Over the weekend, it was announced by various sources that Ryan Dempster exercised his player option worth $14 million for the 2012 season.
Coming off a season in which he went 10-14 with a 4.80 ERA, he would have been stupid to decline the option, as he wouldn't get that kind of money on the open market.
What's ridiculous is that the Cubs (or any team for that matter) would give someone a player option.
Player options are no-win situations for clubs, in that, if a player has a good season prior to their option year, they can decline the option and sign as a free agent for more money. If they have a bad year, as in Dempster's case, they can exercise their option, giving themselves another year to re-establish their value.
The loser in each case is the team, who either loses a valuable piece of their team or has to pay above market for a player.
The Cubs also lost Aramis Ramirez due to a mutual option for 2012. Although the Cubs picked up their side of the option, Ramirez declined his side and became a free agent. Again, this is a smart move by Ramirez as he gets one last chance to cash in on a multi-year contract before his skills fade away.
On the other hand, the Cubs lose one of their best hitters and will have a difficult time replacing him as the market for third basemen is extremely weak.
Of course, the Cubs can compound the mistake by signing Ramirez to a long-term deal, thereby ensuring themselves of another bloated contract for a player who will likely be washed-up before the contract expires.
Let's hope they don't make that mistake again.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Maybe Ryan Theriot was right
With the Cubs continuing to negotiate the bounty the Red Sox will receive for Theo Esptein, I find myself watching the World Series and thinking that maybe Ryan Theriot was right this spring when he said that he was finally on the right side of the Cardinals/Cubs rivalry.
While the Cubs are in the process of giving away prospects for a new team President (as well as their new GM), the Cardinals are playing in their third World Series in the last 10 years. Including this year, the Cardinals have appeared in 10 World Series since the Cubs' last appearance in 1945.
Which leads to the obvious question: what do they have that we don't have?
Its not money. The Cubs have shown over the last several years that they can certainly outspend the Cards (but they don't always spend it wisely).
Its not fan support. Both the Cubs and Cardinals regularly pull in over 3 million fans each year.
So why do the Cardinals seem to always compete for the Central title and are always a threat to make it to the World Series?
It comes down to decision making. For years, the Cubs were run by owners who were more concerned with the bottom line than putting a quality product on the field. They didn't care if the Cubs made the playoffs, as long as there were fannies in the seats drinking beer.
Wrigley Field was their calling card (not the Cubs) and they marketed it well.
It wasn't until the business men who ran the Cubs decided that it was time to sell the team, that they decided to try to put a winning team on the field to make the Cubs more attractive to potential buyers. Of course, look where that got them. A bunch of bloated contracts for players whose skills have long since deteriorated.
Now we look to Epstein, the curse killer, to be our savior and lead us to the promised land.
The good thing is that we finally have a baseball man making the key decisions that affect the club. The bad thing is that he's got quite a mess to clean up.
While the Cubs are in the process of giving away prospects for a new team President (as well as their new GM), the Cardinals are playing in their third World Series in the last 10 years. Including this year, the Cardinals have appeared in 10 World Series since the Cubs' last appearance in 1945.
Which leads to the obvious question: what do they have that we don't have?
Its not money. The Cubs have shown over the last several years that they can certainly outspend the Cards (but they don't always spend it wisely).
Its not fan support. Both the Cubs and Cardinals regularly pull in over 3 million fans each year.
So why do the Cardinals seem to always compete for the Central title and are always a threat to make it to the World Series?
It comes down to decision making. For years, the Cubs were run by owners who were more concerned with the bottom line than putting a quality product on the field. They didn't care if the Cubs made the playoffs, as long as there were fannies in the seats drinking beer.
Wrigley Field was their calling card (not the Cubs) and they marketed it well.
It wasn't until the business men who ran the Cubs decided that it was time to sell the team, that they decided to try to put a winning team on the field to make the Cubs more attractive to potential buyers. Of course, look where that got them. A bunch of bloated contracts for players whose skills have long since deteriorated.
Now we look to Epstein, the curse killer, to be our savior and lead us to the promised land.
The good thing is that we finally have a baseball man making the key decisions that affect the club. The bad thing is that he's got quite a mess to clean up.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Cubs hire Theo Epstein, but at what price?
The Cubs have reportedly agreed to terms with Theo Epstein as their new GM. He will earn $15 million over 5 years, plus an additional $3.5 million to make up for the conclusion bonus he lost by leaving the Red Sox.
Although he is replacing Jim Hendry as the Cubs' GM, his responsibilities will exceed those of a typical GM. What exactly that entails, we don't know, but if it means taking some baseball responsibility away from Crane Kenney, I'm all for it.
Overall, I think its a good hire for the Cubs. They get a proven GM. One that has already broken one curse and should have the means as his disposal to break another.
What concerns me though is the compensation the Red Sox might ask for in return for releasing Esptein from his contract. As we saw with the White Sox, who got 3 minor leaguers from the Marlins for manager Ozzie Guillen, the Red Sox will ask for some form of compensation for Epstein.
Jon Heyman suggests that the Red Sox prefer cash, which is fine, however, Peter Gammons says that he could see the Sox asking for Cubs top prospect Brett Jackson.
Brett Jackson? Seriously?
Yes, Epstein is a good GM and a proven winner, but there is no way I would trade our top prospect for ANY general manager. To me its counterproductive to bring in a new GM to help build out team, but in the process trade away a player who could be a key part of that rebuilding.
I respect Peter Gammons. He is one of the best baseball writers out there and he has some good sources, especially with the Red Sox. But, I'm hoping this is just pure speculation on his part and that the Cubs would not be stupid enough to give up Jackson to acquire Epstein.
