Cubs Negotiating with Paul Maholm

[WilcoFan]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/12/cubs-negotiating-with-paul-maholm.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Little Slide Rooter]

You beat me to it by seconds. Now there's a signing I can get behind. Maholm's shown flashes but never fully pulled it together. If he could pull it together and we keep Garza we could end up with a very strong rotation. Not strong enough to support out existing offense, but it's only early mi December so there's still time to avoid a lineup that looks slightly better than the Astros but slightly worse than the Giants.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

Totally in on picking up Maholm to fill in a rotation spot (and weaken a division rival), assuming the terms and length of the deal are reasonable.

[Butterscup1679666578]

meh.

[Guest]

If he's cheap enough, I love it. If he's not, I hate it.

[davell]

He's been worth 10.1 WAR over the last 4 years. Not bad, I'm not sure what he's worth though. At his age, I could see a team giving him a 3 or possibly even a 4 year deal. Heyman predicted 2/14 for him and if we accomplished that, I'd be pretty happy honestly. But, if we wind up at 3/30 or something, count me as being pissed. But I guess he's a decent mid rotation guy and we need a lefty.

[dew1679666265]

I'm really not trying to be continuously negative, but I'm not a big fan of this move either. Maholm's ok, but there's really no upside with him - his highest K/9 of his career is 6.06, his career K/9 is 5.55, and he'll turn 30 years old in 2012.

 

He wouldn't be a bad pickup, but I tend to think the 4.36/4.21/4.22 ERA/FIP/xFIP line is pretty much what we can expect - nothing more and possibly less. Cheap, one year deal, sure I guess. I'd much rather have a guy like Wei-Yin Chen, though.

[davell]

The only thing I've read on Chen recently is there are lots of teams in on him. I'd rather have him too and I bet he still comes cheaper than Maholm will. That said, a soft tossing lefty like Maholm can probably duplicate his recent seasons for a while.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Yes please. We desperately need starting pitching depth.

[dew1679666265]

The only thing I've read on Chen recently is there are lots of teams in on him. I'd rather have him too and I bet he still comes cheaper than Maholm will. That said, a soft tossing lefty like Maholm can probably duplicate his recent seasons for a while.

 

If it's going to take multiple years, I really don't want Maholm. I'd rather have Jeff Francis at one year than Maholm at more than 1. A Francis/Chen duo is probably around the same AAV as Maholm alone, and we have a semi-durable soft-tossing lefty (Francis, and Chen too I guess) and a little bit of potential upside (Chen).

[Old Style]

His middle name is Gurner. Not that it matters, but I don't like that one bit.

[davell]

Would adding Maholm, Jackson, and Prince be enough to win the division? It IS pretty damn weak, you know? Not what I want at all, but a fair question, I think.

[Guest]

Would adding Maholm, Jackson, and Prince be enough to win the division? It IS pretty damn weak, you know? Not what I want at all, but a fair question, I think.

 

I don't know if they'd be the favorites, but they'd be there to the end.

[Magnetic Curses]

i don't get it. why not oswalt instead?

[Have a seat, Neifi]

Both Oswalt and Edwin Jackson seem like obvious targets to me.

[Magnetic Curses]

Both Oswalt and Edwin Jackson seem like obvious targets to me.

 

get those 2 and fielder and we are favorites.

[davell]

On BN, Brett brought up something I didn't know: Maholm had shoulder issues to end the season and didn't pitch after August 17th. Andrews looked at him and didn't find anything, but this should still affect his contract, I would think. By the way, Levine's blog quoted a source as saying "getting the money right is going to be the key". Really Bruce, does that need to be said? Really? Money is an important factor for an athlete. Damn. Learn something new everyday.

[haubrich91]

I'm really glad we're interested in him. I've always been a fan of Maholm. Yes - he doesn't strike out many batters, but he also doesn't surrender the long ball. As stated before, depending on the money, I'm in favor of this move. Would be a solid 4 or 5 for us.

[mookie]

It seemed he was having quite the career year this season, and then he flamed out with shoulder issues. If this isn't a cheap deal, count me in the annoyed and meh camp.

[rocket]

assuming the cubs are not in on fielder or darvish, and don't plan on making a big splash this season: what's the point of signing maholm?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

assuming the cubs are not in on fielder or darvish, and don't plan on making a big splash this season: what's the point of signing maholm?

 

We have money and we don't have any prospects to give the spot to and losing 100 games will hurt future revenues.

[Cubs Evangelist]

Both Oswalt and Edwin Jackson seem like obvious targets to me.

 

get those 2 and fielder and we are favorites.

 

Agreed, yet it appears new Cub brass doesn't want anything to do with past performances that were good, they look for guys who have had career lows, sign cheap and hope for the best. I haven't seen anything that indicates Theo would consider a SP like Oswalt or Jackson, in fact we have been linked to Darvish (doesn't appear like we will have a shot at him) and now the Pirate washout. That and we are looking to trade Garza, arguably our best starter.

[Bote McBoteface]

Somebody ban that guy

[Guest]

assuming the cubs are not in on fielder or darvish, and don't plan on making a big splash this season: what's the point of signing maholm?

 

We have money and we don't have any prospects to give the spot to and losing 100 games will hurt future revenues.

Garza

Dempster

Zambrano

Wells

Samardzija

Cashner

 

I'd anticipate all those guys being as good or better than Maholm. With the way his season ended, I'm not sure he's any better of a health risk, either.

 

Coleman

Rusin

 

If we're not signing guys to compete in 2012, these guys would be better performance / cost.

 

In the second half, we could have:

 

McNutt

Beeler

Rhee

Searle

 

In short, we've got plenty of mediocre -> lousy pitching depth. What we really need are top of the rotation guys. That ain't Maholm.

[Guest]

Both Oswalt and Edwin Jackson seem like obvious targets to me.

 

get those 2 and fielder and we are favorites.

 

Agreed, yet it appears new Cub brass doesn't want anything to do with past performances that were good, they look for guys who have had career lows, sign cheap and hope for the best. I haven't seen anything that indicates Theo would consider a SP like Oswalt or Jackson, in fact we have been linked to Darvish (doesn't appear like we will have a shot at him) and now the Pirate washout. That and we are looking to trade Garza, arguably our best starter.

kinda early to judge what they want something to do with.