Heath Bell isn’t close to signing, despite last night’s rumors, but it’s not for lack of interest. Here’s the latest on Bell and a handful of other free agents, via Jon Heyman of SI.com (Twitter links):
- The Red Sox are content to wait out the market for closers, since so many of them are available.
- Mark Buehrle is drawing interest from 14 teams, Heyman reports.
- Opposing GMs expect the Cubs to trade Matt Garza.
- The Mets would offer Jose Reyes $80MM for five years, but would not guarantee a six or seven-year contract.
- Jorge Posada inquired with the Mets about a job and heard the team wasn't interested, according to Heyman. However, agent Seth Levinson told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that "there is no truth to that report. None" (Twitter link).
- The Marlins met with Bell and seem very aggressive. “This is no publicity stunt,” Heyman writes.
- Miami was interested in meeting with free agent closer Ryan Madson, but the right-hander declined, since their offer “wasn’t right.”
- The Mets and Orioles are among the teams showing interest in Jason Varitek, Heyman writes. The Orioles are definitely looking for backup catching help, but it appeared earlier in the week that they were uninterested in Varitek. GM Dan Duquette favors players who could catch every day if necessary.
So the Fish are basically interested in EVERY FAs available in the market. How many will they end up with I wonder.
None.
something tells me they aren’t paying top dollar
The only reason the Marlins are going through this charade is because of the new stadium and trying to give the appearance of wanting to sign big name FA’s. This way they can at least say they gave it a shot. My guess is after all of this they come away with a mid level FA
this is probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard and its been said so much lately, these are businessmen not clowns… Productivity is what fills seats not media…
My friend, tell that to the Tampa Bay Rays. There is probably no team in baseball that has been more productive than the Rays over the past 4 years and yet they can’t give tickets/seats away.
Don’t underestimate the power of the media and self promotion to bring in the fans at least for the 1st year of a brand new stadium.
As for the dumbest thing you’ve ever heard I would think the Marlins interest and offers to virtually every high profile FA of 2012 should be pretty high up there. Especially considering it’s been reported they only wanted to increase their payroll from about $57MM to $80 or $85MM. How many high profile FA’s do you think $25MM buys you these days when one of them is reported to be Albert Pujols?
I think $22-$25m per year for Pujols, and a trade for a #2 starter with your 25$ increase in payroll is a successful offseason season as far as a “splash” is concerned.
Why would Pujols go to the Marlins about the same money as he’s being offered from the Cardinals. In fact I believe it was reported a while back that the Marlins offer to Pujols was less then what he had on the table from the Cardinals.
As for also picking up a #2 starter even via a trade and still staying within a $25MM expenditure. Good luck with that.
You’d have to ask Albert that, we never know why people do the things they do. Cliff Lee left money on the table to go to Philly last year because his wife did not like the New York atmosphere…you should be familiar with that.
As far as picking up a trade, I’m pretty sure you can acquire a #2 via trade, dump some payroll of Leo Nunez (oviedo), Volstad, and the two or three players you trade and come out pretty close to even.
First let’s address the rumor that Lee left money on the table. Once Lee’s option vest which by the way should be easy to attain he didn’t leave any money on the table. Second, Lee went to a team he previously played for just 1 season earlier and a team that won the World Series in 2008 and has appeared in the post season every year since. Also prior to the 2011 season Lee played for 4 teams in the prior 9 years and really had no loyalty to any of them.
Now look at Pujols he has played his entire career in St Louis is as much an icon there as Jeter is in NY. The Cardinals just won the World Series and are competitive virtually every year (the Marlins are not). Do you honestly feel that comparing Lee’s eventual signing with the Phillies to the possibility of the Marlins signing Pujols is a fair one? Because I see virtually no comparison other than their ages at the time they are/were FA’s.
Lee left guaranteed money on the table, that’s a fact. Lee going to a team that had been in the playoffs since 2008 is a silly thing to even say since the Yankees had been in the playoffs every year since 96-07, they missed 08 and spent tons of money to buy themselves a championship in 09. Your logic is full of fail.
saying fail when you do not like the truth only works in your own head and probably should not be said out loud. lee might have left guaranteed money on the table but if he has a left arm in 4 years he will reach the vesting option and make more money and have the same amount of years the yanks offered.
