Ok, so I had an idea that might assist in getting Ubaldo, but it might be a bit risky... I dunno. We can all agree we'd love to see Ubaldo in a Rangers uniform, Joey's poll shows as much along with all thats been said in the posts, forums, and chats. The only caveat, is we dont want to have to give up the prospects its going to take to get him.

So here is my idea. I think we need to take advantage of the pirates situation. Theyre in a position to win that they havent been in in a LOOOOONG time, and their manager just happens to be a former member of our coaching staff. I say we bite the bullet and offer the pirates David Murphy (and the kicker....) and Cruz to the Pirates for a reliever, and prospects. The goal of this trade is to obtain prospects that we can in turn use to turn around and trade to Colorado for Ubaldo.

First, i have to say i know nothing of the pirates farm. i just know the pirates have sucked for the past 20+ years so their farm cant be that bad. They have to have atleast some prospects that are worth something. Hurdle and the pirates have already expressed an interest in Murphy and I can guarantee you it would be beyond their wildest dreams to get Cruz. Plus you know Hurdle would have a hard on to get to work on that boomstick again.

That being said I know this substantially weakens our outfield Defense. There are pretty much two solutions to the problem, we attempt Davis in LF, keep Endy in CF and move Hamilton to RF. OR my preference we leave Hamilton at CF, promote Martin and keep him in CF and move Endy to RF. Offensively I really dont know how this will effect us. Nellie is the boomstick. but his injuries, inconsistencies, and overall general struggles make him undependable, and in my eyes, he has not been helping this offense when needed. He'll get a hit here and there, he'll crush one too, but right now its just not enough to say losing him would be an offensive liability. I'd argue that right now he's more valuable defensively than offensively. Granted he can turn it around and do better, but who knows what thats gonna take. Besides the first 9 games Nellie 11 has been nowhere close to Nellie 10.

Anyways the hopes is to get valuable enough prospects from the pirates so that even though we might have to trade the likes of ramirez, olt, erlin; we hopefully wont have to trade perez and profar, or if we do, the prospects we get from Pittsburgh would be even better. I dunno, just an idea.... What you think?

I think most of the pirates top prospects are in the lower minors, most of their upper echlon prospects were called up last year

Damn. Dreams Crushed again. Maybe Colorado will just take Cruz instead of Perez and Profar. lol.

Seems like it's weakening the outfield way too much, turning a strength into a big hole. We're not going to be able to carry all our own prospects, sooner or later they've got to be put on the 40 man roster or lose them. I don't see the Pirates being the key to obtaining Ubaldo.

I'm not for trading Cruz.

HOWEVER, everyone is always available for the right price, and if Cruz were to be traded, here's how I would line them up:

LF: Ham
CF: Chavez/Gentry
RF: Moreland
1B/DH: Napoli/Young
C: Yorvit/Teagarden

I don't trust Davis and don't want to rely on his bat every day.

touche, i've enjoyed MM so much at first i forgot he could play RF. good call scooby. Now OF isnt as weak. I dont necessarily want to trade Cruz either, but to me out of all of our top tier players, i feel he's the most expendable, and easily replaced. Maybe i'm just pissed with how un productive he's been. Maybe i'm bitter i'm gonna lose $100 bet that he'd be the HR champ this year. i dunno. i'm not a doctor. The ups and downs and injuries with him get old. theres not denying what he could be, i dare say he could be a better player than hambone if he could get it together. but unlike hambone, i just dont see cruz ever fully getting it together. I think he mightve peaked last year (which i hope i'm wrong) but I still think by name alone he's a guy Pittsburgh and Hurdle especially would want. especially if they have serious playoff aspirations. They'll over pay for him... there's no doubt. thats why he's my selection. was just and idea. Whether we get ubaldo or not is yet to be seen and if JD and Nolan want him bad enough they'll part w the prospects. but as a fan, i really wanna see what profar and perez can do as a ranger and not as a rockie or some other team's player.