Updated: Marquis to Rockies for Luis Vizcaino Finalized

[Butterscup1679666578]

According to ESPN's Steve Phillips, the Cubs and Rockies are close to a swap of starter Jason Marquis for reliever Luis Vizcaino. Marquis is set to earn $9.875MM in '09, while Vizcaino will make $3.5MM plus a $4MM option for 2010 with a $500K buyout.

 

per MLBTR

[dew1679666265]

According to ESPN's Steve Phillips, the Cubs and Rockies are close to a swap of starter Jason Marquis for reliever Luis Vizcaino. Marquis is set to earn $9.875MM in '09, while Vizcaino will make $3.5MM plus a $4MM option for 2010 with a $500K buyout.

 

per MLBTR

 

Unless the free 6.3MM allows us to do something else, I'm not sure I'm crazy about this. Vizcaino posted an 87 ERA+ last year with a 1.457 WHIP.

 

From 04 to 06 he posted an ERA+ ranging from 116 to 132, but he's posted a 106 two years ago and 87 last year.

 

Mediocre at best.

[Butterscup1679666578]

According to ESPN's Steve Phillips, the Cubs and Rockies are close to a swap of starter Jason Marquis for reliever Luis Vizcaino. Marquis is set to earn $9.875MM in '09, while Vizcaino will make $3.5MM plus a $4MM option for 2010 with a $500K buyout.

 

per MLBTR

 

Unless the free 6.3MM allows us to do something else, I'm not sure I'm crazy about this. Vizcaino posted an 87 ERA+ last year with a 1.457 WHIP.

 

From 04 to 06 he posted an ERA+ ranging from 116 to 132, but he's posted a 106 two years ago and 87 last year.

 

Mediocre at best.

 

Yeah, I'd only be ok with this if the Rockies are taking all of Marquis' contract. Vizcaino's had some good years in the past, but he's been awful lately.

[dew1679666265]

According to ESPN's Steve Phillips, the Cubs and Rockies are close to a swap of starter Jason Marquis for reliever Luis Vizcaino. Marquis is set to earn $9.875MM in '09, while Vizcaino will make $3.5MM plus a $4MM option for 2010 with a $500K buyout.

 

per MLBTR

 

Unless the free 6.3MM allows us to do something else, I'm not sure I'm crazy about this. Vizcaino posted an 87 ERA+ last year with a 1.457 WHIP.

 

From 04 to 06 he posted an ERA+ ranging from 116 to 132, but he's posted a 106 two years ago and 87 last year.

 

Mediocre at best.

 

Yeah, I'd only be ok with this if the Rockies are taking all of Marquis' contract. Vizcaino's had some good years in the past, but he's been awful lately.

 

I'm assuming they're taking Marquis' and we'd take Vizcaino's. Maybe that 6 mil is what we need to be able to afford Bradley or someone.

[FergieJ31]

Precursor to a deal for Pe .. ahh never mind.

[cubsfan26]

I'm fine with this deal if it actually saves us 6m or so. Vizcaino can give us some depth in the pen, and hopefully he can have a bounce back season.

[JWCUB]

Precursor to a deal for Pe .. ahh never mind.

 

That would be the only way I would trade Marquis at this point. If you are going to trade a stating picher, you need to have one to replace him.

[ISUCubsFan]

Unless the plan is to free up money to get another starter this is kinda bad. The Cubs are going to need lots of starting pitching depth next year.

[PrimeTime]

Possible Angel Guzman comes up and takes over Marshall's spot? Read he was throwing 95-97 MPH in the venezualan league

[davell]

I know Marquis isn't much, but he's a worthwhile 4-5 starter for pretty much any team in baseball and if we lose him, it really puts our pitching depth in question bigtime. I know we have Marshall, Gaudin, Shark, and Guzman all capable of being starting pitchers, but I would hope this means we have another pitcher in our sites to go get. At the absolute VERY least, I would hope this allows us the luxury to get a RFer......If this is literally a cost-cutting move and doesn't allow us to do anything else? It would kind of suck to lose Marquis and I can't believe I'd actually say that.......

[CUBZ99]

Is there such a thing as a ROOGY? If so, it looks like Luis Vizcaino would fit the bill. Looking at his splits last year he held RH's to a .170 avg and his overall #'s against RH's are pretty impressive. Vs. LH's though he was terrible. In the past Lou has shown an ability to take advantage of splits (i.e. Fontenot in 2008). If used properly it looks like Vizcaino could be a very valuable reliever to have coming from the pen.

[CubbieBum]

Well we have an abundance of starters so we don't need Marquis and we saved 6 million in the deal so I only see positive. Well other than no more Marquis scapegoat.

[Outshined_One]

Is there such a thing as a ROOGY?

 

Mike Remlinger!