Untrue, options like the one Lee has in his contract very seldom reach the point of being vested. So, with that being said, a vesting option isn’t guaranteed money. With it not being guaranteed money, I again have proven that LEE WALKED AWAY FROM GUARANTEED MONEY FROM THE YANKEES. I said fail to him earlier because what he stated (and what’s written below in more detail) was in turn not true on his part and in fact nothing but fail as is your reply
Oh you truly are the master of failure , vesting options happen all the time , so take some beano and quit smelling up the room
Von, there is no sense in discussing it any further with Bino. He has his mind made up that Lee’s option will not vest. He ignores the fact that the Phillies gave Lee 2 ways to achieve the vesting option making it that much easier for him to vest either 400 innings combined for 2014-15 or 200 innings in 2015. He’s ignoring the fact that Lee has on average pitched 225 innings over the last 4 years. Let him be. Let him believe what he wants. He’s turned what was a conversation about the Phillies signing Lee and a comparison to the Marlins feeble offering to Pujols to a referendum on Lee and the Yankees. Let him be.
Bino, if you read or should I say understood my post you should have realized my comment about Lee was that it was cumulative things that lead to Lee signing with Philladelphia that are not the case with the Marlins and Pujols. Let me recap what those cumulative things were. First, the total payroll package was not less then the money offered by either the Rangers of the Yankees. Second he had a history with the Phillies, Third, he had no loyalty towards the other teams. Fourth, he and his family felt comfortable in Philadelphia based on playing there previously. Fifth, the Phillies are/were a competitive team before he resigned with them. None of those situations applies to the Marlins and certainly would not point to Pujols accepting an offer from them. Much less if it’s for the same or a lesser amount of money. Hopefully that fully explains my earlier comment which you seems to have misunderstood based on your earlier reply.
“First let’s address the rumor that Lee left money on the table. Once Lee’s option vest which by the way should be easy to attain he didn’t leave any money on the table. Second, Lee went to a team he previously played for just 1 season earlier and a team that won the World Series in 2008 and has appeared in the post season every year since. Also prior to the 2011 season Lee played for 4 teams in the prior 9 years and really had no loyalty to any of them.”
Exactly what you said..
First – Lee did turn down guaranteed money from Yankees, options like the one he has in his contract very seldom go to fruition. Which is why his buyout is so much because it is assumed he won’t vest and still make money off of it and either retire or sign elsewhere or sign an extension.
Second – You mentioned he went to Phillies because they had been in the playoffs for 4 years prior to him signing there in this contract instead of the Yankees. More or less, that would stipulate he felt he had a better shot of winning a ring with Phillies instead of Yankees when the Yankees have been to playoffs since 96 to present minus 1 season.
Now like I said earlier – Fail!
Maybe had you elaborated in your first one and straightened some things out to see if what you were saying the first time were even palatable, then I wouldn’t have had to say it was a fail like it was
this is probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard and its been said so much lately, these are businessmen not clowns… Productivity is what fills seats not media…
If i had a dollar for every time this statement was made, i could sign a FA to play for my kids t-ball team.
They almost have to at least land one, if nothing else for the new stadium. My Guess is Reyes
The Marlins met with Bell and seem very aggressive. “This is no publicity stunt,”
Jon, Jon, Jon: they have been this way with all their free agents that visit and then they offer them cab fare, a free breakfast @ Perkins, and a hardy handshake. Then the free agent goes home without a contract. Let’s get serious, Heyman. Also, why would the Marlins sign a relief pitcher as their first free agent signing. If I were Heath Bell, I would stay in “Sunny” San Diego. Speaking of San Diego when are they going to can AJ Smith and Norv Turner? Come Chargers hire Jon Gurden (HC/OC) and Jack Del Rio Asst HC/ DC). Sorry for the football side note, but it’s true that’s what I would do.
PS No Varitek in Baltimore!
So I guess all teams who have a player in for a meeting and then don’t offer a contract right away are doing it for publicity… This isn’t the NFL people. PLayers rarely get an offer let alone sign a contract upon having a meeting with ball clubs. I really don’t get all the hate on the Marlins. But I guess it happens every off season to whatever team is mentioned to be interested in numerous players.
The thing that has been strangest to me is not just all the people visiting, or even the fact that every visit is reported so heavily. Rather, whenever we hear about a contract offer, the initial price that is reported is always way higher than what the actual offer is. We have seen this with both Pujols and Reyes. THAT is what makes me question whether the Marlins are really ready to make a big splash, or are just trying to make themselves seem big-time.
Then again, it is probably worth it to do their due diligence. If Reyes loves South Beach, maybe he will accept a low offer. It’s at least worth a shot.
