Some items of note out of the NL Central as players and reporters alike continue to trickle into Spring Training camps in Florida and Arizona …
- Cardinals non-roster invitee Ian Snell, signed to a minor league deal, cited Redbirds pitching coach Dave Duncan as an incentive for him signing with St. Louis, writes Matthew Leach of MLB.com. Duncan, of course, is known for his penchant for helping down-on-their-luck pitchers get their careers back on track. Snell, who spent 2010 with the Mariners, has had a rough go of it since posting 14 wins with the Pirates back in 2006.
- Is Albert Pujols worth upwards of $30MM for as many as 10 years? That's the question examined at length by Tim Logan of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The baseball community has made great strides in calculating how a player's performance translates to wins in recent years, but even still, it can be tough to pinpoint the connection between wins and return on investment (financially), Logan writes.
- Cubs right-hander Jeff Samardzija is out of minor league options, writes Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, and is therefore all but assured of a roster spot (likely in the bullpen) coming out of Spring Training, lest he be exposed to waivers. Samardzija has been shuttled between the minors and Majors, as well as starting and relieving, since being drafted by the Cubs in the fifth round in 2006.
- Prince Fielder is probably hoping Pujols signs an extension before hitting free agency so that Fielder's market value isn't diminished next offseason, writes Bill Shaikin of the LA Times. Fielder is scheduled to become a free agent after this season, and with fewer teams in need of a premier first baseman as of now, he'll need all the leverage he can get, according to Shaikin.
Cards are going to regret this either way. Lose-lose situation.
You mean the Ian Snell thing?
Riddle: What do all players mentioned here (Pujols, Fielder, Samardzija, Snell) have in common?
Answer:
None of them will play for the Cubs in 2012.
Nor will they likely play for any number of teams, what is your point?
Bashing the Cubs on this site is an easy way to get your “Like” count up.
the force is strong with this one…
The baffling thing about the Cubs has always been this: Despite being bad lots of seasons, players always want to play for the Cubs. The reason why don’t get good ones, is for years, ownership has been too cheap to pay them. If the Cards don’t pony up for Albert, and the Cubs made a great offer, he’d take it. Because unlike the Cards, or alot of other teams, the Cubs have fans from everywhere. The one writing this now is from Nashville.
who would protect Pujols in a potential 2012 Cub lineup? Soto bats 7th and he’s the best hitter on the team by a mile.
more of a predicton than a riddle isn’t it?
I bet the Cardinals could sign Pujols for 25 million a season if they tried, but at this point, they haven’t even offered him a contract. This entire contract, or lack of one is going to destroy the Cardinals season in 2010 because of the distraction its going to cause. The Cardinals could at least offer something, see it rejected and gain a little more credit from their fans for making an attempt, and not appearing that they are cheap or negotiating in bad faith.
I bet you’re wrong.
on what account? the 25 million? Just because reports say Pujols wants 30 million doesn’t mean that’s what he’ll settle for. Players don’t often go into negotiations stating what they want and will take nothing less, that’s why they are called negotiations. I would have to assume that if they offered him 7 to 10 years at that amount he’d go for it. I have to think its the years that matter more than the amount. From all reports, which are not really much to go by, but it all seems to indicate the issue comes down to contract length.
Snell could always end up there, once you can’t pitch under Dave Duncan, then your pretty much out of options, its either AAA, Japan or Chicago. Remember Jason Marquis.
You mean Chicago where he had two winning seasons and they finished in 1st place each year?
Where he was left off the playoff roster both years?
cubs need to trade samardzija since he still has some value as a prospect
That’d be easier if Hendry hadn’t given him a full no-trade clause in his first pro contract.
Don’t tell me thats true.
