Meche reportedly to sign with Royals per Fox Sports

[C.C.]

With Schmidt off the board, I'd rather not sign Lilly or Meche.

 

I didn't see us making a run next year without a legit top-of-the-rotation guy. Since we didn't get Matsuzaka, Schmidt's gone, and we aren't looking at Zito... we wont have one.

 

Lilly and Meche wouldn't be enough to help put us in contention, so neither one on their own would be either.

 

Throw the rookies out there next season and see who sticks. Make a run in 08.

 

Or sign Bonds and Church and have a loaded offense.

 

Still need pitching.

 

And if they sign Meche and Lilly, they'll still need pitching.

 

If those are the only legitimate choices (at the prices being mentioned), I go with the kids and stack the offense.

 

What did "going with the Kids" get us last year?

 

About as far as going with guys like Meche will get us in 07.

 

I agree with the Meche part, but I like taking the chance with Lilly. Then you can always try to pry away another starter via trades.

[Rob]

With Schmidt off the board, I'd rather not sign Lilly or Meche.

 

I didn't see us making a run next year without a legit top-of-the-rotation guy. Since we didn't get Matsuzaka, Schmidt's gone, and we aren't looking at Zito... we wont have one.

 

Lilly and Meche wouldn't be enough to help put us in contention, so neither one on their own would be either.

 

Throw the rookies out there next season and see who sticks. Make a run in 08.

 

Or sign Bonds and Church and have a loaded offense.

 

Still need pitching.

 

And if they sign Meche and Lilly, they'll still need pitching.

 

If those are the only legitimate choices (at the prices being mentioned), I go with the kids and stack the offense.

 

What did "going with the Kids" get us last year?

 

About as far as going with guys like Meche will get us in 07.

 

I agree with the Meche part, but I like taking the chance with Lilly. Then you can always try to pry away another starter via trades.

 

Lilly and Jennings even wouldn't be enough to make this a WS caliber team.

 

That's an average rotation and an average offense. That makes us a possible contender for a wildcard, if things break right.

 

I think we're in the same position the Mets were in after their spending spree pre 05. We're still a year off. The guys on the market just aren't going to be enough to change that.

[Shavo]

Meche Plz.

[KatJ]

I saw Meche when he played for Seattle. He's okay, but (1) not that impressive (and can really downright stink it up), and (2) I don't think the Cubs should touch with a 10-foot-pole any more pitchers with so much as a whiff of shoulder problems.

 

JMO, but I don't understand all the Meche love. Lilly IMO would be better - capable pitcher, if not outstanding, and it would be such a rare thing for the Cubs to have two LH SP.

 

(Now watch Hendry sign Lilly and he'll turn into Shawn Estes, circa 2003...)

 

The market is just crummy for pitching, and of course there are at least two teams in the Central alone who want two new SP.

Edited December 6, 2006 by KatJ

[TruffleShuffle]

I have no interest in wasting $20 million per year on mediocrity (or worse) when I could get the same thing from the kids and stack up the offense.

 

That's the problem, everybody just assumes that we could get as much from "the kids" as we would from someone like Lilly. Hill panned out, but who else was there? Well, let's go through last year's options:

 

Marshall: Oft-injured, 5.59 ERA in 2006

Guzman: Oft-injured, 7.39 ERA (with Cubs) in 2006

Mateo: 5.32 ERA

Marmol: Had to go on DL, 6.08 ERA

 

 

If you think you can rely on those guys to do as well or even nearly as well as Lilly/Meche, you're really grasping at straws. Prior and Miller are also in the mix, but Prior will get hurt, and Miller has questions about his durability and stuff. If you go into next year with Zambrano, Hill, and three of the options listed above, you're accepting that the Cubs will be a lousy team again. That's fine, but don't delude yourself into thinking that this team would be in the playoff hunt.

[Vinestal]

I have no interest in wasting $20 million per year on mediocrity (or worse) when I could get the same thing from the kids and stack up the offense.

