How to fill the last rotation spot

[b_wiggy_66]

I really don't have any complaints about the guys left(Suppan, Marquis, Batista). None of them are lights out but they are all solid low rotation guys. The thing I like most is that they are all durable which is something that I think has been important all offseason. Durable guys who can be counted on are something we haven't seen to often besides Z-man. I would still prefer Suppan or Lieber but Marquis and Batista have had good years recently and would make solid and durable starters.

[FergieJ31]

Maybe I'm nuts, but I wouldn't mind Marquis. If he can be signed reasonably.

 

Marquis was god-awful last year, there is no getting around that. He is not worth 9 million a year.

 

Having said that, I think if he could put up something similar to his 2004 and 2005 numbers, he would be a decent addition to the back end of the rotation.

 

2004

 

15-7 201.1 IP 3.71 ERA

 

2005

 

13-14 207.0 IP 4.13 ERA

 

He falls in line with what the Cubs are looking for, durability. He has thrown at least 190 innings the last three years.

 

If, and only if, he can be signed to a reasonable contract, I don't think it is THAT bad of a move. I'd rather have him, with a decent contract, then 5/55 for Meche.

 

What worries me is the cardinals save careers, always get the best of of broken down pitchers. The fact that he's leaving them makes me weary the cubs staff can do it. I don't know the roster moves by the cardinals, maybe they don't want him to leave. Still makes me nervous.

 

My thought exactly. Arguably the Braves also gave up on him, throwing him into what was basically a JD-for-Wainwright trade a few years ago.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Count me in for wanting Marquis on the Cubs.

 

Me too.

[YearofDaCubs]

Did Batista get signed already? He seems like a better target than Marquis.

 

I don't think he has, and I don't think he's a better option than Marquis.

Both Marquis and Batista are terrible. I would rather move Miller to the 4th spot and try one of the rookies instead of signing either of those two IMO.

[Warren Brusstar]

We have about 16 pitchers that could credibly pitch for $325K and post reasonable numbers as a 5th starter.

 

Why the heck do we have to pay someone $8 million to do the same thing?

[TruffleShuffle]

My thought exactly. Arguably the Braves also gave up on him, throwing him into what was basically a JD-for-Wainwright trade a few years ago.

 

That's not true at all. He was coming off an injury in 2004, but I do remember him being a highly valued prospect, and he had a really solid year in 2002 at just 22 years old. He was more than just a throw-in to that deal, as Baseball America noted at the time. The Cards also got Ray "Burger" King in the trade.

[TruffleShuffle]

We have about 16 pitchers that could credibly pitch for $325K and post reasonable numbers as a 5th starter.

 

Why the heck do we have to pay someone $8 million to do the same thing?

 

Well, nobody is paying Marquis $8 million first of all, and second, take a look at how our 16 pitchers did last year filling out the rotation. Those were not reasonable numbers for a 5th starter.

[Warren Brusstar]

We have about 16 pitchers that could credibly pitch for $325K and post reasonable numbers as a 5th starter.

 

Why the heck do we have to pay someone $8 million to do the same thing?

 

Well, nobody is paying Marquis $8 million first of all, and second, take a look at how our 16 pitchers did last year filling out the rotation. Those were not reasonable numbers for a 5th starter.

 

Mateo and Marshall (the two best candidates for the 5th spot) combined for 171 innings and a 5.51 ERA. That's certainly better than Marquis and, given that each was seeing his first big league action, it's pretty reasonable to think that either/or would be better in 2007.

[FergieJ31]

My thought exactly. Arguably the Braves also gave up on him, throwing him into what was basically a JD-for-Wainwright trade a few years ago.

 

That's not true at all. He was coming off an injury in 2004, but I do remember him being a highly valued prospect, and he had a really solid year in 2002 at just 22 years old. He was more than just a throw-in to that deal, as Baseball America noted at the time. The Cards also got Ray "Burger" King in the trade.

