From the Wire … Cubs Ink Dave Bush to a Minor League Deal

July 15, 2011 By 36 Comments

According to multiple reports, the Cubs signed veteran right-hander Dave Bush to a minor league contract. Bush will report to the Iowa Cubs this weekend and pitch in Bill Dancy’s rotation.

The Cubs parade of signing pitchers off the scrap heap continues … the Rangers designated Dave Bush for assignment on July 1 (released July 9) after posting a 0-1 record in 17 games, three starts, with a 5.79 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Dave Bush was 8-13 in 32 games, 31 starts, last season for the Brewers with a 4.54 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. Bush owns a 56-69 career record in eight big league seasons with a 4.70 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP.

Dave Bush joins former rotation-mate Doug Davis, Rodrigo Lopez and Ramon Ortiz as veteran pitchers that have been signed by Jim Hendry this season.

Dave Bush’s Page on Baseball-Reference


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  • paulcatanese

    Why?

  • Michael

    Maybe this is a move we make because we are trading away a starter to a contender…hopefully…dump whatever old washed up talent we have and get what we can…

  • diehardcubfan

    Another fine move by JH.  I have to keep wondering where he keeps getting these ideas?  Oh, I forgot Crane Kenney’s crystal ball!!

    Somebody please stop the madness!!!

  • Baron_S

    Hendry is trolling the washed up beaches of MLB purgatory….

    anyone wonder why no other GM does this??

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Richard-Hood/100000706523521 Richard Hood

      The almight Kenny Williams just signed Doug Davis so let me tell you. EVERY GM DOES THIS. Hendry just does it a lot more.

      • J Daniel

        A lot of teams do this hoping to catch lightning in a bottle.  

  • GaryLeeT

     At first I though “oh great, that’s all they need”, but then I thought, so what.  The worst starting staff in the League, can’t get any more in last place, than last place. Yes, Bush is a warm body in case there is a trade. I am dreaming of a Zambrano, Marmol, and Barney, for Cano trade. I already know it’s impossible, so don’t get on me.

    • paulcatanese

      Gary, not impossible, just improbable because JH would feel we were taking advantage of the Yankees. And the Cubs, didn’t you know that JH is forming a retirement community for pitchers? It’s all around the league, when they are over the hill JH’s card is on the board, just give him a call.

  • Reggie

    I wonder how many times JH will use the term “clubhouse veteran” and a “team guy” to describe this deal?

  • Jim_Tinley_Park

    Hendry actually wanted to sign Woody Fryman until Fryman’s agent told him he was dead.

  • Aaron

    ummmmmmmmmmmm….please tell me the “Smurf” is wrong here:
    http://mlbbuzz.yardbarker.com/blog/mlbbuzz/cubs_baker_not_for_sale/5561053?new_post=true

    Baker not available?

    What a joke this franchise has become when a 30 year old career bench bat is unavailable via trade when he’s arbitration eligible….hmmmmmmmmm

    On another note, the Bush signing by Hendry makes complete sense….at least to him.

    Remember, he doesn’t like young guys that have been DFA’d, such as Melky Cabrera, Jonny Gomes (last year), Franceour, Kazmir, etc.

    He prefers over-the-hill guys….or guys that “never were” such as Bush, Lopez, Ortiz, etc. And even when he gets a diamond in the rough like Edmonds…he ends up making the bad decision to let him go the following year.

    I don’t understand Hendry, and I never will. Like Quade, when given choices, he almost always chooses the wrong path….and it’s not even close

    • Ripsnorter1

      The Three Stooges were more competent that Quade, Kennedy and Hendry.

      • The Maven

        A re-post from about a week ago:

        Try more like the Three Stooges:

        Tom Ricketts as “Larry”, the clueless one

        Jim Hendry as “Moe”, the bossy-type that doesn’t always know what he’s doing

        MIke Quade as “Curly”, for obvious reasons (wonder if he spins on the ground going whoop-whoop-whoop after losses)

        • cubtex

          Dan Bernstein from WSCR is claiming his Cubs source is saying Quade and Hendry will both be fired once season ends. I hope his source is right.

