Jeff Weaver

[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.

 

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.

 

Hold on there buddy. I never said I was good. I just said I could throw over 200 innings.

[stitchface]

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.

 

Hold on there buddy. I never said I was good. I just said I could throw over 200 innings.

 

to throw 200 innings, you'd have to get 600 outs - you up to it?

[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.

 

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.

 

Hold on there buddy. I never said I was good. I just said I could throw over 200 innings.

 

to throw 200 innings, you'd have to get 600 outs - you up to it?

 

Yeah, I thought about that part. I'm pretty sure I could do it. I've seen Mark Grace get 3 outs before.

[ThePenguin11]

Weaver better hurry up pitchers and catchers report soon.

 

Prior

Zambrano

Wood

Weaver

Maddux

 

The way it's looking, I'm hoping to see:

 

Zambrano

Prior

Wood

Maddux

Guzman

 

I think Guzman can be better than Weaver right away if he's fully healthy. I'm pretty sure he'd be better than Maddux, although that doesn't say much.

[Blueheart05]

Weaver better hurry up pitchers and catchers report soon.

 

Prior

Zambrano

Wood

Weaver

Maddux

 

The way it's looking, I'm hoping to see:

 

Zambrano

Prior

Wood

Maddux

Guzman

 

I think Guzman can be better than Weaver right away if he's fully healthy. I'm pretty sure he'd be better than Maddux, although that doesn't say much.

 

It would be nice to see Guzman contribute but he hasn't pitched a full minor league season in quite sometime (much less a grueling ML season). I doubt he will be able provide a alot right away; even if he is healthy. Hopefully, he will be healthy enough to build stamina to be in the 2007 rotation.

[Jake]

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.

Well, to state the obvious, no, you can't. Physically, you might be able to, but you'd get knocked out of the game in the first.

 

Which is where the value of an innings eater comes in. An innings eater mangages to stay in most games he pitches until the late innings. Which is where the value is.

 

The thing is Weaver's agent is Scott Boras, and Boras will manage to find someone to pay him $10 million per season. He's good like that. Except, it seems, no one wants to spend that money on Weaver right now.

 

Sooner or later someone will get desperate enough to do this. Maybe in late February, someone's starter will get hurt the first week or so of camp, and, in desperation, they'll find the money to sign him. Or something like that.

 

Is he worth $10million? Was AJ Burnett worth what the Jays gave him? How do you define this?

 

Boras is smart, and ultimately, someone will give him the money.

 

My bet? Look for the Tigers to shell out the money. Just a wild guess.

[Wheelimus]

To be honest I think Boras's run as the guy who can get his clients whatever he wants is over. He didn't get Johnny Damon a 7 year contract, best he could do was 4/52. Heck, he didn't even get Washburn $10 million a year.

 

I think the recent busts on his clients (Maggs and Beltran) have hurt his ability to screw people over. Hell, I think that is part of the reason why Carlos dumped him.

 

I'm betting Weaver gets $6 or $7 million, for a year.

[khufure]

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.

 

Away from Dodger park his OPS against rises to 810 and his whip is 1.25. While this is not 'top 9' by any stretch it is still decent, and a lot better than what we have at 4th/5th.

 

More importantly I'd hate to see the Astros, Cardinals, or even the Brewers get Weaver. We could sign him to an incentive laden contract and then trade some of our other starters for other needs. Every team could use a Williams, Rusch, or Hill.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

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.

 

Away from Dodger park his OPS against rises to 810 and his whip is 1.25. While this is not 'top 9' by any stretch it is still decent, and a lot better than what we have at 4th/5th.

 

More importantly I'd hate to see the Astros, Cardinals, or even the Brewers get Weaver. We could sign him to an incentive laden contract and then trade some of our other starters for other needs. Every team could use a Williams, Rusch, or Hill.

 

We could sign him and also not trade anyone. Rusch could go to the pen, and I believe Williams has options. I know Hill could be sent to Iowa for another season.

 

If we sign Weaver, our rotation looks like this:

Zambrano

Prior

Wood (if healthy)

Maddux

Weaver

 

 

We have Rusch, Williams, or Hill to fill in if Wood isn't healthy or if any member of the rotation has difficulties.

 

If someone loses a starter in the spring, then the market for one of the Cubs could reach a level that the Cubs actually get some value in return.

 

Signing Weaver to a one-year deal would be a very good move indeed.

[jtownie]

Isn't a 1.17WHIP low for a guy with a 4+ ERA? Other than his HR/9 rate every other stat seems fairly decent. He doesn't strike a lot of guys out but he doesn't walk them either, at least not last year.

[Jake]

You guyz are advocating $6-$7 million for a # 5 pitcher????

