Here is the first post-football edition of Sunday morning News and Notes...
- Brian Pasnik of Bloomingdale, IL is the only Cubs fan left in an MLB contest called "The Fan Cave". The winner gets to go to New York and watch all 2,430 baseball games this season. During this experience, MLB players will come in and do skits and help make it the ultimate fan experience. 17 MLB players are already scheduled to participate. It's the opportunity of a lifetime for Brian, so go to the MLB Fan Cave link, scroll to find Brian's name, watch the video and then vote for him. Let's get a Cubs fan in the MLB Fan Cave!
- The Marlins offer to Yoenis Cespedes is now said to be at 6 years and something below $40M. It's fair money, but it seems beatable if the Cubs intend to go down swinging. It seemed like it was more and more a foregone conclusion that Cespedes would wind up in Miami lately, but the lower than expected offer seems to have opened up the door for the Cubs and other teams to snatch him away.
- Phil Rogers said compensation could be drawing near but Nick Cafardo is saying it could still take some time (isn't funny how we have recently talked about Lucchino being tight-lipped recently on compensation and how he prefers Cafardo to be his mouthpiece?) Apparently, the Red Sox (still obsessed with defining the word "significant" on their personal terms) now want Travis Wood. They've been unwilling to meet market value in their pursuit for a pitcher this offseason and now it seems they want Selig to hand them over a pitcher and do their work for them. Wood is certainly worth a lot more than one year of a GM, even one as good as Theo Epstein, so once again it seems like Lucchino is negotiating through Cafardo and the media to try and skew the value to unrealistic proportions. Cafardo also mentions Anthony Rizzo, Brett Jackson, Javier Baez and Trey McNutt as "possible" compensation as well as MLB players like outfielder Reed Johnson and utility man Jeff Baker. I won't even address the prospects. It's obvious by the mention of Reggie Golden and Zach Cates that he's been reading Keith Law and is just picking prospects. Cates and Golden weren't mentioned on any other top ten prospect list. Johnson seems realistic but Baker is a little high as he figures to play an important role with the Cubs and would certainly do so with the Red Sox. What's frustrating to me is that Cafardo continues to set the tone while our writers here in Chicago say nothing. I don't think this battle is to be won in the media, but it probably doesn't hurt, and Cafardo, (undoubtedly through the Lucchino pipeline) has been the one setting ridiculous parameters while our writers remain relatively silent on the matter. Precedent, objective value assessments, and plain common sense tilt the decision decidedly toward a lesser, Class A type player or perhaps a smaller role player such as Steve Clevenger or a middle reliever.
- As much I, like most Cubs fans, like Reed Johnson as a solid bench player, that is the first name I've heard Cafardo mention that actually makes a little bit of sense. He's a one year player (just as Theo had one year on his deal). The Cubs certainly have an important role for him in mind as he's likely to spell Soriano on defense and start occasionally vs. lefties for David DeJesus, so it's not ideal, yet that would qualify as significant as 1) he's a major league player, a rarity in comp cases and 2) he'd likely have a similar important role in Boston. If he is the compensation, it would certainly mean a larger role for Tony Campana and perhaps a spot on the team for new acquisition Dave Sappelt.
- Ryan Dempster would like to remain a Cub for the rest of his career according to an interview with Sirus XM radio, summarized here by Patrick Mooney of CSN. Dempster said, “As you get older and you get near the end of contracts, you kind of wonder. But at the same time, when I signed on with the Cubs my first time, I was hurt and I had a chance (to) sit there on the bench and kind of watch it all play out in 2004. (I’ve) had a couple different opportunities to sign back and I’ve always thought I want to be here and win....I’m looking forward to, hopefully, staying in Chicago the rest of my career and being a Cub and (helping bring) a World Series to (a) city that deserves it so much now on the North Side.” Sounds like he may wind up pulling a Kerry Wood and signing with the Cubs for less.
- Bruce Levine suggested on the radio that the Cubs may not yet be done adding pitching (h/t reader Cliffy), while Jon Heyman tweeted that Edgar Reneteria might be a fit for the Cubs. I can see another pitcher. You can never have enough of those and I see Renteria as a possibility if the Cubs indeed lose someone like Jeff Baker, but right now the Cubs seem to be up to the gills with utility infielders and it seems hardly worth using another roster spot on that position right now.
