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The Chicago Cubs today continued to somehow make their bullpen worse via acquisitions when they traded infielder Ronny Cedeno and pitcher Garrett Olson to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for pitcher Aaron Heilman. Heilman is expected to compete for a spot in the starting rotation, which makes perfect sense given his career that boasts just one season with a winning record and three seasons (out of six) with an ERA over 5.00. Heilman had previously caused conniptions for New York Mets but had recently been shipped to Seattle in a blockbuster trade. As Al over at Bleed Cubbie Blue puts it, "Essentially, it boils down to Pie and Cedeno for Heilman and Henry Williamson."
Elsewhere in the Cubs-a-verse, the $136 Million Man may be out of a leadoff job if this story in the Trib is an indication of what's to come. Soriano insists he'll be a team player, saying at the recent Cubs Convention, "I feel comfortable batting leadoff and any [place] in the lineup. It's not about me, it's about the team and what [manager Lou Piniella] wants to do this year because, I'm 33 now and they think I can't run anymore." He later added, "If the manager wants to move me from leadoff spot, that's fine. I'm tired because every year [critics] start again with the leadoff thing. I don't care, you know?" For his part, Sweet Lou is not tipping his hand at all: "We'll talk to [Soriano] in the spring and see where it goes. We'll put the best combinations out there and the best lineup we can."
Photo of Heilman in most common stance - post-giving up big hit - AP/Ed Betz
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HAHAHAHA!!!
What I can't get over is that other than a poorly-timed three-game losing streak, the Cubs were really good last year. I just do not understand any of these team-gutting moves.
I'm afraid next year was last year, Cubs fans. Sorry you missed out.
i'm sorry. did we just get rid of all of our good players? i hate you, cubs. but i still love you. i hate you, cubs.
stupid cognitive dissonance.
no. the cubs traded garbage for garbage.
whatever - I wouldnt worry about it.
Yeah, I missed the part where Cedeno ever had a good year. He was a light-hitting infielder who couldn't draw walks. Heilman had three solid years before having a shitty 08. This whole sniping at the Cubs thing is already getting old, and the season hasn't even started. If you don't like them, you don't need report on them. You won't hear me complaining. You got a World Series and President wearing your team's gear. What else do you want?
Whoa whoa whoa. Hold on a sec. I've been criticized and called a lot of things since I took on this job. But to imply I'm a Sox fan? That's below the belt. I'm a Cubs fan, sir.
And I may or may not be overvaluing Cedeno, but as someone who has had Heilman stuck on my fantasy roster for three years, I can't tell you how many times I checked his stats the next morning to see his daily ERA somewhere around 9. Heilman has a penchant - and ask any Mets fan this - for blowing leads late. I suppose with Howry gone, the Cubs needed to fill that role.
Touche - I think I may be a bit on the defensive about Heilman since my only memories of him are the Cubs abusing the hell out of him last season. And the fantasy baseball thing does explain a lot. It's one of the reasons I couldn't stand Ronny Cedeno. I do really see the Heilman/Howry comparisons though - I'm going to call him H2.
In my defense, the only reason i've had Heilman is because it's a 12-team, 26-man, NL-only league. Our teams = real teams. Oh, and it's a keeper league for an added dimension.
The one thing that did for me was make me appreciate the day-to-day contributions of a guy like Marmol (who I got in a trade and have held on to) over a guy like Heilman.
I'll be the happiest person in the world to be wrong about Heilman, but right now, I just keep scratching my head about what Hendry and crew are after. Olson was supposed to be part of a larger trade for Peavy, no?
Yeah, that's the part of it that really makes me wonder if that Peavy trade talk is over. I don't know what other pitching prospect the Cubs would offer. Although I wouldn't underestimate the significance of the Cubs of taking $65 million off the books for the Padres.