Jeff Weaver

[cubscott34]

Jeff Weaver is an alumni of our local university, Fresno State, which held it's annual alumni game yesterday. From today's Fresno Bee comes this info:

 

Jeff Weaver

 

He's unemployed, smiling and at ease. And, for that, there are probably 22 million explanations.

 

That's how many dollars he made the past four years pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers. But Dodgers owner Frank McCourt apparently wasn't big on duplicating Weaver's $9.35million salary from last season, when the right-hander went 14-11 with a 4.22 ERA while pitching more than 200 innings for the fourth time in his seven-year career. In fact, he has averaged 199 innings, a top-five figure in the major leagues.

 

Weaver listed Texas, Baltimore, Washington, Boston, Arizona and the Chicago Cubs as possible employers this season.

 

"It might not be ideal," he said. "I might have to make a one-year pit stop."

 

I wonder how much interest we have in him and visa-versa. A one deal may not be bad but, unless they are not counting on Wood being in the rotation at all this year, I'm not sure we really need him as either Rusch or Williams (more Williams than Rusch in my opinion) would be ok for the 5th starter role this year. Thoughts?

[CubinNY]

How many 4+ ERA starters do the Cubs need?

 

If they sign Weaver it is a sign that Wood is worse then they are letting on.

[CuseCubFan69]

Some have mentioned Weaver as a very good person to fill the 4 or 5 spot in the rotation. I would like to see the Cubs go after him if they feel uncomfortable with Hill, Rusch or Guzman or want to trade Williams for another bat.

[CuseCubFan69]

How many 4+ ERA starters do the Cubs need?

 

If they sign Weaver it is a sign that Wood is worse then they are letting on.

 

Personally I don't see Wood starting until July or August at the earliest and maybe not even at all this year. I see him working in the pen so he can get ready to sign a big deal with another team next year.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

How many 4+ ERA starters do the Cubs need?

 

If they sign Weaver it is a sign that Wood is worse then they are letting on.

 

Personally I don't see Wood starting until July or August at the earliest and maybe not even at all this year. I see him working in the pen so he can get ready to sign a big deal with another team next year.

Is this a gut feeling?

[CuseCubFan69]

How many 4+ ERA starters do the Cubs need?

 

If they sign Weaver it is a sign that Wood is worse then they are letting on.

 

Personally I don't see Wood starting until July or August at the earliest and maybe not even at all this year. I see him working in the pen so he can get ready to sign a big deal with another team next year.

Is this a gut feeling?

 

Maybe it's me just being a pessimst because of the way the Cubs say a pitcher will be out for X and it always seems to be a 3X type of thing.

 

I also wonder how Wood really feels about Rothchild/Baker and Chicago and if that would give him an incentive to come back to Chicago or go for the highest bidder. I'm also thinking that Wood may opt for a one year deal to prove he's ok if he does heal too late in the year. If Wright can get the money he got Kerry is going to get quite a haul. I'm not sure the Cubs can give Wood, ARam and Lee all the money they are going to ask for.

[JonnyRed]

I have wanted another starting pitcher all off season and would love to see the Cubs land Weaver. We should have the money. A one-year contract actually favors us since we will have a better idea of Wood, Guzman and Hill after this season. Plus, Weaver finished in the top 10 in quality starts the last 2 years. Right now, we have one dependable starter (Z) one potential ace if healthy (Prior), one aging HOFer (Maddux) and nothing else. I'm not sold on Rusch. Williams might not get a fair chance at starting. And Hill and Guzman need to prove themselves worthy of making the starting day roster. What are we waiting for?

[Mizzou]

Weaver sucks and has pretty much always sucked. I don't get why people would want to waste money on this guy.

[Blueheart05]

Jeff Weaver is an alumni of our local university, Fresno State, which held it's annual alumni game yesterday. From today's Fresno Bee comes this info:

 

Jeff Weaver

 

He's unemployed, smiling and at ease. And, for that, there are probably 22 million explanations.

 

That's how many dollars he made the past four years pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers. But Dodgers owner Frank McCourt apparently wasn't big on duplicating Weaver's $9.35million salary from last season, when the right-hander went 14-11 with a 4.22 ERA while pitching more than 200 innings for the fourth time in his seven-year career. In fact, he has averaged 199 innings, a top-five figure in the major leagues.

 

Weaver listed Texas, Baltimore, Washington, Boston, Arizona and the Chicago Cubs as possible employers this season.

 

"It might not be ideal," he said. "I might have to make a one-year pit stop."