It’s true…I posted a reply that linked to an ESPN story that had it, and it is currently awaiting approval I guess. But it’s true. You can find it at Cots Contracts as well. I’m not sure it has much impact at this point. I’m sure the Cubs will put him in the bullpen, whether he deserves it or not. The pitcher who may be released though is Silva. If Cashner shows well in spring training, and Wells is better than Silva (which he should be, since he’s a much better pitcher) I can’t see Silva making the pen. Do they release him then? I mean, I can’t see any team claiming him on waivers. But, here’s a question. Say the Cubs did put Silva on waivers, and another team claims him, and the Cubs want to just dump Silva onto that team. Seattle paid the Cubs like $6 million this year as part of the Cubs deal for Silva, to offset his contract. I’m assuming that money is the Cubs no matter which team Silva is on, right? If another team takes Silva, they’re on the hook for his entire $12 million (or whatever the exact 2011 amount is) aren’t they?
No baseball player should ever get a 10 year contract. The Yankees should be forced to play 10 years with only being able to sign players for 1 year with a cap 1.5M.
Pujols has all the numbers to warrant 30M a year for 10 because his agent will put Ass-Rod’s contract on the table and easily prove why Pujols is better than Ass-Rod.
If ever the owners needed to unite and do a secret hand shake and execute the largest act of collusion ever – then this is it.
In my fantasy world – baseball players can only sign 3 year contracts no more than 6M with performance goals allowing them to earn more.
Box seats are only $25 too.
Samardzija needs to play football.
Samardzija was on Chicago radio this week saying he has no intent to go back to football – he doesn’t want to look back at baseball and feel like a quitter.
Frankly, I don’t get the fascination with the guy. Cubs fans must be delusional to think he’ll jump out and be special at this point, yet they hold on to the hope(hype).
Grandpa, is that you?
I know, in your day a gallon of gas was 49 cents and an ice cream cone was a nickel.
You miserable POS – I did not watch my friends die face down in the muck so this freakin strumpet………… well kinda jumped track there. Gas was actually 27 cents a gallon and ice cream cones were for weenie biters like you.
Samardzija is yet another in a long line of examples for why the Cubs continually fail at player development. He’s far from the first & certainly won’t be the last.
Actually, it’s the opposite.
Most Cub fans are disappointed and discouraged with Samardzija’s progress. He has been given every opportunity, and then some, to prove himself and has come up way short.
The fascination is only because of the novelty of his football fame, which he earned right down the road from here. He is an engaging kid with an interesting story.
I think a fresh start with a new organization, and getting far away from Larry Rothschild can only help him.
If I were a team like St.Louis or the White Sox (teams with a high end pitching coach), I would love to take a chance with Smardzija.
Larry Rothschild is no longer the pitching coach of the Cubs….
I must be one of the only Cubs fans not salivating over the possibility of Pujols coming to the Cubs. Seriously 30 Mil for any player is crazy, especially for 10 years… for roughly the same money and probably less years you could sign two “Ace” SPs for the rotation (maybe more like a 1 & 2 but still). Hendry played the sign the best Free Agent game once before and just a few years into Soriano’s contract the deal looks like one of the worst in baseball. Pujols may be the best player in baseball today, but he probably will not be within the next 5 years. Half way through this deal you’ll have a player on the decline that you won’t be able to move and won’t be able to DH on an NL team. If I am the Cubs I don’t offer more then 7 years or 25 Million per year, and that is only if they plan on increasing payroll to $150 Million. Lets see what Pena can do this year, and if he returns to form resign him on a much cheaper 2 -3 year deal. I don’t like the Cubs for Pujols or Fielder. I’d even rather move Aramis over to 1st on a lesser deal then sign either of them…. not sure if that would be an option, but still better then throwing that much money at one player. The Cubs needs to not put all their hopes and dreams on a single player and put together a team of good players.
Correct, you are the only one.
It’s no good “salivating” over Pujols. He’s gonna stay in St.Louis. There will be an extension by Opening Day. Book it.
That roster was & still is plenty good to make the playoffs, especially in the NL Central.
Furthermore, why wouldn’t he want to sign a new contract there? You make it sound as though the Cardinals are some middling franchise with no track record for success. None of the other possible destinations offered up have the winning tradition St. Louis does. Where could he go that would consistently offer the chance to compete in the manner he has available to him now?