Trade Candidate: Carlos Pena

[daddies3angels]

Originally Posted by dabynsky

I've been pitching the Pena to Pirates idea for nearly a month now. It seems like the Pirates have asked but the Cubs wanted too much. However, if I had to guess it seems like the Pirates want to buy without giving up any of their prospects. Seems like the Cubs are probably more willing to eat a little cash to get better prospects and the Pirates want to take on salary with giving nothing up. I could be misreading the situation, but that is just the sense I've gotten from the various reports from the Pirates owner and GM.

PIT GM will have to learn how to manage team when in pennant race. Fans wont be happy if PIT dont try to improve offense. PIT has scored 20 runs in last 10 games. To get something they have to trade something. i hear PIT has nice system so this be good time to make the system usefull

[dabynsky]

Originally Posted by daddies3angels

PIT GM will have to learn how to manage team when in pennant race. Fans wont be happy if PIT dont try to improve offense. PIT has scored 20 runs in last 10 games. To get something they have to trade something. i hear PIT has nice system so this be good time to make the system usefull

To be honest I understand Pittsburgh position, and it appears the market is very, very weak for Pena. They could be playing chicken at this point and I wouldn't be surprised if Hendry blinked first.

[daddies3angels]

Originally Posted by dabynsky

To be honest I understand Pittsburgh position, and it appears the market is very, very weak for Pena. They could be playing chicken at this point and I wouldn't be surprised if Hendry blinked first.

Lets hope PIT jumps the gun lol. I dont see Cubs trading till the 31st. Once other players get traded hopefully other team come to Cubs for some of there players.

[dabynsky]

And the back and forth on whether teams are interested in Pena continues. Bruce Levine is now reporting that the Pirates have been following Pena for a month now. Here is the full article.

And Jon Heyman tweeted that the D'Backs are concerned about Pena's strikeouts.

[dabynsky]

AceCubbie, who sometimes posts here and writes for a website called Bleacher Nation posted this:

Stark says the Pirates have backed off of Pena, but a tipster tells me that the two sides are in fact still in contact. One of the names possibly being discussed coming back to the Cubs is Matt Curry, a 23-year-old first baseman currently at AA. Curry is in his first full professional season, and, after destroying A-ball in the first half, he’s adjusting to AA. He’s a good looking player, but doesn’t appear to be considered one of the top prospects in a very good Pirates’ system.

Curry looks to be at least somewhat interesting, but isn't a top tier prospect by any means. I was holding out hope for a guy like Brad Lincoln, but that was a bit much for Pena. He was a top 10 prospect, but he is 26 and still unable to find a spot. He is doing well in AAA (granted his 3rd go at the level) and his K/BB numbers have been pretty solid in his minors career.

It will be interesting to see if the Pirates land Pena, and if so I totally called it a month ago.

[Rice Cube]

Originally Posted by dabynsky

AceCubbie, who sometimes posts here and writes for a website called Bleacher Nation posted this:


Curry looks to be at least somewhat interesting, but isn't a top tier prospect by any means. I was holding out hope for a guy like Brad Lincoln, but that was a bit much for Pena. He was a top 10 prospect, but he is 26 and still unable to find a spot. He is doing well in AAA (granted his 3rd go at the level) and his K/BB numbers have been pretty solid in his minors career.

It will be interesting to see if the Pirates land Pena, and if so I totally called it a month ago.

Pena is a Type B free agent so if he continues to tear it up I can see the Pirates snag him up for a bit, give the Cubs a prospect or two back (Hendry might be able to do one of his patented fleece-the-Pirates trades although that might be why there's a holdup) and then let Pena go and pocket a draft pick. Still a couple days left.

[dabynsky]

Originally Posted by Rice Cube

Pena is a Type B free agent so if he continues to tear it up I can see the Pirates snag him up for a bit, give the Cubs a prospect or two back (Hendry might be able to do one of his patented fleece-the-Pirates trades although that might be why there's a holdup) and then let Pena go and pocket a draft pick. Still a couple days left.

I'm guessing that is what is the holdup despite all the rumors of lack of interest in Pena. There aren't any other 1B options out there that are better. I just think the Pirates are trying to hold off parting with anything of value as much as possible. They are in a tricky position of being much better this year than I think they thought they would be (kind of like the Cubs in 01 to be honest), and now have to decide how much to go for it. They know they will lose what little good will this run has done for their fan base if they do nothing and fall out of the race. At the same time they are probably a year or two away from their peak competive years and making a splash now could really hurt their chances later.

[dabynsky]

John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus just tweeted this:

#Pirates' explanation for lukewarm interest in Carlos Pena: Don't want to add another K-prone hitter to K-heavy lineup

Most Pirates fan seem to either hate the idea of adding Pena or only good thing about him is not having to part with any prospects for him.

[Anno Catuli]

Pirates have also reportedly been interested in Derek Lee