Best available relievers

[Post Count Padder]

From Rosenthal:

 

The Cubs do not expect to make a trade for a reliever before Opening Day, but they've scouted Jason Frasor and Scott Downs, plus Luke Gregerson of the Padres.

[Splendid Splinter]

From Rosenthal:

 

The Cubs do not expect to make a trade for a reliever before Opening Day, but they've scouted Jason Frasor and Scott Downs, plus Luke Gregerson of the Padres.

 

 

Out of those 3, I want Gregerson... I wonder what it would take to get him though. Should be cheaper than Frasor or Downs since both of them can claim they have "closer experience" and therefore more valuable...

[CubsWin]

From Rosenthal:

 

The Cubs do not expect to make a trade for a reliever before Opening Day, but they've scouted Jason Frasor and Scott Downs, plus Luke Gregerson of the Padres.

 

 

Out of those 3, I want Gregerson... I wonder what it would take to get him though. Should be cheaper than Frasor or Downs since both of them can claim they have "closer experience" and therefore more valuable...

Indeed, I'd be surprised if Kevin Gregg starts the season as the Jays closer for the mere reason that they don't think they can afford to resign Frasor and want to build/maintain his trade value for a team like Minnesota who is in the market for a closer. Once Frasor's dealt, Gregg would likely take over assuming he is sucking less than he did for the Cubs last season.

[CubsWin]

Looks like James Russell will fill out the Cubs bullpen barring a last minute trade. So, as of now, the pen looks like this:

 

Marmol

Caridad

Grabow

Marshall

Samardzija

Berg

Russell

 

Once Lilly comes back, Silva becomes the long man and whoever isn't performing will go down to AAA. Best case scenario is no one is performing poorly yet, and the Cubs send Samardzija down to be in Iowa's rotation. The Cubs still have decent options in AAA going forward. Jeff Gray should be ready in a month. John Gaub struggled in camp, but he should be able to turn that around. Many think that Cashner's future is as a reliever. So there are still in house options worth trying before having to make a trade, and maybe they'll be able to hold off until June or the trade deadline before needing to pull off a deal.

[Little Slide Rooter]

There are some recent free agent relievers out there who are intriguing. Pat Misch, Brian Schouse, and Seth McClung would all be worth taking flyers out on. While this is not so much an endorsement not to give guys like Berg, Russel, and Caridad a shot, it is an endorsement why not to give big contracts to guys like Grabow.

[CubsWin]

There are some recent free agent relievers out there who are intriguing. Pat Misch, Brian Schouse, and Seth McClung would all be worth taking flyers out on. While this is not so much an endorsement not to give guys like Berg, Russel, and Caridad a shot, it is an endorsement why not to give big contracts to guys like Grabow.

I can't find anything I would call intriguing about the guys you mentioned. What do you like about them?

[Backtobanks]

There are some recent free agent relievers out there who are intriguing. Pat Misch, Brian Schouse, and Seth McClung would all be worth taking flyers out on. While this is not so much an endorsement not to give guys like Berg, Russel, and Caridad a shot, it is an endorsement why not to give big contracts to guys like Grabow.

 

The problem is that you can't go into a season waiting to see who you can scrape off of the scrap heap at the last minute. You have to start defining bullpen roles well before April.

[Little Slide Rooter]

There are some recent free agent relievers out there who are intriguing. Pat Misch, Brian Schouse, and Seth McClung would all be worth taking flyers out on. While this is not so much an endorsement not to give guys like Berg, Russel, and Caridad a shot, it is an endorsement why not to give big contracts to guys like Grabow.

 

The problem is that you can't go into a season waiting to see who you can scrape off of the scrap heap at the last minute. You have to start defining bullpen roles well before April.

 

Id rather scrape one of those guys off the scrap heap in april than give a run of the mill left reliever an $8 million contract in December.

[Pushfrog98]

There are some recent free agent relievers out there who are intriguing. Pat Misch, Brian Schouse, and Seth McClung would all be worth taking flyers out on. While this is not so much an endorsement not to give guys like Berg, Russel, and Caridad a shot, it is an endorsement why not to give big contracts to guys like Grabow.

I can't find anything I would call intriguing about the guys you mentioned. What do you like about them?

The fact that they don't have a 2 year/$7.5mil contract is the thing that intrigues me the most.

[Rob]

Frasor was just named the Blue Jays closer, so his price tag to acquire just went up.

[CubsWin]

Frasor was just named the Blue Jays closer, so his price tag to acquire just went up.

Not that Frasor being named the Jays closer came out of left field or anything, but I did predict it in this thread 4 days ago. I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'... 8-)

[YearofDaCubs]

Looks like James Russell will fill out the Cubs bullpen barring a last minute trade. So, as of now, the pen looks like this:

 

Marmol

Caridad

Grabow

Marshall

Samardzija

Berg

Russell

 

Once Lilly comes back, Silva becomes the long man and whoever isn't performing will go down to AAA. Best case scenario is no one is performing poorly yet, and the Cubs send Samardzija down to be in Iowa's rotation. The Cubs still have decent options in AAA going forward. Jeff Gray should be ready in a month. John Gaub struggled in camp, but he should be able to turn that around. Many think that Cashner's future is as a reliever. So there are still in house options worth trying before having to make a trade, and maybe they'll be able to hold off until June or the trade deadline before needing to pull off a deal.

We'll see how it plays out but as right now the bullpen looks pretty bad.

Edited April 2, 2010 by YearofDaCubs

[Sammy Sofa]

Looks pretty average.

[CubsWin]

I agree. The make up of the pen is not awe-inspiring.

 

The thing that sticks out the most to me about it is how unknown and unpredictable it is. It's got three rookies on it. Who knows how they'll do, but if you're handicapping relievers who have little to no experience in the bigs, you'd have to predict they'll be average to below average, though there are always exceptions. Certainly Berg and Caridad have done well this spring and in the very limited time they were up last season. Stuff wise, Caridad impresses, while Berg leaves you non-plussed, as does Russell. Marmol is unpredictable as closers go. Samardzija has had success and failure at the major league level. Wish he'd make up his mind. Grabow and Marshall are the only two with any consistency and they've been consistently average to slightly above.

 

The Cubs are going to have to get a little lucky if this pen is going to help get them to the post-season.

[Cubswin11]

Justin Speier was released from the Rockies today, he would be worth taking a flier on, he had a pretty solid spring and I would certainly take him in the pen over Samardzija.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Justin Speier was released from the Rockies today, he would be worth taking a flier on, he had a pretty solid spring and I would certainly take him in the pen over Samardzija.

 

There's a very large list of pitchers I'd take over Samardzija...I'd probably take a 60-yr old Jesse Orosco over Smardzilla.

[SouthSideRyan]

Justin Speier was released from the Rockies today, he would be worth taking a flier on, he had a pretty solid spring and I would certainly take him in the pen over Samardzija.

 

There's a very large list of pitchers I'd take over Samardzija...I'd probably take a 60-yr old Jesse Orosco over Smardzilla.

 

Well you figure when Orosco dies on the mound you don't have to pay the full contract.

[TruffleShuffle]

what are norm charlton and terry mulholland up to these days

[davell]

Braden Looper threw for us today and is said to be flexible as to what role he'll fill. While I think Looper sucks, hopefully it's a bandaid type move if we sign him. And if it doesn't work out, hopefully we'll be far enough out of it by then to worry with trying to add a "name" guy that costs us good prospects in a year where we don't need to be giving them up to begin with.