11-07-2009, 08:22 PM
<!--quoteo(post=68414:date=Nov 6 2009, 03:23 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Nov 6 2009, 03:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->We should be looking to trade Vitters, Castro, Cashner, and any other minor league players that have gotten some hype recently. We're going to hang on to all of those guys too long, and when they bust (which they always do with us), we're going to look back and say, "We should have traded ________ back when he still had some value."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We can't go forever just taking on higher priced players from low market teams. For one thing, the players we take from other teams are old. It's hard to build around guys like Soriano because he was at the top of his prime and we all knew he would only decline in his years here.
Another reason is the Cubs just can't afford to do it. No team can fill up their roster with all veterans except for the Yankees really. Even the Red Sox have developed their own talent over the years. Yes, they dip into the pocket books to bring in guys like Beckett, Lowell, Bay, and Drew. But, they utilize their scouting and player development maybe better than anyone in the league. That is why they are successful and that is what Rickett's is trying to do. No matter how cursed you think the Cubs are, we have to try to rely on our homegrown talent. Does that mean we can't trade those guys? Of course not. But, we shouldn't be trading them just because our prospects "always bust with us".
We can't go forever just taking on higher priced players from low market teams. For one thing, the players we take from other teams are old. It's hard to build around guys like Soriano because he was at the top of his prime and we all knew he would only decline in his years here.
Another reason is the Cubs just can't afford to do it. No team can fill up their roster with all veterans except for the Yankees really. Even the Red Sox have developed their own talent over the years. Yes, they dip into the pocket books to bring in guys like Beckett, Lowell, Bay, and Drew. But, they utilize their scouting and player development maybe better than anyone in the league. That is why they are successful and that is what Rickett's is trying to do. No matter how cursed you think the Cubs are, we have to try to rely on our homegrown talent. Does that mean we can't trade those guys? Of course not. But, we shouldn't be trading them just because our prospects "always bust with us".