ESPN 1000 - Cubs are going after Schmidt next

[cubs121]

can someone PLEASE tell me if the cubs have reportedly offered a contract to Jason Shmidt?

 

thanks

[C.C.]

can someone PLEASE tell me if the cubs have reportedly offered a contract to Jason Shmidt?

 

thanks

 

I honestly don't think anyone knows. It's all speculation right now.

[oldcubsfan]

I hear Schmidt wants to play in Seattle, it's beyond me why anyone would desire to live in that heroin sesspool dump known as Seattle, Washington.

 

Seattle is great city. I can easily see why someone from that area would want to go back.

 

Just because the Cubs have made an offer doesn't mean Schmidt accepts it. Unlike Soriano, who was obviously going to the high bidder no matter the team, Schmidt has stated a strong preference for heading to the West Coast. Seems hard to believe a West Coast team wouldn't match a 3/45 offer in this market for Jason Schmidt.

 

But, we can hope...

 

Hey man, I love DC and wouldn't want to go anywhere else. But if the choice between two jobs, one in my preferred location and another in Chicago, for a 3 year gig...I think I can delay my preferred city for 3 years if it meant an extra 6 million dollars in my account.

 

West coast gets played up too much. Schmidt isn't Clemens, he's ten years younger, and he's not on the cusp of retirement. For a 3 year gig, location probably doesn't mean that much to a guy not yet in his twilight years.

 

I strongly agree with all that The Dude is saying here, and it's not just because I saw part of the Big Lebowski again last night. A few extra million would make the distance from your preferred locale pretty easy to deal with. It's not like he'd be spending every day at home either, they are travelling most of the time.

 

I'd disagree. If I was generally happy where I was at, I was married and had kids in school, I wouldn't move for 45 million over three instead of, say, $39 mil over three. It's not like you can't get by quite nicely for $13 mil a year, I wouldn't yank my kids out of the school system and uproot my family because I was greedy for another two per.

 

But then again, I don't know if he has kids or anything like that either.

Would you still have the family live in Seattle and make your residence there, but acknowledge the fact that you have a $15M/year job that kept you on the road for 6 months at a time? Have the fam with you in a condo in Chicago during the summer months so you're really only on the road away from them for four months during the year. You can afford to fly everyone in to Chicago for every homestand, too.

Would you expect your family to drop everything (school, sports, social activities) every homestand and fly halfway across the country? Yeah, he can afford it, but that'd get to be a drain after awhile.

 

I'm not saying he wouldn't do it. What I am saying is that just because we offer him a couple more million a year than anyone else doesn't guarantee it will be enough to convince him to sign. Everyone's priorities are different. I don't know Schmidt from a hill of beans, so I couldn't tell you where his are. All I'm saying is don't be surprised if he decides not to sign with us even if we are the highest bidder, as that won't guarantee anything.

 

Nice thought, but it seems a majority of players have made that decision before, look at DLee. Schmidt's agent has said it's not true that he only will play for a west coast team.

To simplistically compare any of our lives to theirs is silly. #months in the summer in Chicago is not hell for a family-it is an extended vacation. When millions are involved to insure your future, this is a minor inconvienence.

Edited November 22, 2006 by oldcubsfan

[Ding Dong Johnson]

It's all posturing, pure and simple.

 

What an interesting hypothesis. Please tell me more.

[Jon]

I don't see 3/45 getting this done. I'd have to believe he'd get a 4th year pretty easily.

[Bluescale]

can someone PLEASE tell me if the cubs have reportedly offered a contract to Jason Shmidt?

 

thanks

 

I honestly don't think anyone knows. It's all speculation right now.

 

Just a wild guess, but I have a feeling Jim Hendry and Jason Schmidt know. :wink:

[Soul]

It's likely Schmitty will have good offers out West, and that's where he has said he wants to be.

 

Not saying this can't happen, but if Hendry draws Schmidt all the way to Chicago-----some 3,000 miles away from where the guy wants to live-----then that's one hell of an accomplishment.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Haven't the Mariners fielded calls about the availability of Sexson and Beltre? Not to mention they traded Moyer last season. Meche is planning on leaving Seattle. It seems to me that Seattle is currently in an state of unknown. They don't know if they want to compete for the West, or should they rebuild. And that "indecision" could eventually lead Schmidt away from his stance of only pitching on the West Coast.

 

I mean think about it....Anaheim is looking for hitting. Oakland can't afford Schdmit. The Padres are looking at 2nd tier pitchers. The D'Backs and the Rockies seem to be relatively satisfied with their pitching. So really the ONLY West Coast team that he could look at---outside of San Fran---is LA.

