Sheets "All But Signed" by....Cubs!!!

Submitted by Rob G. on Sun, 01/17/2010 - 10:55pm

From the

The Blue Jays will have a scout at tomorrow's workout by free-agent
pitcher Ben Sheets, but he's all but signed by the Chicago Cubs.

Transmission will give his (thanks to navigator for the tip).

Tags: 
Cubs rumors
Ben Sheets

Comments

Submitted by Charlie  on Sun, 01/17/2010 - 11:42pm  
I always liked that commercial. I have more mixed feelings about Sheets. I'd be open to it if the base salary is cheap enough, though. I guess that's kind of like, "I'm all for a public health care option, provided it doesn't result in higher taxes or less money for other budget items."

Submitted by Andrew  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 1:15am  
I would think that if the rumor's true, then it has to be for a low base salary and some incentives. The Cubs don't have a lot of money left and still have holes to fill, allegedly. FWIW, though, this rumor seems ... uh, less than credible.

Submitted by JoePepitone  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 2:17am  
That commercial is the balls!

Submitted by Jeff_Pico  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 7:50am  
Sheets will be added to Hendry's long list of reclamation projects, but his high side is way higher than Wade Miller or Chad Fox or even Dempster. Definitely worth a long look.

Submitted by TJ  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 11:40am  
I find this rumor hard to believe. Simply, if it was true why would he be throwing for a bunch of teams tomorrow. it dosn't make sense.

Submitted by JohnT  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 12:29pm  
Trying to drive his price up?

Submitted by Rob G.  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 11:49am  
http://espn.go.com/chicago/columns/blog/_/pos... Cubs like Dye, bullpen pitchers Luke Gregerson and Jason Frasor and Sheets wanted $7M or more during the winter meetings as a base salary.

Submitted by navigator  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 12:24pm  
Waddle and Silvy just tweeted that they're going to have Levine on to talk about the Cubs and Dye... at 12:25 http://twitter.com/WaddleandSilvy that's basically NOW

Submitted by Jeff_Pico  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 12:32pm  
I think Lou wants Dye or at least he has hinted at by saying they were going to sign a 'significant' backup outfielder. With Soriano and Byrd both getting older I would expect to see Dye alot if he can also stay healthy.

Submitted by JD  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 8:27pm  
I figured Lou was talking aboot Rocco Baldelli.

Submitted by Ryno  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 11:54am  
Oh, now we're just being unfair to the competition. First Jaramillo, then Maddux... now Ben Sheets? Will the Cardinals even show up to play this season?

Submitted by Rob G.  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 12:41pm  
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/121409-Lat...

Submitted by Charlie  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 12:54pm  
The fact that we're looking at guys like Dye and Nady to be 4th outfielders speaks volumes of our recent OF free agent signings. Fukudome, Byrd, and Soriano are so good that we need to sign somebody to get the 300-400 ABs that, frankly, we don't really want to give to them. I'm not opposed to picking up Dye or Nady, though. Getting insurance for a corner OF spot seems like a good idea to me. I hope we've got somebody in the minors who can be insurance for CF, too. At least Fuld and/or Colvin ought to be passable 4th outfielders should something happen to Byrd and Fukudome have to reclaim CF.

Submitted by Ryno  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 1:12pm  
I'd prefer Nady given the choice between the two.

Submitted by Sweet Lou  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 1:24pm  
Maybe the Cubs can bring back Edmonds. He's apparently willing to play for the league minimum (as least for St. Louis). http://yourenotagolfer.mlblogs.com/archives/2...

Submitted by tbone  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 8:52pm  
And with the Cards' amazing new hitting coach I'd look for Edmonds to hist between 45 and 66 homers if he signs. I hear the new coach is that good.

Submitted by Jackstraw  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 1:54pm  
Cubs need Dye or Nady or somebody with pop to add to the bench--since nobody from the group of Hill, Blanco, Fontenot, and Fuld would scare the other team late in the game when "one swing of the bat" would make a difference.

Submitted by Charlie  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 2:56pm  
Hoffpauir? Fox could've been the guy. But Nady can actually play some (outfield) defense, can't he? So he'd have that on Hoffpauir and probably even Dye.

Submitted by Andrew  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 3:32pm  
And, you know, Soriano.

Submitted by crunch  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 3:09pm  
Nady/Dye...Sheets rumor...still on the lookout for a veteran relief pitcher... when did the cub suddenly get 10-15m more to spend? sure, sheets could take care of his own rumor + push a guy into the pen, but unless he's throwing in the 80s or he can't get the ball out of his hand quick enough when throwing to the plate i don't see how he'd be coming in under 5-7m and incentives should be involved.

Submitted by Andrew  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 3:34pm  
The Ricketts family hired some hoods to kidnap the arb-eligible players. Reports are that Aaron Miles suggested the guys.

