Cubs Pursuing Lilly

[RichHillIsABeast]

Our starting pitching is such a mess that we're going to end up signing someone like Lilly.

 

At least he's not Glendon freaking Rusch.

[Mushimus]

It seems that this statement pretty much says Lilly will be a Cub

 

Larry O'Brien, the left-hander's agent who was a very popular man at the Disney Dolphin Hotel's lobby Tuesday, said contract talks with the Chicago Cubs were "becoming very advanced," and that "they've indicated that they're willing to pay what's going to need to be paid."

[BigbadB]

It seems that this statement pretty much says Lilly will be a Cub

 

Larry O'Brien, the left-hander's agent who was a very popular man at the Disney Dolphin Hotel's lobby Tuesday, said contract talks with the Chicago Cubs were "becoming very advanced," and that "they've indicated that they're willing to pay what's going to need to be paid."

 

Well, let's hope it's no more than what Washburn got, since that's what Lilly said he wanted.

[nilodnayr]

It seems that this statement pretty much says Lilly will be a Cub

 

Larry O'Brien, the left-hander's agent who was a very popular man at the Disney Dolphin Hotel's lobby Tuesday, said contract talks with the Chicago Cubs were "becoming very advanced," and that "they've indicated that they're willing to pay what's going to need to be paid."

 

Well, let's hope it's no more than what Washburn got, since that's what Lilly said he wanted.

Sori asked for Beltran $ and look where that ended up.

[Omar]

If the Cubs sign both Lilly and Schmidt, it could be an indication that Hendry doubts whether he can extend Zambrano.

 

OH, don't you bring your negative vibes in here, mandinga!! :wink:

 

I wonder what Z wouild get on a free agent market like this.

[cubs121]

If the Cubs sign both Lilly and Schmidt, it could be an indication that Hendry doubts whether he can extend Zambrano.

 

OH, don't you bring your negative vibes in here, mandinga!! :wink:

 

I wonder what Z wouild get on a free agent market like this.

10/200m or more....

[Ding Dong Johnson]

If the Cubs sign both Lilly and Schmidt, it could be an indication that Hendry doubts whether he can extend Zambrano.

 

OH, don't you bring your negative vibes in here, mandinga!! :wink:

 

I wonder what Z wouild get on a free agent market like this.

 

Enough cash to bankrupt the entire midwest.

[Rob]

If the Cubs sign both Lilly and Schmidt, it could be an indication that Hendry doubts whether he can extend Zambrano.

 

OH, don't you bring your negative vibes in here, mandinga!! :wink:

 

I wonder what Z wouild get on a free agent market like this.

 

Depends.

 

Is he gonna be a SP or a DH?

[Post Count Padder]

If the Cubs sign both Lilly and Schmidt, it could be an indication that Hendry doubts whether he can extend Zambrano.

 

OH, don't you bring your negative vibes in here, mandinga!! :wink:

 

I wonder what Z wouild get on a free agent market like this.

 

Depends.

 

Is he gonna be a SP or a DH?

Both. If he goes to the AL, he'll pitch and still bat for himself.

[goonys evil twin]

I just can't believe Hendry has targetted Lilly as aggressively as he apparantly has. Lilly was well down the list of guys he should have gone after. I was fine with him as a secondary target. Agents know Jim isn't being the least bit conservative with his money, and they know if Jim is talking to them that means Jim wants their guy and will spend whatever it takes. It's beginning to look like missing out on Furcal last year had much worse lasting effects than if he had just signed the guy in the first place. Now Jim is determined to never be outbid on another moderately effective free agent again. And everybody knows it.

[LuckyPup]

maybe Jim is covering his bases- i mean, he probably knows Scmidt isnt signing anytime soon so what does he do, put offers out for Lilly and Meche in hopes of grabbing one so he isnt stuck waiting and losing out on Schmidt and getting nothing later when Lilly signed with the BJays and Meche signed elsewhere-just a thought- hell, as crazy as everything has been this offseason maybe he wants all three! I fyou dump Dempster and Jock on someone that saves you a Gil Meche right there!

[goonys evil twin]

I fyou dump Dempster and Jock on someone that saves you a Gil Meche right there!

 

Why not just have Dempster start, you'd get the same thing Meche can give you, for half the price and no longterm committment.

[LuckyPup]

I fyou dump Dempster and Jock on someone that saves you a Gil Meche right there!

