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

[jersey cubs fan]

But signing somebody to a 3 year contract when you have no intent of keeping them around more than 3 months is extremely risky.

 

I don't think there's any reason why they'd have no intent on keeping him around. I agree that would be very risky if it was some sort of move you forced yourself to make. My guess is it would be a preference for them to move him if they got the opportunity. If you sign him to a reasonable deal that won't hurt you to keep him around then it's not really risky. Going forward they are still going to need pitchng depth. Presumably Maholm is the type of pitcher that won't hurt you by running out there 30 times a season if you don't deal him. But if there is no real market for the guy today, but he looks to outperform his reputation the next three months, or next three years, it's got potential as a tradeable commodity acquisition.

[chi-guy]

Can someone fill me in on the status of the 40-man roster? It's been alluded to that we've got it entirely full at this point and what I'm uncertain of is what our options are in taking someone off the roster. If the Cubs decide player X should be removed does player X then have to clear waivers through the rest of the league and if he does then we can assign him internally? If we're at the full 40 right now who do you think would be the top guys to go assuming we sign Malholm, Wood, and (fingers crossed) Cespedes in the next few weeks?

 

(***I assumer Soler wouldn't need to be put on the 40 if signed due to age and projected placement in the system when he arrives but correct me if I'm wrong***)

[Tracer Bullet]

Please don't put your website link in the content of your posts. Thanks.

[dew1679666265]

If this is a 1 year deal, I like it as it gives us an extra veteran to deal at the deadline. If it's 2 years, I guess it's ok but it seems like a waste of money. If it's 3 years, it's as mind-boggling as the Reed signing (except at least Reed's presumably only here for one year).

 

Giving a 3 year deal to a 30 year old, mediocre pitcher when you're making no effort to compete in year one makes absolutely no sense. There are pitchers like Maholm crawling out of the woodwork each year, there's no reason to invest 3 years in him.

[davell]

For 40 man implications, if we signed Soler, I definitely think he WOULD be on the 40 man. He's going to require a huge bonus and giving him a 40 man slot is the only way to spead it out, instead of paying it all at once.

[toonsterwu]

You know, it crossed my mind right now, but I wonder if the Cubs may wait out a Kuroda signing ... and then try and trade ... Dempster. Perhaps Rothschild convinces them to gamble on Dempster in NY for a year. Perhaps the Tigers, who some have speculated would be more willing to consider reliability, would take a look.

 

Edit: Off the top, I think Dempster would have to approve the deal, right?

[SouthSideRyan]

You know, it crossed my mind right now, but I wonder if the Cubs may wait out a Kuroda signing ... and then try and trade ... Dempster. Perhaps Rothschild convinces them to gamble on Dempster in NY for a year. Perhaps the Tigers, who some have speculated would be more willing to consider reliability, would take a look.

 

Edit: Off the top, I think Dempster would have to approve the deal, right?

 

He's 10/5

[SouthSideRyan]

For 40 man implications, if we signed Soler, I definitely think he WOULD be on the 40 man. He's going to require a huge bonus and giving him a 40 man slot is the only way to spead it out, instead of paying it all at once.

 

I thought people kept making the point that since we're not spending on big league payroll we could do something like pay out Soler a huge bonus upfront

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Edit: Off the top, I think Dempster would have to approve the deal, right?

Yes.

[manbearcub]

Not signing wood leaves another spot open.

[davell]

For 40 man implications, if we signed Soler, I definitely think he WOULD be on the 40 man. He's going to require a huge bonus and giving him a 40 man slot is the only way to spead it out, instead of paying it all at once.

 

I thought people kept making the point that since we're not spending on big league payroll we could do something like pay out Soler a huge bonus upfront

Yeah, it's actually me that's mentioned it. That said, I would think if it came down to it, they'd rather give him a 40 man spot, give him a really solid signing bonus and spread out the rest. He's supposedly ready for A+ Ball, from what I've read anyway. His price tag seems to keep going up though. Went from upper teens, to around 20ish and now maybe even mid 20's to 30 mill. If he actually signed for under 20, I guess we could pay it up front to keep him off the 40 man, but if it takes more than that, I'd think we'd just spead as much out as possible.

