Cubs Sign Grabow (2 years, $7.5 Million)

[cubsfan26]

Well that seals it for me, the team with the longest streak of losing seasons in baseball was also going to pay him this much. I am glad Hendry tied him up before he got on the open market.

 

 

Oh wow, that changes everything. The Pirates are such a well run organization. The Cubs really got lucky to be able to retain Grabow at such a bargain price.

 

 

Chill out guys, I was just passing along what I heard. I never said the contract was a good one. I was just pointing out that there was going to be a market for Grabow. Because I doubt the Pirates were the only team that was going to offer him decent money either. Again I'm not saying it was ok that the Cubs signed him to that deal(even though I don't hate the deal I feel they overpaid) because other teams were. Just passing along the info thats all, so relax.

[Guest]

Which makes me feel even worse. We could have had an equivalent reliever (pick one) for less money AND had an extra supplemental first & an early second.

 

Craptastic.

[MSG T]

Which makes me feel even worse. We could have had an equivalent reliever (pick one) for less money AND had an extra supplemental first & an early second.

 

Craptastic.

 

 

Getting Pittsburgh's pick would have been really nice.

[Guest]

As I've often posted, all of us think we can do a better job than Hendry while we sit here fantasizing about trades and free agent signings.

 

This really isn't a measure of whether fans on a message board can do a better job than Hendry, or that they think they can do a better job than Hendry. It's whether those same people would have replaced Hendry with someone better by now. Most would have.

 

In all honesty, yes, I think I am a better candidate to judge Hendry's production as a GM than the person who originally hired him from the Chicago Tribune Newspaper Company or some broker who just bought the team.

 

He was a middle of the road GM at one time, but his value has slid to the bottom rungs of the ladder, much like a seasoned veteran who only brought one good skill to the major leagues to begin with.

 

You can take just about any two teams in the NL Central and combine their payrolls and not have the same money that Hendry has to work with. This team should be in first place all year long every year with what he had to work with.

 

You can only give free passes for trading for Nomar, Lee and Ramirez for so long. Are you still hanging on to those after all those years? Really?

[Guest]

Which makes me feel even worse. We could have had an equivalent reliever (pick one) for less money AND had an extra supplemental first & an early second.

 

Craptastic.

 

 

Getting Pittsburgh's pick would have been really nice.

 

It would have been their 2nd round pick. However, I don't believe the report by Levine. I'm not sure Pittsburgh has given out a 3 year deal since Brian Giles and Jason Kendall. But, surely Grabow is that special to get this kind of attention. :-k

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I have my doubts that Pittsburgh would have been as willing to offer Grabow that deal if he had been offered arbitration.

[CP_414]

There is no chance Pittsburgh would have offered 3/$12M to Grabow. Pittsburgh may have been clueless in the past, but they at least seem to have a plan now, and that doesn't fit the plan at all. They aren't giving away a high 2nd and wasting that kind of money on John Grabow. Common sense says Levine is wrong.

[USSoccer]

Even if Pittsburgh never had that offer on the table, the Cubs are still stupid as an organization to not have just offered arbitration.

[Cubbie Swagger]

Wait wait wait... 7.5 mil? Really?

 

Jesus, Hendry.

[Derwood]

Hey Hendry, listen to your buddy Neal:

 

The Pirates don't expect to be major players for top-tier relief pitchers this winter.

"As we look at the reliever market, history dictates that it is not smart to spend $3-4 million on a middle reliever," general manager Neal Huntington said. "Our focus is going to be more on the borderline-type guys that may or not get $3-4 million or may not even get a Major League contract. We've got an opportunity where we can sell a chance to come in and compete for a chance on the Major League club." Huntington will likely look at minor league free agents and those who are non-tendered in December to complete his bullpen.

[PrimeTime]

Pittsburghs GM also thinks Jimbo is an idiot

 

"As we look at the reliever market, history dictates that it is not smart to spend $3-4 million on a middle reliever," general manager Neal Huntington said.

[cubsfan26]

Well that pretty much goes against Bruce Levine report on Saturday that the Pirates were offering Grabow 3y for 12m.

[Post Count Padder]

Hey Hendry, listen to your buddy Neal:

 

The Pirates don't expect to be major players for top-tier relief pitchers this winter.

"As we look at the reliever market, history dictates that it is not smart to spend $3-4 million on a middle reliever," general manager Neal Huntington said. "Our focus is going to be more on the borderline-type guys that may or not get $3-4 million or may not even get a Major League contract. We've got an opportunity where we can sell a chance to come in and compete for a chance on the Major League club." Huntington will likely look at minor league free agents and those who are non-tendered in December to complete his bullpen.

Just came to post this. Way to go Jim!

[erik316wttn]

You know it's bad when the Pirates are calling you an idiot.

[Cubbie Swagger]

Grabow may turn out to be the Aaron Miles of our pitching staff. A guy who makes an excessive amount of money for doing something that other players do for the league minimum.

 

I'm just hoping he at least pitches decent so it isn't a total loss. But even then, Grabow's ceiling isn't worth 7.5 mil.

[Tyrant]

I'm just hoping he at least pitches decent so it isn't a total loss. But even then, Grabow's ceiling isn't worth 7.5 mil.

 

Feh. If he can keep his ERA under 3.50 (his ceiling), the contract won't be a total disaster.

 

Still, he's not that likely to do that.

[questionmarkgrace]

Hendry is still operating like its 2005. Two year isn't that bad though. Still its not like the guy is some elite reliever.

[javy knows my name]

We just got out-front office'd by the Pirates. Think about that for a second.

[Rob]

I don't see how that's surprising. Huntington has done a hell of a job since he was hired.

[Guest]

I would trade Hendry for Huntington in a heartbeat.

[javy knows my name]

I like Huntington, too; I was just commenting on how much has changed, and how it hasn't been for the better

[davearm2]

I'd say this Huntington love-fest is getting a little out of hand.

 

The guy just said he's planning on populating his bullpen with guys nobody else wants, or thinks is worth a major league contract.

 

I suppose that works if your expectations are at Pirate levels.

[Rob]

Please tell me you're joking, davearm.

[davearm2]

Please tell me you're joking, davearm.

Joking about what?

 

Now I'm not trying to knock the progress Huntington's made, but going dumpster-diving for relievers to plug into the 25-man doesn't exactly bolster his case for GM immortality like some here make it seem.

[SouthSideRyan]

Please tell me you're joking, davearm.

Joking about what?

 

Now I'm not trying to knock the progress Huntington's made, but going dumpster-diving for relievers to plug into the 25-man doesn't exactly bolster his case for GM immortality like some here make it seem.

 

When the Pirates most optimistic goal for this season is to go 500, it's a very smart strategy.