Is the Trade good?

[barzilla]

I just wanted to get the Cub fan's pulse on this thing. Let's assume that nothing else is done beyond signing someone like Burnitz to replace Sosa in right field (in other words, no Aubrey Huff or Ordonez). Does this make the Cubs a better team?

Of course, if it were me, I would trade those prospects for a closer instead of Huff. I think the Cubs are a reliable bullpen away from running away with this division this year. I don't know whether losing Sosa will be the catalyst or not, but you guys have way too much starting pitching and just enough hitting to get it done.

[rockin500]

I agree, trade the prospects for a solid closer. I'm not overly concerned with losing the power part. We had plenty of that last year, but that didnt translate into a lot of runs.

and 74 home runs (including alou) are "lost" but are they really lost? you have to assume that some of those homers will be picked up by a replacement. its not quite as simple as merely subtracting from the total. (not to mention, nomar should help boost that number somewhat this year)

In the long run, I think it will probably be a good trade. If sammy was still performing at 2001 levels, than obviously not. and he wouldnt have been traded. But 2004 sammy? well, it makes it easier. and everyone knew that he would need to be gone someday soon. he wasnt going to be back in 2006 anyways.

would i be happy with burnitz? not particularly, but still better than nothing.

[barzilla]

Obviously, hitting almost 200 home runs didn't do it for the Cubbies in 2004. You're right about not losing all of those home runs, but more importantly you aren't losing all of those runs. Hairston had nearly a .380 OBP last season. That allows Corey Patterson to hit lower in the lineup where he should. Jeromy Burnitz is Sammy Sosa at this point in Sosa's career. In Chicago, Burnitz might hit 30 bombs and strikeout 150 times, but that is what Sosa would have done.

Listen, the Cubs cannot afford to worry about replacing home runs. They need to replace the run production and they are on their way with Hairston in left field. If the Cubbies acquired a closer (Ugueth Urbina?) for those prospects then they would be in prime position.

[Toy Cannon]

Sosa may have hit 35 HR's last year, but he only drove in 80. No one in the history of baseball has driven in fewer with that many HR's. Those 80 RBI should be easily replaced.

You got his best years and no doubt he'll go into the HOF wearing a Cubs cap.

[rockin500]

Is Oogie available? he can be kinda erratic cant he? and you're right that 80 RBI shouldnt be too hard to replace.

and about alou, he was pretty much useless on the road a lot of times. alou on the road=burnitz.

[Chisox73]

How many closers do the Cubs really need? You have Hawkins,who's not really a closer,but can close if necessary,you got Ryan Dempster,Joe Borowski,who's coming off an injury,and you got Kyle Farnsworth.

If anything,I would try to move Farnsworth while I can and get something for him.

[rockin500]

i think they are trying to move farnsworth, but they want to get quite a bit for him. of course, if they put the right package together, they could get a good bit in return.

[Chisox73]

Is this Farnsworth's contract year?

[KingDave]

no idea about farnsworth, but ugueth urbina is still a Tiger. he wont become a Cub unless there is some kind of trade. im worried about him though. his moms still missing and this could affect his play.

[rockin500]

Is this Farnsworth's contract year?
either this year or next. i think its next year, but i'm really not sure.

[awefullspellare]

A closer would be nice. I'd rather use Dubois/Hollandswoth over Burnitz.

[ORANGEnation]

To me it just shows how far Sammy has fallen. Not only did the Cubs NOT get anyone all that good from the Orioles' minor league system, but the one major-leaguer they did get was nothing more than a spare part FOR A BALTIMORE TEAM THAT EVEN WITH SOSA WILL BE BATTLING FOR THIRD IN THE DIVISION. Then, they even have Sammy void the last year of the contract.

Good move for Baltimore, gave up nothing for a guy who will put butts in seats and has a fair shot of rejuvination in a new city. I think it was a move the Cubbies had to do, but if you ask me both the addition by subtraction thing and the emergance of Jerry Hairston Jr as a premier leadoff man are way overblown. Despite how hard the team has been shopping Sammy, and publicly at that, it seems like they are trying to convince themselves and their fans that this was a great baseball move for the city of Chicago.

[barzilla]

None of those guys mentioned (Farnsworth, Borowski, Hawkins, Dempster) are closers. It's like what is often said about quarterbacks. If you have two starting quarterbacks you have zero starting quarterbacks. If you have four closers you have no closers. What you have is four setup guys that could serve as closers. If that's what you want then be prepared to accept some blown saves.

[rockin500]

well, it looks like burnitz is going to be the new cubs right fielder. Thats mostly because they cant get aubrey huff as chuck lamar is asking for a king's ransom for huff.

[Baseball Guru]

chuck lamar is asking for a king's ransom for huff.


As he should.. Huff is Tampa's marquee player and should not go cheap;)

[rockin500]

As he should.. Huff is Tampa's marquee player and should not go cheap;)
true, but he's expecting us to be dumb like the mets when they gave up that much for zambrano. and you know jim hendry wont do that.

[Baseball Guru]

In the long run, I think it will probably be a good trade. If sammy was still performing at 2001 levels, than obviously not. and he wouldnt have been traded. But 2004 sammy? well, it makes it easier.


A bad Sammy would generate to at least 30 hr's and I can't see how losing that kind of power and not getting crap in return as well as paying for half his salary is a good thing.... I guess they were just desperate to get him out of town but hell the O's made out better IMO just because they are getting him at half price and they dont have to pick up the option if they dont want to so they wont be stuck with him if he doesnt perform... But for now they get him at a HUGE discount, dont lose much as far as players and get another big name to generate interest in the team.. .Putting him in there with Tejada could generate big #'s for that team....

[Baseball Guru]

true, but he's expecting us to be dumb like the mets when they gave up that much for zambrano. and you know jim hendry wont do that.


I'm not sold that the Mets gave up too much.. They gave up a prospect who hasnt done crap in the majors for their #1 starter which will probably be a #3 or #4 on this current team.. Zambrano is only 28 with less than 150 games under his belt and if he just will get better with his control he will be a very good starter.. Just tone down the walks.. I will think that Peterson will help him with that this spring...

I cant consider this trade anything yet until I see how both pan out so not sure that they gave up too much...

[barzilla]

Well, if we're discussing Zambrano let me say the following:

1. You always surrender more during the season than during the off-season.
2. The Mets had zero chance of getting the wild card in 2004

Given those two facts I would say the Mets got fleeced. Yes, the prospects might not amount to much although I think Kazmir will be a good ML pitcher. Yes, Zambrano might be a good starter, but if the Mets were desperate they could have waited until the off-season when they didn't have to trade anyone. They could have re-signed Leiter, signed Pedro, and re-signed Benson and had a BETTER staff without surrendering ANY prospects.

Of course, I would have let Benson go myself, but you get the idea.