Aaron Heilman

by Bleeding Cubbie Blue on Nov 20, 2008 10:36 AM CST Comment 26 comments

Mets have soured on him and he has pretty much demanded a trade if he isn't given a chance to start...

I really like his arm....lots of sinking movement on his fastball. Good change

Plus if the mets do trade him theyd be trading low...He had a really bad season after 3 seasons as a top setup man

I think we should trade for him. Mets need bullpen help. How about Michael Wuertz and a prospect...

Wuertz has never been more than a mop up man...He's too inconsistent but he has a good slider and K potential...something the Mets need.

I would give him a shot at starting in the preseason stretch out his arm just like Dempster last year...if he's not good stick him in the 7th inning and strengthen our now weakened bullpen. Plus he's a cheap option as a 5th starter (assuming we find a taker for Marquis) or a setup guy as he's just now arbitration eligible and under control for 2 more years...

Sounds like a smart pickup to me...cheap and potential just what the Cubs need

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Heilman had knee trouble this year

That’s a big reason why he was less effective. However, dealing Wuertz for him would mean picking up a couple million in salary. I wouldn’t mind the Cubs getting Heilman in some scenario. But, for now, Marquis, Marshall, and Gaudin would all be ahead of him in line to be 5th starter, in my book. Acquiring him to continue in the bullpen isn’t really worth it.

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by zambranofan on Nov 20, 2008 10:40 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I totally forgot about Gaudin

I think he’d be a good stater, didn’t he start for the A’s and do well??
I think Marshall is trade bait…I’m not too high on him I don’t know

by Bleeding Cubbie Blue on Nov 20, 2008 10:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Forget Gaudin as a starter

He will needed much more in the bullpen in ’09.

Over time, your quickness with a cocky rejoinder must have gotten you many punches in the face - Al Swearengen

by lemon20pie on Nov 20, 2008 12:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1000

n/t

by StevenABQ on Nov 20, 2008 3:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Maquis for Heilman would be ok

I wouldn’t give up much else — certainly not a top prospect.

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Nov 20, 2008 10:45 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Interesting idea.

The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.

by DGU on Nov 20, 2008 10:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That was my thought

Marquis and maybe a AAAA bullpen arm (Wuertz or Hart maybe), since the Mets need bullpen help, for Heilman.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Nov 20, 2008 10:57 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Doesn't Marquis have a tie to NYC?

Or am I just going crazy. Is he from there or something? Can’t remember. Anyways, not sure the Mets would do this without us taking a bit of his salary, which might not be terrible. But what happens if Heilman doesn’t pan out? Seems like Heilman wouldn’t be much of an upgrade over Marshall/Gaudin

"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher

by Musicdude10 on Nov 21, 2008 12:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Marquis is from Staten Island and still lives there.

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Nov 21, 2008 12:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Heilman isn't even an upgrade over Howry

This guy shouldn’t start and is bad news for the bullpen.

by ak123 on Nov 21, 2008 8:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Heilman has more trade value than Marquis…
I think we’d have to throw in Wuertz at least…but then what about the huge money difference???

by Bleeding Cubbie Blue on Nov 20, 2008 10:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Well, the Mets need a lot of pitching

They aren’t going to get it for free. Marquis’ salary actually is about market value right now – and there’s only one year left on the contract.

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Nov 20, 2008 11:02 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Wuertz may have more trade value than Heilman.

by DGU on Nov 20, 2008 12:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I read this earlier

this is probably the type of trade we will have to make to get rid of marquis. take on an attitude problem or reclamation project. I’d say do if we could get rid of marquis. besides I cant stomach another year of him in a cub uniform.

Dear Santa:: All I want for X-mas this year is an official 2009 Jake Peavy Cubs Jersey. Oh and a Beimel one too. I've been a real good guy for the most part!!!

by cubsluver22 on Nov 20, 2008 10:53 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Marquis

I think the problem with Marquis isn’t his pitching. We knew he’d be a 5 when we signed him…His numbers are not bad for a 5…
So I guess I wouldn’t mind him being back…

It’s his contract that was backloaded and now he’s getting 10 mill…the Cubs rotation I heard was the most expensive and we need to cut payroll for a bat and a LH reliever still

Plus the Cubs have Marshall and Gaudin who may be better options if not traded.

by Bleeding Cubbie Blue on Nov 20, 2008 11:04 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Not a bad idea

except we cant trade for him because he wants to start, then if he doesn’t pan out for us stick him in the 7th…. He’s likely going to go somewhere where he’ll definitely get a prolonged chance to start, likely because that team sucks and has few other options.

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by tony412 on Nov 20, 2008 11:53 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

well...

the Rockies have Huston Street, whom the Mets have been known to covet. And the Rockies like Heilman, so there’s a fit there.

I think the Cubs could get him and give him a chance in the starters spot. If it didn’t work and Heilman went to the bullpen, he’d have no one to blame but himself.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Nov 20, 2008 12:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

NO NO NO NO

Heilman blew enough games to keep Mets out of post season 2 years in a row.

If you didn’t like Howry you’ll be begging for him back if Heilman plays here.

Trust me on this, I live in NY and this guy is not someone you want to pitch for our team. He’s not good and unfortunately he’d be a guy Lou would go to in close games.

by ak123 on Nov 20, 2008 11:59 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I agree with this.

A couple of years ago I would have done this. Heilman just turned 30 and had some injury problems. I’d just as soon look elsewhere.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 20, 2008 1:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

the only way i would want heilman is if we send them marquis. although heilman was terrible last year its a risk im willing to take to make some cap room

by mattpsu on Nov 20, 2008 12:43 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Marquis is the better pitcher of the two.

Unless the Cubs’ budget problems are more severe than we know, I’d rather keep Jason.

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Nov 20, 2008 1:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

would you make the swap

if it frees up money netting the LH OF or SS/2B lead-off hitter? That would be the only scenario I would look at.

by socalbob on Nov 20, 2008 4:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

To alleviate severe budget problems, yes -- you would have to consider that deal.

My guess is that someone will overpay on Heilman before the OF market has shaken out.

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Nov 20, 2008 7:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yes he is, but if this getting heilman for marquis means we can get that leadoff hitter or lh bat we need, im all for it

by mattpsu on Nov 20, 2008 2:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

marquis

one more year of jason.i think we can handle it.unless he wins 17 games and he gets a 4yr 52 mill contract.just kidding,we love ya demp glad you stuck around.

by NOMAR on Nov 22, 2008 5:53 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Seriously.

Are you and mattpsu related? Or just sharing the same keyboard?

"I see I'm not the only one around here who can't hold his water." - Last words of the leaky pipe in the visiting team dugout, Dodger Stadium, October 4, 2008.

by dat cubfan daver on Nov 24, 2008 10:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs