chisoxfan09

I didn't.

I sincerely hope you're kidding with this lame remark. Don't think you have the authority to criticize anybody's thread. Don't like, just ignore it.

OK, but what about the whole question of mechanics? I know injuries can happen at anytime but I keep reading Sale is headed for TJ surgery at some point in his early career.

I'm not exactly sure they wouldn't prefer to ask for Sale instead. I am no expert but is Sale's upside much better than Price's? I mean from a delivery and mechanics point of view Price is much smoother but he has multiple winning seasons under his belt and 2 years of ARB control which will cost probably between 15-18 million each. Then come the Free Agency years that are sure to be north of 22-23 million and it gets crazy real quick. The thing that will really put Sale in the Kershaw and Price conversation as one of the top 3 lefty Aces is if he can have multiple winning seasons starting 2014. Then there is the question of his mechanics. Some on the board have already predicted his arm will fall off sooner rather than later but the blogger that posted this article seems to think that his delivery although violent will not be a long term injury concern. Who knows. It was a fun thread though.

I think the most the Cubs will give up for any TOR Ace is two of their big 4 prospects (Soler, Bryant, Almora, or Baez) but not 3 or 4. Then throw in 2 B propsects like Alcantara or Vogelbach. But that won't get it done for either a Price, Sale, or similar type pitchers. Especially lefties which are rare enough as it is. Toss in Sale's extremely cost controlled contract and that makes it virtually impossible.

Speculation over, Merkin from MLB.COM says they have hired Todd Stevenson from the A's organization. Don't know much about this guy. Anyone care to comment? What can he offer to get our OBP and RISP better? Link: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/cws/white-...p;vkey=news_cws

Has he ever gotten anything or called anything right? Just askin if he has ever been right about any rumor?

Well, I think it will get binned just like everyone else but I would want Baez and Bryant (He would have to be a PTBNL). With those 2 and 1-2 lesser prospects I would find it hard to say no. Like Loxas said, will not happen but hey we can dream right?

Link: http://www.chicagonow.com/loxas-factor/201...-in-chris-sale/ Loxas says Cubs might trade away Samardzija and then pursue Sale. Like he says file this in the "Not going to Happen" bucket. But never say never. Not much going on so this was as good as any rumor out there. The Cubs are looking for pitching. That is why it may still surprise most that Jeff Samardzija will be made available this winter. The factor to consider here is the Cubs want young, controlled pitching. Samardzija is still under the Cubs control for a couple more years. Yet, the Cubs want to lock their younger talent up even longer a la Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo. I told you back at the July trading deadline the Cubs were taking calls on their de facto ace. The price was sky high at the time. The Cubs still wanted to work on securing “Shark” in a long-term deal. The two sides apparently have gotten further apart, and I hear the Samardzija trade market is heating up already. The Blue Jays, Royals, DBacks, Pirates, and Nationals have all expressed their interest. One possibility could have the Cubs packaging a prospect with Shark to get another team’s coveted young pitcher. Think of an Archie Bradley type from Arizona as a possibility. Speaking of young, controlled pitching, I’m told the Cubs plan on placing a call across town to Rick Hahn. They want to see if the White Sox are entertaining any thoughts of dealing Chris Sale. I would file this in the never going to happen drawer but, you cant blame them for making the call. The Sox want to build around their young pitching. They would also likely list the Cubs as the last team they would make such a daring move with. Sale is signed through 2019 with a final year of $13.5 mil. That is the type of control the Cubs are looking for. I’m told any deal involving Sale would have to include names like Javy Baez and Jorge Soler to start. It is possible the Cubs could get more in the way of ammunition from a Samardzija deal. When it comes to a pitcher like Sale you have to wonder if he is destined for TJS with his violent delivery. However, one scout told me his arm action is surprisingly clean for his arm slot. Again, obtaining a Sale type is pie in the sky. However, it does give you an idea of what the Cubs are trying to accomplish this offseason.

Does anyone on the board agree with Tyler Kolek as a safe pick at number 3 which is we will probably land at? Big bulk frame at 6'5 240lbs. He has a great FB (95-98) with a good curve. I know he has been talked about before but does he have the upside you would look for in defending taking a pitcher in the draft VS. a polished hitter? I think he would be ready for the bigs in 2015??

Just to temper the mood on Abreu Jerry Crasnick (ESPN) has a nice article up detailing his shortcomings and basically giving us a buyer beware summary. The talent evaluators mostly agree that Abreu has legit power if he can harness it but will be challenged by fastballs in tight and breaking balls at te MLB level. The article says he has no value as a base clogger and may be a bit heavy but at thend it is pointed out he has trimmed down a bit. They try to guess his contract value and mention something like a 4 year 40 million contract. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/page/onenat...se-dariel-abreu It doesn't mention the Sox as a potential team to match him up with but maybe that is a good thing.

He is their 3rd rated prospect and is 4-2 in AA. Only 21 and has 3 good pitches (FB, Curve, Change) and hit the high 90's with the FB. MGon reported it so he is normally credible but not sure on this one. Link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,3745533.story Thoughts?

OK, call me bonehead, meathead or whatever you want but here goes: The Cubs farm is getting quite good and with the addition of Bryant at some point they may be top 5-10. If you had a choice of the below top 4 which would you start a package wish list with? Noting that Bryant cannot be traded until a year after he signs? 1. Javier Baez 1. Albert Almora 3. Jorge Soler 4. Chris Bryant What other pieces would you demand back? Would you try and make it a 3 team deal? We would send Sale (As untouchable as it gets) for the right package, why not? I know the Flubs are going to off load some of their one year contracts (Feldman, Baker) and others to get more prospects to either flip or keep growing. I know we just locked up Sale to one of MLB's friendliest contracts but we need good hitting in our system. OK flame away.

What a real shame, I really liked the guy and the upside he had when he was here. I wish him the best. Link: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--d-ba...-204549220.html Arizona Diamondbacks starter Daniel Hudson re-tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will require a second surgery, a devastating injury sustained as he was on the cusp of rejoining the team's rotation. The 26-year-old Hudson left his first rehabilitation start Tuesday with Double-A Jacksonville after his arm tightened up during the second inning. An MRI on Thursday afternoon revealed the tear. Hudson is expected to undergo a second Tommy John surgery in the near future, a little more than 11 months after his first. The late Dr. Lewis Yocum performed the first operation. A source said Hudson likely would use Dr. James Andrews for the next surgery. The injury shocked Hudson as well as Diamondbacks officials. Aside from a few minor setbacks, his rehabilitation from the first injury was considered to be going well. In games at the Diamondbacks' spring training complex, he had worked up to 75 pitches. His progress was evident in the first inning of his rehab start in Double-A: The first pitch he threw, a fastball, sizzled at 95 mph, leading to loud chatter in the scouts' section of the stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. Hudson settled in around 92 mph and finished the first inning. In the middle of the second inning, his velocity started to dip, and his fastball leveled out around 88. He removed himself from the game, concerned his arm felt dead, after two innings and 48 pitches. Now comes the difficult part. While recovering from multiple Tommy John surgeries is increasingly common, doing so as a starter is rare. Los Angeles Dodgers starter Chris Capuano is the most successful case. Doug Brocail, like Hudson, had back-to-back surgeries and returned for six more seasons out of the bullpen. Relievers Joakim Soria and Brian Wilson have yet to return from their second surgeries, and free agent Todd Coffey, throwing up to 94 mph, is expected to work out for teams in the near future after returning from his second surgery last July.

I would not think 4 runs a game against the Flubs' weaker pitchers is impossible, hope we surprise and fire on all cylanders.