Gaudin, Cotts & Johnson Agree to Terms; 3 Cubs Left to Sign Before Arbitration

by Bill Potter on Dec 12, 2008 4:22 PM CST

So much for the theory that Chad Gaudin would be non-tendered. The reliever signed for the 2009 season, avoiding arbitration.

With Gaudin's re-signing, it give the Cubs another arm in the bullpen and a versatile one at that.

Gaudin could be used anywhere from late-inning setup role to spot starting if need be.

It's not the big name move some folks want, but it looks like Hendry is content with the pitching staff for the most part.

Here's the official release from the Cubs.

Update: Sullivan says the Cubs offered arbitration to five players:

The Cubs re-signed pitcher Chad Gaudin to a one-year, $2 million deal on Friday and offered arbitration to Kevin Gregg, Michael Wuertz, Neal Cotts, Reed Johnson and Ronny Cedeno.

Update No. 2: Neal Cotts signs. Al has been kind enough to pass along the release from the Cotts signing, as well. Scroll down for the text.

Update No. 3: Reed Johnson signs. See Al's post here for more details.

Financial terms for all 3 players, courtesy of this link from Cubs.com:

...Johnson signed a $3 million contract, and he could platoon in center with Kosuke Fukudome...Gaudin, who inked a one-year, $2 million contract ... went 9-5 with a 4.40 ERA for the season ... Cotts, 28, who agreed to a one-year, $1.1 million deal, went 0-2 with a 4.29 ERA in 50 relief appearances for the Cubs in 2008. He and Sean Marshall are the only left-handers in the bullpen as of now, but the team has hinted strongly that it would like to get Marshall into the rotation.

With 3 Cubs possibly facing arbitration, it's worth noting that Hendy has never gone to arbitration during his tenure.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

Dat's cool with me...

…as long as his drinking buddies keep him off the streets and away from dumpsters with bad attitudes at night. Or maybe just push him around in a wheelchair or something.

Yes, yes ... winter is indeed a pond upon which all of us must skate, braving frostbite and runny noses in the hopes that our cars will start and we shan't embarass ourselves slipping on a patch of black ice. Spring is more a quagmire of cold mud and slush, and fall is a pile of fallen leaves that may or may not hide a pile of doggy doo-doo. But summer, ah summer is an oasis of endless green that disappears all too quickly beneath our feet as we rush through its warm, glorious bliss.

by daver on Dec 12, 2008 4:27 PM CST reply actions

Yeah...

Example 1,040,123 why people can’t stop dogging Sullivan.

by Damen Jackson on Dec 12, 2008 4:28 PM CST reply actions

non-tender

What had been said was that the Cubs were going to possibly non-tender Gaudin in order to sign him to a lesser deal. What we don’t yet know is the terms of the deal that was signed. Its possible that Gaudin was still signed to a lesser deal as the CBA allows for a paycut of up to 20%.

by dmlichte on Dec 12, 2008 4:31 PM CST reply actions

He's made that comment

on a few occasions, some of which had no such reference.

by Damen Jackson on Dec 12, 2008 4:33 PM CST up reply actions

Here's one place Sullivan mentioned it

From this morning’s Tribune

I wouldn’t ordinarily pick on him, but he was the only Cubs’ beat writer even mentioning this.

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 Bill Potter on Dec 12, 2008 5:20 PM CST up reply actions

Thats a relief

I think hes gonna be a big part of the bullpen this year

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Dec 12, 2008 4:31 PM CST reply actions

He still might be traded...

Lou’s doghouse doesn’t feature an exit.

But that’s fine; we might be able to flip him for a LH RP.

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

by DeRoMyHero on Dec 12, 2008 5:15 PM CST up reply actions

perhaps, he was really good in Oakland

i hope they dont judge him on half a year in chicago

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Dec 12, 2008 6:13 PM CST up reply actions

Lou is judging him based on one night out, I think...

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

by DeRoMyHero on Dec 12, 2008 7:23 PM CST up reply actions

I think I missed all that

what happened exactly?

