of those fan favorites that you could just tell he wanted to get it done for the fans. Plus he was so versitile. Hopefully Bradley and Peavy can push us over the edge.

[The Sheik]

The thing with Vitters is he is another one of those potential guys. Felix Pie etc. etc. Im not saying he will be a bust, but he isnt an all world cant miss prospect.

[cold5]

Some questions if people can kindly answer them: Other than radio, who is your source for Marquis rumors, Pax? Does anyone have any idea of how close this deal is to completion? About how long will it take for it to get done? Thanks in advance.

[GYBE]

Yeah, holding onto Marshall is important. A team with such injury risks needs a strong 6th starter.

Rich Hill?

He's done. Can't even get out rookie ball guys in the winter leagues at this point.

[Posey H8er]

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/player ... 946&spln=1

The Cubs have interest in bringing in Paul Bako as a non-roster player, according to The Daily Herald.
That probably won't happen. Bako figures to get a guaranteed contract after spending the bulk of last season as the Reds' top catcher. The Cubs would view him as a fallback in case they fail to re-sign Henry Blanco. Dec. 10 -

Oh gawd Paul Bako, I never want to see him in a Cubs uniform again.

[SportsWorld]

Barry Axelrod was on Chicago Tribune Live just moments ago. He didn't really say much and what he said wasn't that encouraging.

[SportsWorld]

6:00pm: Buster Olney says the Yankees have talked with the Padres recently about Peavy, but it didn't go anywhere.

[Howling Mad]

Towers: "Hi Jake, you wanna be traded to the Yankees?"
Peavy: "Nope"
Towers: "OK, bye."
(click)

[karch34]

Reports are saying the Twins could be another potential 3rd team and DeRosa could be heading there.

Much better option at 3B for MN than Casey Blake, IMO.

[SportsWorld]

MLB Trade Rumors:

LAS VEGAS - The end could be near as Padres general manager Towers and Cubs general manager Jim Hendry are to speak at least one more time before the meetings end Thursday.

Towers has gone as far to tell reporters that he will know one way or the other by then if a deal is to be had.

"We had more dialog today than any other day," Towers said of his talks with Hendry. "We'll know tomorrow [Thursday]. Before we check out of this hotel ... we'll know if we have a deal. This has been the entire focus of baseball ops [operations]."

Towers said for the first time Wednesday that, in all likihood, a fourth team would need to be involved in a deal with the Cubs and the Phillies to ensure the Padres get in return the package of players, Major League-ready pitching as well as prospect, they want for Peavy.

"[Getting] a number of players fills more holes, but there has to be a couple a guys in this deal who can make an impact on our team soon," Towers said.

Towers thinks the only thing holding up the deal is the need for the Cubs to move one or two contracts - namely pitcher Jason Marquis and his $9.875 salary and possibly second baseman Mark DeRosa and his $5.5 million salary for 2009.

The Cubs could ask the Padres to assume part of Marquis' salary, something that Towers would rather not do. However, he said Wednesday that under the right circumstances and the right return of players, he would consider it.

The Phillies are said to want DeRosa and are thought to be willing to trade left-handed pitcher J.A. Happ, 26, who was 8-7 with a 3.60 ERA at Triple-A Lehigh Valley a year ago. Happ profiles as the kind of pitcher the Padres like - a strike-thrower with strong control - and one who could slide into the starting rotation in 2009.

There are some reports that 24-year-old Kyle Kendrick, who was 11-9 with a 5.49 ERA with the Phillies last season. A Padres source said one rumored deal that would land the Padres shortstop Jason Donald or pitcher Carlos Carrasco from the Phillies was entirely false.

The Cubs could offer a package of third baseman prospect Josh Vitters and possibly an outfielder, Felix Pie, in return as well as a reliever Kevin Hart.

[SportsWorld]

Cubs inquire about Angels' Chone Figgins
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_ ... re-ab.html

LAS VEGAS -- The Chicago Cubs have made trade inquiries about third baseman Chone Figgins, but it will be difficult for the Angels to figure out what they might even ask for in return until they determine whether they can retain free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira or acquire a closer such as Brian Fuentes.

The Cubs and Padres are trying to engineer a four-team trade that would send San Diego ace Jake Peavy to Chicago, and the deal would probably cost the Cubs valuable utility man Mark DeRosa, who played second base, third and the outfield this past season.

Figgins, a former super utility player who has started at six different positions, would be a perfect fit for the Cubs, who could also use a good leadoff hitter.

The Angels are not actively trying to trade Figgins, who has also drawn heavy interest from the Chicago White Sox in recent years, but if they can't re-sign Teixeira, Figgins could be a valuable chip in a deal for a power bat.

The Angels have also expressed interest in Fuentes, a free agent who could command a deal in the three-year, $30-million range, but if they don't sign the left-hander, they could seek bullpen help in a deal with the Cubs.

[SportsWorld]

Some poster on NSBB e-mailed some guy with inside sources (I guess) and he answered back with this:

I'd say 50-50 on that. I only know one Sd guy these days. He doesn't seem nearly as optimistic as the Cubs do.

Mike just texted me to say "leaning toward yes."

The GM's and staff all leave at different times, depending on how quickly they wrap up talks.

Last year Gillick left at 9am local time, but Beane was there until 9 pm.

On NSBB they think Mike=Mike Valarezo Special Assistant to the General Manager which would make sense.

[hermes]

Yeah, holding onto Marshall is important. A team with such injury risks needs a strong 6th starter.

Rich Hill?

rich has pulled an "Ankiel" on us


except he can't hit

[hermes]

need a 4th team now? wooo this is getting big

it will be even more hilarious if its finalized and there are like 10 players to be named later involved

[ChronicKerr]

seems like another brian roberts situation

[Howling Mad]

Chone Figgins anyone?



I'd love this guy. Older now, but still fills the DeRo multi-util player role, plus can play more pressing positions for this team than DeRo could.


Cubs Trying To Acquire Chone Figgins
11th December, 2008 - 12:08 am

The Chicago Cubs have made trade inquiries about third baseman Chone Figgins, but it will be difficult for the Angels to make any more until the Mark Teixeira situation resolves itself.

Figgins, a former super utility player who has started at six different positions, would be a perfect fit for the Cubs, who could also use a good leadoff hitter.

[Howling Mad]

...and there I go, talking like we already got Peavy.