Go (and do something) Cubs
Today is the first day of the Winter Meetings where GM's and agents and stuff meet for something or other. Mainly just a lot of talk about trades and contracts go down. I've recently heard some interesting storylines developing from a Cubs point of view, so I'll break down what I've heard.
Jacque Jones is available! Woo! Teams can have him cheap for a solid starting pitcher. Orginally I thought he'd be heading to Cleveland for a Jake Westbrook, but I haven't heard anything about the recently. However, apparently the Cubs offered him to the Rockies for pitcher Jason Jennings. This would be a big deal in my opinion, because we get rid of him and get a guy who is 28 and still improving. I'm pretty sure we just offered the deal straight up, and that is almost definitely not going to get the deal done, but I like this option. And he obviously has experience pitching in a hitters park, so I'm assuming he can keep the ball in the park.
The Cubs also have reportedly made an offer to Ted Lilly. It seems that Hendry isn't really waiting for other teams to set the market value and he's just going to set it himself. Some GM's aren't happy about this (especially the Soriano deal. Carlos Lee gets $100 million? Suckers.) but he's doing it. And I can't say I'm upset. We've got the money to make shit happen, we might as well put it to use. Anyways, the Yankees are also interested in Lilly and if it turns into a bidding war I'm not sure what will happen.
There are also reports that the Cubs are interested in bringing in Kenny Lofton to play center. This is kind of intriguing. Lofton will probably have a better OBP than Pierre had last year, and he'd be hitting behind a better lead-off hitter and before a better #3 hitter in the Cubs lineup (assuming he hits 2, which I'd hope he would) so he actually could have another solid year. Plus, he's obviously on the decline, so a 1 year deal could be a bargain, and then we still have room for Vernon Wells or Felix Pie after this year. He's not going to steal 80 bases, but his speed is still above average so he we don't have to worry about him 'clogging up the bases'.
Finally I think I read that Jim Hendry doesn't want to move Murton. Over at Sports Illustrated they said that the Cubs have 2 average outfielders and then Soriano. Um, I don't know too many outfielders who hit .300. I'm not saying Murton is great, but I mean, it's his second full season, let's not label him as nothing better than average. Also, he is a pretty solid hitter with runners in scoring position, something that Jacque Jones isn't per se. So, let's get rid of Jacque, put Soriano in right, bring in Lofton (am I sure I'm ok with this?) and put Murton in left. It's a better outfield than having Jones in it, and they definitely hit lefties better.
I think that's all I've heard. It's a long week, so there's definitely the possibility that nothing gets done, or a lot of things get done, but I'm hoping we come out of this week basically done for the offseason.
Jacque Jones is available! Woo! Teams can have him cheap for a solid starting pitcher. Orginally I thought he'd be heading to Cleveland for a Jake Westbrook, but I haven't heard anything about the recently. However, apparently the Cubs offered him to the Rockies for pitcher Jason Jennings. This would be a big deal in my opinion, because we get rid of him and get a guy who is 28 and still improving. I'm pretty sure we just offered the deal straight up, and that is almost definitely not going to get the deal done, but I like this option. And he obviously has experience pitching in a hitters park, so I'm assuming he can keep the ball in the park.
The Cubs also have reportedly made an offer to Ted Lilly. It seems that Hendry isn't really waiting for other teams to set the market value and he's just going to set it himself. Some GM's aren't happy about this (especially the Soriano deal. Carlos Lee gets $100 million? Suckers.) but he's doing it. And I can't say I'm upset. We've got the money to make shit happen, we might as well put it to use. Anyways, the Yankees are also interested in Lilly and if it turns into a bidding war I'm not sure what will happen.
There are also reports that the Cubs are interested in bringing in Kenny Lofton to play center. This is kind of intriguing. Lofton will probably have a better OBP than Pierre had last year, and he'd be hitting behind a better lead-off hitter and before a better #3 hitter in the Cubs lineup (assuming he hits 2, which I'd hope he would) so he actually could have another solid year. Plus, he's obviously on the decline, so a 1 year deal could be a bargain, and then we still have room for Vernon Wells or Felix Pie after this year. He's not going to steal 80 bases, but his speed is still above average so he we don't have to worry about him 'clogging up the bases'.
Finally I think I read that Jim Hendry doesn't want to move Murton. Over at Sports Illustrated they said that the Cubs have 2 average outfielders and then Soriano. Um, I don't know too many outfielders who hit .300. I'm not saying Murton is great, but I mean, it's his second full season, let's not label him as nothing better than average. Also, he is a pretty solid hitter with runners in scoring position, something that Jacque Jones isn't per se. So, let's get rid of Jacque, put Soriano in right, bring in Lofton (am I sure I'm ok with this?) and put Murton in left. It's a better outfield than having Jones in it, and they definitely hit lefties better.
I think that's all I've heard. It's a long week, so there's definitely the possibility that nothing gets done, or a lot of things get done, but I'm hoping we come out of this week basically done for the offseason.
posted by Jtrouble at 11:44 AM
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