The Best Trades We NEVER Made
Time will tell if the Cubs just lucked out by not acquiring Brian Roberts. His strength wouldn't have been in the field as we already have a solid second baseman in Mark DeRosa. Roberts would have given the Cubs a leadoff switch-hitter with a track record of well above average OBP and basestealing ability. Not making the trade keeps the Cubs farm system talent pool of near MLB ready talent available for the future, whether it be a different transaction or if those prospects develop further, maybe a spot on the roster if an injury occurs. Could Sean Gallagher replace one of our 5 starters if more than one breaks down? Will Eric Patterson become a bona-fide mlb leadoff hitter? Can Jose Ceda or lefty Donald Veal become the power arm that teams drool over with just a little more seasoning? Will Roberts back spasms limit his playing time this year devaluing his baserunning skills and therefore his trade value on a team which needed to completely rebuild with young talent?
I tried to think of deals that were rumored but never happened, but ultimately worked out better than if the trade had occurred. Last year Jacques Jones was almost dealt to the Marlins while being nearly useless to the club the first half of 2007. After that "almost trade" he started hitting again and some would say that was the difference the team needed to make the playoffs.
I'm sure Cubs history is full of rumored deals that never happened giving credence to the cliche that "not making that trade was the best thing that could have happened". So here's a chance for TCR readers to chime in on trades that almost happened (but never did) and the historical hindsight that goes with it.
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#1 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
One of the Best Trades We NEVER Made was definitely when Mary Rowengartner blocked the trade of her son and cubs star pitcher Henry Rowengartner to the Yankees. Henry was a 12 years old star prospect known for his 103 mph fast ball, great locker room personality and historic hidden ball trick. Without Henry Rowengartner we never would have taken the mets for that divisional championship.
#2 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
Here's one that I remembered. Dateline June 2000.
Sosa to the Yankees (rumored for Soriano). Now I'd consider that oddly ironic more than anything.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940...
#3 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
Not sure I agree with you on this one, Cubster. Despite all of his home runs, the Cubs might have been better off after 2000 without Sammy Selfish.
Also, the irony is there on a number of levels. That "the Cubs insisted on five players" for Sosa sure sounds like MacPhail's handiwork. It's what he tried to get for Roberts the last couple of months.
#4 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
I agree it's not the ideal example of being better off for not making the trade. Unloading Sosa's contract at that point would have saved the Cubs a ton of aggravation. Still, with what they are paying Soriano it's ultimately a wash (or maybe worse). Also the outfield in 2003 might have been Soriano in LF and Alou in RF (very ugly), assuming they could have gotten Soriano to move from 2B. Or Soriano at 2B might have affected the move of unloading Todd Hundley for Grudzielanek (and Karros).
#15 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
But we wouldn't have been paying Soriano what we are paying him now. That doesn't make much sense.
Soriano's current salary has little relevance to this discussion.
I would also say that it is probably safe to assume that Soriano would have stayed at 2b, at least in 2000.
#5 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
So this doesn't exactly fit since it wasn't a trade, but I think we can all agree the original 3/44 was a great signing that never happened.
#6 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
Excellent call...getting stuck Jason Schmidt would have been very ugly. It also might have made Hendry pass on Ted Lilly.
#7 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
All right, I'm not playing by the rules again, but here's an interesting one:
Not signing Jim Thome a few years ago when he stated he would like to play for the Cubs. At the time, the Cubs were still clinging to Hee Seop Choi, but then he turned into D-Lee. I could be getting my years mixed up, but Thome might have made the difference for us in 2004 when we just missed the playoffs; however, he'd be an albatross now compared to Lee.
#9 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
Thome was before the 2003 season, he might have helped a bit.
#20 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
Jacos:
"he might have helped a bit."
2003: .266/.385/.573/.958 w/ 47 HR and 131 RBI
2004: .274/.396/.581/.977 w/ 42 HR and 105 RBI
2005: hurt
2006: .288/.416/.598/1.014 w/ 42 HR and 109 RBI
2007: .275/.410/.563/.973 w/ 35 HR and 96 RBI
Yeah with those numbers, he might have helped a smidge. :)
#8 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
Based on what we know now of Palmiero, I'd put Jim Frey's not trading Mark Grace -- and trading Palmiero instead -- on this list.
#10 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
Didn't he trade Palmeiro because he slept with Cindy Sandberg? That's one possible Mariotti column I might actually want to read.
#11 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
I always thought it was Grace who slept with Cindy Sandberg.
#14 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
Who hasn't slept with Cindy "Slutty" Sandberg?
Another good non-trade was the Tampa Bay Rays' Aubrey Huff. They were asking for as much as MacPhail been asking for Roberts and Huff has turned out to be a huge bust.
#21 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
Allegedly they both did. Along with Dave Martinez and Tuffy Rhodes. Allegedly
#26 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
NO that was the slump buster Grace slept with.
#12 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
I always thought Don Zimmer was the guy who slept with Cindy Sandberg?
#13 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
Cue: Interpol, "There's No 'I' in Threesome"
#17 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
Cue: Interpol, "There's No 'I' in Threesome"
I really like that song, tune-wise. But man, the title and lyrics almost ruin it.
Not a trade, but I'm glad Mike Hampton was greedy and liked Colorado's schools so much.
#16 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
From what I heard when I lived in Chandler, AZ who didn't sleep with Cindy Sandberg?
#40 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
Hey, I live in Chandler, now... you got an address? LOL
#18 Home Run Pool Contest
I posted this in the previous thread but was hoping to get some more exposure in the new thread:
I've been running a Home Run Pool for the last 5 years. You pick 11 players from 4 groups of players. But, you also get to write in 4 players that aren't on lists - a lot of people really like this strategic aspect. There is a total of 15 players selected plus 1 tiebreaker. It costs $20 per entry and all money is returned to the pot. Last year there were 80 participants. The 4 highest HR totals payout. I expect the same level of participation this year but am always hoping for more! If you're interested send me an email at stanleykobeblue@gmail.com and I'll send you an entry form. The deadline to submit picks is March 30th at 11:59 PM CST so act quickly!
#22 Re: Home Run Pool Contest
We get it dude.
Enoght with the recruiting postings.
Thanks.
#24 Re: Home Run Pool Contest
Ignore E-man, I'll try and give it a mention in TCR Friday Notes...
#38 Cool Rob.
Can I post tickets here?
#39 Re: Cool Rob.
I prefer not, especially if you're trying to profit off of it...
#42 Re: What about Face Value?
What if I wish to post for face value only?
If people can recruit to "profit" from a gambling pool, and the top four winners share a pot of $20 per participant, where is the line here, ROB G?
#43 Re: What about Face Value?
you know what? good point...
#19 Re: The Best Trades We NEVER Made
P.S. - it was Davey Martinez who was traded for sleeping with Sandberg's wife.
But, didn't Duane Kuiper claim Mrs. Sandberg was actually his 2nd MLB HR?
#23 Re: Cindy Sandberg
Yikes, she must have been a slumpbuster.
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