Cubs express interest in Octavio Dotel?

[RammyFanny]

The Braves, looking for left-handed relief help, are working on a deal with Texas for lefty C.J. Wilson. ... Greinke isn't the only available Royals reliever. The Cubs, Dodgers and Brewers have expressed interest in former Yankee Octavio Dotel, and lefty Jimmy Gobble is drawing interest from several places. ...

 

And on Greinke:

The Yankees, along with the Braves, Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Cubs, have expressed interest in Kansas City right-hander Zack Greinke, a pitcher who could also serve as a starter if they were to need one in a pinch. The idea would be to unload somebody such as Kyle Farnsworth or Scott Proctor, but replace him with somebody like Greinke, who might be a fresh arm for the stretch run.

 

But the KC paper doesn't mention us about Dotel and says Greinke's pice would most likely be too high:

Dotel might be the hottest trade property in baseball with so many contenders seeking to bolster their bullpen for the stretch drive. The Dodgers, Indians, Tigers, Red Sox and Braves are among those teams known to have some interest.

 

Teams have until 3 p.m. July 31 to make trades without sending players through waivers.

 

The Royals are shopping Dotel, primarily, because he can choose to become a free agent after the season. His contract has a mutual option for 2008 that allows either side to void it.

 

Dotel’s current contract includes $5 million in guaranteed money with bonuses for games finished that can total another $2.5 million.

 

Club officials are also hoping to generate interest in veteran outfielder Reggie Sanders, who returned Monday from two-plus months on the disabled list. Sanders is concluding a two-year deal that also has about $2.1 million remaining.

 

The Royals are dismissing, for now, a Chicago radio report alleging strong interest by the Cubs in reliever Zack Greinke. The Royals are willing to trade Greinke, but the price would be high.

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/195953.html

[Balsa]

Grienke > Dotel

 

Both have been pitching well recently though.

[Jazz]

In my opinion, getting rid of ohman and eyre supercedes the need to go out and try to get a player at a position as iffy as reliever. If you rid us of these two, and call up piggy and petrick, we probably are better off.

[Rob]

I have no problem with picking up Greinke to be in the bullpen this year with an eye on giving him a shot at the rotation next year. I'd be willing to part with EPatt and a decent prospect.

 

Dotel, on the other hand, isn't worth near what he'd cost... especially when considering that our bullpen isn't our problem.

 

Dempster, Marmol, Howry, Wuertz, and Ohman are all more than adequate when used correctly, and we're looking at possibly having Wood and Gooz return for the stretch run. Bottom line, this is a good bullpen. Wasting our tradeable assets on guys for the bullpen this year is not going to be an efficient use of resources. Those guys should be getting shipped out to help fill the voids at SS, C, CF, and RF... not for a fungible setup man.

[weis21]

Grienke is enticing because of his SP potential. He's basically the only reliever I would consider adding because of his potential.

[ctcf]

LOL @ the idea of putting someone with social anxiety problems on the Yankees.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Dempster, Marmol, Howry, Wuertz, and Ohman are all more than adequate when used correctly, and we're looking at possibly having Wood and Gooz return for the stretch run. Bottom line, this is a good bullpen. Wasting our tradeable assets on guys for the bullpen this year is not going to be an efficient use of resources. Those guys should be getting shipped out to help fill the voids at SS, C, CF, and RF... not for a fungible setup man.

 

Gold star

[Elrhino]

This search for a reliever baffles me. If we need an extra bullpen arm arm so badly, why are we going with 11 pitchers (essentially 10 since Eyre never pitches)?

[salukifudd]

Jim Hendry is not very smart. Especially if a reliever is the last move he is making before the deadline. Jim, which is more solid, our lineup or bullpen?

Go Cubs

[NCCubFan]

This search for a reliever baffles me. If we need an extra bullpen arm arm so badly, why are we going with 11 pitchers (essentially 10 since Eyre never pitches)?

Um, we're not going with 11 pitchers. Since Petrick was called up earlier this week there have been 12 pitchers (counting Eyre).

[BigbadB]

Yeah, and I completely forgot Gallagher was still with the team. Lou is pretty good at hiding guys on the bench.

[NCCubFan]

Yeah, and I completely forgot Gallagher was still with the team. Lou is pretty good at hiding guys on the bench.

