Thanks again for your insights.

At the start of the season, Ted Lilly will still be recovering from surgery and there is a question as to whether we will need another starter.  This may end up being particularly important if the younger kids at the end of the rotation fail.

The remaining options include:

Jarrod Washburn

Braden Looper

Pedro Martinez

I don't think the current managment has any interest in any of them.  However, I wanted to know what you all thought.

Washburn put up excellent numbers last year.  Well, that is until he was traded to Detroit when he started tanking.  He seems like a solid lefty that could fill in for Lilly to start the year and perhaps compete for the end of the rotation.  The Indians frequently took chances on players like this, with much to prove, with one year contracts (Scott Elarton, Kevin Milwood, and Carl Pavano come to mind).  Do you think he would be worth a low-cost signing?  I want to emphasize that I do not know much about Washburn, so don't flame me for my lack of knowledge.  It's why I'm asking.  But his numbers do look good.

Braden Looper I would think could be had for cheap.  He wants to come to Chicago, and again would be a one year signing for a player with a lot to prove.  He's also worked in the bullpen so I would think he'd be comfortable if the Cubs wanted to use him for a pen arm.  That said, he had the worst year of the three last year.

Martinez looked great last year.  I personally am a bit shocked that nobody is taking a flyer on him for a one year deal.  He didn't pitch very far into games, but was very effective nonetheless.  For a one year low-cost signing, I would think he'd be a good choice as a crafty veteran with tons of experience. 

I would think that any of these guys would be willing to take just about any major league contract at this point especially when the alternative is essentially retirement.  I wanted your thoughts as to what you thought of these three.

Personally, I'd love to see us go after one of these guys than Chan Ho Park.  A failed starter with one good bullpen year?  Ugh.  (Living in Cleveland, I have come to realize that having one good bullpen year means precious little.  There was a time when we all thought that Rafael Betancourt, Rafael Perez, Jensen Lewis, and Joe Borowski consituted the best bullpen in baseball.  That was 2007.  Bullpen arms can change in an instant. I also lived thorough Mike MacDougal in KC.  Thus, I really hope we don't go after Park.)