 

That's the problem, everybody just assumes that we could get as much from "the kids" as we would from someone like Lilly. Hill panned out, but who else was there? Well, let's go through last year's options:

 

Marshall: Oft-injured, 5.59 ERA in 2006

Guzman: Oft-injured, 7.39 ERA (with Cubs) in 2006

Mateo: 5.32 ERA

Marmol: Had to go on DL, 6.08 ERA

 

 

If you think you can rely on those guys to do as well or even nearly as well as Lilly/Meche, you're really grasping at straws. Prior and Miller are also in the mix, but Prior will get hurt, and Miller has questions about his durability and stuff. If you go into next year with Zambrano, Hill, and three of the options listed above, you're accepting that the Cubs will be a lousy team again. That's fine, but don't delude yourself into thinking that this team would be in the playoff hunt.

 

... and you think Lilly and Meche are going to lead us to the promise land? ROFL I think out of those 4 guys you mentioned and Prior/Miller you get at least the production that Lilly/Meche +whoever would give you and probably better production.

[Drew Doughty]

With Schmidt off the board, I'd rather not sign Lilly or Meche.

 

I didn't see us making a run next year without a legit top-of-the-rotation guy. Since we didn't get Matsuzaka, Schmidt's gone, and we aren't looking at Zito... we wont have one.

 

Lilly and Meche wouldn't be enough to help put us in contention, so neither one on their own would be either.

 

Throw the rookies out there next season and see who sticks. Make a run in 08.

 

Or sign Bonds and Church and have a loaded offense.

 

Still need pitching.

 

And if they sign Meche and Lilly, they'll still need pitching.

 

If those are the only legitimate choices (at the prices being mentioned), I go with the kids and stack the offense.

 

What did "going with the Kids" get us last year?

 

About as far as going with guys like Meche will get us in 07.

 

I agree with the Meche part, but I like taking the chance with Lilly. Then you can always try to pry away another starter via trades.

 

Lilly and Jennings even wouldn't be enough to make this a WS caliber team.

 

That's an average rotation and an average offense. That makes us a possible contender for a wildcard, if things break right.

 

I think we're in the same position the Mets were in after their spending spree pre 05. We're still a year off. The guys on the market just aren't going to be enough to change that.

 

I think Lilly, Penny, healthy Z, and second half Hill might be enough.

[TruffleShuffle]

I have no interest in wasting $20 million per year on mediocrity (or worse) when I could get the same thing from the kids and stack up the offense.

 

That's the problem, everybody just assumes that we could get as much from "the kids" as we would from someone like Lilly. Hill panned out, but who else was there? Well, let's go through last year's options:

 

Marshall: Oft-injured, 5.59 ERA in 2006

Guzman: Oft-injured, 7.39 ERA (with Cubs) in 2006

Mateo: 5.32 ERA

Marmol: Had to go on DL, 6.08 ERA

 

 

If you think you can rely on those guys to do as well or even nearly as well as Lilly/Meche, you're really grasping at straws. Prior and Miller are also in the mix, but Prior will get hurt, and Miller has questions about his durability and stuff. If you go into next year with Zambrano, Hill, and three of the options listed above, you're accepting that the Cubs will be a lousy team again. That's fine, but don't delude yourself into thinking that this team would be in the playoff hunt.

 

... and you think Lilly and Meche are going to lead us to the promise land? ROFL I think out of those 4 guys you mentioned and Prior/Miller you get at least the production that Lilly/Meche +whoever would give you and probably better production.

 

fine, but stats don't support this at all

[Rob]

I have no interest in wasting $20 million per year on mediocrity (or worse) when I could get the same thing from the kids and stack up the offense.

