Trade Candidate: Carlos Pena

[Anno Catuli]

As promised, I am back with my trade deadline blogs about the individual players I mentioned should be moved in a deal if at all possible. While all five should be dealt for prospects, or at very least a salary dump, we must be honest with ourselves. The likelihood of all of them being traded is nonexistent, so we should focus on the ones who will be the most likely to be moved, and that is the what I will lend my focus to in this series, and go in order of most likely to be moved to least likely of these five.

That being said, the most likely player to be moved is Chicago Cubs first baseman Carlos Pena. According to reports by Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated, he is almost certain to be traded, with the two teams mentioned the most as possible landing spots for the left handed slugger being the Arizona DiamondBacks and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Both teams will likely ask that the Cubs pay at least a small portion of the $5 Million that was deferred in his initial $10 Million one year contract. That would not be too much of a noose around the neck of the franchise going forward, and would not keep the Cubs from signing a key free agent they feel could help them in the years to come.

The Cubs, however, have disputed the report by Heyman with the usual throw away line of ‘why would we trade him?”. The answer to that is very easy, and will remain the same for all of the players who are on the last year of their deal. Get something for him so you do not lose him without getting anything as he walks out the door, and save some money. Those are the two keys going forward if you have any hope of rebuilding a team. Rebuild the farm system and save some money that can be spent elsewhere.

There are those who are against the trade, as there will always be in most cases, because he is producing or because they think that the Cubs should bring him back next year. Neither of those reasons should ever stop the Cubs from trading away a player. Neither of those reasons should even give the Cubs cause for hesitation. The simple fact of the matter is that the contending teams want him because he is producing and could help them in the stretch run. The very reason that he is producing is what could likely bring us back a good prospect who could be a key to our rebound and key to our future.

As far as re-signing him for 2012 and beyond, the Cubs can still trade Pena and then sign him once again in the off season. If the Cubs think he is a key part of their 2012 team and beyond, there is nothing stopping them from pursuing him again once the free agency period begins, If this is the case, the Cubs come out on top, especially if he does re-sign here, if that is indeed in their plans. They get at least one prospect and get Pena back. Where is the downside to making this move? I surely do not see one. If the Cubs truly want him back, and if Pena likes being in Chicago and playing for the Cubs, then make a handshake agreement with him, letting him know the situation. Tell him you want to bring him back, and would be highly interested in signing him in the off season, but that they want to give him a chance at a winner and that they have received a deal they can not turn down.

Personally, I would not mind Pena coming back. I would rather bring in Prince Fielder, but the bidding war for that puffy power swinging first baseman might reach too high for the Cubs budget. If that is the case, the Cubs need to weigh their options and decide how close they truly are to contending for the World Series. If they honestly think that they can contend next year, and not just saying they can in order to give the Cub fans hope, then by all means bring him back. If not, let him walk away and bring up a kid to play first base, or move Alfonso Soriano over to first base to save his legs. Sure, every time you hear about a Starlin Castro throw to first you are likely to have a heart attack with Soriano over there, but in an honest moment do you not already cover your eyes every time the kid gets ready to make a throw anyway? The move of Soriano to first is smart, because then the Cubs are free to bring up and play another outfielder from the minors and give them an opportunity to play everyday. The downside to this argument is that if he has issues catching those routine fly balls in left field, how will he handle several throws a game to first, especially those wickedly wild ones from Castro?

With only five days remaining, the Cubs need to figure out what they want to do; not only for the rest of this year, but for the future of the franchise. If continuing to play Pena is what General Manager Jim Hendry thinks is the best for both the present and the future, then there is very little chance that he will be moved at all. As for me, if I were the General Manager, I would trade Pena for whatever I could get. How about you? Would you trade Pena?

[Chris J]

Pena isnt going anywhere

[Anno Catuli]

Never know. But he is a very likely trade candidate

[Chris J]

Move Byrd

[Anno Catuli]

I agree, as mentioned yesterday he is one of the five who should be moved

[Rice Cube]

Originally Posted by Anno Catuli

I agree, as mentioned yesterday he is one of the 24 not named Castro who should be moved

Indeed.

[Anno Catuli]

Originally Posted by Rice Cube

Indeed.

Yes. anyone should be available. But not enough time to cover all 24... so I limited my thoughts to my main five

[Rice Cube]

Originally Posted by Anno Catuli

Yes. anyone should be available. But not enough time to cover all 24... so I limited my thoughts to my main five

Lazy.

[Anno Catuli]

Originally Posted by Rice Cube

Lazy.

Well maybe if I started a month earlier...... and had no job or a life..........

[Rice Cube]

Originally Posted by Anno Catuli

Well maybe if I started a month earlier...... and had no job or a life..........

Ack. You wound me, sir.

I do have a job, but my life is pretty much tied in to the family, science, and baseball