Cubs Acquire Matt Lawton
Submitted by Rob G. on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:54pm
The Cubs acquired OF Matt Lawton from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for OF Jody Gerut. I also stumbled across this tidbit which hasn't been widely reported.
The Pirates also sent the Cubs cash in the deal.Goodness, what else did Hendry get in the deal, a free car wash, Littlefield's first 2 children, a tropical cruise, use of the company jet, free cellular minutes? Lawton's stats: 2005: .273/.380/.433 16/25 SB opportunities Career: .269/.370/.422 163/229 SB opportunities He hasn't played centerfield since 2000 for the Twins and not regularly since 1998, so I assume he'll either take over full-time left field duties or platoon with Matt Murton. Either way, the days of Todd Hollandsworth starting should be over. Dusty's ideas for a lineup are quite different then mine, but Lawton should immediately be put in the leadoff role. I'd try something like this. LF Lawton 2b Walker 1B Lee 3B Ramirez RF Burnitz C Barrett CF Hairston SS Perez P Pitcher Spot and when Garciaparra returns... LF Lawton SS Garciaparra 1b Lee 3b Ramirez RF Burnitz 2b Walker C Barrett CF Hairston P Pitcher Spot and if Lawton cares to play center or Burnitz in center, I mean, either can't be much worse then Hairston out there... CF/RF Lawton SS Garciaparra 1b Lee 3b Ramirez RF/CF Burnitz 2b Walker C Barrett LF Murton P Pitcher spot If you believe in the whole Righty-Lefty matchup thing you can even try this... CF/RF Lawton SS Garciaparra 1B Lee RF/CF Burnitz 3b Ramirez 2b Walker C Barrett LF Murton P Pitcher spot Overall I like the deal and it certainly addresses one of our biggest offensive issues. Of course, our starting pitching is mediocre, the bullpen still sucks, and we just lost 3 out of 4 to a sub .500 team at home, but whatever. It's a nice move, although I feel bad for Jody Gerut, who Cubs management told was going to be around for awhile. Kind of a bush league move to make towards a kid from Chicago. But I guess you can't pass up a good opportunity. Lawton is making 7.5 million this year and is a free agent after the season. He may lead to Burnitz's option not getting picked up this off-season and moving into the right field spot for next year as well. Time will tell. [ruz]: Well done again, Mr. Hendry, and why does Dave Littlefield keep taking your calls? Lawton provides an immediate upgrade in the outfield -- he's hitting 276/382/438 and has stolen 16 of 25 attempted bases -- and will look good at the top of the batting order. He's also a plus defender and a guy the Cubs might want to consider bringing back next year.
Comments
Excellent move. That OBP
Finally an on-base machine
I'm assuming this is a
This shouldn't change the
Good deal here Jim. BP has
Lawton is a defensive
Lawton in CF leading off,
Not sure I agree Jordan with
Rob I'm surprised to see
I just don't think Hairston
This ain't going to be
Can Lawton pitch? As of
I didn't really look at
Not a bad move....doesn't
what a useless
Rob, I'm with ya. It's a
i guess worrying about who's
Dunn & Damon for next year?
BP.com sure likes the
wtf is more run supposed to
and yeah, im bitching for no
Lawton usually has a very
If Baker manages elsewhere
lawton career splits: PRE
my top 10 list to replace
Just a quick thought on
I'am surprised Tampa did not
Grady Little?
Huff is signed through 2006
"Grady Little?" He is 8th
I would absolutely LOVE for
Chifan, If Brenly gets the
I edited the post to reflect
I think they could have had
Anybody else see that the
Did he give any reason as to
cant imagine patterson not
I was just reading Maddog's
Speculation about the new
I imagine they would recall
The Cubs haven't been
Since Lawton is about 134
I am tired of people
Houston's remaining schedule
The reasons Patterson should
Houston plays 28 games
What does Houston's schedule
Say MannyTrillo where is
FU HENDRY! DUSTY BAKER IS
Lawton has to pass Dusty's
Nomar went 1 for 2 today
Adam in post 11: I don't
Rob, I don't agree with your
Jody Gerut was still on the
good points greg, you're
All, This team lacks
Seriously folks, if Dusty
((( crickets )))
Man, Hendry must have been
Cubby nice post 56 I too
Hi, Can we please stop the
I think Hendry will give 2
Dusty set Hawkins up to fail
Lawton will play CF and bat
Merigold just described the
Against Cub pitching...
I would like to see the
Thanks cubfan. Merigold..I
Great comments by Cubby78.
Sonny, That's why Dusty is
I wonder if Vince Lombardi
Cubby78, Walker's numbers in
Hendry has done a pretty
Come on guy, Dusty can't
Watching the ESPN game Balt
Well if the Wildcard can be
I am not a fan of Macias but
there is no such thing as 4
Gregory, Most of the time
who the hell cares about
correction to my comment
With the roster as it is our
*Cubby78 just made an
Post 82 is refering to you
Amen..firedusty! totally
1. Dusty needs to go. I
I have yet to hear a good
The best we can hope for is
GO AFTER DUNN IN THE
after eating 3.5m for a year
Ron G, To start with Adam
"Well sure we have had
MIKEC- "Say MannyTrillo
Firedusty: "His ridiculous
If you are playing in a MLB
Cubby78 - Take a look at
I can't WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR
Oh I think if fans start
AZ Phil (post #54)- It could
Oops...looks like Bleeding
Cubfan: "As long as Johnny B
I don't think Selig has to
"Oh I think if fans start
I don't think Selig has to
there was a report somewhere
Are you calling Walker a
I think Baker's pay is
lawton vs. gerut is about a
no offense cubfan but post
"Yeah they were never in 3rd
while its true the signing
Rob G... #103 may be
i wanna know where this
Blue: "Todd Walkers' 2005
while its true the signing
chicago did get some cash
Cubfan #102: "I don't think
Baker is his own man dude.
The longer the thread goes,
God Cubfan, I am glad the
from a story about the Shawn
and I can't believe there
Per the amount the Bucs are
Cubby78, thanks for the
1) Jim Leyland as a bench
If anybody saw Sandberg's
Borowski has pitched great
I think Hendry does these
I want Dusty to be fired
adam... ADAM DUNN ADAM DUNN
This is an utterly
Littlefield is going to wake
gerut at best is a 1m or
1) Mitre wasn't a good
Rob G.: "and I can't believe
Also, even Hendry said in
and I don't think that the
so who's gone from the pen
it's okay if he hits second
http://www.sportingnews.com/b
When I first heard about the
I agree that this trade is
chifan3887...where exactly
By Cubfan: "As long as
Yeah, Borowski is doing
I like the Lawton pickup,
What "The Indians
Borowski had nothing and
Crunch, Hendry hasn't told
The problem with this year's
"In June he gave up 2 runs
I agree with everyone that
regarding the timing of the
The worst mistake was
Andy (post #145)- GREAT
Rob G.- Thanks for clearing
especially when he does so
MikeC, the Red Sox haven't
"Meanwhile the Cardinals
"As for Mr. Cubby78 and your
By Cubfan: "As long as
Sorry for the double post.
Rereading what I wrote, I
It all adds up every time
If Dusty was so good and so
"Right...as in Hendry tells
i realize that they needed