          • paulcatanese

            Like it, but why wait? Did you notice more empty seats today?

          • cubtex

            Ha. I don’t blame them.Who wants to pay money to watch this crap?

          • J Daniel

            In response to the question of what is the one thing we want to see I replied more empty seats.  That will prompt change!

            If you want any deals to be made it would be tough to fire Hendry now but the question is do you want him making the moves.  Also, if the source is correct they are more likely to stand pat.

          • paulcatanese

            Totaly agree with you, empty seats speak very loud to Ricketts. And Hendry is a Catch22, no deals unless he makes them, but do you want him to make them? I again agree they will stand pat. As long as people come to the park they will make no deals. Ricketts will avoid at all costs to lose his attractions and have to pay to do it. Again as you say empty seats are the answer. I can’t blame the fans for showing up as their have to be a lot of season ticket holders out there. The empty seats that I am seeing are in the season ticket sections, and that is huge. People have paid for the seats and refuse to show up, that is a great way to show their dis- pleasure and takes guts.

    • Jim_Tinley_Park

      Aaron:

      He’s not available because he will be our starting third baseman next year.
      If that article is true, then Hendry has gone completely mad. Also, will you be checking out the movie “Moneyball?”

  • Darrenmcculloch

    I do believe that Jamie Moyer is still out there.  I know he was hurt, but I’m sure he can’t be any worse than all the other signings made.  Moyer is a former Cub, so it should fill the seats at Wrigley.

  • BCT082002

    I heard Wilbur Wood is available.

  • Joey U

     We can complain about the THREE STOOGES ALL WE WANT. Just stay away from the ballpark and the watch attendance continue to drop.. No better cure for what ails this pitfull organization.
     

  • Tom U

    Iowa wins 7-1. Ryan Flaherty with his first Triple-A homer. Winner Jay Jackson looked like a new man with a speedy defense behind him.

    • cubtex

      Tom. What position has Flaherty been playing at Iowa?

      • Tom U

        Flaherty at second, with LeMahieu at third.

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Ryan Flaherty hit his first Triple-A homer Friday night, a 2-run shot. Brett Jackson 2-for-5, 2B, 3B, R, SB

  • Demitri

    I’m hearing a lot of talk about Lemahieu.. Is he the real deal?

    • paulcatanese

      Watched him every chance he got to play, he is the real deal, just needs to play on a regular basis, not once a week for one at bat at a time.

  • Nathan

    Im hearing neftali rosario signed today and they have a deal in place for vogelbach…both these guys are/were suppose to be tough signs! Any news on baez???

    • Wes

      Baez will get done and a number of other higher picks will soon as well, Big Dan included.l Pay attention to whether or not we sign Maples. He, too, could be something special.

      Sounds like we might not sign Shoulders though. He’s asking for third round money and won’t budge.

  • paulcatanese

    The Pirates are in first place, the Pirates are in first place. Their not so great, if it wasn’t for the Cubs they wouldn’t be . Maybe Quade can get a World Series share,and at least send JH a box of chocolates. Hope the Pirates make it.

    • diehardcubfan

      The Pirates are probably playing the best baseball in the central.  Now is when JH should be offering Pena or ARAM and Baker/DeWitt to the Pirates for some prospects. 

      The Pirates might just run away with it with the right moves.  

      • paulcatanese

        I agree, actualy hope they make it. They are fun to watch, shows what can happen when someone sticks with youth. If, and you are right, one of those were to be picked up, it certainly would not hurt. AND…THEY… COULD… GO…ALL…THE…WAY.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Richard-Hood/100000706523521 Richard Hood

          They are not that young (most of there pitchers are between 27 and 30). Plus it took 20 years below .500 to get here. Lets not all build like Pirates please. I can not stand the idea of waiting 20 years to be relevant again.

          • paulcatanese

            Hey, by then we will all have sound around and 3D High Def TVS, and we wont miss a beat. I keep telling myself the law of averages have to come in here somehow and help the Cubs one of these years.

    • cubtex

      Hopefully the Pirates stay in the race and look to aquire a bat from the Cubs. Pirates have an excellent group of young pitchers in the minors.