Complacency

[GerryInCS]

How bad is Hirsh's injury?

[HoyaRoxFan]

Most optimistic I've heard is mid-May. Most reports I've seen say June or thereabouts.

[BigRapidsJackass]

Important things I've learned in five weeks of baseball:

Good News

Scott Podsednik is no better or worse than Willy Taveras

Bad News

Willy Taveras at $1.6 million is no better or worse than Scott Podsednik, a non-roster invitee.

[Dante Bichette]

Jeff Baker = Choo freeman reincarnated. Remember how we wasted a roster spot on him for 2-3 years simply because he was out of options? Now, we are doing the same thing with Baker. At least Choo was Torry Hunter's cousin. Does Jeff Baker have a cousin that I am not aware of who is a good baseball player?

[TheIncredibleRox]

Podsednik has certainly been impressive. But the man truly making Wily expendable is of course Spilly.

Current 25-man and DL 'roster fat,' IMO (players who are some combination of redundant, grossly overpaid, and/or below replacement level):

1. Torrealba
2. Tavares
3. Wells
4. Vizcaino
5. Redman
6. Grilli
7. Baker
8. Castro

Needless to say, way too long of a list.

--Herrera I don't think will be here long enough to count.
--Barmes and Q may be redundant, but neither really needs to go anywhere. Both are acceptable garden-variety extra infielders who are glove-heavy in their value. They're completely overmatched as starters, of course, but their role isn't their fault.

Of the above, I could see Torrealba, Grilli, and Taveras as tradeable commodities. No one will take Viz off our hands this early in the contract. The best you'd get in return for Redman or Wells or Baker is last years' 32nd round draft pick.

I could see us being able to convince someone that Taveras actually has moderate value. We can sweeten any deal with Koshansky, Chris Nelson, EY Jr, Hynick, Morillo, Strop, and Roe from the high Minors.

I'd prefer hanging on to: Smith, Stewart, Reynolds, Weathers, and Fowler from our high-Minors group. Certainly none of them are untouchable; I just don't think we'd get enough value for what they could be worth to us.

Taveras for Ronny Cedeno would be a great deal. Taveras, Torrealba, and Fuentes for Cedeno, Pie, and Rich Hill would be an absolute dream. And considering the current regard for Hill and Pie in Chi-town, I could actually see some version of that happening.

[BigRapidsJackass]

IR, this is the God's honest truth:

I've been out of town for a couple weeks.

When you mentioned Juan Castro in a couple posts, I thought you were joking ... like when I mentioned that Neifi is available.

I actually looked it up just now and confirmed it. It's true. Juan Castro, Rockies property.

How did it get so bad so fast?

[HoyaRoxFan]

I imagine the answer on the surface is "because Juan Castro is the only other middle infield alternative at present" but my question is why is Herrera up here just yet?

Why not Ian Stewart, such that we could have his bat and mix him into the mix or maybe even Atkins again at 2nd on days when Barmes/Q need a break? Why can't I see Stewart and Atkins in the same lineup???

[TheIncredibleRox]

Jesus! Get a load of Spilly's mustache!!

That's the best/worst thing I've seen on a baseball field or face in a while.

OT, I know... but I had to say something.

[HoyaRoxFan]

"The youthful D'Artagnan" I love it.

[TheIncredibleRox]

Wow! and I think he hit that one with his mustache!

[TheIncredibleRox]

But good point, Hoya... as if Q and Barmes weren't redundant, then Herrera, then Castro!

You'd think they'd want to switch things up a bit with a guy who could, I dunno, perhaps hit his way out of a paper bag on occasion.

[HoyaRoxFan]

Upon further consideration, did I miss something? I don't see Castro on the ML roster, nor the 40-man as of yet. I thought he was simply added to the AAA roster to fill space.

[Heltonfan]

I like your "roster fat" list, TIR. I'd only make one change: swap out Grilli (who isn't that bad, nor is he expensive) for Herges (who is more expensive, and for all his success, remains the epitome of the fungible middle reliever). I suspect that we could get something for Herges, as well as he's pitched for us.

I'd also add that, given how unlikely we are to win anything this year, an Atkins trade is very much worth looking into. Cleveland, Minnesota, Philly... there's no shortage of contenders with embarrassing 3B situations. The Angels might still be interested as well, since they have no DH. I suspect that we could probably get a young pitcher in return for Atkins (i.e. Laffey from CLE, one of Bonser/Slowey/Baker/Mulvey from MIN).

Taveras, Torrealba, and Fuentes for Cedeno, Pie, and Rich Hill would be an absolute dream.

Let's see:
Taveras: 1.00 WAR. Torrealba: 0.25. Fuentes: 1.03. Total: 2.28 WAR.
Cedeno: 2.18. Pie: 1.72. Hill: 2.74. Total: 6.64 WAR.
I don't know... you might want to ask the Cubs to throw in Geovany Soto to even things out a bit.

And considering the current regard for Hill and Pie in Chi-town, I could actually see some version of that happening.

I think that version would have to include Jimenez or Morales. I'd still do it, of course, no question about it.

On a more realistic note, though, I like the Taveras for Cedeno idea. That seems very plausible.

If there's an underlying theme here, it's simply this: damn, the Cubs are loaded. That is one impressive team.

[TheIncredibleRox]

I wasn't suggesting it would be a fair trade... more like a robbery that isn't entirely implausible. Maybe it'ss more plausible if we drop Pie and Torrealba... Taveras and Fuentes for Cedeno and Hill? I'd say 40% chance they'd do it.

Yeah, the Cubs are loaded. They, the Angels, and the D'Backs are my 3 picks to dominate the next 5 years (teams with blank checks notwithstanding).

[wolf213]

Imagine how easy it would've been to sign D'Angelo Jimenez this offseason. Oh and can we stop with this idea that Atkins can play 2b? He's a below average defensive 3b and moving him to 2b which is a harder position would be a terrible idea.

Oh, and I might be in the minority here, but I like what I see out of Herrera. He had a bad season last year but the year before he was on the verge of breaking the top 10 list, and so far he's hitting the ball the opposite way, taking pitches, and tonight withstanding, has been fun to watch at 2b.