I Thought The Cubs Starting Rotation Was Their Only Strength [Ben Sheets Trade Rumor Edition]
I know its January and you are probably still trying to forget about the awful 2009 Cubs season. I have tried to avoid following the trade rumors and other nonsense surrounding the Cubs for a few months just to recover from that disaster. While all the rumors have really only culminated in 2 additions — Marlon Byrd in the outfield and Greg Maddux as assistant GM — this latest rumor about Ben Sheets is the most intriguing thing I’ve heard:
General manager Jim Hendry declined to comment, but he spoke to Sheets’ agent at the winter meetings in Indianapolis and major-league sources say the Cubs are one of Sheet’s preferred destinations.
Sheets reportedly has been asking for a two-year deal averaging around $10 million to $12 million per year, but the Cubs believe they have a good shot at landing him with an incentive-laden deal.
The 31-year-old right-hander, who spent his entire career with the Brewers, has a history of injuries, including arm and back problems, an inner-ear infection and blisters. He missed the 2009 season following elbow surgery.
Let’s table the injury history for just a moment. Besides the fact that he is a high risk, high reward type guy (I’m getting a little fed up with those, right?), why in the hell do the Cubs need a starting pitcher? The Cubs have had one of the best rotations in all of baseball the last 3 years running. All we have heard about is all the other needs the Cubs have: a power-hitting outfielder, a 2nd basemen, a lead-off man, a shortstop (kind of), middle relief, and a closer. Those are a lot of needs for a team with a payroll already approaching $140 million. So we need more starting pitching now too?
Unfortunately the answer is yes. With Harden walking and Lilly undergoing surgery that will keep him out of the first month or more of the season, the Cubs rotation drops off considerably after Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, and Randy Wells. Assuming Wells doesn’t have some kind of sophomore slump, that leaves Carlos Silva, Jeff Samardzija, Tom Gorzelanny and Sean Marshall to compete for the last two spots.
That brings us to Ben Sheets. An injury risk like Sheets who can be outstanding but is always missing games is really no different than Rich Harden, who we let walk. The Cubs wouldn’t give Harden the $9 million a year he was asking, so why would they give $10-$12 million to Sheets? That would cripple the Cubs ability to buy band-aids for our other problems (Marlon Byrd? Really?). If he can come down to about 2 years at $15 million that’s a different story, but for now the price tag is bit too high.
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Comments
Comment from Kevin Tapani Fan Club
Time January 13, 2010 at 11:01 am
Yeah, this makes little sense, especially when you consider the Cubs latest decision with Harden. I would MUCH rather have Harden at the same salary level. He’s proven that he can actually go out a win games (at least night games)…Sheets is on his way to becoming the next Mike Hampton. Stay away Hendry, stay away.
Comment from Grant
Time January 13, 2010 at 12:36 pm
I believe this makes sense if they are signing him to an incentive filled deal. How bad the end of the Cubs rotation has become, if he comes and gets hurt, at least we can say we tried because I don’t expect much out of Silva.
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Time January 13, 2010 at 12:37 pm
[...] I Thought the Cubs‘ Starting Rotation Was Their Only Strength… [...]
Comment from Kevin Tapani Fan Club
Time January 13, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Look, Lilly will be back and Marshall has already proven to be a serviceable #5. You need offense to win. Granted, you would think a lineup containing Soriano, Lee, and Ramirez could generate some offense, but we’ve seen for the past 3 years that this isn’t a guaranteed recipe for success. Therefore, why waste the money on a very high risk pitcher (unless its with minimum guaranteed money)? Why not look for upgrades at 2B instead (with that said, I know nothing about the free agent market for 2B)?
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Time January 13, 2010 at 2:14 pm
[...] I thought the Cubs’ biggest strength was their starting rotation? [Ben Sheets Edition] — (Not Qualified to Comment) [...]
Comment from NFL Shop
Time January 13, 2010 at 11:41 pm
Look, Lilly will be back and Marshall has already proven to be a serviceable #5. You need offense to win. Granted, you would think a lineup containing Soriano, Lee, and Ramirez could generate some offense, but we’ve seen for the past 3 years that this isn’t a guaranteed recipe for success. Therefore, why waste the money on a very high risk pitcher (unless its with minimum guaranteed money)? Why not look for upgrades at 2B instead (with that said, I know nothing about the free agent market for 2B)?
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Time January 14, 2010 at 8:19 am
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Time March 16, 2010 at 1:40 am
[...] Rumor: Ben Sheets to the Cubbies. [not QUALIFIED to COMMENT] [...]
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Comment from Rex
Time January 13, 2010 at 10:02 am
The only way I would be happy with Sheets is if the asking price went WAY down and the contract was incentive based.
And I couldn’t agree with you more about being tired of “high risk – high reward” players. Seems we always incur the risk.