If it's morning, it must be Jake Peavy rumor time
Good morning!
The Phillies didn't think they were getting DeRosa, says Wittenmeyer. The two things holding up the deal right now are Marquis' contract and clearing room on the Padres' roster.
Phillie beatwriters, on the other hand, still think DeRosa is involved. Pitcher Kyle Kendrick has come up as a name that could go the Padres' way.
The Twins are also discussing DeRosa.
Sean Marshall is off the table.
The Cubs can make a deal before they land their big bat.
And speaking of big bats, the Cubs haven't talked to Bobby Abreu yet.
Reminder: live blog this afternoon at 1:30!
I'd much rather keep Marshall
I'd much rather keep Marshall than DeRosa. Glad to hear it's being mentioned.
for real
I know it sounds bad, but why do we want young pitchers? Unless guys get hurt, all they are going to do is die on the vine
I don't see Peavy, Z, Demp,
I don't see Peavy, Z, Demp, Lilly and Harden each making 32 starts. Who would be the sixth starter if not Marshall? Mitch Atkins?
Probably Gaudin.
It's why we got him, right? He's Rich Harden insurance.
I keep forgetting about him!
I keep forgetting about him! Dang it! But what about the end of last year?
Think he's going to get drunk...
...and run into another dumpster?
... ... ...yes.
...
...
...yes.
"Unless guys get hurt"
"Unless guys get hurt" being the operative phrase. I'm perfectly willing to watch our young pitchers die on the vine for a few years, just so long as we have about 8 MLB quality starting pitchers in the system.
If Peavy
is acquired and Marquis is in fact traded, you have 5 expensive contracts eating up payroll in the rotation. If Marshall is still in the fold, shouldn't the least reliable or predictable of the 5 starters be traded to clear payroll for other upgrades? How about an effective left handed specialist out of the bullpen or a legit lead off man? Kenney has stated that if the Peavy deal goes through, which looks like it won't happen unless Marquis's salary is cleared, the Cubs still have enough payroll for the middle of the order LHB. If that is accurate, do we really need to spend at least $7M on a fifth starter when we have Marshall? I really don't think Z, Peavy or Dempster, in lieu of his new contract will be traded, and Lilly is left handed with two years on his contract. Harden with all of his upside is still a question mark and moving him could yield the legit lead off man the team needs.
5 expensive contracts, sure,
5 expensive contracts, sure, but are they great value? I argue that they generally are. Peavy is Peavy, Z is Z (maybe a bit overpaid, but the best October performer, and more generally our Big Game Guy, from 2008). Demp's contract is looking more and more like a bargain with the rumors about what Burnett and Lowe will receive, and Harden has the most unhittable stuff of them all.
It's debatable but
I understand that most of the starters contracts are pretty much in line with the going rate, but with the exception of Dempster's implosion in last seasons playoffs, the starting pitching could hardly be to blame for the Cubs abysmal playoff performance.
The offensive needs are considerable compared with the rotation, not to mention that the Cubs enter next season with a bullpen that has been weakened while understandable due to payroll constraints, with Wood's departure.
Come playoff time, how many teams use 5 starters?