Hendry’s wheeling and dealing…Wuertz gone…
February 2, 2009 7 Comments
WOW, Jim Hendry’s makeover of the Chicago Cubs as we head toward Spring Training continues. Earlier today Rich Hill was sent to Baltimore, now Michael Wuertz has been sent to Oakland for two minor league position players.
The Cubs traded right-handed reliever Michael Wuertz to the Oakland Athletics for a pair of minor leaguers Monday and sent left-hander Rich Hill, their starter in Game 3 of the playoffs two years ago, to the Baltimore Orioles for a player to be named.
In the Oakland deal, the Cubs received outfielder Rich Robnett and infielder Justin Sellers.
Robnett, a first-round pick of the Athletics in 2004, has played five seasons in Oakland’s minor league system, reaching Triple-A. He played in only 82 games last season after having a tumor removed from his stomach. He his a .256 hitter in the minors.
Sellers has played four minor leagues seasons in the Athletics’ system, alternating between shortstop and second base.
Richie Robnett is an OF that went to Fresno State. He is a lefthanded hitter with power. Sellers on the other hand is a right handed hitting middle infielder that was selected by the A’s in the 6th round of the 2005 draft.
Bruce Miles notes that the Cubs have saved $2 million by dealing all of the players that were out of options:
One thing I’ve learned about Hendry: He likes to keep the roster nice and tidy at spring-training time. Players out of options have to clear waivers if their club wants to send them to the minor leagues at the end of camp, and all of these now-former Cubs would have been claimed. By trading them, Hendry at least gets live bodies. He also saves a little more than $2 mil in salaries, and that’s suddenly become important to the Cubs this winter.
Let’s see what else Trader Jim has up his sleeve…
Can’t help but feel like the return for Wuertz was really, really poor.
Yeah, it doesn’t look like much Ace. I think at this point all Hendry’s trying to do is have players with options. He doesn’t want to be stuck with a player like Wuertz who he will lose for nothing if he didn’t make the squad. From that perspective Hendry got more for him now than he would have come the end of March.
…just tidying up the basement.
Wuertz had a pretty decent slider. If he was a bit more focused and could hit his spots when he needed to he could have been pretty decent. I remember he could look unhittable at times but I guess the more lasting memory of him will be the dumbstruck look on his face when Lou would yank him. Maybe the change will do him good.
I know Wuertz had some value, but he has always been one of those players that just pissed me off. Maybe I just hold onto the times of 2-run lead, no runners on that turned into 1-run lead, 2nd and 3rd; after two walks and a double – more than the 1-2-3 innings when right-handers would actually swing at his one pitch.
I think Lou felt the same way SS. Shots of him in the dugout were priceless when Wuertz was on the hill.
remember when people thought the trib going BK would have no effect on the club? lol
nor the sales process…remember gm the Cubs aren’t mentioned in the documents. LMAO