With the way he's pitching right now...

[anemic offense]

...what do you guys think would be the best we could get in a Maddux trade? After getting drilled for the 6th time in 7 starts (thereabouts), and based on his performances the last few years, I'd have a hard time expecting anything more than one good prospect and a bunch of fringes. If I were another team I certainly be apprehensive trading for an over-the-hill pitcher making $9mil this year. Most teams have guys in the minors who could pitch comparably for a lot less. Thoughts???

[Wheelimus]

As is, I think he'd net us a B-level prospect and nothing else.

 

If he starts to come back around, maybe a little better.

[CubinNY]

As is, I think he'd net us a B-level prospect and nothing else.

 

If he starts to come back around, maybe a little better.

 

I don't think the Cubs will trade Maddux unless they can get something back in return.

 

They don't really need to dump salary and he's not really blocking anyone.

 

My guess is he doesn't get traded unless a team thinks they are a decent 4th or 5th starter away from a title and are willing to mortage the future for the present. I don't see that happening.

[srbin84]

...what do you guys think would be the best we could get in a Maddux trade? After getting drilled for the 6th time in 7 starts (thereabouts), and based on his performances the last few years, I'd have a hard time expecting anything more than one good prospect and a bunch of fringes. If I were another team I certainly be apprehensive trading for an over-the-hill pitcher making $9mil this year. Most teams have guys in the minors who could pitch comparably for a lot less. Thoughts???

 

I agree, and I think it would be good for the Cubs to make the trade for the comparable young pitcher. I think the Cubs could certainly get that because Maddux name and win total have a lot of appeal. Teams are willing to pay to get that production right now out of him than the young guy because Maddux will sell more tickets and be great P.R. for the club.

 

Here are some guys I think we could get (may have to add a midlevel prospect in some cases) that I would like to have and put in the rotation in his place:

 

Clay Hensley, San Diego

Aaron Harang, Cincinnati

Kameron Loe, Texas

Jake Westbrook, Cleveland

[Sammy Sofa]

I think if the Cubs hold onto Maddux for the last two years he says he wants to play and he's able to actually be the #4 starter consistently he should be at this point, he'll net you an easy 12-16 wins each year and an ERA in the low 4's. Not worldbeating, but for that role, just fine. I'd much rather overpay for him and that kind of output than the humps Hendry gives money bouquets to now.

 

Let's say Wood comes back...

 

Prior

Zambrano

Wood

Maddux

Miller

 

Marshall as the 6th

 

Or if the Cubs dole out for Zito, bump Wood and slide everyone up top down one.

[YearofDaCubs]

I think if the Cubs hold onto Maddux for the last two years he says he wants to play and he's able to actually be the #4 starter consistently he should be at this point, he'll net you an easy 12-16 wins each year and an ERA in the low 4's. Not worldbeating, but for that role, just fine. I'd much rather overpay for him and that kind of output than the humps Hendry gives money bouquets to now.

 

Let's say Wood comes back...

 

Prior

Zambrano

Wood

Maddux

Miller

 

Marshall as the 6th

 

Or if the Cubs dole out for Zito, bump Wood and slide everyone up top down one.

I definitely wouldn't pay 9mil for that output. If we can get somethign valuable for Maddux I say we do it. He has regressed every year since we got him and that trend will not change. I was against having him here longer than 2 years and I think the Cubs would be better off moving on.

[srbin84]

I think if the Cubs hold onto Maddux for the last two years he says he wants to play and he's able to actually be the #4 starter consistently he should be at this point, he'll net you an easy 12-16 wins each year and an ERA in the low 4's. Not worldbeating, but for that role, just fine. I'd much rather overpay for him and that kind of output than the humps Hendry gives money bouquets to now.

 

Let's say Wood comes back...

 

Prior

Zambrano

Wood

Maddux

Miller

 

Marshall as the 6th

 

Or if the Cubs dole out for Zito, bump Wood and slide everyone up top down one.

 

I'd go for Zito and get the extension done in the trade.

[Sammy Sofa]

I think if the Cubs hold onto Maddux for the last two years he says he wants to play and he's able to actually be the #4 starter consistently he should be at this point, he'll net you an easy 12-16 wins each year and an ERA in the low 4's. Not worldbeating, but for that role, just fine. I'd much rather overpay for him and that kind of output than the humps Hendry gives money bouquets to now.

 

Let's say Wood comes back...

