Pedro signs with Phillies (page 3)

[A-Cal]

the roster is in a real pickle as it currently stands...however...adding pedro would be very wise

 

it would free up marshall and wells

 

marshall...well...he is decent...but i don't think he is this future piece everyone refers to him as...

 

well...sonnanstine is who he reminds me of...trade him now while his value is most likely at its pinnacle...

 

i think it would be a curious and smart move to land a short stop instead of this stop gap thirdbaseman that keeps being brought up on these boards...

 

if hendry gets pedro...i would bet money that he would then pursue a short stop or an outfielder...i don't see a stop gap thirdbaseman

 

I doubt he'd go after a shortstop. Hendry and Lou both seem to love Theriot and seem to be convinced he's a true SS. I would like to see a shortstop added and Theriot moved to second, but I doubt that's happening.

 

As for Marshall, he's a solid 3-4 starter, not exactly a piece that should be traded for nothing. I'd much prefer Wells to be traded at his value peak than Marshall right now.

 

right, i don't think marshall is a piece to be traded for nothing...but that seems that the general feeling around here at times

[17 Seconds]

i don't even care if we don't need him or if he might not be that good. pedro in a cubs uniform would be awesome

[Little Slide Rooter]

Pedro Too Expensive For Rays, Cubs?

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [June 18 at 10:15am CST]

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Rays were eyeing Pedro Martinez as a reliever, but cannot meet his salary demands. Sherman says Pedro seeks a "significant amount of money" and the Rays can't afford a pricey addition to their team.

 

Meanwhile, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times says it's "doubtful" the Cubs have the payroll flexibility to add Pedro, even if he's asking for $5MM prorated. Cubs GM Jim Hendry says he has "a lot of respect" for the three-time Cy Young Award winner. Wittenmyer says an injury to a Cubs starter would add urgency to the team's interest in Pedro.

 

Im not going to lose any sleep over not being able to sign Pedro, but if we cant afford a prorated 5 mil, which at this point is around 3 millish, than were kind of screwed. Those monster contracts have really caught up to us.

[Sammy Sofa]

Pedro Too Expensive For Rays, Cubs?

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [June 18 at 10:15am CST]

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Rays were eyeing Pedro Martinez as a reliever, but cannot meet his salary demands. Sherman says Pedro seeks a "significant amount of money" and the Rays can't afford a pricey addition to their team.

 

Meanwhile, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times says it's "doubtful" the Cubs have the payroll flexibility to add Pedro, even if he's asking for $5MM prorated. Cubs GM Jim Hendry says he has "a lot of respect" for the three-time Cy Young Award winner. Wittenmyer says an injury to a Cubs starter would add urgency to the team's interest in Pedro.

 

Im not going to lose any sleep over not being able to sign Pedro, but if we cant afford a prorated 5 mil, which at this point is around 3 millish, than were kind of screwed. Those monster contracts have really caught up to us.

 

No, the sale has caught up to the Cubs. Nobody is going to argue that Soriano's contract is a good one, but the financial hangups are due to the sale being in limbo, not the payroll flexibility provided by the owners, whoever that ends up being. While dishing out monster contracts isn't something I'd personally prefer, I certainly can't expect any GM to know years in advance when his team is going to be sold and how that is going to play out.

[jersey cubs fan]

While dishing out monster contracts isn't something I'd personally prefer, I certainly can't expect any GM to know years in advance when his team is going to be sold and how that is going to play out.

 

You certainly can expect a GM to act responsibly and understand the consquences of such longterm deals. He cannot expect payroll to climb indefinitely. He has to operate under a sense of caution that any huge deal now will effect future deals. Furthermore, he knew at the time ownership was in limbo and there was not a clear indication what future budgets would be. He was in a CYA frame of mind, doing what he could do to be successful as soon as possible so the outgoing executives could justify giving him a contract. His only concern was a short-term fix from the disastrous teams he put together in 2005 and 2006 that should have led to his firing. But since Andy gave him a deal on his way out the door, and ownership was preoccupied, he was given a free pass. What was uncertain was his employment status in 2009 and beyond, so he spent lavishly on a good, but very far from great player who could help in the short-term but was obviously going to hurt them in the long-term.

 

Yes, you can, and should expect a GM to plan responsibly for the future.

[Post Count Padder]

1:28pm: Yahoo's Gordon Edes hears the Cubs are serious about Pedro, even though they don't like his demands. "We wouldn't be [watching him] just to waste our time," a Cubs source said.

[Sammy Sofa]

While dishing out monster contracts isn't something I'd personally prefer, I certainly can't expect any GM to know years in advance when his team is going to be sold and how that is going to play out.