[toonsterwu]

You know, it crossed my mind right now, but I wonder if the Cubs may wait out a Kuroda signing ... and then try and trade ... Dempster. Perhaps Rothschild convinces them to gamble on Dempster in NY for a year. Perhaps the Tigers, who some have speculated would be more willing to consider reliability, would take a look.

 

Edit: Off the top, I think Dempster would have to approve the deal, right?

 

He's 10/5

 

Ah thanks. Can't check Cots right now. I do wonder, post-Kuroda signing, if they'd shop him and then see what Demp would say about it. I'm fine with him being back, but there does seem to be a chance that some teams, post Kuroda and wary of a long term Edwin Jackson deal, may be interested.

[Guest]

You know, it crossed my mind right now, but I wonder if the Cubs may wait out a Kuroda signing ... and then try and trade ... Dempster. Perhaps Rothschild convinces them to gamble on Dempster in NY for a year. Perhaps the Tigers, who some have speculated would be more willing to consider reliability, would take a look.

 

Edit: Off the top, I think Dempster would have to approve the deal, right?

 

He's 10/5

 

Ah thanks. Can't check Cots right now. I do wonder, post-Kuroda signing, if they'd shop him and then see what Demp would say about it. I'm fine with him being back, but there does seem to be a chance that some teams, post Kuroda and wary of a long term Edwin Jackson deal, may be interested.

 

There were reports not long ago that they've talked to him about it and he'd be open to allowing a trade.

[ctcf]

I wonder if the sudden quiet on this is on account of putting together a corresponding move.

[davell]

Could be. The PSD insider guy said he heard this has been done for a couple of days. Plus, Jed seemed awfully sure we'd be adding to our pitching depth soon, after the comments he made recently too. I'd like to think we've got a trade brewing somewhere to open up a spot, but honestly, it's not like we don't have guys we can waive either.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I wonder if the sudden quiet on this is on account of putting together a corresponding move.

 

That's how it's been with these minor signings. One day we hear of the agreement being reached or close. We hear nothing for a week or so and then hear that it's official. That's pretty much what happened with Corpas and Johnson anyway.

[Guest]

@paul_maholm

Looking forward to seeing the fans at Cubs convention this weekend and getting to know all the guys. It's gonna be fun.

 

@paul_maholm

I hope to get to continue some things when I visit during the year and start some great things as I start my Cubs career. #GodBless

 

@paul_maholm

Just wanna say thank u to everyone that has cheered for me during my career as a Pirate. I loved my last six plus years in the city.

[Irrelevant Dude]

@paul_maholm

I hope to get to continue some things when I visit during the year and start some great things as I start my Cubs career. #GodBless

Can anyone translate?

Edited January 10, 2012 by Irrelevant Dude

[82TonyM]

Look who had it first... :D

 

 

Scott Swaim @MLBInsideNews 1m

 

As I reported a couple weeks ago, Maholm was destined to sign with #Cubs. They had mutual interest. It is a done deal.

 

[Guest]

@paul_maholm

I hope to get to continue some things when I visit during the year and start some great things as I start my Cubs career. #GodBless

Can anyone translate?

 

I edited to include the first tweet, he was addressing Pirates fans.

[Irrelevant Dude]

@paul_maholm

I hope to get to continue some things when I visit during the year and start some great things as I start my Cubs career. #GodBless

Can anyone translate?

 

I edited to include the first tweet, he was addressing Pirates fans.

Ahh, ok. It does make a little more sense when reading it as directed to Pittsburgh fans.

[Schwarber Fan]

Garza's probably gone soon

 

Dempster/Maholm/Volstad/Wells/Wood

[davell]

Are we allowed to go over 40 for any length of time? If not, hopefully the Garza deal goes down tomorrow. Cool to see Maholm sign, my guess is it's not a bad deal for us. 2 lefties in the rotation. As for that MLBInsider guy, what a joke. I'm sure he'll be saying HE broke it soon enough, same with any semblance of a Garza/Detroit deal.

[ctcf]

So to wildly speculate, the fact that this story spiked back up in conjunction with "down the road" talks of Garza to the Tigers makes one wonder if Jed and Theo wanted to do the two moves in tandem...

 

Especially considering the story appears to have been leaked by the pitcher himself, lol.

[Outshined_One]

Maybe Wood and Volstad will piggyback.