Cubs sign Maholm - 1 yr/4.25 mil + club option

[ctcf]

Sorry if this belongs elsewhere but, Huh?

 

Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal

Sources: #Cubs, #Orioles, #Mariners, #RedSox on Paul Maholm. #Pirates also in touch, but "highly unlikely" per @Dejan_Kovacevic. #MLB

 

As a replacement in the event of a Demps/Garza trade?

Edited January 10, 2012 by ctcf

[Post Count Padder]

Unless they have a deal in place for Dempster or Garza, I don't see why we'd still be willing to give possibly $10 mil to another back-end starter when we just acquired two of them in trades.

[toonsterwu]

could be simply keeping up communication while they figure out things on Garza. I doubt Dempster gets moved before the season, but then again, I thought the same about Z.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Sorry if this belongs elsewhere but, Huh?

 

 

 

This looks like as good a fit as anything

 

http://www.northsidebaseball.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=60426

[Little Slide Rooter]

I do get what they're doing though. Looking for a few back end starters for the future? I understand that a pitching rotation can only hold 5 guys, but would you rather audition a handful of cheap options like Maholm, Sonnenstine, Wood, and Volstad at 1-3 mil each or sign someone like Kyle Lohse or Joel Pinearo to a multi year deal for 5-10 mil/year?

[dew1679666265]

I do get what they're doing though. Looking for a few back end starters for the future? I understand that a pitching rotation can only hold 5 guys, but would you rather audition a handful of cheap options like Maholm, Sonnenstine, Wood, and Volstad at 1-3 mil each or sign someone like Kyle Lohse or Joel Pinearo to a multi year deal for 5-10 mil/year?

 

Maholm fits much, much better in the grouping with Lohse and Piniero than with Wood, Volstad, and Sonnastine. Maholm is 30, has never been that good, and I think gets more than 1 year and around $8-10 million AAV.

 

If we still want pitching depth, which I'm fine with, look at guys like Wei-Yin Chen instead of Maholm.

[Rob]

It's kinda been assumed that if we trade Garza we were going to receive a ML-ready starter to plug into the rotation. If we aren't (or we are planning on trading Dempster also), we will need to fill out a rotation spot.

 

That said, while I like Maholm, I like Chris Rusin nearly as much... and he's gonna cost the league minimum.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Cubs Trying For Agreement With Maholm

By Tim Dierkes [January 9 at 10:59am CST]

The Cubs and free agent lefty Paul Maholm are trying to work out an agreement, tweets Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.

 

 

Looks like we're still trying. For the right price, I have no qualms. Sounds like a heavy indication that at least one of our starters is going to be moved sooner than later.

[mookie]

So, Turner is coming to Chicago then?

[Guest]

Turner(and hopefully any major piece in return for Garza) would require a 40-man spot. If they're on the brink with Maholm, I have to think that Soriano or Byrd have to be close to being dealt as well.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Just idly going with the idea that they don't trade Garza.

 

Garza/Wood/Dempster/Maholm/Volstad is a stunningly decent rotation. Maybe 14 WAR total projection with some upside. (5.0/3.0/3.0/1.5/1.5).

[Post Count Padder]

I'd have to assume somebody is getting traded, be it Garza or Soriano. At least we won't have any rotation depth issues this year. It'll be nice not seeing Casey Coleman trotted out every 5th day for two months.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'd have to assume somebody is getting traded, be it Garza or Soriano. At least we won't have any rotation depth issues this year. It'll be nice not seeing Casey Coleman trotted out every 5th day for two months.

The rotation isn't any deeper than it was last year at this time.

[ctcf]

Yeah I'd be totally fine with this signing. As mentioned above, that'd make for a decent rotation.

 

I think in terms of replacement he matches up well with replacing Dempster, but I still don't see why/how he'd get traded.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'd have to assume somebody is getting traded, be it Garza or Soriano. At least we won't have any rotation depth issues this year. It'll be nice not seeing Casey Coleman trotted out every 5th day for two months.

The rotation isn't any deeper than it was last year at this time.

 

Theo has talked a lot about having more than 5 starters, I wouldn't assume the acquisition of another starter means somebody else is out the door, he could really be looking for his 6th or 7th starter at this point.

[Backtobanks]

Signing Malholm will certainly give us the deepest back of the rotation in baseball. Wood, Malholm, Wells, Volstad, Sonnastine, etc.

[rocket]

i'll trust theo and jed, but i don't really see the point.

[ctcf]

Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal

Source: #Cubs close on Maholm. #MLB

 

Really quite curious as to if this triggers a corresponding move.

[SouthSideRyan]

Yeah, I really don't like this.

 

I am enjoying B2B's response to every move though. I hope this offseason never ends. (Because then I'll have to watch a 70 win team again)

[ctcf]

Yeah, I really don't like this.

 

I am enjoying B2B's response to every move though. I hope this offseason never ends. (Because then I'll have to watch a 70 win team again)

 

I still wish he'd just make more trade proposals instead.

[TruffleShuffle]

Signing Malholm will certainly give us the deepest back of the rotation in baseball. Wood, Malholm, Wells, Volstad, Sonnastine, etc.

 

Do you promise to learn his name if we actually do sign him?

[jersey cubs fan]

Yeah, I really don't like this.

 

I am enjoying B2B's response to every move though. I hope this offseason never ends. (Because then I'll have to watch a 70 win team again)

 

He's had 1 crappy season in the past 4, so he should be one of those guys that gives you decent performance when he does pitch. Not sure what prevented him from racking up the IP, but he has made 30+ starts in 4 of 6 seasons. He does seem like a guy who can be useful on a team that actually scores some runs.

[KingCubsFan]

Another extreme groundball pitcher. I wonder if they think putting a good defense behind these guys could inflate their numbers enough to get some value in a trade later on. Or maybe they just do better at Wrigley.

[Tracer Bullet]

Signing Malholm will certainly give us the deepest back of the rotation in baseball. Wood, Malholm, Wells, Volstad, Sonnastine, etc.

 

What are you expecting? Theo didn't walk into the 2004 clubhouse.

[Rob]

Hmmm...

 

Garza/Dempster/Maholm/Wood/Volstad/Wells

 

I wonder who the odd man out is? This whole thing could be a sign of a move to come or it could just be that the plan is to send a guy down to AAA. Anybody know the option status for Wood, Volstad, and Wells?