Hot-stoving it, Cubs style
Before I left for a week’s vacation, I told a few of you guys to get a few things done with the Cubs. Lo and behold, they trade for Kevin Gregg, bid goodbye (for now) to Kerry Wood and re-sign Ryan Dempster. Good work, guys.
Now we look forward to the winter meetings, which begin in two and a half weeks in Vegas. I suspect the Cubs will be active out there, and not just at the blackjack tables. GM Jim Hendry is busy now, and his priorities may have shifted.
While Hendry still is interested in prying Jake Peavy from the Padres, the re-signing of Dempster may have allowed Hendry to put that on the back burner and turn his attention more to obtaining a left-handed hitter that manager Lou Piniella so desperately wants.
Let’s take a look at a few of the names in the news and also address the Kerry Wood situation:
Wood: There still is a chance Wood could return to the Cubs. Let’s say he doesn’t get that three-year deal from another team that everybody seems to think he’ll get. The Cubs no doubt will offer him salary arbitration, if for no other reason than to get draft-pick compensation if they do lose him. If Wood accepts, he’s automatically back for at least a one-year deal. That would give the Cubs Wood, Gregg and Carlos Marmol at the back end of the bullpen, with Jeff Samardzija seemingly in the middle. That’s not bad.
Now on to the other names:
Mark Teahen: Reports, coming initially out of KC, had the Cubs interested in trading for the left-handed hitting Teahen, who can play both outfield corners as well as first and third base, where he could spell Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez from time to time. The Cubs do like Teahen, but I’m told his name isn’t as hot as has been played. (Let’s remember that we hear about trade rumors all the time, and then one comes out of nowhere, such as the Gregg trade.) I’d be worried about Teahen’s OBP, which went from .353 in 2007 to .313 this year. Teahen did hit 15 homers for the Royals, so he does have some pop.
Rafael Furcal: Contrary to popular belief, the Cubs do have a budget, and they’re coming close to reaching it. I don’t see how Furcal fits, money-wise. Besides, the Cubs have a shortstop in Ryan Theriot, who had a .387 OBP this year. Furcal would solve the Cubs’ leadoff situation, and he’s a better fielder than is Theriot, but I wouldn’t bet on the Cubs signing him.
Brian Roberts: This took up everybody’s time last off-season. The Cubs can sign him as a free agent next fall, so they seemingly wouldn’t have to offer old friend Andy MacPhail and the Orioles as much as they did last year. If Andy comes calling, Jim will listen, but I don’t see the Cubs initiating a hot pursuit.
This and that: The Cubs added three minor-league pitchers to their 40-man yesterday: Mitch Atkins, Justin Berg and Marcos Mateo. One surprising name left off the list was lefty Donnie Veal, who now is eligible to be taken in the Rule 5 draft. That may well happen, but it’s hard to see the erratic Veal sticking with a big-league club all year. I still remember the hue and cry a few years ago when the Cubs lost lefty Andy Sisco to the Royals in the Rule 5. As it turned out, that didn’t hurt the Cubs at all. Atkins was the minor-league pitcher of the year. Mateo passed Jose Ceda by, allowing the Cubs to trade Ceda for Gregg. Speaking again of trades, the Cubs almost have to trade righty Jason Marquis, especially with lefty Sean Marshall pushing for a full-time job and with the Peavy talks not dead yet. No doubt the Cubs will have to eat some of Marquis’ $9-plus million salary for 2009.
Hey, Bruce...what are your thoughts on a possible destination for Jason Marquis? Like most Cubs fans, I think Hendry did overpay for Jason, but I understand why - he was trying to stabilize the starting rotation after the chaos that was the 2006 season.
But now with the Dempster signing, retaining Harden, and with Lilly and Big Z's contracts (especially Z's), the Cubs have an awful lot of money tied up in starting pitching. And if Hendry does find a way to pick up Peavy, that amount would skyrocket to astronomical proportions.
Seems to me, either of the New York teams would be the only suitors for Marquis. They have the payrolls and Jason is from that area, so perhaps he'd be extra motivated to pitch regularly in front of his friends and family. But am I missing another possibility?
I don't think the market has taken shape yet. Either New York team might be willing to take Marquis as might another team in need of a fifth starter. As far as fifth starters go, Marquis isn't bad, and he could fill a need. I'll keep an eye on it for you.
