ESPN 1000 - Cubs are going after Schmidt next

[TruffleShuffle]

Are we going to be seeing Gil Meche and Jason Marquis next year? Because that wouldn't be cool.

 

Jason Marquis is the really puzzling one. He's always been way too hittable for a sinkerball pitcher, and last year he was a train wreck. Plus, the Cards, who are an intelligent and well-run organization, apparently have no interest in him. That should tell the Cubs (a stupid, poorly-run organization) something.

[Rob]

Are we going to be seeing Gil Meche and Jason Marquis next year? Because that wouldn't be cool.

 

Jason Marquis is the really puzzling one. He's always been way too hittable for a sinkerball pitcher, and last year he was a train wreck. Plus, the Cards, who are an intelligent and well-run organization, apparently have no interest in him. That should tell the Cubs (a stupid, poorly-run organization) something.

 

Only if the Cubs realize that they themselves are stupid.

[frostwyrm]

No, just the opposite. I wanted a quick fall from contention in 2006. I thought the Cubs could make a nice run in 2007 if they played their cards right, but they didn't. Thanks to a big increase in payroll the Cubs look possibly viable as a 2007 contender, but only at the expense of the future. IMO far too much of the payroll is going to be locked up in multiyear deals that we will regret.

 

I'm just not convinced the future has been expensed. The talent is all still intact. And if any of those guys were any good, they will also be cheap for a good while longer, so that value can makeup for overpaying older guys.

 

There is definite risk to the future. But you can't win in this game without taking risks. You have to be in it to win it.

 

I know you have to take risks to win, but this is a bubble market and the Cubs needed a major rebuilding. It's an exceptionally awful time for the Cubs to have a GM who has to win now to save his job.

[CubinNY]

15 million/year should come close to landing Shmidt. I think the question will be lenght of the contract.

 

Thanks Bruce.

[Rob]

No, just the opposite. I wanted a quick fall from contention in 2006. I thought the Cubs could make a nice run in 2007 if they played their cards right, but they didn't. Thanks to a big increase in payroll the Cubs look possibly viable as a 2007 contender, but only at the expense of the future. IMO far too much of the payroll is going to be locked up in multiyear deals that we will regret.

 

I'm just not convinced the future has been expensed. The talent is all still intact. And if any of those guys were any good, they will also be cheap for a good while longer, so that value can makeup for overpaying older guys.

 

There is definite risk to the future. But you can't win in this game without taking risks. You have to be in it to win it.

 

I know you have to take risks to win, but this is a bubble market and the Cubs needed a major rebuilding. It's an exceptionally awful time for the Cubs to have a GM who has to win now to save his job.

 

It really is... though I have to admit, I do kinda enjoy the fact we've spent nearly a quarter of a billion so far this offseason (even if it hasn't been on the right players). It's enthralling.

[TruffleShuffle]

No, just the opposite. I wanted a quick fall from contention in 2006. I thought the Cubs could make a nice run in 2007 if they played their cards right, but they didn't. Thanks to a big increase in payroll the Cubs look possibly viable as a 2007 contender, but only at the expense of the future. IMO far too much of the payroll is going to be locked up in multiyear deals that we will regret.

 

I'm just not convinced the future has been expensed. The talent is all still intact. And if any of those guys were any good, they will also be cheap for a good while longer, so that value can makeup for overpaying older guys.

 

There is definite risk to the future. But you can't win in this game without taking risks. You have to be in it to win it.

 

I know you have to take risks to win, but this is a bubble market and the Cubs needed a major rebuilding. It's an exceptionally awful time for the Cubs to have a GM who has to win now to save his job.

 

Not really. The Cubs are a big-market team, and they're finally going to act like it. A team like the Red Sox usually has one or two bad contracts on their hands, and it's not like they're crippled by that. The farm system is not good, and if the Cubs wait until it's rebuilt, they'll just be bad for a long time.

[Soul]

Are we going to be seeing Gil Meche and Jason Marquis next year? Because that wouldn't be cool.

 

Jason Marquis is the really puzzling one. He's always been way too hittable for a sinkerball pitcher, and last year he was a train wreck. Plus, the Cards, who are an intelligent and well-run organization, apparently have no interest in him. That should tell the Cubs (a stupid, poorly-run organization) something.

 

My experience with watching the Cards, when they decide to give up on a player the rest of the league should run screaming.

[Garwilly]

Are we going to be seeing Gil Meche and Jason Marquis next year? Because that wouldn't be cool.

 

Jason Marquis is the really puzzling one. He's always been way too hittable for a sinkerball pitcher, and last year he was a train wreck. Plus, the Cards, who are an intelligent and well-run organization, apparently have no interest in him. That should tell the Cubs (a stupid, poorly-run organization) something.

