A week after reaching an agreement with the Rockies, the Cubs completed the trade and officially sent Jason Marquis, along with cash to Colorado for Luis Vizcaino. According to a report on Cubs.com, the Cubs are expected to pay $875,000 of Marquis’ $9.875 million contract for 2009.
Luis Vizcaino will make $4 million in 2009 according to Cubs.com while Cot’s Contracts has Vizcaino’s contract for 2009 valued at $3.5 million with a club option for $4 million in 2010 that includes a $500,000 buyout. The trade of Jason Marquis opens up the fifth spot in the rotation for either another unknown arm….or Sean Marshall, Angel Guzman, Kevin Hart, Chad Gaudin and long shot Jeff Samardzija according to Cubs.com. The Cubs bullpen will feature Carlos Marmol and Kevin Gregg at the backend with Neal Cotts and possibly David Patton and Jeff Stevens…Marshall, Guzman, Hart, Gaudin and Samardzija will also figure into the mix once Spring Training begins.
The report on Cubs.com indicated Jim Hendry will continue to look for another starter before pitchers and catchers report to Fitch Park in Mesa on February 14th.