the Cubs??

[TheRook]

Plus...he's my favorite player...and trading away your favorite player hurts....


Trade wood and prospects I don't care.

[griffey_mojo]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5189112

[TheRook]

holy shit...it's true...

The Cubs, aggressively pursuing a blockbuster trade for Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada, are willing to part with a top starting pitcher, most likely right-hander Mark Prior, sources tell FOXsports.com.


Will Miguel Tejada be playing at Wrigley Field in 2006? (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
The talks are stalled, a source says, over the Cubs' insistence that the Orioles give up left-hander Erik Bedard along with Tejada if they want Prior – and the Cubs' refusal to include top outfield prospect Felix Pie or a top pitching prospect in return.

The Cubs and Orioles also have engaged in three-way discussions with the Red Sox in which Tejada would go to the Cubs and Ramirez to the Orioles, according to another source. The package the Sox would receive is unclear, but conceivably could include Prior, shortstop Ronny Cedeno and center fielder Corey Patterson.

Whatever the details, a three-way deal would appear to be a longshot, and no other deal appears close. The Red Sox would need to give the Orioles pitching along with Ramirez if they wanted Tejada in a straight, two-team trade. The Angels' offers for Tejada have been insufficient, sources say.

The Orioles are concerned that they would be losing too much offense if Prior was their principal acquisition in a Tejada deal. The Red Sox share the same reservation about trading Ramirez for anything other than a hitter of Tejada's caliber.

The Orioles and Cubs have been talking for at least a week. While the teams completed a trade involving outfielder Sammy Sosa last off-season, that deal was essentially a salary dump by the Cubs. A Tejada deal would be more difficult to accomplish.

Orioles owner Peter Angelos is a difficult negotiator who routinely procrastinates on major personnel moves. He also is a stickler for players with clean medical records, and Prior has been injured in each of his three full seasons with the Cubs. Any deal involving Ramirez would require him to waive his no-trade clause, an issue that could further complicate discussions.

The Cubs are believed to be more willing to trade Prior, 25, than right-hander Carlos Zambrano, 24, who has emerged as the team's workhorse and ace. The Orioles likely would not be interested in right-hander Kerry Wood, 28, who is coming off shoulder surgery.

If the Cubs acquired Bedard along with Tejada, they would gain a ready replacement for Prior and keep their rotation at full strength. But the Orioles need to add pitching, not trade it, which is why they would want the Cubs to include a top prospect. Cedeno, Patterson and second baseman Todd Walker are among the other Cubs who could attract the Orioles' interest.

Tejada, 29, said he wanted to be traded in an interview with the Associated Press earlier this month, stating his desire to play for a winning organization and his belief that he would benefit from a "change of scenery."

He later softened his remarks publicly, but did not back off his position in talks with club officials. He has four years and $48 million remaining on the six-year, free-agent contract he signed with the Orioles prior to the 2004 season.

Rather than move Tejada, the Orioles could attempt to improve the team around him. They've signed free-agent catcher Ramon Hernandez, 29, to a four-year, $27.5 million contract and free-agent outfielder Jeff Conine, 39, to a one-year, $1.75 million deal. They also are talking to free-agent outfielder Jeromy Burnitz, 36, and are one of several clubs pursuing free-agent right-hander Kevin Millwood, 31, who seems most likely to sign with the Rangers.

While the Cubs appear to be the team pushing hardest for Tejada, the Orioles have maintained steady dialogue about a possible deal with the Red Sox. If the Orioles could swing a deal for Ramirez and pitching, they then would seek to trade for a shortstop or sign one as a free agent.

[10DimeBry]

see there you go A-holes dont hate on me cause i find stuff out before you do. Dicks!!!!

[Gookis]

As a HUGE Cubs fan, I have to agree with 10dime. I don't want to see Prior leave, but that is more because of the "idea" of Prior I have. I wanted him to be a stud who played his whole career for the Cubs, and for that reason there is an "attachment" to him as a player. But, he is not the same guy he was his rookie season. I don't know if he is still hurt, can't play through pain, or if it is a mental thing from being hurt, that he can't turn it lose anymore. I watch alsmot everygame, and have season tickets, and this guy is not the same as he was when he first came up. He use to get through a game with 90 pitches, now he gets that by the 5th or 6th inning. It is like he doesn't finish his delivery anymore. I'd hate to see him go, but for Tejada, I'd say it is fair.

[TheRook]

see there you go A-holes dont hate on me cause i find stuff out before you do. Dicks!!!!

Listen...you fvck with people all the time...I wouldn't put it past you to do this to fvck with us.

[10DimeBry]

Zambrano is the cubs best pitcher IMO handsdown.

[10DimeBry]

Listen...you fvck with people all the time...I wouldn't put it past you to do this to fvck with us.

not about sports stuff. I'm still pissed that people thought i was making up that Dungy's kid died. WTF

[TheRook]

not about sports stuff. I'm still pissed that people thought i was making up that Dungy's kid died. WTF

That is a bit much...I'll say that. I knew you weren't kidding about that.

[TheRook]

Zambrano is the cubs best pitcher IMO handsdown.

Bry who is your favorite Red Sox?

[Gookis]

Zambrano is the cubs best pitcher IMO handsdown.

I agree. I'd consider him "untouchable"

[10DimeBry]

Bry who is your favorite Red Sox?

Jason Varitek or Trot Nixon.