My money is on Dempster pitching for the Cubs tonight and I hope he can keep his scoreless streak going.

Interesting how public they are being about Coleman meeting them in STL. If they float that they are close to a deal with LAD, does that get Wash or Atl or someone to panic and come in with a knock-me-out offer? We don't know haw this will turn out, but these guys seem such an upgrade from Hendry that it's as if they're playing different games.

Cubs signed Juan Carlos Paniagua, a Dominican RHP, for $1.5 million, and a SS for $700K: http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2012/07/cubs-sign-juan-carlos-paniagua-for-1-5-million/

Paniagua had previously tried to sign with Arizona and the Yanks, but both those contracts were voided by MLB for fraudulent paperwork. Paniagua's signing suspensions ended and he signed with the Cubs.

It looks like the RHP will count toward next year's international bonus pool, but the SS made it in before the deadline. Or I could be misreading.

Interesting how public they are being about Coleman meeting them in STL. If they float that they are close to a deal with LAD, does that get Wash or Atl or someone to panic and come in with a knock-me-out offer? We don't know haw this will turn out, but these guys seem such an upgrade from Hendry that it's as if they're playing different games.

Well, Hendry never got to be in rebuild mode. He inherited a team that was on the up and assembled his team. There was no way he would have ever been allowed to go into rebuild mode. For him to go into rebuild mode would mean his team had failed and if his team failed it would be unlikely that Hendry would be brought back to rebuild the team. So Hendry kept throwing pieces onto the team in the hopes that it would click and secure his tenure. Which means that he was never able to shop a "good" Zambrano or Marmol for prospects and such. He had to shop prospects for major leaguers.

but these guys seem such an upgrade from Hendry that it's as if they're playing different games.

Alas the same results, a losing record.

He was able to shop a good Lilly, and it was his own stupid fault that he drove down the values of guys like Farnsworth and Sosa before trading them.
Saying "Alas the same results..." at this point is just absurd. This is still mostly Hendry's creation and is evidence of what Hendry would have accomplished without the massive financial advantage the Trib gave him.

I don't believe Paniagua counts because he was previously suspended.

Saying "Alas the same results..." at this point is just absurd.

Yep, in three years or so I might be able to say something different.

Farnsworth?

Sosa? They got Fontenot and Hairston for him which was a pretty good haul for a severely declining slugger.

Right, he was able to shop Lilly and wound up with junk. He was able to shop Greg Maddux, and he said oooh Cesar Izturis!

Well, let's see what Theo gets for his chits. 9 days left and nothing has moved yet.

Lilly was coming off an injury that cost him the end of 2009 and start of 2010. Greg Maddux was 40 years old. What do you think he could have gotten for him?

He would have been better off getting lottery tickets for Maddux than Izturis. For that matter, he probably would have been better off with Maddux than Izturis.

Official site says that Dolis has been sent down, and Jeff Beliveau has been recalled. Beliveau seems like a typical Hendry-era guy, with very good K rates who also tends to walk a lot of hitters. His minor league numbers look awfully similar to Scott Maine's, although Beliveau is 2 years younger.

It'll give the Cubs three lefties in the pen, which is odd.

I doubt the Cubs wanted to risk having Maddux accept arbitration.

The Braves are reportedly close to acquiring Dempster.

Aside from their minor leaguers, I think both Minor and Jurrjens are interesting players who might be undervalued and I wouldn't mind adding. The Braves probably aren't anywhere near giving up on Minor, though.

According to Rotoworld it may be Randall Delgado.

Law and Goldstein confirm Delgado is in the trade.

Law is sying Delgado is definitely in if the trade happens.

Somebody from MLB.com says the trade is done but is unsure if Delgado is in it.

I guess I have to eat my words. Delgado was a top 50 2012 prospect according to BA.

Also, Cubs are sending cash.

The idea that Theo has to prove himself is odd to me. But we've been over this before...

Asencio has been outrighted to Iowa. Is anyone aware of a corresponding move or might this be a sign that a trade is happening and someone outside the org is going to be added to the 25?

Asencio has been outrighted to Iowa. Is anyone aware of a corresponding move or might this be a sign that a trade is happening and someone outside the org is going to be added to the 25?

He was DFA'd when Germano was added to the roster.

According to Heyman the Dodgers rejected a Dempster for Allen Webster deal and have only offered a couple of low level prospects who project as relievers. It may be irrational but there's a point where you take your ball and go home.

So, four days until the deadline and only Marlon Byrd has been traded this season. Dempster may be staying put and Garza's injury (and paternity leave preventing him from showing his health before the deadline) may render him untradeable before this offseason.