 

With the current state of Mariners baseball being unknown right now, I don't see Schmidt wasting time to go "home" just to be part of a rebuilding. So that COULD lead to Schmidt having to decide how important is it for him to stay on the West Coast .v. having a chance to play for a contender.

Edited November 22, 2006 by NorthsideAvenger

[killthegoat06]

Haven't the Mariners fielded calls about the availability of Sexson and Beltre? Not to mention they traded Moyer last season. Meche is planning on leaving Seattle. It seems to me that Seattle is currently in an state of unknown. They don't know if they want to compete for the West, or should they rebuild. And that "indecision" could eventually lead Schmidt away from his stance of only pitching on the West Coast.

 

I mean think about it....Anaheim is looking for hitting. Oakland can't afford Schdmit. The Padres are looking at 2nd tier pitchers. The D'Backs and the Rockies seem to be relatively satisfied with their pitching. So really the ONLY West Coast team that he could look at---outside of San Fran---is LA.

 

With the current state of Mariners baseball being unknown right now, I don't see Schmidt wasting time to go "home" just to be part of a rebuilding. So that COULD lead to Schmidt having to decide how important is it for him to stay on the West Coast .v. having a chance to play for a contender.

 

Haha. To think that we are contenders after signing one good free agent after a 66 win season... :lol:

[Laura]

Jon Heyman / SI.com[/url]"] After beating out the other Soriano finalists -- the Phillies, Astros, Dodgers, Giants and Angels -- the Cubs' running tab has now hit $239 million (including the $10 million the spent on Piniella, which really got the ball rolling), and everyone connected with the Cubs tells me "we're not done.'' Most, however, believe they will let the biggest pitchers go to the coasts. Barry Zito will probably wind up in New York or California while Jason Schmidt is expected to remain on the West Coast (the Mariners and Dodgers appear to be the most logical choices), so the Cubs will most likely settle for a talented yet underachieving sort like Gil Meche.

[killthegoat06]

As we debate about who has the cooler city, I was just curious if there have been any updates about Schmidt?

[Yeti]

FWIW, he's married with a 5 year old and a 2 year old.

 

Stalker.

 

I've heard worse.

 

i am worse

[Neuby]

It now looks like we will have to wait till after turkey day even if they were close which we haven't heard yet , I doubt they'll get anything done before Thursday.

[Yeti]

i keep tellin you ppl that nothing will happen with schmidt till the Bosox/Mats negotiantions are over

[Guest]

FWIW, he's married with a 5 year old and a 2 year old.

 

Stalker.

 

I've heard worse.

 

i am worse

 

not in school yet. shouldn't be a problem to move them.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Haven't the Mariners fielded calls about the availability of Sexson and Beltre? Not to mention they traded Moyer last season. Meche is planning on leaving Seattle. It seems to me that Seattle is currently in an state of unknown. They don't know if they want to compete for the West, or should they rebuild. And that "indecision" could eventually lead Schmidt away from his stance of only pitching on the West Coast.

 

I mean think about it....Anaheim is looking for hitting. Oakland can't afford Schdmit. The Padres are looking at 2nd tier pitchers. The D'Backs and the Rockies seem to be relatively satisfied with their pitching. So really the ONLY West Coast team that he could look at---outside of San Fran---is LA.

 

With the current state of Mariners baseball being unknown right now, I don't see Schmidt wasting time to go "home" just to be part of a rebuilding. So that COULD lead to Schmidt having to decide how important is it for him to stay on the West Coast .v. having a chance to play for a contender.

 

Haha. To think that we are contenders after signing one good free agent after a 66 win season... :lol:

 

I didn't say the Cubs as a contender, did I? But after retaining ARam, and locking Soriano, that CAN'T be worse the 66 wins again.

 

And my point is still the same...there are only two legit WC teams that have the money (perhaps) and are contenders....the Dodgers and the Giants. And the Giants are resign to letting him go. And the Mariners, while his home state, looks like they may be heading more into rebuilding the contending, and why waste a few yrs in Seattle, and not winning.

 

Coupled with getting Soriano, I believe Schmidt would help instantly make the Cubs a contender. Moreso then adding mulitple guys like Meche/Westbrook and Lilly.

[Guest]

Haven't the Mariners fielded calls about the availability of Sexson and Beltre? Not to mention they traded Moyer last season. Meche is planning on leaving Seattle. It seems to me that Seattle is currently in an state of unknown. They don't know if they want to compete for the West, or should they rebuild. And that "indecision" could eventually lead Schmidt away from his stance of only pitching on the West Coast.

 

I mean think about it....Anaheim is looking for hitting. Oakland can't afford Schdmit. The Padres are looking at 2nd tier pitchers. The D'Backs and the Rockies seem to be relatively satisfied with their pitching. So really the ONLY West Coast team that he could look at---outside of San Fran---is LA.

