Chicago Cubs

Rumors ran wild this past week about the potential of the Cubs trading for Roy Halladay or Curtis Granderson.

What is sad is that the Cubs have the highest payroll in the league, and both of these players are going to be considered too expensive.

What's worse? Both of these players would fulfill enormous needs for the Cubs. In fact, they are the two biggest needs of the current Cub team.

There is always talk amongst baseball fans and writers regarding who the worst general manager in baseball is.

Dayton Moore of the Kansas City Royals and Omar Minaya of the New York Mets are usually at the top of that conversation. Well, I think we can add one more GM to the conversation—Jim Hendry of the Chicago Cubs.

I really have no idea what he is doing in Chicago. Latest example: Hendry re-signed left-handed reliever John Grabow to a two-year, $7.5 million extension.

Are you kidding?

If you are looking for an under-the-radar starting pitching prospect with the potential to make an impact in 2010, the Cubs’ Jay Jackson may be your answer. 

While his name may not be well known, at least not yet, the 6′1″, 195 pound, 22 year old reached Triple-A in 2009 and is potentially on the precipice of making an impact.

He seemingly has the arsenal to make his presence felt. He was described by Baseball America as the team’s fourth best prospect.

When a team identifies a weakness in their lineup, whether offensive or defensive, there are three avenues through which the club can attempt to augment their efficiency at that position.

First and most common, the club can look to the free-agent and trade markets to find a suitable upgrade.

Second, they can replace from within, by promoting a highly-touted prospect.

It's closing in on Thanksgiving and baseball circles are starting to heat up with discussion about players moving from one city to another.

The wonderful part of being a fan at this time of year is the speculation that comes with rumors, whispers, and just throwing junk at the wall to see what sticks.

In the spirit of discussion, I present to you an idea for discussion: the Cubs should explore trading third baseman Aramis Ramirez to the Phillies.

First, let's walk through the foundation of why this deal would even be a consideration for either side.

Not sure if anyone read the latest foot-in-mouth interview from Chicago's North Side, but this time it isn't one of the usual suspects.

No, it wasn't Milton Bradley talking about how racist the fans were. And it wasn't Geovany Soto talking about the proper way to pack a bong during the World Baseball Classic.

This time, it was closer-to-be Carlos Marmol. And he was jumping all over the hot stove.

The Chicago Cubs took the first concrete steps toward crystallizing their team in 2010 today, trading right-handed pitcher Aaron Heilman and re-signing would-be free agent John Grabow. 

Those steps were preliminary, though, and general manager Jim Hendry knows that in order to make more drastic and necessary changes, he must first resolve the single most dauntingly enigmatic question that faces Chicago during this offseason: To whom will Hendry send outfielder Milton Bradley?