This is a read from a Chicago paper (so take it for what it's worth)
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/11/05/wisch-the-cubs-can-trade-castro-but-not-to-the-cardinals/
This was of relevant interest:
Janssen is in the final year of his contract. It makes no sense for a non-contending team to want him as a major chip. Gose doesn't come close to getting Castro unless there's something seriously wrong with him that I don't know about.
Cubs are rebuilding, so I don't see them having any interest in Janssen. They definitely appear to need some SP though. I think to land Castro would take Sanchez or Stroman in the deal, but we may be able to put together something intriguing enough in volume to get Samardzija without.
I'm actually quite excited by the idea of Drabek (although I'd rather get a high end starter + Porcello). The issue with Drabek (aside from the TJ's) has always been the walks since he came here, but last year the reports were that he finally realized he's got to trust his stuff and stop walking people, and he put up a 1.3 bb/9 and 5.83 k/bb. Not surprising the other numbers followed.
Unless they need to make McGowan the 5th starter to avoid losing him (which probably isn't the case), I actually think Drabek may be 1st in line for a rotation spot, with Hutch a close second.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2013-disabled-list-team-data/
Man, look at that loooooong line for our pitchers ... and that was with Dickey pitching 1/2 the year when he probably shouldn't have been.
With this deal and Nova arbitration, this probably puts them around 120M with only two starting pitchers, no Cano, and lots of arbitration guys. 70M may sound like a lot, but it's gonna get eaten fast.
We don't need any spots filled in Buffalo (for once). More generally though, I do think that teams should take a shot on some guy late in the draft who has excellent pitchability but without major league stuff, and develop them strictly as a knuckleballer.
Nah, they link to blogs and stuff all the time. This is one of their latest: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/11/baseball-blogs-weigh-in-fielder-tigers-kinsler-miller.html