ESPN 1000 - Cubs are going after Schmidt next

[goonys evil twin]

This sounds like a very fair deal to me. I think it is something that Schmidt would take. He is a very solid number two who would fit perfect behind big Z.

 

Well, they are both big and beefy, I'm not sure either would fit well behind the other.

[TheDude]

This sounds like a very fair deal to me. I think it is something that Schmidt would take. He is a very solid number two who would fit perfect behind big Z.

 

Well, they are both big and beefy, I'm not sure either would fit well behind the other.

 

Cue the Benny Hill music.

[killthegoat06]

Per Rotoworld via FoxSports.com:

 

The bidding for Jason Schmidt has soared past $11 million per season for three or four years, said an executive from a team with interest in the pitcher.

 

Of course it has. Schmidt's deal won't be as long as Barry Zito's, but there's no reason he should settle for less than $14 million-$15 million per year in this market. $60 million for four years or $70 million for five years are our guesses. The Mariners, Dodgers, Yankees and Cubs are thought to be among the favorties.

 

Rumor was also picked up by SI.com

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/11/28/schmidt.cubs/index.html

[UMFan83]

Per Rotoworld via FoxSports.com:

 

The bidding for Jason Schmidt has soared past $11 million per season for three or four years, said an executive from a team with interest in the pitcher.

 

Of course it has. Schmidt's deal won't be as long as Barry Zito's, but there's no reason he should settle for less than $14 million-$15 million per year in this market. $60 million for four years or $70 million for five years are our guesses. The Mariners, Dodgers, Yankees and Cubs are thought to be among the favorties.

 

Rumor was also picked up by SI.com

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/11/28/schmidt.cubs/index.html

 

Wow they seem pretty certain that the offer was made

 

The Cubs, anxious to steal the winter and maybe the summer, too, are now pursuing star free-agent pitcher Jason Schmidt, SI.com has learned. The Cubs already have spent $239 million on free agents (including the $10 million they used for new manager Lou Piniella), and two high-ranking baseball people said they are bidding about $45 million over three years for Schmidt in attempt to lure him away from the West Coast.

 

But the article goes on to say that:

 

It may not be easy in his case. The Yankees showed interest in Schmidt several days ago but were told that he didn't want to move all the away across the country, to New York.

[b_wiggy_66]

Peter Gammons thinks that Schmidt could get around $60 million. He didn't metion over how many years though, I would assume 4. The Cubs may have to offer a little more to get him to come to the midwest.

[TruffleShuffle]

Peter Gammons thinks that Schmidt could get around $60 million. He didn't metion over how many years though, I would assume 4. The Cubs may have to offer a little more to get him to come to the midwest.

 

I'd probably do it, but I'd really want to have some sort of assurances in there for the 4th year to kick in at full price - either in terms of appearances or performance.

[Soul]

Peter Gammons thinks that Schmidt could get around $60 million. He didn't metion over how many years though, I would assume 4. The Cubs may have to offer a little more to get him to come to the midwest.

 

That's basically adding one year to the deal on the table.

 

I'd probably still do it with some kind of option / incentives.

 

One would think if the Dodgers or Mariners were prepared to pay this much to Schmidt, then they would have made such an offer long ago.

 

This looks very much like the 2 teams Schmidt wants to go to aren't really all that hot on paying him the level of cash he wants. That opens the door for the Cubs, even the Yanks and probably a few others.

[Sammy Sofa]

It may not be easy in his case. The Yankees showed interest in Schmidt several days ago but were told that he didn't want to move all the away across the country, to New York.

 

Hey, Jason! Chicago is only halfway!

[TruffleShuffle]

It may not be easy in his case. The Yankees showed interest in Schmidt several days ago but were told that he didn't want to move all the away across the country, to New York.

 

Hey, Jason! Chicago is only halfway!

 

plenty of non-stop flights from ORD to SFO too!

[goonys evil twin]

It may not be easy in his case. The Yankees showed interest in Schmidt several days ago but were told that he didn't want to move all the away across the country, to New York.

 

Hey, Jason! Chicago is only halfway!

 

More like 3/4.

