Now the Vazquez deal gives me hope that the Cubs can move a similar pitcher with a cheaper contract in Marquis at the Winter Meetings. if by similar you mean they are both pitchers, then yes, they are similar By similar I mean they are both decent innings eating pitchers. The difference is Marquis contract is a yr shorter. Also, Vazquez is much better at pitching. He was much better at pitching, 6 years ago. Vasquez has been fairly mediocre for quite a while, with one good year mixed in. He might be better now, and probably has higher upside. But I don't think he's much better at pitching. You must only be looking at era. All of his other numbers are significantly better than Marquis' over the past several years, and most of them are actually quite good.