Cubs Sign Kevin Millar

Cutler has a strong arm and a five cent head. That is all he is right now. He MIGHT be great some day, but has a long way to go. Don't let your homerism overlook that all Cutler did in 2009 was give the Bears yet another infuriating way to lose games.

Hendry isn't likeable. Foul mouthed incompetent tub of goo. He's gotta go.

So they don't want him back like the way they didn't want Kerry Wood back last year.

downs or frasor would/should cost a lot...wonder what the BJays would even want from the cubs besides the obvious.

Submitted by Seamhead on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 12:21pm.
Phil:

Makes sense, as Downs is signed for a whopping $4m this year and Frasor for $2.65m.

Gregg is going to take a hit against the $4.2 million he earned last year from us, and will likely take Frasor money or a bit more as a set-up man.

Since the Cubs have made no movement on signing either Park or Calero, does the Blue Jays' interest in Gregg signal that the Cubs may indeed send a couple of prospects for Frasor?

Do they even have that money available since Theriot is esentially holding about $500,000 hostage with his refusal to budge off of his $3.4 million arb demand?

=========================================

SEAMHEAD: It's not clear to me exactly what Hendry's payroll budget is at this point. After signing Xavier Nady, Hendry said something like he wanted to thank Ricketts & Kenney for allowing him to spend the extra money needed to add Nady. That could mean Hendry was including the additional $2M in potential performance bonuses in his calculations (bringing Nady's potential 2010 salary up to $5.3M), because while post-season buy-outs are added to the following season's payroll, performance bonuses are figured (as contingencies) into a club's current season's payroll (which would mean Hendry probably figures he has already committed $136M+ toward the Cubs 2010 MLB payroll, including Nady's potential $2M in performance bonuses and the estimated $5M that Theriot and Marmol will likely get eventually).

As for Theriot, even if the Cubs lose in arbitration and The Riot gets his $3.4M, that's not going to have a major negative impact on Cub payroll. If Nady reaches his max performance bonus ($2M) and Theriot gets $3.4M, that still would leave the Cubs projected 2010 payroll at $137M. So even if Hendry's absolute payroll ceiling is $140M (and I believe it has been reported that it's more like $143M), that should leave about $3M (or possibly as much as $6M) in available 2010 payroll that could be allocated toward a veteran MLB relief pitcher (like Jason Frasor) right now, although Hendry may want to hold $3M in reserve (perhaps the $3M that extends beyond $140M) in case he wants to make a mid-season trade or two. (Remember, a "$6M player" would cost the Cubs only $2M in 2010 payroll if the player is acquired at the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline, because there is only 1/3 of the season left at that point).

If I had to guess, I would say Hendry figures right now he has about $3M (max) to spend on a veteran RH reliever with closer experience (to be a fall-back option in case Marmol gets hurt or implodes), and that $3M would pay for Jason Frasor's 2010 salary ($2.65M)--IF--the Cubs and Jays can agree on who the Jays would get back in the deal.

I don't see how bringing Millar in helps the team at all. It seems he will be stealing some valauble ABs away from someone in Spring Training who could use them to develop, like Soriano.

In all seriousness, are they inviting him to impart a winning attitude or some leadership skills? Otherwise, why waste the spot?