It may be a quiet deadline for the Cubs after all.

According to Heyman the Dodgers rejected a Dempster for Allen Webster deal and have only offered a couple of low level prospects who project as relievers. It may be irrational but there's a point where you take your ball and go home.

That's not all irrational. #### Dempster. Make him the lowest qualifying offer for compensation and tell him NOT to accept it or he'll be pitching mop-up. Take the comp pick and move on -- making sure to negotiate exemptions into the next 30something player you'll have for 5+ years.

Take the comp pick and move on -- making sure to negotiate exemptions into the next 30something player you'll have for 5+ years.

Can such an exemption be made? It's in the CBA.

That said, the problem for the Cubs isn't the 5 and 10 rule, it's Hendry signing every free agent with a no-trade clause. Dempster has earned his right as far as I'm concerned.

Can such an exemption be made? It's in the CBA.

I think so - 10/5 was in the last CBA, too - but the Astros' contract with Carlos Lee included an exemption that defined only a limited set of teams he could veto a trade after he made it to 10/5. I don't see why such a thing couldn't be negotiated again -- of course, it would be traded for something (more $$$, etc), so I'm being slightly tongue-in-cheek about demanding the clause...

And now it's official. Garza won't be starting until late next week.

Oh boy, time to see what kind of haul Maholm can fetch.

And now it's official. Garza won't be starting until late next week.

Oh boy, time to see what kind of haul Maholm can fetch.

Garza actually doesn't concern me as much...

He's young enough that I wouldn't be averse to extending him - at a good price - he could well be the 'Dempster' of the next good Cubs team; the grizzled innings eater in the middle of the rotation. He can also be traded after the season without - to my mind - that much of a difference in his value.

Too bad LaHair has all but tanked - I doubt he fetches more than a bargain lottery ticket or spare parts.

I did see yesterday that at least one team has asked the Cubs for some specifics on the parameters of a Soriano trade.

Knobler reports that the two clubs are discussing a package deal where the Dodgers would acquire Dempster and outfielder Alfonso Soriano, and have also talked about Bryan LaHair.

The Dodgers reportedly rebuffed a proposal of Allen Webster straight up for Dempster, but if there is cash and Soriano included, perhaps they budge on their stance, or something else can be worked out between the two teams.

Don't get your hopes up though.

Olney says the clubs are no longer in contact.

Olney says the clubs are no longer in contact.

If the Dodgers weren't willing to even go UP TO Allen Webster, who looks like a pretty run of the mill mid-rotation starter at best, then screw 'em. If I couldn't get Lee, then Webster would have had to headline a package.

I'll still be ticked at Dempster, but LA's system hasn't excited anyone in more than a generation. It's got a handful of your standard issue toolsy OFers that haven't really learned to play baseball, a few pitchers who might make serviceable relievers, and a couple of low ceiling bargain gems who probably will be solid contributors.

I'll just take my chances with a sandwich pick at this point...

Which the Cubs would only get if they make an offer and Dempster doesn't come back.

Plus, they would have Andrew Cashner instead of Anthony Rizzo.

Where was I ever against the Cashner-Rizzo trade?

Aw crap, wrong thread and edit is busted.

The Cubs are offering to absorb all but $2 million of Soriano's contract.

Which the Cubs would only get if they make an offer and Dempster doesn't come back.

There's no reason not to make a 'qualifying offer' -- the pick is 'free', meaning it doesn't have the potential to impact Dempster's chances on the market... Now... ~$12 million MIGHT be more than he get per annum on the market, but I have to think someone would offer him a 2-3 year deal. Plus, if he accepts - we get to do this all over again next July.... Whheeeeeeee!

Per Heyman the Braves are still monitoring the Ryan Dempster situation.

Keep in mind that Dempster never actually rejected a trade to the Braves, the offer just expired with no approval from Ryan.

Am I the only one 'worried' about Rizzo's plate discipline. By observation he swings at lots of bad pitches and even looks worse than Soriano in this regard. So I looked it up and he would be the 3rd worst in baseball in OSwing% in he had enough PAs to qualify...

Alfonso Soriano has now tied LaHair for leader of the team in OPS+. They both have a 123 OPS+.

The trade deadline is 24 hours away and still no moves by the Cubs.

Both Scott Miller and Ken Rosenthal are reporting that Dempster/Dodgers trade discussions are back on.

The trade deadline is 24 hours away and still no moves by the Cubs.

Both Scott Miller and Ken Rosenthal are reporting that Dempster/Dodgers trade discussions are back on.

