Dodgers close to signing Randy Wolf

[YearofDaCubs]

Per rotoworld, 1 yr 8 mil with a 9 mil option. Done deal to Dodgers. That's really cheap in this market. Why couldn't Hendry have gotten into this?

Damn that sucks. I would have offered a 2 year deal to get it done.

[CubColtPacer]

Per rotoworld, 1 yr 8 mil with a 9 mil option. Done deal to Dodgers. That's really cheap in this market. Why couldn't Hendry have gotten into this?

 

If Wolf wanted to go home to California, and the Dodgers offered a reasonable deal, I can't see how we could outbid them. He already turned down extra money to go there, so even more money is not likely to sway him.

[HoopsCubs]

It seems the interest in Wolf stems from the fact that Maddux not only wants two years but a raise as well.

 

I read where Maddux wants a Mussina-like deal.

 

Supposedly, Maddux and Hendry parted on good terms in July. Though still somewhat improbable, with Piniella now in town, Maddux coming back to the Cubs is no longer impossible in my opinion. In fact, if the Padres, Giants or D-Backs don't grab him in the next week or so, I could see Hendry re-signing Greg to a 2-year $20M deal.

Edited November 27, 2006 by HoopsCubs

[killthegoat06]

It seems the interest in Wolf stems from the fact that Maddux not only wants two years but a raise as well.

 

I read where Maddux wants a Mussina-like deal.

 

Supposedly, Maddux and Hendry parted on good terms in July. Though still somewhat improbable, with Piniella now in town, Maddux coming back to the Cubs is no longer impossible in my opinion. In fact, if the Padres, Giants or D-Backs don't grab him in the next week or so, I could see Hendry re-signing Greg to a 2-year $20M deal.

 

Eww. No. I love Maddux, but it's time to let go. We need to do better. He's no 2/3 starter.

[USSoccer]

It seems the interest in Wolf stems from the fact that Maddux not only wants two years but a raise as well.

 

I read where Maddux wants a Mussina-like deal.

 

Supposedly, Maddux and Hendry parted on good terms in July. Though still somewhat improbable, with Piniella now in town, Maddux coming back to the Cubs is no longer impossible in my opinion. In fact, if the Padres, Giants or D-Backs don't grab him in the next week or so, I could see Hendry re-signing Greg to a 2-year $20M deal.

 

On no planet is Greg Maddux worth $10m per. He's terrible now.

[NorthsideAvenger]

It seems the interest in Wolf stems from the fact that Maddux not only wants two years but a raise as well.

 

I read where Maddux wants a Mussina-like deal.

 

Supposedly, Maddux and Hendry parted on good terms in July. Though still somewhat improbable, with Piniella now in town, Maddux coming back to the Cubs is no longer impossible in my opinion. In fact, if the Padres, Giants or D-Backs don't grab him in the next week or so, I could see Hendry re-signing Greg to a 2-year $20M deal.

 

On no planet is Greg Maddux worth $10m per. He's terrible now.

 

Maybe so, but in this market, it wouldn't surprise me.

[10man]

maddux primary value now is as an innings eater. someone who will consistently start 30 games. no more than a #4. i would only be willing to sign him to a one-year contract w/ a 1 year option that automatically vests based on an ERA below 4.00

[Guest]

maddux primary value now is as an innings eater. someone who will consistently start 30 games. no more than a #4. i would only be willing to sign him to a one-year contract w/ a 1 year option that automatically vests based on an ERA below 4.00

 

well, that contract would not be legal as you cannot have options on performance stats (unless they changed that rule with the new CBA). Nor would I want to as he could start one game, pitch two innings, get hurt and have another year.

[Soriano12]

Wolf is garbage. I'm glad Hendry passed.

[SouthSideRyan]

It seems the interest in Wolf stems from the fact that Maddux not only wants two years but a raise as well.

 

I read where Maddux wants a Mussina-like deal.