Submitted by The E-Man  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 4:22pm  
Well, it could be the case that Sheets may really not be ready to pitch with real arm strength anyway until May or June? I'd have to agree, unless Hendry really makes it so sweet on the back-end (and Sheets having the confidence to know he is gonna deliver) that Sheets could sign a one-year for less than we are thinking.

Submitted by crunch  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 5:14pm  
uggla settles w/ marlins 1yr/7.8m ...there are a few tracking him in FLA on here...well, there were more before FLA was forced into spending more money.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 5:39pm  
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/thre... Cust, Dunn, C. Pena, Thome, Reynolds

Submitted by crunch  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 5:58pm  
"Remember way back in 2008, when then-Blue Jays GM J. P. Ricciardi put down Dunn’s abilities, leading to general mockery and vilification of Ricciardi all over the internet?" yeah...for being a lazy player who's reputation in CIN was so toxic and distracting it wasn't funny. want to join his fantasy football pool or talk football while laughing off coaches and pulling the rest of the locker room into someone else's personal circus? dave miley can give references to how awesome it is.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 7:49pm  
so are you saying Ricciardi was justified in calling out Dunn and the way Dunn has acted in the clubhouse is detrimental? cause that seems to clash with your views on Bradley...

Submitted by crunch  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 8:31pm  
not at all..retardi (for more reasons than this)is an idiot and you don't call out players like that because a radio call in fan riled you up. i'm just saying dunn has his reputation because he unashamedly earned it. he's not even a dick or known to be hated by his peers...he's just seen as a distraction to clubhouse authority with a lack of motivation he's vocal about. life of the party syndrome... i wouldn't go as far as to say he's wasting his talent, but if he was a pitcher a good talking to by a personality like nolan ryan or curt schilling might do him some good. ...i'm also saying his "abilities" weren't being called out as much as the person he is in the world of baseball

Submitted by Rob G.  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 9:20pm  
signs 2 yr deal...seems that makes him a little less likely to get traded. Heilman got 1/2.15M from Dbacks Cubs were suppose to announce 4 arb-guys agreeing to deals today, but nothing yet.

Submitted by Cubster  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 9:20pm  
rumored 4th OF, Spillborghs 2/$3.25 avoiding arbitration for this yr and next (1.3M this, 1.95M next) ex-Cub Aaron Heilman, $2.15M also avoiding arbitration...so that's money from last yrs payroll that's been freed up for some extra squirrel poison.

Submitted by Charlie  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 9:32pm  
Who owes whom a coke?

Submitted by Dr. aaron b  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 9:57am  
Alexander Sosa owes it to Tony Montana

Submitted by Rob G.  on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 10:49pm  
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/sprin...

Submitted by jacos  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 8:36am  
He was on WSCR this am- from what I remember-"Sometimes a team of charatcters has to overcome it's ability to win games and this team has to do that."

Submitted by navigator  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 9:13am  
I need a translator. Was Brenley trying to say this team will only win if it overachieves or am I not getting it right?

Submitted by jacos  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 9:46am  
Don't you speak Martian? :-) He's saying this team needs to overachieve.

Submitted by Ryno  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 10:37am  
This is really going to put a damper on my annual spring rose-colored optimism.

Submitted by Ryno  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 10:40am  
Still, I guess I'm more optimistic now than I was at this point last year.

Submitted by Andrew  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 12:31pm  
Even though at this point last year the Cards didn't have Holliday or two CY Young contenders?

Submitted by CT_Steve  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 9:24am  
In case this hasn't been posted: http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/d... Hi, all.

Submitted by Aisle 424  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 10:43am  
This was also scrolling across the top of the Onion's Sports page: Sabermetric Fan Eschews Purchase Of Super 2 Arbitration Eligible Left Fielder's Jersey For High UZR Shortstop Under Six Years Of Team Control

Submitted by QuietMan  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 12:22pm  
From Bruce Levine's chat at espn Chicago: Breaking news: The Cubs have signed five of their arbitration-eligible players. According to sources, Mike Fontenot signed for $1 million; Jeff Baker signed for $975,000; Koyie Hill signed for $700,000; Tom Gorzellany signed for $800,000; and Jose Guzman signed for $825,000. The Cubs have filed on Carlos Marmol, Sean Marshall and Ryan Theriot. The players' numbers and team's numbers will come out at 2 p.m. Chicago time.

Submitted by QuietMan  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 12:25pm  
Here's a link to the chat that goes for another 45 minutes or so. (He meant Angel Guzman by the way.) http://espn.go.com/chicago/chat/_/id/30438

Submitted by Andrew  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 12:35pm  
So that's $4.3 million for those five. That's likely too much, considering that AZ Phil projected $10 million for the lot of them (at least according to the sidebar) Just Hendry overpaying again?

Submitted by crunch  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 12:44pm  
it's all a push/pull of a couple 100 grand at most...no one's contract is really stupid, imo.