 

My experience with watching the Cards, when they decide to give up on a player the rest of the league should run screaming.

 

How is that JD Drew guy doing?

[Soul]

Are we going to be seeing Gil Meche and Jason Marquis next year? Because that wouldn't be cool.

 

Jason Marquis is the really puzzling one. He's always been way too hittable for a sinkerball pitcher, and last year he was a train wreck. Plus, the Cards, who are an intelligent and well-run organization, apparently have no interest in him. That should tell the Cubs (a stupid, poorly-run organization) something.

 

My experience with watching the Cards, when they decide to give up on a player the rest of the league should run screaming.

 

How is that JD Drew guy doing?

 

The exception that proves the rule. And from an attitude standpoint, the Cards were vindicated on Drew. There's a reason he keeps bouncing around.

[Drew Doughty]

Are we going to be seeing Gil Meche and Jason Marquis next year? Because that wouldn't be cool.

 

Jason Marquis is the really puzzling one. He's always been way too hittable for a sinkerball pitcher, and last year he was a train wreck. Plus, the Cards, who are an intelligent and well-run organization, apparently have no interest in him. That should tell the Cubs (a stupid, poorly-run organization) something.

 

My experience with watching the Cards, when they decide to give up on a player the rest of the league should run screaming.

 

How is that JD Drew guy doing?

 

The exception that proves the rule. And from an attitude standpoint, the Cards were vindicated on Drew. There's a reason he keeps bouncing around.

 

I don't think he'd be bouncing around if he didn't just opt out of a contract that allowed him to do so.

[TruffleShuffle]

Are we going to be seeing Gil Meche and Jason Marquis next year? Because that wouldn't be cool.

 

Jason Marquis is the really puzzling one. He's always been way too hittable for a sinkerball pitcher, and last year he was a train wreck. Plus, the Cards, who are an intelligent and well-run organization, apparently have no interest in him. That should tell the Cubs (a stupid, poorly-run organization) something.

 

My experience with watching the Cards, when they decide to give up on a player the rest of the league should run screaming.

 

How is that JD Drew guy doing?

 

The exception that proves the rule. And from an attitude standpoint, the Cards were vindicated on Drew. There's a reason he keeps bouncing around.

 

yeah, the Cards have made a few mistakes in personnel, but I'd have to agree that they usually know when it's time to cut a guy loose. The Cubs seem to grab a lot more guys whose careers come to a screeching halt within a week or two of signing on.

[b_wiggy_66]

well, all Gammons said was that the Cubs have offered him a 3 year deal, and he things Seattle or the Cubs are real possibilities

 

Bruce says this isn't true. Then again, Gammons is on the 20 dollar bill so it's hard to believe he's not right. I'm perplexed here.

 

I don't believe an offer was made. Remember, agents like to float a lot of things, especially to get the market going.

 

Do you believe that they are interested enough to make an offer in the 3-4 year range at close to 15 per year? Have you heard anything about the Igawa bid?

 

thanks Bruce.

 

I don't believe the Cubs will go $15 mil per year for Schmidt. Don't get too excited worrying about Igawa. He'll land elsehwere.

 

Thanks for all info. Bruce, all good scoop

[Derwood]

Are we going to be seeing Gil Meche and Jason Marquis next year? Because that wouldn't be cool.

 

Jason Marquis is the really puzzling one. He's always been way too hittable for a sinkerball pitcher, and last year he was a train wreck. Plus, the Cards, who are an intelligent and well-run organization, apparently have no interest in him. That should tell the Cubs (a stupid, poorly-run organization) something.

 

My experience with watching the Cards, when they decide to give up on a player the rest of the league should run screaming.

 

How is that JD Drew guy doing?

 

The exception that proves the rule. And from an attitude standpoint, the Cards were vindicated on Drew. There's a reason he keeps bouncing around.

 

yeah, the Cards have made a few mistakes in personnel, but I'd have to agree that they usually know when it's time to cut a guy loose. The Cubs seem to grab a lot more guys whose careers come to a screeching halt within a week or two of signing on.

 

though I generally agree with you, hindsight plays a large role there. Wouldn't you say that they picked up Carpenter, Weaver, Suppan, etc. when their careers were more or less in the toilet? The difference is they have the coaches to turn a guy around, we don't (or haven't, the jury is out on the new guys)

[Vinestal]

I generaly think Bruce's info is pretty solid but ESPN is running the Cubs offer to Schimdt as one of thier main headlines on ESPN news, so I have a hard time believing that they dont have at least one source if not multiple sources telling them that the Cubs have made an offer.