 

That's the problem, everybody just assumes that we could get as much from "the kids" as we would from someone like Lilly. Hill panned out, but who else was there? Well, let's go through last year's options:

 

Marshall: Oft-injured, 5.59 ERA in 2006

Guzman: Oft-injured, 7.39 ERA (with Cubs) in 2006

Mateo: 5.32 ERA

Marmol: Had to go on DL, 6.08 ERA

 

 

If you think you can rely on those guys to do as well or even nearly as well as Lilly/Meche, you're really grasping at straws. Prior and Miller are also in the mix, but Prior will get hurt, and Miller has questions about his durability and stuff. If you go into next year with Zambrano, Hill, and three of the options listed above, you're accepting that the Cubs will be a lousy team again. That's fine, but don't delude yourself into thinking that this team would be in the playoff hunt.

 

... and you think Lilly and Meche are going to lead us to the promise land? ROFL I think out of those 4 guys you mentioned and Prior/Miller you get at least the production that Lilly/Meche +whoever would give you and probably better production.

 

fine, but stats don't support this at all

 

The stats also don't show Lilly or Meche being of much value to the team... let alone ten mil each.

 

I'd rather roll the dice on the kids next season, seeing as how we're not a WS-caliber team even with Lilly and Meche. At least then we'd have a real idea of whether or not any of these prospects are going to pan out. If not, then we can grab some of the better starters on the FA market next year.

 

It's not as if guys as talented as Lilly and Meche don't come along every year.

[TruffleShuffle]

The stats also don't show Lilly or Meche being of much value to the team... let alone ten mil each.

 

I'd rather roll the dice on the kids next season, seeing as how we're not a WS-caliber team even with Lilly and Meche. At least then we'd have a real idea of whether or not any of these prospects are going to pan out. If not, then we can grab some of the better starters on the FA market next year.

 

It's not as if guys as talented as Lilly and Meche don't come along every year.

 

 

Hey, I'm all for just letting the young guys pitch and acknowledging that this team is going nowhere. The problem is that a lot of people think we can go with three of Prior/Miller/Marshall/Marmol/Guzman/Mateo and actually compete for a playoff spot next year.

[Joe_Cub]

so when the heck is meche supposed to decide?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

JMO, but I don't understand all the Meche love. Lilly IMO would be better - capable pitcher, if not outstanding, and it would be such a rare thing for the Cubs to have two LH SP.

 

Disagree. Lilly was decidedly mediocre.

 

And the Cubs had two LH SP last year too - I'd rather they be quality pitchers than pitchers who can throw lefty.

[Fanzones trumpet]

JMO, but I don't understand all the Meche love. Lilly IMO would be better - capable pitcher, if not outstanding, and it would be such a rare thing for the Cubs to have two LH SP.

 

Disagree. Lilly was decidedly mediocre.

 

And the Cubs had two LH SP last year too - I'd rather they be quality pitchers than pitchers who can throw lefty.

 

Shouldn't mediocre in a DH league and a stacked divsion translate into at worst above average in the offensively challenged nonDH NL?

[inari]

so when the heck is meche supposed to decide?

 

Today, apparently.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

JMO, but I don't understand all the Meche love. Lilly IMO would be better - capable pitcher, if not outstanding, and it would be such a rare thing for the Cubs to have two LH SP.

 

Disagree. Lilly was decidedly mediocre.

 

And the Cubs had two LH SP last year too - I'd rather they be quality pitchers than pitchers who can throw lefty.

 

Shouldn't mediocre in a DH league and a stacked divsion translate into at worst above average in the offensively challenged nonDH NL?

 

He still is a flyball pitcher who already surrenders a lot of HRs and walks, I'm not a big fan of that combo.

 

And, for a guy who's supposed to be an innings-eater, he's never thrown 200 IP.

[baseball7897]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/161350,CST-SPT-cub06.article

 

The Cubs are closing in on a multiyear contract for free-agent right-hander Gil Meche and have emerged as the front-runners for free-agent left-hander Ted Lilly, who might make a decision by today.

 

[tkenm356]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/161350,CST-SPT-cub06.article

 

The Cubs are closing in on a multiyear contract for free-agent right-hander Gil Meche and have emerged as the front-runners for free-agent left-hander Ted Lilly, who might make a decision by today.