The owners/executives are not permitted to discuss the amount of the contact. What you hear from the media reports are just that; “reports”.
I doubt the media is just making stuff up. I also doubt that rule is followed much at all, if a team thought releasing info would help them in some way. If I had to guess, I would imagine there is someone in the organization leaking info that they want out there.
“I doubt the media is just making stuff up.”
Yeah, because everything the media reports is factual. Right?
Besides…I will bet you that if the Marlins sign Pujols or Reyes for what they (the players) want $ and year wise, everyone will be here next day saying “They Overpaid”, are “Buying a Championship”, or “Will trade them after two years”.
It’s great for baseball that a small market team like the Marlins can now, minimally, entertain the notion of signing a big free agent. Of course they are fishing in the market to see what is available for them at a reasonable cost. Who would offer max contact on the first offer? You buy cars that way? Come on…
if they win the series next year after aquiring one or two of the big free agents on the market, as history shows with the marlins they will trade em off come next off season lol. they keep a team intact when they lose but they win the series and its good job guys now your leaving good luck in the future lol.
Yeah, the Florida Marlins paying MILLIONS per year to lease out space in a 100 degree, 24 year old Football stadium they get no revenue from.
The Miami Marlins pay ZERO to play in an air conditioned, state of the art, baseball field that they get revenue from every hot dog sold. That helps alot…
if they win the series next year after aquiring one or two of the big free agents on the market, as history shows with the marlins they will trade em off come next off season lol. they keep a team intact when they lose but they win the series and its good job guys now your leaving good luck in the future lol.
Did I say that everything the media reports is factual? No, all I said is that they almost never make stuff up. If a source lies to them about a contract offer, they will report that offer (assuming they don’t know it’s a lie).
And I am not even criticizing the Marlins for making lowball offers. That’s a fine way to negotiate. I am criticizing that every lowball offer is coming with a report of a much high price than actually offered. It is those reports that make me think the Marlins are using all this FA stuff partly for publicity.
But I hope the Marlins can sign these guys, and I agree it would be great for baseball if they did. Having a team in Florida that can actually draw fans would be great for the game.
i agree. the media GENERALLY doesn’t just randomly make something up out of thin air..even if its wrong, it normally at least has some correctness behind it.
I’m guessing neither of you guys watch fox news.Also, it’s up to the reporter to check his sources before making a story public.It’s a convenient excuse for reporter to say their sources were wrong.The media may not generally make things up, but there are occasions that they do and far more occasions in which they bent or twist the facts to shape the story.
the marlins would freak if field or reyes said they accept their offer lol. fielder at around 200 million and reyes at around 100 million would be funny to see them both say yes and then CJ Wilson and or buerhle saying yes to the phantom offer they were given and before you know it the Marlins are in a situation that may cause them future problems lol. or would the owner say oh well sign em lol. doesnt matter, if they make it to the series and win it they will just trade em off next off season and dismantle their championship team like they have their past two championships. if i were a star player, id just say no! they might as well rent out a penthouse in a 5 star hotel because they wont be there long before the owner decides to dump salary.
the marlins would freak if field or reyes said they accept their offer lol. fielder at around 200 million and reyes at around 100 million would be funny to see them both say yes and then CJ Wilson and or buerhle saying yes to the phantom offer they were given and before you know it the Marlins are in a situation that may cause them future problems lol. or would the owner say oh well sign em lol. doesnt matter, if they make it to the series and win it they will just trade em off next off season and dismantle their championship team like they have their past two championships. if i were a star player, id just say no! they might as well rent out a penthouse in a 5 star hotel because they wont be there long before the owner decides to dump salary.
Agreed, I don’t believe the Marlins moves until the player signs–lots of smoke in Miami these days, but no fire (yet).
As a San Diegan, I don’t know why the Padres don’t trade their pitchers every single year. Anyone can pitch in Petco: it’s the size of a wildlife preserve, where washed-up hurlers go to toss flyball outs and resurrect their career. Even John Lackey could get outs in Petco. Bell will never put up better numbers the rest of his career–he leaves at his own peril (laughing all the way to the bank).
(I’m with ya on the Chargers, too: Dear Gruden, please help!)
I cannot wait for Turkey Neck Norv to get canned….I’m personally hoping they somehow get Cowher, but Gruden works too. As for A.J. Smith, the guy picks Larry English (AHH!) over Clay Matthews….enough said.
