B&B mentioned this a little while ago, but reportedly the Cubs and O's are talking a trade that would bring Ryan Freel to the Cubs.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9551 ... over-Freel

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

why don't the cubs try to trade with other teams beside Baltimore?

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team Mully & Hanley
team Meatpants

what the hell do they need him for?

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

No kidding, it seems like they love to trade with Baltimore,
Pittsburgh and the Padres the most.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Well, I think they want to replace Gathwright and with Freel you get a guy that can play all the OF positions as well as fill in at 3B and 2B. It does not really excite me, but he is probably a better bench player to have than Gathwright. . . unless they need someone to jump a car.

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

Seriously. It's like they have some sort of connection with that team or something....

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Get em, Hendry


The Poofer- if you cant have DeRosa.......

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It does excite me...He's probably a better super sub than De Rosa...and his skill set gives the Cubs something different if and when Ramirez gets injured.

The downside is he becomes a Wrigley Fan Favorite for sure...I hate that like Augie.

I hate Augie Ojeda.

So what if there is a connection? There has to be other trade partners than just Baltimore...

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team Mully & Hanley
team Meatpants

I like this move. Freel can play more positions and after watching Gathright as an outfielder I would say he is a hell of an athlete but a bad baseball player. Freel seems like more of a baseball player. I wholeheartedly endorse this move. Does anybody know if Freel ever played 3rd when he was in Cincy....he might be a better backup over there than Fontenot.

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He's played some third but it's probably his worst defensive position. Still, I'd rather have him there than Fontenot.

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My Maserati does 186.

They obviously had to add another infielder. Freel is ouchy but he won't be playing that often so maybe he can stay healthy for the rest of the season. They are adding another $3.2m to the payroll. Why didn't they just keep DeRosa??

I've heard they dumped DeRosa with the idea that Peavy (and his substantive contract) was coming in a trade.
Freel does have DeRosa like abilities, but I also seem to remember him being rather drinky. DUI crashy drinky. I hope I'm wrong, or he's got a few steps on the problem.

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Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

Is it confirmed that the Cubs are paying all of Freel's salaray? If so, then this is a terrible move, and so was the Derosa move, and not signing Kerry Wood. I was led to believe that the whole point of dumping Derosa was to make room in the payroll so they could upgrade the team. Ryan Freel isn't that much of an upgrade. Jim Hendry is an asshole.

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

Pat Hughes just said the trade was Gathright for Freel and cash considerations. No amount was given.

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Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

Well, Ramirez is going to be out at least six weeks now.

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I would bank on 8-10 weeks. He has never been known to come back from an injury on time. Then he won't be playing in back to back games, not on wet ground, not in temps under 85 degrees, etc. Might as well get used to not having him around. Time to learn to love Freel, love him or not.

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You cannot make me care about the WNBA.

Good timing on this trade, I guess.

Looks like he should get the playing time he has desired, right away...

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Go Cubs!!!!

From the Tribune:

Baltimore will send around $2.7 million to the Cubs to pay the difference between the remaining salaries of Freel ($3.1 million) and Gathright ($600,000).

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

Okay, then it's a good trade and Hendry is not as asshole.
I wonder if they'll try and get a 'better' player now if A-Ram s out for two months...

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

I'm gonna try my best math with this one:

($3.1 million) - ($600,000) does not = $2.7 million

If these $ figures are true, then Hendry got an absolute steal for Gaithright, who he would have released outright anyway.

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Always seems to me that it's because they know Andy MacPhail isn't very bright and they can take advantage of him.

Freel can play 6 defensive positions and given the opportunity to play every day can get on base, steal a base and have a little pop.

Not a bad move, but I'm not sure if it's enough to keep the Cubs competitive with the Reds and Cardinals.

Why was Baltimore so motivated to move him? The Cubs seemed to be the team in need of a guy like Freel, but yet Baltimore is basically paying for this?

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

Freel at 3B, 12 E's in 54 games while at CINC in 2004.

I like Freel alot, I wanted him for years, but I am not sure 3B is his best place

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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.’”

i think you are going to get a steady dose of fontenot at 3rd and miles at 2nd. unless freel comes in and starts killing the ball to the point where he has to play every day, i think he will be the backup infielder.

That makes this a very good trade by Hendry. Especially considering what happened last night.



Freel was upset about his lack of playing time and asked for a trade.

Freel was in the starting lineup but was scratched because of a tight hamstring. Getting hurt before he even puts on a cubs uniform can't be a good omen.