Z wants Zito money

[frostwyrm]

you're making Hendry out to be a "I'll just pay it off later" teenager with a credit card.

 

Indeed I am.

 

"Teenager with a credit card" to me means spending without realizing future consequences. The future consequence is that in 2009 if we give Z Zito money and remain at 110M budget, we will have $20M for 18 spots on the 25 man roster. However, you have to count Murton and Pie at about 4M, and Hill and one of our prospects should round out the rotation for about another $2M. So you can realistically call it $14M for a catcher, shortstop, bench and bullpen. Not a great position to be in, but the sky is not falling.

 

It's a terrible position be in, even if you assume that everybody currently signed retains their health and recent productivity, which I don't. Pie looks pretty sketchy to me at this point, and will Jason Marquis even be in baseball in 2009?

[Mizzou]

18 million is a heck of a lot of money for a guy who only plays in 20% of the games.

 

All things considered though, Hendry has to pay him that.

[nilodnayr]

you're making Hendry out to be a "I'll just pay it off later" teenager with a credit card.

 

Indeed I am.

 

"Teenager with a credit card" to me means spending without realizing future consequences. The future consequence is that in 2009 if we give Z Zito money and remain at 110M budget, we will have $20M for 18 spots on the 25 man roster. However, you have to count Murton and Pie at about 4M, and Hill and one of our prospects should round out the rotation for about another $2M. So you can realistically call it $14M for a catcher, shortstop, bench and bullpen. Not a great position to be in, but the sky is not falling.

 

It's a terrible position be in, even if you assume that everybody currently signed retains their health and recent productivity, which I don't. Pie looks pretty sketchy to me at this point, and will Jason Marquis even be in baseball in 2009?

 

That'd be fine...insurance $.

[frostwyrm]

you're making Hendry out to be a "I'll just pay it off later" teenager with a credit card.

 

Indeed I am.

 

"Teenager with a credit card" to me means spending without realizing future consequences. The future consequence is that in 2009 if we give Z Zito money and remain at 110M budget, we will have $20M for 18 spots on the 25 man roster. However, you have to count Murton and Pie at about 4M, and Hill and one of our prospects should round out the rotation for about another $2M. So you can realistically call it $14M for a catcher, shortstop, bench and bullpen. Not a great position to be in, but the sky is not falling.

 

It's a terrible position be in, even if you assume that everybody currently signed retains their health and recent productivity, which I don't. Pie looks pretty sketchy to me at this point, and will Jason Marquis even be in baseball in 2009?

 

That'd be fine...insurance $.

 

No, my suspicion is that Marquis will be out of baseball due to suckitude, which means he still gets paid.

[Sammy Sofa]

If Hendry likes his job he won't let Z walk, and I'm sure Z and his agent know it. Z could have been traded, but that would only have made sense before Hendry irrevocably committed the Cubs the winning now. I actually think Z could ask for significantly more than Zito and get it. Hendry has backed himself into a corner. He really should have negotiated sooner.

 

How do you know they didn't?

[nilodnayr]

you're making Hendry out to be a "I'll just pay it off later" teenager with a credit card.

 

Indeed I am.

 

"Teenager with a credit card" to me means spending without realizing future consequences. The future consequence is that in 2009 if we give Z Zito money and remain at 110M budget, we will have $20M for 18 spots on the 25 man roster. However, you have to count Murton and Pie at about 4M, and Hill and one of our prospects should round out the rotation for about another $2M. So you can realistically call it $14M for a catcher, shortstop, bench and bullpen. Not a great position to be in, but the sky is not falling.

 

It's a terrible position be in, even if you assume that everybody currently signed retains their health and recent productivity, which I don't. Pie looks pretty sketchy to me at this point, and will Jason Marquis even be in baseball in 2009?

 

If you dont think Pie will ever amount to anything then we can have hope for Colvin and Fuld. Patterson is seeing time in the OF, and with DeRosa still on that team he or Patterson could take an OF spot. If Sori plays CF then that opens up a ton of options for a corner. Plus some decent trades/signings could net us some cheap serviceable players as well. I know it seems crazy that a team can compete with 90M locked up in 7 players and $20M (assuming constant budget) left for the rest , but the 2005 Astros were paying 4 players $57M out of a $77M budget...and they went to the World Series.

[Andy]

It'd be a bargain.

[b_wiggy_66]

Who is Zambrano's agent? Also, I like the idea of a balanced or slightly front-loaded contract.

 

Z's agent is Barry Praver. I also like the idea of a front loaded contract. Why not just reverse the money amounts on Zito's contract and call it a day.

 

Good I thought maybe it was Boras

[cheapseats]

If the Cubs are going to give Z a big contract, they need to do more money per year but over fewer years than what Zito got.

 

I don't know what's going to happen with Z over the next few years, but if you look at his PECOTA comps, there are a whole lot of guys who, like Z, had thrown a lot of innings prior to their age 26 seasons. Most of those guys had drastic drops in IP sometime between 26 and 29.

 

Remember that a lot of pitchers peak early, and often teams get a pitcher's best years before they're eligible for free agency.

 

I'm not saying the Cubs shouldn't re-sign Z; I'm just pointing out that there's an element of risk.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

If Prior could be healthy again, the smart move would be to trade Z right now for A-Rod. Won't happen, but it would be killer. I'm like some others, I hate giving so much money to a pitcher when (a) at best, they can help you win games only every 5th day, and (b) they are always susceptible to serious injury and perma-worthlessness.

