Cubs Sign Marquis to 3/21

[jjgman21]

thanks for the info Hoops. maybe those Tums will start to take effect now. don't want him as a Cub, but that is livable.

[HoopsCubs]

I just checked with a source of mine. He's hearing that the rumored deal on the table to Marquis is for 1 year and $4M in 2007 with an $8M vesting team option or $1M buyout in 2008. He has no clue on the vesting clause criteria, but he's guessing some quantity of innings pitched.

So it's true that we've signed him?

 

Not to his knowledge. He called it a deal on the table, not an agreed to deal.

Does he have any other insight as to what other players we are looking to sign or trade for? Thanks Hoops.

 

Nothing new. Cubs are looking to move Jones, but there isn't much of a market for him; they are trying to create a market for him by bundling relief pitching and a pitching prospect. No real bites other than the O's.

 

As for starting pitching, they have inquired about Mark Hendrickson and continue to monitor Jason Jennings. No interest in Batista or Lieber at this point.

 

Still wrestling with what to do in CF. Very interested in Lofton at $3M, but not at $6M. Have inquired about Church, but Nats want the moon.

[HoopsCubs]

thanks for the info Hoops. maybe those Tums will start to take effect now. don't want him as a Cub, but that is livable.

 

Keep holding on to the Tums. This same source thought the Cubs would get Soriano at 6 years and $96M. Then look what happened...

[goonys evil twin]

I think you can't judge that until the end of the deal though. We have no idea how well/poorly Marquis might pitch for the Cubs, so fretting about the dollars up front is just unneeded stress.

 

As unneeded a stress as fretting over anything anybody involved with the team does before they do it.

 

We're fans, we care what happens, a lot of us are going to fret. It's not a matter of choosing not to. If the roster of the Cubs matters to you, you're going to think about the ramifications of any move and interpret them with your own biases.

 

What you are saying sounds very close to what a lot of people say about "He's the GM, I'll trust him to make the right moves and I'll just cheer the team." That is fine for those people who can do it. But it's not really possible for the people who fret as much as you have to in order to get involved in the discussions that take place on this site.

[TruffleShuffle]

thanks for the info Hoops. maybe those Tums will start to take effect now. don't want him as a Cub, but that is livable.

 

Keep holding on to the Tums. This same source thought the Cubs would get Soriano at 6 years and $96M. Then look what happened...

 

well, your source got the yearly salary just about right... only needed two more years on his deal

[YearofDaCubs]

I just checked with a source of mine. He's hearing that the rumored deal on the table to Marquis is for 1 year and $4M in 2007 with an $8M vesting team option or $1M buyout in 2008. He has no clue on the vesting clause criteria, but he's guessing some quantity of innings pitched.

So it's true that we've signed him?

 

Not to his knowledge. He called it a deal on the table, not an agreed to deal.

Does he have any other insight as to what other players we are looking to sign or trade for? Thanks Hoops.

 

Nothing new. Cubs are looking to move Jones, but there isn't much of a market for him; they are trying to create a market for him by bundling relief pitching and a pitching prospect. No real bites other than the O's.

 

As for starting pitching, they have inquired about Mark Hendrickson and continue to monitor Jason Jennings. No interest in Batista or Lieber at this point.

 

Still wrestling with what to do in CF. Very interested in Lofton at $3M, but not at $6M. Have inquired about Church, but Nats want the moon.

Good to know, thanks. That sucks about Church.

[Derwood]

I think you can't judge that until the end of the deal though. We have no idea how well/poorly Marquis might pitch for the Cubs, so fretting about the dollars up front is just unneeded stress.

 

As unneeded a stress as fretting over anything anybody involved with the team does before they do it.

 

We're fans, we care what happens, a lot of us are going to fret. It's not a matter of choosing not to. If the roster of the Cubs matters to you, you're going to think about the ramifications of any move and interpret them with your own biases.

 

What you are saying sounds very close to what a lot of people say about "He's the GM, I'll trust him to make the right moves and I'll just cheer the team." That is fine for those people who can do it. But it's not really possible for the people who fret as much as you have to in order to get involved in the discussions that take place on this site.

 

I'm in no way blindly going along with Hendry. I just want good players. 100 RBI or 200 IP isn't weighted by how much they make when all is said and done

[goonys evil twin]

I'm in no way blindly going along with Hendry. I just want good players. 100 RBI or 200 IP isn't weighted by how much they make when all is said and done

 

Yeah, but we're talking about Marquis here, so it could be 200 terrible innings.

 

I've said a lot that I don't care about overpaying for good players, the problem is overpaying garbage, which is Hendry's weakness.

[Derwood]

I'm in no way blindly going along with Hendry. I just want good players. 100 RBI or 200 IP isn't weighted by how much they make when all is said and done

 

Yeah, but we're talking about Marquis here, so it could be 200 terrible innings.

