|
Starting today Chicago will host the annual GM meetings at O'Hare. All 30 GM's will meet and spend two and a half days talking shop and perhaps setting in motion a trade or two. This obviously means that there will be a ton of rumors that poke their way out the next few days. With Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay being the top prize in the trade market. With that in mind lets look at all the latest rumors.
Bruce Miles speculates that perhaps the Cubs would toss in some prospects with Milton Bradley to make the return more desirable. He mentions Halladay as a possibility, though his salary would be a tough fit even if Hendry managed to pull that deal off. It would upset me a lot of we gave up prospects on top of Milton, though getting Halladay in return would be fine with me. More likely something like this would be nice to talk with the Braves about. See what they want for Javier Vazquez.
Paul Sullivan says the Cubs have three priorities after dumping Milton. Find a center fielder, a leadoff man, and maybe a middle infielder. Personally I'm still on the sign Mike Cameron bandwagon. Jim Hendry talks in that article like he thinks there will be time to wait out free agents and get them cheaper, but I think no matter what you can get Cameron to settle in the $10 million range for two years. Obviously everybody is still hot after Chone Figgins to leadoff, personally I don't mind Sullivan's suggestion of having Fukudome just hit there. Middle infield is very interesting right now given the rise of Starlin Castro. I think the Cubs should move Ryan Theriot back to second right now and look in the Miguel Tejada/Orlando Cabrera direction for a one year shortstop deal. It seems like Sullivan is thinking along similar lines.
Phil Rogers weekly MSU Sunday nonsense included in it a note that the Cubs might look to build their bullpen through non-tendered players and trades. He also drops yet another hint that the Cubs will be letting Rich Harden go, making it necessary to find two rotation guys instead of one. I really hope he's wrong.
Of course he probably isn't according to another Sullivan piece. Reed Johnson and Harden probably won't be back, and that is only half upsetting. Johnson is very replaceable and Sam Fuld will do just that. Like I've said a few times now, Harden needs to be brought back, I've got a post coming later about why he is due for a monster season next year. Hopefully the Cubs don't make the mistake of letting him go.
To complete the Tour de Chicago newspapers we have a Sun-Times report regarding Milton rumors. Basically there is interest in Milton, there are three more teams that called the Cubs this week. Something will get done, but probably not during the GM meetings. Also there is more Mike Cameron speculation citing his relationship with Lou as a reason he might be coming here. I sure hope so.
Finally Baseball Prospectus speculates that Geovany Soto might be available in trade. Carlos Zambrano too if you make the right offer. Given our current pitching situation Big Z isn't going anywhere. I could see Soto being moved, but that would be a dumb move on the Cubs part. He suffered a terribly unlucky season, and is due for a nice comeback season.
There will be plenty more to pass along as the day and week goes on.
|