The Cubs 2 Free Agents

by cubstoseriesby100 on Jul 14, 2008 8:26 AM CDT

As we all know the Cubs have 2 major free agents after the season.

Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood.

Both cause interesting dillemas.

Ryan Dempster is outperforming I think even the expectations of the President of his fan club. A lot of his unexpected success is due to him changing his diet and excercise and working his butt off in the off season.

How much might someone overpay him in December? Does Hendry sit down with him and his agent possibly Thursday and get the parameters of a contract extension worked on?

From everything we hear from him Dempster loves being a Cub and loves Chicago and is grateful to the Cubs for giving him the initial comeback chance in 04. He might take a hometown discount but how many dollars will be waved at him if he goes on the market?

Kerry Wood is doing better than anyone expected and so far has not experienced any elbow or shoulder problems. But there's the niggle naggle of worry about his injury history.

How much of a risk does Hendry take and sign him before the free agent period begins?

I say at least sit down with both guys and their agents sometime this month and get an idea what it might take to sign them now and take it from there.

If we resign them the biggest free agent to be is Hendry himself.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue, or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief. FanPost opinions are, however, valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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This is getting way ahead of ourselves.

There are games to be won. This sort of thing would just be a distraction.

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

by Al on Jul 14, 2008 8:37 AM CDT 0 recs

Yes

Yes but I worry constantly and with 4 days of no Cubs games I have to worry about something :).

Go Cubs

by cubstoseriesby100 on Jul 14, 2008 9:45 AM CDT up 0 recs

Do yourself a favor.

Go outside today and enjoy the beautiful weather and don’t worry about the Cubs.

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

by Al on Jul 14, 2008 10:04 AM CDT up 0 recs

Actually

Actually have a great day planned.

But I was just musing. I was kind of kidding about the worry part.

Go Cubs

by cubstoseriesby100 on Jul 14, 2008 10:14 AM CDT up 0 recs

I think they'll both be back

But i doubt anything will be done during this season. I think Dempster will most certainly be back, and if Kerry Wood was going to play for the Rangers, he wouldve done so by now.

Its hard to imagine either one of them somewhere else and theres no doubt Dempster has made himself a ton of money this year, I think he’ll be one of the guys who stays due to the allure of wrigleyfield/cubdom etc. Wood is a bit harder b/c there is an in-house replacement for him, but hes been here since Day 1, so if he were to test the market, I dont think anyone could really hold it against him b/c he’s given his all to the team, whether he was healthy or not.

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 Jul 14, 2008 9:19 AM CDT 0 recs

In house

Let’s hope this in house replacement returns to his previous form.

Go Cubs

by cubstoseriesby100 on Jul 14, 2008 9:39 AM CDT up 0 recs

Definitely

They’ve been too big for this team to let them go.

"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti

by wrigleyrocker12 on Jul 14, 2008 9:51 AM CDT up 0 recs

Not worried, but a question

I do wonder how compensation for Dempster and Wood would work, if they become free agents and sign with another team.

Both are certainly performing in the top 20% at their respective positions, but the criteria for Type A or Type B free agents is supposed to be based on the previous 2 years’ performance. Dempster was a relief pitcher last year and Wood was certainly not in the top 20% of relief pitchers last year.

by John in DC on Jul 14, 2008 10:11 AM CDT 0 recs

I don't think we'll have to worry about it.

I think Hendry will resign both to home town discounts.

by inukjim on Jul 14, 2008 10:16 AM CDT up 0 recs

I agree.

With Demp & Woody performing as well they are, and will continue to, barring tragedy, there would be no reason for Hendry not to pony-up. Besides, both Wood and Demp are loyal guys who have shown they want to be on the Cubs. They will both be back.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 14, 2008 10:27 AM CDT up 0 recs

Dempsters v Lilly

Hes gonna command at least a 10M/yr deal like Meche or Lilly received, especially if he ends up with say, 18 wins or so, even 15.

