Cubs Keepers: Darwin Barney

Darwin Barney is the Cubs starting second baseman right now, he has been with them team full-time since 2011.  He’s a great defender and does some of the small things on offense, and has been a good number eight hitter this year.  The problem with Barney is that he needs to take more walks, though that is a common problem with most players today.  If Barney raised his average a bit, like he could do any given year and took some walks he would be a great number two hitter and his value would go through the roof.  The Cubs have young infielders coming up though like Josh Vitters, Javier Baez, and Junior Lake so the major question is if you would trade Barney or keep him.  My answer is that his defense is good and he has played poorly this year with some bright spots.  WIth Barney I would work hard with him and at least keep him another year in hopes of him improving, If he does a lot I would trade him after 2013, as long as Lake developed to his ability.  Barney worst case would make a good back-up middle infielder, but he could be a lot more and I know next season he will at least get a little better, if not a lot.  His 2011 season wasn’t bad and there is no guarantee all those guys will develop into to MLB players or stars so keeping Barney around isn’t bad, and he makes a decent Cub for now.  I see the Cubs improving as talent comes up and they fix their pitching and Barney could easily be a part of this, he pays a great second base doing all over and making good throws and when I’ve seen him play I thought he was a decent player but be has to be more patient and just hit.  Once his OBP goes up his average and every other hitting percentage will follow and he could even cut back ona few Ks.  The thing I like most about Barney this year is that his power is going up.  It can go a bit higher too and that’s helping him become a better second baseman.  I see him being decent in his career. He could be a Cub for a long time if he can make some of those adjustments at any rate or become a back-up at the very worst case or for a short time if his value hits high or another team offers a good deal.  For now I’d say Barney is an improving Cub.

August Trade Candidate: Alfonso Soriano

There are many reasons the Cubs need to get rid of Soriano and he will clear waivers, I’d say he is most likely traded this month.  The reasons why are he’s expensive on a team getting built up and he doesn;t fit well, even though he does produce some and he’s not worth his contract.  Also, younger players such as Brett Jackson, Josh Vitters, and Dave Sapplet.  Soriano would need to have a large chunk of his contract eaten up by the Cubs, but they would probably oblige.  Soriano is an attractive piece even with all of his flaws, he athletic, has power, can hit anywhere in the order, and has lots of experience.  He’s had a good career and would be a help to a team going for the World Series.  The Tigers almost got him on Trading Deadline and for a mid range prospect they could possibly do so this month, though leaving Wrigley will hurt a bit, Soriano has had a good year and should continue to do so.  He won;t be a Delmon Young from 2011 most likely but he’d add some much-needed power and production to the bottom half of Detroit’s line-up.  Other suitors could include the Reds, A’s, Orioles and Rays, though the Tigers are the best.  If he doesn’t get traded he’d be okay in Chicago and have some decent seasons beyond.  If he is traded it would be the third time he’s been dealt.  Soriano is a good, aging player who could help some teams out.

Marlon Byrd: Return to the AL

Marlon Byrd is returning to the AL, getting traded from the Cubs to Red Sox.  The last time Byrd played in the AL, he had his career year in 2009 with the Rangers and he wasn’t that bad in 2007 or 2008 either.  The traded happened almost two weeks ago, but I wanted to sample his first 10 games and so far he has lived up to what he can do in the AL.  He’s hitting .308 and that could be a constant and he will replace Ellsbury well, and when Jacoby comes back he should played right.  He won’t be as good as he was from 2007-09 but he will do well and his extra base hits will rise and he will hit some homers in Fenway.  He will play a good center fielder for the Red Sox too,  He should help and he should do better than Sweeney and be almost as good as Ross.  Byrd should have more good AB’s with the Red Sox and be himself again.  The Cubs were just a bad fit for Byrd and he’s in a good place all around again and I think he will have a strong finish and help the Sox and his market value.  Good move by the Red Sox

Bryan LaHair: His Monster April

Bryan LaHair has been amazing this season.  He’s hitting .390 and has 5 home runs.  His power is greater than that even and his average will go down, but he has proven to be a keeper and even when Anthony Rizzo comes up LaHair can play the outfield.  He fits in at Wrigley and he has hit 23-34 when he doesn’t strike out and he may not cut those down a lot, but if he can work pon that, he can become even better and more valuable.  LaHair should keep up on his good season, especially in the first half.  He may see a slight drop in production after that, but he should still be good.  You should snag him off the waiver wire if still available in your fantasy league too.  He may be the Cubs best player this year, besides maybe Starlin Castro, and he should continue to hit huge homers and be very clutch.  He has flaws but with his swing and ability he should always be able to work around that a little bit and I think he could be like Nelson Cruz, maybe not as good, but a guy who mashed at AAA and broke out a little later than normal.  LaHair is a good player and his offense should always help the CUbs, even with some of his minor flaws.  If I were to pick the next LaHair, the guy who comes to mind is Brad Eldred, he can just mash, but really there’s only a slight chance of that happening.

Athletics Sign Yoenis Cespedes

The A’s signed Cespedes to a 4 year, 36 million dollar deal.  The money is pretty good as are the years for what was expected.  He’s a bit overhyped and going to the A’s will hurt his value but he should still do pretty good and be an impact player.  He may play some of this year in the minors which is okay for him and then move up and if he does, he should do okay.  His average this year may not be the best but it won’t be terrible, where he’s a t he could be a .280-.290 hitter.  His defense will fit well in the A’s park and he fit well  The A’s moves don;t make much sense with trading their young guns and getting him, other than the fact that they want him to be a cornerstone to the franchise which may not happen, o the move is questionable.  He should have success and be an above average in the MLB if not a little more and his power will always be his most impressive tool, but he should do a lot for the A’s and may make this contract look decent or bad.  He could succeed in the A’s ballpark but it will be a little harder on him.  Cespedes is a risk all around but the A’s should get some production no matter what, I don;t see him being a complete bust, if he even is, he will always have power and defense and could hit for some extra base hits or he could be a superstar.  This is an okay deal for both sides.

