I don't see all three of the Lieber/Marquis/Dempster trio working out--I'd like to have some insurance.

Plus, everyone wants starting pitching at the trade deadline. Some team will be desperate enough to ignore the salary and the second half collapses.

I'm not saying I wouldn't trade him now for something the Cubs could use, but I don't see the need to get rid of him ASAP, for any price within reason. Unless, of course, he really has become a clubhouse cancer.

Realistically his contract is not that bad. Unfortunately it just came in a year in which starting pitching was highly overvalued. This season most teams opted to trade for starters and didn't overvalue pitchers like Lohse and Fogg. It should be noted that most people expected both of those pitchers to receive contracts roughly equal to or in excess of what Marquis got last year. If that had happened, you'd see fewer complaints.

..there should be no hurry to unload any pitching. Its worth its weight in gold.

With Marquis history of strong starts, ride the hot hand and perhaps save Leibers arm for later in the season. (remember he only pitched 71 innings last year)

Lou knows what he's doing here...no worries

I also think Lou is thinking long term. Sure we could trade all our "extra" talent away, but when someone gets injured it's nice to know Lieber is there. Plus a 38 yr old isn't going to be pitching succesfully for much longer, so why crown him as a starter, trade Marquis and then next season probably start someone who isn't ready? I like Lou's move here.

I know of one.

and frankly, at this point I don't think that Jason is going anywhere. Numerous sources are reporting that there is ABSOLUTELY no market for him right now, so for at least the next few months at least he's more valuable to us in the rotation.

Besides, the cost is sunk, and he's effectively been limited by being named the fifth starter. At 25-28 starts max, we might actually get a better Marquis for the money.

waiting to happen all over again. Now he could get lucky and up his value and the Angels could have 3 more pitchers get injured and be willing to trade anything for Marquis, but the odds are more likely that Marquis value is at its height right now and if what Damen says above is true - that there still is no market, well, then that's bad news.

In response to this post, it's not that Marquis' value goes up by being named a starter; it's that Hendry's leverage went up.

Marshall makes a lot of sense as a swing man. Lieber makes a lot of sense as a better rotation option than Jason Marquis.

would be to free up some salary room if, as has been conjectured, they are at their budget limit and can't add anyone else. Of course, that means that there is no reason to trade him in a deal that requires the Cubs to eat his contract.

for trying to get rid of marquis--as with most jobs in this world a boss dont sit to kindly with ultimatums. marquis has a shitty attitude.