What is Michael Wuertz's trade value?

[badnews]

Before you undersell Mr. Wuertz, I would say this - if we were talking about acquiring a guy like Wuertz people would say we would have to give up a ton. He's shown he can pitch anywhere as Wrigley was one of the biggest run-inflating parks this year according to ESPN park factors, he's pretty tough on righties, he averages more than a strikeout per inning, and unless I'm reading the service time wrong he's 3 years away from free agency still.

 

Of course I'm giving Wuertz the hard sell but I've always been more of a fan of his than your average fan. I wonder what a team like the Mets, coming off a horrible collapse and under the duress to do something more than any other team perhaps, would give up for Wuertz, considering their bullpen seemed to be a weakness.

 

I'd like to see the Cubs cook up something for Gomez, out of Martinez, Gomez, and Milledge, Gomez is my favorite. Not going to happen, yeah.

 

But anyway everyone needs bullpen help and has it ever been pricier? How much will Scott Linebrink command in addition to giving up a first round draft pick? 3 years, $21 million?

 

If a team values their 1st round pick more than the talent they have, perhaps we could score one of the "second tier" from the top prospects.

 

Wishful thinking, but bullpen arms seem to be valued higher than ever. Wuertz is still a ways away from free agent, he's posted an ERA+ of 174 and 134 the past two years, more than a strikeout per inning, and oh yes, did I mention that Wuertz was 2nd in the NL and 4th in the majors in stranding inherited baserunners? I have a feeling people will come into the topic and dump on the idea Wuertz has good trade value, but I think giving all the positives, he does.

 

I'd like to hear what others think.

[nilodnayr]

I like Wuertz. I like Wuertz alot. But I think he just flies pretty far under the radar. Hes extremely underrated and unfortunately, thats the cubs fault. Sabermetrically inclined teams may show more than just passing interest, but the majority of the league really doesn't go crazy over a reliever who doesn't pitch in the 7th/8th/9th regularly.

 

I'd much rather see if anyone has interest in Dempster, whos no better than Wuertz, costs 5M, and has the "closer" label on him.

[Tedward]

I like Wuertz. I like Wuertz alot. But I think he just flies pretty far under the radar. Hes extremely underrated and unfortunately, thats the cubs fault. Sabermetrically inclined teams may show more than just passing interest, but the majority of the league really doesn't go crazy over a reliever who doesn't pitch in the 7th/8th/9th regularly.

 

I'd much rather see if anyone has interest in Dempster, whos no better than Wuertz, costs 5M, and has the "closer" label on him.

 

Doesn't Wuertz start to become more expensive soon? I believe he becomes arbitration eligible this season. I just wonder if the Cubs might consider including him in a package deal to upgrade at another spot.

[apete6]

The real question is: What trade value do Eyre, Howry, and Dempster have? Guys like Wuertz, Marmol, and to a lesser extent, Hart, really stepped up last year and make 1/10th the money of those other guys. If we are looking to beef up our offense and get some spare payroll, look at trading the veterans first...although bullpens are so fickle that all of those guys could tank next year and we could be back in the market for "veteran bullpen guys"

[Sammy Sofa]

The real question is: What trade value do Eyre, Howry, and Dempster have?

 

I'd imagine Howry's is quite high, even with the cost.

[jersey cubs fan]

Probably not much. The Cubs haven't shown a lot of faith in him, banishing him to the minors without cause at times and hesitating to give him anything more than middle relief duty. Plus, he is just a reliever with a limited repertoire. He's the type of guy you need, but not all that hard to find. Most every team has one or two. There's no way I would talk about giving up a lot for him. I do believe he would be a solid asset to include in a bigger trade, just not as the centerpiece.

[nilodnayr]

I like Wuertz. I like Wuertz alot. But I think he just flies pretty far under the radar. Hes extremely underrated and unfortunately, thats the cubs fault. Sabermetrically inclined teams may show more than just passing interest, but the majority of the league really doesn't go crazy over a reliever who doesn't pitch in the 7th/8th/9th regularly.

 

I'd much rather see if anyone has interest in Dempster, whos no better than Wuertz, costs 5M, and has the "closer" label on him.

 

Doesn't Wuertz start to become more expensive soon? I believe he becomes arbitration eligible this season. I just wonder if the Cubs might consider including him in a package deal to upgrade at another spot.

He only becomes slightly more expensive. At most he'll get about a 500K raise. Its just going to be his first year of arbi, he won't pull over $1M.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Wuertz's value to his current team much exceeds his value to a team that would trade for him. He's a good reliever, but he's not so much better than the high ceiling alternatives that exist on every team to make him valuable in trade, even less so when considering the variability in reliever performance.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Wuertz does the same thing every year. he gets everyone out with his vanishing slider the first couple of months of the season until the hitters figure out he's going to throw said slider every time, and hit it all over the place the remainder of the season.

[badnews]

Wuertz was good in August and September last year and good in September this year. Your statement is glib but I don't think it's true.

 

Getting back to the topic at hand, does anybody think that when the Cubs are shopping for someone, the price is like double what we'd have to pay to get that person? I mean, the relievers who are better and more consistent than Wuertz with his amount of service time are the real bullpen gems. If Wuertz isn't worth anything, let's acquire another "worthless" guy like him. Wuertz gets "figured out" but he's still 4th in the majors in stranding inherited runners.

 

I am dissatisfied with the idea that everyone we could trade gets pennies on the dollar for if we wanted to trade for a comparable player. For example people probably think Noah Lowry and his ridiculous WHIP and laughable K/BB ratio has more trade value than Rich Hill. Heck, people probably think Chuck James has more trade value than Hill. I disagree with both statements.

 

Anyway, if any talent the Cubs are trading is automatically worth less than another team trading a similar talent it probably says all you need to know about Hendry's bartering skills.

[sethuel1]

Wuertz does the same thing every year. he gets everyone out with his vanishing slider the first couple of months of the season until the hitters figure out he's going to throw said slider every time, and hit it all over the place the remainder of the season.

 

Wuertz' composite ERA 2004-2006: 3.44

Wuertz' post all-star ERA 2004-2006: 2.88

 

Wuertz' BAA 2004-2006: .226

Wuertz' BAA post all-star 2004-2006: .211

 

At what point are you going to admit that you simply pull s*** out of your ass?

[nilodnayr]

Wuertz was good in August and September last year and good in September this year. Your statement is glib but I don't think it's true.

 

Getting back to the topic at hand, does anybody think that when the Cubs are shopping for someone, the price is like double what we'd have to pay to get that person? I mean, the relievers who are better and more consistent than Wuertz with his amount of service time are the real bullpen gems. If Wuertz isn't worth anything, let's acquire another "worthless" guy like him. Wuertz gets "figured out" but he's still 4th in the majors in stranding inherited runners.

 

I am dissatisfied with the idea that everyone we could trade gets pennies on the dollar for if we wanted to trade for a comparable player. For example people probably think Noah Lowry and his ridiculous WHIP and laughable K/BB ratio has more trade value than Rich Hill. Heck, people probably think Chuck James has more trade value than Hill. I disagree with both statements.

 

Anyway, if any talent the Cubs are trading is automatically worth less than another team trading a similar talent it probably says all you need to know about Hendry's bartering skills.

 

I don't understand how you can jump to those wild conclusions.

 

As I said, Wuertz's flies under the radar because hes not used in close and late situations. Typically relievers who consistantly have leverage indexes around 1.0 (this year it was .86) aren't ones that are highly sought after. I realize that is a product of how the cubs have used him and not a reflection of how good he is, but thats exactly my point.

[Mizzou]

Wuertz does the same thing every year. he gets everyone out with his vanishing slider the first couple of months of the season until the hitters figure out he's going to throw said slider every time, and hit it all over the place the remainder of the season.

 

Wuertz' composite ERA 2004-2006: 3.44

Wuertz' post all-star ERA 2004-2006: 2.88

 

Wuertz' BAA 2004-2006: .226

Wuertz' BAA post all-star 2004-2006: .211

 

At what point are you going to admit that you simply pull s*** out of your ass?

Yeah, I have no idea where that came from. In Wuertz's career, he's pitched in 108 games before the all star break, and 112 after it. His ERA in the first half of the season is 4.61 and in the second half it's 2.67. Over the course of his career, his worst two months are April and May, and his best two are August and September. And he's been crazy good in September too. 70 K's in 50 innings, only 18 walks and an ERA under 2. Basically, the opposite of what the Little guy said is true.

[Keener98]

Wuertz does the same thing every year. he gets everyone out with his vanishing slider the first couple of months of the season until the hitters figure out he's going to throw said slider every time, and hit it all over the place the remainder of the season.

 

So the hitters just forget over the off season what Wuertz is goin to throw?

[Keener98]

Wuertz does the same thing every year. he gets everyone out with his vanishing slider the first couple of months of the season until the hitters figure out he's going to throw said slider every time, and hit it all over the place the remainder of the season.

 

Wuertz' composite ERA 2004-2006: 3.44

Wuertz' post all-star ERA 2004-2006: 2.88

 

Wuertz' BAA 2004-2006: .226

Wuertz' BAA post all-star 2004-2006: .211

 

At what point are you going to admit that you simply pull s*** out of your ass?

Yeah, I have no idea where that came from. In Wuertz's career, he's pitched in 108 games before the all star break, and 112 after it. His ERA in the first half of the season is 4.61 and in the second half it's 2.67. Over the course of his career, his worst two months are April and May, and his best two are August and September. And he's been crazy good in September too. 70 K's in 50 innings, only 18 walks and an ERA under 2. Basically, the opposite of what the Little guy said is true.

 

Thats normally true

[Derwood]

LLF=joke account