[Sammy Sofa]

It may not be easy in his case. The Yankees showed interest in Schmidt several days ago but were told that he didn't want to move all the away across the country, to New York.

 

Hey, Jason! Chicago is only halfway!

 

More like 3/4.

 

Shut up before you ruin it!!!

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

All we can do is offer the money. If Schmidt choses comfort and familiarity over money, there's really nothing more we can do.

 

I'd surely love to have him.

 

If Prior could return to his 2004-2005 numbers and provide an ERA+ between 112-116, Zambrano maintains an ERA+ in the 130's, and Schmidt provides a 120 ERA+, our rotation could be unbelievable.

 

Imagine a rotation of

 

Zambrano (132 ERA+)

Schmidt (120 ERA+)

Prior (114 ERA+)

Hill (108 ERA+)

 

Miller, Marshall, Guzman, and Mateo could all compete for the fifth. I'm certain one of those could provide a 90 or better ERA+.

 

Schmidt would definitely make this an excellent offseason.

[TheDude]

Schmidt would definitely make this an excellent offseason.

 

From the beginning I was all about Schmidt and Soriano as top targets. That would be stellar.

[frostwyrm]

This has been mentioned, but just wanted to say that ESPN's rumor mill picked up the 3/44 rumor:

 

Cubs shelling out for Schmidt?

Nov 28 - According to The San Francisco Chronicle, the Cubs have offered free-agent starter Jason Schmidt a three-year deal worth $44 million.

 

Source: http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/features/rumors

 

Hendry will bid 4/60 soon. Would rather have written off 2007 and given our stable of 4A pitchers a chance to earn a rotation spot, then evaluate and address needs in the offseason. Sadly that ship has sailed(sigh).

[goonys evil twin]

All we can do is offer the money. If Schmidt choses comfort and familiarity over money, there's really nothing more we can do..

 

You can do more than that. You have to sell a lot more than just the contract. Epstein convinced Schilling to go to Boston after he had said he'd never go. Hendry has to do more than just layout a contract and say, "it's up to you." He should convince Schmidt that he's building a legit contender that will win big in the next few years. The contract itself is the most important thing, but you can't just stop there.

[Sammy Sofa]

This has been mentioned, but just wanted to say that ESPN's rumor mill picked up the 3/44 rumor:

 

Cubs shelling out for Schmidt?

Nov 28 - According to The San Francisco Chronicle, the Cubs have offered free-agent starter Jason Schmidt a three-year deal worth $44 million.

 

Source: http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/features/rumors

 

Hendry will bid 4/60 soon. Would rather have written off 2007 and given our stable of 4A pitchers a chance to earn a rotation spot, then evaluate and address needs in the offseason. Sadly that ship has sailed(sigh).

 

Was there even a ship to begin with? Outside of Hill, our current crop of youngsters ain't too pretty. I'm thinking some of them will improve, but do you really think any of them until Veal and Gallagher would improve THAT much?

[frostwyrm]

This has been mentioned, but just wanted to say that ESPN's rumor mill picked up the 3/44 rumor:

 

Cubs shelling out for Schmidt?

Nov 28 - According to The San Francisco Chronicle, the Cubs have offered free-agent starter Jason Schmidt a three-year deal worth $44 million.

 

Source: http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/features/rumors

 

Hendry will bid 4/60 soon. Would rather have written off 2007 and given our stable of 4A pitchers a chance to earn a rotation spot, then evaluate and address needs in the offseason. Sadly that ship has sailed(sigh).

 

Was there even a ship to begin with? Outside of Hill, our current crop of youngsters ain't too pretty. I'm thinking some of them will improve, but do you really think any of them until Veal and Gallagher would improve THAT much?

 

I don't know, but it would have been nice to find out. Not having humongous bubble-year contracts on the books for the next half decade would have been cool too.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'd be much more optimistic if we had more potential to "wait and see," but we don't. And spending like this doesn't preclude developing the farm system, so we could still have that if they wise up.

[UMFan83]

This has been mentioned, but just wanted to say that ESPN's rumor mill picked up the 3/44 rumor:

 

Cubs shelling out for Schmidt?