 

I wonder how much interest we have in him and visa-versa. A one deal may not be bad but, unless they are not counting on Wood being in the rotation at all this year, I'm not sure we really need him as either Rusch or Williams (more Williams than Rusch in my opinion) would be ok for the 5th starter role this year. Thoughts?

 

 

He's an innings eater and would be an nice choice at the back of the rotation. I'm glad to hear it because other than Maddux and Zambrano, the Cubs don't have any consistent 200+ IP pitchers (although, I expect Prior to pitch at least 200 innings this year I'm not so sure that Williams and Rusch have the ability to do so in 2006). Including the Cubs in his comment leads me to believe that his agent and the Cubs have had some preliminary discussions. On another note, this may mean that the Cubs are thinking of trading Jerome Williams (especially in light ofHendry's comments about the roster being incomplete. Another deal, or two, is probably in the works).. Or Kerry may start his season in the bullpen

 

FWIW, I think Wood is going to make close to 30 starts this year (LOL, I know it's more grounded in hope than logic) but considering the problems over the last two years, it's important to have an abundance of experienced pitchers who can go deep in games so that we don't over use the bullpen. Too many Rusch, Hill, and Williams types (coupled with Maddux) in the rotation at one time will lead to problems.

 

As far as Weaver's 4+ ERA is concerned, we already have, potentially, 3 of the 5 rotation spots filled with guys who fit this bill so we might as well look for someone who can pitch deep into games. Maddux generally expends the bullpen early, Rusch doesn't inspire confidence as a fultime starter, and Williams has yet to show the stamina to sustain a 135 innings season. I'm sure Hill and Guzman will also be allowed to compete for a spot but neither can be expected to pitch more than 130-150 innings (if that).

Edited January 22, 2006 by Blueheart05

[Neuby]

If there aren't any bats out there to had , which there doesn't seem to be I have no problem offering Weaver a one year deal . He'll get you a ton of innings. He's still young enough where he might put it all together and turn the corner and give us 17 win season with his stuff.

 

Prior

Zambrano

Weaver

Maddux

Rusch/Williams fighting it out in spring training for the final spot.

 

Ohman

Eyre

Williamson

Howry

Wuertz/Nova

Dempster

 

I think Nova could start the year in Iowa this season or in the majors if Williamson doesn't look like the pitcher of old but like the guy we saw last year. Rusch/ Williams could be the long man because Im pretty sure the Cubs are going to carry 7 pitchers. They won't have to rush Wood back at all and give Guzman and Hill more time in the Minors. You can never have enough arms.

[ThePenguin11]

I read somewhere yesterday that Guzman is back to throwing 96-99 mph fastballs and could be a sleeper to make the rotation. Personally, I'd like to see a rotation of Zambrano, Prior, Wood, Guzman and Hill before this season is over. If Hill and Guzman pan out, that could be deadly starting 2007. I'm not totally sold on Hill at this point, but at the same time, I've seen Maddux's body of work over two years and I'm not all that impressed. I've heard that the Cubs mentioned at the convention that Maddux has been working out more than recent years in order to be in tip-top shape - so I guess that could be cause for optimism. I've been really upset at the condition he has come into the past two seasons and feel that if he worked harder he could have still been very effective. He's got the physique of an accountant more so than that of a starting pitcher. I hope that changes this year.

[baseball7897]

I would not mind the Cubs signing Jeff Weaver, mostly because he can pitch alot of innings.

[Northsider]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Weaver supposed to have the same problem Clement had before coming to the Cubs (that is, he hadn't gotten it together yet)? And isn't he supposed to have better stuff? If so, I don't think I'd mind giving him a two-year with a club option . . .

[abuck1220]

Weaver sucks and has pretty much always sucked. I don't get why people would want to waste money on this guy.

 

yeah, his 1.17 whip last season (9th in the NL, right between zambrano and beckett) was awful. ugh, i wish he were dead.

[B]

I would not mind the Cubs signing Jeff Weaver, mostly because he can pitch alot of innings.

 

I could pitch over 200 innings. That doesn't mean the Cubs need me.

[Magnetic Curses]

How many 4+ ERA starters do the Cubs need?

 

If they sign Weaver it is a sign that Wood is worse then they are letting on.

 

Personally I don't see Wood starting until July or August at the earliest and maybe not even at all this year. I see him working in the pen so he can get ready to sign a big deal with another team next year.

 

i think you're way off base with this assertion. "july or august at the earliest"? the reports i've seen mention opening day at the earliest and mid-may at the latest.

 

furthermore, the only way he gets a payday is if he pitches 200 innings and returns to his old form.