 

I've said a lot that I don't care about overpaying for good players, the problem is overpaying garbage, which is Hendry's weakness.

 

I'm not going to worry about Marquis until it happens. People fretted about Meche for 2 weeks and he went elsewhere.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I just don't get the fascination for the Cubs with Marquis, the guy is a proven zero, there is near-100% probability that one of Marshall, Guzman or Mateo could put up at least as good numbers at the major league minimum salary. Absolutely inexcusable waste of resources by Hendry.

 

Shoot, you want to throw away money like that, at least throw it away on someone with some potential upside, sign Eric Gagne for example.

[HoopsCubs]

I just checked with a source of mine. He's hearing that the rumored deal on the table to Marquis is for 1 year and $4M in 2007 with an $8M vesting team option or $1M buyout in 2008. He has no clue on the vesting clause criteria, but he's guessing some quantity of innings pitched.

So it's true that we've signed him?

 

Not to his knowledge. He called it a deal on the table, not an agreed to deal.

Does he have any other insight as to what other players we are looking to sign or trade for? Thanks Hoops.

 

Nothing new. Cubs are looking to move Jones, but there isn't much of a market for him; they are trying to create a market for him by bundling relief pitching and a pitching prospect. No real bites other than the O's.

 

As for starting pitching, they have inquired about Mark Hendrickson and continue to monitor Jason Jennings. No interest in Batista or Lieber at this point.

 

Still wrestling with what to do in CF. Very interested in Lofton at $3M, but not at $6M. Have inquired about Church, but Nats want the moon.

Good to know, thanks. That sucks about Church.

 

The other thing he (based in NYC) told me is that he's 99% sure that Andy Pettitte is going to re-join the Yankees, and it's better than 50-50 that Vernon Wells will be dealt prior to December 31. Pettitte's deal will only be for 1 year.

[YearofDaCubs]

I just checked with a source of mine. He's hearing that the rumored deal on the table to Marquis is for 1 year and $4M in 2007 with an $8M vesting team option or $1M buyout in 2008. He has no clue on the vesting clause criteria, but he's guessing some quantity of innings pitched.

So it's true that we've signed him?

 

Not to his knowledge. He called it a deal on the table, not an agreed to deal.

Does he have any other insight as to what other players we are looking to sign or trade for? Thanks Hoops.

 

Nothing new. Cubs are looking to move Jones, but there isn't much of a market for him; they are trying to create a market for him by bundling relief pitching and a pitching prospect. No real bites other than the O's.

 

As for starting pitching, they have inquired about Mark Hendrickson and continue to monitor Jason Jennings. No interest in Batista or Lieber at this point.

 

Still wrestling with what to do in CF. Very interested in Lofton at $3M, but not at $6M. Have inquired about Church, but Nats want the moon.

Good to know, thanks. That sucks about Church.

 

The other thing he (based in NYC) told me is that he's 99% sure that Andy Pettitte is going to re-join the Yankees, and it's better than 50-50 that Vernon Wells will be dealt prior to December 31. Pettitte's deal will only be for 1 year.

Looks like he was right about Pettitte :)

[HoopsCubs]

I just checked with a source of mine. He's hearing that the rumored deal on the table to Marquis is for 1 year and $4M in 2007 with an $8M vesting team option or $1M buyout in 2008. He has no clue on the vesting clause criteria, but he's guessing some quantity of innings pitched.

So it's true that we've signed him?

 

Not to his knowledge. He called it a deal on the table, not an agreed to deal.

Does he have any other insight as to what other players we are looking to sign or trade for? Thanks Hoops.

 

Nothing new. Cubs are looking to move Jones, but there isn't much of a market for him; they are trying to create a market for him by bundling relief pitching and a pitching prospect. No real bites other than the O's.

 

As for starting pitching, they have inquired about Mark Hendrickson and continue to monitor Jason Jennings. No interest in Batista or Lieber at this point.

 

Still wrestling with what to do in CF. Very interested in Lofton at $3M, but not at $6M. Have inquired about Church, but Nats want the moon.

Good to know, thanks. That sucks about Church.

 

The other thing he (based in NYC) told me is that he's 99% sure that Andy Pettitte is going to re-join the Yankees, and it's better than 50-50 that Vernon Wells will be dealt prior to December 31. Pettitte's deal will only be for 1 year.

Looks like he was right about Pettitte :)

 

That wasn't so hard to predict - especially after the Garland rumor surfaced yesterday. By the way, if the whole Matsuzaka negotiation blows up and he heads back to Japan, I wonder if Boston will sign Clemens.

[Soul]

Both Clemens and Pettitte leaving the NL Central?

 

I call that a double-bonus for the Cubs.

[C.C.]

I just don't get the fascination for the Cubs with Marquis, the guy is a proven zero, there is near-100% probability that one of Marshall, Guzman or Mateo could put up at least as good numbers at the major league minimum salary. Absolutely inexcusable waste of resources by Hendry.

