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Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
The Cubs have signed Paul Maholm to a one year deal for $4.25M with a $500K buyout on a 2013 option worth $6.25M. Pretty cheap for a guy that for his career has been about league average with a career 96 ERA+ (94, 87, 114, 94, 79, 105 counting up from 2006). His walks are a little high for a contact pitcher (3.0 BB/9) and he doesn't strike out too many (5.4 K/9) but keeps the ball in the park (0.8 HR/9 helped surely by PNC's large left field). His good years coincide with his better BABIP seasons. In 2008, he had a .290 BABIP and his best season with 206 IP, a 3.71 ERA (114 ERA+). In 2011, he had a .288 BABIP, that led to a 3.66 ERA (105 ERA+). In his bad years, the BABIP is more in the .320 area, although in all cases he's been in the reasonable BABIP ranges. A good defense will go a long way to help him having a solid season, along with a stiff breeze in my from Lake Michigan.
He did have a shoulder injury that ended his season on August 17th last year, which is presumambly all healed up. It was his only trip to the disabled list in his career.
Overall, nothing more than some pitching depth at a decent price that as a southpaw could have some trade value in July.
In other Cubs news, Kaplan reported that the Tigers and Cubs are "down the road' on trade talks for Matt Garza. It seems the Cubs would have to get Jacob Turner in that deal and at least one other good prospect for it to make sense. Kaplan is also saying that Kerry Wood may depart the Cubs afterall. Kaplan tries to shift the blame on Jedstein for not wanting to pay the going rate for 8th inning set-up men. But the Cubs in 2012 are not really a team that needs to pay a set-up man $4M or so, so it's understandable to not give in to sentimentality. I understand Kerry owes Jedstein nothing and the same goes for Jedstein, but Kerry is the one that proclaimed it's the Cubs or retirement, not it's the Cubs at market value or I'll play for another team. To me, considering his injury history, he shouldn't get more than $2.5M with incentives for games finished and if he can get more from someone else, god speed.
Comments
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
Ma-halo
Oblique Rob G. reference to Angelfan wife
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
I like it... very reasonable price for basically a league average pitcher.
As for Kerry Wood... I rarely think that relief pitchers are ever worth their "market value." So if that is what Wood wants, let me go. I like the guy, but good teams shouldn't make decisions because a guy is fan favorite. They should make decisions based on how the player fits into their plan (and budget) for their team. Wood left once, and the world didn't end. He can leave again.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
I don't know what kind of money Kerry Wood is looking for, but I think he means more to this team and the organization than just being a set-up man. It's possible that he wants too much money, but if you'll recall, when he left last time (along with DeRosa), the team was like a rudderless ship with no clubhouse leaders. True, the world didn't end, but the team was negatively impacted. It seems to me that having someone like Wood around would be especially important considering the relatively young age of the pitching staff.
I don't want to make this issue bigger than it is, but treating Wood like just another set-up man is underestimating his importance and influence.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
He was back last year, what good did that do?
They want him back, they allegedly offered him more money doesn't mean they have to pay him more than he's worth.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
He's a leader, not a miracle worker.
You can downplay his influence if you like. A lot of people do dismiss the concept of a "clubhouse leader." I happen to be one that thinks that a team needs a strong (usually veteran) presence in the clubhouse to keep everyone on the same page.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
I thought we were looking to change the clubhouse culture?
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
Hardly think Wood was a problem in the clubhouse.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
Sammy's boombox says hisssssssss.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
By the way, that's a joke.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
I think he means more to this team and the organization than just being a set-up man.
What, exactly, does he mean to the team? Wins? Money?
treating Wood like just another set-up man is underestimating his importance and influence.
He is another setup man, and an oft-injured one at that.
But yes, I am eternally grateful for his great leadership last year.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
This just in, you don't just need leaders when things are well.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
He is the only living Cub who played in four, count 'em, four post seasons as a Cub.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
Then buy him a gold watch and send him on his way. No need to roster him for 5 million bucks on this dreck of a roster.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
You would be moving down from 60 wins to atleast 57 wins.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
I think they should pay Wood whatever it takes to get the payroll where it needs to be. If they have to pay him 40 million this year, then I can't think of a more deserving bullpen pitcher.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
I think we should save that money and hire a couple more Ricketts to sit in the front offices and wear funny over sized Harry Caray glasses.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
Maybe CUBSTER can investigate what kind of shoulder injury Maholm sustained last year.
Obviously he'll have to take a physical, but it would be interesting to find out what caused him to go down.
It is a pretty low risk deal, imo. And, what the hell - it just adds to the #5 starter collection.
We still have no one producing RBI's as of today. Is HoyStein going to give a one-year to Lyle Overbay ( or, did someone "grab him" heh)? Going hard after Cespedes?
Only three days to Cubs Convention...
