Cubs get Jeff Baker

[Bockstock]

according to multiple sources, the cubs have traded for Jeff Baker from the Colorado Rockies. Not sure who is going the other way (is a deal for PAtton also part of this so they can send him to the minors??)

This probably spells the end of Ryan Freel, but hopefully the end of Aaron Miles and gives the cubs a legit bat against LHP at 2b.

[LeeEila's/rant]

Thank GOD !!

Miles was a disaster !

[Bockstock]

Thank GOD !!

Miles was a disaster !

The cubs give up A-ball pitcher Al Albequerque, who seems like he has been in the system forever. Decent trade, given the amount of pitching depth in the minors from the last couple of drafts.

I saw a list of MIF this moring the cubs have had since Hendry tookover in 2002. I am not ****ting you there were probably 50 names on there.

[TheBenjamin]

Freel ws designated.

Baker isnt any answer

[Bockstock]

Freel ws designated.

Baker isnt any answer

And Nobody's saying he is.

I have no problem with this move, since the cubs pretty much gave up something they have plenty of (minor league bullpen arms), and Baker is still relatively young and cheap, and has higher potential and upside than Scales, Blanco, or Miles. Who knows, Baker could be a late bloomer like Ludwick or Hoffpaiur.

[TheBenjamin]

you do realize he is a .250 career hitter right? hitting .130 so far this year, ith 0 HR and 3 RBI? must have been injured as he has only played in 12 games. stupid waste of a move IMO

[Bockstock]

you do realize he is a .250 career hitter right? hitting .130 so far this year, ith 0 HR and 3 RBI? must have been injured as he has only played in 12 games. stupid waste of a move IMO

You do realize he's only had 600 PA, so it's biased to judge his BA, right??

If you can't see the upside in this trade, I'm not going to waste my time arguing. The cubs didn't give up anything and he's almost certinaly better than Miles, Blanco, or Scales. Albequerque is about #9/10 on the minors RP depth chart and would have been available for Rule V next year anyway, and has had a couple arm/elbow surgeries. I would have rather sent back David PAtton who looks like he is back on the pitch once every two week schedule and is keeping the BP seat warm along with Kevin Hart.

I'd bet 90% of MLB players have a 250 avg in their first 600 PA. And the Ludwick comparison is completely valid, he was also a high draft pick who struggled as a part-time player until the age of 29 in his third organization, hitting well-below .250 much of the time before that.

[TheBenjamin]

maybe he will turn out to be a very good player, but based on the stats I have read, I dont see much of an upgrade. I would love to be proven wrong, but for now it just seems like a wasted move