Really Orioles management you let Tatum walk so you can get a washed up backup who can’t hit or catch anymore. Posada and Varitek need to go off into the sunset.
In other related news … Jorge Posada says to himself hmmmm, which team would give me a good chance to become a catcher with no competition at the catcher position and love scrap heap pick-ups. I know, the Mets!
Sorry folks, Thole sucks, he couldn’t catch a beachball if it were thrown at him.
You dont need to make satire of it to try and show your opinion. It’s pretty obvious what the situation is with Posada.
You dont need to make satire of it to try and show your opinion. It’s pretty obvious what the situation is with Posada.
posada is old, ima yankees fan and i thought last season they should have let him walk. he cant catch no more, and it seems his vision is going down the drain at the plate. he needs to just retire spend time with his wife and child.
“GM Dan Duquette favors players who could catch every day if necessary.”
Is there something wrong with Wieters or is this just in case some kind of injury does happen to him.
Betting it’s more of the just in case scenario.
I think Varitek could still catch everyday.
The only problems might be a BA around .050 and 1% of opposing baserunners thrown out.
Haha, yup.
If Posada is truly interested in playing in 2012 then he really needs to concentrate his efforts on an AL team when he can DH and occasionally, very occasionally back up the every day starter. Even at that unfortunately 2011 showed most everyone that Posada even as a DH can only be used against right handed pitches. Against lefties he’s virtually an automatic out.
I honestly can’t see Posada being any more than a LH Pinch hitter/DH. He can’t hit righties at all and of course he can’t be much of a C anymore.
He’s at best a bench player now.
Agreed
But I could also see him going to the NL as a Possible backup 1B (and I mean maybe start a game at 1B once every 2 weeks or so) or Emergency C. He should never start any game against lefties though.
Sorry my friend but that’s where we part company. He really should retire.
No need to part company. I never said he shouldn’t retire. In fact, that’s the best thing for him to do overall. I’m just giving what the best things he can do if he still wants to play. Fact is, if he wants to play, he has to accept he is no longer an everyday player. In the end, retirement is probably the best thing to do. I think the same would go for Varitek.
We’re back to being on the same wave length. You had me scared there for a minute.
We’re back to being on the same wave length. You had me scared there for a minute.
No need to part company. I never said he shouldn’t retire. In fact, that’s the best thing for him to do overall. I’m just giving what the best things he can do if he still wants to play. Fact is, if he wants to play, he has to accept he is no longer an everyday player. In the end, retirement is probably the best thing to do. I think the same would go for Varitek.
Agreed
Is “This is no publicity stunt” the same as saying “It’s not about the money”?
If it’s not a publicity stunt show us it’s not. Quit telling us it’s not
A classic case of “Thou doth protest too much”
Marlins are a joke. They are trying to low-ball every free agent out there. Its quite pathetic actually.
Wasn’t a joke in 1997 or 2003. They don’t have a big payroll, no, but that doesn’t mean they can’t play with the big boys.
Comments like this are a joke. They are trying to have a middle market payroll, meaning they cannot afford to overpay for a free agent, but that doesn’t mean they cannot pursue them. Will Reyes go where the most money is? Maybe, but if its your job to exhaust every option within reason to better the team, why wouldn’t you make a sale pitch and go from there? And seriously, its an initial offer.
If you know you can’t afford it, quit wasting everyone’s time and pretend you’re a high roller. Their leaked offers to Pujols and Reyes have been laughable at best.
IMO those offers are fair offers….just b/c the player wants to be ridiculously over paid doesn’t make the teams offer a joke…..
IMO those offers are fair offers….just b/c the player wants to be ridiculously over paid doesn’t make the teams offer a joke…..
The only time wasted is yours and their agents who are suppose to waste their time. One of those is by choice, the other is a job.
Ironic: Comments about wasting time on a baseball rumors website by those wasting time.
The only time wasted is yours and their agents who are suppose to waste their time. One of those is by choice, the other is a job.
If you know you can’t afford it, quit wasting everyone’s time and pretend you’re a high roller. Their leaked offers to Pujols and Reyes have been laughable at best.
Comments like this are a joke. They are trying to have a middle market payroll, meaning they cannot afford to overpay for a free agent, but that doesn’t mean they cannot pursue them. Will Reyes go where the most money is? Maybe, but if its your job to exhaust every option within reason to better the team, why wouldn’t you make a sale pitch and go from there? And seriously, its an initial offer.
