nilodnayr

While it was only 40 innings, he did have a 1.8 ERA last year (3.13 FIP). 8.1 K/9 and 2.25BB/9 for a 3.60 K/BB (much better than Marmol). Plus hes a pretty extreme FB pitcher, so he should fit well with that park.

This is incorrect. It's the other way around. It all boils down to talent evaluation, beit your own prospects, others prospects, and draft picks.

Iwamura is going to slide over to 2b to make room for Longoria. We have 47 second basemen, but none of them are better than Iwamura.

Why do people always write this? Do you disagree? Very, very much so. Your theory assumes there has never been a non-chicago source that scooped the chicago press corps regarding a Cubs acquisition, and that their will never be. I think that's an absurd assumption. How's this: I believe it is extremely unlikely that an out-of-town source is going to scoop the Chicago press corps on a Cubs acquisition. I also believe that those occasions where it does happen will be extremely few and far between. Well assuming Justice has sources with the Rockies and the Rockies are not only Matsui's previous team but also one of the few rumored teams to be competing for him, its not really unreasonable. Although in this specific instance, Justice does only site a radio report.

7B - Cedeno 8B - Infante

Well according to the report of the deals offered this time, ours was the best. So, no. Exactly. I'm really not understanding all of this "he gave us a discount stuff". From all the reports I've seen we offered the best deal. I'm glad he resigned with us but I'm failing to see the big hometown discount. He did come back without too much hand-wringing, so I'll give him full props for that. I'd credit the cubs with that, not him. Afterall, they are the ones that offered him a 1 year deal for potentially more money than the 2 year deals he had on the table. Any indication on what the incentives were for the other deals? Don't think so, and we'll probably never know. But, even if you ignore the incentives, a 1 yr 4M deal is more attractive to him than a 2 yr 6M deal. He's made over 45M in his lifetime, he can take the risk/reward of not having a guaranteed second year. And frankly, when you give a guy that amount of scratch in incentives to close games, along with it comes a promise that he has the closers job to lose. I dunno, for a guy with a history of arm troubles, it seems like 2 years at more guaranteed money is the "better" deal, especially if there were incentive clauses in the 2 year deal. But I see your point--for as much money as he has already--taking the risk that he'll stay healthy and earn those incentives isn't that big of a deal. Most basebally players think they are going to be healthy and awesome. Taking a 1 year 4M deal over a 2 year 6M deal means that he thinks he can do better than 1 year 2M for 2009. If hes healthy he'll most likely be fairly dominant and will get a big deal either as a closer or a starter. Lets say for 10M. So in Kerry's mind, if there is a greater than 20% chance that he stays healthy, its a smart move to take the 1 year deal. (10M *20%=2M). Also, if he has one healthy year, then he can cash in on it next offseason with our deal. If he takes the 2 year deal, then he'll have to be healthy for 2 years to be able to cash in on it. Add in the fact that he has enough money to live on for the rest of his life insanely comfortably and it would make absolutely no sense to take any deal but ours.

Well according to the report of the deals offered this time, ours was the best. So, no. Exactly. I'm really not understanding all of this "he gave us a discount stuff". From all the reports I've seen we offered the best deal. I'm glad he resigned with us but I'm failing to see the big hometown discount. He did come back without too much hand-wringing, so I'll give him full props for that. I'd credit the cubs with that, not him. Afterall, they are the ones that offered him a 1 year deal for potentially more money than the 2 year deals he had on the table. Any indication on what the incentives were for the other deals? Don't think so, and we'll probably never know. But, even if you ignore the incentives, a 1 yr 4M deal is more attractive to him than a 2 yr 6M deal. He's made over 45M in his lifetime, he can take the risk/reward of not having a guaranteed second year. And frankly, when you give a guy that amount of scratch in incentives to close games, along with it comes a promise that he has the closers job to lose.

Well according to the report of the deals offered this time, ours was the best. So, no. Exactly. I'm really not understanding all of this "he gave us a discount stuff". From all the reports I've seen we offered the best deal. I'm glad he resigned with us but I'm failing to see the big hometown discount. He did come back without too much hand-wringing, so I'll give him full props for that. I'd credit the cubs with that, not him. Afterall, they are the ones that offered him a 1 year deal for potentially more money than the 2 year deals he had on the table.

