Cubs look to be sellers, but players see a turnaround

Posted July 14, 2010 11:00 pm

By Bruce Miles

The owner sounded an ominous tone about the general manager's future this past weekend.

The general manager gave the field manager a vote of confidence but sounded resigned to a lost season.

And the field manager has said the Cubs would probably be sellers at the trading deadline.

Only in the confines of the clubhouse does anybody seem to think the Cubs have a chance of getting back into the playoff race as the unofficial start of the second half begins Thursday night with a four-game series at Wrigley Field against the Phillies.

It's also worth noting that some of those optimistic players stand a chance of being gone by the time July 31 or Sept. 1 roll around.

With the Cubs entering play with a record of 39-50 and in fourth place in the National League Central, what could possibly give players reason for hope, other than their own pride?

"We got all the guys," said catcher Geovany Soto, who has been on-base at a .407 clip this year but who inexplicably has found himself on the bench at various times. "We've got all the ingredients here. We've got a great lineup here. We got pitching. We've got bullpen. It's just a matter of putting it together. We still got a whole second half left, and see what happens."

Before the break, third baseman Aramis Ramirez had begun to hit and drive in runs again, going 12-for-27 with 4 homers and 9 RBI on the recent road trip. To a lesser extent, first baseman Derrek Lee showed flashes, but the Cubs need much more from him.

"Lee and Ramirez have been the RBI guys for so long," Soto said. "It's pretty good to see them driving in runs. It's more like themselves. They've been great at it. It was just a matter of time."

Ramirez has been bothered by a sore left thumb for most of the season after coming back from last year's dislocated shoulder. He also sees reason for optimism.

"We have the personnel in here; we have good players," he said. "D-Lee's better than that. I'm better than that. (Pitcher Ted) Lilly is better than what he's been the last couple times out. (Ryan) Theriot's better than a .270 hitter. We've just got to come back and put it together."

The Cubs have only a few movable parts, largely because of bad contracts and a plethora of no-trade clauses in some of those contracts.

More important, though, is that few Cubs have done anything on the field that would entice another general manager to take players off GM Jim Hendry's hands.

Lilly is arguably the Cubs' most valuable trading chip, and he is coming off a couple of rough outings.

The Cubs would love to move right fielder Kosuke Fukudome to create a full-time spot for Tyler Colvin and plan ahead to next year, when outfield prospect Brett Jackson might push for big-league playing time. But Fukudome has no-trade protection and one-plus years left on his four-year, $48 million contract, which may force Hendry (or a possible new GM) to come up with a creative trade package in the off-season.

Theriot's on-base percentage is just .317. It's possible the Cubs could move outfielder-first baseman Xavier Nady or pitcher Carlos Silva, who didn't look interested in pitching before getting kicked out of Sunday night's start at Dodger Stadium.

"That's Jim's decision," Ramirez said of Hendry. "It's tough, but we still have a lot of games against St. Louis. And I think we have a chance. We've just got to do what we're doing right now."

There are still 73 games to play, and everybody is still getting paid to produce.

"We're competitors, but if something makes sense for the future, you've got to look at it," Piniella said, referring to himself and Hendry with regard to trades. "That's not my department, That's Jim's department, and he'll handle it.

"Look, there's a lot of baseball to be played. Put it this way: You can't rope-a-dope it. You've got to play. There are just too many games left."

Kosuke Fukudome has no-trade protection and one-plus years left on his four-year, $48 million contract. Associated Press file

Cubs' trade bait

The Cubs most likely will be sellers between now and the July 31 nonwaiver trading deadline. Here is a look at some of their chips:

LHP Ted Lilly

3-8 with 4.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP Impending free agent; he could bring a prospect or two

RHP Carlos Silva

9-3 with 3.45 ERA, 1.14 WHIP Value may never be higher; still owed money for next year

RHP Carlos Zambrano

3-6 with 5.66 ERA; 1.69 WHIP Difficult to trade because of contract; hasn't pitched since June 25

2B Ryan Theriot

.278 BA, .317 OBP, .313 SLG Would Phillies take a look this weekend at Wrigley?

RF Kosuke Fukudome

.252 BA, .347 OBP, .414 SLG Another bad contract; Cubs may have to wait until winter

OF-IF Xavier Nady

.225 BA, .295 OBP, .348 SLG Hasn't done much off elbow surgery; yield won't be high

IF Mike Fontenot

.292 BA, .339 OBP, .409 SLG Bats left-handed; won't bring much back in return

Cubs scouting report

Cubs vs. Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field

TV: Channel 26 Thursday; Comcast SportsNet Friday and Saturday; ESPN Sunday

Radio: WGN 720-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Ryan Dempster (7-7) vs. Jamie Moyer (9-8) Thursday at 7:05 p.m.; Ted Lilly (3-8) vs. Joe Blanton (3-5) Friday at 1:20 p.m.; Randy Wells (4-7) vs. Cole Hamels (7-7) Saturday at 12:05 p.m.; Tom Gorzelanny (4-5) vs. Roy Halladay (10-7) Sunday at 7:05 p.m.

At a glance: The Cubs split two at Philadelphia May 19-20, with Gorzelanny pitching 62/3 shutout innings for a victory on the 19th. The Phillies (47-40) have fallen into third place in the NL East, 41/2 games behind the Braves. The Phillies currently list five players on the DL, including star second baseman Chase Utley. First baseman Ryan Howard has 17 home runs and an OPS of .859. The Phillies are fifth in runs, 12th in OBP, fifth in homers and sixth in ERA (3.92). The Cubs are 14th in runs, 13th in OBP, seventh in homers and seventh in ERA (3.96).

Next: Houston Astros at Wrigley Field, Monday-Wednesday

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