So the Cubs have been awful without Derrek Lee. Now they get to be brutal with Derrek Lee. Len and Bob talked a lot tonight about the Richie Sexson trade that brought the Brewers a ton of young talent that they’re building around. Sounds like a great plan right? RIGHT? But the Tribune Company, Andy McPhail, and Jim Hendry don’t have the stones to pull the trigger on a deal (or deals) like that.

First, let’s talk about who the Cubs should get rid of.

• Jacque Jones. Apparently the Yankees want him. I’m ok with that. I’m not convinced that the Yankees have a ton of talent down on the farm, so maybe a 3 team deal might have to be worked out. That’s fine. Jacque Jones has been an ok addition when he’s been on, and when he’s been off, he’s been terrible. So I wouldn’t miss him.
• Second, and I know this is sacriledge, but Greg Maddux. He definitely holds the cards here, and the deal would have to be done right (right there I should know that the Cubs aren’t capable of such a thing), but I think a contender would be willing to give you some prospects to get Greg Maddux in their rotation. Take the deal.
• Phil Nevin. I think he’s shown himself worthy as a 1B/DH. He’s a nice bat coming off the bench for a contender. Not the Cubs. Give the ABs to some kid who can use it to get better.
• Neifi Perez. Again, a good veteran bat who can play anywhere on the field. Some National League contender has to have an interest in that.

As much as it kills me to hang on to Prior and Wood (both should have been traded 2 years ago), I can’t see the Cubs trading pitching (excluding Maddux, of course). You can never have enough pitching. So what do I suggest the Cubs get in return for these guys? Prospects. Prospects. Prospects. I think that each one of the above (save Neifi perhaps) would fetch a top level prospect from most organizations. If my math is right, that’s at least 3 top-level prospects, which is about 3 more than the Cubs have right now. I know, the pitchers just aren’t ready yet, and they have to give Felix Pie the time that they didn’t give Corey Patterson to develop. That’s all well and good, but when I read about every other team having some young hot shot waiting at AA or AAA to get his shot. A can’t miss prospect, I think, What do the Cubs have? Pitchers who have been forced into the rotation and exposed as not ready, and a handful of decent prospects. I want more.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 27th, 2006 at 9:13 am and is filed under Baseball, Chicago Cubs, MLB. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.