Move Samardzija to rotation next year?

[erik316wttn]

As it stands at this moment, our Opening Day Rotation is Z, Harden, Lilly, ?, ?. There is no guarantee that Demp will be here (and I'm very torn on him. I'll save it for another thread), and I can't see Marquis starting again. Samardija started in the minors, and actually did pretty well in Iowa.

 

So, the question is multi-fold: A) Will there be any obtainable and worthwhile FA pitchers on the market who are better options? B) Do you want to break up a possibly unbeatable Shark/Marmol/Wood combo in the pen that could be possibly the best bullpen trio since Charlton/Dibble/Myers for the Reds back in 1990?

 

I suppose there are worse options. I was reading the article about him in the current SI and got to thinking.

[Cynosure]

 Samardzija	1.13	16    	2

 

yes please

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I imagine Dempster will be back. Marquis is under contract. If Marquis is dealt, or Dempster not brought back, I imagine Marshall, Samardzija, and Hill will be the guys in the mix for that last spot.

[Cubbies2238]

I imagine Dempster will be back. Marquis is under contract. If Marquis is dealt, or Dempster not brought back, I imagine Marshall, Samardzija, and Hill will be the guys in the mix for that last spot.

 

I would think that Gaudin would also want a shot at cracking the rotation.

[Outshined_One]

I predict Samardzija starts the season in AAA as a starter. He's fine as a reliever for the time being, but he needs to sharpen his secondary pitches. It'll be harder for him to get hitters out the second and third times through the order if he doesn't improve his secondary pitches.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I wouldn't be so sure that Marquis won't be back in the rotation.

[Devin Dixon]

I agree about the secondary pitches. If he could throw a change for strikes, he'd be fine in a rotation. As is, he's a little too Farnsworth-like for me.

[TruffleShuffle]

I wouldn't be so sure that Marquis won't be back in the rotation.

 

yeah and i'd go as far to say that if the cubs aren't able to trade him, i'm 90% certain that he WILL be in the rotation.

[Schwarber Fan]

Are we all just writing of Rich Hill completely?

[RynoRules]

What a great problem to have.

 

I would keep Jeff in the pen for the time being, re-sign Dempster, trade Marquis (if he is decent for the rest of the season he will be very easy to trade b/c he has one year and 7 mill left on his deal) and give Marshall a well-deserved shot at the 5th spot in the rotation. I would concentrate our offseason moves on building organizational depth and deciding once and for all what to do in CF.

[RynoRules]

Are we all just writing of Rich Hill completely?

 

I am not, but I wouldn't rely on his availability either. Won't Rich be 29 next season? Its not like he has a bunch of time to get things figured out.

[Tracer Bullet]

Sounds like Dempster says he wants to be back. I can't see Jim not signing him, since he's a huge feather in Jim's cap right now (solid closer for a few years and great SP this year). I have no idea if they'll try to trade Marquis or not. I sure hope so with the likes of Marshall, Hill, and Gaudin available for the 5th spot.

 

As for Shark, I too hope he's back in Iowa to start the year. I'd rather not have him in the bullpen for a full year next year.

[Backtobanks]

Assuming Dempster and Wood resign with the Cubs, I would think you have to see what happens before next season to Marquis, Guzman, Hill, Marshall, etc. I think Marshall is a better starter than reliever, but if Marquis is on the team, it will be as a starter. Right now, I would think Hill is out of the picture, but if he gets his head screwed on straight anything could happen. Guzman is a real possibility for the bullpen, if healthy. Marquis, Hill, or Guzman could be traded. Don't forget that there were hints of Lilly being traded to the Yankees earlier. I think that you can be reasonably sure that the pitching staff will have Zambrano, Dempster, Harden, Lilly, Gaudin, Samardija, Marmol, and Wood. Who will fill the other 4 slots is open for speculation.

[fromthestretch]

What a great problem to have.

 

I would keep Jeff in the pen for the time being, re-sign Dempster, trade Marquis (if he is decent for the rest of the season he will be very easy to trade b/c he has one year and 7 mill left on his deal) and give Marshall a well-deserved shot at the 5th spot in the rotation. I would concentrate our offseason moves on building organizational depth and deciding once and for all what to do in CF.

 

I could be wrong, but I believe that Marquis is making closer to 10 million next season. I think his contract was backloaded.

[davell]

I think we'll find a way to keep Dempster personally, leaving just one spot open. To me, at that point, I figure the Cubs will do everything possible to salary dump Marquis and leave the 5th spot open for either of Marshall or Samardzija. (Until Hill figures something out, I wouldn't even put him in the mix) Lou seems to like the idea of 2 lefties in the rotation, so Marshall may have the advantage going in, not to mention the fact that Lou loves the power arms out of the pen.

 

That said, with what Shark has shown so far, I would prefer to see him get the 5th starter spot and use Marshall in the same role he's had this year. Injuries are inevitable and he'd get his share of starts as it is that way.......

