Ben Sheets (Was Sheets Signs with A's)

[Rob]

Again, I don't understand why you let Harden walk if you're going to turn around and pay Sheets $10M for one year. Harden signed for $7.5M for one year with the Rangers.

 

I understand not offering arbitration to Harden if you're not going to spend the money, or if you're going to spend the money on something obviously better or at a different position.

 

However, signing Sheets cheaper than what it would have cost to keep Harden makes perfect sense.

 

To be fair to Hendry, I'm sure he thought it was going to cost him money to move Bradley even if he ate an unfavorable contract. Nobody expected him to get money back in the deal.

[Cubswin11]

Pineiro has the told Mets he is going to sign elsewhere and it's probably going to be the Angels. This could mean the Mets might step up efforts to sign Sheets and might be the idiot team that offers the $16-20+ mil guaranteed to him. Hopefully they just decide to sign Garland or Washburn though.

 

 

[A-Cal]

Pineiro has the told Mets he is going to sign elsewhere and it's probably going to be the Angels. This could mean the Mets might step up efforts to sign Sheets and might be the idiot team that offers the $16-20+ mil guaranteed to him. Hopefully they just decide to sign Garland or Washburn though.

 

 

 

As much as I want Sheets, I think the Cubs are out if the base is 8 million. Jim said to expect two more guys. I believe those two more guys will be Dye and Kiko. Doesn't leave much room for Sheets. I am usually happy with banking on a miracle, but this is the Cubs.

[A-Cal]

Since the Angels just landed Pineiro for 2 yrs. 16 total, there is no way in god's green earth Sheets will get the same base. How much payroll room do the Cubs have? could we afford a 6 to 6.5 million base? If we can, I think that is what he will sign for with incentives pushing him up to around 10-12 million.

[UMFan83]

The only chance the Cubs had to sign Sheets was probably to guarantee him 2 years at a reasonable amount before he threw for people. Now that he threw somewhat well from the sounds of things, his market has blossomed it seems. It would have been a huge gamble to guarantee him 2 years, but that was probably the only chance.

[erik316wttn]

I would take Bedard over Sheets, assuming Sheets wants more money than Bedard does. I may would take Bedard over Sheets with all things being equal actually.

 

I've wondered that myself. If Sheets is demanding $10 million for one year and Bedard is willing to take less, I'd be more for Bedard myself.

 

I've heard very little to nothing about Bedard this offseason. Who are his potential suitors and what kind of a contract is he looking for?

[Cubswin11]

I would take Bedard over Sheets, assuming Sheets wants more money than Bedard does. I may would take Bedard over Sheets with all things being equal actually.

 

I've wondered that myself. If Sheets is demanding $10 million for one year and Bedard is willing to take less, I'd be more for Bedard myself.

 

I've heard very little to nothing about Bedard this offseason. Who are his potential suitors and what kind of a contract is he looking for?

I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure he won't be able to pitch until about half way through the season.

[dew1679666265]

I would take Bedard over Sheets, assuming Sheets wants more money than Bedard does. I may would take Bedard over Sheets with all things being equal actually.

 

I've wondered that myself. If Sheets is demanding $10 million for one year and Bedard is willing to take less, I'd be more for Bedard myself.

 

I've heard very little to nothing about Bedard this offseason. Who are his potential suitors and what kind of a contract is he looking for?

I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure he won't be able to pitch until about half way through the season.

 

I didn't know that. It would explain the complete lack of interest in his direction.

 

My thinking with Bedard was that while every other team was drooling over Sheets, we could possibly swoop in on Bedard before his price shot up. Even still, if there's a relatively good chance he'll pitch this year, I'd be interested in a low-base 1st year and club option (vesting based on health, perhaps) for a 2nd. Could be a better deal than what Sheets may get.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

the old switcheroo

[dew1679666265]

the old switcheroo

 

Worth a try.

