According to a report from Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs are close to a deal that would send Jason Marquis along with cash to the Colorado Rockies for reliever Luis Vizcaino. The trade is not expected to be announced until next week.
Rumors have suggested in recent days the two teams were discussing a deal but a report on Monday indicated the Rockies could not afford to absorb any of Marquis' $9.875 million dollar salary for next season. Rosenthal indicated the cash going to Colorado would be less than $1 million dollars.
Updated 7:08pm C.T. - Joel Sherman reported on XM Radio minutes ago that the Marquis deal is done. The Cubs have traded Jason Marquis along with a million dollars to the Rockies for Luis Vizcaino. XM Radio is the only source at this point reporting the deal is done.....will update if more information becomes available. The Sun-Times reported that Milton Bradley could be next.
Luis Vizcaino is owed $3.5 million for next season and the $5 to $6 million the Cubs would save by trading Marquis could be used to sign Milton Bradley.
Vizcaino has a club option for 2010 worth $4 million dollars with a $500,00 buyout. The option becomes guaranteed if he pitches in 68 games in 2009.
The right-hander was 1-2 in 43 games last season for the Rockies with a 5.28 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP while teams hit .267 against him. Those numbers were not inflated by the thin air in Denver....he was 0-2 in 19 games on the road with a 7.20 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. During the day....0-1 in 15 games with a 3.31 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP.
In 2007 Vizcaino posted an 8-2 record in 77 games with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP and on the road he was 3-0 with a 2.77 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.
Vizcaino has pitched in 16 games at Wrigley and is 1-2 with a 6.61 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP (12 runs, all earned, on 15 hits in 16 1/3 innings with 8 home runs allowed).
Vizcaino was arrested on a DUI charge in October.
MLB.com and other outlets have begun reporting the deal is close.....stay tuned.
Updated 7:17pm C.T. - Joel Sherman reported on XM Radio that his sources indicated the Cubs will give Sean Marshall and Rich Hill a shot to win the fifth spot in the Cubs' rotation in the spring. Sherman said that dealing Jason Marquis does not mean they would make another run at Jake Peavy. The Rockies like the offense Marquis can give them when he pitches at Coors Field.
Sherman added the Mets were interested in acquiring Marquis.
Finally, some real action. With the purse strings tied shut, I guess this is how a small market teams would get deals done. Lose a Howry, gain a Howry type and money to sign Bradley. Oh well, whatever it takes. It will also give a Marshall, Samardzija, or Guzman a shot at the rotation.
I like this move especially if we sign Bradley. Giving Marshall (whose spot it is to lose I would assume) a shot is great. I think his arm in the rotation would be great. The only thing I don't like is trusting Harden and Marshall with rotation spots, combined I would envision 200-220 innings, but you never know... Certainly now trade parts to get Peavy any longer, but I think thats ok.
Let me go on record and say that not only do I not like this particular trade....I don't like trading Marquis away in the off-season.
Marquis, for all his ups and downs, was at least a stable arm and wasn't an injury concern. Seeing as we have the fragile Rich Harden as well as Carlos Zambrano and his injuries of late...I think the Cubs should have held off until spring training to see how those two were doing. Can't have enough starting pitching!!
As for acquiring Vizcaino, I will say he has potential...but very questionable at that. The Cubs would be his 6th team in 6 years! In addition to the stats that Neil mentioned, it should also be noted lefties tagged Vizcaino for a .372 average and 8 homeruns!
As for the comments by Gary, Marshall will almost definitely be given a spot in the rotation unless he is traded or we get another pitcher in a trade.
Shark is not ready for the rotation, needs another quality pitch in his arsenol. Guzman will be brought along slowly in relief after coming back from Tommy John surgery, certainly not a spot in the rotation.
Maybe this is leading up to Peavy?
Joe - JH telegraphed this move...this salary dump for a long time...2 years with the Cubs and 1 with the Cards they wouldn't use this guy in the playoffs.
He wasn't in the plans.
I'm sure JH will add another arm to the mix as a possible starter...but Marquis
clearly had to go.
