Westbrook versus Lee

[Guest]

I wonder if Hendry may want a lefty and if he might be looking at this from a financial point of view as well.

 

Righty Westbrook is under contract for $6.1M in 2007 and then becomes a free agent.

 

Lefty Lee is under contract for 3 years at $2.75M in '07, $3.75M in '08 and $5.75M in '09 plus there is a team option in '10 for $8M. Might get decent production for 3 years at a reasonable price.

 

Lee won't be productive at Wrigley. The only reason I think Westbrook can be is that he doesn't give up flyballs. Hence the hits per 9 is less worrisome.

[TheDude]

I wonder if Hendry may want a lefty and if he might be looking at this from a financial point of view as well.

 

Righty Westbrook is under contract for $6.1M in 2007 and then becomes a free agent.

 

Lefty Lee is under contract for 3 years at $2.75M in '07, $3.75M in '08 and $5.75M in '09 plus there is a team option in '10 for $8M. Might get decent production for 3 years at a reasonable price.

 

Lee won't be productive at Wrigley. The only reason I think Westbrook can be is that he doesn't give up flyballs. Hence the hits per 9 is less worrisome.

 

Park factors are minor considerations. Lee could very well be successful in Wrigley.

 

I'd be happy to have either pitcher. I like Lee more for his financial impact.

[baseball7897]

Westbrook please.

[YearofDaCubs]

Westbrook would make the most sense for us.

[Lefty]

 

This looks like a nutso free agent market this winter.

 

Revenues are up, salaries are going up. What seemed expensive might not be any longer.

 

What Hendry does not understand is the folly of paying slightly above average veterans huge premiums. Is DeRosa worth $4 million more than Theriot? No way. But Beltran was worth more than the $11 million premium he made over Pierre last year. And the $14 million more he made than Patterson in 2005. How much has Hendry sunk on garbage the last two plus years?

 

As USSoccer says about Hendry, "overpaying for mediocrity." Only about 320 days left for Hendry's reign of error.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I wonder if Hendry may want a lefty and if he might be looking at this from a financial point of view as well.

 

Righty Westbrook is under contract for $6.1M in 2007 and then becomes a free agent.

 

Lefty Lee is under contract for 3 years at $2.75M in '07, $3.75M in '08 and $5.75M in '09 plus there is a team option in '10 for $8M. Might get decent production for 3 years at a reasonable price.

 

Lee won't be productive at Wrigley. The only reason I think Westbrook can be is that he doesn't give up flyballs. Hence the hits per 9 is less worrisome.

 

Makes more sense to have that Izturis-DeRosa MIF with a guy like Westbrook.

[Danny82]

I prefer Lee.

 

It's a close call, but judging by the responses in this thread, one would think the numbers were staggeringly in favor of Westbrook. They're not.

[TruffleShuffle]

I'd take Lee. Just as good as Westbrook the last two years, and has a better contract that would keep him on the Cubs for 3 years. He's been around league-average in 2005-2006. Even without improvement (which wouldn't be out of the question, given his age), $5.5-7M is a good price for what he'd give you.

[Guest]

the big difference as I see it is in homeruns allowed. Lee got away with that when he struck out a lot of hitters but his k rate has been dropping dramatically.

[goonys evil twin]

I'd take Lee. Just as good as Westbrook the last two years, and has a better contract that would keep him on the Cubs for 3 years. He's been around league-average in 2005-2006. Even without improvement (which wouldn't be out of the question, given his age), $5.5-7M is a good price for what he'd give you.

 

I'm guessing Lee's cost in talent will be higher because he's a lefty and because his contract is so team friendly.

[TruffleShuffle]

I'd take Lee. Just as good as Westbrook the last two years, and has a better contract that would keep him on the Cubs for 3 years. He's been around league-average in 2005-2006. Even without improvement (which wouldn't be out of the question, given his age), $5.5-7M is a good price for what he'd give you.

 

I'm guessing Lee's cost in talent will be higher because he's a lefty and because his contract is so team friendly.

 

good point. I'd be OK with the Cubs trading a bullpen arm, but I really don't want them exchanging a lot of major league talent for other major league talent. The Cubs suck, and need big-league talent coming in and not going out.

[soccer10k]

I fully expect Hendry to choose Lee based soley on his 18 wins in 2005.

 

I agree.

 

That being said, I would pick Westbrook but would be content with either if we don't have to give up too much.