piniella: cubs could go after 3 SP's (including marquis???)

[abuck1220]

But Wednesday, right before he went off to make a recruiting call to free-agent right-hander Gil Meche, Piniella raised the ante.

 

"We'd like to get three starters," the new manager said with a devious twinkle in his eye.

 

According to major-league sources, the third starter—the bonus one—very well could be Jason Marquis, who didn't pitch for St. Louis in the postseason after going 14-16 with a 6.02 earned-run average.

 

Hendry hopes to get two others off a list that includes Ted Lilly (15-13, 4.31 for Toronto), Meche (11-8, 4.48 for Seattle), Miguel Batista (11-8, 4.58 for Arizona) and Japanese left-hander Kei Igawa, who is expected to be posted by the Hanshin Tigers on Monday.

[Soriano12]

Jason Marquis

 

Excuse me while I vomit.

[Outshined_One]

The fact that Hendry's list does not include Zito or Schmidt does not bode well.

[Rob]

I would honestly rather lose my left nut than watch Marquis desecrate a Cubs uniform next season.

[WrigleyField 22]

I'd give Marquis a minor league contract and invite to spring training.

[Balsa]

I would honestly rather lose my left nut than watch Marquis desecrate a Cubs uniform next season.

pics plz

[Rob]

I'd give Marquis a minor league contract and invite to spring training.

 

I'd give him a bottle of tequila and a note saying "Thanks for all the memories," but that's about as generous as I get.

 

Simply put, we've got enough of a starting pitcher crunch in the minors that we don't need a scrub like Marquis wasting space in Iowa, let alone Chicago.

[bcruise]

I was going to wait until somebody started a thread about this....

 

This was posted on another board I frequent:

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/story/471528p-396783c.html

 

Cubs open checkbook

The other big signing at yesterday's meetings - Carlstadt, N.J.'s Mark DeRosa cashing in on his breakout season with the Rangers with a three-year, $13 million with the Cubs - is viewed as a portent of big things to come in Wrigleyville. When Lou Piniella signed on as Cubs manager last month, it was stated by one and all that the Cubs were going to spend what it takes to win. It started with the re-signing of third baseman Aramis Ramirez for five years and $73 million. Now with DeRosa in the fold as an all-purpose insurance policy, Piniella and GM Jim Hendry are on the prowl for two starting pitchers, two power-hitting outfielders and a second baseman.

They're going to be big players in the Alfonso Soriano sweepstakes, and Piniella has his eye on his old Tampa Bay shortstop, Julio Lugo, who is also being pursued by the Red Sox and Blue Jays. Piniella actually views Lugo as a potential center field/leadoff hitter as an alternative if the Cubs are unable to sign Gary Matthews Jr.

 

And very quietly the Cubs have been exploring DeRosa's best friend, Jason Marquis, as a potential bargain reclamation project. Marquis had a horrible season with the Cardinals this year, falling out of favor with Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan, after winning 28 games the previous two seasons in St. Louis.

 

But, on his own, he recently worked under the tutelage of a major league pitching coach in Florida and is said to have straightened out two mechanical flaws Duncan couldn't find. Hendry got good reports on Marquis and is strongly considering him for one of the two rotation vacancies. And if the Soriano bidding gets too rich, the Cubs are looking at Cliff Floyd, who, upon recovering from his Achilles surgery, would love to go home to Chicago.

 

The words "Mark DeRosa's best friend" scare the living hell out of me.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

By looking at the list of potential targets, I can only hope the Cubs are confident (and have reason to be) that both Prior and Miller are at 100%. Otherwise, why?

[Neuby]

I love what I'm hearing as far as two power hitting outfielders , I don't wanna touch the length of the deals Schmidt and Zito will get. I will take Jason Marquis an a deal similar to Miller.

[Balsa]

Oh my god not Cliff Floyd. I love the guy, but he's injured so often it's not even funny. He was thinking about retiring after this year for cripe's sake.

[nilodnayr]

I love what I'm hearing as far as two power hitting outfielders , I don't wanna touch the length of the deals Schmidt and Zito will get. I will take Jason Marquis an a deal similar to Miller.

 

Yes, now that would be an efficient use of our money, as opposed to whats happened the last couple of days. I don't like the idea of Marquis, but in a truly low risk situation its fine (ie 1M base and not given a rotation spot). If indeed his flaws have been figured out he would be a good back of the rotation guy.