I assume the market won't break until C. C. chooses his next team. Any insight into when the time limit the Yankees have set for him to accept their offer?
No, I don't know the time and dollar limits the Yankees have. I'm sure the time frame is sooner rather than later. I'm interested to see if the Padres are left holding Peavy after all is said and done. It seems to me it would have behooved them to trade him before Dempster re-signed. But we'll see. Either that, or they're going to have to settle for a lot less than hoped for if the owner says Towers MUST move Peavy no matter what.
Hope you enjoyed your vacation, Bruce.
On the rule five guys, any reason Donnie Veal wasn't protected? Do the Cubs think he won't be selected or don't care if he is?
The Cubs feel the other two pitchers can help them in 2009. Veal may well be selected in the Rule 5, but the Cubs don't see him sticking a whole year with another team.
Though Jose Ceda has slipped in the eyes of the Cubs' scouting department, he is still highly-regarded by many scouts around the league. Neither of those two statements outweighs the other, but it just says that scouting a player is very subjective. The Cubs being low on him doesn't mean he won't pan out ... nor does other scouts liking his ability mean he will be a star. As with most trades involving prospects, time will tell who got the better deal.
I am curious to see if Kerry Wood would accept a one-year deal to stay with the Cubs. The Cubs almost have to offer him arbitration, and if he was serious about wanting a one-year deal, I don't see why he wouldn't take it.
...that situation could become interesting...
Yes, he still has great upside, especially if he can harness his command. The Cubs felt they needed immediate help with Gregg. Scouting is subjective, and Ceda may pan out. The Marlins have a history of bringing young players up quickly, so we might start finding out as early as next season.
On Wood, the Cubs will offer arbitration because, at the very least, they'll want the draft-pick compensation if he leaves. I wouldn't completely close the door Wood coming back even though it does seem unlikely.
Hey Bruce, Rob G. from thecubreporter.com, we've spoken a few times over email.
I just wanted to clarify in your article when you say "Mateo passed Ceda by". I assume that's something that was relayed to, correct? Or is just an educated guess on your part on why they dealt Ceda?
It was something that was relayed to me. I started hearing about Mateo during the season from the Cubs' minor-league people.
Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that players and managers with great resumes come to work at Wrigley Field, and for some reason, everything goes to pot?
(Baylor, Baker, Garciaparra, Jim Frey, Derrick Lee, Soriano etc. )
Ever noticed how those who leave excel in the league?
(Ken Holtzman, Maddox twice, Jamie Moyer, etc.)
Wrigley must have bad Ju-Ju. How else do you explain how every move it makes upsets the neighborhood?
Remember the 'lights' fiasco?
How about the screens to block the views?
How about the build up of the bleachers? Remember the ruckus the 'hood raised over that one?
How about no championships in 100+ years?
Bad Ju-Ju.
Time to move.
Get some new material.
I still think they overpaid (a little, both in $ and lengh) for Dempster. Call me a skeptic, but he'll need to have another year close to this past year before I'm a true believer. His seven walk meltdown in game one of the NLDS doesn't help either.
Hell, I think we fans would chip in to rid ourselves of the Marquis de suc if it means Marshall gets a legit shot at the rotation.
Glad you put that blurb regarding Ceda slipping in the ratings because I was concerned we yet again parted with good prospect talent in trading with the Marlins. I just hope it's not the Juan Pierre debacle. That has to rank as one, if not THE, worst trade big Jim has made.
Andy Sisco = Eric Hinske..i.e. where are they now?
I was surprised to see they wouldn't be bringing Wood back, then disappointed when he (allegedly) said he was willing to sign for one year with the Cubs.
Hopefully they can still nab Peavy, and get a solid left 'hand' stick or two.
...is that he does not have to repeat, or even approach, his 2008 performance to be worth the contract. If he pitches in the Ted Lilly range or so for the next two year and hovers around league average for the two years after that he'll have provided good value to the Cubs at that contract rate. It's rather backloaded, and a bit too rich for my tastes on the back end, but I don't think it was a radical overpay by any means.
Sisco's with the Whitesox(AAA) and Hinske's with the Rays....I thought Ceda was ranked #3 prospect in the Cubs system. How has he slipped? Hey we might as well trade whatever we have left for Peavy and hope he pitches more than he needs extra rest ala Harden ....I wouldn't mind seeing Wood back for another year but i'm sure he'll get a 3 yr deal somewhere.