Nov 28 - According to The San Francisco Chronicle, the Cubs have offered free-agent starter Jason Schmidt a three-year deal worth $44 million.

 

Source: http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/features/rumors

 

Hendry will bid 4/60 soon. Would rather have written off 2007 and given our stable of 4A pitchers a chance to earn a rotation spot, then evaluate and address needs in the offseason. Sadly that ship has sailed(sigh).

 

Was there even a ship to begin with? Outside of Hill, our current crop of youngsters ain't too pretty. I'm thinking some of them will improve, but do you really think any of them until Veal and Gallagher would improve THAT much?

 

I don't know, but it would have been nice to find out. Not having humongous bubble-year contracts on the books for the next half decade would have been cool too.

 

Hopefully you weren't one of the people saying "please I don't care what you have to do, just win a World Series" during last season. Look the fans want to win now, and that is what the management is trying to do. I know its completely short sighted and we'll regret it, but within reason, I'll worry about the future in the future.

 

In terms of our 'crops' of pitchers, I saw enough of that last year.

[TruffleShuffle]

This has been mentioned, but just wanted to say that ESPN's rumor mill picked up the 3/44 rumor:

 

Cubs shelling out for Schmidt?

Nov 28 - According to The San Francisco Chronicle, the Cubs have offered free-agent starter Jason Schmidt a three-year deal worth $44 million.

 

Source: http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/features/rumors

 

Hendry will bid 4/60 soon. Would rather have written off 2007 and given our stable of 4A pitchers a chance to earn a rotation spot, then evaluate and address needs in the offseason. Sadly that ship has sailed(sigh).

 

Was there even a ship to begin with? Outside of Hill, our current crop of youngsters ain't too pretty. I'm thinking some of them will improve, but do you really think any of them until Veal and Gallagher would improve THAT much?

 

I don't know, but it would have been nice to find out. Not having humongous bubble-year contracts on the books for the next half decade would have been cool too.

 

Hopefully you weren't one of the people saying "please I don't care what you have to do, just win a World Series" during last season. Look the fans want to win now, and that is what the management is trying to do. I know its completely short sighted and we'll regret it, but within reason, I'll worry about the future in the future.

 

In terms of our 'crops' of pitchers, I saw enough of that last year.

 

not to mention that our crops of pitchers that were supposedly spectacular in the part of this decade yielded exactly one good, reliable starter - unless you count someone like Willis, who wasn't that highly regarded at the time of his trade. Every pitching prospect the Cubs have who is close to being major-league ready has serious questions, in terms of ability and/or health.

[goonys evil twin]

not to mention that our crops of pitchers that were supposedly spectacular in the part of this decade yielded exactly one good, reliable starter - unless you count someone like Willis, who wasn't that highly regarded at the time of his trade. Every pitching prospect the Cubs have who is close to being major-league ready has serious questions, in terms of ability and/or health.

 

And these signings aren't taking away any of our current crop of prospects either. Theoretically, if any of these guys work out, it will make the big contracts all that much easier to handle in future years. If they start trading their best pitching prospects for relievers and bench players, then the future is in jeopardy. But, if they hold onto those guys, or only use them in trades for really good regular contributors, then we're fine.

[b_wiggy_66]

Bruce have you heard anything on the Schmidt front?

[swordsman]

Someone activate the Bruce Signal.

[Rob]

All we can do is offer the money. If Schmidt choses comfort and familiarity over money, there's really nothing more we can do..

 

You can do more than that. You have to sell a lot more than just the contract. Epstein convinced Schilling to go to Boston after he had said he'd never go. Hendry has to do more than just layout a contract and say, "it's up to you." He should convince Schmidt that he's building a legit contender that will win big in the next few years. The contract itself is the most important thing, but you can't just stop there.

 

I'm not positive about this now, but I seem to remember hearing a report from an unnamed agent saying something to the effect of the presentation Hendry made to Soriano to convince him to come out here was the best he had ever seen.

[Post Count Padder]

ESPN News said they'll have Peter Gammons coming on soon to talk about the Cubs' offer.