 

**update** this is also news on Rotowire as well now.

[mg420]

well, all Gammons said was that the Cubs have offered him a 3 year deal, and he things Seattle or the Cubs are real possibilities

 

Bruce says this isn't true. Then again, Gammons is on the 20 dollar bill so it's hard to believe he's not right. I'm perplexed here.

 

I don't believe an offer was made. Remember, agents like to float a lot of things, especially to get the market going.

 

Do you believe that they are interested enough to make an offer in the 3-4 year range at close to 15 per year? Have you heard anything about the Igawa bid?

 

thanks Bruce.

 

I don't believe the Cubs will go $15 mil per year for Schmidt. Don't get too excited worrying about Igawa. He'll land elsehwere.

sounds like it most likely will be meche & westbrook then.

[Abe Frohman]

Yeah, Billy "F Face" Ripken just broke on XM 175 that "it says on my ticker that Jason Schmidt was offered a 3 year/$44 million contract by the Chicago Cubs."

 

I hope they do something to kinda improve the credibility. Just announced it on XM 175 "updates."

 

NSBB is still the best place to get legit Cub news I can find.

[Jehrico]

I generaly think Bruce's info is pretty solid but ESPN is running the Cubs offer to Schimdt as one of thier main headlines on ESPN news, so I have a hard time believing that they dont have at least one source if not multiple sources telling them that the Cubs have made an offer.

 

**update** this is also news on Rotowire as well now.

 

No offense Bruce, but...

 

I don't think everyone should be taking his (Bruce) word as gospel on this. He's one of the most reliable reporters in Chicago (if not the most), but that doesn't give him a monopoly on sources and facts. No reporter has it all. He's right more often than he's wrong (and you can't say that for many of his counterparts in the city), but that doesn't mean some things haven't happened that he hasn't heard about. You just have to keep everything in perspective. If he says its so, there's a good chance it is. But some of you on here are taking it too far, as if he's infallible. On the flip side, if he is wrong on this one, it shouldn't affect his credibility, as he's been on more than any other beat reporter in Chicago that I've read.

[Bruce Miles]

Mr. Levine was just on ESPN radio and said the Cubs had not made an offer. Listen to your local guys.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Mr. Levine was just on ESPN radio and said the Cubs had not made an offer. Listen to your local guys.

 

But you local guys keep bursting our bubble ;)

[Vinestal]

Why are so many national media outlets running this as fact without a source? Man media has just gone to the hounds these days.

[JWCUB]

Bruce, if you had to guess right now, what would the Cubs starting rotation look like on opening day?

[Rob]

Bruce, if you had to guess right now, what would the Cubs starting rotation look like on opening day?

 

Don't ask that... We don't want that answer.

[badgercub]

No, just the opposite. I wanted a quick fall from contention in 2006. I thought the Cubs could make a nice run in 2007 if they played their cards right, but they didn't. Thanks to a big increase in payroll the Cubs look possibly viable as a 2007 contender, but only at the expense of the future. IMO far too much of the payroll is going to be locked up in multiyear deals that we will regret.

 

I'm just not convinced the future has been expensed. The talent is all still intact. And if any of those guys were any good, they will also be cheap for a good while longer, so that value can makeup for overpaying older guys.

 

There is definite risk to the future. But you can't win in this game without taking risks. You have to be in it to win it.

 

I know you have to take risks to win, but this is a bubble market and the Cubs needed a major rebuilding. It's an exceptionally awful time for the Cubs to have a GM who has to win now to save his job.

 

Other than the Soriano contract what are the other long term contracts do you think will be hanging over their heads? I liked the Ramirez signing and don't think at his age, that length or money are too bad at all. Lee's contract looks like a bargain and is not too long. Derosa is the only other multi year deal and that definitely will not hamstring the organization as far as signing other players. The Cubs have one really big contract on the books that may come back to bite them, and I think that is just the price of doing business. If you want to win you are going to have to overpay to sign a superstar or two, or you are just going to languish in mediocrity like the Cubs have for way too long. Look at the Cardinals and some of their bigger contracts, Pujols, Rolen, Edmonds was being payed a lot, Hudson, etc....and yet somehow they continue to do ok.

[CubinNY]

Why are so many national media outlets running this as fact without a source? Man media has just gone to the hounds these days.

 

It is one gigantic circular rumor mill, kind of like high school.

[Bruce Miles]

Why are so many national media outlets running this as fact without a source? Man media has just gone to the hounds these days.

 

See my above post about agents floating info. You'd be surprised at how many national (and some local) reporters run stuff without ever calling the club for confirmation.