Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Carlos’ New Stripes
It’s no hot news flash that the baseball’s free agent market has spun out of control. Starting with my Cubbies, who spent $7 million a year on a project pitcher who had an ERA over 6 last year (Jason Marquis) in efforts of trying to either make up for 99 years of failure or jacking up the value of a sinking franchise, and ending with the traditionally pitiful Royals, who gave $11 million a year to Gil Meche, its not original or insightful to say that it’s a good time to be a professional baseball player.
Nor is the suggestion that next year’s market will be equally or more inflated innovative. Both Paul Sullivan and Buster Onley have recently written pieces about the Cubs’ Carlos Zambrano’s impending payday. And what a payday it will be. “Big Z” will be looking at a figure that should come close to or exceed $20 million a year for 6 or 7 years if he waits until next year’s free agency. His career 3.29 ERA and 7.97 strikeouts per 9 innings is far superior to Barry Zito’s 3.55 ERA and 6.90 K/9, and Zito’s contract is expected to approach $18 million annually with the Rangers or Mets.
Common logic, or pure hope tells me that the Cubs will lock down Zambrano during spring training, when they have traditionally worked on extensions (see Derek Lee’s deal last year, ie.) Estimates on Zambrano’s salary this year are expected to reach around $15M in arbitration. If the Cubs can afford to give Marquis $7M, then an additional seven or eight million a year for Carlos should be no problem.
Snap out of it dreamers. If the Cubs are planning on signing Zambrano, why wait? There is very little he can do to lower his value over the next year—except an injury, which equals disaster for the franchise; they couldn’t possibly be holding out hope for that.
Further, these negotiations promise to be extensive, as Zambrano has even said he won’t be giving the Cubs a hometown discount.
Lets play the worst nightmare game, a familiar one for Cubbies fans. The Cubs can’t sign Carlos to an extension, their mediocre team falters down the stretch, and Carlos hits the market. A bidding war ensues. Carlos, sick of playing for a losing team, goes to a big city, follows the big money and goes to the New York Yankees. The Cubs meanwhile have 7 more years committed to Soriano, 4 more to Ramirez and their ace is Ted Lilly? Absolute nightmare. Zambrano, by the way, wins his first Cy Young award and World Series within 12 months of leaving.
This decision is too obvious for Hendry to botch. On a team that has lacked reliable, good pitchers, give a blank check to your best, most reliable pitcher—scratch that, player. Zambrano, despite his mental meltdowns has been nothing but a passionate player, who wants nothing more than to win. The sooner the better, Jim.
Other tidbits:
Hard to tell what is in the Cubs’ plans for the outfield, but signs seem to point to trading Jacque Jones if they can, despite his left-handed bat, and the lack of left-handed bats in the rest of the lineup. Turns out he isn’t “happy” in Chicago, because the fans weren’t “nice” to him. Waaaa. Booohoooo. It’s surprising you know, because Cubs fans (all fans) usually love slow starting, over paid outfielders, who can’t make a good throw, get thrown out repetitively on the basepath where a third grader wouldn’t and instigate fan taunting (as some Mets players reported).
The Cubs should be planning on platooning Angel Pagan and hyped prospect Felix Pie in center, giving them some speed, defense and that left handed presence. Only problem is that Pie is hitting about .200 in the winter leagues, and we all know what happened the Cubs rushed up a prized, centerfield prospect.
Didn’t get all of my Week 16 predictions right, but hey I started hot. While I’m off to Vegas for New Years, I’ll be betting on my Titans, who incredibly can finish no worse than 8-8, to beat the Patriots. Coupled with losses by the Broncos, Bengals, and Jaguars, they sneak in. Good luck Vince.
Finally, want to wish everyone a happy and healthy new year. Be safe.
Nor is the suggestion that next year’s market will be equally or more inflated innovative. Both Paul Sullivan and Buster Onley have recently written pieces about the Cubs’ Carlos Zambrano’s impending payday. And what a payday it will be. “Big Z” will be looking at a figure that should come close to or exceed $20 million a year for 6 or 7 years if he waits until next year’s free agency. His career 3.29 ERA and 7.97 strikeouts per 9 innings is far superior to Barry Zito’s 3.55 ERA and 6.90 K/9, and Zito’s contract is expected to approach $18 million annually with the Rangers or Mets.
Common logic, or pure hope tells me that the Cubs will lock down Zambrano during spring training, when they have traditionally worked on extensions (see Derek Lee’s deal last year, ie.) Estimates on Zambrano’s salary this year are expected to reach around $15M in arbitration. If the Cubs can afford to give Marquis $7M, then an additional seven or eight million a year for Carlos should be no problem.
Snap out of it dreamers. If the Cubs are planning on signing Zambrano, why wait? There is very little he can do to lower his value over the next year—except an injury, which equals disaster for the franchise; they couldn’t possibly be holding out hope for that.
Further, these negotiations promise to be extensive, as Zambrano has even said he won’t be giving the Cubs a hometown discount.
Lets play the worst nightmare game, a familiar one for Cubbies fans. The Cubs can’t sign Carlos to an extension, their mediocre team falters down the stretch, and Carlos hits the market. A bidding war ensues. Carlos, sick of playing for a losing team, goes to a big city, follows the big money and goes to the New York Yankees. The Cubs meanwhile have 7 more years committed to Soriano, 4 more to Ramirez and their ace is Ted Lilly? Absolute nightmare. Zambrano, by the way, wins his first Cy Young award and World Series within 12 months of leaving.
This decision is too obvious for Hendry to botch. On a team that has lacked reliable, good pitchers, give a blank check to your best, most reliable pitcher—scratch that, player. Zambrano, despite his mental meltdowns has been nothing but a passionate player, who wants nothing more than to win. The sooner the better, Jim.
Other tidbits:
Hard to tell what is in the Cubs’ plans for the outfield, but signs seem to point to trading Jacque Jones if they can, despite his left-handed bat, and the lack of left-handed bats in the rest of the lineup. Turns out he isn’t “happy” in Chicago, because the fans weren’t “nice” to him. Waaaa. Booohoooo. It’s surprising you know, because Cubs fans (all fans) usually love slow starting, over paid outfielders, who can’t make a good throw, get thrown out repetitively on the basepath where a third grader wouldn’t and instigate fan taunting (as some Mets players reported).
The Cubs should be planning on platooning Angel Pagan and hyped prospect Felix Pie in center, giving them some speed, defense and that left handed presence. Only problem is that Pie is hitting about .200 in the winter leagues, and we all know what happened the Cubs rushed up a prized, centerfield prospect.
Didn’t get all of my Week 16 predictions right, but hey I started hot. While I’m off to Vegas for New Years, I’ll be betting on my Titans, who incredibly can finish no worse than 8-8, to beat the Patriots. Coupled with losses by the Broncos, Bengals, and Jaguars, they sneak in. Good luck Vince.
Finally, want to wish everyone a happy and healthy new year. Be safe.