 

Why not just have Dempster start, you'd get the same thing Meche can give you, for half the price and no longterm committment.

not saying its logical to get all three, just saying maybe he's thinking that way- As far as Demp goes, maybe he could be a solid starter again but thats a big gamble to take when your job is on the line-

[goonys evil twin]

I fyou dump Dempster and Jock on someone that saves you a Gil Meche right there!

 

Why not just have Dempster start, you'd get the same thing Meche can give you, for half the price and no longterm committment.

not saying its logical to get all three, just saying maybe he's thinking that way- As far as Demp goes, maybe he could be a solid starter again but thats a big gamble to take when your job is on the line-

 

It's no bigger gamble than Meche.

[LuckyPup]

I fyou dump Dempster and Jock on someone that saves you a Gil Meche right there!

 

Why not just have Dempster start, you'd get the same thing Meche can give you, for half the price and no longterm committment.

not saying its logical to get all three, just saying maybe he's thinking that way- As far as Demp goes, maybe he could be a solid starter again but thats a big gamble to take when your job is on the line-

 

It's no bigger gamble than Meche.

true-

[erik316wttn]

The Jays are almost to the point of pulling their offer to Lilly.

 

Link.

 

"We're all getting a little tired of the talking, at some point it's yes or no," said Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi. "We're getting close to that point."

 

Up yours, Hendry!

 

Fixed.

[XZero771679666304]

I fyou dump Dempster and Jock on someone that saves you a Gil Meche right there!

 

Why not just have Dempster start, you'd get the same thing Meche can give you, for half the price and no longterm committment.

not saying its logical to get all three, just saying maybe he's thinking that way- As far as Demp goes, maybe he could be a solid starter again but thats a big gamble to take when your job is on the line-

 

It's no bigger gamble than Meche.

 

I'm not sure that's true. Dempster has only started a handful of games in the past few years, and was worse then Meche has ever been.

[goonys evil twin]

I'm not sure that's true. Dempster has only started a handful of games in the past few years, and was worse then Meche has ever been.

 

He's also been as good as Meche has ever been. And he's much less expensive. Risk is more than the player's ability, but his cost. Ryan Dempster is Meche in 2 years. Live arm, has shown glimpses, but never put it together. The biggest difference is that Dempster put together 3 straight years of 200+ innings, while Meche never did, and Ryan is far less expensive.

[XZero771679666304]

I'm not sure that's true. Dempster has only started a handful of games in the past few years, and was worse then Meche has ever been.

 

He's also been as good as Meche has ever been. And he's much less expensive. Risk is more than the player's ability, but his cost. Ryan Dempster is Meche in 2 years. Live arm, has shown glimpses, but never put it together. The biggest difference is that Dempster put together 3 straight years of 200+ innings, while Meche never did, and Ryan is far less expensive.

 

When was the last time Dempster was as good as Meche has ever been? 2001? 2000? He last pitched 200 innings in 2002, and he was bad. I understand the spirit of what you are saying, but saying Ryan is no bigger a gamble in the rotation than Meche is a real stretch.

[goonys evil twin]

I'm not sure that's true. Dempster has only started a handful of games in the past few years, and was worse then Meche has ever been.

 

He's also been as good as Meche has ever been. And he's much less expensive. Risk is more than the player's ability, but his cost. Ryan Dempster is Meche in 2 years. Live arm, has shown glimpses, but never put it together. The biggest difference is that Dempster put together 3 straight years of 200+ innings, while Meche never did, and Ryan is far less expensive.

 

When was the last time Dempster was as good as Meche has ever been? 2001? 2000? He last pitched 200 innings in 2002, and he was bad. I understand the spirit of what you are saying, but saying Ryan is no bigger a gamble in the rotation than Meche is a real stretch.

 

The last time either of them was any good was in 2000, with the difference in their seasons being Meche had 15 starts and Dempster had 33. How is it a stretch? Meche can't stay healthy/pitch a full season, and he hasn't been an effective pitcher in several years. Dempster's risks are that he's got health/durability issues, and hasn't been an effective starter in years. The difference is Dempster is far less expensive. The cost alone makes Dempster less of a risk. He might be less likely to give you 180 quality innings (neither is going to do it), but at least he'll only cost you $5m while trying.

[soapy]

I'm not sure that's true. Dempster has only started a handful of games in the past few years, and was worse then Meche has ever been.

 

He's also been as good as Meche has ever been. And he's much less expensive. Risk is more than the player's ability, but his cost. Ryan Dempster is Meche in 2 years. Live arm, has shown glimpses, but never put it together. The biggest difference is that Dempster put together 3 straight years of 200+ innings, while Meche never did, and Ryan is far less expensive.

