Cubs acquire Edmonds from Giants

Cubs acquire Edmonds from Giants

Gold glover will bat 2^nd in line-up

By Ray Leonard / Leiden Cubs MML

Cubs GM Rhee again went out and got something that will improve his squad. This time Gold Glove

and All Star centerfielder Jim Edmonds will make the trip to Nike Field. The Cubs acquired

Edmonds along with pitching prospect John Stephens and 5 Millions in cash, in exchange for

INF Mark Loretta, OF Brady Clark and RP Scott Kazmir.

Edmonds will bat second in the line-up behind Carlos Beltran. Beltran and Edmonds will share

duties in centerfield. The addition of Edmonds gives Leiden one of the most feared line-ups

in the MML. With Beltran, Edmonds, Chipper Jones, Sexson, Garret Anderson and Soriano

and even Mike Lowell the Cubs have 6 or 7 guys who could hit at least 30 homeruns.

The Cubs also received pitching prospect John Stephens. GM Lennart Rhee described

Stephens as a pitcher: “who’s not ready for 2 or 3 years, but I think he’s going to be a good

one”.

Edmonds will make 11 million in 2003, therefore the Cubs received 5 Million from the Giants

to cover his contract. The Cubs weren’t willing to add much to their payroll, but made an

exception for Edmonds. He is a guy who fills the final hole in the line-up and when the

possibility arrived for us to get him, we didn’t think twice.

The Cubs gave up their first round draft pick of 2003, Scott Kazmir. The pitcher has a bright

future and was already called, the future closer of the Cubs. On losing Kazmir, Rhee said: “I think Kazmir is one hell of a pitcher, but

in my opinion, Edmonds will help us more then Kazmir would have”. “With Rivera, Rhodes and Percival we already have a dominant

3 in the bullpen, so Kazmir was the 4^th choice”.

Cubs designated hitter Brady Clark and utility man Mark Loretta will join Kazmir on the trip to San Francisco. Both guys will probably

be starters with the Giants.