 

With the current state of Mariners baseball being unknown right now, I don't see Schmidt wasting time to go "home" just to be part of a rebuilding. So that COULD lead to Schmidt having to decide how important is it for him to stay on the West Coast .v. having a chance to play for a contender.

 

Haha. To think that we are contenders after signing one good free agent after a 66 win season... :lol:

 

I didn't say the Cubs as a contender, did I? But after retaining ARam, and locking Soriano, that CAN'T be worse the 66 wins again.

 

And my point is still the same...there are only two legit WC teams that have the money (perhaps) and are contenders....the Dodgers and the Giants. And the Giants are resign to letting him go. And the Mariners, while his home state, looks like they may be heading more into rebuilding the contending, and why waste a few yrs in Seattle, and not winning.

 

Coupled with getting Soriano, I believe Schmidt would help instantly make the Cubs a contender. Moreso then adding mulitple guys like Meche/Westbrook and Lilly.

 

I suspect that is true with pitchers but not with hitters. however, you still need to fill 1450 innings somehow. having terrible 4th and 5th starters will hurt you.

[killthegoat06]

Haven't the Mariners fielded calls about the availability of Sexson and Beltre? Not to mention they traded Moyer last season. Meche is planning on leaving Seattle. It seems to me that Seattle is currently in an state of unknown. They don't know if they want to compete for the West, or should they rebuild. And that "indecision" could eventually lead Schmidt away from his stance of only pitching on the West Coast.

 

I mean think about it....Anaheim is looking for hitting. Oakland can't afford Schdmit. The Padres are looking at 2nd tier pitchers. The D'Backs and the Rockies seem to be relatively satisfied with their pitching. So really the ONLY West Coast team that he could look at---outside of San Fran---is LA.

 

With the current state of Mariners baseball being unknown right now, I don't see Schmidt wasting time to go "home" just to be part of a rebuilding. So that COULD lead to Schmidt having to decide how important is it for him to stay on the West Coast .v. having a chance to play for a contender.

 

Haha. To think that we are contenders after signing one good free agent after a 66 win season... :lol:

 

I didn't say the Cubs as a contender, did I? But after retaining ARam, and locking Soriano, that CAN'T be worse the 66 wins again.

 

And my point is still the same...there are only two legit WC teams that have the money (perhaps) and are contenders....the Dodgers and the Giants. And the Giants are resign to letting him go. And the Mariners, while his home state, looks like they may be heading more into rebuilding the contending, and why waste a few yrs in Seattle, and not winning.

 

Coupled with getting Soriano, I believe Schmidt would help instantly make the Cubs a contender. Moreso then adding mulitple guys like Meche/Westbrook and Lilly.

 

Agreed. I was just messin with ya.

[neely crenshaw]

hold on here..i am as negative about the cubs as anyone but we won 66 games...consider we add soriano....we also basically add dlee. that's a pretty good jump in offense.

we hopefully will add a decent prior...not great but decent.(and no i am not counting on health)

the WS champ is in our division and won only 83....it's not that huge a jump.

with health next year we are already a contender(but then only 5 teams aren't) what we do now is try to make it a "near" lock for the playoffs.

 

overpay schmidt..get meche or lilly(quickly because they may go way up in cost! later) then we are done.

 

hope wood,dempster,howry and eyre can get it done in the bullpen with an eye on a closer at deal time... i just don't see any options at closer now.

[CuseCubFan69]

IMO Schmidt has his offers and will mull them over the Holiday weekend with his family.

[killthegoat06]

If we fail to get Schmidt, but manage to trade for Westbrook, what free agent starting pitcher would you guys like to get? Meche, Wolf, Lilly, Bautista, Marquis and Padilla are the names I've heard thrown around.

[YearofDaCubs]

If we fail to get Schmidt, but manage to trade for Westbrook, what free agent starting pitcher would you guys like to get? Meche, Wolf, Lilly, Bautista, Marquis and Padilla are the names I've heard thrown around.

I would like one of Wolf, Lilly or Padilla.

[Rob]

If we fail to get Schmidt, but manage to trade for Westbrook, what free agent starting pitcher would you guys like to get? Meche, Wolf, Lilly, Bautista, Marquis and Padilla are the names I've heard thrown around.

 

I'd rather not spend the money on any of them... but if we can get Lilly for 3/30 or less, I'd be willing to go that long with him.

[LeftCoastCubFan]

Is the rumor true that Hendry is spending Thanksgiving with him and his family? :^o

[David]

Is the rumor true that Hendry is spending Thanksgiving with him and his family? :^o

 

Jerk. LOL