[Backtobanks]

From Jerry Crasnick @ ESPN:

 

Conversely, the Cubs' interest in Sheets is overblown. GM Jim Hendry's biggest objectives are finding a late-inning reliever and a bat for the bench. The Cubs are set with Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster and Randy Wells in the first four spots, with Carlos Silva, Tom Gorzelanny and Jeff Samardzija set to compete for the fifth spot. Sheets would look great in Cubbie blue, but he's more of an extravagance than a necessity.

[jersey cubs fan]

From Jerry Crasnick @ ESPN:

 

Conversely, the Cubs' interest in Sheets is overblown. GM Jim Hendry's biggest objectives are finding a late-inning reliever and a bat for the bench. The Cubs are set with Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster and Randy Wells in the first four spots, with Carlos Silva, Tom Gorzelanny and Jeff Samardzija set to compete for the fifth spot. Sheets would look great in Cubbie blue, but he's more of an extravagance than a necessity.

 

No team is set with a guy coming off surgery who is going to miss at least the first month of the season. And it remains to be seen if they are set with Randy Wells. He also lists 2 terrible pitchers and an inconsistent one battling for the 5th spot. A quality starter would not be an extravagance. This team wasn't good enough to win last year with Rich Harden on the team, now they have lost him, and added Carlos Freaking Silva, which means they are that much worse.

[Guest]

The front office believes they are better because that clubhouse cancer Milton Bradley is gone. The offense will running around the bases like crazy now that Bradley is gone, so it doesn't matter who pitches.

[Cubswin11]

From Jerry Crasnick @ ESPN:

 

Conversely, the Cubs' interest in Sheets is overblown. GM Jim Hendry's biggest objectives are finding a late-inning reliever and a bat for the bench. The Cubs are set with Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster and Randy Wells in the first four spots, with Carlos Silva, Tom Gorzelanny and Jeff Samardzija set to compete for the fifth spot. Sheets would look great in Cubbie blue, but he's more of an extravagance than a necessity.

 

No team is set with a guy coming off surgery who is going to miss at least the first month of the season. And it remains to be seen if they are set with Randy Wells. He also lists 2 terrible pitchers and an inconsistent one battling for the 5th spot. A quality starter would not be an extravagance. This team wasn't good enough to win last year with Rich Harden on the team, now they have lost him, and added Carlos Freaking Silva, which means they are that much worse.

Would Samaradzija even be being considered for the #5 spot if it wasn't for his ridiculously stupid contract? What has he ever done in the minors or MLB that warrants him being considered, aside form Hendry giving him a stupid [expletive] MLB contract out of college?

[jersey cubs fan]

Would Samaradzija even be being considered for the #5 spot if it wasn't for his ridiculously stupid contract? What has he ever done in the minors or MLB that warrants him being considered, aside form Hendry giving him a stupid [expletive] MLB contract out of college?

 

He had a deceptively small ERA for about 25 innings in 2008, despite not pitching all that well in reality.

[CUBZ99]

From Jerry Crasnick @ ESPN:

 

Conversely, the Cubs' interest in Sheets is overblown. GM Jim Hendry's biggest objectives are finding a late-inning reliever and a bat for the bench. The Cubs are set with Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster and Randy Wells in the first four spots, with Carlos Silva, Tom Gorzelanny and Jeff Samardzija set to compete for the fifth spot. Sheets would look great in Cubbie blue, but he's more of an extravagance than a necessity.

 

No team is set with a guy coming off surgery who is going to miss at least the first month of the season. And it remains to be seen if they are set with Randy Wells. He also lists 2 terrible pitchers and an inconsistent one battling for the 5th spot. A quality starter would not be an extravagance. This team wasn't good enough to win last year with Rich Harden on the team, now they have lost him, and added Carlos Freaking Silva, which means they are that much worse.

Would Samaradzija even be being considered for the #5 spot if it wasn't for his ridiculously stupid contract? What has he ever done in the minors or MLB that warrants him being considered, aside form Hendry giving him a stupid [expletive] MLB contract out of college?

 

Rothschild recently stated that Shark pitched well over the winter and that the secondary pitches have finally come around. I'm hoping that he is one of the guys that finally puts it together this year and we get better than expected performance.

[jersey cubs fan]

Rothschild recently stated that Shark pitched well over the winter and that the secondary pitches have finally come around. I'm hoping that he is one of the guys that finally puts it together this year and we get better than expected performance.

 

I hope so as well, unfortunately hope is all we got. It's tough enough to a get a good performing prospect to translate into good performance in the majors, but it's really tough to turn an underperformer into a good one, and I don't like the idea of hoping for that to be a key for your season.

[JeffH]

Just give the rotation spots to Gorzelanny and Samardzija. Marshall is a valuable and important member of the bullpen. Silva offers no realistic upside.

[wvcbxl]

I'll reserve judgement on Shark until his "improvement" translates in to results during games.

[soapy]

I have to believe Marshall is a superior option as starter to either Silva or Samardzija. Not sure why his name is rarely mentioned as an option for the #5 spot.

[Guancous]

If it weren't for the disciplinary problems last year, I wouldn't be shocked if Jay Jackson got the #5 spot out of spring training. I'm not saying it's a good idea but I could see Lou doing it if he compares Jackson's stuff to Wells.

[jersey cubs fan]

I have to believe Marshall is a superior option as starter to either Silva or Samardzija. Not sure why his name is rarely mentioned as an option for the #5 spot.

 

I'm guessing because the Cubs have had about a half dozen chances to give him a starting job and never do it, and despite performing well in the role during limited duty, they keep saying they value him coming out of the bullpen.

[Sever82]

http://nybaseballdigest.com/?p=20559

 

Not much but it says Sheets is likely to go the Rangers and that the Rangers will make a strong push for Sheets.

[cubsfan26]

This team wasn't good enough to win last year with Rich Harden on the team, now they have lost him,

 

Not because of the starting pitching though. It was due to a bad offense and supbar bullpen. Numbers wise the Cubs had one of the best staffs in the league. I think Marshall will be the regular 5th starter, while Gorzelanny is the long guy/fill in 5th starter. Which would be fine if Lilly only misses a few starts in April. Personally I'm alot less concerned about the pitching staff then most. But thats going off the Cubs track record. Because basically since 2002 this team has continue put good starting staffs together. So if they really believe that Wells is a solid major league pitcher, and they will get a good starter or two out of Marshall, Gorzelanny, Samardzija or Silva. Then I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

[Backtobanks]

From Jerry Crasnick @ ESPN:

 

Conversely, the Cubs' interest in Sheets is overblown. GM Jim Hendry's biggest objectives are finding a late-inning reliever and a bat for the bench. The Cubs are set with Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster and Randy Wells in the first four spots, with Carlos Silva, Tom Gorzelanny and Jeff Samardzija set to compete for the fifth spot. Sheets would look great in Cubbie blue, but he's more of an extravagance than a necessity.

 

No team is set with a guy coming off surgery who is going to miss at least the first month of the season. And it remains to be seen if they are set with Randy Wells. He also lists 2 terrible pitchers and an inconsistent one battling for the 5th spot. A quality starter would not be an extravagance. This team wasn't good enough to win last year with Rich Harden on the team, now they have lost him, and added Carlos Freaking Silva, which means they are that much worse.

 

I agree with Crasnick that Sheets is more of an extravagance than a necessity for the Cubs especially with his asking price. Posters who complain about the rotation forget that most teams have question marks after their top 3 starters. Wells got in enough starts to give us faith that he ought to be a decent #3 or #4 starter. Assuming Lilly comes back on time and healthy, the only question mark will be the #5 starter and the Cubs have a lot of candidates for that spot.