With Marquis officially a Rockie, and rampant speculation on the Internets, not being helped by Hendry's intentionally vague language regarding the 5th slot in the rotation, I began to get a little juiced thinking about another starter. Shoot for the moon with Peavy? Pick up an innings horse like Tim Redding, who probably would make us wish we had Marquis back?

Here are my candidates. What do you think?

UPDATE: I done added a poll.

1)  Jake Peavy

Probably the number one choice of most people, if we can afford him. Turns our rotation into probably the best in the league (SF and the Yanks might have something to say about that.) My first choice as well, and he obviously would love to be here.

2)  Derek Lowe

I'd love to have him, but I can't see *any* way he comes here unless he decides he would trade ivy for the big lettuce he's looking to make. He's not as good as Peavy,  but he might be the best fit of anyone out there, all things (playoff experience, groundball pitcher) considered.

3)  Andy Pettitte

Hmmmmm. I don't know how much he has left, but even if it's a little, he'd be a great 5th starter on a contender. Knows how to win, pitches with his left arm. Might still be too expensive if he actually did turn down 10 million from the Yankees. I hope the Cubs at least kick the tires on him.

4)  Braden Looper

My first reaction is that he'd also fit very nicely at the back end of our rotation, but then I remember having him on my fantasy team and how he often pitches only 5 or 6 innings. That might be a jaded memory or maybe I am remembering wrong, but it seems like we'd be into the bullpen a lot sooner than with some other guys, and we already have a guy like that in Harden.

5) Tim Redding

Incredibly unsexy eater of innings. He's fairly steady, but it would be pretty disappointing after all the fun speculation about who might be available to end up with this guy. If I didn't think we'd need Gaudin for spot starts and long relief, I'd prefer Gaudin over him.

6) Chad Gaudin

I certainly think he can do the job well enough, but not having him in the pen for 2 or 3 inning stints when needed hurts the team I think, especially when he's not likely to pitch more than 6 innings himself, thereby magnifyling his absence from the pen.

7) Sean Marshall

I don't know what to think about him. I'd really love to see him get a shot at being a full time starter; at the very least we can see if he's any good at it. BUT, we might make better use of him in the pen. I still don't trust Cotts very much. It's times like these it would be great to have Sean Gallagher back. Of course, then we'd still need another starter or two...

8)  You tell me!