 

You certainly can expect a GM to act responsibly and understand the consquences of such longterm deals. He cannot expect payroll to climb indefinitely. He has to operate under a sense of caution that any huge deal now will effect future deals. Furthermore, he knew at the time ownership was in limbo and there was not a clear indication what future budgets would be. He was in a CYA frame of mind, doing what he could do to be successful as soon as possible so the outgoing executives could justify giving him a contract. His only concern was a short-term fix from the disastrous teams he put together in 2005 and 2006 that should have led to his firing. But since Andy gave him a deal on his way out the door, and ownership was preoccupied, he was given a free pass. What was uncertain was his employment status in 2009 and beyond, so he spent lavishly on a good, but very far from great player who could help in the short-term but was obviously going to hurt them in the long-term.

 

Yes, you can, and should expect a GM to plan responsibly for the future.

 

Agreed, but again, planning for the future should not and cannot include "I wonder if 3 three and a half years from now my team will be locked in a prolonged selling process that will hold up any midseason deals I can do."

 

I never said a GM should plan for the future. My point is that planning for what's actually tying up the Cubs' spending right now (the sale of the team) isn't really feasable.

[ctcf]

1:28pm: Yahoo's Gordon Edes hears the Cubs are serious about Pedro, even though they don't like his demands. "We wouldn't be [watching him] just to waste our time," a Cubs source said.

 

Oh for heaven's sake.

[Rusch33]

You're telling me that we can't sign Pedro for a prorated 5 million, but we can release/trade guys like Vizcaino, Gaudin, Marquis, Gathright, and Bako while eating some money.

 

I'm calling BS on this one.

[questionmarkgrace]

I think Pedro would take less money now especially if a team is offering him the option to start immediately. He really has no leverage so why over pay for an over the hill starter? At best he is a marginal difference from the quality starting pitching we already have.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

 

Agreed, but again, planning for the future should not and cannot include "I wonder if 3 three and a half years from now my team will be locked in a prolonged selling process that will hold up any midseason deals I can do."

 

I never said a GM should plan for the future. My point is that planning for what's actually tying up the Cubs' spending right now (the sale of the team) isn't really feasable.

 

Backloading the level heck out of every contract because you think your owner will be a sugar daddy forever also isn't the best idea.

[17 Seconds]

from bruce-

 

On the Pedro Martinez front, Cubs people remind me that all the talk is coming out of the Martinez camp. Yes, they tell me, Martinez did throw for the Cubs, at the player's request and that it looks like he's got something left in the tank. However, the Cubs do not appear hot to sign Pedro. Their starting pitching is solid, they have no money and they already have a 5-inning pitcher in Rich Harden.

 

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/2141

 

and from gordon wittenmyer

 

The Cubs haven't made Pedro Martinez an offer, and it's doubtful they have room in the payroll or the major leagues' top-ranked starting rotation to pull off such a move anytime soon.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1628193,CST-SPT-cubnt18.article

 

damn, this ownership situation is going to kill us this season

[Flames24Rulz]

1:28pm: Yahoo's Gordon Edes hears the Cubs are serious about Pedro, even though they don't like his demands. "We wouldn't be [watching him] just to waste our time," a Cubs source said.

 

Oh for heaven's sake.

 

I don't have any problem with it. You can never have too much pitching, but it sounds like this is a pipe dream anyway.

[soapy]

from bruce-

 

On the Pedro Martinez front, Cubs people remind me that all the talk is coming out of the Martinez camp. Yes, they tell me, Martinez did throw for the Cubs, at the player's request and that it looks like he's got something left in the tank. However, the Cubs do not appear hot to sign Pedro. Their starting pitching is solid, they have no money and they already have a 5-inning pitcher in Rich Harden.

off topic, and not really a big deal, but what's with the cheap shot at Harden? he's only gone less than six innings twice in nine starts. that's hardly a "5-inning pitcher". i guess technically he's averaging less than six innings because of his two bad starts.

[jersey cubs fan]

from bruce-

 

On the Pedro Martinez front, Cubs people remind me that all the talk is coming out of the Martinez camp. Yes, they tell me, Martinez did throw for the Cubs, at the player's request and that it looks like he's got something left in the tank. However, the Cubs do not appear hot to sign Pedro. Their starting pitching is solid, they have no money and they already have a 5-inning pitcher in Rich Harden.

off topic, and not really a big deal, but what's with the cheap shot at Harden? he's only gone less than six innings twice in nine starts. that's hardly a "5-inning pitcher". i guess technically he's averaging less than six innings because of his two bad starts.

 

I don't think it's a cheap shot, but it is a mischaracterization. The perception is that Harden can really only give you 5 and then you need the bullpen. In reality he averages pretty close to 6. So it's more like 5+ innings. But really, he's very likely to give you 6+ when he goes, the problem is he has been pulled after 3 a couple times this year, bringing down that average. And last year he did have 4 starters where he went exactly 5 and 2 more when he was pulled after getting an out or two in the 5th.

 

I think it's a fair description, even if it's slightly inaccurate. You could call him a 5 2/3 inning pitcher, but that doesn't really flow well.

