The 2010 Cubs Free Agent and Roster Moves Thread: SAVEENG OUR KUBBEEZ!!11

[Weebs]

Who the fuck would give up a living, breathing professional baseball player for Miles?

I'm sure Hendry probably would.

Or Billy Beane.  Time to rejoice, Ogdens!  Miles and Foxy are gone:

According to ESPN Chicago, the Cubs have traded Jake Fox and Aaron Miles to the A's for right-hander Jeff Gray and "prospects."
Few details have been revealed, though this is certainly an odd one. Fox was stuck behind a few players on Chicago's depth chart and should get a better crack at playing time in Oakland. That part of the deal makes sense. But it's a wonder why GM Billy Beane and Co. would want Miles. Dec. 3 - 6:09 pm et

Holy flaming balls of scat. This is most excellent news. Hooray!

This is almost on par with Hendry's trade for Aramis and Lofton.  From what I've heard, Oakland is also taking on nearly $2 million of Miles' salary.  What the fuck is that Sabrefaggot thinking?

He must really, really, really like Jay Kfox if he was willing to take that pint-size shitbird off Hendry's hands.

The Cubs' bench looks really terrible for 2010, but I'm sure Hendry can find a replacement with the cash.  Good news is, his only active similar hitter is a free agent.  Make it happen, Jim!

[Weebs]

DPD

Looks like the three players the Cubs got are RHP Jeff Gray, RHP Ronny Morla and INF/OF Matt Spencer.

Morla, 21, posted a 4.86 ERA at Single-A in 2009. Spencer, 22, hit .294/.347/.461 at Double-A.

Spencer's stats:

2008 22 A Sto 41 168 56 12 1 8 27 30 7 1 6 39 .333 .376 .560 .936
2008 22 A Cle 84 305 76 12 3 6 41 39 5 1 30 66 .249 .317 .367 .684
2009 23 A Sto 30 117 32 5 0 10 29 20 3 1 12 15 .274 .338 .573 .911
2009 23 AA MID 93 371 109 29 3 9 62 59 2 3 26 75 .294 .347 .461 .808

Gray's report:

Gray is a hard-throwing reliever who led all A's minor leaguers with 15 saves in 2007. He was a starter until mid-way through the 2006 season, but has found a lot of success out of the bullpen since making the switch. In 2007, Gray posted a 3.34 ERA in 67.1 innings for Double-A Midland and Triple-A Sacramento. He had 57 strike-outs and allowed only two homers.

Gray appeared in the 2007 Arizona Fall League and posted a 5.68 ERA in 12.2 innings. He was added to the A's 40-man roster in November 2007.
Scout.com

[Saul Goodman]

CRG:

The Cubs and Cardinals are in the lead to sign free-agent hurler Vicente Padilla, according to a report from La Prensa passed along by Diamond Notes.

[Weebs]

CRG:

The Cubs and Cardinals are in the lead to sign free-agent hurler Vicente Padilla, according to a report from La Prensa passed along by Diamond Notes.

They must not have heard that we just traded for Castle Grayskull.

[powen01]

I miss Bort and powen even more than Slaky misses Doc.

I miss you too.  Jail is scary.

[Saul Goodman]

Gray is a control pitcher (1.5 BB/9 in the majors) who has been pretty hittable (average stuff), and pitches to contact rather than guns for strikeouts.  Thus he'll rely on his defense to get outs.  Uh-oh.

[Gil Gunderson]

I was sitting in meetings today, thinking about the shit fest that this week had become, only to learn this news upon my return to the office.

This changes my disposition considerably.  Fuck those fucking fuckers.

[Dr. Nguyen Van Falk]

They must not have heard that we just traded for Castle Grayskull.

Boo.

[Weebs]

They must not have heard that we just traded for Castle Grayskull.

Boo.

Swing and a miss.

[Waco Kid]

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2009/12/ex-cubs-outfielder-jacque-jones-wants-back-in.html



Don't look now, but the free agent outfield pool has become much, much stronger.

[BH]

A's blog.