 

Especially a pitcher with a track record of mindless abuse points and occasional injuries already (hand, back).

 

You've gotta sign Z if you're Hendry, but I would at least consider the possibility if Cashman were interested.

[bc2k]

''You take less than Zito take and everybody talks about you, saying, 'Zambrano sign a bad contract,''' Zambrano said. ''You take more and everybody says, 'Zambrano is taking advantage.' I think the thing is to be around what Zito signed for, more or the same.''

 

''I don't want to talk contract when the season starts,'' Zambrano said. ''It has to be before the season starts or spring training.''

 

 

Not sure if this has been posted, but Z wants a Zito contract, and he wants it before opening day. I assume Captain Backload will give Z what he wants.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/220720,CST-SPT-csep20.article

 

Since I think Z would command a higher contract as a free agent, I think signing Z to a Zito-like contract is a no brainer.

[frostwyrm]

Healthwise Z's weight concerns me. Even at a young age he has trouble staying lean and he's admitted his back hurts when he's fat. As he ages it will become increasingly difficult to keep the fat off. He's going to have to develop increased discipline sometime in the next few years to control his weight.

[Omar]

If you think about the only consistent positive thing about the Cubs in the past 4 years, Z comes to mind. That said, LOCK HIM UP.

[Elrhino]

Yeah, you probably got to give it to him, but I wouldn't do it now. He could suffer an arm injury in June for all we know. Z knows it to, and that's why he's going with the tried and true "I don't wanna talk contract once the season starts' line (which generally means they sign an extension in August 9 times out of 10).

[CubinNY]

If the Cubs are going to give Z a big contract, they need to do more money per year but over fewer years than what Zito got.

 

I don't know what's going to happen with Z over the next few years, but if you look at his PECOTA comps, there are a whole lot of guys who, like Z, had thrown a lot of innings prior to their age 26 seasons. Most of those guys had drastic drops in IP sometime between 26 and 29.

 

Remember that a lot of pitchers peak early, and often teams get a pitcher's best years before they're eligible for free agency.

 

I'm not saying the Cubs shouldn't re-sign Z; I'm just pointing out that there's an element of risk.

 

That is exactly what I would do, roughly the same amount of money for less years. I'd give him a NTC and, an out clause, a paid membership to Mr. Skin, and pretty much anything else he wants.

[CuseCubFan69]

If Prior could be healthy again, the smart move would be to trade Z right now for A-Rod. Won't happen, but it would be killer. I'm like some others, I hate giving so much money to a pitcher when (a) at best, they can help you win games only every 5th day, and (b) they are always susceptible to serious injury and perma-worthlessness.

 

Especially a pitcher with a track record of mindless abuse points and occasional injuries already (hand, back).

 

You've gotta sign Z if you're Hendry, but I would at least consider the possibility if Cashman were interested.

 

I agree. I'd see if Z would go to 5/16 first and if he doesn't want to I'd trade him.

 

I'm curious about what he said about looking foolish and signing under market value. Is that a possible slam against Ramirez?

[Guancous]

[quote="

 

I'm curious about what he said about looking foolish and signing under market value. Is that a possible slam against Ramirez?

 

It's possible that the Zito deal is already a huge discount for Zambrano's talents.

[FergieJ31]

I'd give him a NTC and, an out clause, a paid membership to Mr. Skin, and pretty much anything else he wants.

 

An ergonomic keyboard and mouse too :wink:

[radarluv1]

yikes, 10 Mil for marquis in 2009. that hurts.

is that NSBB's first Mr. skin reference? $30/month is pretty steep.

[Mizzou]

yikes, 10 Mil for marquis in 2009. that hurts.

That's the first I've heard of that. Is that really true?

[radarluv1]

yikes, 10 Mil for marquis in 2009. that hurts.

That's the first I've heard of that. Is that really true?

 

going by frost's chart on page 1

[Ender]

Santana is the only pitcher in baseball I'd even consider giving Zito's contract to. I'd think they need to talk him down a year or two at the very least. I personally don't think Zambrano is going to age well with all that mileage on his arm and his control slipping instead of improving. That contract would really scare me as a GM.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Santana is the only pitcher in baseball I'd even consider giving Zito's contract to. I'd think they need to talk him down a year or two at the very least. I personally don't think Zambrano is going to age well with all that mileage on his arm and his control slipping instead of improving. That contract would really scare me as a GM.

 

If he goes down with an injury, maybe insurance will cover it. :?

[biittner77]

Give it to him.

 

Side note:

 

Just once, I'd like to see an extremely front-loaded contract. The team is already set to contend, but they're way under budget... so they offer a good pitcher 4 years, 50 mil.... and pay it out 25, 15, 5, 5. So right as their young guys get expensive, the money gets freed up to deal with them. But I guess that's just a pipedream.

 

Players-since they are human beings- would see that as a paycut. Nobody likes a paycut. It might make sense for athletes to make less as they get less effective but we're not wired to accept decreasing pay.

[Danny82]

If so, then those human beings are not looking at the big picture in that they are ignoring the huge benefit afforded to them by the time value of money in such a structure.