The Cubs made a trade and I don't hate it?

But I don't exactly like it either.

If you haven't heard the breaking news, the Cubs have acquired first-second-third baseman/outfielder Jeff Baker for minor league pitcher Al Alburquerque. If Baker is going to replace Ryan Freel on the roster, then I am not completely opposed to this deal. Freel, who back in his Reds heyday was one of my favorites, has been totally useless since the Cubs acquired him for the equally-useless Joey Gathright back in early May.

With the Cubs, Freel currently sports a .143/.226/.143 line, and while it's only 32 plate appearances, he hasn't been a useful player since 2006. Plus, with Sam Fuld on the roster as of Monday, the need to have Freel as a backup centerfielder (with Reed Johnson out) no longer exists. As long as it's Freel that's on the way out, Baker is an upgrade.

If the Cubs instead are planning to send Jake Fox back to the minors, then this move ain't so hot. Fox hasn't been spectacular, but he has been one of the few recent offensive bright spots, and currently sits at .316/.344/.509. With the Cubs biggest failing being their inability to score runs, I really, really hope they aren't going to bench one of their more productive bats because of some reportedly shoddy fieldwork.

As for the deal itself, at first I was slightly excited, as Baker was considered one of the Rockies top prospects for a number of years, and he enjoyed a mild breakout in 2008, the first season he was given significant major-league at-bats. This was tempered a bit by the fact that I knew who Alburquerque was without having to look him up, as he boasts one of the best strikeout rates in the Cubs minor league system, the primary stat I use to determine whether or not a pitcher is a prospect. Alburquerque's 44 Ks in 34.2 IP are as sweet as his name, which I had as one of the best in the Cubs' system.* As a friend just texted me, "You never, NEVER trade a guy with a name like Al Alburquerque."

* The rest of the top-10 names in the Cubs' minor league system: Manolin De Leon, Jericho Jones, Robinson Chirinos, Tarlandas Mitchell, Wellington Castillo, Rogelino Carmona, Darwin Barney, Esmailin Caridad, and my favorite, Arismendy Alcantara.

Nonetheless, Alburquerque is a 23-year-old pitching in A-ball. Add in that he's very small and this is the first year he's enjoyed anything more than moderate success, and I'd say that he's not much of a prospect. Still, in a system utterly bereft of decent minor-leaguers, Alburquerque and his 2.08 ERA weren't exactly expendable, either.

So what did the Cubs get in return? With 617 major league plate appearances spread over the course of the last five years, Baker has about the equivalent of one full season under his belt. His numbers:

561 ab, 144 hits, 35 2b, 6 3b, 22 hr, 88 rbi, .257/.313/.458

While those stats are hardly world-beating, for a guy coming off the bench they're certainly serviceable, and the extra base totals impressive. But then there's the fact that he played his home games in Coors Field. Baker's career line on the road? Ugly. I'm talking .205/.266/.335-ugly. With just five of his 22 homers. At the same time, Wrigley during the summer can be as great a hitters' park as any, so Baker might derive a similar home-field advantage, provided Lou Piniella only plays him when the wind is blowing out.

Other than that insignificant limitation -- that is, that he's terrible everywhere but extreme hitters' parks -- Baker should be great.

Still, I am pretty confident that Baker can be better than Freel has been, which admittedly isn't saying much. Since I also don't think Alburquerque will ever be a very successful big-leaguer, the trade's not terrible. I just don't think it helps alleviate their offensive woes, nor does it make the team better in any significant way. And if that's the case, then why make the deal?

Especially when it was such a downgrade name-wise. I mean, really, when you're trading an Al Alburquerque, shouldn't you at least get a Ubaldo Jimenez in return? Be reasonable, Dan O'Dowd!