Comments.
"Miles being a homeless man's Juan Uribe makes me sad"

"Maybe Miles will better understand his role. Maybe, as an Antioch native, he will actually like playing for the Oakland A's, which is a factor ANers constantly ignore when they discuss hypothetical free agent signings. (Objectively speaking, the Oakland A's are probably one of the bottom 5 preferred free agent destinations in baseball right now. I think we have to remember that. Hence Beane's focus on trading)."

[Armchair_QB]

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2009/12/ex-cubs-outfielder-jacque-jones-wants-back-in.html



Don't look now, but the free agent outfield pool has become much, much stronger.

Starting in right field for your Cincinnati Reds, Jacque Jones!

[BH]

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2009/12/ex-cubs-outfielder-jacque-jones-wants-back-in.html



Don't look now, but the free agent outfield pool has become much, much stronger.

Starting in right field for your Cincinnati Reds, Jacque Jones!

CF has to be fast and lead off. Willy Tavaras is faster than Jock.

[Weebs]

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2009/12/ex-cubs-outfielder-jacque-jones-wants-back-in.html



Don't look now, but the free agent outfield pool has become much, much stronger.

Starting in right field for your Cincinnati Reds, Jacque Jones!

CF has to be fast and lead off. Willy Tavaras is faster than Jock.

Is Mike Cameron still fast?

Mike Cameron is the Cubs' top option to play center field, reports Gordon Wittenmeyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
The only thing standing between the Cubs and Cameron is Milton Bradley, argues Wittenmeyer. If and when Bradley is moved, it sounds as if Cameron will immediately be inked, who has manager Lou Pinella's approval. The 37-year old remains an excellent fielder and is also remarkably consistent with the bat, having averaged 22 home runs and 75 RBI over the past 11 seasons with little fluctuation. The right-hander would be a great complementary player on the South Side and would come without a long-term contract attached. Things can always change, but this is one rumor that makes all the sense in the world. Marlon Byrd was also mentioned as a person of interest to the club.

I can't wait to see him patrolling CF at U.S. Wrigular Field.

Apparently there's some other rumor about the Cubs getting both Granderson and Cabrera in a trade with the Tigers.  I heard it from a friend who knows a girl who's sleeping with Andrew Cashner.

[Philberto]

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2009/12/ex-cubs-outfielder-jacque-jones-wants-back-in.html



Don't look now, but the free agent outfield pool has become much, much stronger.

Starting in right field for your Cincinnati Reds, Jacque Jones!

CF has to be fast and lead off. Willy Tavaras is faster than Jock.

Is Mike Cameron still fast?

Mike Cameron is the Cubs' top option to play center field, reports Gordon Wittenmeyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
The only thing standing between the Cubs and Cameron is Milton Bradley, argues Wittenmeyer. If and when Bradley is moved, it sounds as if Cameron will immediately be inked, who has manager Lou Pinella's approval. The 37-year old remains an excellent fielder and is also remarkably consistent with the bat, having averaged 22 home runs and 75 RBI over the past 11 seasons with little fluctuation. The right-hander would be a great complementary player on the South Side and would come without a long-term contract attached. Things can always change, but this is one rumor that makes all the sense in the world. Marlon Byrd was also mentioned as a person of interest to the club.

I can't wait to see him patrolling CF at U.S. Wrigular Field.

Apparently there's some other rumor about the Cubs getting both Granderson and Cabrera in a trade with the Tigers.  I heard it from a friend who knows a girl who's sleeping with Andrew Cashner.

Mike Cameron would be a valuable asset to have. He's not a phenomenal player but he's pretty good. He does K a lot (I'm sure the Wrigley idiots will love that) and doesn't have a high BA but he does get on base at a decent clip (.340 lifetime, league average last year was .333). I've been saying that *if* the Cubs feel that they have to trade Bradley, I wanted to see a bullpen arm or some young guys for him, move Fukkake to RF and sign Cameron for CF. He, along with Polanco, were  the ones I wanted. Polanco's gone, so Cameron's the one I'll pine for. Give him a one year deal.

On the flip side, Bill James' projections only have him at a .328 OBP, .756 OPS, and a .330 wOBA. Projections aren't perfect, but, hey, it's something