Cubs interested in Howry

[b_wiggy_66]

The Score is reporting that Hendry is interested in Bobby Howry. Hes had pretty good numbers the last couple years, but bombed with the White Sox. I don't know if this would be a good signing or not.

[CubsWin]

The Score is reporting that Hendry is interested in Bobby Howry. Hes had pretty good numbers the last couple years, but bombed with the White Sox. I don't know if this would be a good signing or not.

It likely would be, but not at the price he will probably be able to command. I like Howry. I wanted him to be the guy the Cubs got in the trade back in '98 (and I didn't want them to trade their 1st round pick to get him).

 

I think he can continue to be good for a few more years at least. I'd like to have him, but not if he is going to cost 3 mill a year for 3 years.

[Sabermetrician]

I don't trust any relievers with long-term deals.

 

Howry was signed to a minor league contract two years ago, now he wants 3 years, $10 million.

 

Relievers are so inconsistent, you never know what to expect. Part of that is that they are all failed starters at some level or another - the bullpen was their last chance to remain a pitcher.

[Backtobanks]

The Score is reporting that Hendry is interested in Bobby Howry. Hes had pretty good numbers the last couple years, but bombed with the White Sox. I don't know if this would be a good signing or not.

 

By my count, that means the Cubs are interested in every available SS, RF, SP, RP, lead off man, and power hitter. If half of these reports are true, Hendry will have met with about 700 agents.

[Neuby]

The Score is reporting that Hendry is interested in Bobby Howry. Hes had pretty good numbers the last couple years, but bombed with the White Sox. I don't know if this would be a good signing or not.

 

By my count, that means the Cubs are interested in every available SS, RF, SP, RP, lead off man, and power hitter. If half of these reports are true, Hendry will have met with about 700 agents.

 

I would hope they would be with all the holes we have and trading chips to go along with all are money.

[Mizzou]

Hendry hasn't had much luck with signing FA relievers the past few years (Remlinger, Hawkins). With that in mind, I don't see him shelling out several million for one arm.

[craig]

Even though he pretty much has failed every year, every winter Hendry says he's going to address the bullpen, and spends some money on it. I expect this winter will be the same thing.

 

Hopefully the outcome will be better, and the money he throws will be useful, unlike Hawkins and Remlinger.

 

It's true that Howry would be no sure thing, and that relievers tend to be somewhat unpredictable. That said, the likelihood of hitting on a reliever who's been good recently is probably better than gambling on an unpredictable relieveer who's been lousy lately!

 

In Howry's case, he's actually been fairly solid for most of his career, albeit too few K's to be great. His lesser years all revolved around the arm problem, which eventually led to surgery.

 

He's 32 now, and seems to be healthy. I'm interested.

[CUBZ99]

Even though he pretty much has failed every year, every winter Hendry says he's going to address the bullpen, and spends some money on it. I expect this winter will be the same thing.

 

Hopefully the outcome will be better, and the money he throws will be useful, unlike Hawkins and Remlinger.

 

It's true that Howry would be no sure thing, and that relievers tend to be somewhat unpredictable. That said, the likelihood of hitting on a reliever who's been good recently is probably better than gambling on an unpredictable relieveer who's been lousy lately!

 

In Howry's case, he's actually been fairly solid for most of his career, albeit too few K's to be great. His lesser years all revolved around the arm problem, which eventually led to surgery.

 

He's 32 now, and seems to be healthy. I'm interested.

 

Would you be willing to spend more than the 2 yr $7.5 M offer the Indians have made to him?

[Neuby]

When the deals where handed out for Hawkins and Remlinger it seemed like everyone was for them. That said I would spend the money on Dotel .

[mg420]

other than maybe a lefty like eyre, i hope the cubs stick with the pen they have. ohman, wuretz, jvb, novoa, williamson & dempster are all solid pitchers imo. no need to spend big bucks on fa's when you have guys in the system who can do the job.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I don't have a problem pursuing bullpen help, per se. On the other hand, I wish we would fill other needs before throwing arms at relief pitchers considering our system is full of promising relief arms.

[RockTheIvy]

The trib mentioned this today. And they said Dusty's relationship with Eyre might bring him to the Cubs. I wonder who broke this, the WSCR or the Trib. Just wondering because the score has been worthless in the past.

[Lefty]

Hendry hasn't had much luck with signing FA relievers the past few years (Remlinger, Hawkins).

 

Or the trade for Alfonseca.

[MPrior]

I don't have a problem pursuing bullpen help, per se. On the other hand, I wish we would fill other needs before throwing arms at relief pitchers considering our system is full of promising relief arms.

 

This made me laugh.

 

Secondly, the Hawkins and Remlinger signings were good signings. I have no problem saying that it's Dusty's fault that they're not producing effectively in our bullpen right now. Both of them were repeatedly and horribly misused, which resulted in their respective implosions.

 

That said, I'm not that big on Howry - I credit a post Diffusion made for this; he pointed out that Howry's great year last year was very possibly due to an unusually "lucky" BABIP against (and, as he's not really a strikeout pitcher, this matters quite a bit). He wouldn't be a bad signing, but I think there are better options out there.

[UK1679666180]

The trib mentioned this today. And they said Dusty's relationship with Eyre might bring him to the Cubs. I wonder who broke this, the WSCR or the Trib. Just wondering because the score has been worthless in the past.

 

Eyre barely played under Baker (11IP) for the '02 season, that's not alot of time to form a relationship.

 

I doubt it has any impact, although I hope it does. The years will be the deciding factor for him, he'll get 3-4 mil per, I assume. It'll be up to the teams to go beyond 3 years.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I don't have a problem pursuing bullpen help, per se. On the other hand, I wish we would fill other needs before throwing arms at relief pitchers considering our system is full of promising relief arms.

 

This made me laugh.

 

Secondly, the Hawkins and Remlinger signings were good signings. I have no problem saying that it's Dusty's fault that they're not producing effectively in our bullpen right now. Both of them were repeatedly and horribly misused, which resulted in their respective implosions.

 

That said, I'm not that big on Howry - I credit a post Diffusion made for this; he pointed out that Howry's great year last year was very possibly due to an unusually "lucky" BABIP against (and, as he's not really a strikeout pitcher, this matters quite a bit). He wouldn't be a bad signing, but I think there are better options out there.

 

The best way for us to make traction in our quest to improve middle relief performance and depth is going to be via the trade route. We have the trading chips, Hendry simply needs to find the right trading partner (eg, Cleveland or Minnesota) and identify the right target.