The Chicago media seems pretty intent on deciding whather Ryan Dempster was listening in to trade conversations about him or not. Was Dempster really listening in like Jay Leno in a broom closet as Ned Colletti outlined the reasons why he wasn't interested in parting with more than a bag of balls for Dempster's services? Or was there really a …
Let’s play “What if”
Starlin Castro has established himself at the big league level and he's going to get better. How much so? Who really knows, but even if he never got any better, he's still an above average shortstop currently making league minimum. Anthony Rizzo hasn't established himself as Castro has, but he's more than shown in his first couple months with the …
A Tale of Two Trade Deadlines
[Billy Beane and Kevin Towers] operate, as ballplayers do, without a fear of failure. This year Beane found too many phone calls that came his way that sounded like this: "I have interest in one of your players and this is what I'm going to give you for him." "That's not deal-making," Beane said. It's name-your-own price. The art of …
New Cub Christian Villanueva
The main piece aquired in the Ryan Dempster trade was 21 year old Christian Villanueva. Villanueva was signed as an international free agent out of Mexico by the Rangers in 2008 and just recently turned 21. He's played the entire season in High A. His first season in the US was in 2010 in the AZL. Over 210 plate appearances …
New Cub Kyle Hendricks
Minutes before the deadline yesterday the Cubs matched up with the Rangers for the second time in less than 24 hours as they traded Ryan Dempster. In the trade the Cubs acquired Kyle Hendricks and Christian Villanueva. MILB.com lists the 22 year old right handed Hendricks at 6'3", 190 lbs. He's been described as the throw-in, but he has very …
Player Behavior
I don't know how many times I've said I don't care about the players in any other way than their performance. Over the years I have stressed this so many times I've lost count. One of the reasons why I wrote each year about how good Carlos Zambrano has been in his career was to point out that all that …
New Cub Arodys Vizcaino
I was getting ready for bed last night when all these trades happened and I assumed I'd make it to bed at my bedtime. Then I saw Arodys Vizcaino's name surface as one of the two players the Cubs were getting in return for Reed Johnson and Paul Maholm. At that point I knew I was going to be up …
New Cub Jaye Chapman
I had hoped to turn these player intros our at a pace today so we could be ready for any additional trades if the Cubs make them so here's another. Along with Arodys Vizcaino who we'll discuss in more detail later, the Cubs also acquired 25 year old RHP Jaye Chapman from the Braves for Reed Johnson and Paul Maholm. …
New Cub Jake Brigham
Last night Geovany Soto was traded to the Texas Rangers for Jake Brigham. Brigham is a 24 year old right handed pitcher who has spent each of 2011 and 2012 for AA Frisco. His ERA over 2 seasons has basically been 4.5 and his FIP not much better. His FIP sits at 4.58 this year, his second time through the …
Why the Cubs will trade Ryan Dempster for whatever they can get
I'm sure everyone is as tired of the Ryan Dempster Saga as I am, but all along I had been assuming offering him arbitration at the end of the season was a no-brainer for the Cubs. If they can't get at least something decent in return, they could offer arbitration and would receive a supplemental pick in next year's draft …