ESPN reporting Cubs sign Wade Miller

[E.J.]

Only like this signing if the Cubs are planning on using him from the bullpen, which I highly doubt since he probably wouldn't have come to the Cubs to pitch out of the BP.

 

That's why I'm not getting too excited about this like everyone else. This guy will never staty healthy logging innings as a starter. Never. He's in the same boat as Wood, for they both have messed up deliveries and Miller's arm nearly fell off again at the end of last season, as a starter.

 

Wasn't it just noted that he had the same injury as both Morris and Carpenter? To say he'll never stay healthy really makes no sense.

 

You do realize that this is his 2nd surgery in the last 2 1/2 years right? I guess maybe that's why I said he'll never be healthy, as a starter. Oh, that and his delivery is atrocious, unlike Morris's and Carpenter's.

 

He never had a shoulder surgery when they first found the tear. The doctors told him that it would heal enough with rest and that he didn't need the surgery, so he sat out the 2nd half of 2004 with the Astros and rested the shoulder. He pitched for a couple months with the Red Sox and the tear became a problem again so he had the surgery.

[Neuby]

I love this signing . I think Williamson will be healthy this year and could turn out to be a steal 2 million.Hopefully he can be brought along slow with are solid pen this year. If Miller is healthy the Cubs will find a spot for him.

[Mark_R]

Miller is a career starter, and when healthy, a damn good one.

 

When has he been healthy?

 

01-03.

 

32, 26, 33 starts respectively.

[RockTheIvy]

I really don't get JH. He makes a nice signing like this, yet also signed folks like Howry, Eyre, Neifi! and Jones to much more expensive deals.

 

What's not to get? Howry, Eyre, Perez, and Jones don't bring with them multiple season-ending injuries from their past.

 

I know. It's just that one is a low risk/high reward type deal, while the others appear to be high risk types, for a lot more money and years at that.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I like this signing. Good job, Jim. How about sneaking in an option for 2007?

[don_kessinger_was_good]

So far, this strategy has worked out well:

 

Ryan Dempster off of injury: Excellent.

Chad Fox off of injury: Not so good.

Scott Williamson off of injury: TBD.

Wade Miller off of injury: TBD.

 

The few million a wealthy team like the Cubs spends on these deals is well worth it, it's an option pricing view of players which I like. I don't understand why other well-heeled teams like the Yankees, Sox and Phils haven't tried this approach themselves. By my assessment, if EITHER Williamson or Miller works out, the strategy is a success. If both do, it's gravy.

[Blueheart05]

Miller's million dollar contract includes up to a million in incentives:

 

Miller would earn bonuses of $100,000 for 10 starts, $200,000 for 15, $300,000 for 20 and $400,000 for 25.

 

SI

[Neuby]

Any reports out of the Cub Convention how Williamson is feeling ? He got to air it out a little bit last year and get some innings under his belt. Any word on health or velocity? Edited January 23, 2006 by Neuby

[CubinNY]

So far, this strategy has worked out well:

 

Ryan Dempster off of injury: Excellent.

Chad Fox off of injury: Not so good.

Scott Williamson off of injury: TBD.

Wade Miller off of injury: TBD.

 

The few million a wealthy team like the Cubs spends on these deals is well worth it, it's an option pricing view of players which I like. I don't understand why other well-heeled teams like the Yankees, Sox and Phils haven't tried this approach themselves. By my assessment, if EITHER Williamson or Miller works out, the strategy is a success. If both do, it's gravy.

 

Does anyone know if Miller still has the stuff (i.e., velocity on fastball and snap on breaking pitches) since the injury?

 

I will wait and see what happens, but IMO stockpiling injured pitchers isn't really a formula for success in the short term and is quite a gamble in the long term.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

So far, this strategy has worked out well:

 

Ryan Dempster off of injury: Excellent.

Chad Fox off of injury: Not so good.

Scott Williamson off of injury: TBD.

Wade Miller off of injury: TBD.

 

The few million a wealthy team like the Cubs spends on these deals is well worth it, it's an option pricing view of players which I like. I don't understand why other well-heeled teams like the Yankees, Sox and Phils haven't tried this approach themselves. By my assessment, if EITHER Williamson or Miller works out, the strategy is a success. If both do, it's gravy.

 

Does anyone know if Miller still has the stuff (i.e., velocity on fastball and snap on breaking pitches) since the injury?

 

I will wait and see what happens, but IMO stockpiling injured pitchers isn't really a formula for success in the short term and is quite a gamble in the long term.

 

But it's a cheap gamble, what's wrong with that at the margin? The total at-risk investment on Hendry's part has been what, $1MM for the first three combined, and now a $1MM for Miller? The price goes up if the option is picked up, but this is chump change for a team that can pay Neifi Perez $3MM a year.

[Neuby]

So far, this strategy has worked out well:

 

Ryan Dempster off of injury: Excellent.

Chad Fox off of injury: Not so good.