 

Prior

Zambrano

Wood

Maddux

Miller

 

Marshall as the 6th

 

Or if the Cubs dole out for Zito, bump Wood and slide everyone up top down one.

I definitely wouldn't pay 9mil for that output. If we can get somethign valuable for Maddux I say we do it. He has regressed every year since we got him and that trend will not change. I was against having him here longer than 2 years and I think the Cubs would be better off moving on.

 

Guys his age tend to do that as long as they don't have asses of unusual sizes and are douchebags when it comes to retiring. I still think if you play him #4 the bulk of the year, he's just what you need. He hasn't been able to do that the last 2 years because of the Brittle Twins. Cubs aren't hurtin' for cash. They dump Maddux, they'll end up with someone infinitely worse to fill the #4 spot, bank on it. Pay the name the money and let him finish his career in Chicago...he'll get the job done if used right.

[Careless]

I think if the Cubs hold onto Maddux for the last two years he says he wants to play and he's able to actually be the #4 starter consistently he should be at this point, he'll net you an easy 12-16 wins each year and an ERA in the low 4's. Not worldbeating, but for that role, just fine. I'd much rather overpay for him and that kind of output than the humps Hendry gives money bouquets to now.

Why should he be a 14 win pitcher with an ERA in the low 4's? Why, for that matter, would you think that any pitcher with an ERA in the low 4's would get 14 wins for this team? He can't even perform that well now, so why do you expect him to be better when 2 years older? I don't understand the thinking behind anything you wrote here, I guess

Maddux's ERA's the past 5 years (including 06)

2.62

3.96

4.02

4.24

4.77

[LeftCoastCubFan]

But if you look at his 3-year splits, he's 4.61 era 1.27 whip pre asb but 3.45 era 1.10 whip post asb. I think a few contenders could find value in that.

[Sammy Sofa]

I think if the Cubs hold onto Maddux for the last two years he says he wants to play and he's able to actually be the #4 starter consistently he should be at this point, he'll net you an easy 12-16 wins each year and an ERA in the low 4's. Not worldbeating, but for that role, just fine. I'd much rather overpay for him and that kind of output than the humps Hendry gives money bouquets to now.

Why should he be a 14 win pitcher with an ERA in the low 4's? Why, for that matter, would you think that any pitcher with an ERA in the low 4's would get 14 wins for this team? He can't even perform that well now, so why do you expect him to be better when 2 years older? I don't understand the thinking behind anything you wrote here, I guess

Maddux's ERA's the past 5 years (including 06)

2.62

3.96

4.02

4.24

4.77

 

I just think if he's kept in the role he should be at at this point is his career, he'll do fine until he retires in a couple of seasons. He's not a #2 or #3 starter by any stretch of the imagination, and yet that's the role he's been put in the last 2 years. That's going to change which players he sees batting against him when he pitches. And why is 14 wins and a low 4 ERA so unbelievable? If he had even an iota of run support when it pathetically dired up last year, he woud have had 15-17 wins, easy. I predict that as a consistent #4, he'd hover around that 4.00 mark. And when you KNOW this team will only go with guys like Rushc or Williams in that spot if they get rid of Maddux (they're not going to trade him, bottom line. Hendry's not trading off a "name player" when things are this ugly), I'd go with Maddux and his aging pitching a thousand times before the inevitable alternatives. If the Cubs pick up Maddux with the intention of keeing him in the #4 slot for his final 2 seasons, I think it's a relatively minor concern compared to other gaping holes in the team.

[Careless]

Most guys with ERA's over 4 don't get to 14 wins. Maddux is not on a pace for a low 4 ERA. Maddux is on a trend of increasing ERA's. 3 good reasons not to expect that.

edit: the cubs offense sucks and will likely continue to suck for some time. add that to the list

[Sammy Sofa]

The guy would have had 14+ wins last year if the offense hadn't imploded on him multiple times. I'm talking games where he kept the opposing team to 1 run. He was robbed of another 15 win season.

 

And here's the bottom line to my thinking...there's nobody this organization would find better than Maddux in that role. None. Not even close. It would make the current Maddux look like classic Nolan Ryan. Maddux is Maddux...if they work smart and shore up the #1-#3 slots, there's next to no hamr in letting an old great finish out his career where he started. Yeah, it's sappy, but the "Maddux problem" is the kind of minor problems this team keeps focusing all of its resources and time fixing, and the much more serious stuff comes back to plague us again next year.

