Lukewarm Stove: White Sox Join Mets in Interest in Ted Lilly
Add the Chicago White Sox to the list of teams potentially interested in Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Ted Lilly, should the Cubs decide to sell.
Sources say the Sox have kicked around the idea of pursuing Lilly. That would give them three lefties in their rotation with Buehrle and Danks, but there are some in the Sox’ brain trust who worry more about Lilly getting clobbered by the home-run ball at U.S. Cellular Field. That’s always one of the first topics discussed among Sox brass when considering a pitcher.
Lilly relies on flyball outs, which also can be pretty risky at Wrigley Field, where he has a career record of 26-16 and 3.65 ERA in 55 starts. The sample size is much smaller on the South Side, where Lilly is 2-0 with a 4.76 ERA in three career starts at U.S. Cellular Field.
But there are other factors to consider. Lilly is in the final half-season of a four-year, $40 million contract that provides veto rights for a trade. He is earning $12 million this season, so he would come at a decent price.
Plus, he has the right makeup for a playoff push. Over the last three seasons, Lilly has lowered his ERA after the All-Star break — something all potential suitors are discussing these days.
And there has been plenty of chatter recently about Lilly. CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.
When Jake Peavy went down, you had to know that the White Sox – the hottest team in baseball – would enter the market for a starting pitcher.
As for the Mets, they remain interested in Lilly, and talks with the Cubs have reached the point where prospect names are being circulated.
The New York Mets, once considered to have the inside track for Oswalt, have turned their attention recently to Lilly — and the Cubs are seriously considering their overtures. The Cubs, sources say, have been doing their homework on three key Mets prospects — left-hander Robert Carson and right-handers Kyle Allen and Jeurys Familia.
None of the three are top prospects in the Mets system, but neither are they minor league filler. Prior to the season, the three were ranked 14th (Allen), 15th (Familia) and 16th (Carson) in the Mets system according to Baseball America – which system was, itself, ranked 21st in baseball. For reference, the Cubs were ranked 18th.
All three pitchers are in High A ball right now, pitching just ok. Carson is 21, and Allen and Familia are 20.
Whether the Cubs are looking at all three as a possible return for Lilly, or just one or two, remains to be seen. It’s hard to imagine that just one of these guys is all the return the Cubs could get for Lilly. But, being realistic, expecting much more than this would be a mistake. Lilly is a free agent after the year, is advancing in age, has relatively poor peripheral numbers this year, and has had back-to-back terrible outings.
Is the Trade Market for Carlos Zambrano Going to Shape Up?
One of the many pieces the Chicago Cubs would no doubt like to move is currently-restricted pitcher Carlos Zambrano. Still away from the team while he receives anger management treatment and evaluation, Zambrano would likely welcome a trade – despite his no-trade clause – as he’s going to be stuck in the bullpen upon his return to the Cubs. But could the Cubs actually manage to trade him?
Even if Zambrano were willing to waive his no-trade clause, the remaining $40 million-plus left on a contract that runs through 2012 is the obvious hurdle.
But the closer we get to the July 31 non-waiver deadline — and depending on how tough it is to get Cliff Lee from Seattle for contenders in need — Zambrano’s potential market could widen at least modestly.
The White Sox suddenly are down a starting pitcher, in the thick of a division race. And the Cubs’ opponent this weekend, the Los Angeles Dodgers, are seeking a starter and have been looking hard at Houston’s Roy Oswalt.
Dodgers manager Joe Torre sidestepped a question about potential interest in Zambrano.
”That’s tampering,” Torre said, adding, ”It’s sad what this kid must be going through. That’s all I can say. It’s nice to help your team, but I hate to see … I’m glad that people are dealing with stuff. It’s not easy.” CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.
The White Sox possibility is a legitimate one. Setting aside the new need – due to the Jake Peavy injury – there are two other reasons for optimism regarding a Zambrano-White Sox trade. First, Zambrano likes Chicago, and getting him to waive his no-trade clause to go across town would be a cinch. Second, Ozzie Guillen likes Zambrano. Better still, he could probably handle Zambrano.
Still, the question is whether Kenny Williams – like it or lump it, the guy is a shrewd GM – would take on a risk like Zambrano.
Otherwise, it remains to be seen whether teams would actually view Zambrano is a worthwhile option to add to their rotation as they make a run at the playoffs. Sure, he’s been great as recently as a year ago, but since mid-season last year, few have been worse or more inconsistent. And that’s before you even consider the crazy factor. I have a hard time envisioning a team considering Zambrano a legitimate back-up plan to acquiring Cliff Lee – at least not while Ted Lilly is also available.
Regardless, set your expectations low: the Cubs will receive salary relief or a couple decent prospects for Zambrano, but not both.
Series Preview: Cubs v. White Sox, June 25 – June 27, 2010
The excitement of the BP Environmentally-Friendly Crosstown Cup is reaching a FEVER PITCH. Given this season’s performance of the two, er, one of the Chicago clubs, I’d say it’s a fitting that the rivalry is sponsored by a company associated, at present, with an oozing flow of oily sludge. Time for the Series Preview.