Moves: Maholm, Frasor

• The Cubs have signed Paul Maholm, rounding out a rebuilding rotation that figures to do okay.  He will join Dempeter, Garza, Volsatd, Randy Wells, and Travis Wood.  Garza is likely to be dealt.  Maholm is probably the second best without Garza, behind Dempster and not by much.  He may have better stats this year and should have good stats no matter what.  Maholm isn’t great and never will be but he’s an ideal number four who can be more at times and even though he’s moving to Wrigley, which will hurt a little, he could build on his success last year and even if he does decline he will still do well and be an innings eater.  It’s a good deal for one year and a good one for two.  He should earn his money if not more and could have a pretty good 2012 or at least part of it.  His stats should be good and a WAr of 1.75 isn’t out of reason and maybe a little higher.
• Jason Frasor was re-acquired by the Blue Jays from the White Sox and he will be a good arm in the bullpen and do what he always has in Toronto, he will be another good, late inning guy and I like him.  He won;t pitch like he did in Chicago but like he did in Toronto.  The Jays gave up Myles Jaye, who is a toss up but has been good so far and has upside and Daniel Webb, who I don;t see going anywhere, both are pitchers.  EDGE: Jays

Some Trades That Make Sense

To me at least…

NYY GETS: SP Floyd, RP Thornton, SP Stewart
CHW GETS: C Romine, 3B Laird, SP Betances

NYY GETS: SP Rodriguez
HOU GETS: SP Noesi, 3B Nunez

TOR GETS: SP Garza,
CHC GETS: C D’arnaud, SP McGuire, OF Gose

NYM GETS: C Nick Hundley
SD GETS: 2B Justin Turner

LAD GETS: C Kurt Suzuki
OAK GETS: C AJ Ellis, IF Justin Sellers, RP Ames

LAA GETS: SP Cobb, SP Torres
TB GETS: 1B Trumbo

CHC GETS: SP Jacob Turner, SP Andrew Oliver, SP Kyle Ryan, 1B James Robbins
DET GETS: SP Garza

NYY GETS: SP Garza
CHC GETS: SP Betances, C Romine, 2B David Adams

TB GETS: 1B LaRoche
WSH GETS: SP Cobb

COL GETS: 2B Gordon Beckham
CHW GETS: SP Alex White, 2B Jonathan Herrea

Cubs Get Rizzo for Cashner

The Cubs made a smart move for their first base hole, smarter than signing Prince and wasting the rest of his prime trying to compete because they won’t for another 2-3 years and that’s when Rizzo may be hitting his prime.  I do believe Rizzo is a little bit overrated and will need to cut strikeouts, which he can in order to be an all-star.  He could hit 30 homers a year in his prime and he should get some playing time and hit about 20 homers and hit about .265 and do a good job and play some good defense, he may get kind of hot at some point in 2012.  he could rake at times in Wrigley and is a great fit and will do good their.  Cashner will be a decent four starter in PETCO and he could carve out a good career but not as valuable as Rizzo’s should be.  Cashner can be a reliever and  a good one at that if worse comes to worst.  The Cubs also got Zach Cates who may be a bust or a decnt pitcher someday, but not great.  The Padres received Kyung-Min Na, a career fourth otufielder at best who doesn;t have many tools besides speed and some hitting but he’s a bad baserunner.  EDGE: Cubs

Marlins Trade For Carlos Zambrano

In a high risk-high reward situation, the Marlins have traded for Carlos Zambrano.  The move is probably more for attendance than talent but they may be rewarded with some good pitching, emphasis on may.  I think he will do good the first half of the year and do okay but fizzle during the second half of the season.  He should benefit from the Marlins offense and could be a great number five guy but there is a 50-50 chance he will also be a horrible number five guy.  we know he can pitch but if his mechanics break down or his stuff doesn;t work he could be a bust, even for just a few starts his stuff is off he could lose his whole season due to his composure.  The Marlins gave up Chris Volstad who has been a bust but is a very solid starter and though he will never be an ace or even a number three at this point, I think he will put it all together and be a good number five starter although Wrigley Field could get to him from time to time.  The Cubs got rid of Zambrano, and even though they have to pay his contract they got a decent return and should walk out as unharmed as possible.  Zambrano is past his prime by a low now so his ceiling is a 1.3 WAR and his FIP, or Fielding Independent Pitching his very high, which is and an I don’t see him improving much on that but he could still be productive.  EDGE: Cubs

Cubs Get Stewart from Rockies

The Cubs got Ian Stewart, who still has a lot of power upside and will hit for power given the chance and the Cubs got to keep Dewitt and Baker who can play second and third.  The Cubs also got Casey Weathers who could be a successful reliever out of their bullpen as soon as next year.  The Rockies got Tyler Colvin, who and a decent start in the majors but has cooled since, playing at Coors Field may turn his whole career around and you could see him being a fourth outfielder, or maybe a platoon or lower end starter who hits .270, plays good defense and gets on a bit.  The Rockies also got DJ LeMahieu. he will be a great utility man with a bit of everything but in 2012 he could help the Rockies out at lot at second base and he have a breakout season, he has talent and is better than Weathers, but Stewart is better than Colvin and should have more success in his new home and both prospects should have good careers and both these teams should get some production and it should work out for both teams.  EDGE: Cubs