Cubs Fan Trade Silliness
You know that the silly season is upon us when you start seeing fans proposing all sorts of preposterous trades. Typically, these ideas consist of their favorite team giving up very little and get in return an awful lot.
One recent example of a silly season trade idea comes from the pen of none other than veteran Cubs blogger Al Yellon
over at Bleed Cubbie Blue:
Call up Omar Minaya and tell him Z's available, and make a deal. Now. Today, if possible, tomorrow, if not. Whatever's gotten into Z's head, it is clear that his time with the Cubs has to be up. And I hate saying that, because we all know the sort of talent Z has, and he just turned 26 today (some birthday, huh?), and he might turn in several more great seasons (although with 1/3 of this year gone and a 5.62 ERA, this year may be a lost one already). Minaya loves Z; the Mets could use him, and he's already hinted that he'd like to sign there next year (as opposed to with the Yankees, where he couldn't bat except during interleague games in NL parks), and the Mets can afford him.What should the Cubs ask for in return? It's very simple, and in fact, I think the Mets would do this deal. Aaron Heilman and Mike Pelfrey. Heilman is someone Hendry has shown interest in before, and Pelfrey is one of their top pitching prospects. Heilman steps into the Cub rotation, and if he fails, Pelfrey -- who is 23 and has made ten major league starts, including six this year -- could step in instead, with Heilman becoming a setup man, something this club sorely needs.
The problems here is that trades are rarely done at this time of the season and it over states the trade value of Z Big Z whose last several years have been in a sharp decline. His Wrigley Field ERA is a mind boggling 7.90 and he seems to be on his way towards becoming a basket case. Another problem is that while the Mets's experiment of Aaron Heilman as the closer was a failure, the guy is still widely popular among Mets fans. Trading Heilman might be the ticket for Minaya to be tarred and feathered and run out of town.
A better option for a trade with the Mets might be Michael Barrett. Minaya was the Montreal GM when Barrett was a prospect in the Expos farm system. Minaya is a guy who can full well appreciate what a properly coached Barrett could do for a team in the postseason. So, the Cubs could wait a month and then propose Barrett for Pelfrey and some other Mets pitching prospects. The Mets could then platoon Barrett at catcher with Lo Duca, or try to convert him to 1st Base or just simply trade Barrett off to another team.
In any event, suggesting trade ideas is an exercise in futility where Jim Hendry is concerned. Given his track record, its possible that his next trade will be Barrett, Felix Pie & Zambrano for another year or so of Juan Pierre.
- Charles Rector's blog
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In defense of Hendry
I've long since decided that Hendry is not the right guy for the Cubs' GM job, but in his defense, he's made some good trades. His mistakes have overwhelmingly been on the side of free agency rather than trades. Just looking at the roster right now, he made good deals to get Lee, Ramirez, Barrett, and Murton.
Re: In defense of Hendry
I agree Hendry has made good trades. Except the trades you mentioned occurred in 2004 or earlier. Has he made a beneficial trade since then?
Oh, wait, somehow he did pull this off.
Good point
They were awhile ago, no question, and as you know, I'd relieve Hendry of his duties yesterday if it were my call. But fair is fair, and I think that, looking at his time as GM in its entirety, the good has outweighed the bad when it comes to trades.