Miller, Wood Expected to Re-Sign with Cubs

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Link

 

Also, the article implies the Cubs do not expect Prior to be ready by spring training.

 

Mark Prior isn't expected to be ready by spring training, so he's out of the picture. Kerry Wood is expected to return, but his days as a starter are over -- and his shoulder isn't expected to stand up to the rigors of closing.

 

Put Wade Miller, who is expected to re-sign with the Cubs but is also a question mark, in the same category as Wood and Prior: Anything they provide in 2007 will be a bonus.

[Schwarber Fan]

ummm shouldn't Wade be 100%???

 

And forger Prior... the whole situation is ridiculous.

 

Sign Schmidt and AT LEAST one more FA starter.

 

Z

Schmidt

Hill

FA Starter

Miller(?)

[Outshined_One]

Link

 

Also, the article implies the Cubs do not expect Prior to be ready by spring training.

 

Mark Prior isn't expected to be ready by spring training, so he's out of the picture. Kerry Wood is expected to return, but his days as a starter are over -- and his shoulder isn't expected to stand up to the rigors of closing.

 

Put Wade Miller, who is expected to re-sign with the Cubs but is also a question mark, in the same category as Wood and Prior: Anything they provide in 2007 will be a bonus.

 

In other words, the Cubs might be just as well off just throwing a pile of money into a fire as they would by paying these guys.

[ConstableRabbit]

ummm shouldn't Wade be 100%???

 

 

Wasn't there a chance he could've come back during last season? Ridiculous.

[Sarcastic]

Link

 

Also, the article implies the Cubs do not expect Prior to be ready by spring training.

 

Mark Prior isn't expected to be ready by spring training, so he's out of the picture. Kerry Wood is expected to return, but his days as a starter are over -- and his shoulder isn't expected to stand up to the rigors of closing.

 

Put Wade Miller, who is expected to re-sign with the Cubs but is also a question mark, in the same category as Wood and Prior: Anything they provide in 2007 will be a bonus.

 

I'd like to know who this guy's sources are regarding Prior. This is the first I've heard that he definitely is not expected to be ready. All the Cubs have said is that BS about looseness.

[Omar]

I DONT GET IT. There are 4 months until pitchers and Catchers report.. He's already been inactive for 2 months. WHY CANT HE BE BACK UNTIL FEBRUARY?

[Yestheydo]

See, to me, this is a problem. Starting the season with two guaranteed question marks is wrong, even if they're at the bottom of the rotation. An ideal situation, I think, would be to sign a #2 and a #3, and have Hill and Prior pencilled in as your 4-5. Bringing back Miller fills a spot that could--and should--go to someone who's established and not a huge injury risk. So Miller OR Prior. Not both. IMO.

[radarluv1]

didnt we hear that prior could have pitched at the end of this year? so much for even trading him

[nilodnayr]

See, to me, this is a problem. Starting the season with two guaranteed question marks is wrong, even if they're at the bottom of the rotation. An ideal situation, I think, would be to sign a #2 and a #3, and have Hill and Prior pencilled in as your 4-5. Bringing back Miller fills a spot that could--and should--go to someone who's established and not a huge injury risk. So Miller OR Prior. Not both. IMO.

 

I think this is how the cubs see their rotation currently...

 

1. Zambrano

2.

3. Hill

4.

5. Miller

6. Prior

[Bluescale]

Link

 

Also, the article implies the Cubs do not expect Prior to be ready by spring training.

 

Mark Prior isn't expected to be ready by spring training, so he's out of the picture. Kerry Wood is expected to return, but his days as a starter are over -- and his shoulder isn't expected to stand up to the rigors of closing.

 

Put Wade Miller, who is expected to re-sign with the Cubs but is also a question mark, in the same category as Wood and Prior: Anything they provide in 2007 will be a bonus.

 

This is just silly...Wood can't start, and his shoulder isn't strong enough to close? What exactly is he going to do? Stain-stick the other guy's jerseys? If this is true, there is absolutely no reason to waste a roster spot and cash on him. And I say this even though Kerry Wood is my favorite player sine Ryno.

[Sammy Sofa]

Jesus. Talk about crushing all hope before it even had a chance to build.

 

Where did De Luca get this info from? He doesn't even imply that he got it from any kind of source outside of just totally guessing on his part.

 

OK, re-reading that article, I have determined it's a officially a load of crap.

[Anomalied]

I just don't understand this. All 3 of these clowns won't be ready for Spring Training, and we'll give them a collective 10 million for doing nothing. Just dump their asses and move on. They can't contribute so stop paying them.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Oh well. No one should have been counting on Prior to even pitch in '07. Miller still didn't have his velo back by the end of this past season. Wood, well, the news about him not being able to close (at all) is news. I thought maybe he'd work his way back to pitching on consecutive days.

 

Wood as middle relief (for the price) is crap.

[Wilmo]

In my opinion we count on nothing from Prior and Wood. If either one or both of them feel they can pitch, they can start out in the bullpen until they prove themselves. It's already known this will be the approach with Wood. Prior can NOT be counted on until he is proven. I don't even want him penciled as a #6 as someone suggested previously. I assume by 6th starter they are referring to an emergency starter.

 

I think we have three guys currently that we can depend on to be starters. Zambrano of course, Hill, and Marshall. I really think Marshall can be a good #5, he pitched well early last year and is only one year removed from AA, so he was still learning and getting stronger.