Scott Williamson off of injury: TBD.

Wade Miller off of injury: TBD.

 

The few million a wealthy team like the Cubs spends on these deals is well worth it, it's an option pricing view of players which I like. I don't understand why other well-heeled teams like the Yankees, Sox and Phils haven't tried this approach themselves. By my assessment, if EITHER Williamson or Miller works out, the strategy is a success. If both do, it's gravy.

 

Does anyone know if Miller still has the stuff (i.e., velocity on fastball and snap on breaking pitches) since the injury?

 

I will wait and see what happens, but IMO stockpiling injured pitchers isn't really a formula for success in the short term and is quite a gamble in the long term.

 

 

A good buisness always needs insurance. If the Cubs where betting on Miller being there 5 starter in April then thats a gamble. With eveyone healthy Miller might be AAA filler

 

Zambrano

Prior

Wood

Maddux

Rusch/Williams/Guzman/Miller/Hill/Valdez /Welley.

 

Dempster/Williamson/Howry/Ohman/Eyre/Wuertz/Nova

 

the Cubs have assembled enough arms this year that whatever Miller can give them is a bonus .

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

I like this signing. If he ever gets healthy and returns to old form, he's a steal. It's a low risk/ potentially high reward deal. If they would've paid more, or went more than one year, I'd be pretty upset though.

[Rusch33]

Good to see Hendry is preparing for Wood and Prior to be out for a period of time with that signing of Wade Miller.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

Good to see Hendry is preparing for Wood and Prior to be out for a period of time with that signing of Wade Miller.

Link?

[Blueheart05]

So far, this strategy has worked out well:

 

Ryan Dempster off of injury: Excellent.

Chad Fox off of injury: Not so good.

Scott Williamson off of injury: TBD.

Wade Miller off of injury: TBD.

 

The few million a wealthy team like the Cubs spends on these deals is well worth it, it's an option pricing view of players which I like. I don't understand why other well-heeled teams like the Yankees, Sox and Phils haven't tried this approach themselves. By my assessment, if EITHER Williamson or Miller works out, the strategy is a success. If both do, it's gravy.

 

Does anyone know if Miller still has the stuff (i.e., velocity on fastball and snap on breaking pitches) since the injury?

 

I will wait and see what happens, but IMO stockpiling injured pitchers isn't really a formula for success in the short term and is quite a gamble in the long term.

 

 

A good buisness always needs insurance. If the Cubs where betting on Miller being there 5 starter in April then thats a gamble. With eveyone healthy Miller might be AAA filler

 

Zambrano

Prior

Wood

Maddux

Rusch/Williams/Guzman/Miller/Hill/Valdez /Welley.

 

Dempster/Williamson/Howry/Ohman/Eyre/Wuertz/Nova

 

the Cubs have assembled enough arms this year that whatever Miller can give them is a bonus .

 

With everyone healthy Miller is better than Maddux. His contract has incentives for upwards of 25 starts; If he's healthy enough for that many starts the Cubs rotation should be in good shape even if Wood is off a significant amount of time (which I doubt).

 

FWIW, the Cubs expect Miller in May and Hendry says that he thinks Miller is a month behind Wood (which means Wood is on target baring setback).

 

"This is a very competitive guy and a winning type pitcher," Hendry said Monday. "The doctors felt he was on a track procedure-wise like Kerry [Wood's] but maybe a month behind him. We're not counting on him Opening Day. We're hoping somewhere in the month of May he'll be ready. We felt it was a good guy to have in the inventory."

 

Link

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Good to see Hendry is preparing for Wood and Prior to be out for a period of time with that signing of Wade Miller.

Link?

 

Sarcasm dude.

 

The people who are consistently negative on this Cubs message boards are either White Sox fans or Trolls.

 

Link?

 

See how it works?

[treebird]

The people who are consistently negative on this Cubs message boards are either White Sox fans or Trolls.

 

Link?

 

See how it works?

 

[applause]

[Backtobanks]

Wow, people actually complimenting JH.

[bc2k]

1 year $1 Million contract low risk big reward.

 

I think this move puts us over the top.

[B]

1 year $1 Million contract low risk big reward.

 

I think this move puts us over the top.

 

top of what? the brewers?

[E.J.]

1 year $1 Million contract low risk big reward.

 

I think this move puts us over the top.

 

top of what? the brewers?

 

top half of the division...hopefully.

[CUBZ99]

1 year $1 Million contract low risk big reward.

 

I think this move puts us over the top.

 

top of what? the brewers?

 

One team at a time.

[bc2k]

1 year $1 Million contract low risk big reward.

 

I think this move puts us over the top.

 

top of what? the brewers?

 

:)

 

:roll:

[TrueBlueCubFan]

Miller (Cubs #7 SP) >> Ponson(Cards #5)

[Omar]

Crazy idea came to mind: If/when the Yankees starting rotation is failing mid-season, this would be a good trade bait.