 

you can't have it both ways, either he returns in august and goes to the pen or he gets a big payday as a starter. seems like you're taking this wood pessimism to extraordinary lengths, cuse.

[Blueheart05]

I would not mind the Cubs signing Jeff Weaver, mostly because he can pitch alot of innings.

 

I could pitch over 200 innings. That doesn't mean the Cubs need me.

 

If true, they could definitely use your services. :D

 

No one is saying Weaver is an ace, or even a top of the rotation guy, but he is a decent pitcher who will make most of his starts (he's had 30 or more starts in 4 of his 7 seasons with two other seasons of 29 and 24 starts). Plus, he will pitch into the 7th inning, in most of his games, which is a bonus for resting the bullpen.

 

A team should be able to sign him to a one year deal (with a club option for a second year) without spending too much.

[NorthsideAvenger]

I would not mind the Cubs signing Jeff Weaver, mostly because he can pitch alot of innings.

 

I could pitch over 200 innings. That doesn't mean the Cubs need me.

 

In ONE season, B? :wink:

[B]

I would not mind the Cubs signing Jeff Weaver, mostly because he can pitch alot of innings.

 

I could pitch over 200 innings. That doesn't mean the Cubs need me.

 

In ONE season, B? :wink:

 

Yep.

[CuseCubFan69]

How many 4+ ERA starters do the Cubs need?

 

If they sign Weaver it is a sign that Wood is worse then they are letting on.

 

Personally I don't see Wood starting until July or August at the earliest and maybe not even at all this year. I see him working in the pen so he can get ready to sign a big deal with another team next year.

 

i think you're way off base with this assertion. "july or august at the earliest"? the reports i've seen mention opening day at the earliest and mid-may at the latest.

 

furthermore, the only way he gets a payday is if he pitches 200 innings and returns to his old form.

 

you can't have it both ways, either he returns in august and goes to the pen or he gets a big payday as a starter. seems like you're taking this wood pessimism to extraordinary lengths, cuse.

 

I see some team giving him big bucks in 2007 and after the outragious deals of late you don't think someone will step up and pay Wood some serious cash? I don't think he'll have pitch 200 innnings to get that big payday.

 

Haven't you noticed the Cubs have of late had an earlier ETA then actually happens? I hope you're right Sully, but I just don't see Wood being ok to start until July. I would love to be wrong and you can tell me if I am when Wood does start. Let me add....Wood starting and staying a starter not a couple of starts and then back on the DL or pen.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

If Jerome Williams is the key Cub in a Julio Lugo trade, as I suspect he will be, then I would welcome a Jeff Weaver signing on a one-year deal with second-year option to get him to sign. We have by my estimation a good $7MM in unspent money yet. As noted several times above, Weaver is a reliable innings eater with a respectable WHIP and some upside. I like whoever made the analogy with Matt Clement, I think it's a good one.

 

At this point, I don't think the Cubs are PLANNING on ANY starts from Wood. Looks to me like he's headed down the Dennis Eckersley career path, and maybe at this point that's the best thing for Kerry. I sure don't see him in a Cubs uniform in 2007, that's for sure.

[Neuby]

Weaver better hurry up pitchers and catchers report soon.

 

Prior

Zambrano

Wood

Weaver

Maddux

[CuseCubFan69]

I'm thinking the Mets are going to get Weaver if they don't get Zito.

[cubscott34]

I'm thinking the Mets are going to get Weaver if they don't get Zito.

 

I don't see the Mets on his list of teams and I really don't think that he longs to go back to New York and play in the media circus of the world given his past performance in the Bronx.

 

If I had to guess from his list of teams I would say Arizona since it's closest to the West Coast, where I believe he prefers to stay, as well as the Arizona media isn't exactly the bloodthirsty type that will criticize his every bad game.

[Salazar89]

I would not mind the Cubs signing Jeff Weaver, mostly because he can pitch alot of innings.

 

I could pitch over 200 innings. That doesn't mean the Cubs need me.

 

If true, they could definitely use your services. :D

 

No one is saying Weaver is an ace, or even a top of the rotation guy, but he is a decent pitcher who will make most of his starts (he's had 30 or more starts in 4 of his 7 seasons with two other seasons of 29 and 24 starts). Plus, he will pitch into the 7th inning, in most of his games, which is a bonus for resting the bullpen.

 

A team should be able to sign him to a one year deal (with a club option for a second year) without spending too much.

 

Sign him up, a solid innings eater who can help to strengthen staff and if all goes south by the All-Star break.....you have a decent arm to trade to a contender for some quality prospects.