 

Supposedly, Maddux and Hendry parted on good terms in July. Though still somewhat improbable, with Piniella now in town, Maddux coming back to the Cubs is no longer impossible in my opinion. In fact, if the Padres, Giants or D-Backs don't grab him in the next week or so, I could see Hendry re-signing Greg to a 2-year $20M deal.

 

On no planet is Greg Maddux worth $10m per. He's terrible now.

 

On no planet is Greg Maddux terrible. He hasn't even been below average since 1987. He's an inning eating starter who'll put up average to above average #s based on how good the defense behind him is. I wouldn't give him 2/20, but he certainly deserves that more than Adam Eaton deserves 3/24. I'd take Maddux on a 1 year deal in a heartbeat.

[USSoccer]

It seems the interest in Wolf stems from the fact that Maddux not only wants two years but a raise as well.

 

I read where Maddux wants a Mussina-like deal.

 

Supposedly, Maddux and Hendry parted on good terms in July. Though still somewhat improbable, with Piniella now in town, Maddux coming back to the Cubs is no longer impossible in my opinion. In fact, if the Padres, Giants or D-Backs don't grab him in the next week or so, I could see Hendry re-signing Greg to a 2-year $20M deal.

 

On no planet is Greg Maddux worth $10m per. He's terrible now.

 

On no planet is Greg Maddux terrible. He hasn't even been below average since 1987. He's an inning eating starter who'll put up average to above average #s based on how good the defense behind him is. I wouldn't give him 2/20, but he certainly deserves that more than Adam Eaton deserves 3/24. I'd take Maddux on a 1 year deal in a heartbeat.

 

Sigh...

 

May ERA: 5.94

June ERA: 6.25

July ERA: 5.21

 

That is not average. That's below average. His April was the Cubs exception, and not the rule for his 2006. He was terrible. He might be average to slightly above average in the NL West with it's division full of giant outfields and pitchers parks, but in the NL Central he's a candidate for a disaster start every time he takes the ball outside of April in Wrigley.

 

He had a great career. He's no longer a viable candidate for the Cubs if they want to compete in 2007. His salary and performance dictate that whatever he signs for would be better spent elsewhere. We have league minimum 5th starter candidates that can put up mid 4 ERA's.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Per rotoworld, 1 yr 8 mil with a 9 mil option. Done deal to Dodgers. That's really cheap in this market. Why couldn't Hendry have gotten into this?

 

Because Randy Wolf is from LA. The Cardinals and Cubs made stronger offers:

 

LA Times[/url]"]Southland product Randy Wolf, a left-handed starting pitcher who had major elbow surgery 17 months ago, has agreed to sign with the Dodgers for less money and security than other teams offered because he wants to return to L.A., baseball sources said Monday.

 

Wolf, who played at Pepperdine and Woodland Hills El Camino Real High, accepted a one-year deal for $7.5 million with a vesting option for another year based on 180 innings pitched. There is also a club option in the event Wolf doesn't pitch enough innings to trigger the vesting option.

 

...

 

A source close to the negotiations said the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals made offers to sign Wolf for three years, with the deals ranging from $21 million to $24 million. The Arizona Diamondbacks had a similar offer on the table before they acquired left-hander Doug Davis from the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Phillies chased Wolf until signing Adam Eaton to a three-year deal Monday.

 

But Wolf took a shorter deal to join the Dodgers, the team he rooted for while growing up in Canoga Park and playing in West Hills Pony League. He is coming off a four-year, $22-million deal that was heavily back-loaded — he made $9 million in 2006.

[LeftCoastCubFan]

Per rotoworld, 1 yr 8 mil with a 9 mil option. Done deal to Dodgers. That's really cheap in this market. Why couldn't Hendry have gotten into this?

