dolfinfan305

Your wrong but your enititled to your opinion :plain

Ziggy...The Cubs have one of the best farm systems when it comes to pitching and someone who is not in the Top 10 for you guys can be in the Top 10 for some other team....the guy were getting is talented , Beinfest wouldnt have let D. Lee go unless he knew the guy was a legitimate prsopect and not a throw in "not that good" player b/c then the deal would essential be Lee for Choi which isnt going to happen...A moderator (wisc) at WindyCitySports page said that he heard Hendry say that the PTBNL is "going to cost us a pretty good minor leaguer"...i also have heard from Marlins sources that he is a tall, right handed, power pitcher...Blasdel would have fit the profile but hes not protected (if he were the player the Marlins wanted the Cubs wouldnt take a chance and leave him out there for someone else)...So stop being so hard headed...you still got Lee for chump change compared to the Sexson deal...Its funny how i monitor the boards everywhere the fans seem like they dont want to trade anyone who had a good season the previous year in the minors....Sorry for the long response but just had to make my point =)...i know you being a Cubs fan you dont want to lose a player who might help you out in the future but you have to give up quality to get quality

Lowell's longevity tied to ballpark deal By Juan C. Rodriguez Staff Writer Posted December 4 2003 If you build it, he will stay. Wednesday, the Marlins officially announced the deal that will keep All-Star third baseman Mike Lowell in a Marlins uniform a minimum of one season and maximum of four. Whether Lowell stays through 2007 hinges on the team's ability to secure financing for a ballpark. If stadium plans aren't solidified by Nov. 1, 2004, Lowell can opt out of what potentially is a four-year, $32 million deal. He is guaranteed $6.5 million next season and holds a $7.5 million option for 2005. Without a new facility and its accompanying revenue boost, the Marlins would be off the hook for the remaining $18 million for the final two seasons. "We could not have Mike Lowell on our team if there is no new stadium," team President David Samson said. "That's the bottom line. ... It's not even a discussion. There would not be the revenue, and there is no possibility." Lowell, 29, and the Marlins will know well before November whether he'll be a free agent sooner than later. The Miami-Dade County Commission set March 15 as a deadline for the team to secure financing. If they fail, the $73 million the commission pledged will be allocated elsewhere. A standout at Coral Gables High School and Florida International University, Lowell hopes he won't have to make the call to stay or go after next season. He was open to a deal with a stadium clause from the outset. Once he was confident of the team's prospects of making it happen, he agreed. "I understand the situation," Lowell said. "To pay me those last two years you need extra revenue, keeping in mind that [Josh] Beckett and [brad] Penny and [Miguel] Cabrera, all those guys are going to be hitting arbitration or free agency. The goal is to keep everyone." Lowell would earn $9 million apiece in each of his final two seasons, although $500,000 would be deferred without interest from each of his 2006 and 2007 salaries. That money would be paid at the conclusion of the contract. If Lowell is traded, no money would be deferred and the final two years would become guaranteed. There's also a $250,000 severance payment if Lowell doesn't exercise his option for 2005. TICK TOCK Marlins General Manager Admin Beinfest said he remains in communication with Scott Boras, the agent for free-agent catcher Pudge Rodriguez. If the two sides do not reach an agreement by Sunday, the Marlins lose negotiating rights with him until May, as they are contractually precluded from offering him arbitration. Reached late Tuesday night, Boras said: "I spent a good deal of time understanding David and Admin's plight. ... I let the players make the call. I'm negotiating with a number of teams regarding Pudge, and Florida is just one of them." Sources said the Marlins have offered a two-year deal in the $16 millon range. "Pudge has given me very specific designs," Boras said. "We have a player who had a great year. We said we wanted a multiyear contract, and obviously he wanted an increase based upon the fact that players get paid for having great years."

Let me take it back...Blasdell looks good but he was not protected in the Rule 5 draft and with the way he looks hes gone

As we all know, the PTBNL is all speculatiion right now. Only thing we know from Marlins sources is that hes a tall, hard throwing right hander so i dont think it would be Tavarez but it might be Jared Blasdell. If its Jared i would like the trade b/c it seems he's got some good stuff.