 

Shoot, you want to throw away money like that, at least throw it away on someone with some potential upside, sign Eric Gagne for example.

 

Do you really need another bullpen guy?

[moorecg]

Both Clemens and Pettitte leaving the NL Central?

 

I call that a double-bonus for the Cubs.

 

Ditto that.

 

One thing that makes me happy about this off season is that really no other Central division team has done a ton to improve (Lee to the Stros being the exception). I think there is little doubt the Cubs got better...how much better is still to be determined...but with Pettite leaving, may be clemens too, and 3/5 of the cards staff leaving only to be replaced by Kip Wells...well, we're moving in the right direction, if only by standing still.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I just don't get the fascination for the Cubs with Marquis, the guy is a proven zero, there is near-100% probability that one of Marshall, Guzman or Mateo could put up at least as good numbers at the major league minimum salary. Absolutely inexcusable waste of resources by Hendry.

 

Shoot, you want to throw away money like that, at least throw it away on someone with some potential upside, sign Eric Gagne for example.

 

Do you really need another bullpen guy?

 

Sure I do, every team is looking for bullpen help, that gives me an additional trade bullet to get a starting pitcher or an OF bat. If I had Gagne--purely for the sake of argument--I'd dangle Howry and I bet I'd get a lot of bites, too.

[HoopsCubs]

Looks like he was right about Pettitte :)

 

Except he was wrong about the duration. Pettitte got a player option, which effectively makes it a 2 year deal.

[JWCUB]

Hoops,

 

Any word on Suppan? I believe it was Levine that said we had an offer on the table for him.

[HoopsCubs]

Hoops,

 

Any word on Suppan? I believe it was Levine that said we had an offer on the table for him.

 

I didn't ask. He didn't say. If I talk to him again in the next few days, I'll ask. Isn't Toronto trying to get him if their Wells for Penny and a prospect idea falls through?

[Flames24Rulz]

I like the HoopsCubs source's deal better than the trade rumors one.

 

But that's just me :lol:

 

I trust Hoops source much more than MLBbushleaguerumors.com. Seriously, have they ever had a rumor that turned out to be correct?

[craig]

I just checked with a source of mine. He's hearing that the rumored deal on the table to Marquis is for 1 year and $4M in 2007 with an $8M vesting team option or $1M buyout in 2008. He has no clue on the vesting clause criteria, but he's guessing some quantity of innings pitched.

 

That makes sense as an offer by the Cubs. $5 guaranteed for one year, or $12/2 if he vests. In this current market, I can well see that as making sense to the Cubs. On the table.

 

Whether that makes sense for Marquis, not so sure. Given the money this month, I'd think he might well get a better offer than that. Certainly if I were him, I'd not take that deal unless the 2nd year came with a player opt-out.

 

If he can have a decent year and return to his 2004-2005 numbers (*ERA+ above average, win 15 games, 200 innings...), he could get Lilly/Meche/Eaton kind of offers next winter. He'll probably want an opt-out.

 

Still, if he only cost $4-5, that's not that much for a Cub team with a $125-type payroll. If he pitched solid, that would be great. If the offense scores runs, and the bullpen is excellent, he can throw 4.20 ERA and win 14 games.

 

But, at $4, if he stinks and two of Prior/Miller/Guzman/Marmol/Marshall are looking really good, $4 is not that large a commitment, relative to a $125 payroll. I'm not sure a $4 commitment would be so large that it would interfere with Piniella making a decision based on merit rather than on contract. If Marshall or Guzman was looking really good, I'm not sure that $4 Marquis would block them, unless he's pitching at least half-way decent.

[jjgman21]

I just caught a little bit of Rothschild on WGN radio while on an errand to the store. apparently the Cubs got to talking to Marquis because shortly after the end of the season, Marquis rang up Maddux, and Maddux recommended Marquis to Rothschild. shortly thereafter Marquis auditioned for Rothschild. Larry said there was mutual interest, but didn't really sound on fire about acquiring Marquis.

 

not sure what it might mean, but Greg Maddux is one helluva reference when applying for the position of baseball player. I wonder what he sees that we don't.

 

 

anyone else hear the rest of the interview and have a summary, if not here than in its own thread somewhere? I only caught the tail end and post interview where Kap was going on and on about how everyone he talks to, including Maddux and several baseball people he talked to at the winter meetings all say Rothschild is the very best.

[Bruno7481]

I think Rothschild is a fine pitching coach. It isn't his fault that the injuries have occurred. For some reason it has been popular to bag on him around here.

 

If Maddux thinks he's one of the best that is good enough for me.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Marquis must be a decent guy at least, because it seems like all his ex-Atlanta buds are eager to put in a good word for him. DeRosa, Maddux, Glavine. Still, I just can't get over that sub-100 ERA+ hurdle with Marquis, I've got to think we're better off taking a pass.