 

That means we need to add two starters, one of them being a horse (Schmidt/Zito) and another FA. But please, no one coming off an injury. Maybe we can catch lightning in a bottle like the Tigers did with a guy like Rogers. Hell, maybe bring back Maddux. He pitched well at times this year and with some more run support, his record wouldn't have looked as bad. We know the guy stays healthy. But Hendry, do not count on ANYTHING from Wood or Prior.

[Sarcastic]

I'm not saying that Prior, Wood or Miller will be back or healthy, but taking this guy's word for their condition seems like a bad idea. He doesn't even attribute his information. That's a pretty basic obligation of a journalist trying to report the truth. It seems entirely possible that he's just basing that off of 3rd party information and his own conjecture. I'm not advocating signing Wood or Miller to expensive deals, but lets not chuck the three of them overboard on the word of one random sports writer.

[A New Era]

I don't see how signing Miller would be a bad idea (at a good price, if he feels inclined to help us next year). . maybe $3-$4 mil?

 

He was not injured at all by the end of the season. He was pitching and pitching well might I add. Just needs to get a bit more velocity back. But even AS IS, he is a FINE, #5. If he gets some more velo then he'll just be even better. .

[Outshined_One]

I don't see how signing Miller would be a bad idea (at a good price, if he feels inclined to help us next year). . maybe $3-$4 mil?

 

He was not injured at all by the end of the season. He was pitching and pitching well might I add. Just needs to get a bit more velocity back. But even AS IS, he is a FINE, #5. If he gets some more velo then he'll just be even better. .

 

The Cubs already have a bunch of guys in their organization who can pitch as well as Miller over the course of a season, imo.

 

He's been injured way too much over his career for my liking. I'd rather see that $3m-$4m go to a better player.

[A New Era]

I don't see how signing Miller would be a bad idea (at a good price, if he feels inclined to help us next year). . maybe $3-$4 mil?

 

He was not injured at all by the end of the season. He was pitching and pitching well might I add. Just needs to get a bit more velocity back. But even AS IS, he is a FINE, #5. If he gets some more velo then he'll just be even better. .

 

The Cubs already have a bunch of guys in their organization who can pitch as well as Miller over the course of a season, imo.

 

He's been injured way too much over his career for my liking. I'd rather see that $3m-$4m go to a better player.

 

None of our rookies, aside from Hill. Were pitching near as well as Miller was those last 4, 5 games. None.

[UMFan83]

What is Prior even injured with... I've honestly forgot

[Sarcastic]

What is Prior even injured with... I've honestly forgot

 

The latest thing is looseness in his shoulder, whatever that means. Its more of a condition than an injury. There is no clear explanation of what the problem is or what the timetable for him is, except for some speculation. I think I heard he was supposed to shut down for 4-6 weeks after the end of the season and then start a program to strengthen his shoulder, but I can't remember where I heard that.

[Laura]

What is Prior even injured with... I've honestly forgot

 

According to the Cubs, he had arthritic changes that occurred due to inherited looseness in his shoulder. And they had a team of surgeons overseeing him, though surgery was not an option.

 

 

Though later in the article, they said surgery was an option, but only as a last resort because he might not recover from it.

[Outshined_One]

None of our rookies, aside from Hill. Were pitching near as well as Miller was those last 4, 5 games. None.

 

I think the strongest argument against retaining Miller is his health and stuff. He's clearly not the same guy he was with Houston. I really worry that his drop in velocity and recent shoulder surgery are not good omens for his near future.

 

I have more faith in some one like Marshall than Miller. It's my personal preference, but I'd rather not see Wade Miller, Kerry Wood, and Mark Prior getting cumulatively paid more than $10m to build pillow forts in the clubhouse for the entire season. At least guys like Marshall, Guzman, and Ryu are getting paid the major league minimum.

[OBPMatters]

Sounds like conjecture on the part of DeLuca.

[nilodnayr]

None of our rookies, aside from Hill. Were pitching near as well as Miller was those last 4, 5 games. None.

 

I think the strongest argument against retaining Miller is his health and stuff. He's clearly not the same guy he was with Houston. I really worry that his drop in velocity and recent shoulder surgery are not good omens for his near future.

 

I have more faith in some one like Marshall than Miller. It's my personal preference, but I'd rather not see Wade Miller, Kerry Wood, and Mark Prior getting cumulatively paid more than $10m to build pillow forts in the clubhouse for the entire season. At least guys like Marshall, Guzman, and Ryu are getting paid the major league minimum.

 

If they actually were building pillow forts, it might be worth it. If they are getting haircuts, then no, but pillow forts, yes. Seriously though, I agree with your assessment of Miller. Hes definitely not going to be the guy in Houston. However, he still can be an effective back of the rotation starter. He showed a little Maddux in him towards the end of the season, and assuming he wasn't fully recovered, he can get even better. Marshall definitely has the bigger upside and definitely showed it at times early in the season, but he also showed his inexperience. For 2007, I just don't think hes ready to be in the rotation of a WS hopeful. Marshall is going to win and lose games all by himself, Miller isn't going to win many by himself, but hes probably not going to get blown out much. If they do upgrade the offense significantly, someone like Miller will be more valuable than Marshall.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I agree with an earlier poster--why are we wasting millions on these stiffs? They're perma-damaged: let's move on. I choose to not re-sign Wood and let him walk. I have no interest in Miller. I release Prior rather than get stuck with paying him what, $4MM in arbitration? For butt-kiss?

 

C-ya Mark.