The Cubs have talked to Jeff Francis about filling a spot in the back end of their rotation, tweets ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. Crasnick says the team has also had discussions with Paul Maholm, which we heard last week from Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.
Multiple reports last night suggested that the Cubs and Reds were close to working out a trade involving Travis Wood and Sean Marshall. If the two sides were to reach an agreement, the Cubs' acquisition of Wood would likely take them out of the running for arms like Francis and Maholm. However, John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer hears from a source that no trade is imminent yet.
The Twins, Pirates, Mariners, and Rockies are among the clubs who have been reported to have interest in Francis.
Travis Wood? I prefer Francis and keep Marshall
You prefer the 31 year old who has an ERA north of 5.00 for 5 out of his 7 big league seasons over a promising 24 year old whose first 2 seasons would have been career years for Francis?
Not to mention Wood is under control for the next 4 years as opposed to Marshalls 1.
Actually under control for 5 years.
Travis Wood is not a promising talent, he is like Chuck James, soon he’ll be named home depot worker of the year
For what – Cubs won’t be in it for 5 years. Get use to it Cub Fans. Just pay your money and drink beer.
Francis says dont call him that.
Looks like the Cubs are desperate for a left handed starter! Randy Johnson still available?
Jeff Francis, huh? You cubbies fans still thinking Theo’s a genius?
yup.
He is very smart to sign an cheap solid upside guy like Francis because the Cubs are about as likely as the Pirates to contend. Plus they are picking bottom of the barrel because types like him are the only ones likely to sign right now. I doubt Kuroda or Oswalt types are begging to be on a Chicago rebuild. Best moves the Cubs can make right now are trading Marshall for good prospects because he is the most absurd luxury player on a losing team. He has one year left then he gets his money and the Cubs would get nothing. Chance of Theo thinking a losing team needs a big contract lefty specialist is about……0%. Garza could fit in the future only because he is still reasonably young and when he is eligible for some solid cash the Cubs might be close to contention.
Worked out well with Brad Penny, John Smoltz, Bartolo Colon, and others, huh?
I understand what Theo’s doing and it hasn’t necessarily worked on teams with much higher talent levels. If he catches lightning in a bottle- great, but it’s more likely it’s going to get ugly at Wrigley this summer. Hopefully the long term payoff will be worth it. I just feel for the Cubs fans that are going to have to endure a rough stretch before it hopefully gets better.
No it didn’t always work out but their were times when it did. This is one of the most sited criticisms of Theo on MLBTR. Unfortunatley those guys were all cheap no biggie flops considering the Sox payroll. Also its not like he was wrong about them talent wise they all left the team to be productive on other teams later that season except for Colon who was injured. Unfortunately Theo’s reason for pursuing a pitcher in the mold of Francis is for a completley different reason than if he were doing it for the Sox. I would be surprised if Garza wasn’t moved and even if he doesn’t go the Cubs are gonna need a lot of guys who can give them innings but even more so if Garza goes. Theos Job right now is to create depth so that way when the young cheap talent does start piling up they wont be rushed and they will excel. THen and only then will they give him the company wallet to make a run.
I know Marshall has been good. But I don’t see the point in trading a young promising lefty with 5 years control for an aging lefty with 1 year control… Wood could end up just as good as Marshall has been. Aren’t there any other bullpen guys on the market?
none other as good as Marshall. and don’t make so much about the “control”. Just as the Cubs did (signed Marshall to a 2-year extension), the Reds could also do that. You won’t find a better Lefty setup man in baseball right now.
Jonny Venters disagrees, but he’s too nice to say it out loud.
Venters and O’flaherty….Chapman
I may be wrong, but wasn’t Francis a part of the Rockies team that was in the World Series in 2007? You can’t be a bad pitcher if you pitch in a hitter’s park like Colorado and help the team get to a World Series. And people are talking like 30 years old is the new 80. Hello people. I’m 31 and could still go out and play ball with no problems. Francis would be a great pickup for the back of the rotation.
Psst…T-ball doesn’t count 😉 And how’d that Word Series appearance go for old Jeffy?
That is besides the point. Did he not help get them there? Was he not 6th for ROY in his rookie season? Was he not 9th in Cy Young voting with a 17-6 record already in his career. Talking about him like he’s a scrub is just plain absurd.
Using w-l record and a 9th place cy young finish from 5 seasons ago to argue your point is what’s absurd. Don’t hurt your wrist cranking your model-t over this morning.
Please Jed Hoyer, this guy is used goods and no longer good. I would much rather get Travis Wood and 2 minor leaguers for Marshall and have Wood take the spot of Randy Wells in the roation. We have 2 lefty arms in the minors (Scott Maine and John Gaub) who can replace Marshall’s spot. Since we are rebuilding I think that would be the smarter thing to do. Not to mention T-Wood is 24 and we have 5 more years of him and Marshall is 30 and going to be a F/A. Jeff Francis is 30 and went 6-16 granted he was with KC but he has had arm issues in the past and us Cubs fans have had enough issues with pitchers arms to last us the next 200 years.
Wells is better than Wood.
Well, the Cubs could be telling him to be our #11 or #12 starter.
When he asks what that means, Theo will tell him to sign with the Pirates. And to make sure that he’s pitching when they face the Cubs.
actually, your comment shows you know nothing about baseball and winning. Theo is still young and already has 2 WS championships under his belt. He’s smarter than anyone on this site and so is Jed, who brought the Padres back to respectibility in his year there. Theo has a plan. He is signing young players that have had solid seasons in the past and counting on them to revert to form, while he trades away the tradable assets like Marshall to re-stock the farm. Brilliant. Can’t wait to see the Cubs in 2-3 years.
no they won’t lose 90 games. they aren’t going to be very competitive, but a .500 record is well within reach with the defensive upgrades and pitching they’ve got.
The Cubs could easily get 2 ML player and a top prospect for Marshall they are getting the bare minimum for Travis Wood and 2 player that will never make the ML level. Marshall has been their best pitcher the last 3 yrs. They need to get top value for him.