Baseball Offseason Moves

Agreed about Soriano. They re-signed Ramirez too, didn't they? I don't know why the Cubs would want to get Ted Lilly's 4.13 ERA and 1.43 WHIP, but he is a better choice than the oft-injured Wood or Prior.

 

Maybe they feel they have to sign somebody halfway decent to support the kind of offense they'll have? Lilly would be a decent #2 behind Zombrano. If Hill picks up where he left off in 06, they could have a nice top of the rotation.

 

I do as well!

Cubs in 2007!

 

Over the weekend, the Cubbies signed Jason Marquis to a 3 year, $21 million contract. Last season, Marquis was 14-16 with a 6.02 ERA.

Combined with Ted Lilly's $10 mill a year, that's $17 million tied up in 2 average to below-average pitchers. It's a good thing they kept Ramirez and signed Soriano. They're going to need those guys.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2007 Chicago Cubs! :applause:

 

:tonofbricks: putting on my asbestos clothing, but I really like what the Yankees have done this winter.

I'm first of all a Yankees fan, but a close 2nd is the cubs and I like what they have done.

 

Despite my making fun of them for paying so much for what seems to be so little, I do like that they're trying to do something to improve the team. It's a much better alternative than sitting back, signing nobody, and praying that Wood and Prior somehow return to their 2003 form.

Agreed. If they had done nothing else, trading Sheff was a good move. Then they topped it by getting Pettite to come back.

 

That is one of the reasons I like the yankees and steinbrenner. They have an ongoing committment to getting the best talent they can.

 

Not sure I like the big money spent on Lilly and Marquis, both below average at best. Glad to see the Cubs got Soriano, wish they had kept Pierre. We'll see what happens in '07. Most likely, we Cubbie fans will be chanting our slogan again - "Wait 'til next year!"

 

I don't see Pettite being very good anymore.

Since he was injured, he has done little to help the Astros.

I think his best days are behind him.

The Astros are tying up some loose ends this winter, and I think they'll be in the playoffs next season. With money saved on Pettite, and almost certainly on Clemens, they'll be able to get several good players.

 

Personally, I'd rather have Lilly than Marquis, Lilly has his moments with that great big curveball and that 90 mph fastball.

 

Well, hopefully Lee will help the hitting this year. The major problem with the Stros last season was the fact that they lost so many 1 run games. Clemens would have had a much better record, but it seemed like everytime he pitched, the team couldn't muster but maybe 1 run. You're just not going to win with any kind of pitcher if you can't get more than 1 run per game.

I don't know what all of their prospects are, but I'd like to see them get another power hitter, or at least someone halfway decent, and they need a good closer. Lidge and Qualls should be hitting the pavement.

I am glad that McLane has shown that he is willing to spend the money to get good players over the past few years. He is extremely wealthy and I think Billy Wagner got under his skin with the "cheap" comments a few years ago. He, btw, was the closer they should have kept.

 

Off topic , but, I wonder if Brad Lidge's less than stellar performance last season was due to the after affects of Puhols' NLCS home run and the WS loss to the White Sox? I like Lidge, he has awesome stuff, but for a longwhile last season, he wasn't his normal self.

 

Just a few months til pitchers and catchers report, I hate the off season. :tear: