Cubs interested in Saito?

(h/t mlbtr)

Reportedly, Cubs are showing interest in Takashi Saito. I'd be very pleased with such an addition. He was still effective enough last year. Yes, the FIP was fairly high, and he's getting older, but I don't recall reports of his stuff dropping considerably (his velocity stayed about the same). At the very least, it would provide another option to Guzman/Grabow as setup men, a combination that worries me as of now. And who knows, maybe a return to the NL would be a good move for him.

about 2 years ago toonsterwu 9 comments 0 recs |

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Effective, but

He would also provide a useful Fukufriend, but isn’t center field a more pressing concern within the limitations of the budget?

Numbers may not lie, but they don’t tell the whole truth (and nothing but the truth), either. -- Doug Glanville

by leothelip on Nov 29, 2009 12:46 PM CST reply actions

Possibly.

I would point out that those interested in him who weren’t interested in Brendan Donnelly, Donnelly is two years younger and his numbers in 2009 were better than Saito’s.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Nov 29, 2009 12:46 PM CST reply actions

he also pitched

in a far friendlier pitchers park and not in the AL east

oh and Donnelly hasn’t thrown more than 25 1/3 big league innings in over 3 years

by DartmouthCubsFan on Nov 29, 2009 11:04 PM CST up reply actions

Mainly because of the TJ surgery...

…. a surgery from which pitchers often come back stronger.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Nov 30, 2009 7:43 AM CST up reply actions

he could certainly

i’m just suggesting that when you’re saying he was “better” than Saito in 2009 you’re not taking into account innings or where the numbers were accrued.

Both would be fine low-cost additions to the bullpen, and I’d much prefer bringing in 4-5 guys like this than spend 3.75 million on Grabow.

The Marlins built a pretty good bullpen last season on castaways, Oakland usually is able to do the same thing. I’d prefer to take those routes than the one the Cubs do which is spend a lot in FA on replacement level assets

by DartmouthCubsFan on Nov 30, 2009 3:02 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs