Rusch signed through '07 (Cubs.com)

[frostwyrm]

Just heard this on the Score. Pretty disappointing if you ask me.

[Backtobanks]

I don't think this is a bad move. With our starting pitchers, it doesn't hurt to have 2-3 extra. Also, it frees up Hendry to use Rusch (now or next year), Williams, and/or some of the rookies as trade bait.

[YearofDaCubs]

OMG!! This is terrible! Hendry is up to his BS again.

[Andy]

If that's the total amount, that's not a terrible deal. Rusch is a nice insurance policy for when (not if) the Cubs' rotation starts dropping like flies in mid-May. I'd have liked to see the Cubs go in a different direction but I highly doubt this signing will turn out to be that bad.

[Wascolian26]

This was just stupid..We could of gone out and signed someone better....Good way to start the Off-Season....

[mg420]

if rusch does sign it will be to start imo so we might be looking at the #5 starter next year. now if only maddux declines his option they can put williams in the #4 spot.

[YearofDaCubs]

if rusch does sign it will be to start imo so we might be looking at the #5 starter next year. now if only maddux declines his option they can put williams in the #4 spot.

Maddux will be here next year you can bank on it. This is BS. This is exactly the type of move I did not want to see from Hendry.

[frostwyrm]

I don't know if a contender should have Rusch in the rotation for any significant amount of time. If it were up to me I'd spend a bit more and get someone who is actually good.

[mg420]

I don't know if a contender should have Rusch in the rotation for any significant amount of time. If it were up to me I'd spend a bit more and get someone who is actually good.

 

the sox won the world series with el duke as the #5 and he was 9-9 with a 5.12 era. i think rusch will be a better than average #5.

[frostwyrm]

I really would have liked to have gotten a look at Rich Hill as a potential SP for 2006. Unfortunately it seems the organization was always dead set on bringing Rusch back.

[YearofDaCubs]

I don't know if a contender should have Rusch in the rotation for any significant amount of time. If it were up to me I'd spend a bit more and get someone who is actually good.

 

the sox won the world series with el duke as the #5 and he was 9-9 with a 5.12 era. i think rusch will be a better than average #5.

That's not the point. Next year we will have Wood,Prior, Z, Maddux, Williams yet we are about to give 3mil per for Rusch? We can use that money to bolster the bullpen and bench.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

This is so frustrating.

[AAApittsburgh]

wah? :?

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Why is everyone assuming that the 5th spot is his. Couldn't he have the bullpen\spot starter role like he did this season?

[AAApittsburgh]

Why is everyone assuming that the 5th spot is his. Couldn't he have the bullpen\spot starter role like he did this season?

Yah, but he isn't very good in either role. So this is just a waste of money.

[YearofDaCubs]

Why is everyone assuming that the 5th spot is his. Couldn't he have the bullpen\spot starter role like he did this season?

Thats the thing. he won't be the 5th starter unless injury. We already have 5 starters so we would be giving 3mil to Rusch for long relief.

[USSoccer]

$3m for a long reliever/spot starter? With all the bulk arms in our system?

 

This is indicative of Hendry's awful habit of overpaying for mediocrity. We could get the same production out of Hill or someone else for league minimum money.

 

This $3m here, $2.5m there stuff adds up after a while into money poorly spent.

[frostwyrm]

Just heard on the radio the report came from Bruce Levine. He says the Cubs will be announcing that a deal is done and just needs a signature, which it will get next week.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Why is everyone assuming that the 5th spot is his. Couldn't he have the bullpen\spot starter role like he did this season?

Thats the thing. he won't be the 5th starter unless injury. We already have 5 starters so we would be giving 3mil to Rusch for long relief.

 

Ahh, that is very true. Does anyone have his starter and relief splits?

[YearofDaCubs]

Just heard on the radio the report came from Bruce Levine. He says the Cubs will be announcing that a deal is done and just needs a signature, which it will get next week.

You're kidding me right?

[USSoccer]

Just heard on the radio the report came from Bruce Levine. He says the Cubs will be announcing that a deal is done and just needs a signature, which it will get next week.

 

This is such a "Linus" move. :x

[HoopsCubs]

Just heard this on the Score. Pretty disappointing if you ask me.

 

He was going to get $2M if he picked up his player option anyway. Maybe the Cubs figured signing him to a 2-year deal for say, $2.5M in 2006 and $3.5M in 2007 (I'm making those numbers up) would be good insurance for injuries this season, and some rotation protection after 2006 should Maddux and Wood both leave via free agency.

 

I will remind you that in 5 starts in May he pitched 30 innings and gave up only 8 earned runs, and then in September he had 5 starts where he pitched 31 innings and gave up a respectable 12 earned runs,

and went 4-0. He was only really bad in June when he started against the Yankees and Red Sox, and was horrendous out of the pen.

 

I think it's fair to say, he has been an effective starter in 2004 and 2005.

 

I don't see a move like this hurting the Cubs offseason plans. They could still go after another starter in free agency, which would be the clue that they are planning on taking things very, very slow with Wood.

[YearofDaCubs]

If this is indeed true Hendry hasn't learned a damn thing being GM here.

[YearofDaCubs]

Just heard this on the Score. Pretty disappointing if you ask me.

 

He was going to get $2M if he picked up his player option anyway. Maybe the Cubs figured signing him to a 2-year deal for say, $2.5M in 2006 and $3.5M in 2007 (I'm making those numbers up) would be good insurance for injuries this season, and some rotation protection after 2006 should Maddux and Wood both leave via free agency.

 

I will remind you that in 5 starts in May he pitched 30 innings and gave up only 8 earned runs, and then in September he had 5 starts where he pitched 31 innings and gave up a respectable 12 earned runs,

and went 4-0. He was only really bad in June when he started against the Yankees and Red Sox, and was horrendous out of the pen.

 

I think it's fair to say, he has been an effective starter in 2004 and 2005.

 

I don't see a move like this hurting the Cubs offseason plans. They could still go after another starter in free agency, which would be the clue that they are planning on taking things very, very slow with Wood.

Let's get ready for the 12-man pitching staff again.

[USSoccer]

Just heard this on the Score. Pretty disappointing if you ask me.

 

He was going to get $2M if he picked up his player option anyway. Maybe the Cubs figured signing him to a 2-year deal for say, $2.5M in 2006 and $3.5M in 2007 (I'm making those numbers up) would be good insurance for injuries this season, and some rotation protection after 2006 should Maddux and Wood both leave via free agency.

 

I will remind you that in 5 starts in May he pitched 30 innings and gave up only 8 earned runs, and then in September he had 5 starts where he pitched 31 innings and gave up a respectable 12 earned runs,

and went 4-0. He was only really bad in June when he started against the Yankees and Red Sox, and was horrendous out of the pen.

 

I think it's fair to say, he has been an effective starter in 2004 and 2005.

 

I don't see a move like this hurting the Cubs offseason plans. They could still go after another starter in free agency, which would be the clue that they are planning on taking things very, very slow with Wood.

 

 

Hoops,

 

The problem with Rusch in the swing role is that, as you said, he stinks as a relief pitcher. If Hendry is worried about injuries again perhaps that's an issue that should be addressed instead of signing Rusch to fill in.