Red Sox About To Get Something "Significant" For Theo?

Well, this story seems like it will never end. I have no idea when they will finally announce the deal, but at least one executive thinks the Cubs will end up paying a heavy price...

"One AL GM who is not associated with either team tells Nick Cafardo in Sunday's Boston Globe that the Cubs could end up paying a significant price. "I don't think MLB wants executives leaving their teams before their contracts are up and therefore he will try to deter teams from doing that again," the GM said (ESPN)."

This is the first time we have heard that the Red Sox will really be getting anything of note. As much as I want this GM to be right, I would be shocked, because like I said this is the first time we have heard this at all. Most of the time it was about a low prospect who we would likely never see. Then again, I guess it depends on your definition of "significant".

Update On Red Sox Compensation For Epstein

The latest on this mess is that it's now in Seligs hands. The Red Sox are asking for way more then the Cubs are willing to give. Here is what Theo had to say on WEEI on week or so ago...

"Throughout the history of baseball, there's really only a handful of instances in which there's been any compensation whatsoever for executives." He added that in those cases, "compensation has been pretty reasonable. When Andy MacPhail, who had won two World Series, left on a lateral move from Minnesota to Chicago back in '94, his compensation was the 30th-ranked prospect in the Cubs' system [Hector Trinidad] and a little bit of cash." In Epstein's opinion, "There's no precedent for major, major compensation here."

The Red Sox say that Theo is more valuable then any guy who moved to another team. They also say that the move he made is in fact is a lateral move. I doubt the Red Sox win this argument, and they will be lucky if they get a top 25 prospect in the Cubs system, which blows and just shows just another instance where the Red Sox owners have messed up.

I Will Be Pissed If The Tigers Trade For Matt Garza

The Tigers and Cubs Matt Garza rumors persist and the rumors are the Tigers are dangling top pitching prospect Jacob Turner in any deal. The deal would most likely have to be Turner plus two other prospects. I would also lose Turner in our AL only league too which would be a huge blow for me.

I don't get what the deal is with Matt Garza. He is a 3 starter at best, so why are we pretending that he is an ace. He has pitched over 200 innings twice in his career, never got over 200 Ks, has a 52 and 54 record and has a career era of 3.83. I would much rather have years of a stud prospect ready to pitch now than 2 years of a 29 year old Matt Garza.

Garza is highly overrated and the Cubs in general are now pissing me off. The Theo Epstein compensation is never coming, the Anthony Rizzo trade had collusion written all over it, they sign everyone who the Red Sox are interested in and are dicks.

Crazy Carlos Going To The Marlins

After just talking about the Jets, the Marlins are for sure going to be the Jets of the MLB led by a crazy coach in Ozzie Guillen.

The Marlins just got a little bit crazier by trading for Carlos Zambrano. The trade breaks down as Carlos Zambrano from the Cubs for Chris Volstad. The trade is still pending physicals and approval from the commissioner's office according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Marlins will pay just $2.5MM of Zambrano's $18MM salary, reports Juan C. Rodriguez of The Sun Sentinel.

I love this deal for the Marlins and I believe that Carlos Zambrano can still be a good pitcher. If anyone in the MLB needs a change of scenery it's Zambrano. Zambrano, 30, posted a 4.82 ERA with 6.2 K/9, 3.5 BB/9 and a 42.4% ground ball rate in 145 2/3 innings for the Cubs in 2011. The deal gives the Marlins a projected rotation of Buehrle, Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez, Ricky Nolasco and Zambrano. Which isn't bad and with the Marlins and their offseason, I believe they can take the NL East.

Brewers Sign Aramis Ramirez

The Brewers were badly in need of some good news, and they finally got some today. Aramis Ramirez has signed a three-year deal with Milwaukee, which is really the only good news the Brewers have had in a while. Braun sounds like he is going to be suspended 50 games, and Prince Fielder is almost certainly going to be playing some where else next year.

Ramirez is 33 years old, but he is coming off a pretty damn good year hitting over .300 with 26 HRs and 93 RBIs. The signing rounds out the left side of the Brewers' infield, as they signed Alex Gonzalez to play shortstop last week. Casey McGehee will move across the diamond and play first base.

Latest On Prince Fielder

The Cubs are definitely in the mix for Fielder, tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. He adds that the Mariners and trying and the Blue Jays and Rangers are "among teams showing interest and thinking hard about it (MLBTradeRumors)."

I can't see the Rangers really being in the race for Fielder. They just passed on giving Wilson a contract, and they are actually in need of pitching, so I can't see them turning around and giving almost double the amount of money for a 1st baseman. The Mariners have been dying for some offense, so they make a lot of sense. I am sure Theo would love to make a splash with the Cubs, but I am not sure if he is wanting to give a guy (body) like Fielder a huge contract in the NL, where he'll have to play the field throughout. If Fielder somehow goes to the Jays he might hit 60 HRs, everyone hits it out of the park there.

Albert Pujols Bidding War Getting Crazy

You knew it eventually would. The Marlins have now made a 10 year offer for $200+ million. The Cubs are said to be involved, but just enough to drive up the price as they have their eyes on Fielder. The Cardinals are expected to make a counter offer today for Pujols.

Word is the only thing holding up a deal with the Marlins is the Marlins accepting a full no trade clause. If I had to guess I bet Pujols ends up getting 10 years $250 million with a no trade clause (to stay with Cardinals), which is just fucking silly and showing once again the MLB really needs some kind of salary cap.