Cubs Get Hendricks and Villanueva From Rangers; Player Spotlights

All things considered the Cubs got a pretty good deal from the Rangers.  Because of Dempster nixing a deal to the Braves for Randall Delgado the Cubs had to go elsewhere, everyone thought that meant the Dodgers.  The two best things to happen to the Cubs today were the Rangers and the Yankees.  If those teams don’t jump in after Dempster the Cubs would have been forced to take a low, low ball deal from the Dodgers or keep Dempster.  What it came down to is the Rangers needing to answer the acquisition of Zack Greinke by the Angels with a pitcher of their own, Demspter.  Here’s a bit more on the two players the Cubs received from Texas.

Christian Villanueva – 3B;  DOB: 6/19/91 (21 years old)

Love this prospect.  Villanueva was ranked the 100th best prospect in baseball prior to the 2012 season.  Villanueva has a quick, compact swing that has produced some power but his power potential is up in the air right now.  This season Villanueva was playing at A+ level Myrtle Beach in the Rangers organization.  In 100 games this year Villanueva has hit .285 with 10 home runs, and 59 RBI’s, he’s walked 24 times and struck out 83 times in 425 plate appearances.  Villanueva has struggled with the glove at third base, recording 15 errors this season with a .938 fielding %.

Kyle Hendricks – RHP; DOB 12/7/89 (22 years old)

This is your typical mid range young arm that has room to grow and a solid upside.  Hendricks is a strikeout pitcher with absolutely tremendous command.  So far this season Hendricks has made 20 starts for Myrtle Beach, he is 5-8 with a 2.82 ERA and two complete games.  The extended stats are impressive, in 130.2 innings Hendricks has struck out 112 guys and walked 15, that’s a tremendous strike out to walk ratio.  Here is a solid baseball america article on Hendricks, definitely worth the read.

All in all, an adequate return for Dempster, not as good as Randall Delgado but better than what they would have received from the Dodgers.  Let’s all relax for a little bit now, thanks for following our trade deadline coverage!

– George

Matt Garza Remains a Cub

Garza just tweeted out that they had to play musical chairs in the clubhouse and wished Geovany Soto, Paul Maholm, Reed Johnson, and Ryan Dempster luck.

– George

Cubs Trade Dempster to the Rangers [UPDATE]

The Rangers who were running third in the race for Dempster just hours ago have landed the right hander multiple sources are confirming.   Buster Olney from ESPN has confirmation.  MLB.com Ken Gurnick has confirmation.  Scott Miller of CBS has confirmation.

No word on who is coming back from the Rangers, stay tuned.

[UPDATE] Rosenthal is reporting two Class A pitchers going to the Cubs.  Other source is reporting a Class A pitcher and a Class A postion player.

[UPDATE 2] Early reports are the Cubs have acquired 3B Christian Villanueva, and RHP Kyle Hendricks.  Separate post coming up breaking down both players.

Thanks for reading,
– George

Tigers Working on Soriano Deal

Per Brett at Bleacher Nation, the Tigers are working hard to acquire Soriano.  Of course Soriano would still have to say yes to any deal that comes his way.  Tigers also like Campana for bench duty, and to perform in holiday plays with the players kids.

[UPDATE 1] Sounds like the Tigers are backing off of this and Soriano will be staying put but talks will continue into August because of the waiver deadline.

– George

Looks Like Dempster Close to Being Dealt to Dodgers (UPDATES)

Per Jim Bowden of ESPN the Cubs and Dodgers are just about done negotiation and have agreed on a deal for Dempster.  Per Bowden they are dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s, should be announced soon.  WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE!  So please take it for what it’s worth, I will update as news comes in.

[UPDATE 1] Phil Rogers on MLBN says the Cubs are still pushing to get Allen Webster in the deal from the Dodgers, might be including another player.

[UPDATE 2] Kevin Goldstein thinks that if this is a multi-player deal that James Russell would be the other player going to the Dodgers.  Cubs really want Webster.

[UPDATE 3] Multiple reports now that another team has emerged for Dempster and the Cubs are talking to them now.  This would be the Cubs using big time leverage against the Dodgers, something they didn’t have prior to today, who’s going to blink??

[UPDATE 4] Tom Verducci just said on MLBN that the Cubs have broke off talks with the Dodgers and are not talking with the Yankees and a mystery team.  Dodgers are going to have to cough up what the Cubs want or watch Dempster go elsewhere, or that’s what the Cubs want the Dodgers to think at least.

[UPDATE 5] Dempster has told Bruce Levine that he will accept a deal to the Yankees, Dodgers, or Rangers.  Thanks Ryan as we sit here an hour and 15 minutes from the deadline.

[UPDATE 6] Per Tim Brown of Yahoo sports the Dodgers have pulled out of talks with the Cubs over Dempster.  A very real chance that Dempster pitches for the Cubs tonight, ick.

[UPDATE 7] With just minutes to go, the Rangers are sneaking in ahead of the Yankees, nothing confirmed yet.  CBS is reporting Rangers.

[UPDATE 8] Multiple sources reporting Dempster has been traded to the RANGERS, craziness.  Updates coming.

