Guzman had reconstructive elbow surgery towards the end of 2007. I’m sure that puts him out for 2008, and probably for good.

Here is my crazy trade scenario. Offer Felix Pie and Jason Marquis for Johan Santana. They need a CF for the future, and will need another inexpensive arm since they won’t be able to resign Santana. They will prob ask for me, and I am confortable throwing Murton or Cedeno in the trade. Imagine a rotation with:
1: Santana
2: Big Z
3: Lilly
4: Hill
5: Hart/ Marshall/ ?

I think that is an offer the Twins would HAVE to listen to. Pie is in an all time high now, and I really don’t think he will be able to keep it up with his playing, unfortunately. Everyone wins. Come Jim Hendry, pull the trigger!

It would nice to have another power pitcher, but as we stack up now, we are ok

If the Cubs can package up one of Marshall/Gallagher/Hart with , say Patterson/Hoffpair/Kroeger/Holliman and net an upgrade in CF that would be optimal. I would hope Gallagher/Hart work on a good sinker over the off-season. I would think both Marshall/Holliman/Veal are expendable with Lilly and Hill already in the rotaion

Z
Hill
Marquis
Lilly
Marshall/Hart/Gallagher/Prior

Zambrano
Lilly
Hill
Marquis
Hart

I definitely DO NOT want Maquis to be in the rotation, but we’ve got to be realistic. He probably isn’t going anywhere. If by some miracle we could unload him, then I’d like to see Gallagher in the rotation, possibly. Of course I’d LIKE to see Prior, but we know that won’t happen. There’s really nothing available on the FA market, especially after a shitty pitcher like Joel Pineiro locks up a 2 year, $13 million contract for being a shitty pitcher. What a retarded contract. That means Kyle Lohse is going to be making like $8 million/year.

Well, I feel they might listen to a package with Pie, Marquis and Murton. They are certainly not be able to resign him, and they know they won’t win this coming season, so, it is either that, or nothing (high draft pick). I feel they would have to listen. But then again, there is a reason I am not a GM…

I just checked my facts and Kuroda has not elected free agency, but he can choose to. He is 32, not 31, but still pitched pretty good for the Carp in the Japanese legaues. 3.56 ERA, which even allowing for the Japan factor, is proably still better than what Marquis posted.

I’ve been waiting for someone to suggest a Japenese import plug-in on here…

Kuroda’s not Santana, but he’s a more realistic option for us. And I just have to feel in my gut that at least for the first year, he’d post good enough numbers to be the 3rd or 4th starter. By the time the legaue really figures him out, I think we’ll have some more interesting options arriving from the minors, such as the Shark. If Hart’s done the job in the minors, I say give him a shot, provided we resign Wood to take his spot in the 7th inning. If Kuroda doesn’t elect free agency, I wonder if the Carp would consider a red-headed wanna-be comedian in a possible trade? How do fart jokes play in Japan?

I think the Angels are still kinda pissed Rami decided to stick around. Besides, I’m not sure we have the pieces in our system the Angels are looking for n regard to Santana. Maybe if we had an extra power hitting third baseman handy, we’d have a shot. It just seems like as far as position players go, we have a lot of fourth outfielders and utillity infielders. At least we have the chance of producing a kick ass catcher.

They didn’t…?

Re: Photo–tall lefty…lots of hair…I thought Randy Johnson was hurt…

Realistically, I think what we’re going to get is:
Z
Lilly
Hill
Marquis
Marshall

And honestly, I think there’s not much better out there.

I really like Marshall. He’s improved every stat I’ve seen from last year to this one – K/9, BB/9, ERA, WHIP, whatever you name. None of the improvements are all that impressive on their own, but the kid is getting steadily better at every facet of his game. I think he deserves a shot at a permanent rotation spot.

I also have to give some props to my fellow Yid Jason Marquis. I was ready for a painful experience watching him pitch, but he actually did pretty decently. And the Cubs won 21 games that he started. That’s pretty impressive from a guy who was as bad as he was the year before. Not that I’m counting on him for anything great next year, I’m just pleasantly surprised that he didn’t

There’s no one on the MLB FA market I want other than Maddux, and I want him to replace Larry Rothschild, not to throw the ball. As for the Japanese players, I have to admit I like ‘em, and it’d be fun to see Kuroda in the mix, but I’ll believe it when I see it.

Realistically..teams trade proven greats like Santana to organizations who can pay him, and ask for a lot in return (Beckett for Hanley Ramirez – good trade for both teams) – we can “pie in the sky” here (that’s what message boards are for) but you do not trade a guy like Santana for a maybe (Pie), a guy who probably can’t (Murton) and an overpriced mistake (Marquis), overpriced by Minnesota standards.

Unfortunately, to get Santana, names like Hill, Hart, Veal, Samardzjia, Marmol, and others will have to be on the table – Soto would be the guy, but they’ve got Mauer and he’s a hometowner.

Trying to be reasonable and wearing a Minnesota hat…would you trade Marmol. Hart and a third prospect for Santana…because that’s what it will cost. Frankly, I might do it.

I’m not sure why everyone is so excited about Hart. His minor league numbers are pretty mediocre, and 10 innings or so in the majors shouldn’t be enough to put him in the rotation.