[Little Slide Rooter]

from bruce-

 

On the Pedro Martinez front, Cubs people remind me that all the talk is coming out of the Martinez camp. Yes, they tell me, Martinez did throw for the Cubs, at the player's request and that it looks like he's got something left in the tank. However, the Cubs do not appear hot to sign Pedro. Their starting pitching is solid, they have no money and they already have a 5-inning pitcher in Rich Harden.

off topic, and not really a big deal, but what's with the cheap shot at Harden? he's only gone less than six innings twice in nine starts. that's hardly a "5-inning pitcher". i guess technically he's averaging less than six innings because of his two bad starts.

 

I don't think it's a cheap shot, but it is a mischaracterization. The perception is that Harden can really only give you 5 and then you need the bullpen. In reality he averages pretty close to 6. So it's more like 5+ innings. But really, he's very likely to give you 6+ when he goes, the problem is he has been pulled after 3 a couple times this year, bringing down that average. And last year he did have 4 starters where he went exactly 5 and 2 more when he was pulled after getting an out or two in the 5th.

 

I think it's a fair description, even if it's slightly inaccurate. You could call him a 5 2/3 inning pitcher, but that doesn't really flow well.

 

Rich does have a lot of short outings, but thats not because of injury, its because he strikes out a lot of guys and walks a lot of guys, and when you do that, you're going to drive up you're PC fairly early in the game.

[jersey cubs fan]

Rich does have a lot of short outings, but thats not because of injury, its because he strikes out a lot of guys and walks a lot of guys, and when you do that, you're going to drive up you're PC fairly early in the game.

 

Who said it was because of injury? It probably is because of health concerns, because despite driving up PC fairly early, he's only 4th on the team in P/GS. He's only gone over 100 three times. Of course 2 of those times (preceded by a 99 pitch outing) led into his month long sabbatical. He's been pulled early after getting smacked around twice (3 IP and 3 2/3 IP) when he threw 92 and 86 pitches. So basically, he's a 95 pitch pitcher, and most of the time (this year) that has gotten him through 6.

[soapy]

there's no doubt that Harden's handled with kid gloves, as he probably should be. add in his tendancy for throwing a lot of pitches and he's not going to give you much more than 6 all that often.

 

it isn't a big deal, i just thought it was kind of odd to throw that into a piece like that. I mean, Wells has gone less than six in 2 of his 7 starts. Marshall went less than six in 3 of his 7 starts, not counting the 5-inning CG rainout. obviously he's not in the rotation anymore so maybe that's moot.

 

 

anyway, who cares. back to discussing Pedro...

[jersey cubs fan]

there's no doubt that Harden's handled with kid gloves, as he probably should be. add in his tendancy for throwing a lot of pitches and he's not going to give you much more than 6 all that often.

 

it isn't a big deal, i just thought it was kind of odd to throw that into a piece like that. I mean, Wells has gone less than six in 2 of his 7 starts. Marshall went less than six in 3 of his 7 starts, not counting the 5-inning CG rainout. obviously he's not in the rotation anymore so maybe that's moot.

 

 

anyway, who cares. back to discussing Pedro...

 

I doubt that Harden is handled with kid gloves. He should be, but he wasn't to start this year. He went every 5th day and was having his pitch count extended, 99, 101, 112 in his last three starts before injury. They should have worked in more rest between starts early.

 

Anyway, I don't think Pedro comes in as a starter. He's a spot starter and long reliever at this point if you ask me. He could have value to this team considering they insist on carrying 12 pitchers but have multiple ones they refuse to use.

[ctcf]

Why not make him a closer or something?

[jersey cubs fan]

Why not make him a closer or something?

 

Because he probably can't pitch everyday, or even every other day.

[A-Cal]

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. declined to comment on a report saying the Phillies signed Pedro Martinez, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. The report, from CandelaDeportiva.com says Pedro signed after showing off a fastball between 88 and 91 mph and good secondary pitches.

 

crap...why couldn't the cubs do this?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. declined to comment on a report saying the Phillies signed Pedro Martinez, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. The report, from CandelaDeportiva.com says Pedro signed after showing off a fastball between 88 and 91 mph and good secondary pitches.

 

crap...why couldn't the cubs do this?

 

$$$

[Little Slide Rooter]

Pedro Martinez-S-Mets Jul. 9 - 5:26 pm et

 

According to CandelaDeportiva.com, the Phillies have agreed to terms with free agent Pedro Martinez on a one-year, $4 million contract.

 

We doubt it's true, but given that there has been plenty of speculation linking the two sides of late, it's worth reporting. Pedro to the Phillies does make plenty of sense.

 

I hope this doesnt take them out of the Halladay hunt making the Cardinals the top candidate.

[NCCubFan]

Pedro Martinez-S-Mets Jul. 9 - 5:26 pm et

 

According to CandelaDeportiva.com, the Phillies have agreed to terms with free agent Pedro Martinez on a one-year, $4 million contract.

 

We doubt it's true, but given that there has been plenty of speculation linking the two sides of late, it's worth reporting. Pedro to the Phillies does make plenty of sense.

 

I hope this doesnt take them out of the Halladay hunt making the Cardinals the top candidate.

Given the bolded statement, it's definitely premature to pass it off as fact. I edited the thread title to include a question mark until such time as it is confirmed.