Submitted by The E-Man  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 1:04pm  
Except $1MM for Fontenot. He is still a AAAA in my mind and on the field. I guess a million don't buy what it used to.

Submitted by QuietMan  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 1:24pm  
They can still release these guys in March and get out of paying them the bulk of these contracts...right? This is from AZ Phil's Corner: "Win or lose, the player is awarded a standard one-year MLB contract with no "minor league split" salary or incentive/performance bonuses, and the contract is not guaranteed, so if the player is released during Spring Training, the club would only owe the player 30 days or 45 days salary as termination pay, depending on when the player is released. (A player receives 100% of what remains of his salary if he is released during the regular season). The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) is very sensitive about salary arbitration, so if a player who was awarded a contract through the salary arbitration process is released during Spring Training, the MLBPA will almost certainly file a grievance on behalf of the player, claiming the player was released for economic reasons only (which is not permitted), and asking that the released player receive 100% of his salary as termination pay. In that situation, a club would only have to show (by submitting official Spring Training game stats) that the released player was outperformed in Spring Training games by another player (or players) competing for that roster spot."

Submitted by Rob G.  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 1:36pm  
players didn't actually go to arbitration, so I'm guessing none of that applies. but Phil will be along to correct me.

Submitted by QuietMan  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 2:31pm  
Further down in AZ Phil's Corner there's a bit about Outright Release Waivers where termination pay comes into it too. But I should shut up and wait for AZ Phil.

Submitted by Andrew  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 2:42pm  
According to Levine, these guys can be released prior to 4/1 and they only get a fifth of the money they signed for. If Fontenot has a bad spring....

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 6:29pm  
QUIET MAN: That only applies to players who are awarded a contract by the arbitration panel at a hearing. For players eligible for salary arbitration who sign prior to going to a hearing, the player might or might not end up with a guaranteed contract. It's negotiable. For instance, last year the Cubs settled with Chad Gaudin ($2M one-year guaranteed contract) without going to a hearing, but gave him a guaranteed contract in exchange for taking less money than he wanted. Then the Cubs were on the hook for the entire $2M after he got released (less the pro-rated MLB minimum Gaudin got when he signed with the Padres in April). Conversely, Reed Johnson signed a $3.25M non-guaranteed deal with Toronto pre-2008, so that when the Jays released him prior to Opening Day 2008 they only had to pay him $800K+ (45 days salary) as termination pay. Then the Cubs signed him for $1.3M, so that Johnson ended up with an aggregate $2.1M salary for 2008 ($800K termination pay from TOR plus $1.3M salary from the Cubs). However, if Johnson had signed a $3.25M 2008 guaranteed contract and then got released prior to Opening Day, the Jays would have been on the hook for the entire $3.25M, minus the MLB minimum salary the Cubs would have given Johnson, and RJ would have gotten all of his money. As I mentioned on the next thread above, Mike Fontenot probably got more money than the other four arbitration-eligible guys who signed today in exchange for accepting a minor league split salary (probably about $300K) in case he gets optioned to the minors in 2010 (which very well could happen).

Submitted by QuietMan  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 7:57pm  
You're the best Phil!

Submitted by Andrew  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 2:49pm  
Yeah, I think it's mostly Fontenot's contract that's just silly. I know it's the first time he's arbitration-eligible but his numbers would suggest a decrease not a pay hike of more than double what he made in 2009 ($430,000 acc. to ESPN). To me, when guys like Fontenot can double their salaries after a shitty year -- not to mention getting chosen as a super-2 over Adam Jones and Micah Owings -- the system ain't working.

Submitted by big_lowitzki  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 3:14pm  
He wasn't "chosen" over Jones and Owings based on performance. It all has to do with service time.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 3:12pm  
#43 Re: *new Submitted by Andrew on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 12:35pm. So that's $4.3 million for those five. That's likely too much, considering that AZ Phil projected $10 million for the lot of them (at least according to the sidebar) Just Hendry overpaying again? .......................................................... Rumor had it that these guys wanted a total of 2.1 million between them.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 1:12pm  
can't wait to see what Ryan Theriot thinks he's worth

Submitted by Aisle 424  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 1:33pm  
He thinks he's a power hitter now, so he wants to get PAID for those homeruns he hit back in May.

Submitted by Ryno  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 2:28pm  
You got to sign him somehow. You don't want to risk him hitting for a division competitor.

Submitted by big_lowitzki  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 2:41pm  
I wish...

Submitted by jacos  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 2:34pm  
How about signing Tejada for a year to play SS instead of Dye as 4th outfielder?

Submitted by Andrew  on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 2:53pm  
Tejada's defense at SS will be as bad or worse than Dye in OF. Their bats are about the same I think. Dye's a great clubhouse guy. And, you know, Theriot's going nowhere.