[rawaction]

You guyz are advocating $6-$7 million for a # 5 pitcher????

 

He'd be at least the 3rd best pitcher on this team next year.

[Jake]

You guyz are advocating $6-$7 million for a # 5 pitcher????

 

He'd be at least the 3rd best pitcher on this team next year.

Depending on who we place in the fifth spot, Our whole starting rotation could cost us less than $7 million! :-)

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Weaver is one of those guys just like Matt Clement--maddeningly inconsistent. He can go out there one time and be lights out, and the next, it's batting practice. Still, a .500 pitcher that can give you 200 IP is not awful, and if he gets to pitch in front of a quality bullpen as it appears we will have, then he might do pretty well.

 

Cubs have the money, so yeah, so long as it's a short term deal I'd sign him. When Millwood overreached (via Boras) a couple years ago he settled for a one year $7MM deal if I recall, Weaver is going the same route and Boras will support that. If he has a good year, he'll make it up next time around.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

We could sign him and also not trade anyone. Rusch could go to the pen, and I believe Williams has options. I know Hill could be sent to Iowa for another season.

 

If we sign Weaver, our rotation looks like this:

Zambrano

Prior

Wood (if healthy)

Maddux

Weaver

 

 

We have Rusch, Williams, or Hill to fill in if Wood isn't healthy or if any member of the rotation has difficulties.

 

If someone loses a starter in the spring, then the market for one of the Cubs could reach a level that the Cubs actually get some value in return.

 

Signing Weaver to a one-year deal would be a very good move indeed.

 

I'd rather have B in that 5th spot. He'd probably do it for the league minimum. :D

[CubbieSouthpaw]

You guyz are advocating $6-$7 million for a # 5 pitcher????

 

As khufure said. Make it an incentive laden contract. Maddox should be the #5 pitcher on this staff and he's gonna make 10M or so. I say go 1 year with Weaver.

[TheDude]

Weaver is one of those guys just like Matt Clement--maddeningly inconsistent. He can go out there one time and be lights out, and the next, it's batting practice. Still, a .500 pitcher that can give you 200 IP is not awful, and if he gets to pitch in front of a quality bullpen as it appears we will have, then he might do pretty well.

 

Cubs have the money, so yeah, so long as it's a short term deal I'd sign him. When Millwood overreached (via Boras) a couple years ago he settled for a one year $7MM deal if I recall, Weaver is going the same route and Boras will support that. If he has a good year, he'll make it up next time around.

 

Weaver's better than that. His only real trouble is the HR ball. Though he gets there in a very different way, Weaver is much like Wells when looking at end results: lots of strikes, few walks, and wins when he doesn't give up the long ball. The 200 innings year in and year out is a huge plus.

 

Personally, I like guys like Byrd and Weaver. I would much rather have a pitcher that makes the opponent earn a win by throwing strikes than somebody who strikes out 10 and walks 5.

 

It is infuriating to look at an early game boxscore that has a basic hits/runs/errors line of 1/3/0 because a pitcher gives up 2 walks, then 3-run dinger (I'm thinking of you Kerry Wood).

[HoopsCubs]

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.

 

If the Cubs acquired Lugo (and his $4.95M contract) without shedding any salary of their own, it would probably prevent them from being able to sign Weaver, especially if the payroll is $100M.

[Blueheart05]

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.

 

If the Cubs acquired Lugo (and his $4.95M contract) without shedding any salary of their own, it would probably prevent them from being able to sign Weaver, especially if the payroll is $100M.

 

FWIW, reports say that Hendry expects the payroll to exceed 100M.

 

General manager Jim Hendry made a strong defense of his company's financial commitment and said his 2006 budget should surpass $100 million.

 

I also think it's fair to say that they would shed some payroll in acquiring Lugo (if it comes to that). Plus, Walker's days seem limited.

[imb]

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.

 

If the Cubs acquired Lugo (and his $4.95M contract) without shedding any salary of their own, it would probably prevent them from being able to sign Weaver, especially if the payroll is $100M.

 

FWIW, reports say that Hendry expects the payroll to exceed 100M.

 

General manager Jim Hendry made a strong defense of his company's financial commitment and said his 2006 budget should surpass $100 million.

 

I also think it's fair to say that they would shed some payroll in acquiring Lugo (if it comes to that). Plus, Walker's days seem limited.

 

God, this has to be the worst collection of 100 million+ talent ever. No team with a 100 million+ payroll should have an outfield of Murton/Pierre/Jones. Pierre will maybe be better than average, but Murton and Jones have to be top 5 in the "worst group of corner outfielders".

