What should be our trade target?

[biggz]

Completely agree, Clapp. Aren't people bitching that Wood and DeRosa were shipped away, and that they were big clubhouse leaders? What the hell is D-Lee, chopped liver? D-Lee has been the only consistent player for about a month, and people want to shed for some payroll and (most likely) mediocre prospects?

It'd be incredibly bad to blow up this team right now, baseball and business wise. After the window has closed, sure, blow it up. I'll admit it may be closing sooner than I thought, but I still think there's at least one or two more years to win with this core.

I'm sure Ricketts would just <i>love</i> buying the team then dismantling it, and risk pissing off a large majority of the fanbase.

[offcolorpoetry]

<!--quoteo(post=44130:date=Jun 14 2009, 06:22 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Jun 14 2009, 06:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=44122:date=Jun 14 2009, 04:51 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Jun 14 2009, 04:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=44119:date=Jun 14 2009, 05:54 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Jun 14 2009, 05:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=44079:date=Jun 14 2009, 10:31 AM:name=MW4)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MW4 @ Jun 14 2009, 10:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->There was a blip in the LA times this morning suggesting the Cubs trade Lee to the Giants, as they have Hoffpaiuer and Fox.
What's available there or a three way??<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That would be foolish.
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Disagree mightily. Lee is not a terrible hitter - at least not as terrible as he looked late last year and early this year - but neither is he the hitter he's been the last month and a half. He gets big money last year, and although Hoff and Fox don't fully replace him, they're close, and it frees up money for the Cubs to pick up... um... well, I'm sure there's a spot that the Cubs could add a bat. I say dump him like the fat girl in study hall.
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Hoff and Fox can't replace him at first, it's not close. Hoff can't hit lefties, and you can't put Fox at first base. I also think if Hoff played everyday we'd see some of his holes exposed. You don't deal the one guy on the team that is drilling the ball, and he's still terrific at first base. He's also the leader of the team on top of that. Yeah, he's not going to keep up the 1.000+ OPS and whatnot, but he's still a very good hitter. I just don't see how dealing him makes us better, and when you're a contending team, you don't get worse to save a few bucks for the future. This team is built to win now and must do everything possible to win now. Those calling for a blowup of the team are absolutely out of their minds and thank God they're not near the front office of this team.
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Excellent analysis. I don't see any way that trading Lee would be to our benefit - he's our team's leader, he's hitting better than anyone else on the team right now, and he still plays terrific defense. Fox can hit but can't field and we don't know how Micah would respond to becoming an everyday player. (He could wind up like Fontenot.)

[Ace]

How quickly people forget how tremendously awful Lee has the capability of being. As I said, I don't know if I *really* think the Cubs should dump him. But to act as though the suggestion is baffling is, well, baffling.

[offcolorpoetry]

<!--quoteo(post=44133:date=Jun 14 2009, 07:04 PM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ Jun 14 2009, 07:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->How quickly people forget how tremendously awful Lee has the capability of being. As I said, I don't know if I *really* think the Cubs should dump him. But to act as though the suggestion is baffling is, well, baffling.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I don't think that he has much time left in the majors, and I do think that we should start considering finding a replacement. I don't think that Micah or Fox are the answer after Derek hangs up his cleats.

That being said, I don't think that this is the year to make any moves, especially considering how well Derek is hitting.

[biggz]

<!--quoteo(post=44133:date=Jun 14 2009, 07:04 PM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ Jun 14 2009, 07:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->How quickly people forget how tremendously awful Lee has the capability of being. As I said, I don't know if I *really* think the Cubs should dump him. But to act as though the suggestion is baffling is, well, baffling.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Nah, it's not baffling, it certainly <i>could</i> happen, but I don't think it should happen or that it would be all that beneficial to this team right now.

Sorry if I came across as attacking or anything. I wasn't trying to be.

You're right, though, Lee definitely has had his ups and downs. I just really don't see the point in getting rid of him, considering we'd have to eat some of his contract and probably wouldn't get anything in return.

[Ace]

<!--quoteo(post=44136:date=Jun 14 2009, 08:13 PM:name=biggz)-->QUOTE (biggz @ Jun 14 2009, 08:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=44133:date=Jun 14 2009, 07:04 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Jun 14 2009, 07:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->How quickly people forget how tremendously awful Lee has the capability of being. As I said, I don't know if I *really* think the Cubs should dump him. But to act as though the suggestion is baffling is, well, baffling.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Nah, it's not baffling, it certainly <i>could</i> happen, but I don't think it should happen or that it would be all that beneficial to this team right now.

Sorry if I came across as attacking or anything. I wasn't trying to be.

