Monkeyboy wrote:I feel like the Cubs' prospects rarely live up to their billing, kinda like Yankees and Angels prospects. I wish they hadn't claimed him. I'm holding out for Dodgers prospects in the offseason for Cole and/or Utley. A trade of Byrd in next few days would be nice.

Monkeyboy wrote:I feel like the Cubs' prospects rarely live up to their billing, kinda like Yankees and Angels prospects. I wish they hadn't claimed him. I'm holding out for Dodgers prospects in the offseason for Cole and/or Utley. A trade of Byrd in next few days would be nice.

Monkeyboy wrote:I feel like the Cubs' prospects rarely live up to their billing, kinda like Yankees and Angels prospects. I wish they hadn't claimed him. I'm holding out for Dodgers prospects in the offseason for Cole and/or Utley. A trade of Byrd in next few days would be nice.

Jimbo wrote:

Monkeyboy wrote:I feel like the Cubs' prospects rarely live up to their billing, kinda like Yankees and Angels prospects. I wish they hadn't claimed him. I'm holding out for Dodgers prospects in the offseason for Cole and/or Utley. A trade of Byrd in next few days would be nice.

Cubs are regarded as having pretty much the best farm system in baseball right now.

ReadingPhilly wrote:I'm not even sure what the pecking list of guys would be to pick from.

WheelsFellOff wrote:

Jimbo wrote:

Monkeyboy wrote:I feel like the Cubs' prospects rarely live up to their billing, kinda like Yankees and Angels prospects. I wish they hadn't claimed him. I'm holding out for Dodgers prospects in the offseason for Cole and/or Utley. A trade of Byrd in next few days would be nice.

Cubs are regarded as having pretty much the best farm system in baseball right now.

Signed, 'Epstein's mutha'.

bleh wrote:The Cubs claim just boils down to them being willing to take on the contract so why not put the claim in. I doubt they have any special interest in trying to acquire him or give up top prospects for him. Really it just means there's almost no chance Hamels gets moved.

3. Create an exclusive negotiation window.

Cole Hamels was placed on waivers earlier this week, and the Cubs -- who have one of the worst records in the majors -- are positioned in front of all teams but the Rockies in the claims pecking order. Chicago’s great challenge is to build a pitching staff, and it would make sense if they claimed Hamels, to buy an exclusive negotiating window with Philadelphia. Hamels will make at least $90 million over the next four years, meaning he could be the foundation piece for the Cubs’ rotation, in theory. It’s more likely than not that the Cubs and Phillies wouldn’t make a deal, and that Hamels would be pulled back from waivers -- but hey, why not take a shot?

4. Ensure a player is available for offseason discussions.

Back to Hamels and the Cubs: Chicago could place a claim on Hamels believing that a deal is all but impossible -- but they also would be blocking the Dodgers or some other team from snagging Hamels now. Why not prevent another team from having an exclusive window to negotiate for a player you might want?

5. Improve the marketability of your own player.

Again, with the Cubs and Hamels, as a hypothetical example: If the Cubs keep Hamels from being available to competing teams such as the Dodgers, Giants, etc., that increases the possible trade value and attractiveness of the starting pitchers that the Cubs might send down the line. If the Cubs wanted to market Jake Arrieta right now as a specialty item, they could pass him through waivers in the hope that he reached the Dodgers, who might be desperate enough to overpay.

WilliamC wrote:Hoping for some crazy Sox-Dodgers action to go down.

lethal wrote:

bleh wrote:The Cubs claim just boils down to them being willing to take on the contract so why not put the claim in. I doubt they have any special interest in trying to acquire him or give up top prospects for him. Really it just means there's almost no chance Hamels gets moved.

Olney wrote extensively about the Cubs claiming Hamels yesterday. He must've had a source with the Cubs.

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/buster- ... /_/id/7571

3. Create an exclusive negotiation window.

Cole Hamels was placed on waivers earlier this week, and the Cubs -- who have one of the worst records in the majors -- are positioned in front of all teams but the Rockies in the claims pecking order. Chicago’s great challenge is to build a pitching staff, and it would make sense if they claimed Hamels, to buy an exclusive negotiating window with Philadelphia. Hamels will make at least $90 million over the next four years, meaning he could be the foundation piece for the Cubs’ rotation, in theory. It’s more likely than not that the Cubs and Phillies wouldn’t make a deal, and that Hamels would be pulled back from waivers -- but hey, why not take a shot?

4. Ensure a player is available for offseason discussions.

Back to Hamels and the Cubs: Chicago could place a claim on Hamels believing that a deal is all but impossible -- but they also would be blocking the Dodgers or some other team from snagging Hamels now. Why not prevent another team from having an exclusive window to negotiate for a player you might want?

5. Improve the marketability of your own player.

Again, with the Cubs and Hamels, as a hypothetical example: If the Cubs keep Hamels from being available to competing teams such as the Dodgers, Giants, etc., that increases the possible trade value and attractiveness of the starting pitchers that the Cubs might send down the line. If the Cubs wanted to market Jake Arrieta right now as a specialty item, they could pass him through waivers in the hope that he reached the Dodgers, who might be desperate enough to overpay.

JFLNYC wrote:It would be a kick in the head if Revere somehow ended up leading the league in BA.

lethal wrote:

JFLNYC wrote:It would be a kick in the head if Revere somehow ended up leading the league in BA.

A batting title would increase his trade value.

Tulo probably won't have enough PAs to qualify, right? Otherwise Revere's just 7 points behind Puig and Matt Adams. Wow.