Cubs sign Koskie, have interest in Schilling
Talked to Jim Hendry today, and the GM seems excited to have signed veteran third baseman Corey Koskie to a minor-league contract. The 35-year-old Koskie will play for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic and then join the Cubs as a nonroster man in spring training.
Koskie, a pretty good hitter in his days with the Twins, hasn’t played since 2006 because of post-concussion syndrome. He injured himself that year while playing for the Brewers and has spent the time since trying to get healthy.
“We heard he was healthy,” Hendry said from Mesa, where the Cubs are getting set to play the White Sox. “He had been working out in Fort Myers. We’ll see what he looks like. He was a heck of a player when he was healthy.”
I’m told that if Koskie doesn’t make the big-league roster, he’s open to playing at Class AAA Iowa for at least 30 days.
Koskie could serve as a left-handed hitting backup to Aramis Ramirez at third base. That position has become somewhat of an issue since the trade of Mark DeRosa. Aaron Miles, Mike Fontenot and Jake Fox have been among those taking grounders at third.
“We’re very happy with Fontenot and Miles and what they’re doing in getting looks at third base,” Hendry said.
Koskie is a lifetime .275 hitter with 124 homers, and OBP of 367 and a slugging percentage of .458. In 2004 with the Twins, he hit 25 homers and had an OPS of .837.
The other news on the wires today is that pitcher Curt Schilling says he wants to play for the Cubs or Tampa Bay.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-curt-schilling-play-cubs-02280...
Although the Cubs have not heard directly from Schilling, I’m told they’re open to the idea. “Why not?” one operative said. Schilling missed the 2008 season recovering from shoulder problems.
Earlier this winter, the Cubs had interest in Schilling’s old teammate, Randy Johnson, but Johnson signed with the Giants. Schilling is 216-146 with a 3.46 ERA lifetime. His lifetime WHIP is a tidy 1.137. He’s also 10-2 with a 2.23 ERA in the postseason.
signing Pedro if he does OK in the WBC than Schilling. Not that they don't have impressive resumes but I would imagine Pedro is a lot closer to be healthy than Schilling and would therefore be of more immediate value. Of course if Pedro thinks he's going to get anything more than a 1M plus incentives I'd take a pass on him.
Of course Koskie makes a lot of sense IF healthy and even if he needed a month in Iowa to know for sure if he is capable, the Cubs still have Hoff on the bench until then.
The Cubs are in a position to take gambles on these players with a solid history. Boston signed Smoltz and doesn't even care if he throws a pitch until All-Star break because if he can get healthy, he's a stud.
I like Hoffpauir but the Cubs are ready to win it all and Hoffpauir's defensive limitations make for a poor match on a team built to win today. The team has enough outfielders to spell our starters and if there are any vulnerabilities on the team to injuries it's the rotation and possibly 3B.
Let's face it, if Hoffpauir was thought of that highly, why haven't other MLB teams been approaching the Cubs for his services?
you say hoffpauir has not done it over a full year. well, you won't know unless you try him......why even have him here? weren't the cubs interested in dunn in recent years and he stinks in the field. and why would you want a guy who hasn't played in 2 years, is 35 over hoffpauir.... maybe i'm wrong
art
Hoffpauir is not going to play the outfield every day, and Derrek Lee is the first baseman. Lee is not going to be traded. Superseding his no-trade clause are his 10-5 rights, which have kicked in. Lee still plays Gold Glove caliber defense and he's still an above-average defender.
The Cubs are not in the position of trying things. Hoffpauir is here to be a role player.
Koskie is not there to replace Hoffpauir, per se. He's there for insurance at third base and in case someone gets hurt or underperforms. He'll play for Canada in the WBC and then open the season at Iowa. There is no risk involved for the Cubs, and Koskie is not a bad card to have.
Hey Bruce,
Would Lee ever be as classy as Konerko and say "trade me if it is in the best interest of the team?" I would give up the gold glove caliber defense for 40 ding dongs and 15 less DP's :)
If this were an issue the Cubs were wringing their hands about as much as some fans are, maybe he would. But the Cubs aren't trading Lee, and he's not asking for one. We really need to see things play out.
I know, Bruce. I am actually really hoping Lee turns it around this year.
Could you ask Lou if he would ever consider giving Lilly the opening day start...since he felt bad about him not getting a start in the playoffs?
I'll do that when I get back down there. I suggested Lilly a few weeks back. It's a shame he didn't pitch this past October, as Lou went with Harden in Game 3. Lilly certainly deserved a shot after winning 17.
...which isn't good, coupled with what I'm sure will be more fallout from Hurricane Ike dredged back up by the Houston media and their lame fans, Lilly would be the best choice. Or, "ABC" if you wish; anyone but Carlos.
bruce, you say lou is quick to make a move...like sitting fukodume on the 2nd game of the playofs? like moving soriano out of the lead off spot...i enjoy your writing but don't always agree with you like now, lol...and many other moves he should have made but didn't cause of the player involved....
art
He was an above-average hitter (per OPS+) every year he played for the Twins with decent slugging numbers. His career numbers as a pinch hitter are also very good: 1.029 OPS, though in a fairly small sample of 45 PAs.
But the numbers that really stuck out to me were his career UZR/UZR 150 rating as a third baseman: 46.0/13.1. That indicates he was a PHENOMENAL defensive third baseman. If he can demonstrate that he's healthy and capable of getting back to his career norms offensively and defensively, I'd love to see him claim Hoffpauir's roster spot. That would give the Cubs a bona fide lefty slugger off the bench and a backup third baseman and, yes, even a backup first baseman.