Filed under: Cubs, News and Notes
As long as he is not one of the Cubs top prospects let Boston
have anybody. We want this over with. Dempster can stay
with the Cubs after this year, but not as a pitcher.
I don't agree at all. They can't let them have anybody. They deserve what's fair value based on precedent and objective evaluation, nothing more. Besides, Wood will likely be better than almost any top Cubs pitching prospect and he's what? 25, 26 years old?
That's not what I meant
I guess maybe I'm not sure what you mean. I'm okay with some of the names out there, most notably Reed Johnson. I wouldn't like Baker, but I could live with it. He's probably only here for a year anyway. Totally agree that it shouldn't be a top prospect.
I'm wondering if Guillen's "gambling" comments were a foreshadowing of the low offer.
Would we see anything this season from Cespedes anyway? Why isn't more value held in Dempster, given his consistent performance this last few years. I would say he was arguably the most consistent winning pitcher next to Carlos Zambrano, despite injury
I was going to comment on Guillen's comments as he seemed lukewarm about the idea -- but like anything, it could just be posturing. Ozzie's a clever guy.
I think we'd see him in a Cubs uniform by June. Alexei Ramirez of the White Sox was similar in terms of age and experience, and he was able to play from day one.
I think the expectations of Dempster are too high and his salary reflects that too. If he were a value pitcher making 5-6M, I don't think people would be as hard on him. I agree, he's been a solid pitcher for the Cubs -- not a star, but a good mid-rotation type.
Agree, his salary must be off the payroll by the end of the season
His 14 mill salary has to be off the payroll, but if hes willing to give a discount i say keep him around. You know hes gonna eat a good amount of innings, be a positive influence in the clubhouse and a give good amount of quality starts. If the cubs can keep him around for maybe like 3 million, that would give the cubs a lot of value. He likes it in Chicago and if he stays, hed have a guaranteed no trade clause because of the 10 and 5 rule. The Cubs will have a lot of bargaining power with Dempster, so you know if we sign him it will be for a good deal.
Great points, Andrew. I do think there's a chance the Cubs bring him back at a reduced rate, especially since he'll likely give the Cubs a discount.
On the other hand, I won't rule out trading him this offseason either.
It sure would be nice if Selig could make a decision soon. If though I'm a Cub fan, I believe I can see the situation with an open mind. The MacPhail move is a good example for compensation. Get it done.
The McPhail compensation has to be the standard here. There's no better way to measure what is fair.
I think if Selig was basing his decision on the McPhail compensation this would .have been decided long ago.I expect something more unfortunately it was left in his hands.
I don't expect much more. Red Sox are really trying to win this PR game but in the end, I think Selig will be objective about it. He might be a little influenced by Boston's whining, but I don't thin so much so that the Cubs will lose a valuable piece.
Look at how long Selig is taking to make a decision on the As proposed move to San Jose. He's not exactly a quick decision maker. That said, I hope to resolves this soon.
"The winner gets to go to New York and watch all 2,430 baseball games this season."
As much as I love baseball, that just sounds awful.
I agree i think id just shoot myself the 100th time i have to watch an astros game.
A little too much? Apparently Brian is willing to endure that "grueling" work. I'm not sure if I could do it but I am 100% certain my wife wouldn't even let me try ;)
Renteria, that doesn't seem like a Theo fit to me. He's older than me and I'm on Medicare. And what's this about the young pitcher Wood as comp for Theo. Is there Any chance of that really happening?
Haha! I don't think so either, sounds like pure speculation on Heyman's part. Cubs will probably just go with Baker and Cardenas this year.
Renteria wont get a major league contract for any team, might be worth a minor league contract with an invite since we dont really have a solid backup shortstop unless Cardenas works out.
John: It appears the Cubs are loaded with infield prospects at the lower levels. Where do guys like Candelario, Hernandez and Amaya start the 2012 season? Is Baez slated to return to Boise? Will we be seeing Enrique Acosta in the states this summer? Thanks for your efforts keeping Cubs fans up to date with insightful information and for helping facilitate a site where fans can have respectful discussions/debates.