 

When was the last time Dempster was as good as Meche has ever been? 2001? 2000? He last pitched 200 innings in 2002, and he was bad. I understand the spirit of what you are saying, but saying Ryan is no bigger a gamble in the rotation than Meche is a real stretch.

I'd wager that someone from the group of Dempster, Cotts, Marshall or Guzman could match Meche's numbers next year.

[YearofDaCubs]

I would rather have Zito and one of our rookies than to have Lilly and Meche here.

[XZero771679666304]

I'm not sure that's true. Dempster has only started a handful of games in the past few years, and was worse then Meche has ever been.

 

He's also been as good as Meche has ever been. And he's much less expensive. Risk is more than the player's ability, but his cost. Ryan Dempster is Meche in 2 years. Live arm, has shown glimpses, but never put it together. The biggest difference is that Dempster put together 3 straight years of 200+ innings, while Meche never did, and Ryan is far less expensive.

 

When was the last time Dempster was as good as Meche has ever been? 2001? 2000? He last pitched 200 innings in 2002, and he was bad. I understand the spirit of what you are saying, but saying Ryan is no bigger a gamble in the rotation than Meche is a real stretch.

 

The last time either of them was any good was in 2000, with the difference in their seasons being Meche had 15 starts and Dempster had 33. How is it a stretch? Meche can't stay healthy/pitch a full season, and he hasn't been an effective pitcher in several years. Dempster's risks are that he's got health/durability issues, and hasn't been an effective starter in years. The difference is Dempster is far less expensive. The cost alone makes Dempster less of a risk. He might be less likely to give you 180 quality innings (neither is going to do it), but at least he'll only cost you $5m while trying.

 

Dempster hasn't started a full season since 2002, when he was awful. He has had major surgery and pitched primarily out of the bullpen for the past 3 years. This isn't John Smoltz, and I don't think Dempster can start anymore.

 

Meche, who has been mediocre-bad, is far more likely to give a team 150 or more inning because he has averaged 150+ over the past 4 years. His numbers have been bad, but actually right around Dempster's career numbers. If Dempster posted Meche's 2006 numbers, it would be his second best season as a starter.

 

I am not advocating Meche, but he would be a safer bet than Dempter. The 5 million dollar difference is immaterial to me, because IMO, Dempster is probably incapable of being even a medicore starter. I would rather pay Meche his 10 million than watch Dempster flame out at 50-60IP with an ERA of 5.50-6.00.

[XZero771679666304]

I'm not sure that's true. Dempster has only started a handful of games in the past few years, and was worse then Meche has ever been.

 

He's also been as good as Meche has ever been. And he's much less expensive. Risk is more than the player's ability, but his cost. Ryan Dempster is Meche in 2 years. Live arm, has shown glimpses, but never put it together. The biggest difference is that Dempster put together 3 straight years of 200+ innings, while Meche never did, and Ryan is far less expensive.

 

When was the last time Dempster was as good as Meche has ever been? 2001? 2000? He last pitched 200 innings in 2002, and he was bad. I understand the spirit of what you are saying, but saying Ryan is no bigger a gamble in the rotation than Meche is a real stretch.

I'd wager that someone from the group of Dempster, Cotts, Marshall or Guzman could match Meche's numbers next year.

 

I'm not confident of that. Not remotely.

[soapy]

I'm not sure that's true. Dempster has only started a handful of games in the past few years, and was worse then Meche has ever been.

 

He's also been as good as Meche has ever been. And he's much less expensive. Risk is more than the player's ability, but his cost. Ryan Dempster is Meche in 2 years. Live arm, has shown glimpses, but never put it together. The biggest difference is that Dempster put together 3 straight years of 200+ innings, while Meche never did, and Ryan is far less expensive.

 

When was the last time Dempster was as good as Meche has ever been? 2001? 2000? He last pitched 200 innings in 2002, and he was bad. I understand the spirit of what you are saying, but saying Ryan is no bigger a gamble in the rotation than Meche is a real stretch.

I'd wager that someone from the group of Dempster, Cotts, Marshall or Guzman could match Meche's numbers next year.

 

I'm not confident of that. Not remotely.

It's a gamble, no doubt. But if my options are spending $10 on Meche or going with the young guys and upgrading the offense, I go with the young SPs. A strong offense will keep them in the race and they can upgrade the SP in July if necessary.