Juan Cruz could return to the Cubs?

by cubbiefan07 on Feb 16, 2009 10:26 PM CST

David Kaplan said on Sports Central that he wants to see the Cubs add Juan Cruz to the bullpen mix. Cruz played with the Cubs in 2001, 2002, and 2003. He was 4-0 with a 2.61 ERA in 57 games coming out of the pen for Arizona in 2008. The only drawback is that the Cubs would lose a draft pick because he is a Type A free agent. I would like this move, what do you guys think?

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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The guy is solid.

I’d be all for his return. He’s got an edge and I’d love to see that coming out of thwe pen.

"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked. "Oh, you can't help that," said the Cheshire Cat: "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."

by Hagen on Feb 16, 2009 10:42 PM CST reply actions

He'a actually a

type A. However, there may be a way to get him w/o giving up draft pick(s).

by dakoose on Feb 16, 2009 10:45 PM CST reply actions

yea that would be awesome

if we dont have to give up a pick i am all down.

"I played with one of the best pitchers in history, Greg Maddux," Zambrano said"

by fischisgod on Feb 16, 2009 10:56 PM CST up reply actions

Even if it is a pick, I'm in.

The clock is ticking on this group of players to get that ring. Recent history and not so recent history tells us that getting close is rare. The time is now to build the best monster possible.

"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked. "Oh, you can't help that," said the Cheshire Cat: "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."

by Hagen on Feb 16, 2009 11:00 PM CST up reply actions

no there is no reason to give a pick up at this point.

we dont have to

"I played with one of the best pitchers in history, Greg Maddux," Zambrano said"

by fischisgod on Feb 16, 2009 11:14 PM CST up reply actions

No sarcasm intended...can you elaborate on why we don't have to?

"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked. "Oh, you can't help that," said the Cheshire Cat: "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."

by Hagen on Feb 16, 2009 11:16 PM CST up reply actions

read the blue part of dakoose's post

its all explained there :) it jsut came down today.

Long story short you can sign and trade now. Like the NBA..

SPEAKING of the NBA (Bring Amare in for Tyrus (will never prosper) Gooden and a pick)

"I played with one of the best pitchers in history, Greg Maddux," Zambrano said"

by fischisgod on Feb 16, 2009 11:29 PM CST up reply actions

I was hoping for that...

…any rumor linked to the Bulls about acquiring a big name is kind of like Roberts/Peavy.

And, if that goes through, Cruz would be a nice get for the team.

by serbianking33 on Feb 17, 2009 12:13 AM CST up reply actions

i like the strength

and depth of our bullpen. we’ll find out how gregg handles the cubs atmostphere soon enough, but i see no reason to add juan cruz to our pen.

There's nothing wrong with this team that more pitching, more fielding and more hitting couldn't help......"--Bill Buckner

by laidbackliam on Feb 17, 2009 2:56 AM CST reply actions

OK, let's examine this post.

Kaplan said “he’d like to see it”? Anything more to it than that? If not, it’s baseless speculation.

I don’t think the Cubs have any room for another reliever. In fact, there are already too many candidates. I’d like to see Luis Vizcaino moved before the end of spring training, and I think that’s possible.

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

by Al Yellon on Feb 17, 2009 4:01 AM CST reply actions

Anything's possible, but that's pretty unlikely

Al, who is going to pay $4M for a mediocre middle reliever? The only reason the Cubs did it was to unload Marquis’ salary.

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Feb 17, 2009 5:38 AM CST up reply actions

Vizcaino

I think he’ll be gone at the trade deadline unless the pen has health issues in the first half. I’d love to see him gone before the end of ST, but it might be a tough sell…they’d have to eat some of his salary, I’m guessing. I guess all it takes is a team to have a few ST injuries and a little desperation to make a match.

I have nothing funny or creative to write.

by Canadian Cubs Fan on Feb 17, 2009 6:52 AM CST up reply actions

$4m isn't that much in today's market.

I think he’s movable.

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

by Al Yellon on Feb 17, 2009 7:34 AM CST up reply actions

depending on the circumstance Vizcaino can be moved probably in a package

Cubs probably would have to send $1/2 M for next year’s buy out, along with a player like Hart who does not have a place on this year’s roster….

The Sign and Trade thing is something new and developing in WaPo they discuss the multiple sign and trade scenarios.

The thing is it appears that the Twins really want Juan, not the Cubs.

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

by Ivy Walls on Feb 17, 2009 8:58 AM CST up reply actions

It's all that and way more in today's mkt

2-3 years ago? Sure, $4M isn’t that bad. Now? Look how teams have tightened the belt. It’s gonna get tighter. I look for lots of salary dumps earlier this season. It’s gonna be a blood bath.

Wait until the market gets a hold of this new spending bill. This is the most egregious finance-related thing I’ve seen Congress enact. You think the DOW at 7,800 is carnage when it was tickling 14k in early 4Q07? Try 4,000.

MLB’s 2009 season should be the first complete major league season that is impacted by the economic crisis.

