Cubs Trade Rob Bowen and Jerry Blevins for Jason Kendall

[Keener98]

Sooo any guesses on our new catchers 1st hit as a Cub? Im calling Tues vs the Cards, just because everybody gets hits off the Cards.

[Shilzzz]

Sooo any guesses on our new catchers 1st hit as a Cub? Im calling Tues vs the Cards, just because everybody gets hits off the Cards.

 

the next start he gets will see a bloop single to right.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

The only issue with Hendry resigning Kendall is from a monetary point of view. The Cubs have a ton of money already tied up in payroll and Kendall is not likely to come cheap due to his reputation (not saying I agree with it but it's true). Hendry is also going to be negotiating a deal with Z at the end of the year which will limit the money even more. And I believe that Hendry realizes that Z is much more important than Kendall is.

 

That's not to say that a Kendall deal at the end of the year won't happen but I don't think it's all that likely.

I suspect Kendall's next contract will not be very large.

 

For example Mike Piazza signed for 1 year and $2M after underperforming the last few years of his 7/$91M deal.

 

I don't think it will be very large but he'll get an extra mil or two per year because of his reputation as a good defensive player and a guy who works well with the pitching staff. Not saying its right but I think he will.

 

Michael Barrett got $5MM/year after his career year (to that point) with the bat. Standard rate for a backup catcher nowadays seems to run at about $1MM/year (Blanco is overpaid by a comfortable margin). Taken together, given his performance, I'd be shocked if Kendall's next contract is more than $2MM/year at the most, and I'd be even more shocked if the Cubs are the team that gives it to him.