Recent comments

Paul Noce 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Max Ramirez can't play 2b/3b, it wouldn't make any sense to replace an infielder with a C/1b, especially with ARam's injury history. Smith I can understand.

Rob G. 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Archer #27 Jackson #38 McNutt #48 Hak-Ju Lee #92 BA takes a look at teams that were nearly as stacked as Royals are right now http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=10925

The Real Neal 13 years 2 months ago (view)

The idea is to get Smith and/or Ramirez on the roster.

Ryno 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Signed through 2010... you are off the hook. And btw, we're signing up prior-year teams for the tcr keeper spinoff league right now. You have to pay dues before you get invited this year... yeah... but I sent out the instructions. If you didn't get them check your spam folder. If you did get them but are sick of trying to figure out how contracts work, just ignore it. :-p There will be at least three openings in our league, so if you are wanting to get into a keeper league, stay tuned, we'll announce that in a few weeks.

Jumbo 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Aw shit, is he one of my keepers or did I trade him? Edit Fuck it - tried to reply to Wainwright Edit Fuck it again - I did reply

Paul Noce 13 years 2 months ago (view)

I don't get all the talk about potentially cutting or trading Baker. We need two backup infielders, the only choices it appears are Baker and Barney. With ARam's regular injury problems not having two backup infielders doesn't make much sense, not to mention Baker is still supposedly half of the 2b platoon.

The Real Neal 13 years 2 months ago (view)

BA's top 100 prospects is out. Used to be four Cubs, but now it's just two: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/top-100-prospec…

Mike Wellman 13 years 2 months ago (view)

sounds like most of the regulars here...

Charlie 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Koyie Hill is more like a broke man's Hank White.

Charlie 13 years 2 months ago (view)

He's a decent guy to have around if you need a guy who can hit lefties at 3B or 2B.

The Real Neal 13 years 2 months ago (view)

and Jeff Baker finds a new home...

Arizona Phil 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Submitted by The E-Man on Wed, 02/23/2011 - 9:58am. Thanks PHIL. So, I guess we can assume that unless there is a dramatic situation of another player, take Max Ramirez for example, playing "out of their skull", Baker will be on the club - as throwing money away is not Rickett's M.O. Since we know the likelihood of Baker getting a guaranteed contract, with Jim Hendry as the G.M. is almost a lock. ========================================== E-MAN: If Baker has a guaranteed contract, then the Cubs would obviously prefer to trade him rather than release him and eat at least $760K, and actually it is conceivable that there would be a club looking for a player like Baker at the end of Spring Training, and if so, that club would probably be willing to pay Baker $1.175M (which isn't all that much if he's actually on an MLB 25-man roster).

WISCGRAD 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Not nearly as big of a deal as Wainwright, but more injuries hit Cards: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2011/news/story?id=6150062

Charlie 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Well, I'm probably more optimistic. He's 200 pounds, he swings hard, and he'll be turning 24 this year. It's reasonable to think that he could be developing power. It's also reasonable to doubt that power development until he reproduces it.

The E-Man 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Thanks PHIL. So, I guess we can assume that unless there is a dramatic situation of another player, take Max Ramirez for example, playing "out of their skull", Baker will be on the club - as throwing money away is not Rickett's M.O. Since we know the likelihood of Baker getting a guaranteed contract, with Jim Hendry as the G.M. is almost a lock.

The Real Neal 13 years 2 months ago (view)

http://talksportsphilly.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/AdamWainwright.j… Inverted W strikes again... I am not sold, but I definitely won't be teaching my kid to throw like that. Speculation linked from MLBTR is that they'll go after Millwood.

The Real Neal 13 years 2 months ago (view)

His minor's ISO is .151, but in a half a season last year at Iowa he had a .243. Just depends on whether you think that's sample size or a legitimate change in skill level, I guess.

Arizona Phil 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Submitted by The E-Man on Tue, 02/22/2011 - 4:03pm. Thanks PHIL. If Baker were to get cut, which I would say is unlikely, would he get to hang onto all of that $1.175MM salary the Cubs signed him to? ====================================== E-MAN: It depends on whether he signed a guaranteed contract or not. If the Cubs had gone to an arbitration hearing with Baker, he definitely would have received a non-guaranteed contract. But since he signed prior to a hearing, it's possible he got a guaranteed contract in exchange for signing. If the contract is not guaranteed, the Cubs could release Baker prior to Opening Day and only have to pay him 30 days salary (about $200K) if he is released more than 15 days prior to Opening Day, or 45 days salary (about $300K) if he is released less than 15 days prior to Opening Day. But again that is only if he signed a non-guaranteed contract. If Baker has a guaranteed contract, then the Cubs would be on the hook for the entire $1.175M, minus the pro-rated portion of the MLB mininimum salary should he sign a major league contract with another MLB club after getting released, so the Cubs could save as much as $414K (and be on the hook for about $760K) if he signs with another MLB club by Opening Day. The Cubs could also try and outright him to the minors, and if he gets through waivers the Cubs would be paying him $1.175M to play at Iowa, but at least he would be available later in the season if needed. Because Baker has accrued at least three years of MLB service time he would (under CBA Article XX-D) have the right to refuse the Outright Assignment and become a free-agent immediately (BTW, this does not apply to Baker, but note that players who have accrued at least five years of MLB service time must give their permission before they can be optioned or outrighted to the minors), but if he did that his contract would be voided and he would receive no termination pay. Therefore if he were to get outrighted, he would probably accept the Outright Assignment (and collect his $1.175M) and defer his right to be an Article XX-D minor league FA until after the conclusion of the regular season. However, if the Cubs were to outright Baker to the minors and he accepts the Outright Assignment, he would NOT be eligible to be an Article XX-D minor league FA post-2011 if the Cubs add him back to their 40-man roster prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season. If Baker were to be placed on Outright Waivers and get claimed, the claiming club only has to pay him the pro-rated portion of the MLB minimum salary, same as if he were released and then signed with another MLB club. (NOTE: If a player is claimed off Optional Waivers or Trade Waivers, the claiming club assumes 100% of the contract and salary). BTW, this would also be true for Jeff Samardzija if he waives his "no trade" rights and is placed on Outright Waivers. The Cubs would be on the hook for his entire 2011 salary (minus the pro-rated portion of the MLB minimum salary) if he were to get claimed, which is why The Shark is likely to remain with the Cubs for the entire 2011 season. Once the season is over the Cubs can opt out of the contract and then Samardzija becomes an "Auto-Renewal" player (he won't be eligible for salary arbitration until after the 2012 season), although he can't be cut more than 20% ($560K) if he is tendered a 2012 contract. So even if Samardzija pitches OK for the Cubs in 2011, he still might get non-tendered if the Cubs don't want to pay him at least $2.24M in 2012.

Ryno 13 years 2 months ago (view)

...because it was so good for the sport last time that happened.

Stevens 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Pujols has said he won't accept a trade this year. Though if that trade came with a $280 MM extension, I imagine he might change his mind.