Your welcome and thanks for the kind words. We do encourage civil debate here. Our commenters do a great job of keeping it about baseball while being respectful about other's opinions --even when they don't agree.
Baez is going to Peoria. The Cubs think he's advanced enough to handle it. Acosta will start in the DSL. I think Hernandez and Amaya may just go to Boise. Hernandez is going to stay at SS and having Baez in Peoria won't allow him to do that. Amaya, though, is looking more like a 2B or 3B, but DeVoss will likely be the 2B at Peoria. Geiger has the inside track for the Peoria 3B job.
Candelario may join Amaya/Hernandez at Boise, if not at the beginning of the short-season, then likely a midseason promotion. The Cubs have been traditionally aggressive with promoting players, athough not sure how much that will change with the new front office.
Thanks John; we are hoping to catch the Peoria Chiefs/Lake County series at the end of April. Would Golden, Chen, Wells, Wang and Rosario also be likely candidates for Peoria?. Any thoughts on where the Cubs plan to start Vogelbach? Thanks.
All of those guys should be on the Peoria squad (which should be loaded with Cub prospects). Vogelbach has a shot to start there if he shows he's ready this spring. He's polished enough and the Cubs think he has the mental make up to handle it.
John, thank YOU for taking the Chicago media to task over not being more vocal on the compensation issue. I agree with you on this 100%, the decision won't be won by the media and you're right, it won't hurt either.
I can't tell you how many times I have read Cafardo's drivel about getting" significant compensation and what Boston should get from the Cubs. It frustrated me to no end to see Chicago writers not making the Cubs case in all of this. I've seen the Trib even refer to Cafardo's take on this on several occasions.
Has anyone even heard from Paul Sullivan since the Cubs Convention?
Yes, I did see one of our writers quote Cafardo's "one AL GM" who thinks it should be "significant". Nobody bothered to note that it's one GM out of how many? You know that if more than one exec felt this way, Cafardo would have made sure to mention it was several, a few, or many execs that felt that way. One guy says it and it became news even here in Chicago. I don't know how much that stuff influences Selig (if at all), but they're certainly winning the PR battle on that front.
Haven't seen a Sullivan article in a while...
I hope that I am not repeating something that has already been stated before, but when it comes to settling the compensation issue, any player that wasn't a member of the Cubs organization at the time Theo agreed to come to Chicago, should be off limits. Compensation wasn't to be based on who Theo might acquire later, it was accepted knowing the limited prospects that the Cubs had at the time. If we traded Marshall or Cashner, in order to provide compensation for Theo, then we are giving up way, way too much for the one year of Theo that Boston still controlled.
The Red Sox should have to take their compensation from what was in the Cubs system when Theo walked out the door at Fenway. So Rizzo and Wood and others aren't even a topic of discussion. If the Sox want/need a starting pitcher, I say give them Coleman and be done with it.
I think emartinezjr, mentioned it but that's cool! I totally agree with both of you on that.
True, some good prospects have been added since he started.
I'm still worried about how Bud will figure out "What is fair"
I agree E. I'm worried about old Bud myself. Prolly nothing, but he is tight with Reinsdorf. And we all know what those two did to the new CBA.
It's really hard to be confident for a couple of reasons, 1) his relationship with Red Sox ownership and 2) it's nothing Theo can control. If it were up to Theo, I'd be very confident.
John, Cafardo is a big blowhard whose a suck up to Larry Lucchino.. After this is all done, I hope to never hear Cafardo's name or Lucchino's name ever again..EVER!!!!
'
No kidding. I hate them now, and they picked the perfect douchebag
manager. I really was envious of them and called them my baseball mistress the last couple of seasons, but wow are they ever douchey without Theo.
Tom, Theo was the class in that organization..totally..Bobby V may be baseball smart but he is the biggest asshole everywhere he goes...That team will implode and they'[ll blame Theo
I have to say that I still like Cherington. Heard some talk that Boston has been incredibly difficult to work with except for him. Have the feeling if it were between Cherington and Epstein, this would have been decided months ago.
IN COMPENSATION NEWS TODAY....
