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40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus one player is on the 60-DAY IL 

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Gathright for Freel Done

Submitted by Rob G. on

UPDATE: If I understand this correctly, the offical deal is the Cubs getting Ryan Freel and $2.6 or $2.7M from the Orioles for Joey Gathright. The O's would then pay the rest of Gathright's contract (about $670K), thus making it "cash-neutral" as Rosenthal described as Freel was owed about $3.3M on his $4M deal for 2009.

 

I guess the O's really did want to get rid of Ryan Freel as Rosenthal is now reporting that deal has been made...Joey Gathright for Ryan Freel.

The deal is cash-neutral, according to one source. The Cubs will pay the balance of Gathright's $800,000 salary for 2009 with the O's paying the balance of Freel's — about $3.3 million (ed note - Freel's 2009 deal was for $4M total).

If that source is correct, then an absolute no-brainer for the Cubs as Freel can play the outfield and a few infield positions at the same cost for the Cubs. Freel also gives the Cubs a right-handed bench option that they'd be missing, whenever a walk or a single might be needed.

 

Besides his little friend Farney, Freel also brings a rap sheet with him...a DUI offense in Kentucky in 2005 and then "disorderly intoxication" during a bachelor party in Tampa, FL in January of 2006. He's also a magnet for concussions.

 

On the other hand, Christie Freel is part of the package as well.

 

 

 

Soriano, Theriot, Fukudome, Ramirez, Hoffpauir, Bradley, Fontenot, Hill and Randy Wells tonight versus Weeks, Hart, Braun, Fielder, Cameron, Hardy, Hall, Kendall and Dave Bush.

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Comments

Submitted by Mike Vail on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:25 pm

Okay, maybe I should change my name to doom and gloom. Freel is just one concussion away from having to quit playing. This is just another Meh trade imho. We need some bullpen help and Mark DeRosa, come back: all is forgiven. The Freel trade reeks of Dusty-like desperation. Meh.

Submitted by mannytrillo on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:31 pm

This is better than just eating Gathright's salary. If in fact we don't have to pay any of Freel's this is a good trade. It won't be a big help to the team (and DeRosa is a much better option than Freel), but at least it gives Lou some flexibility and we won't be seeing Koyie Hill at 3rd base anymore.

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:37 pm

not jumping down your throat, but the dero talk just needs to die. the guy deserves and is a starter...he was either gonna start for the cubs and have fontenot ride pine waiting for injury or he was gonna be traded away with fontenot sliding in. dero's flexibility would have been nice, but the guy deserves to start. yes, the cubs paid for him and they could do whatever they want with him, but hendry and co. would have issues in the future with FA's signing in dero's range for dero's years if they rode him for 300-400ab's after what he did the past 2 seasons. of course, many would be just fine having fontenot ride pine...i, personally, think fontenot is ready for 2nd and doing a good job. why he's playing 3rd so much...no comment...cuz it's not a good comment.

Submitted by Cubster on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:33 pm

Freel later said that Farney's name arose from a conversation with Reds trainer Mark Mann: "He actually made a comment like, 'How are the voices in your head?' 'What's the guy's name?' I said, 'Let's call him Farney.' So now everybody's like, 'Run, Farney, run' or 'Let Farney hit today. You're not hitting very well.'"[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_freel wscr says Farney has an mlb.com e-mail address

Submitted by Paul Noce on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:40 pm

I agree with others that it's better than just eating Gathright's salary, which had to be done after last night's trainwreck defense. How much Freel has left is questionable, but it's a good gamble for no increase in salary. If he stinks, cut him.

Submitted by Paul Noce on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:02 pm

Tribune says Freel doesn't have to be activated until Saturday. Gathright was sent down and Wells called up before the trade, so they are supposedly ok for Friday. Scales will almost certainly be the guy sent down, but he had to be thinking he was going down to make room for Wells anyway.

Submitted by Romero on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:10 pm

Interesting deal. Makes me wonder a few things: 1. Why did the O's want to get rid of Freel so badly? 2. Is it because his numbers the past few seasons kind of suck? 3. How much of a clubhouse influence will Farney be? 4. Freel might be an upgrade over Gathright, but is Freel a better option than Scales? 5. Will Felix Pie start calling Joey Gathright "Farney"? 6. Who is next to eat a dick?

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:41 pm

Submitted by Wes on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 3:59pm.
Not 100% sure on the rules here, and maybe AZ Phil or dave or somebody can help me out here...