[XZero771679666304]

I wouldn't feel comfortable giving Schmidt a long term deal, and Zito just isn't worth 17 or 18 million per. The idea of Meche and Padilla don't excite me at all, but I'd rather give either of them 3-5 years than Schmidt. I wouldn't mind Zito, but he isn't the pitcher he was a few years ago, but he wants to be paid like he still is.

[nilodnayr]

Oh my god not Cliff Floyd. I love the guy, but he's injured so often it's not even funny. He was thinking about retiring after this year for cripe's sake.

 

But how great would he be in the meat end of a platoon with Murton!!!!

[WrigleyField 22]

While a $1M might not be bad in and of itself alone as a low risk attempt for Marquis, remember we have 40 spots on the 40 man. We can't have half those spots on risks.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

The fact that Hendry's list does not include Zito or Schmidt does not bode well.

 

Why?

 

It's not like either will be worth their contracts.

 

The Cubs need pitching, and will have to overpay to get it. Still, Zito and Schmidt want BIG contracts and both have major flaws, and really...Zito isn't even all that good.

[b_wiggy_66]

Sounds like Jim's goin dumpster diving again!!!

[A New Era]

The fact that Hendry's list does not include Zito or Schmidt does not bode well.

 

Why?

 

It's not like either will be worth their contracts.

 

The Cubs need pitching, and will have to overpay to get it. Still, Zito and Schmidt want BIG contracts and both have major flaws, and really...Zito isn't even all that good.

 

Plus, both of them have pretty big limits as to where they actually want to go. I'd rather trade for some above average pitchers like Weston, and sign some like Lily and Igawa. And just build and incredible offense around that. .

[ChiCubsFan]

The fact that Hendry's list does not include Zito or Schmidt does not bode well.

 

Why?

 

It's not like either will be worth their contracts.

 

The Cubs need pitching, and will have to overpay to get it. Still, Zito and Schmidt want BIG contracts and both have major flaws, and really...Zito isn't even all that good.

 

Plus, both of them have pretty big limits as to where they actually want to go. I'd rather trade for some above average pitchers like Weston, and sign some like Lily and Igawa. And just build and incredible offense around that. .

 

Who's this Weston fella you speak of?

[A New Era]

The fact that Hendry's list does not include Zito or Schmidt does not bode well.

 

Why?

 

It's not like either will be worth their contracts.

 

The Cubs need pitching, and will have to overpay to get it. Still, Zito and Schmidt want BIG contracts and both have major flaws, and really...Zito isn't even all that good.

 

Plus, both of them have pretty big limits as to where they actually want to go. I'd rather trade for some above average pitchers like Weston, and sign some like Lily and Igawa. And just build and incredible offense around that. .

 

Who's this Weston fella you speak of?

 

Probably a mispelling of one of two pitchers available for trade. (ok someone, go ahead, humiliate me. How far was I off?)

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm gonna go with Westbrook.

[muntjack]

The Piniella quote about 3 starters tells me one thing : Big trade coming.

 

Assuming Meche, Marquis and Batista our staff would be (once Prior is back):

 

Zambrano

Hill

Prior

Miller

Meche

Batista

Marquis

Marshall

Guzman

Marmol

Aardsma

Mateo

Wuertz

Ohman

Howry

Eyre

Dempster

Wood

 

Granted, some of those guys should get more time at Iowa. However, I didn't even include guys like Ryu, Novoa, OMalley and Walrond who will almost certainly be in Iowa. Add them to the list of guys progressing up from AA, and we have a big time logjam. I expect us to get one big free agent hitter and then make a blockbuster.

[A New Era]

I'm gonna go with Westbrook.

 

DING DING DING DING!! Sorry, with the excitement, it is hard to think straight right now. I can almost guarantee the Cubs will sign someone else by Friday.

[Laura]

"We'd like to get three starters," the new manager said with a devious twinkle in his eye.

 

Piniella = tanned, rested, ready, angrier, beardless Cubs Santa

[A New Era]

"We'd like to get three starters," the new manager said with a devious twinkle in his eye.

 

Piniella = tanned, rested, ready, angrier, beardless Cubs Santa

 

oooow. Sig worthy!! :lol: