Cubs still looking at Batista

[b_wiggy_66]

According to Rosenthals latest:

 

"One general manager describes free-agent right-hander Miguel Batista as "one of the most underrated guys out there." Batista, 35, is very intelligent and stays in excellent condition. The Cubs, Mets, Royals and several N.L. West clubs are believed to be among the teams pursuing him. Batista was 11-8 with a 4.58 ERA for the Diamondbacks last season, working 2061/3 innings ."

 

If you could get him for about 5 mil. a year to be the #4 guy I would have no problem with that anymore than that and I would not like it so much. His ERA was almost 2 points lower during day games, and he had a rough sept. that raised his ERA as well. Then you would have to get a solid number 2 like Schmidt or Pettite someone else via trade.

[Soul]

Is he really likely to improve much though? Seems like he's been around that area for quite awhile.

 

I guess I'm hoping one of the AL targets Hendry is looking at will gain a little bit from moving to the NL.

 

Not that I'm against Batista completely.

[Derwood]

If we sign him, can we trade him to the Expos for Henry Rodriguez?

[goonys evil twin]

Is he really likely to improve much though? Seems like he's been around that area for quite awhile.

 

I don't think he will improve. But if he duplicated his performance he'd be a solid $4-5m pitcher.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

If we sign him, can we trade him to the Expos for Henry Rodriguez?

 

OH HENRY!

[Butterscup1679666578]

If we can get him for $4-5 mil and Schmidt, that'd be fantastic.

[JeffH]

How does Batista sign now for less than the truly awful Adam Eaton?

[goonys evil twin]

How does Batista sign now for less than the truly awful Adam Eaton?

 

That's the dilemma. He probably doesn't. But if there is one thing that might help is that older players don't seem to be attracting the same level of crazy bidding. Mussina went for far cheaper than he could have on the open market. Alou is going to make a lot less than Pierre, Soriano and Mathews, but he'll probably have a far greater OPS+ next year (albeit in a more limited role). The big money seems to be out there for the 29-32 year old crowd, but the guys in the late 30's might not draw the same interest.

 

That being said, I fully expect Batista to get something close to, or exceeding Eaton's 3/24.

[YearofDaCubs]

I have a problem signing guys whom will give you a 4.5 era and above to contracts. We need to improve this team a bit better than that if we are to make a run to the playoffs. If Kip Wells can find his stroke and the Cards resign Weaver I still think they are the team to beat in our division, just my opinion.

[Soul]

I have a problem signing guys whom will give you a 4.5 era and above to contracts. We need to improve this team a bit better than that if we are to make a run to the playoffs. If Kip Wells can find his stroke and the Cards resign Weaver I still think they are the team to beat in our division, just my opinion.

 

I totally agree. Which is why I would prefer to target one of the AL SP's, in the hopes that moving to NL-style baseball will give their numbers a nudge in the right direction.

 

I might sign Batista as a #5 -- but I thought we already had plenty of 5 hole starters, including Prior if you believe the Cubs.

[goonys evil twin]

I have a problem signing guys whom will give you a 4.5 era and above to contracts. We need to improve this team a bit better than that if we are to make a run to the playoffs. If Kip Wells can find his stroke and the Cards resign Weaver I still think they are the team to beat in our division, just my opinion.

 

I totally agree. Which is why I would prefer to target one of the AL SP's, in the hopes that moving to NL-style baseball will give their numbers a nudge in the right direction.

 

I might sign Batista as a #5 -- but I thought we already had plenty of 5 hole starters, including Prior if you believe the Cubs.

 

What the Cubs don't have are many guys they can count on for 190+ innings of averageness. Batista can probably do that. He can probably be as good, or nearly as good as most of the guys whose names are being thrown around. The problem, of course, would be you'd need a more productive lineup than the ones the Cubs currently have in order to win with such pitchers.

[Wheelimus]

Depending on the price it might be a good buy. Last year showed up how valuable a guy who can come in and provide average starting pitching can be. We might have saved a few losses with Batista around last year.

[JeffH]

If you signed Batista and you had a young starting pitcher make a surprisingly big leap forward over the life of Batista's contract, he's flexible enough to pitch out of the bullpen.

 

He could probably even step in and close games, if Dempster went completely in the dumper.

[Ivy Walls]

Speculation is what it is, Cubs are looking at options and they have a dilemna:

 

One of the two prospects, (Gallagher & Veal) will be slated for late '07 or '08 or '09.

 

Prior...regardless of the know it alls, if he is ever healthy, the 5 spot is good for him.

 

Zambrano, can or will he be signed to an extension.

 

Hill, will he perform like August & September?

 

Could the Cubs go with Maddux ($9M-$10M in '07 &'08) again with a trade for a starter? Yes...could that also include Batista & a trade, yes.

[tkenm356]

"One general manager describes free-agent right-hander Miguel Batista as "one of the most underrated guys out there."

 

$10 says it was Hendry

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm pretty sure I'd rather give Ryu a rotation spot than Batista.

[CubColtPacer]

I'm pretty sure I'd rather give Ryu a rotation spot than Batista.

 

Does a guy like Ryu (or most of the young guys actually) even have at least a 30% chance of giving the team an ERA under 5.00 next year? Batista will almost certainly do that-his 2 highest ERA years in the last 6 have been 4.80 and 4.58. Batista would be a certain upgrade from most of the young starters simply because he is going to be reliably average, while people like Ryu would be wonderful if they were average next year, but they are most likely going to be terrible.

[TheDude]

I'm pretty sure I'd rather give Ryu a rotation spot than Batista.

 

I wouldn't. I seriously doubt Ryu, in an environment where learning curve leash is shrinking, would put up Batistas numbers for 200 innings. In fact, I doubt very much Ryu could give you more than 150 IP, which means the other 50 IP are starts going to an even lower prospect.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm pretty sure I'd rather give Ryu a rotation spot than Batista.

 

Does a guy like Ryu (or most of the young guys actually) even have at least a 30% chance of giving the team an ERA under 5.00 next year? Batista will almost certainly do that-his 2 highest ERA years in the last 6 have been 4.80 and 4.58. Batista would be a certain upgrade from most of the young starters simply because he is going to be reliably average, while people like Ryu would be wonderful if they were average next year, but they are most likely going to be terrible.

 

As a starter Batista is giving up a WHIP over 1.50, he's walking almost as many as he strikes out(combining poor walk and strikeout rates), giving up an OPS around .780 with an OBP over .355, and he'll be 36 before the season starts. We're much better off giving just about any of our young pitchers an extended look, because his ERA will catch up with those peripherals in a hurry.

[TruffleShuffle]

I'd like him, just because he'll be cheaper than someone like Meche, and won't command a long contract.

[b_wiggy_66]

I'd like him, just because he'll be cheaper than someone like Meche, and won't command a long contract.

 

Exactly, he will get a shorter deal, and if he is being undervalued as the GM said he will probably come cheap.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'd definitely prefer Marshall to Batista. I'd rather let Marmol or Guzman take a stab over Batista.

 

With the number of young ones we have, I don't see the need to spend 4-8 millon on Batista.