Email a copy of 'Arbitration Eligibles: Chicago Cubs' to a friend
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By Tim Dierkes | at
Email a copy of 'Arbitration Eligibles: Chicago Cubs' to a friend
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Dock_Elvis
Samardzija should be given a contractual bonus for paying attention during the national anthem. I’d like a dime for everytime he’s joking around when the camera pans by.
Bob 25
Enjoy your $16.
Dock_Elvis
Should have demanded a dollar….then I could have taken the wife out for a meal. Out of curiosity…which two games did Samardzija not pay out?
Raymond Robert Koenig
I believe Volstad and Stewart will be non-tendered.
BKB
Stewart will be non-tendered. Volstad is going to be the 5th starter for awhile.
Raymond Robert Koenig
I gotsta believe HoyEpstein will add some better starting pitching via free agency.
Goat_Rider
No doubt. Upwards of three starters.
scott brecht
I have no idea what the price for Dempster will be, but I could see him coming back on a 2-year team friendly deal. I would imagine they will be aggressive with the Rule-5 draft looking for a 5th starter or bullpen help.
jb226 2
I see it exactly the opposite. Volstad didn’t do much to deserve a contract, so I see him non-tendered. I wouldn’t be completely shocked if he was brought back, but if I’m making a prediction it’s for a non-tender.
Stewart didn’t really do much either, but 1) they have already told Vitters (and Jackson) he’s starting in the minors, meaning you’re essentially handling the starter’s role to Valbuena otherwise; 2) there was an injury issue that he complained about not only all year but the previous year too that might be resolved now; and 3) they traded for him and they’re going to want to try to get SOMETHING out of the trade.
If Vitters were knocking on the door, they had another good option or were a contending team, Stewart would probably be a non-tender. As it stands, for a couple million bucks there’s no reason not to give him a chance. If he re-finds his power stroke I bet he would be a valuable trade chip later in the season. Power-hitting third basemen are becoming hard to find.
dc21892
I can’t see Volstad going back. They have to just nontender him. Just a quick look at his numbers and you can judge how awful he was.
sourbob
Valbuena was good in June and August. Maybe Sveum thinks that is more indicative of his future performance. Or maybe the Cubs had such a bad year that he’s willing to reach for something upbeat to say.
Ross B.
Hey maybe the plan is to start Valbuena only in the months of June and August and we find an actual 3B who can hit the rest of the season
Goat_Rider
Stewart is trickier than one might think. He was complaining about his wrist back to his Colorado days. It was a tough diagnosis and led to the souring of their relationship. Even Sveum was skeptical earlier in the year saying something to the sort of “He has no problem hitting homers in BP”. The wrist being so sensitive, it is plausible the injury was the difference in being able to hit BP and game action pitching. With the short supply of 3Bs league wide and the inevitable repeat of 2012 next year, there is no higher upside personnel move for the Cubbie’s hot corner. Especially at 2.3 million.
jumbowang
Very reasonable point of view. I tend to agree, especially considering that Colvin/LeMahieu were given up for Stewart. Even next year may be hard to judge Stewart’s true ability. Sometimes wrist injuries can linger into the recovery.
sourbob
I agree that there is still room for him to heal the wrist and turn it around somewhat. I still don’t see them giving him the $2.3MM though. Non-tendering him then signing him to a lower base, incentive-enhanced deal sounds more like it.
matthew07
LaHair….I still
think he can be very useful for the Cubs in a part to full time role.
The Cubs might have a year or two stop-gap for third base right under
their noses, in Bryan LaHair. Sure, LaHair is not experienced at the hot
corner, by why not show him how to play there in winter ball? And, if
not 3rd base (which I personally love the idea of him playing 3rd)…why
not left field, if Soriano gets dealt this winter? LaHair is still only
29. I like him playing in a solid platoon at some position against
righties. LaHair has too much doubles and homer power to make him a
bench guy, or to trade him. If nothing else, sign Scott Rolen to bat against lefties and to mentor LaHair for third base. That would be a good story, and could work out pretty good.