You're right, though, Lee definitely has had his ups and downs. I just really don't see the point in getting rid of him, considering we'd have to eat some of his contract and probably wouldn't get anything in return.
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I'm just being reactionary.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=44133:date=Jun 14 2009, 06:04 PM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ Jun 14 2009, 06:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->How quickly people forget how tremendously awful Lee has the capability of being. As I said, I don't know if I *really* think the Cubs should dump him. But to act as though the suggestion is baffling is, well, baffling.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You really think he's going to get <i>that</i> much worse in a year? That's all he's going to be here for. He doesn't hit for the power he used to, but still will hit 20, be a .290+ hitter, get on base at a high clip, and drive in 85+. He's hitting the ball in the air now at a higher rate than ever before, after everybody feared he had become a groundball hitter after last year. In fact, he's only hit into 1 double play this year in 214 plate appearances.

[jeffy]

The only way I would consider trading Lee is if we could somehow get Adrian Gonzalez or someone of his caliber.

Lee is the only guy hitting on our team right now. However, he's really not a 3rd of 4th power hitter anymore. The ideal would be to have Bradley hit 3rd and then Ramirez 4th and Lee 5th, but Bradley is not hitting like a number 3 hitter right now either.......hopefully he will by the time Aramis gets back.

If we are really going to win this season, then Bradley really needs to step up his game (as well as the rest of the lineup other than Lee). We can't keep winning games by only scoring 3 runs.

And I'd REALLY like to see Reed getting some more ABs while Fuk continues to struggle.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=44141:date=Jun 14 2009, 06:32 PM:name=jeffy)-->QUOTE (jeffy @ Jun 14 2009, 06:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->The only way I would consider trading Lee is if we could somehow get Adrian Gonzalez or someone of his caliber.

Lee is the only guy hitting on our team right now. However, he's really not a 3rd of 4th power hitter anymore. The ideal would be to have Bradley hit 3rd and then Ramirez 4th and Lee 5th, but Bradley is not hitting like a number 3 hitter right now either.......hopefully he will by the time Aramis gets back.

If we are really going to win this season, then Bradley really needs to step up his game (as well as the rest of the lineup other than Lee). We can't keep winning games by just scoring 3 runs.

And I'd REALLY like to see Reed getting some more ABs while Fuk continues to struggle.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Agreed.

[veryzer]

what's funny to me is that as bad as we've played, we're only 2 1/2 games back. can't blow up the team now, no matter how much some of us may want it. it's entirely possible to win this division with 83-85 wins.

[vitaminB]

<!--quoteo(post=44182:date=Jun 15 2009, 09:57 AM:name=veryzer)-->QUOTE (veryzer @ Jun 15 2009, 09:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->what's funny to me is that as bad as we've played, we're only 2 1/2 games back. can't blow up the team now, no matter how much some of us may want it. it's entirely possible to win this division with 83-85 wins.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

It's only blowing up the team if you only get "hot prospects" in return. If you can work a three-way deal to get a guy like Adrian Gonzalez from SD then I think you do it. We paid Lee a lot of money thinking he'd be a speed and power guy in the middle of our lineup. He's neither of those things, for a myriad of reasons. We need more power out of our corner infield. Plus, if you trade Lee now you're selling at the highest point, which is always a good thing.

I love the guy, but it might be time.

[Coldneck]

<!--quoteo(post=44185:date=Jun 15 2009, 10:06 AM:name=vitaminB)-->QUOTE (vitaminB @ Jun 15 2009, 10:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Plus, if you trade Lee now you're selling at the highest point, which is always a good thing.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I couldn't disagree with you more. Lee's value is at an all time low and it will continue to get lower. Lee is a nice defending 1B that has no power or speed. He's a poor man's Mark Grace at this point in his career with a Adrian Gonzalez type contract. If we trade Lee we'll either have to eat a portion of his contract or get less than he's worth to us. Therefore, I beilieve Lee will be on this team until his contract expires.

[rok]

We aren't getting Adrian Gonzalez. Get it out of your heads.

[vitaminB]

<!--quoteo(post=44186:date=Jun 15 2009, 10:11 AM:name=Coldneck)-->QUOTE (Coldneck @ Jun 15 2009, 10:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=44185:date=Jun 15 2009, 10:06 AM:name=vitaminB)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vitaminB @ Jun 15 2009, 10:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Plus, if you trade Lee now you're selling at the highest point, which is always a good thing.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I couldn't disagree with you more. Lee's value is at an all time low and it will continue to get lower. Lee is a nice defending 1B that has no power or speed. He's a poor man's Mark Grace at this point in his career with a Adrian Gonzalez type contract. If we trade Lee we'll either have to eat a portion of his contract or get less than he's worth to us. Therefore, I beilieve Lee will be on this team until his contract expires.
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Clearly you can't jump in your Dalorian and trade him three years ago, but in terms of his current value I'd say he's hitting now as well as he's going to for the foreseeable future.

[ruby23]

If the Cubs aren't trading for a middle infielder, they're not trading for a need.