Cubs Ink Marmol to Deal, Theriot to Arbitration
The Cubs look to 2010 as a rebirth, a chance to put the sour notes of 2009 behind them.
2009 was a season of disappointment and turmoil. Kevin Gregg bombed as the closer. Milton Bradley was Milton Bradley and ended up being suspended by the team in September. The team struggled offensively, finishing 10th in the National League in runs scored, dead last in steals, 12th in average, 10th in on base percentage and 10th in OPS. Those mediocre numbers more than offset a terrific pitching staff, which finished 5th in ERA, 3rd in batting average against, 5th in WHIP and 2nd in quality starts.
Aramis Ramirez missed 80 games, Alfonso Soriano 45. Geovany Soto went from .285/23/86 in his Rookie of the Year winning season to .218/11/47 last year. When Koyie Hill, a career .215 hitter starts getting serious time, you know you're slumping. The team missed character, versatile players like Mark DeRosa who they could have used when Ramirez went down. Aaron Miles was a huge disappointment after so many good years as a utility player with St. Louis. He would hit just .185 with 5 RBI and was dealt to Oakland in a deal this offseason.
That left Jim Hendry with some spots to retool this offseason and he hasn't wasted any time. Gregg has signed a one year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, which according to reports may lead to Toronto looking to deal talented reliever Jason Frasor to the North Siders. Needing an outfielder, Hendry went and got former Texas outfielder Marlon Byrd. He signed a three year, $15 million deal, which is far less than what Bradley was costing last season. Byrd is the antithesis to Bradley in attitude and character. He hit .283 with 20 homers and 89 RBI last season.
Speaking of Bradley, he's gone, the problem child of the Seattle Mariners now. In exchange, the Cubs had to take on Carlos Silva and his bloated contract, but it's another arm in the bullpen. Silva was hurt most of last season, but pitchers that have struggled in the American League sometimes find new life in the National League. I'm not holding out much hope for a guy that has been lit up more than Rockefeller Center at Christmas, but it's better than Bradley. Shedding that contract and ego was the equivalent of diet aids on an average person: the change is noticeable.
The Cubs will look to contend again in 2010, and they have plenty of arms to do it with. While Ted Lilly will miss the start of the season after shoulder surgery, the rotation still boasts Carlos Zambrano, Randy Wells, and Ryan Dempster for certain. The lineup will have some thunder if Ramirez and Soriano can stay healthy. Derrek Lee and Byrd will have plenty of RBI chances as well. Soto needs to find his stroke again or he'll find himself riding the pine. Kosuke Fukudome will need to avoid a decline in production like he had most of last season.
The Cubs did agree to a one year deal with Carlos Marmol earlier today, avoiding arbitration on that particular issue. Marmol will be the closer for the Cubs in 2010 after finishing the 2009 campaign as the closer following the demotion of Gregg. He led the team with 27 holds and went 11 for 11 in save chances after getting the closer role in mid August. One player that seemingly will go to arbitration is Ryan Theriot. If that does happen, it will be the first arbitration case for the team since Mark Grace took the club in 1993. For the record, the Cubs won that particular case, and Grace made $3.1 million instead of the 4.1 million he sought.
Either way, it's only a couple weeks until pitchers and catchers report and the popping of mitts gets going. Stay tuned for more action involving the Cubs and other franchises.
2009 was a season of disappointment and turmoil. Kevin Gregg bombed as the closer. Milton Bradley was Milton Bradley and ended up being suspended by the team in September. The team struggled offensively, finishing 10th in the National League in runs scored, dead last in steals, 12th in average, 10th in on base percentage and 10th in OPS. Those mediocre numbers more than offset a terrific pitching staff, which finished 5th in ERA, 3rd in batting average against, 5th in WHIP and 2nd in quality starts.
Aramis Ramirez missed 80 games, Alfonso Soriano 45. Geovany Soto went from .285/23/86 in his Rookie of the Year winning season to .218/11/47 last year. When Koyie Hill, a career .215 hitter starts getting serious time, you know you're slumping. The team missed character, versatile players like Mark DeRosa who they could have used when Ramirez went down. Aaron Miles was a huge disappointment after so many good years as a utility player with St. Louis. He would hit just .185 with 5 RBI and was dealt to Oakland in a deal this offseason.
That left Jim Hendry with some spots to retool this offseason and he hasn't wasted any time. Gregg has signed a one year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, which according to reports may lead to Toronto looking to deal talented reliever Jason Frasor to the North Siders. Needing an outfielder, Hendry went and got former Texas outfielder Marlon Byrd. He signed a three year, $15 million deal, which is far less than what Bradley was costing last season. Byrd is the antithesis to Bradley in attitude and character. He hit .283 with 20 homers and 89 RBI last season.
Speaking of Bradley, he's gone, the problem child of the Seattle Mariners now. In exchange, the Cubs had to take on Carlos Silva and his bloated contract, but it's another arm in the bullpen. Silva was hurt most of last season, but pitchers that have struggled in the American League sometimes find new life in the National League. I'm not holding out much hope for a guy that has been lit up more than Rockefeller Center at Christmas, but it's better than Bradley. Shedding that contract and ego was the equivalent of diet aids on an average person: the change is noticeable.
The Cubs will look to contend again in 2010, and they have plenty of arms to do it with. While Ted Lilly will miss the start of the season after shoulder surgery, the rotation still boasts Carlos Zambrano, Randy Wells, and Ryan Dempster for certain. The lineup will have some thunder if Ramirez and Soriano can stay healthy. Derrek Lee and Byrd will have plenty of RBI chances as well. Soto needs to find his stroke again or he'll find himself riding the pine. Kosuke Fukudome will need to avoid a decline in production like he had most of last season.
The Cubs did agree to a one year deal with Carlos Marmol earlier today, avoiding arbitration on that particular issue. Marmol will be the closer for the Cubs in 2010 after finishing the 2009 campaign as the closer following the demotion of Gregg. He led the team with 27 holds and went 11 for 11 in save chances after getting the closer role in mid August. One player that seemingly will go to arbitration is Ryan Theriot. If that does happen, it will be the first arbitration case for the team since Mark Grace took the club in 1993. For the record, the Cubs won that particular case, and Grace made $3.1 million instead of the 4.1 million he sought.
Either way, it's only a couple weeks until pitchers and catchers report and the popping of mitts gets going. Stay tuned for more action involving the Cubs and other franchises.
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