 

 

Beat me to it, here's what ESPN Rumor Central said...

North Side charge

Dec 6 - The Cubs are closing in on a multiyear contract for free-agent right-hander Gil Meche, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Meche made $3.7 million last season and could land a four-year deal, possibly in the $35 million range.

 

Manager Lou Piniella has spent a lot of time courting the 28-year-old, a first-round pick by the Mariners in 1996 and a member of Piniella's rotation when he managed the M's. He missed the 2001 and '02 seasons because of major shoulder surgery but is 43-36 with a 4.75 ERA since.

 

"When I was in Seattle, I brought him up right out of Double-A and put him in our rotation, so I'm very familiar with him," Piniella told the newspaper. "Gil has really good stuff. He's at that age where you are at your peak physically, and now the mental part of the game kicks in. So you are looking at some really productive years from him in the future."

 

Meche also has attracted strong interest from the Blue Jays.

[wekse]

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark is hearing that Gil Meche is leaning toward signing with the Blue Jays.

Meche to the Blue Jays and Ted Lilly to the Cubs still look like good bets. The Cubs and Royals are the other two finalists for Meche. His decision could come on Wednesday night.

 

 

Who knows what to believe anymore?

[inari]

I think that Sun Times article is from this morning. Nothing significant since it's publication.

[b_wiggy_66]

Update at 4:00

 

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark is hearing that Gil Meche is leaning toward signing with the Blue Jays.

 

Meche to the Blue Jays and Ted Lilly to the Cubs still look like good bets. The Cubs and Royals are the other two finalists for Meche. His decision could come on Wednesday night.

[Derwood]

Update at 4:00

 

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark is hearing that Gil Meche is leaning toward signing with the Blue Jays.

 

Meche to the Blue Jays and Ted Lilly to the Cubs still look like good bets. The Cubs and Royals are the other two finalists for Meche. His decision could come on Wednesday night.

 

Bold prediction:

 

Meche to Blue Jays

Lilly to Yankees

Cubs to 5th place

[Vinestal]

Update at 4:00

 

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark is hearing that Gil Meche is leaning toward signing with the Blue Jays.

 

Meche to the Blue Jays and Ted Lilly to the Cubs still look like good bets. The Cubs and Royals are the other two finalists for Meche. His decision could come on Wednesday night.

 

Bold prediction:

 

Meche to Blue Jays

Lilly to Yankees

Cubs to 5th place

 

Lilly and Meche are as likely to save us as Nefi

[TruffleShuffle]

Update at 4:00

 

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark is hearing that Gil Meche is leaning toward signing with the Blue Jays.

 

Meche to the Blue Jays and Ted Lilly to the Cubs still look like good bets. The Cubs and Royals are the other two finalists for Meche. His decision could come on Wednesday night.

 

good, I don't want both Meche and Lilly. One I can live with, but giving a 4-year deal to both would be bad.

[killthegoat06]

Update at 4:00

 

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark is hearing that Gil Meche is leaning toward signing with the Blue Jays.

 

Meche to the Blue Jays and Ted Lilly to the Cubs still look like good bets. The Cubs and Royals are the other two finalists for Meche. His decision could come on Wednesday night.

 

Bold prediction:

 

Meche to Blue Jays

Lilly to Yankees

Cubs to 5th place

 

Wow how quickly things have changed. Yesterday we would have been thrilled to not get either of the two.

[Vinestal]

Update at 4:00

 

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark is hearing that Gil Meche is leaning toward signing with the Blue Jays.

 

Meche to the Blue Jays and Ted Lilly to the Cubs still look like good bets. The Cubs and Royals are the other two finalists for Meche. His decision could come on Wednesday night.

 

Bold prediction:

 

Meche to Blue Jays

Lilly to Yankees

Cubs to 5th place

 

Wow how quickly things have changed. Yesterday we would have been thrilled to not get either of the two.

 

Heh some of us still hold that view...