Being Rational

Now that the amusing has been posted, here's the analysis. This was a good, expensive trade. The Cubs got a guy on the right side of 30 with more +200 hit seasons than sub-200 hit seasons. He steals 50+ bases. And he eliminated Korey from the mix. If Juan Pierre performs like he has in 2002, 2003, and 2004, the Cubs could be set in one outfield position for the next 5 years.

Jim Hendry also stepped up and finally parted with high ceiling prospects. This is the first time he's done so in his career and he should be applauded for taking a bold step. It's even more of a bold move when you realize that the Cubs are now at the point when they will start to need minor league starters to fill rotation slots. After 2006, only 2 spots are locks: Prior and Zambrano. Jerome Williams, Glendon Rusch, and Kerry Wood could all be gone for various reasons. Pinto and Nolasco would have been 2007 candidates for those slots.

What's also huge is that Sean Marshall and Felix Pie are still part of the Cubs organization. Could they be packaged for a Bobby Abreu? It's now still possible.

That said, the reason the deal was so expensive was because of Jim's past screwups. Had he signed Furcal, the deal becomes Sergio Mitre and ONE of Renyl Pinto and Ricky Nolasco.

You just have to call this deal the "Furcal/Tejada" tax. If either one of those guys had been signed by Hendry, there would be an extra bullet to go get Abreu. At least today, Jim paid the price.