Yes because, as everyone here knows, you begin any negotiation by offering the maximum price you’re willing to pay and then work your way down.
I’d love to see how negotiations with most of you would go. I’m sure you’ll get laughed out of the room.
Ugh, would someone please tell Loria and Beinfest that in order to get these big-name free agents they have to offer them ALOT of money. These agressive aspirations are starting to look like delusions of grandeur!!!
Ugh, would someone please tell Loria and Beinfest that in order to get these big-name free agents they have to offer them ALOT of money. These agressive aspirations are starting to look like delusions of grandeur!!!
No one is going to believe it isn’t a publicity stunt until the Marlins actually do something
My personal belief is that they aren’t going to do something!! They’re acting so confident because of their new stadium but players realize that #1)They aren’t ready to give enough money #2)The NL East is a tough division with the Braves, Phillies and quite possibly the Nationals and #3)They don’t have any fans!! Even with the Miami weather element now fixed it’s highly doubtful that they will draw huge crowds. To be fair, they may have some big crowds for a little while but once the novelty of the new stadium wears off then what happens?
Actually, on local radio 790 the ticket, the regular broadcasters said they have had more Marlins phone call activity than Heat activity the past week, even after the end of the lockout. There are fans, of the MIAMI Marlins, just not the Florida Marlins.
Well they are basically the same team except with a new name, a new park, a new logo, new uniforms and a new monstrosity that will go off after every home run. I understand what you’re getting at but I have a hard time believing that they are going to have an all-new fanbase.
technically they do have a new fan base by moving closer to miami, those fans that were from broward or west palm have a longer communte. not that that’s going to deter me from going but they do have a new fan base. and not to start an argument or anything I know the marlins have major issues with attendance but i remember seeing turner field on multiple games being just as empty as sun life.
they will get fans for the first month or two and after thata if their not winning like most fans of a florida team will not show up to a single game and that new stadium will go to crap. its prob the reason why Tampa will never get approved for a new stadium because even when they are winning games they cant get fans in. only time you see them ever being close to selling out is when the yankees or redsox come to town. and thatsb ecause its yankee or redsox fans showing up. they should just take baseball out of florida all together. move the teams to a city that whilling to show up to watch the games. Indianapolis would like a team. i bet they oculd sell out. lol
they will get fans for the first month or two and after thata if their not winning like most fans of a florida team will not show up to a single game and that new stadium will go to crap. its prob the reason why Tampa will never get approved for a new stadium because even when they are winning games they cant get fans in. only time you see them ever being close to selling out is when the yankees or redsox come to town. and thatsb ecause its yankee or redsox fans showing up. they should just take baseball out of florida all together. move the teams to a city that whilling to show up to watch the games. Indianapolis would like a team. i bet they oculd sell out. lol
I’m really starting to believe that Ryan Madson will just end up accepting arbitration from the Phillies. Jayson Stark was on Mike Missanelli’s radio show in Philadelphia yesterday and he made a convincing argument that Madson was simply out of big-market options this winter.
With the Rangers having inked Joe Nathan, who’s left? The Red Sox haven’t shown any interest in him (and like Stark pointed out, if they were going to shell out big money on a closer, why not Jonathan Papelbon?) The Rangers were probably the best option outside of the Phillies, but they’re out. The Blue Jays were a fringe team for me, and they’ve shown no interest in paying him as a top-rate closer.
Small to mid-market teams aren’t necessarily going to spend money on him, and the best fit in my opinion (the Angels) don’t deal with Scott Boras (which could obviously change, but why with Jordan Walden at the back end?)
Wouldn’t be the first time Boras had a free agent accept arbitration. Go out in next year’s market as the best option.
Mets maybe? Very well said though.
That would be AWESOME for the Phils. His ARB number will be pretty small and he’ll have awesome trade value if he accepts. But there is no way in hell someone isnt going to at least give him a few years. He doesn’t even cost a pick to sign!
That would be AWESOME for the Phils. His ARB number will be pretty small and he’ll have awesome trade value if he accepts. But there is no way in hell someone isnt going to at least give him a few years. He doesn’t even cost a pick to sign!
Why wouldn’t Madson sign a 1 year deal on a team he knows he can close for and then test the market next year? Why would he stay with a team he knows he would be the 8th inning guy? I’m sure he could get 8 million for a one year deal which is what he would get in arbitration. I’m a Phillies guy so I would love for him to do that, but it doesn’t make much sense to stay if he wants to make closer money for his next contract.