– George

Phillies Making Noise: First Victorino, Now Pence

As reported earlier the Phillies already traded Shane Victorino to the Dodgers and now have reportedly traded Hunter Pence to the Giants.  Wow, they moved two of their OF, assuming Domonic Brown is on his way up as he was scratched from his AAA lineup.

Thanks for Reading,
-Mark

Castillo and Coleman Headed to Chicago… and now Cardenas

Welington Castillo and Casey Coleman will be on their way to Chicago to replace Geovany Soto and Paul Maholm on the roster.  The interesting part is we don’t know who is going to take the spot of Reed Johnson.  According to many sources it is not Brett Jackson and per Dave Sappelt’s twitter it won’t be him.  So who will it be?  More to come I’m sure.

UPDATE:  Adrian Cardenas will be the third player coming up for the Cubs.  Hope he gets some more AB’s wherever that may be.

Thanks for Reading,
-Mark

Deadline Day Around the League

The Cubs aren’t the only one who are going to be dealing today.  Here are some of the latest happenings around the league.  There will be plenty of updates as the day continues.

• It looks like Shane Victorino will be traded to the Dodgers.  It sounds like Josh Lindblom would be going to the Phillies.  Nothing official yet, but this means the Dodgers will not be going after Alfonso Soriano.
• UPDATE:  It is officail The Philies have traded OF Shane Victorino to the Dodgers for relief pitcher Josh Lindblom and SP Ethan Martin.
• The D-Backs appear to be in the market for a big time starting pitcher.  No names yet, but maybe they would be interested in Matt Garza?
• Although the Phillies have traded away Shane Victorino there are still reports they are talking to the Giants about Hunter Pence.
• UPDATE:  Hunter Pence on his way to San Francisco for C/1B prospect Tommy Joseph.  Nate Schierholtz is going to the Phillies as well, as does Seth Rosin.
• Padres are asking for a lot for Chase Headley, but a deal could still get done.
• Rangers looking to bolster bullpen.  Possibly put Ogando back in the rotation and acquire another bullpen arm, possibly Broxton from KC.
• The Cardinals have acquired Edward Mujica for Zachary Cox.
• Marlins are close to sending Gaby Sanchez to Pirates for Gorkys Hernandez.
• UPDATE:  According to Ken Rosenthal Gaby Sanchez to the Pirates is a done deal.  This also includes a competitive balance pick going to the Marlins.
• Red Sox to acquire Craig Breslow for Matt Albers and Scott Podsednik.
• The Reds have traded for Jonathan Broxton.  The Royals got AAA lefty Donnie Joseph and AA JC Sulbaran
• Casey McGehee traded to the Yankees for Chad Qualls.

This is what is out there right now, some deals may still be coming in, but I think that is it for now.

-Mark

Deadline Day: THREE Teams After Dempster Now

David Kaplan breaks the news that the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees have stepped up their pursuit of Dempster.  This part is important..

Baseball sources have confirmed to me that three teams are in play for Ryan Dempster and he will approve a deal to any of the three teams if the Cubs can agree on a suitable return in exchange for the veteran right-hander who is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career

Per Kaplan Dempster will approve a deal to anyone of those three teams, stop me if you heard that before. 

“Texas is serious about adding a starter and Dempster isn’t as expensive to trade for as Garza would be, but after finishing as runners-up in the last two World Series and seeing the Angels add Zach Greinke, Texas management has decided to make a run at adding pitching, a baseball source told me. “However, with three teams seriously involved, it won’t be cheap to acquire him even though it is potentially a three-month rental.”

From the sound of it teams are starting to realize that adding the second best ERA in baseball to their staff at the deadline might benefit their team and they might be willing to pay for it, stay tuned.

Thanks for reading,
– George

Deadline Day: Early Morning Rumors [UPDATE 9:20 AM]

Here’s to a busy, and productive day.

As the craziness died down last night so did the chatter between the Cubs and the Dodgers.  One minute it seems like something will get done, the next, crickets.  Per Jon Heyman nothing was “close” between the Dodgers and Dempster late last night.  Ken Rosenthal reports that Dempster remains adamant that he will only accept a deal to the Dodgers.  Even I can put two and two together, if Dempster will only go to the Dodgers and the Cubs and Dodgers aren’t close then that means the Cubs haven’t blinked yet.  I wonder if they will because they have lost almost all the leverage in this deal.

Rosenthal also mentions that Soriano has been apart of the Dempster to the Dodgers talks for a little while now.  Soriano would have to approve any deal, just like Dempster.  Per Bob Nightengale on twitter, Soriano has provided the Cubs with a list of “acceptable” teams to be traded to, but there is no offer as of yet.

***

Last night there was a surge in Matt Garza chatter but it has cooled as morning has arrived, per Joel Sherman, Cubs’ execs are not overly optimistic a deal will get done.  The Cubs sent out Garza’s clean medical reports yesterday and that is what sparked the interest of a number of teams.  Ken Rosenthal says that the Rangers interest seems to be waning while the interest level of the Reds and Blue Jays is increasing.  I give it 50/50 odds that Garza gets traded today.

[UPDATE 9:20 AM]  Per Jayson Stark on the Mike and Mike show Matt Garza is “likely” to be traded today, news coming in fast.

 

Thanks for reading,
– George