Cubs 2009 roster dominoes start to fall? DeRosa dealt, Miles added, more moves to follow…
This morning the Chicago Cubs signed free agent switch hitting 2B Aaron Miles to a two year $4.9 million deal. This deal has been made because of other moves that are in the process of happening as we speak…
Rumors are swirling that a Cubs/Rockies deal that will send Jason Marquis to Denver for reliever Luis Vizcaino will be the next domino to fall in a string of deals by Cubs GM Jim Hendry which will change the look of the Chicago Cubs from the end of 2008 to 2009. That deal would free up salary so Hendry can sign free agent OF Milton Bradley.
Somewhere in all of this the Cubs will send DeRosa to Cleveland for prospects (that’s why they added Miles). The DeRosa deal will free up his payroll and give the Cubs the prospects that will be teamed with Sean Marshall and others in a trade to the Padres that brings Jake Peavy to the Northside.
Wow! Jim Hendry has alot of balls in the air right now. If this works out as reported he will have retooled the Cubs without adding significant payroll.
UPDATE: ESPN 1000’s Bruce Levine is reporting the DeRosa deal is done. DeRosa dealt to Cleveland for three pitching prospects Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer, & John Gaub.
Good point about retooling and improving the club without adding significant payroll, ccd. We’ve seen that Hendry can be a pretty good GM when he has a shitload of money to spend, but that’s not all that impressive. I’m not saying Hendry shouldn’t be given credit, but if he can pull off what now appears to be a master plan, the guy is an early favorite for executive of the year.
Maddog
December 31, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I don’t think being a GM is ever an easy md. It’s even harder when you have the outside influences Hendry has right now and as he tries to improve a 97 win club. He’s in a difficult spot when you look at the circumstances.
I’m sure he hated to see DeRosa go, you have to look back at the winter the Cubs signed Soriano, Lilly, Marquis and DeRosa as the turn around point for this franchise. DeRosa and Marquis have been big contributors to winning teams the last few years. But Hendry has seperated that. He is looking to improve the club.
If he can see this plan all the way through it will have been a brilliant stroke IMHO. He adds significant talent (Bradley & Peavy) to an already talent laden club. This is a long way from being done, but if he pulls it off I will be very very impressed.
wpbc
December 31, 2008 at 1:16 pm
MD, Any thoughts on Miles? What does Miles bring that Fontenot doesn’t?
wpbc
December 31, 2008 at 1:19 pm
I’ll try to keep my ‘brilliant’ analysis on hold until the dominoes have all fallen, but I have to believe that the Miles deal presages the inclusion of another IF (Cedeno, or in our dreamworld, Theriot) in a subsequent deal. Either that, or Lou really wants four middle infielders on this club.
Agreed that this will have been a very impressive set of deals if it all comes together. I’d deal Wood, DeRosa, Marquis, Pie, Cedeno, Marshall and prospects for Miles, Bradley, Gregg and Peavy any day of the bleeping week.
Assuming that’s how it all comes down, I’d still like them to plug in a right-handed bat that can spot at all four corners. I know Rich Aurilia was kicked around and he’d be a decent get for the Daryle Ward role, but he can’t play the outfield and I get nervous about the potential for having two slots filled by some combination of Johnson, Fukudome, Gathright, and Miles if either of our good OFs go down. I’d love to see them go after Ty Wigginton to basically be Mark DeRosa — having another 20 HR guy to plug in at any of six positions on this team would give them a shot at 110 wins in next year’s NL Central if all went well.
I’m not holding my breath, of course. If you’re in early January and that’s your worst worry, though, your team is in very, very good shape.
uncle dave
December 31, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Offensively there’s a big difference between Miles and DeRosa. Probably about 40 points in wOBA and I’m not sure of Miles’ defense, but it’s not going to make up for DeRosa. Fontenot is as good as DeRosa though. What Miles adds is that ability to play all over the field that we like about DeRosa. If Ramirez gets injured Miles steps over there and the difference between DeRosa and Miles in 30 games is almost next to nothing.
I’m planning to look at his projections more closely later on, but I think he’s exactly what many fans thought Derosa was–a utility player and a good one at that. DeRosa was an everyday player mislabeled by fans as a utility player.
Maddog
December 31, 2008 at 3:55 pm
[...] cubs. Tags: 08-09 offseason, chicago cubs, jason marquis, jim hendry, luis vizcaino trackback On New Years Eve, it became apparent that General Manager Jim Hendry was going to make a bunch of moves to retool [...]
Marquis deal complete…now we wait « waxpaperbeercup
January 6, 2009 at 4:35 pm
All of you idiots who thought Hendry would be GM of the year after dealing DeRosa, Wood, Marquis, etcetera and bringing in Bradley (how did the proposed Peavy deal turn out?) and Aaron Miles and Kevin Gregg can now go and put the dirt on the coffin. 2009 buried all the great stories of 2008, not to mention any memory of getting close in 2007 and even closer in 2003. 2009 reminded us of all the incredibly insane moves this organization has made over the last 40 years since blowing it to the Mets in 1969. PLEASE!!! Go back to your little drawing boards and don’t bother with ANY opinions until AFTER the Cubs at least make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs. Until then, you’re all fired!
h2oeddie
November 17, 2009 at 2:15 am
i’m just a dumbass writing a blog h2oeddie. you are right that i was wrong about the 2009 club. i thought they would be better. hell if you read my comments above, i thought they’d add jake peavy. oops. so your criticism is fair and i’m happy to take it. all the best,
wpbc
November 17, 2009 at 8:55 am