Who do the Cubs trade for Theo Epstein?

In Commentary And Analysis, Major League Baseball, Minor Leagues, News And Rumors, Transactions by Obstructed View Staff55 Comments

The Cubs hired Theo Epstein 4 months ago and it was about that time that we were told the two sides were on the 5-yard line regarding compensation. I can only assume that Ken O'Keefe is running the offense. Every week we're told that Bud Selig will resolve the compensation issue soon. Each week goes by without a resolution. Recently the Boston media has wondered if Reed Johnson and Jeff Baker might be the start of compensation.

I'll admit that I have no freaking clue who they end getting, but there are certain rules regarding transactions. That's what this is. You can call it compensation, but it's a trade. For Andrew Cashner, the Padres sent the Cubs Anthony Rizzo as compensation. Same thing. For example:

Florida Marlins traded RHP Jhan Marinez and SS Osvaldo Martinez to Chicago White Sox and Bristol White Sox traded RHP Ricardo Andres to Greensboro Grasshoppers.

That's the official transaction listed on the Miami Marlins website on September 29th when they traded those two players for Ozzie Guillen. It's quite clearly a trade.

Because of this, there are a few things to consider. First, players who are drafted cannot be traded until one year after they signed their contract. This eliminates all of the 2011 Cubs draft picks. Second, teams cannot trade a recently signed free agent until June 15th. This is why there are no sign and trades in baseball. Draft picks aren't signed and then traded and free agents aren't either. It's not allowed. A player could theoretically approve a trade as far as I know. At least with regards to free agents. It's entirely possible Reed Johnson could approve a trade to the Red Sox, but why would he?

He chose to sign with the Cubs because he likes Chicago. He could have chosen to sign with the Red Sox this offseason, but didn't. I see no reason to think he'd be willing to accept a trade.

In the article by Nick Cafardo linked earlier in the post he wonders if Anthony Rizzo might be in play. You've got to be kidding me. He's a top 100 prospect. The Marlins didn't get close to a top 100 prospect in return for Guillen and there was a possibility of tampering charges being filed. I actually find it hard to believe that a player on the 40-man roster would be traded to the Red Sox for this. I can't imagine Bud Selig deciding it's fair to send a rostered player to Boston when the Cubs could have used that roster spot to protect someone else earlier on. Someone like Ryan Flaherty. He absolutely would have been protected if Josh Vitters wasn't on the 40-man roster.

But who knows? Bud Selig is an idiot so I don't have any idea. He could give the Red Sox Matt Garza and Starlin Castro and it wouldn't even surprise me. I'd shrug my shoulders and say to myself, Bud being Bud.

When the media told us 4 months ago the Cubs were on the 5-yard line it would have been helpful to know that they were on their own 5-yard line, both teams had infinite timeouts and the Cubs had the ball for eternity.

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  1. Author
    Rice Cube

    When the media told us 4 months ago the Cubs were on the 5-yard line it would have been helpful to know that they were on their own 5-yard line, both teams had infinite timeouts and the Cubs had the ball for eternity.

    Game delayed due to technical difficulties?

    I got

    on Rebel Ridling.

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  2. Author
    SkipVB

    Cubs have nothing committed to players in 2015 or beyond. Hooray, with this group. Other teams sure do. The link is a glimpse on teams in 2015 who will feel like they are the Cubs of 2011.

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  3. Author
    bubblesdachimp

    I feel like we will be satisfied…

    I dont see anything crazy occuring. And if it does?

    Well its a way of life

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  4. Author
    GBTS

    When the media told us 4 months ago the Cubs were on the 5-yard line it would have been helpful to know that they were on their own 5-yard line

    (dying laughing)

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  5. Author
    josh

    @ Aisle424:
    I like how your new avatar looks exactly like a broken image icon.

    Shouldn’t there be some kind of bet laid on who Bud will pick? My vote is Jeff Baker. Wouldn’t destroy the Cubs, decent platoon player.

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  6. Author
    bubblesdachimp

    Just re read the post from yesterday about the minors.. Bubbles was only a young pup smoking marijuana in high school everyday but he was convinced there was no way the cubs wouldnt win a world series with that minor legue system and their resources.

    My favorite prospect was Hee Seop Choi.

    He just killed it.. Same with Corey Patterson

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  7. Recalcitrant Blogger Nate

    I’m thinking that its someone on the 40 man roster, because the Cubs’ is full and they still need to add the Great Conception to it.

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  8. Author
    bubblesdachimp

    So for the rotation….

    What should the Cubs do assuming everyone is healthy?

    I would assume Garza Dempster and Maholom are the locks..

    That leaves Wood, Volstad, and Wells for two spots.. I would prefer the first two. But that seems to be underutilizing Randy. I guess he does have an option year left.

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  9. Author
    bubblesdachimp

    @ Xoomwaffle:
    TY Waffle.

    I assume it is a four man battle then with Wells and Volstad battling to stay out of AAA

    i assume this organization is done bullpen testing people

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  10. Author
    mb21

    @ bubblesdachimp:
    The button we had didn’t really work. There’s an editor that would accomplish that, but then the reply/quote function wouldn’t work unless you switched the editor to html. Once you post a few images it’s going to be easier to do it that way than click a button anyway.

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  11. Author
    WenningtonsGorillaCock

    mb21 wrote:

    Once you post a few images it’s going to be easier to do it that way than click a button anyway.

    False.

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  12. Author
    mb21

    @ Rice Cube:
    I posted this there:

    I wish Zambrano nothing but the best. I hope he has a great season with Miami. I don’t think he will. He’s past his prime at this point and while I don’t doubt he hit 97 mph this offseason, I doubt he can do it in June or July when his arm is fatigued. He gave the Cubs a lot of very good years and I’m glad to have seen him pitch for the Cubs. He was good, entertaining, frustrating, disappointing and much more. In other words, he was a human being.

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  13. Author
    Rice Cube

    @ Xoomwaffle:
    I think he was about 95 mph in his prime (I’ve never actually seen him hit 97 but I’m sure it’s happened before) but recently he was struggling to get to 92. I think this recent measurement was made while he was in Venezuela so maybe the environment and the placement of the gun or calibration thereof had something to do with it. Who knows.

    I hope he does well.

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  14. Author
    mb21

    I remember Z hitting 98, 99 mph early in his career. He probably averaged about 93-94 in those years. He hasn’t come close to that in recent years, but he has still had the occasional outing in which he’s throwing pretty hard. This is since 07:

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