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Dec 12, 2008 7:32 PM CST up reply actions

Apparently, Gaudin was out drinking, had a little too much, tripped over a curb,

and slammed into a dumpster backside-first.

What POed Lou was that Gaudin claimed at first that he had injured his back working out…

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

by DeRoMyHero on Dec 12, 2008 7:58 PM CST up reply actions

couldve been worse I suppose

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Dec 12, 2008 8:27 PM CST up reply actions

goes to the commitment of being a professional in the big show

no mercy for screwing up like that….same as arriving late because of oversleeping.

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Dec 12, 2008 10:53 PM CST up reply actions

As long as his back problems from last year...

… won’t, um, reoccur, I’m fine with this.

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

by Al Yellon on Dec 12, 2008 4:43 PM CST reply actions

If his back is hurt in a similar manner again

then maybe it’s time for Gaudin to lose the “Farnsworth Social Agenda.”

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 Bill Potter on Dec 12, 2008 5:09 PM CST up reply actions

Good news

I like Gaudin a lot, I think he’s going to be a big contributor to the team next year.

by kanderber on Dec 12, 2008 4:44 PM CST reply actions

Good news!

A versatile pitcher like Gaudin can be very valuable to the Cubs.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on Dec 12, 2008 4:51 PM CST reply actions

Well,

This was clearly a move made to finish off our package for Peavy.

Free Ronny Cedeno

by Kansas25 on Dec 12, 2008 5:10 PM CST reply actions

How so?

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

by Al Yellon on Dec 12, 2008 5:15 PM CST up reply actions

Sarcasm, perhaps?

by Flatley on Dec 12, 2008 5:16 PM CST up reply actions

Perhaps.

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

by Al Yellon on Dec 12, 2008 5:19 PM CST up reply actions

The dryness evoked a hearty chuckle.

I need more aloe!

by Flatley on Dec 12, 2008 5:21 PM CST up reply actions

Yes...sarcasm.

I just felt so robbed after a whole day of non-Peavy related news.

Free Ronny Cedeno

by Kansas25 on Dec 12, 2008 5:49 PM CST up reply actions

We need that sarcasm graphic stored somewhere so we can get it at a moment's notice.

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

by Al Yellon on Dec 12, 2008 7:04 PM CST up reply actions

Cotts has been signed.

Press release:

The Chicago Cubs and left-handed pitcher Neal Cotts have agreed to terms on a 2009 contract. Cotts was to be eligible for salary arbitration. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Cotts, who turns 29 on March 25, went 0-2 with a 4.29 ERA (17 ER/35.2 IP) in 50 relief appearances for the Cubs in 2008. He began the season in Triple-A Iowa, going 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA (6 ER/27.0 IP) in 19 relief outings before earning a promotion to Chicago on May 29. He spent the remainder of the season with the big league club, stranding 26 of his 33 inherited runners in 2008.

The southpaw enters his third season in the Cubs organization after being acquired from the White Sox on November 16, 2006 for righthander David Aardsma and minor league pitcher Carlos Vasquez.

A native of Lebanon, Ill., Cotts is 10-10 with one save and a 4.51 ERA (123 ER/245.1 IP) in 265 major league appearances (five starts) with the White Sox (2003-06) and Cubs (2007-).

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

by Al Yellon on Dec 12, 2008 5:22 PM CST reply actions

Well, I guess I can update the title of the post

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 Bill Potter on Dec 12, 2008 5:24 PM CST up reply actions

not a fan

IMO Cotts is incredibly inconsistent and has not been effective through much of his MLB career. It may be nice that we held onto Cotts longer than the Sox held onto Aardsma but I don’t feel like Cotts is worth the money.

by dmlichte on Dec 12, 2008 6:05 PM CST up reply actions

The problem isn't Cotts -- it's Lou.

Cotts isn’t a LOOGY; he does better against RHBs than LHBs. Cotts’ major strength is as a 2 inning middle reliever (or even long relief), but Lou doesn’t use him that way.