From my understanding, the player we are getting is on the Cubs 40 man roster ans is taking up a roster spot "protecting" him until after the draft where his rights will be transfered over to the Marlins

I think we can get some good bullpen help cheap if the LaTroy Hawkins signing was any indication (great arm, 1.87 ERA - signed for 3.8 million a year)....If we offer Urbina arbitration we most likely have to give him a pay raise to keep him...Beinfest is being smart and waiting for the market to cool down to get cheap bargains

We have Wilson Valdez at 2nd base in AAA. If he has another good year, Gonzo might be gone after next year

Latroy was a good pickup by you guys...he had some pretty mean numbers for minnesota

Since Beinfest said we are not likely to sign Urbina, it also seems like we wont be signing a closer prob b/c of payroll constraints. What cheap options are out there that we can get. On a side note, we should let go Tejera and sign back Juan Alvarez who is also a lefty...i remember him playing great in spring training and in limited action during the season had a 3.09 ERA.

I believe I read on sportsline.com that we HAVE offered Chad Fox a contract. I heard the same thing

Beinfest said strengthening the bullpen is a priority, but said closer Ugueth Urbina is not likely to return. From AP Article on Lowell Resigning Doesnt look like Uggie is in our Plans

On Channel 7, Steve said Beinfest said that an offer to Pudge has been made...no details were given

IF WE TRADE M. REDMAN WE CAN SAVE ABOUT 3 MILLION A SEASON RIGHT?

Beinfest has said that the D. Lee trade freed up money to resign AJ Burnett but he wont be back from Tommy John until around June and theres no indication that he can step in right away and be effective. If they can afford it, i think the Marlins should beep Redman in the rotation until AJ is ready. By then, it will be really close to the trading deadline when we can get top return for him. Another option for the Marlins might be what they did w/ Matt Mantei - a hard thrower w/ arm problems - cut down his innings pitched by making him a closer. What do you guys think?

Guys...calm down...remember the FA market is really slow right now and theres a plethora of closers out there....Beinfest knowing theres lot of supply and not much demand is playing the waiting game to sign someone for a low salary...anyhow Beinfest has bigger things to worry in the next week like who to offer salary arbitration too and try to sign Pudge...looks like its going to be an interesting week

We also now have comfirmation about the Castillo signing from Sun-Sentinel

Thanks espo...one more question...whats the best message board for chicago cubs news so i can keep up with whats going on w/ rumors coming from the windy city

Hey espo...where is your source of the Cubs $$ talks w/ Castillo

The guy whose interesting in the trade is De La Rosa...hes got awesome heat and pitched really well last year in Double A - think of him like a prospect along the lines of Denny Bautista. Along w/ that they get Spivey which if he can return to his all-star form from 2002 will be great. Overbay hits for good average and his power numbers are increasing in the minors. I dont care too much about the catcher they threw in (Moeller).

Diamondbacks acquired 1B Richie Sexson, LHP Shane Nance and a player to be named from the Brewers for 2B Junior Spivey, 1B Lyle Overbay, INF Craig Counsell, C Chad Moeller, LHP Jorge De La Rosa and LHP Chris Capuano. From Rotoworld Wow...If the D-Backs would offered something like that we would've taken it in a heartbeat...i think Beinfest jumped the gun too early since its been a pretty slow trading/FA period...I think the D-backs got desperate after they saw D. Lee off the map and overpaid for Sexson

Thats good that he's making up his mind that way the Marlins know how much cash they have left to go after Pudge. The Marlins are signing in priorities which had been 1. Lowell 2. Castillo and when castillo has decided they can go full-force after Pudge. I hope Pudge doesnt get greedy and holds out hope that somone is going to give him 10 mil a season which isnt happening. He will be signing for about 7 million whether its with the Marlins or not i just hope he comes to his senses and comes back to us.

Or if Castillo leaves...move Cabrera to 2nd and Nunez to RF

He may be older but he can hit...his projected numbers in 2003 at AAA over 118 games .311, 132 hits, 22 HR, 76 RBI, 18 SB...not to shabby...and i heard he's really good defensively...if Choi is not ready next yr and option would be moving Conine to 1st and bringing up Nunez

We all know Buatista is going to be special but thats the price we paid for Winning a World Series