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
Obviously he'll have to take a physical, but it would be interesting to find out what caused him to go down.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
He said he was trying to nurse a sore shoulder all last season. Finally threw in the towel.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
I'm assuming the towel was thrown after he completed his towel drills. I don't want any quitters on this team.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
Larry Rothchild approves!
Oscar Acosta is silent on the issue.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
Obviously he'll have to take a physical, but it would be interesting to find out what caused him to go down.
Looks like Maholm had shoulder trouble as early as 2006. A quick check turned up this:
Pirates | Maholm's turn skipped Thursday
Wed, 20 Sep 2006
Dejan Kovacevic, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reports Pittsburgh Pirates SP Paul Maholm (shoulder) will miss his turn in the rotation Thursday, Sept. 21. Maholm has been experiencing some tenderness in the rotator cuff of his left shoulder.
Thanks Navigator
Evaluating Sappelt
I was just checking the minor league stats. A+-AAA of our new 25 year-old OFer.
His minor league stats are pretty sparkling.
Did anyone catch him play much in-person?
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
from the last thread...
-----
twitters from Jordan Bernfield at the Hoyer + Maholm phone conference because of Maholm signing...
http://twitter.com/jordanbernfield
(in reverse chronologic order)
Maholm: "With Albert and Prince probably heading out, that's real good for a pitcher." (in NL Central)
Maholm says there were talks with other teams, didn't go really far. Feeling out process, but says this was where he wanted 2 play.
Maholm: "I had known for a few days, yesterday I passed the physical, kinda tough not to be able to say anything." on Twitter breaking.
Also mentioned Sveum and Bosio as factors for signing here.
Maholm: "Being in the NL, traveling through the city, seeing the passion of the fans...seemed like it would be a good fit."
Hoyer: "We both understand the history of the organization and which players mean the most to the fan base and Kerry is one of them."
Hoyer: Going to prepare Samardzija as a starter in spring training.
Hoyer: "We've added control and youth to the pitching staff over the course of the winter." Says it's good for the future and present.
Hoyer: "Talent was the overriding factor not the knowledge of the division." (Maholm)
Hoyer: "We continue to want Kerry back in Chicago, we've offered him a substantial raise and we hope it gets done."
Hoyer: "This is deal is not a precursor to anything." In reference to Garza rumors.
Hoyer: "I think we're very comfortable with the names we have. A huge priority is building depth. You can never have enough pitching."
Hoyer: It's important to have a mix, you don't want to have a homogenous pitching staff...in general, LHP more efficient than RHP."
Hoyer: Says the physical looked good and they're confident he'll be ready to go next year. Tried to pitch thru shoulder soreness LY.
"He really wanted to be a Cub and wanted to pitch in Wrigley Field, which really means a lot to us."
"We're excited to bring Paul on board. Paul's been a quality left hander in this division for the last 6 years."
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
Was this posted?
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/wher...
Fangraphs mention of where the best Free Agent value was last year - journeyman starters on short contracts. Interesting. Paul Maholm is explicitly named in the intro regarding this offseason.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/i...
Levine's story with quotes about Samardzija
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
I think we all want Kerry Wood back, but if it wasn't Kerry Wood, would anyone support signing a set-up man for $4m with his injury and performance record that was a good dude? Just cause another team may be willing to ovepay, doesn't mean the Cubs should.
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
Well, if the payroll has been lowered to the numbers Dr. Aaron suggests, what's an extra million or two?
/sarcasm
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
regarding Maholm's shoulder, all I read is that it was a left pitching shoulder strain which is sort of vague (maybe he's got Cashner's shoulder-itis). After initially being put on the 15 day DL on August 18th, he was transferred to the 60 day DL on Sept 6th. Not sure what value that had since it was after roster expansion for milb call ups.
He was cleared medically to resume workouts on 10-24-11(per Rotoworld) just before the Pirates declined his $9.75M option for 2012 on 10-31-11.
http://www.rotoworld.com/recent/mlb/1322/paul...
here's the link to when he went on the DL...
http://calltothepen.com/2011/08/21/paul-mahol...
and another link when he went on the 60 day DL, and mentions that this was his first trip to the DL in his career.
http://calltothepen.com/2011/09/07/paul-mahol...
reminds me of Ted Lilly's shoulder problem. Maybe he needs his knee scoped...
http://www.thecubreporter.com/2009/07/25/ted-...
Re: Maholm Means 5th Starter in Hawaiian
Looks like Maholm had shoulder trouble as early as 2006. A quick check turned up this:
Pirates | Maholm's turn skipped Thursday
Wed, 20 Sep 2006
Dejan Kovacevic, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reports Pittsburgh Pirates SP Paul Maholm (shoulder) will miss his turn in the rotation Thursday, Sept. 21. Maholm has been experiencing some tenderness in the rotator cuff of his left shoulder.
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