 

Ok - my recollection of that deal is mistaken then. I remember Wainwright and Drew being the big names (Burger King also being a big name in a different sense of 'big').

 

But his 2002 year wasn't really solid - he sucked then and he sucked in 2003 after his demotion to the pen. I think you meant his 2001, his first full year with the Braves when he posted a 127 ERA+.

[Ivy Walls]

Marquis discovered a mechanical flaw in his delivery that was effecting his performance and has corrected over the winter.

 

Supposedly Rothschild and another Cub brass have evaluated him.

 

If true it is a great $$/talent pickup.

[Rob]

Marquis discovered a mechanical flaw in his delivery that was effecting his performance and has corrected over the winter.

 

Supposedly Rothschild and another Cub brass have evaluated him.

 

If true it is a great $$/talent pickup.

 

If the mechanical flaw made him a bad pitcher and if he's fixed it and if he signs for real cheap, it could be a great $$/talent pickup.

 

On the other hand, if Angel Guzman simply performs at a level near where he's capable of performing, it would be an amazing $$/talent value.

[craig]

If the mechanical flaw made him a bad pitcher and if he's fixed it and if he signs for real cheap, it could be a great $$/talent pickup.

 

On the other hand, if Angel Guzman simply performs at a level near where he's capable of performing, it would be an amazing $$/talent value.

 

I agree. Given that we have two open rotation spots, both of those players could be good $$/talent guys.

 

It's not like signing Marquis would block out Guzman. If both look good, then both could pitch.

 

That is, unless some dude named Prior is healthy. Which would be more good news.

 

If the worst problem we have is that Prior is so healthy that he's locking a spot, and Z and Lilly and Hill are all healthy and locking down spots, and Guzman is so healthy and pitching so great that we want him to have a spot, but Marquis is pitching at least adequately enough to hold off going-great-Guzman, then I believe 2007 might be a very fun season.

 

It depends on the money, IMO. If Marquis was to be signed, and at stiff price, a guy with a big contract keeps his job no matter what.

 

But, if you signed him to a 1-year deal at $4-5, I'd think that if Guzman is looking really great and if Marquis is looking lousy, I don't think that a $4 1-year contract would necessarily insulate Marquis from being replaced by some stud prospect.

[Warren Brusstar]

We have about 16 pitchers that could credibly pitch for $325K and post reasonable numbers as a 5th starter.

 

Why the heck do we have to pay someone $8 million to do the same thing?

 

Well, nobody is paying Marquis $8 million first of all, and second, take a look at how our 16 pitchers did last year filling out the rotation. Those were not reasonable numbers for a 5th starter.

 

Good call on that one.

 

:roll:

[TruffleShuffle]

We have about 16 pitchers that could credibly pitch for $325K and post reasonable numbers as a 5th starter.

 

Why the heck do we have to pay someone $8 million to do the same thing?

 

Well, nobody is paying Marquis $8 million first of all, and second, take a look at how our 16 pitchers did last year filling out the rotation. Those were not reasonable numbers for a 5th starter.

 

Good call on that one.

 

:roll:

 

Wait til the real numbers come out :roll:

[FergieJ31]

We have about 16 pitchers that could credibly pitch for $325K and post reasonable numbers as a 5th starter.

 

Why the heck do we have to pay someone $8 million to do the same thing?

 

Well, nobody is paying Marquis $8 million first of all, and second, take a look at how our 16 pitchers did last year filling out the rotation. Those were not reasonable numbers for a 5th starter.

 

Good call on that one.

 

:roll:

 

Wait til the real numbers come out :roll:

 

The real numbers are out. Can we roll our eyes yet?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Never

[FergieJ31]

Never

 

Sorry, too late. 3/28 for Marquis is an eye-roll signing if I ever saw one. Utterly ridiculous.

[A New Era]

Never

 

I know you like this so much. So, :roll: