Best available relievers

[Post Count Padder]

With Guzman now shut down and possibly out for awhile, is there anyone out there other than Frasor or Downs that would be appealing?

[Sammy Sofa]

Nobody. Absolutely no one. Complete waste of money at any amount.

[17 Seconds]

except for downs

 

and how do you know nobody else good is available? you don't. you couldn't possibly know that.

[Rob]

I'd be on the phone seeing if Smoltz has interest in coming out of the pen and seeing what he'd charge. But there's not much else at a glance.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Theres Mike Adams of the Padres. Hes always been quietly consistant.

[Sammy Sofa]

except for downs

 

and how do you know nobody else good is available? you don't. you couldn't possibly know that.

 

Common sense. What quality reliever is just sitting around unsigned right now?

[daske17]

Are the Padres still looking to unload Heath Bell?

[Sammy Sofa]

What team is going to be looking to "unload" a reliever right now unless that reliever either is being paid way too much or just isn't very good?

[mhuber92211]

What team is going to be looking to "unload" a reliever right now unless that reliever either is being paid way too much or just isn't very good?

 

Geez dude, do you have anything to offer this thread other than complaints about other people's ideas?

[Cubbie Swagger]

Too bad we didn't sign Calero for dirt cheap like someone else did.

[Sammy Sofa]

What team is going to be looking to "unload" a reliever right now unless that reliever either is being paid way too much or just isn't very good?

 

Geez dude, do you have anything to offer this thread other than complaints about other people's ideas?

 

Wait, I can't offer my opinion about the Cubs going out and getting more relievers in the thread about the Cubs going out and getting more relievers?

[dew1679666265]

Theres Mike Adams of the Padres. Hes always been quietly consistant.

 

I just don't see any reason why the Padres would dump him without getting a significant amount back in return. He's cheap and very effective. They have no real reason to trade him.

[dew1679666265]

Are the Padres still looking to unload Heath Bell?

 

I don't know if their demands have changed, but at the trading deadline last year they were asking for a couple arms and a few legs for Bell (I think Cameron Maybin was part of their demanded package from the Marlins).

[RedFlash]

Are the Padres still looking to unload Heath Bell?

 

I don't know if their demands have changed, but at the trading deadline last year they were asking for a couple arms and a few legs for Bell (I think Cameron Maybin was part of their demanded package from the Marlins).

 

Wasn't Kevin Towers still the GM at that time? Maybe Jed Hoyer is abit easier to talk trade with then Towers.

[dew1679666265]

Are the Padres still looking to unload Heath Bell?

 

I don't know if their demands have changed, but at the trading deadline last year they were asking for a couple arms and a few legs for Bell (I think Cameron Maybin was part of their demanded package from the Marlins).

 

Wasn't Kevin Towers still the GM at that time? Maybe Jed Hoyer is abit easier to talk trade with then Towers.

 

That's a good point. It'd be interesting to see what Hoyer is asking for, because Bell would interest me.

[C.C.]

What team is going to be looking to "unload" a reliever right now unless that reliever either is being paid way too much or just isn't very good?

 

Geez dude, do you have anything to offer this thread other than complaints about other people's ideas?

 

Wait, I can't offer my opinion about the Cubs going out and getting more relievers in the thread about the Cubs going out and getting more relievers?

 

There you go again.

[mhuber92211]

What team is going to be looking to "unload" a reliever right now unless that reliever either is being paid way too much or just isn't very good?

 

Geez dude, do you have anything to offer this thread other than complaints about other people's ideas?

 

Wait, I can't offer my opinion about the Cubs going out and getting more relievers in the thread about the Cubs going out and getting more relievers?

 

Wait, this is opinion about something? Here I thought it was all just cranky guy trying to piss people off. Perhaps if you want a different perception, you should actually offer something more than just shooting people down all the time

[Hairyducked Idiot]

His opinion is that your opinion is stupid. That counts as an opinion.

[Sammy Sofa]

Wait, this is opinion about something? Here I thought it was all just cranky guy trying to piss people off. Perhaps if you want a different perception, you should actually offer something more than just shooting people down all the time

 

I am offering something; my opinion about the reliever issue. If the Cubs were in a much better position in regards to their offense and starters I'd definitely agree with looking in to what relievers are available for trade or signing (though I still wouldn't be optimistic about getting much more than warmed over crap or having to trade way too much for a solid reliever, which is something almost no teams are looking to give up at this point anyway). It seems completely backwards to act like the bullpen is, for one, the main problem/question the team faces right now, and for two, like it's something that the Cubs can realistically "fix" this time of the year. The guys out there available to be signed are essentially just as much as a gamble as working through the pitchers the Cubs already have throughout their organization. Trading for a good reliever would be ridiculously expensive, and what team is looking to shed good relievers in the spring when they're such a limited and valuable commodity?

 

It makes much more sense to me to wait until guys are closer to regular season form and we've gotten more of a look at who the Cubs have available already and what they can do. It also makes much more sense to me to see how the starters and the offense is panning out before wasting resources on the bullpen. Those two areas are far more critical and it would be even more of a waste if the Cubs focus on "fixing" the bullpen when it's still up in the air whether their offense will look better or if the starting rotation is any good.

[JWCUB]

Cubs Inquire On Jason Frasor

By Tim Dierkes [March 8 at 3:28pm CST]

The Cubs inquired on Blue Jays reliever Jason Frasor again, writes ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. The latest call from the Cubs comes on the heels of Angel Guzman's season-ending shoulder injury. Crasnick says the Cubs are "urgently seeking relief help."

 

Frasor, 32, posted a 2.50 ERA, 8.7 K/9, and 2.5 BB/9 in 57.6 innings for the Blue Jays last year. He's earning $2.65MM in his last season before free agency. Frasor profiled as a Type B in the 2008-09 Elias rankings, with 66.322 points (Octavio Dotel was the lowest Type A at 68.007). But keep in mind the Cubs have not shown an inclination to offer arbitration to departing free agents in recent years.

 

SI's Jon Heyman addressed the Cubs' bullpen situation in today's article, noting that GM Jim Hendry made a play for Chan Ho Park before he signed with the Yankees. Heyman writes that "few teams are foolish enough to trade away proven set-up men at this point," but the Jays cashing in on Frasor now would make sense. The price for Padres closer Heath Bell would be higher, since Bell is under team control for two seasons.

 

The Cubs are not known to have interest in any free agent relievers, though veterans like Russ Springer, David Weathers, and John Smoltz remain unemployed.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

[Sammy Sofa]

Ugh, I just don't think I'm ever comfortable trading for relievers. Frasor's numbers are great last year...but he was pretty ass-y most of the other years he's been with Toronto. Seems like he be more likely to go back to his crappy, high-WHIP/ERA ways.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/frasoja01.shtml

[dew1679666265]

Ugh, I just don't think I'm ever comfortable trading for relievers. Frasor's numbers are great last year...but he was pretty ass-y most of the other years he's been with Toronto. Seems like he be more likely to go back to his crappy, high-WHIP/ERA ways.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/frasoja01.shtml

 

I'm not a big Frasor fan. Honestly, if they really feel like they need another reliever now, I wouldn't be opposed to David Weathers. We wouldn't have to trade any young players and could likely get him on a cheap, one-year deal. He is 40 this year, but he was excellent in 43 games for Cincy last year and has been good to very good fairly consistently. He did have a poor season in 2008 and wasn't very good for the Brewers in 25 games last year, but otherwise, since 2005, he's been a good reliever.

 

I'd still prefer to stand pat or look into Heath Bell or Scott Downs, but Weathers would be a guy we wouldn't have to trade prospects for and could contribute.

[Sammy Sofa]

Huh, I didn't know Weathers was out there. That's actually a guy I wouldn't mind seeing them take a chance on if he could be had for cheap.

[XZero771679666304]

Ugh, I just don't think I'm ever comfortable trading for relievers. Frasor's numbers are great last year...but he was pretty ass-y most of the other years he's been with Toronto. Seems like he be more likely to go back to his crappy, high-WHIP/ERA ways.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/frasoja01.shtml

 

I'm not a big Frasor fan. Honestly, if they really feel like they need another reliever now, I wouldn't be opposed to David Weathers. We wouldn't have to trade any young players and could likely get him on a cheap, one-year deal. He is 40 this year, but he was excellent in 43 games for Cincy last year and has been good to very good fairly consistently. He did have a poor season in 2008 and wasn't very good for the Brewers in 25 games last year, but otherwise, since 2005, he's been a good reliever.

 

I'd still prefer to stand pat or look into Heath Bell or Scott Downs, but Weathers would be a guy we wouldn't have to trade prospects for and could contribute.

 

Yeah, if Hendry has to trade for a reliever, I'd rather pay more and shoot for a more known commodity like Bell.

[dew1679666265]

Huh, I didn't know Weathers was out there. That's actually a guy I wouldn't mind seeing them take a chance on if he could be had for cheap.

 

I didn't either. I'm going off the article that was posted from mlbtraderumors. Him, Bell or Downs would be the guys I'd focus on if I were Hendry.