According to ESPN Radio's Bruce Levine, the Cubs are close to acquiring pitcher Aaron Heilman from the Mariners. The Ms want shortstop Ronny Cedeno and pitching in return. Heilman was dealt to Seattle in the J.J. Putz trade earlier this winter. Earlier this month, Ken Rosenthal mentioned that the Mariners were likely willing to trade Heilman, "who they did not consider a key component of the Putz trade."

Heilman, 30, is set to earn $1.625MM in '09. He'll be eligible for free agency after the 2010 season.

Levine also mentioned that three teams are interested in out-of-options Cubs hurler Rich Hill

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depending on what pitching, done. Cedeno does nothing for me...

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

What, the batting cages machine broke down and they need someone to throw BP?

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

I like Heilman, he's a pretty good pitcher. I would assume he's the 5th starter and Marshall would be the swing man. This sounds like a good trade by Hendry.

Glendale Heights Brian + SHARK = MATCH!

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throw BP? he might hurt a valuable player doing that!

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Considering Harden is going to start a maximum of 20 games, they might as well have 6 starters. And I'll gladly drive Ronny Cedeno to the airport.

Sounds like a good move by Hendry.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

What was everyone's favorite moment from the Ronny Cedeno era?

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His trade to Seattle.

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Only a Cub could slide past 2nd on a walk and be tagged out.

his moment with Aramis after his home run that one time...

wait, that was Caesar Izturis...

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

I dont necisarily mind the move assuming Miles can fill in at SS for Theriot. I am not the biggest Cedeno fan in the world but he was an above average defensive SS when his head was right which admittedly wasnt all that often. I am curious to see if the Cubs can get anything more than a bag of balls for Rich Hill at this point

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I'd like to say that was the gayest thing to ever take place at wrigley, but...

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This is my signature...

I hear Caesar Izturis would be tickled pink to have a bag of balls...

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

By Cracky

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by handy...

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

11:39am: ESPN's Jerry Crasnick says the Mariners acquired Cedeno and Garrett Olson from the Cubs for Heilman. Essentially, the Cubs moved two out of options players in Cedeno and Felix Pie (plus minor leaguer Henry Williamson) to get Heilman, who they've coveted for a while. The Mariners did well here, adding a back-rotation candidate in Olson and competition for Yuniesky Betancourt in Cedeno.

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2011 NAS Replacement League Football-

now I doubt we'll see Peavy. Not that it was all that likely anyways, but Olson was on SanDiego's list...

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

I am not sure why the Cubs have been coveting Heliman seems like a journeyman long reliever a la Gaudin.

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I was thinking the 2nd pitcher would be Guzman or Hart. 2 useless players for a pitcher that can be useful as a starter or pitch out of the bullpen. This is a good deal by Hendry.

I still like Gaudin to have some impact.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

I like Gaudin but it seems like the Cubs are collecting a bunch of mediocre right handed relievers.....

Gaudin
Heilman
Vizcaino
Wuertz

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I'm more uncomfortable about this trade than most are I think. I was not a Ronny fan by any means, but it's a guy who hit 270 appeared in 100 games for us and most important played 5 different positions throughout the year. Couple that with the DeRosa trade and it seems we've lost a ton of depth and flexibility in our lineup and replaced them with either nothing or an unproven commodity in Chicago, being Miles.

I'm still going to wait until opening day to see the lineup we put on the field, but the lack of depth on the team does concern me at this point.

I'm just hoping that we don't have another Jason Marquis on our hands (if Heilman starts). I suppose that he has some value as a guy that can eat innings as a 7th, 8th frame bullpen pitcher being that most of our starters can seemingly only go 6 or 7 innings at the most...

there is no way this guy is starting for the cubs. i dont think it was a bad trade, but he hasnt started a game in 3 years. he was acquired for the pen. they are just collecting bodies in exchange for guys with no options left. some of them will stick, and some wont. he was not acquired to start, he is likely going to be a bullpen arm who could start in an emergency.

With DeRosa gone, I had thought that Cedeno would be the main sub, at both SS and 3rd base. Miles really does not have a SS's arm. He is okay to fill in for an inning or two, when Lou wants to execute a double switch, but if Theriot gets hurt, Cedeno was a legit SS. Miles is not. Again, I reserve judgement, until Hendry brings this team North. When he trades for Olsen, it looked like a deal that one might scratch their head about. But it's not possible to know whether one trade is made just to set up another. I'm anxious to see the finished product.

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Go Cubs!!!!

I think this trade signals the end of the Peavy pursuement. Cedeno and Olson were probably two to be targeted in that deal. Peavy to Chicago is done.

As for the trade itself, Heilman was a 1st rounder several years back who had moderate success as a starter before being moved into the pen. They brought him in for the purpose of competing for the #5 spot with Jeff S.

I agree with the earlier caller that moving Cedeno is an interesting move, especially given that Miles isn't someone that you can look as a full time replacement at SS should Theriot go down. I'd argue that Theriot is a guy you need to give days off during the year since he tends to slow down as the year goes on. You want someone who can give you 40 games at SS and fill in defensively if need be. I just don't see this deal being that great for the Cubs. I know Cedeno was an end of the bench guy, but Heilman is just another similar part to what they already have.

You got rid of nothing,you got in return nothing

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

ANd people say I'm a meatball.

Vince is probably right. Though, with Szmardja, they need to figure out what they're going to do with him. If they intend to have him be a starter, he needs to be in AA or AAA starting every 5th game for at least a season.

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