The idea is to hook you up with the bare minimum of what you need to know about every series this year. That way you can look like a genius, hardcore fan in front of all your friends, with minimum effort. Oh, and there will be pictures of hot chicks, too.
Check out the White Sox series preview, after the jump
Series Preview: Athletics v. Cubs, June 15 – June 17, 2010
The Chicago Cubs begin their second AL West interleague series today as the Oakland Athletics head to Wrigley. Hopefully the Cubs play the Athletics as well as they played their AL West chums, the Texas Rangers. Time for the Series Preview.
The idea is to hook you up with the bare minimum of what you need to know about every series this year. That way you can look like a genius, hardcore fan in front of all your friends, with minimum effort. Oh, and there will be pictures of hot chicks, too.
Check out the Athletics series preview, after the jump
Fourth Outfielder Watch: Jermaine Dye and Xavier Nady are the Top Choices
We’re getting very close to anointing this an obsessive watch, people. The only thing holding it back is that the acquisition of a fourth outfielder doesn’t have quite the same cachet as a Jake Peavy or Brian Roberts or a New Owner.
That said, a new report suggests the Chicago Cubs view Jermaine Dye and Xavier Nady as options 1 and 1A for the fourth outfielder spot, with only the latter being realistic at this point.
The Cubs have interest in former White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye, but he probably wants more money than he would have on the North Side.
Unless Dye’s demands come down, one source said the Cubs’ top choice among free agent outfielders would be Xavier Nady. Scott Boras, the agent for Nady, told FOXSports.com in an email last week that the right-handed hitter is “on schedule to be ready in spring training,” following the second Tommy John elbow surgery of his career. FOX Sports on MSN.
Dye, because of his name-power if not his actual power, always did seem like a particularly aggressive choice for a fourth outfielder. Still, if he comes at the same price as all the other options, no one would complain if the Cubs landed him. Nady is probably still poking around for a gig with a little more starting possibility, but if he settles for a fourth outfielder role, he’ll be hard pressed to find one with more starts available than with the Cubs. Presumably he would start in right field against all lefties, and would spell Alfonso Soriano in left field with regularity.
This report, of course, stands in stark contrast to this weekend’s report from Dave Kaplan that the Cubs’ first choice is Johnny Gomes, with whom they’ve been negotiating. Frankly, any of the three options is pretty darn good for a fourth outfielder. Other options include Rocco Baldelli and former Cub Reed Johnson.
The same article notes that the Cubs would like to upgrade at second base, having considered Orlando Hudson and Adam Kennedy (he’s an upgrade?), but it – like signing Ben Sheets – is not a priority right now.
Carlos Zambrano Would Accept a Trade to the White Sox?
Last week, when rumors of a possible Carlos Zambrano trade bubbled over, Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry came forward with his rebuttal: it wasn’t happening. No, not because the Cubs love Zambrano and would never trade him (I still can’t get over the fact that Hendry did not say this); instead, Hendry’s reason? Zambrano has a no-trade clause.
Fair enough, I suppose, as all indications are that Zambrano would invoke that no-trade clause if the Cubs attempted to trade him just about anywhere. Anywhere except… Chicago?
[Zambrano] would invoke his no-trade clause unless it would be to the White Sox, because he wants to stay in Chicago. Baseball Prospectus.
Um, hello. Carlos Zambrano does have a good relationship with White Sox skipper and fellow crazy guy Ozzie Guillen, and perhaps he loves Chicago so much that it’s the only place he’d ever go. That said, it’s hard to imagine Zambrano being too crazy about going to the American League – I don’t think there’s a pitcher in baseball who enjoys batting as much as he does.
Also, there’s probably not too much to get antsy about here anyway: the same BP report noted that the White Sox would be unlikely to actually try and make a move for Zambrano after acquiring Jake Peavy last year.
h/t CCO.
Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animals
‘Twas the day before Christmas, and all through the blog, not a rumor was stirring, not even one about freaking Jake Peavy or Brian Roberts.
The stockings were hung by the center field ivy with care, in the hopes that Curtis Granderson Mike Cameron Coco Crisp any-freaking-body soon would be there.
Ok, that’s all I got. Merry Christmas, friends. You can expect limited posting for the rest of the day and tomorrow. Obviously, if news breaks, we’ll have it here, but I’m not likely to finishing penning that scintillating Cubs Caravan piece until Sunday or so.
In the interim, enjoy some Cubs holiday parody news pieces – written by yours truly in another life – from the Cubs Brickyard.
Randy Wells Concerned to Learn that Carlos Zambrano is His Secret Santa
Lou Piniella: Ghosts of Christmas Past and Present OK, Ghost of Christmas Future “Kind of a dick”
Pie and Soriano on Surprise Christmas Party Makeout Session: “It was the Mistletoe!”
Jim Hendry Asks for Jake Peavy for Christmas – Result is Humorous, Disastrous
New Children’s Book “Where’s Soriano” Not Exactly This Year’s Tickle Me Elmo
Obsessive Curtis Granderson Watch: Cubs Are “Absolutely” Interested
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.