Commissioner Selig finally met with the Cubs and Red Sox organizations, represented by owners Tom Ricketts and John Henry, respectively. Selig requested their involvement after his initial meeting with the Cubs' Theo Epstein and Boston's Larry Lucchino culminated with Lucchino's request for Cub shortstop Starlin Castro, outfield prospect Brett Jackson and Theo Epstein's first-born son.
Selig's decision in the matter caught most pundits by surprise and will likely have precedent-setting implications, according to missing Chicago beat writer Paul Sullivan, who couldn't be reached for comment. As compensation for the Epstein hiring, the Red Sox will receive Cubs' President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein himself and a player to be named later (likely first base prospect Anthony Rizzo). Epstein will transition to the Red Sox effective immediately, according to Jenna Stewart, a Boston mother of four who happened upon Epstein, Selig, Lucchino, Henry and Ricketts in a New England area Starbucks.
What does this mean for the Cubs future? Stay tuned. Phil Rogers, in his "MLB Whispers" suggested that Ned Colletti, Jim Hendry and the late Syd Thrift have all inquired about the Cubs new front office opening. Also, it is expected that San Diego owner Jeff Moorad has contacted the Commissioner's office regarding something about "this Hoyer guy who used to work here that the Cubs stole from us."
Yes, 2012 should be an interesting year indeed!
Ha! This is great!
RT @Kevin_Goldstein: Rumors out of the DR today that the Cubs are making a very very big play for Jorge Soler.
Thanks Cliffy...have often wondered if he's their big prize. Not sure how that happens if he's not a FA, but I like the sound of it.
This and the upcoming June draft( 4 picks in the top 80) could really put the Cubs farm system in the top 10
Very excited with McLeod on board...and Soler would be like getting an extra high pick...
Kevin Goldstein @Kevin_Goldstein
Outstanding. Would be single digit pick in draft. “@AnthonyRescan: @kevin_goldstein what's Soler's potential like?.”
Soler would instantly be their best prospect, hands down, so that helps, as will the draft. The last piece of the puzzle would be that some of the lower level guys step up and have good years against higher competition.
And don't forget that the Cubs might lose their top two prospects to graduation, as well as Carpenter, Dolis, maybe Castillo. I think they can still be top 10, but they need Baez, Vogelbach, Candelario, Maples, etc. to show they're worthy of the hype.
Little more on this story...
http://www.csnchicago.com/blog/cubs-talk/post/Cubs-reportedly-ramp-up-interest-in-Jorg?blockID=649936&feedID=10336&awid=4739636068185483736-914
Well I had a great comment. I thought so anyway. But even though I hadn't posted anything in over a week, I was flagged for commenting too soon or quickly. Odd.
I've heard that has happened before. Not sure what the deal is with that. Can you remember what you wrote?
I don't know what the deal is with this exactly. I have had it happen to me enough times that I just hit CNTRL + C every time on my comments for this site so that if it says I'm doing it too quickly that I can just paste it into another comment quickly.
I have learned to wait a little bit before hitting the comment button too. I, personally, usually have about 3 tabs open at the same time. So when I'm finished typing my comment, I go over to another tab for a little bit until I feel it has been long enough not to be flagged for commenting too quickly.
I have more confidence in the Cubs getting Soler than Cepedes anyway , and he being younger maybe more of an upside. As for the endless compensation saga for Theo and Boston, I stopped caring what Cafardo says. It's clear he's Lucchino's lapdog , the Red Sox's theory must be if they keep pushing and pushing for higher compensation , Selig will relent and give it to them. I hope this backfires and Selig's gets so sick of the Red Sox campaigning thru the media that he has the Cubs give them a low A baller, just to spite them.
That would be great. A low A ball guy, as long as it's not a top 10 guy, Wells, or Golden. I think Boston has been pretty transparent throughout this process, I hope Selig sees through it too.
Give Boston Soriano and be done with it already..
If only that were possible...
John, I could see Dempster agreeing to be traded in a deadline deal and still resigning with the Cubs. What do you think?
I think of all the Cubs, Dempster and Wood are the most likely to do something like this. Wouldn't surprise me in the least.