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

by DeRoMyHero on Dec 12, 2008 7:25 PM CST up reply actions

well then the problem before Lou...

…. was also his previous managers. Cotts was total garbage except from the Sox World Series season. His career major league numbers are pretty much crap and its not just under Piniella.

by dmlichte on Dec 12, 2008 9:20 PM CST up reply actions

Gaudin is an interchangeable part and that is okay

If he is healthy and on his mix of pitches are good and he throws strikes.

To me as it stands the rotation is Z, Dempster, Lilly, Harden, Marquis (with Cubs looking to move a salary) and bullpen; Marmol, Gregg, Gaudin, Cotts, Marshall, Samardzija plus one from the AAA

On the AAA deck is Ascanio, Hart, Wuertz, Guzman, Mateo, Hill, Patton, Berg, Atkins, Foxx

Now the best thing to happen is Hill suddenly do a ONEDEC and reclaim his 2007 self and becomes the 5th pitcher giving the Cubs two lefties in the rotation and Marshall and Cotts in the pen.

On paper Guzman or Wuertz have the inside edge for the 12 man in the pen. Ascanio has developing stuff with Hart and Mateo not far behind.

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Dec 12, 2008 5:26 PM CST reply actions

Still holding on to that Rich Hill dream, huh?

There’s no way he gets near that pitching staff next year….

Whoever said you can't mix business with pleasure never owned a PuttPutt course---Andy Bernard

by carmen_fanzone on Dec 12, 2008 7:21 PM CST up reply actions

He's competing with Mark Prior as the Cubs towel driller

"Charles Tillman is one of the best strippers in the NFL" - John Madden 11/30/08 Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings game

by Chanman25 on Dec 12, 2008 8:00 PM CST up reply actions

yee of little faith, there have been turnarounds

but of course athletes always amaze.

I am not saying he is going to do it, but he showed ability to perform and why it was lost means it can be found again…..

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Dec 12, 2008 10:51 PM CST up reply actions

Except if your name is Steve Blass....

…..it would be a great story, but the fact that he was so consistently horrible last year at every level he played doesn’t get my hopes up.

Whoever said you can't mix business with pleasure never owned a PuttPutt course---Andy Bernard

by carmen_fanzone on Dec 13, 2008 5:08 AM CST up reply actions

And, horrible in winter ball, too.

Sometimes a player with physical talent just can’t perform because of what’s in his head. It happened to Steve Sax and Chuck Knoblauch, too.

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

by Al Yellon on Dec 13, 2008 5:30 AM CST up reply actions

I hope Hill gets a shot at least

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Dec 12, 2008 8:27 PM CST up reply actions

he will in spring training but

he has to be on from the beginning…..last straw

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Dec 12, 2008 10:52 PM CST up reply actions

Im Chuck James, bitch!

Some interesting non-tendered pitchers so far

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Dec 12, 2008 6:52 PM CST reply actions

So long, Chris Crapuano!

"Charles Tillman is one of the best strippers in the NFL" - John Madden 11/30/08 Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings game

by Chanman25 on Dec 12, 2008 7:42 PM CST reply actions

caouano

ought to go be a waiter, he would great at it cause he sure knows how to serve it up.

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 Dec 12, 2008 8:37 PM CST up reply actions

This is a great post.

After all the winter talks, it is nice to see a post that includes (1) actual links and (2) insight besides quoting the source. Thanks.

Dan

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Dec 13, 2008 12:07 AM CST reply actions

My guess, hope, prayer

is that Cotts is moved and Hendry eventually makes a move for a real LH bullpen arm before the season begins. I agree with the comments above that the Cubs have no LOOGY even with Cotts sitting in the bullpen.

If Cotts is our LH arm when we get to June, I will feel a bit sick. I already have the butterflies just thinking about it.

"When you are in a hole, stop digging." - anon.

by LAcarl519 on Dec 13, 2008 8:01 AM CST reply actions