There's also really weird talk that Soriano is being discussed as a possible bundle with Dempster.

Someone better make sure to hide the paper, the TV, the radio, and the internet from Ryan - all this talk of him being traded will give him another sad.

Am I the only one 'worried' about Rizzo's plate discipline. By observation he swings at lots of bad pitches and even looks worse than Soriano in this regard. So I looked it up and he would be the 3rd worst in baseball in OSwing% in he had enough PAs to qualify...

Eh, he just 22 and his K's are wwwaaaayyyy down compared his disastrous 2011 trial run. I think that in the long run, he's probably going to be more Mo Vaughn than say, Jim Thome (i.e, ~70 BBs/140 Ks vs. 120/160) - but you can build an offense around that.

Besides, I'm too busying worrying about Castro's season of regression to be concerned about Rizzo.

Am I the only one 'worried' about Rizzo's plate discipline. By observation he swings at lots of bad pitches and even looks worse than Soriano in this regard. So I looked it up and he would be the 3rd worst in baseball in OSwing% in he had enough PAs to qualify...

Not a Cubs' fan so I'm not worried but have seen Rizzo play several games and I wonder why any pitcher would throw him a strike. Of course lots of hitters will chase the breaking ball in the dirt; I used to watch the Cubs more regularly and S. Dunston never learned not to do this. In any case, if I were an opposing pitching coach, I would make sure that Rizzo saw off-speed pitches and little else. He definitely can punish a fast ball.

BTW -

Carlos Zambrano has lost his spot in the Marlins' rotation... even with Sanchez dealt and Johnson still on the block. Z has been pretty awful since late May - the K/BB ratio is nearing 1:1 pretty quickly. Maybe Ozzie should take him out drinking.

---"Eh, he just 22 and his K's are wwwaaaayyyy down compared his disastrous 2011 trial run. I think that in the long run, he's probably going to be more Mo Vaughn than say, Jim Thome."
********

Well, in his rookie age 23 season, Mo swung at 46% of pitches, which was also the MLB average rate. His career rate was 45 %, so it didn't change much over the years. He also swung at the first pitch 33% of the time over his career.

The notoriously undisciplined A Soriano has swung at 53% of pitches, and 31% of 1st pitches over his career.

This season, the 'revamped' Rizzo is swinging at 56% of the pitches he sees, and 45% on the first pitch. Supposedly, it doesn't take lots of PAs for these tendencies to 'stabilize'.

There aren't many batters who become true stars that swing as much as Rizzo is swinging. Vlad, Hamilton, and maybe a couple others. The league is certainly noticing his impatience, as he is seeing only 39% of the pitches in the zone.

To say that he will still likely become a disciplined hitter is a stretch. Sheffield is one that comes to mind that accomplished this. But it's very unusual.

As far as his K being "wwwaaayyy" down this year, yes, but how is he accomplishing this? By having a decent contact ability, but mainly by being so aggressive that the PA is over before he has 'time' to strike out. Not much of a feather in his cap, IMO.

Kind of interesting that Rizzo has been that aggressive since one of his main issues during his Padres cameo was being way too passive at the plate. He had a 13.7% walk rate in his stint in MLB last season, and only swung at 47% of pitches compared to 57% this year. His zone swing was only 66% last year (75% this year), and he was only chasing 35% of pitches out of the zone last season vs. 45% this year. His contact rates are way up too though, and swinging strikes are appropriately way down, which addresses his other big issue last season.

I don't think it's hard to imagine him adjusting to a midpoint between these two approaches, but it will probably take a while for him to settle into that player.

As far as LaHair, it's always said by MLB vets that baseball at this level is a game of making adjustments, to counteract the adjustments the league makes to the player. It looks like LaHair, after making his initial impact, has not done that. Could that be the AAAA player is not just a figment of the snap judgements of the GMs due to small sample MLB performance--but is actually describing a type of player who has pop in his bad but cannot make the necessary adjustments?

Apparently Reed Johnson has been traded mid-game tonight. Also, according to another source, Brett Jackson was pulled from the Iowa Cubs game. Perhaps he's getting called up.

What ever they got its a good trade. He was a nri at camp and will resign with the cubs

And now Soto has been pulled from the on-deck circle and is saying his goodbyes.

And now Soto has been pulled from the on-deck circle and is saying his goodbyes.

I'm not sure I'd move Soto - he's having a dreadful year and his value is at its lowest. He's still got two arb years left and doesn't figure to get a raise on his 3 mil after this season - unless he rebounds the last two months, in which case he might fetch more in a trade.

On the other hand, he could be done... sometimes catchers crap out early.