However, if past history is any indication, we will soon be seeing Brett Jackson in a Red Sox uniform.
Although he is replacing Jim Hendry as the Cubs' GM, his responsibilities will exceed those of a typical GM. What exactly that entails, we don't know, but if it means taking some baseball responsibility away from Crane Kenney, I'm all for it.
Overall, I think its a good hire for the Cubs. They get a proven GM. One that has already broken one curse and should have the means as his disposal to break another.
What concerns me though is the compensation the Red Sox might ask for in return for releasing Esptein from his contract. As we saw with the White Sox, who got 3 minor leaguers from the Marlins for manager Ozzie Guillen, the Red Sox will ask for some form of compensation for Epstein.
Jon Heyman suggests that the Red Sox prefer cash, which is fine, however, Peter Gammons says that he could see the Sox asking for Cubs top prospect Brett Jackson.
Brett Jackson? Seriously?
Yes, Epstein is a good GM and a proven winner, but there is no way I would trade our top prospect for ANY general manager. To me its counterproductive to bring in a new GM to help build out team, but in the process trade away a player who could be a key part of that rebuilding.
I respect Peter Gammons. He is one of the best baseball writers out there and he has some good sources, especially with the Red Sox. But, I'm hoping this is just pure speculation on his part and that the Cubs would not be stupid enough to give up Jackson to acquire Epstein.
However, if past history is any indication, we will soon be seeing Brett Jackson in a Red Sox uniform.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Minor League Review: AZL Cubs
With the Cubs season over (thankfully), its time to move on to the future.
Starting today, I will do a regular feature looking at each of the Cubs minor league affiliates, beginning with the Arizona League Cubs.
The AZL Cubs finished the season with a 28-28 record, good for 3rd place in the AZL East. They led the league in hitting with a .305 average and were third with a team ERA of 4.08.
Like most short-season teams, the AZL Cubs feature the minor league debuts of many of the Cubs top 2011 draft picks, including their top 5 picks: Javier Baez, Daniel Vogelbach, Zeke DeVoss, Anthony Zych and Tayler Scott. However, due to signing late or rapid promotion most of these guys didn't get more than 50 at bats in the AZL.
One 2011 draft pick who got a little more than a cup of coffee with the club was 6th round pick Neftali Rosario. Rosario hit .294/.351/.490 in 102 AB's.
2010 24th round draft pick Dustin Geiger hit .342/.366/.582 in 79 AB's before earning a promotion to Peoria. While he struggled in the Midwest League (.227/.268/.319), he is still young (19).
Continuing the Cubs' recent trend of strong middle infield prospects, shortstop prospects Gioskar Amaya (.377/.417/.510) and Marco Hernandez (.333/.375/.486) split time at short with Amaya also seeing significant time at third and second. Their performances earned them Top 20 AZL Prospect status according to Baseball America, with Hernandez coming in at #6 and Amaya #8.
On the pitching side, the AZL Cubs were led by 2010 draftees Hunter Ackerman and Brian Smith. Ackerman posted a 3.68 ERA and 49 K's in 44 IP. Smith recorded a 3.30 ERA and 41 K's in 46.1 IP.
2011 draftee James Pugliese (18th round), logged the most innings in the AZL of the Cubs 2011 picks, compiling a 4.62 ERA in 39 IP.
Finally, the Cubs' top 2010 pick, Hayden Simpson, made a stop in the AZL, with generally poor results (8.15 ERA in 17.2 IP). He didn't fare much better at Peoria (5.72 ERA in 61.1 IP), making Cubs fans question this pick even more.
Next week, I will take a look at the Boise Hawks.
Starting today, I will do a regular feature looking at each of the Cubs minor league affiliates, beginning with the Arizona League Cubs.
The AZL Cubs finished the season with a 28-28 record, good for 3rd place in the AZL East. They led the league in hitting with a .305 average and were third with a team ERA of 4.08.
Like most short-season teams, the AZL Cubs feature the minor league debuts of many of the Cubs top 2011 draft picks, including their top 5 picks: Javier Baez, Daniel Vogelbach, Zeke DeVoss, Anthony Zych and Tayler Scott. However, due to signing late or rapid promotion most of these guys didn't get more than 50 at bats in the AZL.
One 2011 draft pick who got a little more than a cup of coffee with the club was 6th round pick Neftali Rosario. Rosario hit .294/.351/.490 in 102 AB's.
2010 24th round draft pick Dustin Geiger hit .342/.366/.582 in 79 AB's before earning a promotion to Peoria. While he struggled in the Midwest League (.227/.268/.319), he is still young (19).
Continuing the Cubs' recent trend of strong middle infield prospects, shortstop prospects Gioskar Amaya (.377/.417/.510) and Marco Hernandez (.333/.375/.486) split time at short with Amaya also seeing significant time at third and second. Their performances earned them Top 20 AZL Prospect status according to Baseball America, with Hernandez coming in at #6 and Amaya #8.
On the pitching side, the AZL Cubs were led by 2010 draftees Hunter Ackerman and Brian Smith. Ackerman posted a 3.68 ERA and 49 K's in 44 IP. Smith recorded a 3.30 ERA and 41 K's in 46.1 IP.
2011 draftee James Pugliese (18th round), logged the most innings in the AZL of the Cubs 2011 picks, compiling a 4.62 ERA in 39 IP.
Finally, the Cubs' top 2010 pick, Hayden Simpson, made a stop in the AZL, with generally poor results (8.15 ERA in 17.2 IP). He didn't fare much better at Peoria (5.72 ERA in 61.1 IP), making Cubs fans question this pick even more.
Next week, I will take a look at the Boise Hawks.
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