We are in for an economic crisis not seen since WWII.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Feb 17, 2009 9:01 AM CST up reply actions

Wanna bet?

I don’t know what games I’m going to yet this year, but I’ll make sure to let you know.

I’ll bet a genuine 7-11 Slurpee that he breaks camp with the Cubs.

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Feb 17, 2009 9:40 AM CST up reply actions

Deal.

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

by Al Yellon on Feb 17, 2009 10:07 AM CST up reply actions

Excellent

One proviso — I mean including the DL.

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Feb 17, 2009 1:23 PM CST up reply actions

Lemme think about that.

He might get stashed on the DL because they don’t really want him in the pen, and they can’t trade him. We’ll never know that for sure, but that’s a conceivable scenario.

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

by Al Yellon on Feb 17, 2009 1:28 PM CST up reply actions

Ok, how about this?

If he starts out on the DL with a “mysterious” injury and never plays for the big league club, you win.

If he starts out with a “questionable” one, but pitches for the Cubs, we’ll call it a wash.

If he starts out with what we agree is a legitimate injury (I’ll trust you to be reasonable!), then I win.

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Feb 17, 2009 1:37 PM CST up reply actions

You've got a deal.

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

by Al Yellon on Feb 17, 2009 2:29 PM CST up reply actions

We have no money.

End of story. I don’t see any new pickups until Ricketts is officially the new owner, which I don’t anticipate until July at the earliest.

by reedjohnson on Feb 17, 2009 8:20 AM CST reply actions

Cruz

I was a big fan of his with the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. I’m surprised he didn’t pitch better for the Cubs. However, looking at the Cubs current financial situation, I think his return is unlikely.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Feb 17, 2009 8:38 AM CST reply actions

Heard MLB was considering some form of

sign-and-trade to help the type A FA’s. Think though the Twinkies are seriously in the mix for Cruz on a scenario like that.

For the Cubs however, I guess the snakes would rather see Cruz go somewhere else rather than get the 29th pick.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Feb 17, 2009 8:53 AM CST reply actions

Again, the Cubs are not going to be adding significant money

Forget Juan Cruz. It’s just not going to happen. Juan Cruz will land on his feet. Rumor is the New York Yankees are prepared to offer a three year deal.

by BLou on Feb 17, 2009 9:08 AM CST reply actions

We dont

need more righty relievers, we need a good dependable lefty.

I dont care who the new owner is as long as he/she/them come equipped with a Jake Peavy and a Joe Beimel!!!

by cubsluver22 on Feb 17, 2009 10:03 AM CST reply actions

word

unless cotts pitches every day

by doofus cubs guy on Feb 17, 2009 10:12 AM CST up reply actions

pitches

‘good’ every day

by doofus cubs guy on Feb 17, 2009 10:52 AM CST up reply actions

title : Juan Cruz could return to the Cubs?

David Kaplan said on Sports Central that he wants to see the Cubs add Juan Cruz to the bullpen mix.

Hahaha seriously?

by xene on Feb 17, 2009 10:30 AM CST reply actions

Kaplan

has turned into a corporate fanny kisser. he’s sold his soul to the devil to kiss the butts of the large fannies that sit in the corporate board room.

The only thing more egregious than David Kaplan on Sports Central is David Kaplan on CTL.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Feb 17, 2009 10:36 AM CST up reply actions

Agreed

I like Dave Kaplan. But his act of trying to be bold and brash ain’t cuttin’ it. Neither is his ass kissing.

by BLou on Feb 17, 2009 10:46 AM CST up reply actions

Why do you say that about Kap?

How’s he being a “fanny kisser” by speculating that Cruz could return to the Cubs.

by cubbiefan07 on Feb 17, 2009 10:38 AM CST reply actions

Cruz' speculation is just the tip

of the iceberg. He tries to act like he knows what he’s talking about but then has no substance to support his statements.

It’s not nearly as much about wanting Cruz as is his whole approach on any topic.

I won’t even begin to mention his utter lack of knowledge when hockey comes up in the discussion. Some nights I almost wish he’d skip pucks-n-sticks cause it gets painful to listen to him.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Feb 17, 2009 11:11 AM CST up reply actions

Yep

Kaplan is king of Cubbie rumor mongerers.

by BLou on Feb 17, 2009 11:14 AM CST up reply actions

Most sports personalities in this town do not know much about hockey.

Brian McRae's 5 o'clock shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Feb 18, 2009 9:38 AM CST up reply actions

It's not "speculating"...

… because it’s not based on any rumor that he’s even heard from inside info. It’s not much more that people here saying, “I want soandso”. Except he has a radio show and we don’t.

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

by Al Yellon on Feb 17, 2009 1:30 PM CST up reply actions

Maybe you should put subliminal messages on the AM news

Hell, it could be more effective than what Kaplan’s doing. Imagine if Crane Kenny is watching WLS, and suddenly has the uncontrollable urge to create “Free Slurpee Friday” for the bleachers . . . .

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Feb 17, 2009 1:39 PM CST up reply actions