Well, it’s that time, friends. You were there when it was Jake Peavy. You were there when it was (OMG) Brian Roberts. You were there for the only successful one of these – the new owner. And you’re still here for Milton Bradley.
Yes. It’s another obsessive watch. This time, it’s Detroit Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson. I want him. You want him. And thankfully, the Cubs want him. Depending on how frequent the rumors, this may very well become an “OMGranderson Watch.”
A source close to the Cubs said Friday that general manager Jim Hendry “absolutely” is interested in offering a prospect-heavy package of players if Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski decides to trade the 28-year-old Illinois-Chicago product.
According to the source, Hendry and Dombrowski spoke about Granderson and other Tigers players during the GM meetings earlier in the week at the O’Hare Hilton. The question the Cubs and others are asking is whether the Tigers’ economic difficulties are severe enough that Dombrowski would trade a top young talent such as Granderson.
In the 48 hours after the Granderson rumors first surfaced, Dombrowski did little to discourage that idea.
“I feel very comfortable in saying there are generally a lot of conversations at these meetings, and this year there were really a lot,” Dombrowski told the Detroit News. …
A Cubs offer could be built around 19-year-old shortstop Starlin Castro, who is emerging as one of the top prospects in the minors. Third baseman Josh Vitters, 19-year-old Korean shortstop Hak-Ju Lee and minor league pitching from a group including Andrew Cashner, Jay Jackson and Chris Carpenter also could be part of deal.
A Cubs source suggests a Granderson offer also could include low-priced veterans whom the Tigers either could keep or move elsewhere. Those players include Jake Fox, Micah Hoffpauir, Tom Gorzelanny, Aaron Heilman, Mike Fontenot and Aaron Miles. chicagotribune.com.
Wow! Curtis Granderson for Aaron Miles, Aaron Heilman and Mike Fontenot! It’s practically a done deal!
Buuuut seriously. Although the price for Granderson would no doubt be steep, the fact that Rogers throws out the top five Cubs prospects indicates to me that he did not put much thought into it, nor did he have confirmation from the Cubs or Tigers that these are actually the prospects on the table. One from that particular list? Probably. Multiple? Probably not. The good news is that the Cubs finally have the kind of organizational depth necessary to part with a tip top prospect, and then a few very good prospects.
And not that you were worried, but I can’t fathom the Cubs trading Tom Gorzelanny while Ted Lilly is hurt and the number 5 spot in the rotation is currently a massless, shapeless void.
CUBS HAVE TO GET CURTIS GRANDERSON IF THEY WANT SPEED,POWER, AND AGILITY
I AGREE