 

How can a team have Prior and Zambrano making relatively little, a group of 3 middle infielders making somewhere around 6 million, a rookie corner outfielder, an MVP candidate at first base making what, 8 million, and still come up with 100+ million?

[Blueheart05]

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.

 

If the Cubs acquired Lugo (and his $4.95M contract) without shedding any salary of their own, it would probably prevent them from being able to sign Weaver, especially if the payroll is $100M.

 

FWIW, reports say that Hendry expects the payroll to exceed 100M.

 

General manager Jim Hendry made a strong defense of his company's financial commitment and said his 2006 budget should surpass $100 million.

 

I also think it's fair to say that they would shed some payroll in acquiring Lugo (if it comes to that). Plus, Walker's days seem limited.

 

God, this has to be the worst collection of 100 million+ talent ever. No team with a 100 million+ payroll should have an outfield of Murton/Pierre/Jones. Pierre will maybe be better than average, but Murton and Jones have to be top 5 in the "worst group of corner outfielders".

 

How can a team have Prior and Zambrano making relatively little, a group of 3 middle infielders making somewhere around 6 million, a rookie corner outfielder, an MVP candidate at first base making what, 8 million, and still come up with 100+ million?

 

5 salary increases for arb eligible players (included in that is Juan Pierre who started off making more than Patterson) plus the Cubs will likely extend Lee's deal before the season begins. Other moves yet to be made also will contribute to the 100M+ total (which is what Hendry seemed to be alluding to in the Suntimes).

[RynoRules]

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.

 

If the Cubs acquired Lugo (and his $4.95M contract) without shedding any salary of their own, it would probably prevent them from being able to sign Weaver, especially if the payroll is $100M.

 

FWIW, reports say that Hendry expects the payroll to exceed 100M.

 

General manager Jim Hendry made a strong defense of his company's financial commitment and said his 2006 budget should surpass $100 million.

 

I also think it's fair to say that they would shed some payroll in acquiring Lugo (if it comes to that). Plus, Walker's days seem limited.

 

God, this has to be the worst collection of 100 million+ talent ever. No team with a 100 million+ payroll should have an outfield of Murton/Pierre/Jones. Pierre will maybe be better than average, but Murton and Jones have to be top 5 in the "worst group of corner outfielders".

 

How can a team have Prior and Zambrano making relatively little, a group of 3 middle infielders making somewhere around 6 million, a rookie corner outfielder, an MVP candidate at first base making what, 8 million, and still come up with 100+ million?

 

I agree with most of the above, though I will say that the jury is out on Murton. I think its conceivable that he could hit 25 HRs and go .300/.350 over an entire season. That's admitedly optimistic, but I think its based in reality.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

God, this has to be the worst collection of 100 million+ talent ever. No team with a 100 million+ payroll should have an outfield of Murton/Pierre/Jones. Pierre will maybe be better than average, but Murton and Jones have to be top 5 in the "worst group of corner outfielders".

 

How can a team have Prior and Zambrano making relatively little, a group of 3 middle infielders making somewhere around 6 million, a rookie corner outfielder, an MVP candidate at first base making what, 8 million, and still come up with 100+ million?

 

Exhibits A, B and C: Kerry Wood, Greg Maddux, and the $16MM bullpen. Combined, that's more than Tampa and Pittsburgh's entire payroll. Note though that if Wood and Maddux don't return, Jones drops to $5MM last year, if you expunge Rusch and Neifi, and you don't renew Williamson let's say--all of which are possible, and Jones might even get thrown overboard--that's a whopping $30MM return of payroll, $35MM if you get rid of Jones.

[CubfaninCA]

The Cubs have spent a ton of money on pitching. I'm guessing only the Yankees have spent more. This pitching staff has the potential to be the best in baseball.

[CubfaninCA]

God, this has to be the worst collection of 100 million+ talent ever. No team with a 100 million+ payroll should have an outfield of Murton/Pierre/Jones. Pierre will maybe be better than average, but Murton and Jones have to be top 5 in the "worst group of corner outfielders".

 

How can a team have Prior and Zambrano making relatively little, a group of 3 middle infielders making somewhere around 6 million, a rookie corner outfielder, an MVP candidate at first base making what, 8 million, and still come up with 100+ million?

 

Exhibits A, B and C: Kerry Wood, Greg Maddux, and the $16MM bullpen. Combined, that's more than Tampa and Pittsburgh's entire payroll. Note though that if Wood and Maddux don't return, Jones drops to $5MM last year, if you expunge Rusch and Neifi, and you don't renew Williamson let's say--all of which are possible, and Jones might even get thrown overboard--that's a whopping $30MM return of payroll, $35MM if you get rid of Jones.

 

So when should the Cubs have gotten rid of Wood?