WGN Radio: Aramis Ramirez to remain with Cubs

by NPCody on Nov 7, 2006 12:58 PM PST

Per Dave Kaplan of WGN Radio. The only link is on mlbtraderumors.com, but it's legit. This was indeed reported.

Kaplan: Cubs To Sign Ramirez By Saturday

An emailer writes in to inform us that Dave Kaplan of WGN Radio says that the Cubs should have Aramis Ramirez signed by Saturday or earlier. Apparently Ramirez is trying to squeeze out a few extra bucks but will stay in Chicago.

After that, Cubs GM Jim Hendry can move on to other acquisitions. Gary Sheffield could be a prime target, though the Cubs are hurting for a veteran starter or two.

This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.

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Comments

Not a surprise

IF it happens. I'll believe this when I read it from AP.

Fire Mickey Hatcher. An entire generation of Angels offense depends upon it.

by scareduck on Nov 7, 2006 1:19 PM PST reply actions

Kind of a bummer, if true.

Does this mean Crede becomes the next option or another push for Tejada?

by KPBruin on Nov 7, 2006 1:24 PM PST reply actions

I think Alfonso Soriano said he likes 3rd base

But i'm pretty sure he was talkin' about scoring with a lady.

The last world series champion in California has "Anaheim" written next to their name.

by Anaheim of Anaheim on Nov 7, 2006 1:29 PM PST reply actions

That's cool.

I wouldn't mind if the Cubs do resign him. I worry the Angels would give him a contract for too many years.

by elricsi on Nov 7, 2006 1:46 PM PST reply actions

So now what?

There isn't anybody else really worth obtaining, at least via FA. Arod's not really available. I think we should fill the CF position with a quality stick (Vernon, Soriano), and hope that McPherson can do something to earn a job at 3B.

I don't know. This throws me off. What do you guys do next? None of us want another season of Chone at 3B, but what about Izturis if we got Wells or Soriano?

by Ty Webb on Nov 7, 2006 1:50 PM PST reply actions

NO Izturis

He filled the hole, but that's all--yes he was doing fine there, but he's NOT a long term solution. If ARam signs with the Cubs and Stoneman gives up (like he did after losing the bidding on Konerko last year), I'm going to scream. We have to find somebody and it's not going to be Izzy.

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Nov 7, 2006 1:57 PM PST up reply actions

That is comical.

"If ARam signs with the Cubs and Stoneman gives up (like he did after losing the bidding on Konerko last year), I'm going to scream."

Gave up? Who was he supposed to sign? Konerko was the ONLY moto bat out there.

Trade for Wells, sign Aramis and say hello to the 2007 World Series Champions.

by hauldog on Nov 7, 2006 2:11 PM PST up reply actions

No, no the point was

He said "oh damn, we can't get Konerko. He was going to be our big acquisition. Oh well, we'll be fine...we don't have to try for any other big bats." That led to an abysmal first half that we simply can't afford to repeat.

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Nov 7, 2006 3:26 PM PST up reply actions

I do not see the correlation

Konerko not signing made the Angels play worse?

Trade for Wells, sign Aramis and say hello to the 2007 World Series Champions.

by hauldog on Nov 7, 2006 3:41 PM PST up reply actions

No

OK, let me try spelling this out for you.

Last season, we were in a situation very similar to where we now find ourselves--a decent team struggling with offense that desperately needed an "impact bat." That was widely recognized. The key difference was that Moreno had not come out and told Stoneman, as he did this year, "you MUST make a major acquisition."

Last offseason, there were a number of impact bats on the free agent market; Stoneman decided that Konerko would be "the one" to go after. Not necessarily because he was a 1b, but because he would immediately inject offense. We failed to get Konerko, though of course not for lack of trying.

So what does Stoneman do? He says "ho hum, I'm just basically going to give up now that I didn't get the specific guy I wanted." He didn't go after anybody else out there (such as Piazza or Thomas [I realize FT was a bit of a gamble and not entirely foreseeable], to name just two off the top of my head) but decided he'd lock up for the offseason and hope for the best with what we had. Do you really think he thought we'd get an offensive punch by trading for Edgardo Alfonzo? I don't either.

This offseason, Ramirez seems to be "the one" upon which Stoneman has decided. My fear is that if we fail to get Ramirez (b/c he decides to stay w/ the Cubs or goes somewhere else), Stoneman will sit back and say "oops, that didn't work. Well, we'll just stick Izzy at third again" and then not pursue anybody else on the market or through trades. Then we'll have another craptacular first half (or maybe we'll mix things up a bit and it'll be the second) and be shut out of the playoffs once again.

All I'm saying is Stoneman better the f**k not get complacent as he's all too wont to do.

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Nov 8, 2006 12:27 AM PST up reply actions

and again

Who were the other big bats?

Trade for Wells, sign Aramis and say hello to the 2007 World Series Champions.

by hauldog on Nov 7, 2006 3:41 PM PST up reply actions

Scotty

If I was going to trade for anyone at 3b, I would want Rolen.

Hopefully the rumors are true and he and LaRussa can't deal with each other anymore.

by elricsi on Nov 7, 2006 2:44 PM PST reply actions

Cards need pitching

; )

by Ty Webb on Nov 7, 2006 3:09 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah, but

we already have an injury prone 3rd baseman, thanks.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Nov 7, 2006 3:27 PM PST up reply actions

Damnit.

Not sure if I even believe this though.

For one thing, the mlbtraderumors.com post about Ramirez was posted on November 1st. It's ancient. There are no updates to the posting there.

There is zero news today about Aramis online, I checked google news, google web, and found nothing new, and you'd think that somebody legitimately reporting a team about to sign a player of that caliber would be all over the online media by this point in time.

Also: A brand new article was just posted over at the Long Beach Press Telegram, reiterating the Angels intentions: To pursue Aramis, Barry Zito, and Vernon Wells in a trade after they have a surplus in pitching. Here is the link to that story, posted about 45 minutes ago:

http://www.pe.com/sports/baseball/angels/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_angels_notes_08.3319a2b.html

So let's hold out hope at least for another night, shall we?

by goodvibe61 on Nov 7, 2006 10:48 PM PST reply actions