I am quite frankly shocked at how well he’s done, but I do think he can be an above avg starter, so I hope they do what it takes to get him b/c I dont see Veal or Samardzija being ready to start next 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 Jul 14, 2008 1:51 PM CDT up 0 recs

Woody and Demp

Wood will stay….................he seems to be a Cub for life and I think that will be an easy decision for both sides. If he continues to excel it would be a disastrous PR move by the Cubs to let him walk.

I think Dempster will be a tough one. While I agree he seems to love being a Cub and might give up some $$ to stay here he won’t give up TOO much. If he wins 16-20 games he will command a fortune on the open market. With Harden here next year the Cubs have a ton tied up in starting pitching with Z,Harden,Lilly and probably still Marquis. I’d love to see Demp stay but I don’t see it. Plus…......at some point Marshall and.Samardjia will probably get a chance as well…......perhaps next season

by plenz on Jul 14, 2008 10:52 AM CDT 0 recs

If Dempster wins 16-20 games....

we have to let him go. There’s no guarantee that he won’t be the next Kent Bottenfield

by tootle on Jul 14, 2008 11:15 AM CDT up 0 recs

Or we could do what the Cards did with Bottenfield.

He was traded to get Edmonds. Maybe we could do the same with Demp, turn him into Josh Hamilton or someone like that. (I know, wishful thinking.)

by inukjim on Jul 14, 2008 11:40 AM CDT up 0 recs

no we don't.

if he wins 16-20 games, we WANT HIM. There’s no guarantee he won’t regress, I suppose, but there’s also no guarantee he won’t. Demp and Z provide a firewall against the loss of Hill, the never-ending Marquis saga and the possibility that Harden might put his shirt on the wrong way and end up on the DL for two months.

"We expect to win. We go out to win. So we're just living up to our own expectations." Derrek Lee, 5/29/08

by drewishdrewid on Jul 14, 2008 1:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

plus

there probably won’t be any extensions give during this year with new ownership on the horizon

by plenz on Jul 14, 2008 10:55 AM CDT 0 recs

I think Demp stays

and Lilly goes.

"We expect to win. We go out to win. So we're just living up to our own expectations." Derrek Lee, 5/29/08

by drewishdrewid on Jul 14, 2008 11:14 AM CDT 0 recs

I agree with you drew.

And in answer to above that surmises that Marquis will be probably be around next year: let me put it this way; Marquis will likely be gone before the trade deadline.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 14, 2008 11:22 AM CDT up 0 recs

I sure hope so.

I was pleased with his last performance, but I just don’t see him being more productive next year than he was this year so far.

"We expect to win. We go out to win. So we're just living up to our own expectations." Derrek Lee, 5/29/08

by drewishdrewid on Jul 14, 2008 1:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

Marquis could turn bad again...

AT ANY MOMENT. He continues to show that he is not coachable, which is a problem. Frankly, I’m surprised that Hendry hasn’t traded him yet.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 14, 2008 1:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

I agree

Marquis is Rex Grossman. He can come out and be very good or he’ll come out and look like shit. He’s way too erratic. That said, there’s a lot of talk about him being DFA’d but I don’t think his pitching has warranted that reaction. A trade, absolutely. Not DFA’d. He’s got to have some value, doesn’t he?

"Please move away from this vector and get into another coordinate pronto. There's no access for you in this quadrant." Mike Donnelly

by McRipper on Jul 14, 2008 2:04 PM CDT up 0 recs

If Marquis is DFA'd...

which I brought last week, it does not preclude him being traded. On the contrary, DFA’ing him might allow the Cubs to get the other team to take on some of his money for next year. In trading Marquis the main consideration is the money for next year. The Cubs need another team to take on a chunk of his money for next to allow the flexibility to sign Demp back, if Demp commands Meche money, ($10 million), which I think is questionable.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 14, 2008 2:13 PM CDT up 0 recs

Hmmm

I guess I don’t really understand DFA. I thought that since he’s a veteran he can’t be assigned unless he agrees to it in which either the Cubs would have to release him or trade him. But I don’t really know much about it so i’m probably wrong.