 

Because Randy Wolf is from LA. The Cardinals and Cubs made stronger offers:

 

LA Times[/url]"]Southland product Randy Wolf, a left-handed starting pitcher who had major elbow surgery 17 months ago, has agreed to sign with the Dodgers for less money and security than other teams offered because he wants to return to L.A., baseball sources said Monday.

 

Wolf, who played at Pepperdine and Woodland Hills El Camino Real High, accepted a one-year deal for $7.5 million with a vesting option for another year based on 180 innings pitched. There is also a club option in the event Wolf doesn't pitch enough innings to trigger the vesting option.

 

...

 

A source close to the negotiations said the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals made offers to sign Wolf for three years, with the deals ranging from $21 million to $24 million. The Arizona Diamondbacks had a similar offer on the table before they acquired left-hander Doug Davis from the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Phillies chased Wolf until signing Adam Eaton to a three-year deal Monday.

 

But Wolf took a shorter deal to join the Dodgers, the team he rooted for while growing up in Canoga Park and playing in West Hills Pony League. He is coming off a four-year, $22-million deal that was heavily back-loaded — he made $9 million in 2006.

I doubt the accuracy of the 3 year offers. Players don't turn down garuantees of 20 plus mil for 7.5 mil hometown discounts.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Per rotoworld, 1 yr 8 mil with a 9 mil option. Done deal to Dodgers. That's really cheap in this market. Why couldn't Hendry have gotten into this?

 

Because Randy Wolf is from LA. The Cardinals and Cubs made stronger offers:

 

LA Times[/url]"]Southland product Randy Wolf, a left-handed starting pitcher who had major elbow surgery 17 months ago, has agreed to sign with the Dodgers for less money and security than other teams offered because he wants to return to L.A., baseball sources said Monday.

 

Wolf, who played at Pepperdine and Woodland Hills El Camino Real High, accepted a one-year deal for $7.5 million with a vesting option for another year based on 180 innings pitched. There is also a club option in the event Wolf doesn't pitch enough innings to trigger the vesting option.

 

...

 

A source close to the negotiations said the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals made offers to sign Wolf for three years, with the deals ranging from $21 million to $24 million. The Arizona Diamondbacks had a similar offer on the table before they acquired left-hander Doug Davis from the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Phillies chased Wolf until signing Adam Eaton to a three-year deal Monday.

 

But Wolf took a shorter deal to join the Dodgers, the team he rooted for while growing up in Canoga Park and playing in West Hills Pony League. He is coming off a four-year, $22-million deal that was heavily back-loaded — he made $9 million in 2006.

I doubt the accuracy of the 3 year offers. Players don't turn down garuantees of 20 plus mil for 7.5 mil hometown discounts.

 

Agreed. This sounds like a spin that Randy Wolf "choose" home over "more money."

 

I know this is a stretch, but what if the Dodgers went after Wolf because: A: they grew tired of waiting for Schmidt to decide, and B: Wolf was available and can be signed NOW. Or better yet, they may have come to the conclusion that Schdmit has already made up his mind on his next locale, and the Dodgers weren't prepare to meet said offer? Again, I know this is a stretch, but I am throwing out the possibilities.

[Guest]

Sounds to me like Wolf wanted to take a one year deal, prove himself healthy and effective, then get the really big contract next year. If that is the case, Dodger Stadium is a nice park to do that.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Per rotoworld, 1 yr 8 mil with a 9 mil option. Done deal to Dodgers. That's really cheap in this market. Why couldn't Hendry have gotten into this?

 

Because Randy Wolf is from LA. The Cardinals and Cubs made stronger offers:

 

LA Times[/url]"]Southland product Randy Wolf, a left-handed starting pitcher who had major elbow surgery 17 months ago, has agreed to sign with the Dodgers for less money and security than other teams offered because he wants to return to L.A., baseball sources said Monday.

 

Wolf, who played at Pepperdine and Woodland Hills El Camino Real High, accepted a one-year deal for $7.5 million with a vesting option for another year based on 180 innings pitched. There is also a club option in the event Wolf doesn't pitch enough innings to trigger the vesting option.