[mul21]

I too would like to see Shark in Iowa's rotation to start the year. I think you can slot Guzman into Shark's current role next year if he stays healthy and have just as nasty of a 1-2-3 as you do this year to finish games.

 

Z-Harden-Lilly-Dempster-Marshall to start the year and you have flexibility to deal somebody if Hill figures it out and Shark continues to progress in Iowa. This of course assumes Demp is re-signed and Marquis is sent packing.

 

Edit: And yeah, Marquis is making a little over $9M next year.

[CuseCubFan69]

What a great problem to have.

 

I would keep Jeff in the pen for the time being, re-sign Dempster, trade Marquis (if he is decent for the rest of the season he will be very easy to trade b/c he has one year and 7 mill left on his deal) and give Marshall a well-deserved shot at the 5th spot in the rotation. I would concentrate our offseason moves on building organizational depth and deciding once and for all what to do in CF.

 

I was going to say the same thing. If there is a big surplus of starting pitchers, Hendry will have the option to deal for an impact hitter when one is needed.

[nick23]

I'm thinking that we shouldn't resign Dempster. Hopefully Angel Guzman can slide into Shark's 7th inning role and we can move him to the rotation. Have a rotation of Z, Harden, Lilly, Shark, Hill/Marshall. The 10-12 million you save from resigning Dempster could be used to find a corner OF bad. I think it's going to take way more that Dempster's likely to be worth over the next 4 years to resign him.

[NCCubFan]

Are we all just writing of Rich Hill completely?

I'm looking at it like the Cubs finally viewed Prior and Wood last year. I'm not counting on him, so if he rebounds it's a pleasant bonus.

[RynoRules]

What a great problem to have.

 

I would keep Jeff in the pen for the time being, re-sign Dempster, trade Marquis (if he is decent for the rest of the season he will be very easy to trade b/c he has one year and 7 mill left on his deal) and give Marshall a well-deserved shot at the 5th spot in the rotation. I would concentrate our offseason moves on building organizational depth and deciding once and for all what to do in CF.

 

I was going to say the same thing. If there is a big surplus of starting pitchers, Hendry will have the option to deal for an impact hitter when one is needed.

 

Right. You could just re-tool the bench and keep other things status quo until you see what is needed for 09'. If Guzman contributes next month out of the pen you have a great deal of flexibility in the trade market.

 

Next year's draft will also be very important, IMO. We need to start considering who the realistic replacements for Lee and Ramirez will be. I am guessing one or both may be gone by 2012-13.

[CuseCubFan69]

What a great problem to have.

 

I would keep Jeff in the pen for the time being, re-sign Dempster, trade Marquis (if he is decent for the rest of the season he will be very easy to trade b/c he has one year and 7 mill left on his deal) and give Marshall a well-deserved shot at the 5th spot in the rotation. I would concentrate our offseason moves on building organizational depth and deciding once and for all what to do in CF.

 

I was going to say the same thing. If there is a big surplus of starting pitchers, Hendry will have the option to deal for an impact hitter when one is needed.

 

Right. You could just re-tool the bench and keep other things status quo until you see what is needed for 09'. If Guzman contributes next month out of the pen you have a great deal of flexibility in the trade market.

 

Next year's draft will also be very important, IMO. We need to start considering who the realistic replacements for Lee and Ramirez will be. I am guessing one or both may be gone by 2012-13.

 

If Dempster does decide to sign elsewhere, what type of free agent would he be?

[NCCubFan]

I'm not familiar with how the formulas work, but I'd expect him to be a Type A. He's had an excellent season as a starter this year, and he's been a pretty good closer the last few years.

[CuseCubFan69]

I'm not familiar with how the formulas work, but I'd expect him to be a Type A. He's had an excellent season as a starter this year, and he's been a pretty good closer the last few years.

 

So if he left and the Cubs offered arb the Cubs would get 2 picks, correct? Not that I want him to leave but if he wants a 4 year deal at 13 or more....that'll be a a lot of money and years w/ some pretty decent talent in the minors.

[NCCubFan]

If in fact he is a Type A then yes, the Cubs would get the compensation picks. I believe that under current rules they'd both be sandwich picks, but I'm not positive.

[Tedward]

If in fact he is a Type A then yes, the Cubs would get the compensation picks. I believe that under current rules they'd both be sandwich picks, but I'm not positive.

 

I know that the FA compensation is based on a players previous two years worth of stats (compiled by the Elias Sports Bureau). What I don't know is how that will shake down for Dempster. His closer #'s were pretty marginal in 2007 and his starter #'s have obviously been very good this year. I hope comes out as an "A", but I'm not so certain that he will.

 

Rosenthal had a small piece on Dempster in one of his latest updates, and he thinks that Dempster isn't going anywhere. Says that Hendry and Dempster share a similar relationship that Wood and Hendry have. Whatever.....Just passing it on.