Bullpen Help

[Tim]

Here's an article on the state of the Cubs bullpen and who they should be targeting at this point.

[dew1679666265]

I would be more in favor of Calero than Ohman or Mahay. I'd love to pick up Arredondo on a one-year w/an option type contract.

[Guest]

I would be more in favor of Calero than Ohman or Mahay. I'd love to pick up Arredondo on a one-year w/an option type contract.

I'm more in favor of Calero than anyone else on the market. He's the one guy that's out there that I'd go after hard for 2010.

 

I'd love Arredondo as a rehab option guy.

[Post Count Padder]

I'd be fine with Calero.

[Backtobanks]

I like Calero too, but when there were rumblings about getting a CF and a reliever in the same deal, I thought about KC with DeJesus and Cruz.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm more than fine with standing pat. I hate spending money on the bullpen.

[Post Count Padder]

I'm more than fine with standing pat. I hate spending money on the bullpen.

Me too, but I'd imagine Calero could be had on a one-year deal worth maybe $2 mil. That's not bad, but then again, this is Jim Hendry.

[Guest]

I'm more than fine with standing pat. I hate spending money on the bullpen.

The only guys I'd be excited about (and it would have to be on good contract terms) would be Calero & Arredondo. I'm not thrilled with bringing someone in just 'cause he's lefty, but I listed it because I'm discussing possibilities for the Cubs. If they feel they must get another lefty, I'd prefer Mahay of the avail choices.

[Wrigley Rat]

So here are some thoughts and notes on Kiko Calero:

 

Calero is a breaking ball pitcher. He gets ahead with an average fastball, before breaking off multiple sweeping sliders to finish hitters off. Calero has shown a changeup, but it's rarely thrown. Kiko used to bring some real heat when he pitched in St.Louis, but he's lost some velocity in recent years. [2009: fastball (87-89), slider (78-82), changeup]

http://www.60ft6in.com/Marlins.html

 

Fastball - 44% - 88.8 mph

Slider - 42% - 80.2 mph

Curveball - 9% - 80.0 mph

Changeup - 5% - 81.5 mph

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/C/Kiko-Calero.shtml

 

Had shoulder surgery in 2007, resulting in a lost season in 2008 (and a poor season in 2007).

 

My thoughts:

I like him a lot and have since his days in St. Louis, but his fastball is extremely hittable, and he throws it a lot. He relies on spotting his fastball outside of the hitting zone, but his walk totals were up a bit last year. That could be a bad sign of things to come, despite the excellent numbers. But just like Carlos Marmol, when you give up so few hits, you are bound to walk somebody. I see Calero as a similar pitcher to Michael Wuertz, with less of a fastball, but slightly better control.

 

His numbers against the Cubs last year are amazing in limited action. His splits are also favorable for pitching with the Cubs (day, away, grass, etc.).

 

In 2007, he made $1,600,000 and that was his highest salary in his career. He had four previous seasons of excellent work, was young(ish) and was becoming a late inning guy (23 holds in 2006). Now he will be 35 in 2010.

 

Despite reports that he is seeking a big payoff (aren't we all), I don't see many teams offering that. I'd offer him his choice of these contracts:

1 year deal at $2.75 million plus $.5 million in incentives based on games played and innings pitched

1 year deal at $2.75 million plus a team option for 2011 at $3.25 million or a $.25 million buyout

2 year deal at $5.5 million (2010: $2.75 million, 2011: $2.75 million)

3 year deal at $7.5 million (2010: $2.5 million, 2011: $2.5 million, 2012: $2.5 million)

 

I think that is his market value, but as time passes, I think he loses value. My values were slightly higher before making some adjustments. If anyone pays more than this, I would think they overpaid. And as many have stated here and in other threads, spending this type of money on the bullpen isn't a great idea with all the arms we have at AAA. I just like the idea of having a few veteran arms towards the back of the bullpen. If Calero signs some time in February or later, I think those numbers would have to be lower and probably only a one-year contract.

[Guest]

Even with someone I like as much as Calero, there's no way I'd hand out a three year contract. And I'd have to feel very strongly that he's past his injury issues AND I'd have to feel pretty shaky about my in-house options to give out a two year contract.

 

I'd be all over him for a one year deal, though.

[Wrigley Rat]

I'd like the Cubs to look at the following pitchers for our bullpen:

- Octavio Dotel,

- Will Ohman (coming off shoulder surgery last June),

- Russ Springer (who is very old!),

- Jose Valverde (one can dream), and

 

I would only sign them if we got them cheap. Here is what I would pay:

- Valverde: up to 4 years at $5 million each.

- Dotel: 2 years at $3.5 million each.

- Springer: 1 year at $2 million.

- Ohman: 1 year at $1.5 million and $1.5 million in incentives.

 

I guess I'm bored - If we can't get Calero, then Dotel would also be nice for the back end of our bullpen. Valverde would be a great prize if his market fizzles - I'll give him the closer's job and tell Marmol to suck it up! :)

[Backtobanks]

I'd like the Cubs to look at the following pitchers for our bullpen:

- Octavio Dotel,

- Will Ohman (coming off shoulder surgery last June),

- Russ Springer (who is very old!),

- Jose Valverde (one can dream), and

 

I would only sign them if we got them cheap. Here is what I would pay:

- Valverde: up to 4 years at $5 million each.

- Dotel: 2 years at $3.5 million each.

- Springer: 1 year at $2 million.

- Ohman: 1 year at $1.5 million and $1.5 million in incentives.

 

I guess I'm bored - If we can't get Calero, then Dotel would also be nice for the back end of our bullpen. Valverde would be a great prize if his market fizzles - I'll give him the closer's job and tell Marmol to suck it up! :)

 

Valverde is good, but I'm not sure anyone wants him @ $20 million over 4 years.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'd like the Cubs to look at the following pitchers for our bullpen:

- Octavio Dotel,

- Will Ohman (coming off shoulder surgery last June),

- Russ Springer (who is very old!),

- Jose Valverde (one can dream), and

 

I would only sign them if we got them cheap. Here is what I would pay:

- Valverde: up to 4 years at $5 million each.

- Dotel: 2 years at $3.5 million each.

- Springer: 1 year at $2 million.

- Ohman: 1 year at $1.5 million and $1.5 million in incentives.

 

I guess I'm bored - If we can't get Calero, then Dotel would also be nice for the back end of our bullpen. Valverde would be a great prize if his market fizzles - I'll give him the closer's job and tell Marmol to suck it up! :)

 

Valverde is good, but I'm not sure anyone wants him @ $20 million over 4 years.

 

Yeah, he'll definitely make more than that.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I dont know, if we could afford Valverde, Id love to have him, but other than that, I dont know how much BP change is needed. Marmol is the closer, and Grabow and Guzman should make up the 7th and 8th inning. Other than that, between Gray, Stevens, Gaub, Caridad, Berg, Parisi, and Marshall or Samardjzia, whoever isnt in the rotation should be able to finish up the pen. Sure, if a solid vet falls into our lap for cheap, go for it, but I dont feel its a need at this point.