1. Matt Murton (OF). Acquired along with Nomar Garciaparra in a 3 way deal which saw the Cubs give up top pitching prospect Justin Jones (Who?...exactly) plus Francis Beltran and former Expos and Twins infielder Brendan Harris. Murton was a pleasant surprise his rookie season, then had a solid second year before fading and eventually landing in Japan. He's done well there and could return next year.

2. Robinson Lopez RHP. Acquired as part of the deal for Derrek Lee. He's having a tough year in Peoria but he's still young and can still throw really hard, in the upper 90s. Lopez has a lot to learn about commanding his great stuff before it translates into great production. Still, of the prospects the Cubs have attained over the years, he has the best chance of making an impact if he puts it together.

3. Evan Crawford (OF). Acquired for Mike Fontenot. Crawford ranks with Matt Szczur and Zeke DeVoss as the fastest players in the Cubs system. This year he's actually hitting the ball well. He's currently at .333 with a .398 OBP and 23 SBs in the pitcher friendly Florida State League, but the biggest test for him will be in AA next year. He mostly likely will provide the Cubs with a speedy OF'er off the bench if he makes it.

4. Marcos Mateo (RHP). Mateo has a chance to be a decent middle reliever if he regains his health. I know, I know...that isn't saying much. He has mostly struggled but showed some flashes, particularly in his last outing before his injury, where he pitched 4 scoreless innings. Mateo was actually acquired before the waiver deadline in August.

5. Justin Berg (RHP). We're really scraping the bottom of the barrel here. Berg provided some solid innings in his first year and a half, but really wasn't anything special. He was also acquired before the waiver deadline.

So don't get your hopes up that we'll acquire the next Bagwell or Smoltz. Of this list, Robinson Lopez has the best chance to be an impact major leaguer but he's a long way from that. But, if it's any consolation here's a list of the best prospects that Hendry gave up at the deadline...Bobby Hill, Justin Jones, Josh Donaldson, Eric Patterson, Rocky Cherry, Buck Coats and Josh Harrison.

Right now, however, I suspect that Cubs fans aren't concerned so much about the prospects they get, so much as the contracts they may get rid of. Most of us will settle for a bag of Big League Chew and a pack of baseball cards in exchange for Alfonso Soriano, as long as someone just takes him off our hands. Whatever Hendry can get for him is just gravy.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

So What?


Exactly my point,so what! Why when Theo aquires a guy here or there it's like Merlin waving his wand? This regime is worse than any regime the Cubs ever had so far and they have the record to prove it!

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

I was going to post this in the other thread but here makes as much sense. The Cubs have always had the usual number of highly touted picks. So what? You had the third base ones the outfield ones and nothing. Christ you had Kerry Wood and Prior and it just didn't work out.

Sometimes it just doesn't work out. It's baseball.

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Elections have consequences.

Exactly right,so why is it OK to just not try to improve the major league roster in the meantime? No long term guys but viable major league hitters thrown in to the mix to keep the team respectable. Playoffs are a crapshoot so who knows what might happen?

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Damn Mike, thats a lot of not working out since '45 you know?

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

I agree Jimmy and I have said. There is no reason not to have a major league roster that is not complete BS and still restock etc. Both can be done.

Rouge sure since 45 is a long time but there are a lot of unlucky teams going through long as streaks. The Pirates only just made playoffs since Barry Bonds for chrissake.

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Elections have consequences.

C'mon jimmy this isn't rocket surgery. Those prospects were throw-ins not main pieces of a trade. The one trade I do remember Hendry trading major league talent for minor league talent was DeRosa for Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer and John Gaub. And then Hendry decided to trade Archer for shithead Garza.

Josh Donaldson has turned out to be a decent player too. But that's playing Capt Hindsight since chinadoll Harden did pitch very well down the stretch for the Cubs.

And you ripped Hendry. You'll just always rip management


I love the idea that Hendry didn't acquire good prospects being used against current GM

Beg to differ. Guys like Baez and Bryant don't make their way into the organization if you're good. Unless you think Theo should have acquired big name free agents and tried to trade them for top prospects. Which is silly, and highly unlikely.

Some would surely point it The Hahn Job this off season

The "sometimes it just doesn't work out, it's baseball" principle doesn't apply. Everything will work out with the Hahn Job.

Yeah

I do have to say its impressive to get 4 highly touted prospects in a 12 month period

You didn't hear me say that.

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Elections have consequences.

feel free to compare Theos first round picks v hendrys over the next 2 years.

Hayden Simpson, the one that just killed me. Nobody had this kid in the first 3 rounds! They didnt even have a picture of him on the internet! But hendry dropped the Maddux like comments!

After 2 years, they just cut the guy! Nobody is even willing to take a chance on him.

That counts for like 3 misses.

Minor league backend deals never hurt your club. You take risks, other teams take risks.

But to miss on a decade of first rounders, thats a problem!

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

SOLUTIONS!

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

You are correct,BF.

Bigger Problem? 197 losses in 2 seasons.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

why is it a bigger problem that 172 losses?

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

197 > 172

Hendry had some excellent years but his last 2 years were terrible. He made mistakes,big ones,but he was trying to win. I can't stand the mentality that goes behind "tanking".

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Hendry was just a moron, 172,192 ...who cares ? You are either in the post season or may as well be in last place.
I think Baez is going to be outstanding.

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So you would be a lot happier if they had gone 76-86 the last two years?

So.....

Are people fans of the CUBS or fans of "The Idea of Cubs Rebuilding" in which you're supposed to cheer a shitty product on the field and endorse several ~100 loss seasons, where you're a HUGE FAN of losing and collecting prospects all in the name of a time, years in the future, where they may or may not pan out?

Hahn hasn't acquired top prospects, he acquired seemingly good players. And because Hahn has acquired those good players, he's not going to get top prospects unless he sells off (still don't think there are players on the Sox roster that could net a Bryant or Baez) or the good players are really bad.

It's really very simple. I want the Cubs to win the world series.


Maybe it gets said, because there are very few teams that acheive it

They are right on track.

Im not sure how you would classify Garcia and Abreu


Is this a joke? Because they have good players they wont get the honor of drafting high? That is a terrible way to look at things. Especially in a sport where the top picks are not traditionally that much better than the low first round picks. You're using an NBA mentality and it doesnt work.

Gordon Beckham was once Kris Bryant. I wonder if fans like Bucky Chris ever consider that they may be waiting for Beckham.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

Thanks rpb!

It is nice to see Bucky Chris say something negative about management. It just turns out to be because he dislikes the Sox.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

100% honest answer, I dont think Bucky Chris is dumb. Im not sure what his angle is, but im sure it exists.

The whole tanking idea has been perpetuated more by Bernstein than anyone else. Yes, rebuilding sometimes means losing for a year or two, but its not some contest to acquire draft picks. To my knowledge Theo and Jed have never espoused that ridiculous idea.