Granted, he has no experience playing first base at the major league level, but he is pretty tall 6'3" and may be able to learn the position on the fly. I think it would be worth a shot to give the Cubs a decent backup at third while maintaining a bench player with some lefty pop.
Last but least...having one guy named Koskie and another guy named Kosuke on the same team. How cool would that be?
I like the signing. But I think with the year off and the need to play 1B, that he needs to start at Iowa. Put him in the lineup every day, and get him a lot of innings at 1B until he either gets the hang of it or he doesn't. But if Henry Blanco and Darryl Ward can stand at 1B, Koskie can as well.
But I wouldn't bring him up to sit on the big league bench until he has 150 PA and 100 innings at both 1B and 3B at Iowa.
...about sending Koskie to Iowa. Of course, the Cubs would have to hope that Aramis can play everyday and stay healthy for the first month or so of the season. Or they'd have to risk playing Miles or Fontenot at 3B as a backup (both scary concepts IMHO). I suppose there are more off days in the beginning of the season, though.
In the meantime, Hoffpauir would keep his roster spot. I could see many Cubs fans being upset when/if Hoffpauir is sent down again, but I think a healthy Koskie would be much more valuable - especially if he can play a serviceable first base in addition to backing up 3B and pinch hitting.
Especially when Lou gets asked about both of them in the same press conference.
...bantering about them in the booth. The comedic possibilities are endless.
Just checking in as I'm in full Hawks mode....
-Koskie: If he can show he's healthy this could be a nice addition.
-Schilling: bruce, is he ready to go right now or is this more of a June/July thing? If that's the case, I don't think you entertain this until closer to that date. Sheets would be a more logical choice.
Way too many spring training games to keep tabs on.
I'll get the Cubs' take on his health when I get back down to Mesa. Koskie could be a nice card to have.
When are you back down in the valley of the sun?
That sounds a lot sooner than March 14. Can't wait.
We need you down there....
....Schilling could be a valuable asset to have. I would assume Curt would not be ready until late May or early June. Once Harden goes down…..you have some depth. I really like the prospect of Koskie. I always liked him with the Twins. I remember him as quite a Sox killer. If he is healthy, and at 35 is willing to pinch hit and spell Rammy on occasion, that could be a great fit. Good clubhouse guy too from what I recall. As for Micah, well maybe there is a reason that at age 29 he is still trying to make the big leagues. I think he is a fringe player. The only way to know for sure at this point is to trade D Lee, and start Micah at first every day for a season. What do you think Bruce, could MH match D Lee’s production over a full season in your opinion?
Lee has a no-trade clause he isn't waiving, and the Cubs have no desire (or financial room, considering they'd have to buy him out of his no-trade and pick up some of the freight with the other team) to trade him.
Hoffpauir is untested over a full major-league season and doesn't come anywhere near Lee on defense. So the short answer is no, I don't believe he could match Lee's production. But he can be a valuable role player who could blossom into an everyday player.
Prediction: Micah Hoffpauir will not be on the team come May 1st. Koskie will replace him as the LH hitting bench option.
Which, IMO, will weaken the bench yet again.
Would you like to see Curt in the Cubs rotation? I think this would be great. I agree with the Cubs operative who said, "Why not?". This move could make the Cubs bullpen lights out: Marmol in the 9th, Gregg in the 8th, Samardzija/Cotts in the 7th, Heilman/Gaudin in the 6th, and Marshall in long relief, spot starts, and the 2nd lefty in the pen. What do you think Bruce?
No offense, but I think you are seriously overvaluing the Cubs projected bullpen. Marmol is lights out, but has never been a closer and will have to learn the role under the pressures of being a Cub, which would be especially difficult in the post season. Most of the Chicago media is relentless about the least little thing they can possibly construe as a negative, and Marmol will have to overcome that challenge. Gregg didn't fare too well as a closer and is prone to the BB. And the rest of the bullpen either had pretty poor overall stats last year or were decent against RH hitters but failed miserably at getting out lefties. Samardzija was a bit of an exception, but he had limited opportunities and is projected to be a starting pitcher, whether it's with the Cubs or with Iowa. Even Cotts is terrible against lefties, and has only had one decent season in his career.
This would be just like Hendry to sign him to a deal and see what happens. We'll have to see what kind of shape he's in. Couldn't hurt, if there's little risk involved.
It would be a shame to take a flyer on Schilling around the deadline, pass up what could be a legitimate back-of-the-rotation starter, and have Schilling break down near season's end.
I'm just getting kind of weary of Hendry's reclamation projects.
You mean, like Dempster?
Why would it be a shame? He'd have to pitch in the minors to get ready first, and if someone else is doing the job by then, it's a moot point.
I'd rather pick up Ben Sheets the day after the June draft if he's still hanging around...
Sheets' agent is Derrek Lee's agent, and Cubs get along with him really well. Elbow problems generally are less tricky than are shoulders.
From my Edward-R.-Murrow-remote-listening-post, I'm hearing also that reliever Carlos Marmol will be heading to the WBC and the Dominican Republic team after all. He had been going back and forth on this one. The Cubs will be keeping their fingers crossed that he doesn't air it out too much in a tournament that can have only a bad bearing on their fortunes for the season.
...used to be you'd never hear the Cubs mentioned as a team that quality free agents would want to play for. Interesting how winning, or at least trying to shed the image of only caring about how many people pack Wrigley, changes things and at the very least opens up more possibilities.
I like the Koskie signing, especially if he's healthy and can produce.