I believe a player on the DL has to be activated before the trade goes through unless you get some kind of special exemption from the commissioner.

=================================

WES: A player on an MLB DL can be traded, but he cannot be reactivated until he has served the minimum time required.

In the case of Ryan Freel, he was placed on the Orioles 15-day DL on April 21st and has been on a minor league rehab assignment since April 27th, so he should be ready to play immediately.

And although he was added to the Cubs Reserve List (40-man roster) as soon as the trade was completed, the Cubs have 72 hours to place him on the Active List (25 man roster).

And a slight clarification on something Rob G mentioned in another post about Gathright earlier today....

Gathright did not have the right to refuse an outright assignment to the minors because he had accrued at least five years of MLB service time. Actually, a player can refuse an outright assignment to the minors once he has accrued at least three years of MLB service time, or if the player had been previously outrighted in his career. So Gathright had the right to refuse an outright assignment to the minors because he has accrued three-plus years of MLB service time (he had 3.064 MLB ST coming into the 2009 season)

Players with at least five years of MLB service time can refuse an OPTIONAL assignment to the minors, but since Gathright has not yet accrued five years of MLB service time, and since he is out of minor league options anyway, that rule isn't relevant in this particular case

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:16 pm

arod's gonna pay the price, much like the rest of the roiders. ...loss of job, shunning of the baseball community, having to find new work, making way for the clean players to take their place over those that used drugs to keep them out of a fair shot at a job... it's a new era and all these guys paid a huge price for it. ...wait... i hope every f'n roider gets in the hall of fame and they put a picture of the team's owner and bud selig up beside every single one of them.

Submitted by Jeff_Pico on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:25 pm

If I were an Oriole fan I would be pretty pissed that they keep getting the Cubs rejects. As for Freel? Who knows. I should never call a player completely washed up after seeing what Edmonds did with us last year. Just have to see how he does in whatever amount of playing time he gets. Freel was great when he was healthy 5 or 6 years ago.

Submitted by Cubster on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:27 pm

The Orioles apparently kicked in more than $1 million to even out the scales, which is why the trade required approval from the Commissioner's Office before it could be approved and announced. (Hopefully it's more like $3M which would make the trade more $$ neutral) ------ Note below, Freel recently failed an Impact test as referenced in the mlb.com article below (for post-concussion eval). For those who want to know what is exactly included in an impact test...here is a link: http://www.impacttest.com/testmodules.php --------------------------------- new update on the mlb.com site wrt the Freel-Gathright trade. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090508&content_id=4625566&vke… The Orioles apparently kicked in more than $1 million to even out the scales, which is why the trade required approval from the Commissioner's Office before it could be approved and announced. Freel, who had been on the disabled list with a head injury, will go to Chicago along with a significant cash amount designed to even out the team's obligations. Andy MacPhail, Balitmore's president of baseball operations, said that the deal took around four days to complete and that both the Cubs and Orioles were trying to fix an organizational surplus. Freel had one game scratched because he couldn't pass an impact test, and he sat out both ends of a rain-strewed doubleheader for Double-A Bowie this week. "It's just one of those star-crossed things," said MacPhail. "Ryan and I talked a couple times, and he saw himself more as a National League player. Double-switch, get to play there more than he did here.

Submitted by mannytrillo on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:33 pm

Freel on the DL, not saving any money on the deal...bleh Not a big deal...appears to be garbage for garbage. Better than just sending Gathright down though.

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Submitted by mannytrillo on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:26 pm

big_low: "Huh? What money did you want to save?" The first report I read it seemed like the Cubs were going to net save some money. But like many first reports that was not 100% accurate. big_low: "They are not spending any more money, and got a better, more versatile player." Agree 100%. I even mentioned that earlier in the thread (you must have just accidentally missed that). Unfortunately though, Freel is on the DL right now. big_low: "But no surprise that you would criticize it..." I wouldn't say I criticized it, I, just like at least a few other posters, just aren't that excited about it. Like I said it is better than just eating Gathright's salary by sending him down to Iowa. But I would rather have DeRosa. But hey, what the hell am I doing posting here with the Cubs winning two in a row, right? Go Cubs! Go Wells!

Submitted by Romero on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:09 pm

Hey guys-- Am watching on Gameday-- can someone tell me what happened with Ramirez? Please GOD tell me he's not seriously injured.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    suzuki says he injured his oblique running to 1st, not swinging.  okay.  it's gonna be that kind of 2024 cubs year, huh?

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