Apparently you didn't get a chance to watch yesterday's game; Gallagher was anything but hidden on the bench then. :D

[NewUserName]

This search for a reliever baffles me. If we need an extra bullpen arm arm so badly, why are we going with 11 pitchers (essentially 10 since Eyre never pitches)?

 

 

Because this has become a new mantra for major league baseball. You have to have a good bullpen to win championships. Also since everyone has heard the name Dotel, that makes him better than AAA guys you have never heard of.

 

This and the "need to get ARam some protection in the lineup" are just things that most people readily agree with because you hear the media and commentaries saying these things all the time. So they must be true. So if Hendry gets us a "name" in the bullpen and some protection for ARam(again a "name") he will be precieved as doing a good job.

[JeffH]

Jim - Dotel, please.

[jersey cubs fan]

This search for a reliever baffles me. If we need an extra bullpen arm arm so badly, why are we going with 11 pitchers (essentially 10 since Eyre never pitches)?

 

I would argue it's because of all the bitching people do about GM's not doing enough to improve the bullpen. People acted as though 2004 was ruined because Jim didn't get a real closer. In the past several Cubs fans have blasted them for not getting enough veteran relievers.

 

Relievers are inconsistent and have a short shelf life. Take out the handful of elite closers, and relievers are basically just failed starters trying to make due with a less than perfect arsenal.

 

If a GM relies on kids and they fail, people will say he should have had vets. If he spends big on vets and they fail he can say, "Well, I went out and got the guys, they just didn't come through."

[Coach C]

Jim - Dotel, please.

 

I'd pass. The Royals are my 2nd team, behind the Cubs, and Dotel is like Ryan Dempster. Gets two outs, then makes it interesting by walking somebody, giving up a single or a double, and it can go either way.

 

Dotel still have been pitching well, don't get me wrong, but he has the habit of making the games a little bit more interesting than it's needed to be.

[CubsWin]

I have no problem with picking up Greinke to be in the bullpen this year with an eye on giving him a shot at the rotation next year. I'd be willing to part with EPatt and a decent prospect.

 

Dotel, on the other hand, isn't worth near what he'd cost... especially when considering that our bullpen isn't our problem.

 

Dempster, Marmol, Howry, Wuertz, and Ohman are all more than adequate when used correctly, and we're looking at possibly having Wood and Gooz return for the stretch run. Bottom line, this is a good bullpen. Wasting our tradeable assets on guys for the bullpen this year is not going to be an efficient use of resources. Those guys should be getting shipped out to help fill the voids at SS, C, CF, and RF... not for a fungible setup man.

Excellent post. Sums up my thoughts exactly.

 

I predicted that Marquis would likely finish the season with an ERA around 4.50. When he got off to his hot start, I figured he would likely have a poor second half like he did last year and that seems to be playing out. Having Greinke on the roster would give the Cubs a 23 year old starter with great minor league pedigree who could step in for Marquis if he implodes. The problem is, the price will likely be pretty steep.

 

Wave off on trading for relievers. The Cubs have plenty of options with Wood and Guzman coming back. Dempster is returning which means that Petrick and Gallagher will also be in reserve.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I think many are missing the potential strategy here. If you trade for Dotel, that would free up Dempster for the rotation (he has stated before he'd like to start again someday, and as we know, Lou entertained the thought earlier this year).

 

Dempster in the rotation means either Rich Hill or Sean Marshall is available as a (valuable) trading chip to get the OF bat we desperately need. Or Salty at catcher.

 

Strategy works just the same if Greinke is the target instead of Dotel, tradeoff to consider is which is better: Greinke in rotation, Dempster as closer? Or Dempster in rotation, Dotel as closer? Could go either way there....

 

Regardless, KC offers some interesting options for us, and some of you know I like to follow the Royals quite a bit, too. From a Cubs perspective, I like the fact that Dotel is the more proven commodity, and this works well from the Royals viewpoint, too--they get to keep the guy (Zack) with the long-term upside.

 

So....here's my proposal.

 

Royals get: Eric Patterson, Micah Hoffpauir, Rocky Cherry

Cubs get: Octavio Dotel, Reggie Sanders, and some cash (~$1MM)

 

Comments?? I fear this is too soft a package from KC's perspective, but it's a starter. Substitute Scott Moore for Rocky Cherry??

[snoodmonger]

More hitting please.

[Jazz]

I think many are missing the potential strategy here. If you trade for Dotel, that would free up Dempster for the rotation (he has stated before he'd like to start again someday, and as we know, Lou entertained the thought earlier this year).

