Braves Interested in J. Russell

[X]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/07/braves-eyeing-left-handed-relievers.html

Spoiler

The Braves' priority is to add a left-handed reliever, writes MLB.com's Mark Bowman, with James Russell of the Cubs, Mike Gonzalez of the Brewers, and Wesley Wright of the Astros on their wish list. The Braves are more interested in Russell and Gonzalez, he adds.

Would prefer to keep him rather than sell him off for no one of note.

 

[Parade_Rain]

So what can they get in return?

 

[FirstTimer]

So what can they get in return?

Andrelton Simmons

:fap:

 

[The Bandit]

Unless it's a hell of a return... I'd hold on to him.

 

[X]

Unless it's a hell of a return... I'd hold on to him.

Same here, and we're not getting a hell of a return for a lefty specialist who likely won't ever be a closer. He's cheap for a few more years -- I say hold.

 

[JosMin]

Same here, and we're not getting a hell of a return for a lefty specialist who likely won't ever be a closer. He's cheap for a few more years -- I say hold.

Dabs and I have both mentioned this in other threads -- the only way you'll get an elite return for Russell if you package him with somebody like Garza. I ultimately think if the Cubs want to deal Garza, that's their way to maximize his return. They need to include either Gregg or Russell. Some teams may not be interested in adding a bullpen arm, but there are a few teams who've been linked to wanting a starter and middle reliever, mainly Detroit, Boston and Texas.

 

[SilenceS]

Russell should be the closer next year but Sveum doesn't seem inclined to pitch him to righties. If you don't think he can pitch to righties then package him in a trade. If you think he can, then make him the effing closer dickface. Sorry, Ive been venting about this for awhile.

 

[FirstTimer]

Trade Russell while you can. MRP are really volatile. In a few years, maybe even next year, Russell will be a non factor.

 

[X]

Trade Russell while you can. MRP are really volatile. In a few years, maybe even next year, Russell will be a non factor.

I remember the year we signed Scott Eyre and...umm....the most effect MRP who threw w/ the opposite hand as eyre...forget his name...and they were VERY average for the Cubs. Middle relievers = pitchers that weren't good enough to start, then not good enough to close. dime/dozen. Russell's GREAT against lefties, though...and being under team control makes me hesitant.

 

[JosMin]

I remember the year we signed Scott Eyre and...umm....the most effect MRP who threw w/ the opposite hand as eyre...forget his name...and they were VERY average for the Cubs. Middle relievers = pitchers that weren't good enough to start, then not good enough to close. dime/dozen. Russell's GREAT against lefties, though...and being under team control makes me hesitant.

The thing is, though, is that you see teams reinvent their bullpen in a matter of one offseason. Guys end up having to take paycuts, guys aren't promised closing roles, and voila -- you land a few solid arms on good contracts. Honestly, I feel like the Cubs went into this season feeling like with adding Fujikawa, Russell, whatever you could get from Marmol, Shawn Camp (who pitched well in 2012) and Michael Bowden would have given them a fairly average bullpen. I'm sure they didn't foresee the bullpen turning into such a disaster. Saying it's been a revolving door would be an understatement.

 

[Boobaby1]

The thing is, though, is that you see teams reinvent their bullpen in a matter of one offseason. Guys end up having to take paycuts, guys aren't promised closing roles, and voila -- you land a few solid arms on good contracts. Honestly, I feel like the Cubs went into this season feeling like with adding Fujikawa, Russell, whatever you could get from Marmol, Shawn Camp (who pitched well in 2012) and Michael Bowden would have given them a fairly average bullpen. I'm sure they didn't foresee the bullpen turning into such a disaster. Saying it's been a revolving door would be an understatement.

Unless you are going to compete next year (which means the Cubs would have to purchase a whole lot of free agents), then there is absolutely no reason to hold on to Russell. Sure he is good, but what a waste it is to have him on a sub-par team rotting away to try and be .500 at best.

