Official Prince Fielder Thread ( Rumors, News, ETC )

[Uman85]

Have to laugh at him having the Dodgers as a possible destination.

 

[tbo41fan]

You mean the dodgers who are being fought over in a divorce battle? lol

 

[Uman85]

 

[dabynsky]

Wasn't exactly sure where to post this, but I think here makes as much sense as anywhere. MLB Trade Rumors has an interesting tidbit as a result of the Padres trading Latos for, amongst others, strictly 1B Yonder Alonso:

•Clubs have already started calling the Padres about Anthony Rizzo, and the Rays and Cubs are among those interested according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (Twitter links). Rizzo could be on the market after Yonder Alonso joined San Diego in the Latos trade.

This would make a lot of sense since Rizzo is probably ready, but now blocked by Alonso who we all saw can't play LF, even in the small ballparks in the NL Central. The guy was the 75th rated prospect in baseball last season, and put up Brian LaHair like numbers in the PCL last year at age 21 and the first time through the league. You have to imagine the Cubs would be interested since both Theo (drafted by Boston) and Jed (traded Adrian Gonzalez for him) think highly of him, and as a 22 lefty power bat with 6 years of club control would certainly fit the mold of what Thed Hoystein said about building a long term contender.

 

[Uman85]

Wasn't exactly sure where to post this, but I think here makes as much sense as anywhere. MLB Trade Rumors has an interesting tidbit as a result of the Padres trading Latos for, amongst others, strictly 1B Yonder Alonso:

This would make a lot of sense since Rizzo is probably ready, but now blocked by Alonso who we all saw can't play LF, even in the small ballparks in the NL Central. The guy was the 75th rated prospect in baseball last season, and put up Brian LaHair like numbers in the PCL last year at age 21 and the first time through the league. You have to imagine the Cubs would be interested since both Theo (drafted by Boston) and Jed (traded Adrian Gonzalez for him) think highly of him, and as a 22 lefty power bat with 6 years of club control would certainly fit the mold of what Thed Hoystein said about building a long term contender.

Can he play 2B so Fielder can stay at 1B?

 

[dabynsky]

Can he play 2B so Fielder can stay at 1B?

We better hope not otherwise San Deigo has no reason to trade him, and Rizzo could be a real nice alternative to Fielder for the Cubs.

 

[Uman85]

We better hope not otherwise San Deigo has no reason to trade him, and Rizzo could be a real nice alternative to Fielder for the Cubs.

Yeah, I agree. He'd be cheaper and just coming into his own. If he were to pan out, that'd be one heck of a young core with Castro and Rizzo going forward.

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

This could be a trade that happens soon.

 

[dabynsky]

This could be a trade that happens soon.

Rizzo? I suppose it is possible, but San Deigo certainly doesn't have to do anything right now. Leaving Rizzo to tear up AAA another season really isn't going to hurt his trade value, and to be honest I am not sure what the Cubs have that would really entice the Padres to trade a blue chip guy like Rizzo (except guys we don't want to give up like Brett Jackson).

 

[X]

Rizzo? I suppose it is possible, but San Deigo certainly doesn't have to do anything right now. Leaving Rizzo to tear up AAA another season really isn't going to hurt his trade value, and to be honest I am not sure what the Cubs have that would really entice the Padres to trade a blue chip guy like Rizzo (except guys we don't want to give up like Brett Jackson).

This is the reason I don't think Rizzo's coming to chicago. Theo has said repeatedly he wants to build the farm system...and Rizzo's going to cost us prospects (even though he's a prospect himself). I mean, if we could get him for a package like Marlon Byrd and Chris Carpenter or something like that, sure -- go for it...but I don't see the Padres willing to make a move like that one...and I can't imagine that's the best haul they'd receive.

 

[X]

Of course -we could just trade Garza to them.

Padres Interested In Matt Garza: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

The Padres have some interest in acquiring Matt Garza from the Cubs in a package that would include Anthony Rizzo, tweets Jim Bowden of ESPN.com and MLB Network Radio. Based on reports yesterday, it seems both clubs may be interested in working out a trade involving Rizzo.

