MLB: Cubs Firesale

I see all if your guy's points. And I agree. I agree that Justin upton is the kind of player you dream of signing for all the reasons. He's young, five tool, fairly versatile (?) and locked up long term. If they got that deal done, I would be thrilled.

But my point was that in the position the cubs are in right now, I would have think twice about that deal. I want to stockpile a group of young, talented, power arms for the rotation and pen down the road. Upton is in a class of about 5-50 some guys that are among the games most talented young stars. And acquiring a player like that is sweet to even think about.

Im just saying, he is also the epitome of the hyped up 18 year old. Now he's a major leaguer, 5ish years later, and he hasn't quite lived up to it. I'm not saying upton is a bust, but I'm saying that he might be. His offensive stats this year make me question his star status.


It's a moot point now, but I still think as an organization you take a deal like this.

Upton has a ton of potential and would be under control until 2015. Maybe a change of scenery is what he would need to really turn the corner. It's happened before. And for the cost of a pitcher who is only around for another year, I think you take it.

If Upton did flourish then you can trade him in a year or two and get even more for him. If he's not a part of a championship team then he's a commodity to be traded for the future.

You have to look at potential value, not just what they will do for your club.
 
Here's a quick scouting report...
  • Kyle Hendricks , 22, is a an advanced 4-5 pitch guy with a low 90s fastball, though some recent reports have it it in the high 80s. He's also developed a good cutter and a solid change-up. His best calling card, however, maybe his command of all of those pitches. Hendricks is just 5-8 with a 2.82 ERA in low Class A, but the key numbers here are 15 walks and and 112Ks in 130.2 innings this season. Based on his repertoire and command, he projects as a starter.
  • Christian Villanueva, 21, is a 3B who plays good defense and has a solid approach at the plate. Some mixed opinion on his power potential but he has hit 10 HRs so far this year. He hit 17 last season. He's a good athlete with decent speed, but he won't be a basestealer. Good instincts and very nice balanced swing. He should hit for average, play good defense, and eventually draw more walks. He should develop at least average power. Solid all-around player and possibly a higher ceiling than any other player we've talked about for Dempster other than Randall Delgado.
More details later but that's a quick rundown...
It is not as good a haul as Randall Delgado would have been, but the earlier acquisition of Arodys Vizcaino helps mitigate that loss. It is a much better package than what the Dodgers offered considering that the only prospects really worth acquiring, Allen Webster, Zach Lee, and Chris Reed, were all off the table.

Cubs Trade Dempster to the Rangers for 3B prospect Villanueva and RHP Hendric | Cubs Den
 
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Jon Heyman@JonHeymanCBS
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scout says christian villanueva, young 3b who went to #cubs in rangers deal is quite good. top 100 prospect in baseball.

Rangers have the top farm system in all of baseball with many good prospects. This was a good acquisition for the Rangers.
 
Hendricks is just 5-8 with a 2.82 ERA in low Class A, but the key numbers here are 15 walks and 112Ks in 130.2 innings this season. Based on his repertoire and command, he projects as a starter.

I'll take it.
 
Coleman starting tonight. Any word on what the rotation will look like now? Please tell me Volstead wont be coming back.
 
Oh lord not volstad.Nothing more disheartening than knowing every 5 game is lost before it's even played.
 
Oh lord not volstad.Nothing more disheartening than knowing every 5 game is lost before it's even played.

Knowing the Cubs will never win the WS should be more disheartening.

Carry on Cubbie fans. :wideeyed:
 
I'm pleased with the trades in general. We get rid of 2 35 year olds(will miss them of course!) a catcher who really hasn't done much lately, and a mid age picher who was having a career year(how long will that last?). We get some really young arms and a couple good position player in return.

Dempster and Johnson are up for Free Agency at the year end and I doubt the Cubs would have paid up for that old of a players, so they would have been gone anyway. We're not contenting this year so trade them and get some good players in return.

We kept Soriano, but that doesn't bother me that much. He's having a good year and if we can't get any value in return for trading him, we might as well keep him and let him help the team.

This team is so different from a year ago, it isn't even funny. Sooo much younger. All the pichers they are aquiring will give them some good chips to work with when trading down the road.

The rest of the season will be ugly of course, but I like the direction they seem to be heading long term.
 
Rangers getting Dempster sucks as they will be the Yankees biggest threat in the postseason (AL) even though the Yanks are on a losing skid so nothing is certain yet.

I like what the Cubs are doing though you guys will need patience or it could blow up big time.
 
I like what the Cubs are doing though you guys will need patience or it could blow up big time.

Want to elaborate?

They've dumped a lot of expensive contracts on older guys. The record really can't worse than it has been the last couple years? They bring in a lot of youth. They've got plenty of money to spend.

As long as the fans will keep coming(and they have for 100 plus years) and they improve I can only see this going one direction and that's up.

Cubs fans are very patient. That's part of the problem.:swoon:
 

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