Please Take my Silver Slugger, Please
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by user Kylesiev
Normally when I get into work, one of the first things I do is listen to the stream of ESPNradio. Before I could even open up the site to turn it on, I saw that the Cubs traded Michael Barrett this morning. So basically I did an hour of research on the trade before I did any work today.
The trade itself is not really surprising to me, I was thinking that there was a possibility that he was on his way out. Although it wasn’t surprising, it was definitely upsetting. The factors that do surprise me is how quick the trade was pulled off and what the details of the trade were.
There are over 40 days left until the non-waiver trade deadline. Trading players of this caliber really dont normally happen this far in advance. So me being me, I am going to try to analyze and dissect why this happened so quick and why the Cubs received a flaming bag of poo in return.
First off, its no secret that there has been some adversity in the clubhouse with Barrett this year. I have always liked Barrett a lot and will continue to like him even though he is no longer in a Cubs uniform. He has always been class act and has always stood up for his team and teammates. He has just had a rough year starting all the way back to when he decked AJ Queerzinski last year. Granted, him and other players didn’t always see eye to eye, but then again there are plenty of players that play on the the same team that are the same way.
Enough about the past, what is done is done.
Why did Jim Hendry pull the trigger on this trade so quickly? What I am thinking is that there has to be something that went on behind the ivy that is being withheld. The Cubs received the Padres backup catcher (Rob Bowen) and a LowA minor league centerfielder by the name of Kyler Burke who was drafted as a sandwich pick last year.
What the hell is Hendry thinking? Is that the best he can do? To make matters worse, the Cubs are giving the Padres a cool million to offset Barrett’s remaining salary. I got an idea, how about we give them the rights to our spring training facilities as well. Trading Barrett really doesn’t upset me, it’s what was received in return.
I have always been a fan of Jim Hendry, but today I am at my boiling point. He should explain what the hell he is thinking by executing this trade. The Padres have one of the best bullpens in the majors and the Cubs’ pen is brutal. Wouldn’t it make sense to acquire a reliever at least? Barrett, I believe, has won at least a couple silver slugger awards and he is one of the best offensive producing catchers in the league. I have to believe that there would have been plenty of teams in the league that would have been willing to give a lot more than what the Padres did. It essentially seems like the Cubs just gave away Barrett and a million dollars (1.5 to be exact) to the lowest bidder. So Jim, if you are reading, whats your master plan now being that Blanco is on the DL and Koyie Hill has 5 games of MLB experience?
A quick note to Jim Hendry- You got worked. With your experience, you should be able to recognize a bad deal when you see one. In the words of Colin Cowherd “That’s Bush League.” Take your head out of your ass and enjoy your last four months of employment.
A quick note to Kevin Towers (Padres GM)- Hats off on the great deal. You are getting a hell of a player for next to nothing. Please leave the rest of my Cubs alone because when I take over the team, I still want something to work with.