 

...

 

A source close to the negotiations said the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals made offers to sign Wolf for three years, with the deals ranging from $21 million to $24 million. The Arizona Diamondbacks had a similar offer on the table before they acquired left-hander Doug Davis from the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Phillies chased Wolf until signing Adam Eaton to a three-year deal Monday.

 

But Wolf took a shorter deal to join the Dodgers, the team he rooted for while growing up in Canoga Park and playing in West Hills Pony League. He is coming off a four-year, $22-million deal that was heavily back-loaded — he made $9 million in 2006.

I doubt the accuracy of the 3 year offers. Players don't turn down garuantees of 20 plus mil for 7.5 mil hometown discounts.

 

Not all three years have to necessarily be guaranteed.

 

Tim's theory makes sense...gamble on cashing in based on one season.

[SouthSideRyan]

It seems the interest in Wolf stems from the fact that Maddux not only wants two years but a raise as well.

 

I read where Maddux wants a Mussina-like deal.

 

Supposedly, Maddux and Hendry parted on good terms in July. Though still somewhat improbable, with Piniella now in town, Maddux coming back to the Cubs is no longer impossible in my opinion. In fact, if the Padres, Giants or D-Backs don't grab him in the next week or so, I could see Hendry re-signing Greg to a 2-year $20M deal.

 

On no planet is Greg Maddux worth $10m per. He's terrible now.

 

On no planet is Greg Maddux terrible. He hasn't even been below average since 1987. He's an inning eating starter who'll put up average to above average #s based on how good the defense behind him is. I wouldn't give him 2/20, but he certainly deserves that more than Adam Eaton deserves 3/24. I'd take Maddux on a 1 year deal in a heartbeat.

 

Sigh...

 

May ERA: 5.94

June ERA: 6.25

July ERA: 5.21

 

That is not average. That's below average.

 

And those 3 months combined with his great April made him an average pitcher for the Cubs last year. Throwing out a guy's best month by far accomplishes what exactly?

[TruffleShuffle]

Sounds to me like Wolf wanted to take a one year deal, prove himself healthy and effective, then get the really big contract next year. If that is the case, Dodger Stadium is a nice park to do that.

 

Good point. As we've seen with Chan Ho Park and Darren Dreifort, a lot of GMs are too dumb to realize that Dodger Stadium is a pitcher's park. Plus, maybe he saw the idiotic contracts handed out by Coletti and figured that after one good year out there, he could really cash in.

[USSoccer]

 

Sigh...

 

May ERA: 5.94

June ERA: 6.25

July ERA: 5.21

 

That is not average. That's below average.

 

And those 3 months combined with his great April made him an average pitcher for the Cubs last year. Throwing out a guy's best month by far accomplishes what exactly?

 

It shows that outside of a fluke month that favors flyball pitchers in Wrigley, Maddux was terrible. It took a incredibly good month just to give him a mid-4 Cubs ERA. Why would you pay for that? A mid-4 ERA can be attained by any one of our in house, league minimum options. There's no reason to go chasing the past by signing Maddux.

 

He's a 40 year old pitcher who's not going to get better and has declined over the last few years. He's not going to get better. He was bad last season for us, and he's not worth bringing back just because he's going to pitch 200 below average innings.

[soccer10k]

It seems the interest in Wolf stems from the fact that Maddux not only wants two years but a raise as well.

 

I read where Maddux wants a Mussina-like deal.

 

Supposedly, Maddux and Hendry parted on good terms in July. Though still somewhat improbable, with Piniella now in town, Maddux coming back to the Cubs is no longer impossible in my opinion. In fact, if the Padres, Giants or D-Backs don't grab him in the next week or so, I could see Hendry re-signing Greg to a 2-year $20M deal.

 

Eww. No. I love Maddux, but it's time to let go. We need to do better. He's no 2/3 starter.