[soccer10k]

I don't think we would get much for Maddux in a trade. The combination of an aging pitcher that will be a free agent next year and is throwing batting practice right now isn't really enticing to many teams.

[YearofDaCubs]

Honestly, I would rather give one of our pitchers a shot ie. Guzman than resign old man Maddux to another 2-3 year deal. Maddux might not have anything left in the tank and personally, the money could be spent to sign a better SP or hopefully bolster the OF.

[YearofDaCubs]

I don't think we would get much for Maddux in a trade. The combination of an aging pitcher that will be a free agent next year and is throwing batting practice right now isn't really enticing to many teams.

Exactly. The last thread Maddux's name came up for trade people felt they could get a type A prospect from teams but realistically speaking I don't see that happening at all.

[Sammy Sofa]

Honestly, I would rather give one of our pitchers a shot ie. Guzman than resign old man Maddux to another 2-3 year deal. Maddux might not have anything left in the tank and personally, the money could be spent to sign a better SP or hopefully bolster the OF.

 

I'd have no problem doing that if Guzman could at least put together a decent stint in the minors these days.

 

Is Marmol a possible starter down the line?

[YearofDaCubs]

Honestly, I would rather give one of our pitchers a shot ie. Guzman than resign old man Maddux to another 2-3 year deal. Maddux might not have anything left in the tank and personally, the money could be spent to sign a better SP or hopefully bolster the OF.

 

I'd have no problem doing that if Guzman could at least put together a decent stint in the minors these days.

 

Is Marmol a possible starter down the line?

I personally have not seen Marmol pitch but a lot of people on this board are really high on him so who knows.

[goonys evil twin]

Honestly, I would rather give one of our pitchers a shot ie. Guzman than resign old man Maddux to another 2-3 year deal. Maddux might not have anything left in the tank and personally, the money could be spent to sign a better SP or hopefully bolster the OF.

 

I'd have no problem doing that if Guzman could at least put together a decent stint in the minors these days.

 

Is Marmol a possible starter down the line?

I personally have not seen Marmol pitch but a lot of people on this board are really high on him so who knows.

 

He was a starter in 2003, 2004 and 2005, with 9, 24 and 27 starts, respectively. And he had 11 starts this year. I would think the likelihood of him starting down the line is quite high. Whether or not he sticks and succeeds there is questionable. But he is not some reliever who might be stretched into a starter.

[Backtobanks]

I think a team might overpay for Maddux depending on whether a veteran starter might put them over the top. Other things to consider would be the offensive support you could give Maddux, the dimensions of the home field, and the strength of the bullpen since he's basically a 6 inning pitcher.

[3finger]

I think a team might overpay for Maddux depending on whether a veteran starter might put them over the top. Other things to consider would be the offensive support you could give Maddux, the dimensions of the home field, and the strength of the bullpen since he's basically a 6 inning pitcher.

 

The NL West may be promising ground, with the worst team just 7 games out at the moment. If the division is still tight at the trade deadline the Cubs might squeeze some decent value for Maddux.

[Careless]

The guy would have had 14+ wins last year if the offense hadn't imploded on him multiple times. I'm talking games where he kept the opposing team to 1 run. He was robbed of another 15 win season.

In maddux's ND's and losses last year the cubs scored: 4,5,4,3,5,4,1,1 (he gave up 9 runs in 15.2 innings over these 2 games), 5,6,1(he gave up 5 runs in 6 innings),0 (his first really good showing in a nd/loss, and it's the all star break),6,2(his second good one),6,0(his third),7,1(great game),2,1,3

the cubs averaged just over 3 runs per game when maddux got a ND.

6 times last season the cubs scored 2 or fewer in a zambrano ND.

Prior had 5 such outtings with 77% as many starts. Rusch had at least 3 in half as many starts.

edit: I just realized I may have counted the runs the opposing team scored in ND's the cubs won, instead of runs the cubs scored. Instead of correcting it, Im going to sleep.

[srbin84]

Would anybody else consider a Maddux for Clement trade, with the Red Sox picking up half of his salary for next year? I think that would put him at about 5 million next year. Given the free agent market, I'd take the chance a return to the NL would get him back on track.

[Mark_R]

Would anybody else consider a Maddux for Clement trade, with the Red Sox picking up half of his salary for next year? I think that would put him at about 5 million next year. Given the free agent market, I'd take the chance a return to the NL would get him back on track.

 

Not a chance.

 

And Aaron Harang is much much better than Maddux is.