Cubs consider dealing outfielder

Posted: Saturday March 29, 2008 09:23AM ET

The Cubs are getting enough interest from other teams in outfielder Matt Murton that a deal might get done by the end of the weekend to keep the Cubs from having to send the .296 career hitter to the minors. Team officials went over some possibilities Friday, but a resolution to Murton's status isn't expected until Sunday. The Cubs don't want to rush the process, in part to make sure they get the best deal possible but also because an injury in one of the two exhibition games in Las Vegas could create a need for Murton on the roster.

Chicago Sun Times

Matt Murton , Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Matt Murton , Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

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This isn't news. They've been trying to trade him for a while now.

Mets would be smart to try and get him, but Aaron Heilman might be the price. Which might be too much.

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It is now day 4789 and the Cubbies are still pondering the future of Matt Murton and still are looking into a trade for Brian Roberts.

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Yeah right! (said sarcastically) The Cubs aren't getting any interest in Murton because every team in MLB has at least one or two guys just like Murton on their roster. Pretty good off the bench, but definitely not good enough to be an everyday starter. Whether it's the "team officials" quoted in the article or the author of the article himself, someone's blowing a lot of hot air here.

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Go ahead and trade your talent away again. Murton has done everything he has been asked to do along with a career 296 average and you want to trade him while the big money players continue to stink it up. Send Derek Lee down to Iowa to start the season. He hasn't produced since he broke his arm two years ago.

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Surely San Diego has somebody they could give to the Cubs for Murton.

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I think that the Braves would be wise to try and add Murton. He would give them a bat with decent power on the bench, and they could continue to work with him on playing first base. I don't know why the Cubs won't just let him start, but since they don't them should at least see if they can get someone for him.

www.baseballbrett13.blogspot.com

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seems like a good player so they shouldnt trade him

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Ohh nice, we got our daily Cubs trade rumor!!!

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Although I disagree with calling Rick Ankiel or Chris Duncan a "Murton" (Ankiel is a budding superstar, Duncan has averaged more than 20 home runs over the past two seasons), it's clear that the Cards are platooning a pair of Murton-types (Ryan Ludwick and Skip Schumaker) in right field. Like I said, every team in the league has their own version(s) of Matt Murton, so I can't fathom that the Cubbies have gotten any legitimate interest in theirs.

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Murton has better than average patience at the plate and ability against lefties... but merely average speed and power. His defense is neither an asset or a liability... but his inability to effectively play any position other than corner outfield (and really his right field play seems suspect too) makes him hard to keep around as bench player. This is a crossroads year for him - he needs to play every day to have any prospect of being a starter going forward. Find a team that needs some kind of consistent role player and let Murton have his chance... but if we sit him on the bench than we admit he'll never start, and we wont' get anything for him later... take what we can get and give him opportunity we clearly won't give him.

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