"Personally I think the team that is going to be a surprise bidder for Soriano and Garza or Dempster is the Orioles."

The Orioles have already expressed interest in Soriano. That's no surprise. Actually, rumor has it a deal was in place and Soriano blocked it.

**Actually, rumor has it a deal was in place and Soriano blocked it.

I thought that was in the off season, so maybe Soriano would open to it now since the Orioles are in contention.

Yep, that was in the offseason.

I am not for trading Barney. He will be a major league player for a long time either at 2nb base or SS. Unless you can get a starter who can hit, field, and have the smarts of Barney then keep him No more prospects. This kid is a keeper.

If we are going to have to pay 90% of Soriano's salary it would be stupid to trade him unless you got a very good player in return. One that can hit the numbers he is hitting. I read the 90% somewhere and that means we would be paying about 16 mil a year. That would be stupid as who is going to produce his numbers that we have available. He is at least a guy who might hit a home run and drive in some runs. We do not need prospects or singles hitters. We need someone who can hit in the next year or two.

Oliver is a power left handed pitcher. How many lefties touch 95 mph regularly with their fast ball and 91-92 with their two seamer and can control it? Worst case this guy is a lefty specialist similar to Sean Marshal.

So you get a guy who projects as a front of the line starter. A lefty power pitcher who worst case is a left handed specialist and a high ceiling player for a pitcher who's historic numbers are only slightly better than average and you're not happy?

We don't want a lefty specialist as a major piece in a Garza trade, and let's be honest, that is his ceiling at this point. I don't see him ever even becoming a 5th starter. He is garbage.

Turner is the major piece and Oliver is another piece. You are smoking crack if you think we can get two A prospects for Garza or an A or B+. He isn't that good. If the Cubs were able to land a top prospect similar to Turner then they should be grateful to get a piece like Oliver.

Who said that I said we could get 2 A prospects. I would appreciate it if you stopped assuming. Turner isn't even an A prospect. He is more like a B to B+. That coming from a guy who likes him. Castellanos is an A or A- depending on who you talk to. Andy Oliver is garbage. You are delusional if you think they should take one good prospect and garbage. BTW, Garza is better than you give him credit for and the Tigers are in win now mode. If they don't want to offer fair value then they can #### off.

Right, Turner isn't an A. 10th top prospect in baseball according to MLB.com, 22nd based on Baseball America but he isn't an A.

Oliver is far from garbage and look at what Marshall brought us in return via trade. So I don't think I'm over valuing a left handed specialist, not his potential. A lefty that throws 95 consistently and will reach 97 is a rare commodity.

Garza's value is as a big game pitcher and he really hasn't been good this season. His ERA is over league average and he has given up 12 home runs in 14 games. He has a good bb/k ratio and a good whip but he is making costly mistakes and giving up hits in bunches.

This is all a moot point because the Tigers aren't going to give up Turner in a deal for Garza.

The idea behind paying that 90% to let him go isn't necessarily to get a player with similar production to replace him, it's more to give yourself options with younger players to see how they fit. If they produce like or better than Soriano, then great, if not, at least you'll know that young player needs work. It's part of the rebuild to go young. That's my opinion anyway.

I'm not dead set on getting rid of Soriano. Personally, he doesn't bother me at all, but if this team is going young and would like to see how some of the younger players play, then I'm ok with Soriano leaving and the Cubs not getting much in return. Let's be honest, trading Soriano won't 1. set the franchise back and 2. won't come with any regret as Soriano likely is done in the next 2-3 years anyway and won't be producing for the next 5-6 yearsfor some other team IMO

If we cant get over priced value for Garza than keep him! Teams desperate for help, or in the "Win now" mode should be willing to over pay. DO NOT give Garza away for anything less than than a spectacular deal. To take average prospects or even one good one and some mediocre one is not going to cut it. If you dont get blown away by a deal from one of these teams desperate for pitching help, then keep Garza.

**I am not for trading Barney.

I got a feeling if they do a deal with the Tigers that Barney will be part of it if the Cubs want to get very good prospects. Darwin had a good series against them and I recall Leyland making a comment about how well he played.

I'm not sure why some on this board don't see his value. He is never going to be a superstar but you cannot afford to have a superstar at every position. I think he maximizes his talents and doesn't carry any ego jock baggage around with him.

For Garza, I completely agree. Keep him if someone doesn't overpay.

"Right, Turner isn't an A. 10th top prospect in baseball according to MLB.com, 22nd based on Baseball America but he isn't an A."

10th prospect in baseball according to Jonathon Mayo. He is actually the 29th overall ranked prospect by Keith Law. Castellanos is 37th. I take Law's opinion over Mayo's any given day of the week.

"Oliver is far from garbage and look at what Marshall brought us in return via trade. So I don't think I'm over valuing a left handed specialist, not his potential. A lefty that throws 95 consistently and will reach 97 is a rare commodity."

So he is a guy who can throw a fastball.... Sorry, he is garbage. You don't value a lefty specialist this highly in a trade for Garza plain and simple. Oh and that is his ceiling. Doesn't mean he will reach it. 60 BB in 85.1 IP......

"Garza's value is as a big game pitcher and he really hasn't been good this season. His ERA is over league average and he has given up 12 home runs in 14 games. He has a good bb/k ratio and a good whip but he is making costly mistakes and giving up hits in bunches.

This is all a moot point because the Tigers aren't going to give up Turner in a deal for Garza."

He hasn't pitched fantastic this season, but you are crazy if you think they wouldn't give up Turner for Garza. Sounds like the same Tiger fans who thought Smyly was "untouchable." This is all a moot point because the Tigers don't have what it takes to get Garza without giving up Turner or Castellanos.

Don't think it will happen but it looks like a great deal for both teams.

A left handed specialist is not his ceiling, it's his worst case scenario. Oliver has good control over his four seam and two seam fastballs but struggles with his breaking pitch. At 24 the Tigers are rightfully still trying to turn him into a starting pitcher however he could easily be the bullpen already.

<He has 60 BB in 85 IP. We shouldn't pretend he has good control over anything. He also isn't a starter and he sure as hell won't be a solid reliever walking the world. So yeah, I feel confident saying he is a lefty specialist.