Well, I agree that he was of no use in the playoffs....Im just saying wait on the trade and be sure that Harden is healthy, Zambrano is healthy, Marshall doesnt suffer a Rich Hill setback before sending off a sure arm in the rotation. Your number 4 or 5 guy generally won't factor in the playoffs, thats what your top dogs are for. But they certainly are key during the season.
I would like to see Rich Hill get a shot and be effective again as opposed to Marshall. I'd like to leave Marshall in the pen if Hill is able to rebound.
I understand and appreciate your thinking Joe...I do remember 1985...after the great 84 season...we were supposed to be great...and the whole rotation went down with health problems.
BUT I feel this had to be done NOW because everyone knows Marquis is a first half pitcher and his contract was overpriced to begin with.
JH probably had some of the same feelings
you did...but had to free up $$$ space to address other needs.
It would not surprise me if he traded
Vizcaino for prospects to an American
League team to dump the rest of the salary.
Seems like Bradley is going to happen for better or worse.
Then if the Peavy or the like doesn't happen under new ownership...look for JH
to sign a rehab or vet to a minor contract to hedge his bets.
I agree about keeping Marshall in his role...and in the best of all worlds...
the Cubs would love to see Hill regain his form as the fifth starter - BUT - all
reports are that he still hasn't put it back together in winter ball...so we can't really hold our breath.
Although they will bring him along slowly in the spring...I really think Angel Guzman will be a stud IN THE ROTATION by the end of the season...if he
isn't traded & his arm holds up.
I'm going to be a bit surprised if Viscaino doesn't get released or banished to AAA... he's coming back this way simply as a salary balance for the Rox.
My hope is that this paves the way for the Bradley signing, then once the ownership is resolved that the new head honchos want to make a splash and splurge a bit and OK the addition of salary for a Peavy or Roberts.
We'll see - but this move is definitely addition by subtraction in my book :-)
The logjam has broken...if this is true.
I liked Vizcaino with the WSox in 05. And just read at the Colorado site that he had shoulder troubles last year from the get go. Who knows if JH will keep him or trade him?
By the way, the Denver Post is reporting the deal is done as well - just won't be officially announced until next week.
I think Gary J has this sad deal pegged about right. We save about $5 mil of payroll and move a decent pitcher for one who has been less than mediocre. Look for trouble when Vizcaino and his agent realize that V will not be allowed 68 appearances to lock in his $4 mil option for 2110. I don't like being cynical, but Lou is likely hoping Vizcaino gets hammered a few times early so he can be relegated to mop up duty.
It's pretty clear that JH has to move half of Marquis's payroll to free up money for Bradley or his alternative. That is a sad commentary on the business side of baseball. The Cubs are now like a bunch of other teams who have to spend near minimums for a third or more of the twenty five man roster.
The better news is that we do have some bottom of the order depth to take Marquis' spot. And, it appears we will know in a week or so if will be adding one of the "name" bats to our mix. Bradley seems the most likely, but a wild guess would be a combo of Hinske and a surprise like Aurilia--if we are outbid for Bradley.
Pat Boyle on Comcast Chicago just mentioned that the Cubs are "very close" to a multi year deal with Bradley. Nothing other than that was said and he mentioned it could be announced after the new year...
Bradley's #'s would look nice but how many games will he play? Losing a guy like Wood and adding Bradley to the clubhouse does what to the chemistry of the ballclub? Lots of ????? with this guy.
I don't think it will be a problem. Zambrano was pretty nuts and Piniella works with him plus theres a lot of veterans and leadership in the clubhouse.
Also, from everything I've read about him, all his teammates said he was great in the club house, just nuts on the field. Which I can deal with, better than that p*ssy Mark...uh...oh yeah, Prior.
Austin...careful...Prior is a free agent
looking for a minor league deal to prove himself again...and JH might be in the market for just that...a cheap vet with
possible upside or release!!! LOL
Im gettin tired of hearng about this bradley guys attitude. From what i hear the only reason this guys gets pissed is because he is on losing teams and he wants to win. He plays thee game hard and plays to win, he gets mad wen guys around him dont do the same. And on this cubs teami dont see any guys on here that dont hustle and dont care about winning, so i dont think we will have to worry about his attitude and i think he will actually help us win in the playoffs cuz he is the gamer we need.
