Chasing Cubtober: Having fun at the rumor mill
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by LMedina86
Some people take rumors too seriously. Others don’t even pay attention to them. I like to have fun with rumors.
I would just like to use this forum to say that it is OK to dream. It is OK to think about your team acquiring stars through blockbuster trades and stealing headlines from your main rivals.
When it comes to rumors, it’s OK to breathe. With that said, I’d like to address a rumor that really seems to be taking off.
In his article dissecting the Jacque Jones trade, Paul Sullivan writes that the Cubs could attempt a trade for Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Carl Crawford. This lines up with a recent radio report from ESPN 1000’s Bruce Levine, who said the Cubs were trying to put together a package for Crawford. Levine, coincidentally broke news of a potential Jones-for-Infante swap last week.
Sullivan brings a little more light to the rumor, naming starting pitcher Rich Hill and second baseman/outfielder Eric Patterson as a possible starting point, along with other prospects.
The Cubs could possibly get away with keeping Hill by sending off pitching prospects like Kevin Hart, Sean Marshall and Sean Gallagher. Hill put up impressive numbers and looked like a solid number three starter, despite getting little run support.
I’m thinking that shortstop Ronny Cedeno would have to be included, taking into consideration that the Rays are looking for a young, inexpensive, defensive-minded shortstop. Fans probably shouldn’t sleep on the .940 OPS that he put up in 532 AAA at-bats accumulated in 2005 and 2007.
One would think that there is some middle infielder that has to go in a trade. Having Cedeno, Mike Fontenot, Ryan Theriot, Omar Infante and possibly Kaz Matsui competing over one position would be ridiculous.
As for the potential Crawford-to-Chicago trade, it would make sense for both sides. The Cubs would be adding a speedy, left-handed hitting center fielder. The Rays would add young and inexpensive pitching and middle infielders.
Sullivan also notes that Japanese free agent Kosuke Fukudome appears to be the Cubs primary target. Fukudome would either play right field or center field, while adding a left-handed bat to a line-up that is stacked with right-handed hitters.
A potential outfield of Alfonso Soriano in left, Crawford in center and Fukudome in right would give the Cubs one of the most athletic outfields in baseball, and would improve two positions that were weak both offensively and defensively.
That outfield would leave top prospect Felix Pie on the outside-looking-in. This wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing. Pie hit only .217 in 177 at bats in 2007 at the big league level, but in AAA he posted a .362 average and a .973 OPS in 229 at-bats. Pie, 22, would likely benefit from some more seasoning in the minors.
