ROBERTS COMING TO CUBS
Phil Rogers reports today that it looks like the Brian Roberts deal is back on for the Cubs, and it will happen soon.
Don’t be surprised if the trade is finalized later this week — perhaps even Wednesday — and the deal includes pitchers Sean Marshall, Sean Gallagher and Ronny Cedeno.
Cedeno is at this point a throw in. He has some skills but the Cubs did him no favors by the way he was developed.
Gallagher did get rocked in 8 games for the Cubs last year, but he’s only 22 and has excellent minor league numbers. Too bad they couldn’t give them Dempster instead. That said, he is still a prospect.
Then apparently the Cubs will also add Sean Marshall to the deal. I really like Marshall and thought he had a fine season last year. I don’t know if he’ll ever be a stud but from what I’ve seen it looks as if he could enjoy a long career in the bigs.
So is it too much to get one of the best leadoff hitters in the game? Hard to tell right now. But it will be fun to have Roberts here in Chicago. Phil Rogers had his version of the Cubs lineup for 2008, but mine differs a bit:
- 2B Roberts
- RF Fukudome
- 1B D Lee
- 3B Ramirez
- LF Soriano
- C Soto
- SS Theriot
- CF Pie
- Pitcher
That line-up looks like a lot of runs scored. I like the way this looks.
Repeat the Central in 08? I think so.
Um, this trade hasn’t been made yet. The title of the story states that it has.
I’m not saying that it won’t happen, but Angelos seems to love Roberts, so I wouldn’t be so quick to assume it’s a done deal. And considering the track record of Phil Rogers…well, you know.
No, it’s not too much to give up, I don’t think – there aren’t many true leadoff guys out there, and it’s to me the single most glaring need for this team. It has the added benefit of getting Soriano down in the lineup and really completes things. I had the same mock lineup in mind myself, and I’m likin’ it.
Now, if it can actually really happen, I can start to get excited.
I like it too because your top 4 on-base guys bat before your best pure power hitter, and there is 2 speedsters at 7 & 8. The more I think about it though, the more I think Pie is better suited to 7 and Theriot 8.
Hey dhaab, I think you’re confusing Rogers with Sam Smith and his hairbrained trades, LOL!
The more I think about this possible trade, I think it’s a bad move for the Cubs. They’re trading away most of their pitching depth for a 2nd baseman who they want to lead off, but his lifetime OBP is only .350. That’s not so great and his defense is generally considered to be average. Oh, and he’s a known juicer.
If they’re going to make a BIG move and trade away much of their youth, they should go after a guy like Eric Bedard. He would instantly make the Cubs the team to beat in the NL. Roberts…not so much.
Roberts fits the mold of a player who could excel in a league other than the one he started in. A switch to the NL, with his style of play and Pinella as his manager, would boost his numbers. I have never heard of his defense as being average.
And he admittedly tried steroids ONCE. That’s about the same as using nasonex, a steroid for allergies.
They are not trading away much of their youth. Much of their youth would include Pie, Theriot, Fontenot, Murton, Patterson, Hill, Soto, Fuld, and a few others.
dhaab would criticize Saint Francis.
He did, in a recent post on Come All Ye Saints blog.
Brilliant!
The most negative man in America!
That’s a pretty good lineup if that trade happens. Cubz gonna make some noise mang! FIRE MILLEN! FIRE FORD!
Thanks for the kind comments. I happen to think pitching wins in baseball. And I said that trading Roberts would purge the Cubs of all of their pitching depth, which is what Phil Rogers reported in the article.
And if you honestly believe Roberts numbers will go up in the NL, I’ve got some swamp land to sell you.
“If they’re going to make a BIG move and trade away much of their youth, they should go after a guy like Eric Bedard. He would instantly make the Cubs the team to beat in the NL. Roberts…not so much.”
I quote from your second posted comment, dhaab.
You can keep your swamp land. If the trade goes through, and Roberts plays a full season without injury or other sidelining fiasco, his numbers will go up. The average, obp, and runs scored will increase, and I’d be willing to bet the pop will increase by about 6-7 homers.
And you can look back here in September and say how right I was.
LOL
If it happens, I think it is a great move. Cedeno is very average, Marshall very average and Gallagher may turn out to be something but you have to give to get. As far as the steroids are concerned, I don’t care. Line-up looks much better with Soriano out of the leadoff spot. I predict (say it like ya mean it) .290 .375 .450 for Roberts with 39 steals. Gotta go get a pretzel, see ya’s!
And some of you wonder why I’m critical. The biggest reason for that is I’m not a Cubs, Sox, Bulls or Bears fan.
But geez, there’s more Cub homers on this blog than Carter’s has pills! Somebody has to keep you people honest.