Cubs need to improve at 2B. Maybe Baez could be that guy when he gets healthy and rehabs. I'd like to go after Zobrist, as mentioned in this thread, as long as they asking price makes sense. But I bet Oakland doesn't want to get fleeced by the Cubs twice in two seasons.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I initially read this as Rob Bowen (one of their scrub catchers from a few years back), yikes.

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Lester didn't seem to miss him yesterday.

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I'd try to work out a trade with the A's for a package of Zobrist and Kazmir.

Start with these pieces, and mix and match:

Alcantara
Vogelbach
Johnson
Lake
Villanueva

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

No thanks! I only want to talk to the Mets.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

You should want to talk to all 29 other teams, or you'd be a terrible general manager. The Mets have some nice pitchers the Cubs should want, but the asking prices in prospects will be steep. Price, Cueto and others are all available this offseason ... there is no reason to fall in love with Syndergaard and give up Baez, McKinney, Sands, and more.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I don't want to trade young prospects for old rental players in a year we aren't going to win the WS. I would make that trade with the Mets before they realize Baez sucks.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

I truly hope you haven't fallen in love with

Alcantara
Vogelbach
Johnson
Lake
Villanueva

The 2015 Cubs, with Kazmir and Zobrist added, are just as strong as the 2014 Giants and Royals were. There are no guarantees, but you'd be giving yourself a solid chance and losing any or all of the aforementioned players isn't negatively impacting your overall future.

The entire point of this rebuild is to give yourself a chance to win year in and year out. We're there now. The smart organization needs to balance overall health with maximizing year in and year out chances.

Every Cubs prospect will not reach the majors with the Cubs. You need to come to terms with that now. Yes, some Cubs prospects will eventually have good careers outside of the Cubs organization.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

This reads like someone was bored and needed to fill up the slideshow with crap, but it's fun to think about it happening for a minute or so.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2526416-every-mlb-contenders-most-likely-trade-deadline-deal/page/10

More than halfway through the season, it sure looks like the Cubs' rebuild is well and truly over. They're for real, and they're a danger to become even more so at the deadline.

As for how they could do that, they have the resources to acquire either an impact bat to help their sputtering offense or an impact arm to round out their better-than-you-think rotation. And from the sound of things, it's the latter that's more likely.

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs are among the teams that are interested in Cole Hamels. But Rosenthal also opined recently that the Cubs are a match for one of San Diego's three controllable pitchers: Tyson Ross, Andrew Cashner and James Shields.

It wouldn't be surprising to see the Cubs land any of those four names. But if we're going to bet the house on one, it has to be Shields.

In the background is the memory that Shields darn near signed with the Cubs over the winter. In the foreground is the reality that he'd be cheaper and arguably just as good an addition as Hamels would be, as he's not owed as much money and doesn't have Hamels' track record as a No. 1 starter.

The Cubs rotation is pretty good as is. If the team adds Shields to it, the unit would be more than good enough to lead the charge back to October.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

BigFan of Tyson Ross

so we're back to thinking the A's are dum-dums. Why would anyone want that batch of crap? Vogelbach is the only decently valuable piece. Billy does own a tv.

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

I like Cashner as the cheaper choice. I'm good with Ross and Shields also.



Both players are second half rentals. Neither is resigning with the A's after this season. You either overvalue Zobrist and Kazmir, undervalue the potential of those prospects, or don't understand that 2 month rentals don't command a ton back. All it would take is one of those players to become a solid major leaguer for 4-5 seasons with the A's and they would make out like gangbusters.

Teams aren't offering top tier prospects for Kazmir and Zobrist.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Chicago Gets: LHP David Price

Detroit Gets: OF Billy McKinney, RHP Duane Underwood and 3B Christian Villanueva

If they would make such a deal....done! Villanueva is having a real nice season and some see him as a better fit at 3rd, with Bryant moving to the outfield. McKinney is another highly rated prospect, but I make that deal, as none of them has proven anything at the major league level and I am satisfied that Bryant can handle 3rd and will continue to improve there.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Price is a free agent at the end of the season.

3 prospects for a 2 month rental?

Cubs can just wait and sign Price as a free agent.

I'm willing to talk with Detroit about Price, but those are three positional #1 prospects within the organization. Not sure you do that.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Cubs DFA'd Richard prior to today's game to bring up Medina (the turd they got from the Mariners for Castillo). Don't really understand this move. Medina's ERA in AAA was like 9 or something. He has been awful.

Looks like shit today in the 7th.

They no longer need Richard with Kazmir coming to the North Side.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I care less about jettisoning him, than bring up this turd. Did they feel they needed another Edwin Jackson?

Well, Medina had some okay time with the Mariners before this season. And the alternative is Schlitter. You need guys to pitch innings. Have to save bullets for the night game.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Bring up CJ Edwards.

Underwood is hurt, right? He's got an elbow.

He cannot be our unicorn if we prove he actually exists. I like thinking of him as the next Pedro Martinez without actually testing that theory.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Pump the brakes a bit.

You obviously didn't watch any Royals' games last year. That bullpen put you on lockdown. The three guys at the back end, are miles ahead of anybody in the Cubs' pen.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

And the Cubs have a better first baseman.

I'm not comparing one facet to the same facet. I'm comparing overall strength of the club.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Bullpens are kind of important in the playoffs. Ask the Tigers.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

So is starting pitching, offense and defense.

Thank you for your analysis, Tim McCarver.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Immediately, you insult me?

The Tigers had all three of those, but couldn't get over the hump.

If you think Zobrist and Kazmir make this team as good as the World Series teams from last year, then you have much to learn.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

The World Series teams from last year were flawed Wild Card teams. They only became World Series teams when they made the World Series.

The Cubs are currently a flawed Wild Card team.

I insulted you on the second reply, not the first.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Good move; I think he's dead.

(Well, cross him off.)

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George