 

Agreed. No thanks on 2/$20M for Maddux.

[JeffH]

A mid-4 ERA can be attained by any one of our in house, league minimum options.

 

Myth.

[USSoccer]

A mid-4 ERA can be attained by any one of our in house, league minimum options.

 

Myth.

 

How do you figure? A 23 year old has more of a change to progress than a 40 year old does.

 

Guzman, Miller, and Marshall are all decent bets to put up at least a 4.50 ERA. And it's not like 4.50 is good. It's not.

[XZero771679666304]

A mid-4 ERA can be attained by any one of our in house, league minimum options.

 

Myth.

 

How do you figure? A 23 year old has more of a change to progress than a 40 year old does.

 

Guzman, Miller, and Marshall are all decent bets to put up at least a 4.50 ERA. And it's not like 4.50 is good. It's not.

 

Aot of people here poo-poo every free agent starter out ther who has a 4+ era saying that any of our kids could do it, that is far from a safe bet. IMO, any of Guzman/Mateo/Marshall/Marmol are just as likely to post a 5.5-6.00 era as a 4.5. All four of them were in the 5.3-6+ range last year. At least if you sign a guy who has consistently put up a 4.50, you can expect him to do it again with a fair bit of probability.

 

Honestly, we can't say any of our kids are a "decent bet" to do it. Sure they might improve, or they may be even worse. A 4.50 ERA is nothing great, but signing a guy likely to give you that over 180-200 innings is is a much safer bet to help the team than counting on the kids. I'm sure that after the total unpredictability of the past couple seasons, Hendry is going to go with a known commodity, even if that commodity isn't the hottest.

[USSoccer]

A mid-4 ERA can be attained by any one of our in house, league minimum options.

 

Myth.

 

How do you figure? A 23 year old has more of a change to progress than a 40 year old does.

 

Guzman, Miller, and Marshall are all decent bets to put up at least a 4.50 ERA. And it's not like 4.50 is good. It's not.

 

Aot of people here poo-poo every free agent starter out ther who has a 4+ era saying that any of our kids could do it, that is far from a safe bet. IMO, any of Guzman/Mateo/Marshall/Marmol are just as likely to post a 5.5-6.00 era as a 4.5. All four of them were in the 5.3-6+ range last year. At least if you sign a guy who has consistently put up a 4.50, you can expect him to do it again with a fair bit of probability.

 

Honestly, we can't say any of our kids are a "decent bet" to do it. Sure they might improve, or they may be even worse. A 4.50 ERA is nothing great, but signing a guy likely to give you that over 180-200 innings is is a much safer bet to help the team than counting on the kids. I'm sure that after the total unpredictability of the past couple seasons, Hendry is going to go with a known commodity, even if that commodity isn't the hottest.

 

For 3 out of his 4 Cubs months Maddux was above 5 and had one month with an above 6 ERA. It's not as if he's a great bet to be consistent either. Given the choice between the 40 year old expensive guy who might blow up or the league minimum guy with upside that might blow up, I'll take the latter.

[XZero771679666304]

 

For 3 out of his 4 Cubs months Maddux was above 5 and had one month with an above 6 ERA. It's not as if he's a great bet to be consistent either. Given the choice between the 40 year old expensive guy who might blow up or the league minimum guy with upside that might blow up, I'll take the latter.

 

I guess I was speaking more in general than about Greg specifically. Even so, the worst case scenario with guys like Maddux, Meche and co. just aren't as bad as with our kids. Hell, we don't even know if Rich Hill is going to consistently perform next season (though I think so), much less guys like M/M/M and Guzman, who put up -lets face it - really bad numbers last year. Counting on any of those four to give you even 150 innings at even a 5.00 era is a risky proposition at best.

 

Even if the Cubs were to land Schmidt (big if), Hendry still has to acquire a cheap(ish) innings-eater with some kind of track record.