"Please move away from this vector and get into another coordinate pronto. There's no access for you in this quadrant." Mike Donnelly

by McRipper on Jul 14, 2008 2:24 PM CDT up 0 recs

Not a lot of people understand...

DFA’ing. I only understand it because I decided to educate myself on it. He can refuse the assignment. Basically DFA’ing gives you 10 days to either trade him, release him outright, or designate him for assignment, (in this case to AAA Iowa). The main reason I think you DFA Marquis is because it opens up a roster spot for 10 days while you try to find a trade partner.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 14, 2008 2:30 PM CDT up 0 recs

So basically

if they DFA him and he refuses, the Cubs have 10 days to find a trade partner or they have to release him?

"Please move away from this vector and get into another coordinate pronto. There's no access for you in this quadrant." Mike Donnelly

by McRipper on Jul 14, 2008 2:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

Correct.

Or third, convince him to accept an assignment to AAA.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 14, 2008 2:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

does he have any options left?

"We expect to win. We go out to win. So we're just living up to our own expectations." Derrek Lee, 5/29/08

by drewishdrewid on Jul 14, 2008 2:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

That's a good question.

I’m ashamed to say I don’t know. I’ll check on it.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 14, 2008 3:29 PM CDT up 0 recs

How could Lilly Go

He still has 2 more years and 20 M more to go, I dont see how they could move that, when they cant even move marquis salary which is less in terms of time and money

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 Jul 14, 2008 3:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

Lilly

has a much higher upside to a lot of ball-clubs.

"We expect to win. We go out to win. So we're just living up to our own expectations." Derrek Lee, 5/29/08

by drewishdrewid on Jul 14, 2008 3:24 PM CDT up 0 recs

Dempster probably goes, Wood probably stays

Ryan Dempster is going to draw interest from teams. No doubt about it. And he should have zero problem getting at least Ted Lilly money from somebody, or in other words 4 years at $40 million. If I am Jim Hendry I take a pass at that rich pricetag. That’s too many years and too much risk exposure for Dempster. I love the guy as much as the next Cub fan, but at some point prudent thinking has to take over.

Kerry Wood? Well, given the dubious health of his right arm I would absolutely go no more than two years on a contract. I think he would accept that given his fondness for the Cubs and Chicago.

Rich Harden Fever, Catch It !!!!!!!!!!

by MDBNIU on Jul 14, 2008 2:05 PM CDT 0 recs

thank heavens

you’re no Jim Hendry.

"We expect to win. We go out to win. So we're just living up to our own expectations." Derrek Lee, 5/29/08

by drewishdrewid on Jul 14, 2008 2:17 PM CDT up 0 recs

I agree.

I don’t think that one year as a starter again, successful as it may be, will mean that Demp will command 10 million a year. On the contrary, I think he will be priced rather moderately. This is just my feeling, Blue Mike could be right, but I doubt it.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 14, 2008 2:33 PM CDT up 0 recs

he's in the last year

of a three year, $15.5 million contract.

Now, assuming he keeps his performance levels where they are RIGHT NOW - rather than regressing - I’d offer him another three year deal at 7.5 to 8 mill a year, and LOAD it with incentives. There’s no reason for him to not earn $10 mill a year if he performs.

"We expect to win. We go out to win. So we're just living up to our own expectations." Derrek Lee, 5/29/08

by drewishdrewid on Jul 14, 2008 2:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

I didn't state that.

However, that was my line of thinking. Thanks for the clarification.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 14, 2008 3:14 PM CDT 0 recs

Depends on who the new owner is.

If it’s Mark Cuban, both are probably back no matter what the price. If it’s anyone else… hard to say. But let’s just wait until November to worry about this, mmmkay?

"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game." - Walt Whitman

by hip2bsquare on Jul 14, 2008 3:22 PM CDT 0 recs