The FO would be silly to hang on to him. I am not saying that the bullpen is a dime-a-dozen to fix, but there are arms coming up, existing, and ones that can be had for cheap if they feel the need to get some help, and they are in no shape right now to do that.

The bullpen is the cheapest easiest lane to patch or fix. The larger avenues of hitting and pitching need to be paved first before anything else.

Get whatever you can for him. opcorn:

 

[dabynsky]

I remember the year we signed Scott Eyre and...umm....the most effect MRP who threw w/ the opposite hand as eyre...forget his name...and they were VERY average for the Cubs. Middle relievers = pitchers that weren't good enough to start, then not good enough to close. dime/dozen. Russell's GREAT against lefties, though...and being under team control makes me hesitant.

Bobby Howry is the guy you are thinking of X. Boobay has it right when he says that relievers aren't a dime a dozen, but it is the easiest thing to fix. The Cubs have him for three more years and that is plenty of control for him to play in meaningful games. James Russell being on or off the roster in those three seasons is hardly going to be a deciding factor though because as much as people want to pitch Russell as Sean Marshall he is not.

 

[dabears253313]

The Cubs will be trading away half of their bullpen if they trade James Russell lol.

 

[Boobaby1]

The Cubs will be trading away half of their bullpen if they trade James Russell lol.

The way Sveum uses him, he comes in for a batter or two. It isn't as if he could start if he had to or pitch long relief. Classic example of getting what you can when value is at it's highest. Barney would have been a good trade candidate last winter........but.

 

[Willrust]

Nothing new,

http://www.chicitysports.com/forum/...s-list-cubs-players-you-think-are-on-the-move

Post 12.

I wouldn't like it, but I could see the Cubs getting a really good haul for James Russell. If Theo and Jed think that Rusin or Raley could fill the hole left by Russell, they will pull the trigger on a deal.

The Braves would make sense given their rash of bullpen injuries and the Cubs trade history with them. If Cubs could get one pitcher (Alex Wood or Lucas Sims) and a position player (Edward Salcedo or Josh Elander), it would be a fair trade for the Cubs.

 

[X]

The way Sveum uses him, he comes in for a batter or two. It isn't as if he could start if he had to or pitch long relief. Classic example of getting what you can when value is at it's highest. Barney would have been a good trade candidate last winter........but.

Personally, I think you're overrating both Russell and Barney. Barney's not a starter on a handful of teams in baseball...he's a super utility infielder. Russell is a lefty-specialist. :shrug:

Wonder what we'd get back if we traded Garza, Sori and Russell all to Texas...lmfao

 

[Boobaby1]

Personally, I think you're overrating both Russell and Barney. Barney's not a starter on a handful of teams in baseball...he's a super utility infielder. Russell is a lefty-specialist. :shrug:

Wonder what we'd get back if we traded Garza, Sori and Russell all to Texas...lmfao

All I am saying is that I think you could get, or have gotten the most value at certain times with these players. Neither is going to help the team when the Cubs are ready to compete anyways.

If you want a trade that could net the farm something, couple Soriano and Russell together to Baltimore. They would boost the pen with Russell, and Soriano could provide a good DH bat for them if he would approve the trade.

Baltimore would have control on both, and depending on what the Cubs ate of Soriano's salary would figure in the return to the Cubs.

They could actually not only help the Oriole's get into, but also could help aid them to go deep into the playoffs, and maybe win it all.

A line-up featuring Jones, Machado, Davis, Markakis, Hardy, and Soriano has some punch to it, and some minor pop from McLouth and Weiters doesn't hurt much either.

How bout that? opcorn:

 

[WindyCity]

We are going to get a B prospect and he is more valuable to our train wreck bull pen.

We need to stay somewhat respectable or the guys on the major league level will develop some bad habits.

 

[SilenceS]

James Russell, Chicago Cubs
Other teams say Chicago is pushing to move him before the end of the month, and in his role as left-handed specialist, he's been good lately.

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/bus...88/olney-which-relievers-could-be-on-the-move