Question: available starting pitchers; any of them worthwhile?

I am reasonably close to the situation of one of the above options mentioned and unless he signs in two locations of his choosing, at the salary of his choosing, he will simply retire. The Cubs are not one of those two teams and as such, he’s not an option.

At this point I’d much rather try and get through to Lilly then add an aging veteran with sore arm. We have some kids. Let them fight it out, see if anyone wants the job. Plus, we have some built in off days in the first two weeks of the season, we can get by missing a start or two from the fifth starter spot.

While I don’t think they will blow as many games as the Cubs did last year, I think there’s a lack of a experience in there. I’d love to have a veteran presence on the team in the bullpen.

That being said, I don’t want us to overpay or pay for someone who will blow games. Perhaps having unknowns pitch could be to our benefit at least early on. It will be a challenge for teams to fully be prepared for some of our guys.

of those 3 I would say that Pedro is not an option at all as I don’t think he would consider the Cubs at all.

Never been impressed with Looper at all. I wouldn’t consider him an acceptable arm for the rotation, even short term, or bullpen. The Cubs already have an arm (Silva) in the pen that will have trouble keeping his ERA below 5.

Washburn….maybe as teams get deeper into spring training his price will come down. And then what does he do after Lilly comes back? Would he willingly go to the pen….or if he has experience relieving, handle pitching in relief.

But, I don’t see a reason to try and find a repacement for Lilly in the rotation unless his new knee issue is more serious than reported. If Lilly is really on a time table to miss a couple of weeks at most, another starter isn’t a pressing issue. With days off, rain/snow outs a 5th starter is not always a pressing problem. I really don’t even see a problem with using a different pitcher every time (kind of a match up situation depending on the team they are facing) the Cubs need a 5th starter until Lilly is ready to pitch.

I’d rather save money for the draft than grab an older guy that has more questions than answers. At least until we sense a need. Perhaps Park (or someone else) if on the cheap.

The Cubs do not have enough quality pitching in 2010. They simply don’t. That being the case I certainly would have interest in taking a flyer on people like Chan Ho Park, Pedro Martinez and Jarrod Washburn….all pitchers who would come at a bargain rate at this stage. None will be miracle workers, but there is no question they would be a boost to a inexcusably thin starting rotation and bullpen situation.