[Little Slide Rooter]

My question is what will the salary swap look like? The Rockies arent the type of team that would make that kind of trade and take on half of Marquis salary plus Vizcainos as well. If they were to do that, and free up enough to get Bradley, more power to JH, but if its just to get an unhappy Marquis out of town, its not worth it.

[E.J.]

Denver Post reporting it's a done deal:

 

http://blogs.denverpost.com/rockies/2008/12/30/rox-agree-to-ship-vizcaino-to-cubs-for-marquis/

 

The Rockies are going to swap a relief bust for rotation depth.

The Rockies and Cubs have agreed in principle on a deal that would send Luis Vizcaino to Chicago for starter Jason Marquis, according to multiple baseball sources.

The deal, first reported by ESPN, likely won’t become official until next week. The Rockies made the math work to get a starter they have coveted for a month, while removing a setupman who asked to be dealt at season’s end after expressing unhappiness with his role.

The Rockies will ship the $4 million remaining on Vizcaino’s deal for the $9.875 million left on Marquis’ contract. The Cubs are expected to eat around a $1 million on Marquis’ contract, leaving the Rockies to pay approximately $5 million for one season of the right-hander.

Chicago, meanwhile, still nets a $5 million savings, crystallizing the motivation for both clubs.

[PrimeTime]

I like this move..Guzman,Marshall,Gaudin,or Shark could all put up the same or better numbers for a fraction of Marquis' salary..Then just stick one of them in Marshall's spot..Frees up money for the RF spot and another pitcher if we want..I never liked Marquis at all.So I'm glad he's outta here.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Wow, Colorado should be thankful they installed that humidor. Otherwise it'd be batting practice every 5th day.

[Outshined_One]

I'm hoping Colorado throws us a bone with a prospect, even a mediocre one. Otherwise, it's a bit of a whatever deal from my perspective.

[cubsfan26]

I don't think the Cubs wanna try Guzman as a starter anytime soon. I think they will try to keep him healthy as a reliever, and if that works then move him to the rotation down the road. If they don't add another starting pitcher. I can see them letting Marshall, Gaudin and Samardzija battle it out for a rotation spot. If Marshall or Gaudin win the other guy will be the long man, with Samardzija going to Triple A and Vizcaino taking Gaudin 6th-7th reliever spot in the pen. Then if Samardzija wins a rotation spot, we could have a pretty deep pen. But this is a good move because we already have a few guys who can do what Marquis does. Getting some cash back to use on a hitter or another pitcher is a good move, no matter what they get in return. But I think Vizcaino will help the pen next year if he's healthy.

[17 Seconds]

The better Bruce says the deal is "possible but not yet close"

 

I'm told the deal is "possible," but that it's not yet close. I'm also told it's more in the Rockies' hands than the Cubs' right now. I'd look for something next week, if this indeed is going to happen. The Cubs never leak rumors like this, so either this is coming from the Rockies, or Marquis' agents are telling this story to reporters they deem friendly.

 

 

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/1163

[RedFlash]

But I think Vizcaino will help the pen next year if he's healthy.

 

I don't see Vizcaino with the Cubs for 2009. I think the Cubs flip Vizcaino to another team for a average prospect.

[CUBZ99]

The better Bruce says the deal is "possible but not yet close"

 

I'm told the deal is "possible," but that it's not yet close. I'm also told it's more in the Rockies' hands than the Cubs' right now. I'd look for something next week, if this indeed is going to happen. The Cubs never leak rumors like this, so either this is coming from the Rockies, or Marquis' agents are telling this story to reporters they deem friendly.

 

 

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/1163

 

I'm guessing Bruce's source is Jim Hendry.

[Little Slide Rooter]

But I think Vizcaino will help the pen next year if he's healthy.

 

I don't see Vizcaino with the Cubs for 2009. I think the Cubs flip Vizcaino to another team for a average prospect.

 

Hard to tell. the guaranteed pen spots will go to Marmol, Gregg, Gaudin, Wuertz and Cotts. Guzman will too if healthy. Marshall is likely in the rotaion if things remain as is. However, the question mark is Samardzjia. Will the have him start the seaso in the pen, or perhaps keep him loose as a starter in Iowa as a backup for Harden.

[Little Slide Rooter]

7:28PM: Ken Rosenthal confirms what most people are saying--that this deal is close, but not yet official.

 

7:11PM: Writers from Chicago are commenting on rumors of a trade that would send the Cubs' Jason Marquis to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for reliever Luis Vizcaino.

 

Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald calls the deal "possible, but not done yet." Additionally, says Miles, the deal is apparently "more in the Rockies' hands than the Cubs' right now."

 

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Sun-Times says a deal is "close," and suggests a Milton Bradley signing may be the next move for the Cubs.

[CUBZ99]

Sweet deal for Marquis. Going to Colorado for the last year of his contract. This should help him get a good deal for 2010. :-)) Also, isn't Marquis the only active player to go to the playoffs every year of his major league career? That streak might be over.