Well ... he's not as bad as Lyle Overbay, I guess ... is there any reason to think he was injured in the first third of the season and is now healthy again?

Not exactly exciting for the Pirates' first midseason trade for a veteran since ... what, Danny Jackson in 1992?
(assuming the Matt Morris trade didn't really happen ... nothing like the Matt Morris trade could exist in a logical universe)

1B Aaron Baker is the return

Marginal price for a marginal upgrade.

Still, I like Lee on a fannish level, and at least I won't have to watch Overbay anymore.

Is his nickname "Overpay"? Please tell me it is.

Let's not ignore that this deal only happens because Jim Hendry deemed Carlos Pena, the one-year signing manning first for the 42-game win Cubs, untouchable.

I'm spitting mad that the Cubs decided they need to hold on to Carlos Pena when the Pirates called about him. I mean, the guy's on a one-year deal, and the Cubs are horrible. WHY DO THEY NEED TO HOLD ON TO CARLOS PENA?

#### Jim Hendry, and the Ricketts for being too stupid to shitcan him.

EDIT: Yeah, what Walks said.

Are you ####### serious? The Pena trade didn't happen because the CUBS didn't want it to? Jesus H. Christ. #### this team.

Gern: [url="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110730&c>Here</a>.

There's <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110729&c]also this[/url].

Warning: not for faint of heart Cubs fans. As I said earlier in the game thread, the organization's denial of their current horrid state is truly breathtaking. I'm actually wondering if Hendry won't be back next year.

Hendry (in the second linked article in #8):

"You always need some kind of rebuilding when you're in fifth place," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Friday. "But you don't look at it like we're not going to compete. When somebody says, 'Blow the place up and start over and do it right,' OK, does that mean we should get rid of the people who are young?"

I couldn't make this up.

You laugh now, but tomorrow they're going to announce that Pena was actually a precocious 5 years old when his family moved to the US and 12 years old when he was in the Cape Cod League in 1997, and the Cubs have signed him to a new five-year deal that runs through his age 38 31 season. So that's one part of their young core in place.

You laugh now, but tomorrow they're going to announce that Pena was actually a precocious 5 years old when his family moved to the US and 12 years old when he was in the Cape Cod League in 1997, and the Cubs have signed him to a new five-year deal that runs through his age 38 31 season. So that's one part of their young core in place.

Sorry, I know you're just trying to cheer me up, but I'm really not in the mood to kid around.

Seems like a meh kind of deal. It would have been better if the Pirates could have pushed it through ten days ago.

#8: neither link worked for me but I will assume that is the Good Lord trying to protect me.

I hope Derrek tears it up the last 2 months.

I won't piss on the Cubs not trading Pena until I know what they passed up. If they had a chance at anything resembling a decent prospect I will be rather annoyed.

My concern has more to do with the suspicion that Hendry doesn't want to deal Pena because he will attempt to bring him back next season thus bypassing the Pujols and Fielder sweepstakes.

#14: agree with that too.

My concern has more to do with the suspicion that Hendry doesn't want to deal Pena because he will attempt to bring him back next season thus bypassing the Pujols and Fielder sweepstakes.

As if there is any doubt.

Warning: not for faint of heart Cubs fans.

I was able to track down the articles on the site itself.

I wish I hadn't. Wasn't really looking to swear quite this much early on a Sunday morning.

Seems like a meh kind of deal. It would have been better if the Pirates could have pushed it through ten days ago.

Ten days ago, they were trying to get Pena or Kubel.

It's official: I win my bet with Matt Clement of Alexandria made before the season per the stipulated terms of this thread.

So who are you going to sponsor MCOA? I know ten bucks doesn't get you a whole lot nowadays.

Sorry Walt. BTF is wonky when it comes to long links, and I failed to test them myself.

Try here for the Pena news and here for the breathtaking denial link. Unless you're having a good morning, then I wouldn't bother.

Refusing to trade anything of any possible worth is just inexcusable on Hendry's part. The Cubs are not a fifth-place team in a great division. They aren't a fifth-place team in a good division. They're 24 games under .500. #### you, Jim Hendry.

Hendry said the team needs only to add a few pieces, continue the development of young players like Tyler Colvin, James Russell and Starlin Castro, and next year should be different.

"Why couldn't we be right back in it?" Hendry said.

Well, there's a strategy for you.

When somebody says, 'Blow the place up and start over and do it right,' OK, does that mean we should get rid of the people who are young?"

Yes, because in order to trade an over-30 first baseman on a one-year deal away from a team 20+ games under .500 to a team with a yawning hole at first base that hasn't smelled a pennant race in forever, you also have to commit yourself to giving away Starlin Castro. Idiot.

James Russell? Really, Jim? Jesus Christ. James Russell might become Sean Marshall's caddy if everything breaks right.

"We'll start with those two kids, and it will be an evolving thing -- and maybe not," Quade said.

That does pretty well sum up Quade's approach, doesn't it.

Hendry is counting on getting a good draft pick when Peña gets offered arbitration and then leaves for the Doosan Bears.

Yes, because in order to trade an over-30 first baseman on a one-year deal away from a team 20+ games under .500 to a team with a yawning hole at first base that hasn't smelled a pennant race in forever, you also have to commit yourself to giving away Starlin Castro. Idiot.

I can't get over that quote myself. For one thing, the transparent bad faith required by Hendry to say something like that on the record ... well, it just boggles the mind. Idiot or not, he can't possibly believe that the people wanting to "blow the place up" want him to get rid of the kids, too. And yet he says it anyway! To justify doing nothing!

And for another thing ... what young players? This team basically has Castro as a young player to build around. Barney's a spare part, as are Samardzija and Russell. Colvin sucks, as do DeWitt and Campana. Marmol, Marshall, Soto and Wells, regardless of what else anyone thinks of them, are all already 28 and can't really be considered "young" anymore. Marshall's already a free agent after next season.

What really kills me is that, I imagine like last year Hendry will do a few waiver deals and presumably get less in return than he could have before the deadline.

Refusing to trade anything of any possible worth is just inexcusable on Hendry's part.

He was probably too busy putting together the Fukudome deal. Yeah, that's the ticket.