I am more worried about his durability. How many games will he play???
Even if Bradley isn't very durable, then put Fukudome out there or Reed.
I read about the fragile Rich Harden and also read about Carlo Zambrano injuries of late. Let sign-up Jon Garland of La Angeles and sign Freddy Garcia from Detroit for insurance
If this Marquis deal is for real, we should trade the pieces to get Jake Peavy. I have no problem with Rich Hill and Sean Marshall but can they give us 200 innings, I do not think they can and then we would not be able to protect Harden arm.And about signing Prior why not maybe he might regain his form and we will have some kind of backup if we need it. Hart, Guzman, Jeff Samarija, I do not think will be ready to step in the rotation.The Cubs love to protect Harden arm, so we are going to need a next arm and some backup.
Still hurting from last year and I do not like any of the moves Hendry has made. A ball club only gets better or worse over an off season. I feel the Cubs have not become a better club. I'm strongly considering sitting out this season and watching college and minor league ball, where the players are hungry to play!
I think Bradley would be great with the Cubs - got to see him in his abbreviated season with the Padres and he's a hard charger who wants to win, hurt himself that year in a freak accident brought on by an umpire being a royal ass (imagine that!). Even if there is any attitude issue, on this team, with this group of great guys, I don't think his attitude will be a problem and his offense will definitely help - he's a great bat.
The way I see it, if Bradley gets hurt, then Hoffpauir gets his full time shot, and as far as I'm concerned, that's a no lose situation there. And why is Rich Hill even being mentioned? Come on folks, he is completely Ankielized, and will never make it back as a Cub.
I am sure the Peavy deal will get done, but may not even bee until spring training has started.. The Cubs should have new ownership by then and the Pads will probably be getting nervous about having to cover that first paycheck due on April 15.
If the O's can't sign Roberts to an extension, I would look for that trade to happen too. Although, the super putz combo of McFail and Angelos might just be to much to overcome.
Roberts
Theriot (most hits and fewest strikeouts, perfect #2)
Bradley
Ramirez
Soto
Lee
Soriano
Johnson/Fukudome
Let me start by saying that I am not a fan of jason marquis at all. However, I find it very hard to see the good in giving away a 21 year old flame throwing prospect and a servicable #5 starter for a couple of middle relief guys that are mediocre on there best days. Our bullpen will be one of the worst in baseball this year. This is not good for a team that will have to protect harden, zambrano, and most probably the #5 starter. I have watched as hendry has made some good moves over the last few years but these latest are head scratchers to say the least. I think we are asking for trouble by signing bradley. He is clearly a DH at this point and did not even play a full season at that position last year. Signing him will give us a group of outfielders that are either injury risk or platoon players (except for soriano). I am concerned by the fact that Lou seems to be influencing most of these moves and we seem to just keep getting older, slower, and more expensive players. We could be in the market for a young slugger such as dunn but we already have a lf with questionable defense that does not even produce as much as dunn and strikes out just as much. I hope I am wrong on this because i love the cubbies but, I just don't feel like the team they are assembling will even be good enough to make the playoffs in 2009 or several years beyond that with all the no trade clauses and trading off anyone who shows any talent at all in the minors. The problems we had last year are still here. We consistenty run guys like lee out there who is clearly in decline while the young guys that show promise are only given an at bat or two here and there. Forget about bradley, let PIe play in center for at least half a season to see if he can improve, if not trade him but at least give him a real chance.
Just saw that the cubs signed Aaron Miles and may be close to trading Dero for young pitching
Cubs have just traded mark derosa to the indians for jeff stevens and two mior league prospects.
also the cubs signed aaron miles and are close to the milton bradley signing
ALSO THE PEAVY DEAL IS BACK ON
Where did you get the info on Peavy?
I just started laughing. The White Sox fans are going to love us even more!!!
Cleveland just got 2 of the major reasons for our success last year...
Wood and Dero. I just became a Cleveland
fan...I hope they smack the Yankees!!!
I really hope after all the dust settles...we really are a better team...
because we've lost 2 of my favorites.
bruce levine reported it on 670 the score