With Mat Latos now a Cincinnati Red, the Padres' interest in Garza makes some sense, particularly since the team has a crowded picture at first base, between Rizzo and Yonder Alonso. The Cubs' front office tandem of Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer was responsible for the Adrian Gonzalez trade that sent Rizzo from Boston to San Diego a year ago, so both execs are very familiar with the 22-year-old.

However, MLBTR projects Garza, who is under team control for just two more years, to earn well over $8MM through arbitration this season. Additionally, the Cubs' asking price for the right-hander is said to be steep. On the heels of the Latos trade, it's unclear whether the Padres would want to move multiple prospects and take on salary in order to restock their rotation.

 

[dabynsky]

Garza for Rizzo plus makes a lot of sense, but I could easily see nothing happening because the Cubs have to get an amazing package for Garza for it to make sense to move him.

 

[Shawon0Meter]

lololol cmon that trade package better include 1984 Tony Gwynn

 

[X]

lololol cmon that trade package better include 1984 Tony Gwynn

pretty sure Garza/Rizzo would just be the foundation -- gotta have the big names in place first.

 

[dabynsky]

pretty sure Garza/Rizzo would just be the foundation -- gotta have the big names in place first.

Bleachernation has a real interesting read on the situation.

About approaching the Padres: the Cubs made that call within minutes of the trade announcement (and I got word of the call not long after that). Since then, I’ve been “working the phones,” so to speak, to try to get a handle on how the Cubs might try to put something together. All I’ve yet been able to confirm is that the two sides are talking, and that a deal would probably involve a fair bit more than just a straight-up Player X for Rizzo swap. Jim Bowden, for what it’s worth, says Matt Garza’s name is coming up as a possible centerpiece in a deal. Based on the Latos deal, and the A’s requests for Gio Gonzalez, the Cubs should be able to get a fair bit more than just Rizzo for Garza.

Ah, yes. Rizzo. After all of this discussion, you may be wondering: is Rizzo really worth all of this spilled ink? The short answer is oh yeah.

Rizzo, who just turned 22 in August, is the top prospect in a very, very good Padres’ system. Rizzo was a top 100 prospect in all of baseball going into 2011, and then all he did was put up an eye-popping .331/.404/.652 line, with 26 homers and 34 doubles in just 93 games. Those numbers are great even for the PCL, particularly for a 21-year-old. Before 2011, Rizzo’s minor league numbers were good, if unremarkable, but he was young at every level, and was consistent after each promotion. Rizzo is also believed to be an above average defender at first base.

 

[X]

Bleachernation has a real interesting read on the situation.

wow - nice.


Ok, let's get Headley and a Pitcher too.

 

[WindyCity]

To big a risk!

Prince Fielder risks money.

This trade risks talent level.

 

[WindyCity]

Another day, another take on the Cubs’ level of interest in free agent first baseman Prince Fielder.

According to Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago, the Cubs’ decision-makers first expressed a desire to sign Fielder back at the general managers meetings in mid-November and have kept an open line of communication with agent Scott Boras ever since.

On Friday morning, Cubs manager Dale Sveum told CSNChicago.com that no one within the organization had spoken directly to Fielder this offseason.

But there have been direct chats with Boras.

Fielder, 27, batted .299/.415/.566 with 38 home runs and 120 RBI in 692 plate appearances this past season for the National League Central champion Brewers. He owns a stellar .929 career OPS.

 

[brett05]

lololol cmon that trade package better include 1984 Tony Gwynn

It could. The problem is 1984 Gwynn > entire Cubs organization combined

 

[Shawon0Meter]

Another day, another take on the Cubs’ level of interest in free agent first baseman Prince Fielder.

According to Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago, the Cubs’ decision-makers first expressed a desire to sign Fielder back at the general managers meetings in mid-November and have kept an open line of communication with agent Scott Boras ever since.

On Friday morning, Cubs manager Dale Sveum told CSNChicago.com that no one within the organization had spoken directly to Fielder this offseason.

But there have been direct chats with Boras.

Fielder, 27, batted .299/.415/.566 with 38 home runs and 120 RBI in 692 plate appearances this past season for the National League Central champion Brewers. He owns a stellar .929 career OPS.

I've never seen such 50/50 reporting on something before. Everything from the Cubs are only pretending to be interested as a PR move to them being the front runners for the guy has been said by fairly credible people.