ESPN AM 1000: Cubs resign Blanco for 2 years/5M

[Blueheart05]

Hank got a raise... Apparently, the Cubs are in spend mode. Hopefully, this will soon translate to a big bat and two good pitchers.

[BigbadB]

[-(

[CubColtPacer]

This wasn't surprising to me at all-the Cubs were not willing to go into this year that they are trying to contend with a young backup catcher. I think Blanco is still better than Soto-is it worth 2.5 million? I don't know, but I'm fine with this deal-again, not enthused and jumping up and down, but not particularly unhappy either.

[Bruno7481]

Can't wait for this one to blow up....

 

I don't mind Hank, very good receiver and can really shut down a running game. Basically what you want in a backup C. Any offense he gives you is a bonus, and he had his moments last year at the plate.

 

Thanks for your time Soto.

[Tedward]

Hank got a raise... Apparently, the Cubs are in spend mode. Hopefully, this will soon translate to a big bat and two good pitchers.

 

Hopefully the payroll is upwards of $120MM this season. It's almost like Hendry thinks he is handing out Monopoly money right now.

 

I wonder if this may affect Barrett's trade status in any way....

[wXw]

Man... I guess they're going to quickly spend their bid money on resigning their own garbage. What next??? 4 Yr/75 Mil for Pierre?

[goonys evil twin]

Is Hendry only going to be making moves based on analysis of the players 2006 season? Blanco has an almost career year, a year in which he still sucked, and he gets a raise.

 

Brilliant.

 

 

The money is going fast. Will any be left for actual improvements to the baseball team?

[USSoccer]

Jeez. $2.5m per? Our payroll better be upwards of $120m at this rate.

 

I really think Soto could have done whatever Blanco is going to do at a tenth of that cost.

[Hacking Out Machine]

Is it just me, or is Hendry's #1 goal in life to make baseball players happy?

 

Having a GM that is well respected by players and agents is a good thing, and the way Hendry carries himself is definitely a credit to himself and club.

 

But geez, his quest to perpetuate this reputation sure does saddle the Cubs with bad contracts pretty often.

[goonys evil twin]

I wonder if Hendry is thinking about Blanco being the starter in 2008. Barrett will be a free agent before that season, and if he has a decent seasons, he'll cost nearly $10 million.

[YearofDaCubs]

Jeez. $2.5m per? Our payroll better be upwards of $120m at this rate.

 

I really think Soto could have done whatever Blanco is going to do at a tenth of that cost.

Agreed. This is an eh move but you're right Soto could have been our backup.

[CubColtPacer]

Do any of the pitchers prefer Blanco behind the plate? I can't remember if he caught any of the pitchers primarily or not.

[Derwood]

I wonder if Hendry is thinking about Blanco being the starter in 2008. Barrett will be a free agent before that season, and if he has a decent seasons, he'll cost nearly $10 million.

 

if this lineup has DeRosa, Izturis and Blanco making up 1/3 of the offense, Jebus help us all

[frostwyrm]

High-priced role players continue to be a staple of this regime.

[abuck1220]

unreal.

 

i can't wait to hear about the cubs not having the money to sign someone who is actually good.

 

please overspend on a good player for once.

[goonys evil twin]

Jeez. $2.5m per? Our payroll better be upwards of $120m at this rate.

 

I really think Soto could have done whatever Blanco is going to do at a tenth of that cost.

Agreed. This is an eh move but you're right Soto could have been our backup.

 

And no eh move means much on its own. The problem comes in when you have a series of eh moves and you end up spending $10-15 million on worthless ballplayers that could easily be replaced for a handful of guys combining to make $2 million.

 

If Hendry was the GM of Pittsburgh he could have gotten the same type of player, but would have paid less because he had to. Giving Hendry more money to spend doesn't seem to make him better able to acquire good baseball players. He can just afford to overpay more of the same mediocre talent.

[abuck1220]

High-priced role players continue to be a staple of this regime.

 

well, you can't argue with success.

[goonys evil twin]

High-priced role players continue to be a staple of this regime.

 

Same old crap. But it's too early to complain, right?

 

Payroll doesn't matter when more money just means more expensive non-producers.

[Tedward]

Payroll doesn't matter when more money just means more expensive non-producers.

 

So, to this point, hasn't Hendry re-signed all of his own FA's with the exception of Pierre? I really hope this trend does not continue.

[Banedon]

Anyone think A-ram is questioning why he had to leave $30 million on the table for these guys?

[cl smooth]

we're giving a backup catcher 2.5 million?! :shock:

 

can they give us all cash for rooting for this crap?! seriously...wow!

[Derwood]

Apparently Jim thinks that all it takes to win is to spend a lot of money (regardless of who you spend it on)

[frostwyrm]

Anyone think A-ram is questioning why he had to leave $30 million on the table for these guys?

Na, Aramis strikes me as a guy who may have found a comfort zone in Chicago and is not a fanatic about winning. Z is a different animal. I'm sure Z also knows more W's will help him get a Cy Young.

[Laura]

I wonder if Hendry is thinking about Blanco being the starter in 2008. Barrett will be a free agent before that season, and if he has a decent seasons, he'll cost nearly $10 million.

 

I'd bet that he re-signed Blanco for the same reason he signed Blanco in the first place: his defensive rep, which at least seems to be based in reality.

 

Do any of the pitchers prefer Blanco behind the plate? I can't remember if he caught any of the pitchers primarily or not.

 

IIRC, the only consistent match-up over this past season was Barrett & Maddux for the vast majority of Maddux starts (I think Blanco caught & Barrett DH'd in one of his interleague starts). Barrett's injuries and suspensions may have played a role.

 

He overpayed, but they've been signaling their intent to re-sign Blanco so it's not a huge surprise.

[soapy]

This thread is going to dwarf the DeRosa thread, and rightfully so (IMO). This is a waste of money.

 

Wasted so far: $4.15 on Izturis; $4.5 on DeRosa; $3.25 on Rusch (unless he retires); $2.5 on Blanco.

 

I really just hope everyone remembers all of these contracts if/when Hendry misses out on guys like Schmidt, Drew, Soriano, etc. I don't blame the Trib, I blame Hendry for wasting.

Edited November 15, 2006 by soapy