MLB Rumors: Jake Peavy And The Chicago Cubs

by faketeams on Jan 1, 2009 10:15 AM EST

Following yesterday's trade of 2B/OF Mark DeRosa to the Cleveland Indians for three minor league pitchers, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune writes that the Chicago Cubs may revive the Jake Peavy talks and offers this potential package:

A combo platter of Jake Stevens [acquired in DeRosa deal], Ronny Cedeno, Felix Pie, Kevin Hart and Josh Vitters could interest the Padres, who are eager to get rid of Peavy's contract.

I don't know what is worse - that hypothetical trade proposal or Sullivan mentioning that Aaron Miles could bat lead-off for the Cubs. Given the Cubs gave Miles two and $4.9 million yesterday while dealing a more effective DeRosa, I am scared for Cubs fans. Fortunately, the San Diego Tribune reports that Vitters and Hart were two propsects the Padres did expect to acquire in ealrier trade talks involving Jake Peavy. Maybe throwing in a few more players in all the Padres want for the 2007 Cy Young winner.

Regardless of Jake Peavy trade speculation or Aaron Miles taking his no-pop/.329 OBP into the lead-off spot, all baseball sources agree the Cubs are ready to sign OF Milton Bradley to a multi-year deal.

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Yes.

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Not exactly

De Rosa was mostly playing RF for the Cubs. So Bradley is that replacement. To the extent that DeRosa was the main back up IF, Miles covers that and also the right side of a 2B platoon.

by Rad on Jan 1, 2009 11:15 AM EST reply actions

There is much more to these dealings

Aaron Miles is not a starter but a genuine utility/spot starter in the roster plan/roles. Miles can play 2B, but also in spot or pinch duty can play SS, 3B or an inning or two in the OF offering Piniella flexibility. He also is a solid switch hitter who can spray the ball and bat near .300.

Now the Cubs have surplus in the middle IF with Theriot-Fontenot and Cedeno (who is arb eligible and probably expected to gain a salary between $890K-$1M) Fontenot is one dimensional as being a serviceable defensive 2B but has a good bat from the left side where his OPS was actually better than DeRosa or even Utley but with only 300 AB’s.

Miles acquisition must be viewed in that salary context, $5.5 (DeRosa) minus $2.2M (Miles) or gain of $3.3M. My guess is that Miles allows the Cubs to move Cedeno who is Theriot’s backup.

Bradley is probably only going to get 70-80 starts and appear in 100-110 games not unlike Floyd did for the Cubs in ’07. Cubs will rest him against LH starters (playing RJohnson in CF and moving Fukudome to RF). Bradley is about the playoff lineup and why the Cubs gave RJohnson $3M this year—-meaning the Cubs will have Bradley and Miles on the bench late in games.

The other point is that if the Cubs do engineer a trade for Peavy they will gain a true ace and not psuedo ace (Zambrano) who will bring 200 IP to the rotation (roughly 40 more than Marquis) with probably 8-10 more quality starts. Their rotation will be unquestionably the strongest in the NL (even with an injury) with Peavy-Zambrano-Dempster-Lilly-Harden offering no weakness to the opposition.

They still are short a true lead off hitter and where I think Cubs have another deal in their plans.

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Jan 1, 2009 12:02 PM EST reply actions

Drop

DeRosa for Bradley is how you’re viewing the trade. Fair enough, I think, but adding Aaron Miles to the singles parade of Ronny Cedeno and Ryan Theriot seems somewhat silly to me. Fontenot looks like he can provide decent pop. Why pay Miles so much to protect Fontenot against lefties?

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by faketeams on Jan 1, 2009 4:23 PM EST up reply actions

and...

who will they trade to get that “true” leadoff hitter…and how many of them are available? oh, wait….Juan Pierre is avaiable!!!

raygu

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 1, 2009 12:36 PM EST reply actions

surprised

I was surprised to see them trade Derosa. They only trade Derosa if they have a Peavy deal in the works….imho. No way they downgrade 2b, unless Peavy is coming in another trade.

raygu

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 1, 2009 12:38 PM EST reply actions