 

Dempster in the rotation means either Rich Hill or Sean Marshall is available as a (valuable) trading chip to get the OF bat we desperately need. Or Salty at catcher.

 

Strategy works just the same if Greinke is the target instead of Dotel, tradeoff to consider is which is better: Greinke in rotation, Dempster as closer? Or Dempster in rotation, Dotel as closer? Could go either way there....

 

Regardless, KC offers some interesting options for us, and some of you know I like to follow the Royals quite a bit, too. From a Cubs perspective, I like the fact that Dotel is the more proven commodity, and this works well from the Royals viewpoint, too--they get to keep the guy (Zack) with the long-term upside.

 

So....here's my proposal.

 

Royals get: Eric Patterson, Micah Hoffpauir, Rocky Cherry

Cubs get: Octavio Dotel, Reggie Sanders, and some cash (~$1MM)

 

Comments?? I fear this is too soft a package from KC's perspective, but it's a starter. Substitute Scott Moore for Rocky Cherry??

 

Well that leads me to ask you this, is ryan dempster someone you want in the rotation?

[soccer10k]

I think many are missing the potential strategy here. If you trade for Dotel, that would free up Dempster for the rotation (he has stated before he'd like to start again someday, and as we know, Lou entertained the thought earlier this year).

 

Dempster in the rotation means either Rich Hill or Sean Marshall is available as a (valuable) trading chip to get the OF bat we desperately need. Or Salty at catcher.

 

Strategy works just the same if Greinke is the target instead of Dotel, tradeoff to consider is which is better: Greinke in rotation, Dempster as closer? Or Dempster in rotation, Dotel as closer? Could go either way there....

 

Regardless, KC offers some interesting options for us, and some of you know I like to follow the Royals quite a bit, too. From a Cubs perspective, I like the fact that Dotel is the more proven commodity, and this works well from the Royals viewpoint, too--they get to keep the guy (Zack) with the long-term upside.

 

So....here's my proposal.

 

Royals get: Eric Patterson, Micah Hoffpauir, Rocky Cherry

Cubs get: Octavio Dotel, Reggie Sanders, and some cash (~$1MM)

 

Comments?? I fear this is too soft a package from KC's perspective, but it's a starter. Substitute Scott Moore for Rocky Cherry??

 

Well that leads me to ask you this, is ryan dempster someone you want in the rotation?

 

Absolutely not.

[Backtobanks]

I don't understand all of this talk about Dempster going to the rotation. How can he possibly be a starter this year without stretching out his innings. Basically he has been a one-inning pitcher for the last few years and he is supposed to jump right back into a 6-7 inning guy. Maybe for next year after building up his stamina in spring training.

[E.J.]

I don't understand all of this talk about Dempster going to the rotation. How can he possibly be a starter this year without stretching out his innings. Basically he has been a one-inning pitcher for the last few years and he is supposed to jump right back into a 6-7 inning guy. Maybe for next year after building up his stamina in spring training.

 

Nevermind the fact that he's been a terrible starter in his career as well. He has a career ERA of 4.99 as a starter and 3.78 as a reliever. He's fine in the bullpen. No reason to move him.

[RynoRules]

Dempster, Marmol, Howry, Wuertz, and Ohman are all more than adequate when used correctly, and we're looking at possibly having Wood and Gooz return for the stretch run. Bottom line, this is a good bullpen. Wasting our tradeable assets on guys for the bullpen this year is not going to be an efficient use of resources. Those guys should be getting shipped out to help fill the voids at SS, C, CF, and RF... not for a fungible setup man.

 

Gold star

 

Here here.

 

Get a freakin' corner OFer or SS, Jim!!!! Now that Ward is badly hurt and Floyd looks like Glass Joe, Jim's hand may be forced.

[Outshined_One]

Well that leads me to ask you this, is ryan dempster someone you want in the rotation?

 

Absolutely not.

 

The only situation I'd be fine with trading one of Marshall or Hill is if the Cubs get a quality starting pitcher in return. I'm not talking doing something crazy like try to trade for Johan Santana (although that would be nice), but with the way this team has been playing lately, Zambrano and Lilly are pretty much the only two guys in the rotation who can be counted on to perform well on a regular basis.

 

This team could definitely stand to upgrade its rotation, imo.