It's a business move for me. He has had problems staying healthy along with imo, a steroid user. I just don't see him being better than an average pitcher from here on, if that. Hey, I may be wrong but that's my opinion. He's had problems staying healthy because he has been pitching hurt for the last couple years. The problem has finally been addressed with surgery. You have absolutley no basis for singling out Prior as a steroid user. This follows the pattern I mentioned before. I can't judge what is in your mind, but to me it seems that you are fed up with seeing him unable to pitch and because of it are coming to baseless conclusions (for example, he's on steroids). No basis for steroid acqusation? Have you see his calves? :D

Exactly. This deal puts Woody in the closer role and allows the two likely better relievers - Howry and Marmol - to fill in the most important portions of the game. Had we not re-signed Wood and put Marmol or Howry in the closer role, we would have, at best, a young pitcher coming in critical portions of the game. I'm much more comfortable seeing Howry or Marmol enter in the 7th with the bases loaded and a one-run lead. Excellent deal. It's a lot of money, but it's just one year and if he's healthy he'll make it worth it. Wuertz?

CR, someone on another board posted this, does this sound right? The only free agents who rank higher than Kendall's Elias Sports Bureau score (because he's in the catcher category), are Luis Gonzalez, Aaron Rowand, Luis Vizcaino, Paul Lo Duca, Milton Bradley, and Michael Barrett. Pettitte and Bonds are unlikely to generate compensation picks. Right now the Kendall pick is at #35. That means, 6 players who rate higher than Kendall, even if all six switch teams, it's being said that the lowest this pick could be is #41 (six dropped). But say, if Barrett, Gonzalez, and Bradley aren't offered arbitration and Vizcaino stays put and only Lo Duca and Rowand are offered and switch, the pick would only drop two spots. Like Andruw Jones is rated 66.something by Elias and Kendall 68, so Andruw's compensation pick falls below Kendall's. In short what it seems to be saying is that the pick is guaranteed to be no higher than 35 and no lower than 41. Correct? Okay am I the only one who thinks getting the 41st pick in the draft from Jason Kendall is pretty neat? I mean a lot of really, really good talents have been drafted around that pick number. Just a few years ago Clay Buchholz was drafted with the 42nd pick. Scrolling through the rankings, surprisingly that looks true. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/2007-10-31-elias-rankings-complete_N.htm http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/2007-10-31-elias-rankings-complete_N.htm I guess the cloud in the silver lining is that Barrett was a Type A and would have netted us a higher supp and another pick.

Well according to the report of the deals offered this time, ours was the best. So, no.

I don't believe this has been discussed yet but the terms of the bonuses were mentioned in the AP article. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3128280 If he finishes 55 games, I am willing to bet that he has performed at a level higher than Dempster did this past season. That's a fairly large incentive, and I'm hoping the Cubs only allow him to realize it if he is significantly better than mediocre. Dempster finished 58 games last year and 64 the year before.

Although, didn't he face batters with the same OPS as Dempster? Marmol---761 Dempster---762

Although, didn't he face batters with the same OPS as Dempster?

Matt Clement, Mark Prior, and Carlos Zambrano didn't hurt...

Ha, save this post for next offseason.

Yeah, and I'd take ARod at 5/50 million. Can you give Hendry any credit? Gee, thats a great analogy. Did ARod sign for 5/50 or have any offers for that amount? I wasn't commenting anything on Hendry, just saying that I'd rather have him for 2/5 or 2/6 than 1/4. Those were the other offers that were out there. I'm sure from Kerry's perspective, the 1/4 was the most attractive. So lets all deify Kerry for taking the best offer on the table.

Doesn't Iwamura play third? I'm sure he could play 2nd. Hes moving over to 2nd next year to make room for Longoria.

Id rather have him for 2/5 or 2/6 than 1/4.

And besides this year and 2002, it wasn't even close. Too bad 5 out of the last 6 years we were top 7 in walks allowed.

Ned Colletti says "Hey, how's it goin?" I repeat...Brian Sabean says "Wazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzuuuuuupppppppp" Wayne Krivsky waves anxiously as he introduces Francisco Cordero Jim Bowden would respond to this post, but he's still serving time for a DUI. They have the internet in prison, but too bad he can't sign onto his AOL account because his 9 and 12 year old kids are on it, making trades for him. (If anyone can dig up that old ESPN article where Bowden admits that he consults his pre-teen kids on personel decisions, it'd be awesome)

Ned Colletti says "Hey, how's it goin?" I repeat...Brian Sabean says "Wazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzuuuuuupppppppp"

An average starter has an ERA+ around 95. Yes, and what's your point? Those numbers are very mediocre considering what the Cubs paid Maddux. 3/24 was very much the market price for a slightly above average, no health concerns starter in 2004.

Link. I'm surprised they don't want Wood for third to replace Miggy. Wood kinda sucks.