Being a Phillies guy, I bet you cringed when the Phillies got Papolbon.
Why wouldn’t Madson sign a 1 year deal on a team he knows he can close for and then test the market next year? Why would he stay with a team he knows he would be the 8th inning guy? I’m sure he could get 8 million for a one year deal which is what he would get in arbitration. I’m a Phillies guy so I would love for him to do that, but it doesn’t make much sense to stay if he wants to make closer money for his next contract.
i wouldnt necesarily say that. Yankees need bullpen help, nationals need bullpen help, redsox could very well sign him if they dont get bell and if the asking price for bailey is to high. not to mention even the reds are looking for a closer. fact of the matter is no one will know until the winter meetings start. but in my opinion he will end up in the AL. if he stays in the NL i can see him setting up for the nationals as they move clippard to the 7th inning so they can solidify their back end of the pen. that was the nationals biggest problem last season, couldnt close out games in the 7th,8th or 9th inning and adding madson could help it alittle more. Thats a team to look out for in a year or two. they played it smart didnt really go after big names until last year and now they have the pieces with an addition of SP they could give the phils a run for their money
Madson is one of the top closers left, but I don’t think he is getting the big money. Teams are trying to figure out if it’s better to trade for a closer or sign a free agent. With guys like Bailey out there, Madson’s market is deminished.
Bailey is going to cost a bundle in a trade.
Madson can close for the Cubs bring in Marmol for the 8th with at least a 5 run lead so he could have a 2 run cushion for Madson.
“if they were going to shell out big money on a closer, why not Jonathan Papelbon?”
Because it’s a net gain in prospects.
Now, to preface this with a disclaimer, I wouldn’t touch anything close to what Papelbon got for any reliever, much less Madson, that said…
Rafael Soriano, also a Scott Boras client, went to the Yankees to set up because he couldn’t find a closing job at his salary demands. In the end, he accepted an AAV of $12 million over three years to pitch for the Yankees. Soriano and Madson are roughly comparable players in terms of value, so it’s unlikely Madson will get any more than Soriano in the end. If Madson could be had at 3 years $36 million, I’d consider it. It’s more than I’m comfortable offering, but when accounting for the fact he won’t cost a pick, it’s not a terrible idea.
Translation: Mets say goodbye to Reyes.
Translation: Mets say goodbye to Reyes.
Come on Mets, 0% of MLBTR readers voted that Reyes would have an 80MM contract. Try again.
Alderson said today that he didn’t think the Mets had any major concerns at any position that needed to be sured up. How about C, 2b,SS, CF,#2 and #3 pitcher, and a few relief pitchers.
Aside from pitching (which I agree with you), the Mets can fill catcher, 2nd baseman, short stop, and center field from within to some extent (read: serviceable).
Why don’t the Angels try and trade for Garza instead of signing CJ Wilson… I like that better
Just out of curiousity, what would you offer in return for Matt Garza?
see comment above
what would constitute a fair trade for him in the eyes of an angels fan? just curious
I would start with Bourjos and Reckling.
Hate to give up Bourjos, but Garza would be worth it and finally clear a path for Trout.
Reckling is a pitcher with a lot of upside, would not like to part with him either but you gotta give up something for Garza.
Garza will be cheaper than CJ Wilson… and some might argue Garza’s better. Both players give the Cubs upside as well as dumping salary.
that sounds like a very fair trade. I do believe Garza would be better than CJ Wilson, because Wilson has reached his peak, whereas Garza is younger and has the potential to put up a cy worthy season a la 2010 Jimenez style. I’m a very big fan of Bourjos, however he would in effect block our (slightly less potent) version of Trout in Brett Jackson. We’d have to get rid of Soriano first for this to be viable for the Cubs.
stop the censorship Disqus is just garbage
Off topic, but I see Disqus has completely changed
i think it just happened
Varitek can catch everyday if necessary, it’s just whether or not you’re going to be happy with his production
I grew on Garza this year. He needs to go to a winning team. Boston would be good, they look even better now that Papolbon is gone and Lackey out for the year. That couldn’t be better news for Boston fans. The Cubs should package Garza, Soto and Marmol for 2 high end prospects and at least one ML ready pitcher. The Red Sox need a closer and Marmol would learn how to pitch. It looks like they need a catcher too Soto isn’t near as good as Jarrod Salty or Varitek but he would be a decent emergency or backup and The Cubs need to build their farm system for 3-6 yrs before they are considered contenders again.