Wandy Rodriguez on Waivers

by benny99boy on Aug 21, 2011 8:35 AM CDT

Apparently Wandy Rodriguez was put on Waivers by the Astros. I know the article is about the Cardinals, but we could use someone like him especially in the wake of the Zambrano blowout. He is scheduled to make 10.5 in 2012 and 13.5 in 2013. He is 32 now but could have 3-4 good years left. I think he's worth a shot, what do you all think?

http://www.fungoes.net/2011/08/20/why-wandy-would-work/

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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With Zambrano still on the roster I say no.

That is still a lot of money to take on for this team. I wouldn’t hamper the new GM with a deal he may not want. Rodriguez’s deal isn’t such a great bargain that the Cubs need to jump on it.

John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.

by rlpete on Aug 21, 2011 8:49 AM CDT reply actions

I agree...

thats a lot of money for the next two years.

by sports_aficionado on Aug 23, 2011 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd be ok with signing Wandy,

But not now. The Cubs have too many other issues to resolve and don’t need to be taking on big contracts for mediocre players. Unless we are trading Z or Soriano, lets wait to make any deals until we have a new GM in place.

"Whenever one finds himself in the majority, it is time to step back and reflect," Mark Twain.

by WindisBlowingOut! on Aug 21, 2011 8:51 AM CDT reply actions

wandy rodriguez isn't mediocre

he’s been one of the better pitchers in the national league over the last four seasons (16th in WAR) and is signed to a very reasonable contract.

by circuitclout on Aug 21, 2011 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions

But at $11mil+ a year

is that an additional contract this team needs to take on?

"Whenever one finds himself in the majority, it is time to step back and reflect," Mark Twain.

by WindisBlowingOut! on Aug 21, 2011 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions

it's market value

when compared to what guys like ted lilly and randy wolf have gotten. rodriguez eats innings, gets groundballs, strikes guys out and gives his team a chance to win just about every time out. its easy to spend other people’s money but i’d rather take rodriguez and the cost-certainty of the contract rather than trying to buy a similar pitcher in free agency.

by circuitclout on Aug 21, 2011 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions

Might even be slightly below market value.

"Prince Fielder is too fat even for the Oakland A’s" - Billy Beane

by ol Pete on Aug 21, 2011 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Nah...

by TJ11 on Aug 21, 2011 8:54 AM CDT reply actions

With Hendry, yes

Without, no need.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Aug 21, 2011 8:58 AM CDT reply actions

I laughed at this

First, if the Cardinals are going to seriously try to catch the Brewers this year, they’re going to need help — and not simply a minor improvement — in their rotation.

The Cardinals aren’t catching the Brewers this year. Who is he kidding?

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by Al Yellon on Aug 21, 2011 8:59 AM CDT reply actions

Not with Theriot startingt

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Aug 21, 2011 9:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Theriot's an MVP candidate.

never forget...
1.7%
anything is possible...

by wrigleyrocker12 on Aug 21, 2011 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions

Cardinals better be concerned they don't catch the Cubs.

Good job, Tom...now on to the manager problem.

by Easy Ed on Aug 21, 2011 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Nope they're not

plus the Brewers just swept the Mets leaving the Cards 9 games back. Hopefully after tonight, it’ll be 9.5!

by Swoosie on Aug 21, 2011 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions

I've always liked Wandy.

He’s a lefty battler who could very well have a couple of Lilly-esque seasons left in him. I’d definitely look into picking him up.

Baseball is pitching, hitting, baserunning and defense.

by daver on Aug 21, 2011 2:24 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

on second thought,

I’d oppose picking him up since the new GM should be making moves like that.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Aug 21, 2011 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions

So you're saying Randy Bush should not be allowed to make any moves?

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by Al Yellon on Aug 21, 2011 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions

No.

I wouldn’t think it would be wise to ‘burden’ the new GM with a contract the new GM wouldn’t want.

Trading Grabow for a guy in his 4th year in the Dominican League would be fine. That wouldn’t handicap (Friedman).

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Aug 21, 2011 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions

it's a business

and work doesn’t just stop because a change is being made in the organization. if the new GM is going to report to tom ricketts then there should be no problem making decisions now with ricketts having the final say. the cubs essentially have three open spots in the rotation so the new GM will still have the opportunity to fill out 2/5ths of the rotation once he takes over.

by circuitclout on Aug 21, 2011 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions

He should be allowed to.

He should realize he is an short timer.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Aug 21, 2011 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Obviously, he realizes that.

Any deal made now is going to be dumping a veteran for prospects.

There wouldn’t be any “burden” taken on at this point.

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by Al Yellon on Aug 21, 2011 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Not marginal ones like this that hit the team with payroll for several years in the future

by ClarkFan on Aug 21, 2011 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions

This wouldn't be a marginal move

Wandy would step in and replace the Lopez/Davis/Coleman spot in the rotation. That’s a massive upgrade.

Pat Riley is the devil.

by Poloplaya14 on Aug 21, 2011 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions

By the time we get a new GM, Wandy may no longer be available.

Opportunities to get pitchers of his caliber don’t come around all that often. We should at least explore it. To not even consider it would be a huge mistake IMO.

Pat Riley is the devil.

by Poloplaya14 on Aug 21, 2011 5:43 PM CDT up reply actions

i would

like wandy too but with the money these players make it’s very hard to pick some of these guys up.how about z even up?

by NOMAR on Aug 21, 2011 4:45 PM CDT reply actions

Z makes almost as much next year as Wandy will the next 2 years combined

I don’t see why the Astros would agree to that.

Pat Riley is the devil.

by Poloplaya14 on Aug 21, 2011 5:32 PM CDT up reply actions

I'd be for it.

It’s a large contract, sure, but it’s more than reasonable. He’d have to produce about 5 WAR over the next two years to be worth his contract. I think that’s a fairly low bar for him.

Pat Riley is the devil.

by Poloplaya14 on Aug 21, 2011 5:37 PM CDT reply actions

If he clears waivers, I'd be okay with it, I guess.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Aug 21, 2011 9:32 PM CDT reply actions

If he clears waivers...

what exactly would the Cubs have to offer the Astros to out-bid other teams that might need him and can take advantage of how desperate the Astros are to unload payroll? The only way the Cubs get him is to claim him and every cent of his contract for the next three years… doing one of our rivals a huge favor.

--------------------------------
Just North of Wrigley Field

by jameslcrockett on Aug 22, 2011 5:11 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

You don't need to out bid every other team.

If you win the waiver claim, you are the only team that can negotiate for him. If Houston pulls him back, they can keep him or put him back on waivers. If they put him back on waivers and he is claimed, they can not pull him back.

by bdlugz on Aug 22, 2011 8:43 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm pretty sure I started off my post with...

“If he clears waivers…”

Yep… that’s what it says alright.

If the Cubs “win the waiver claim”, Houston will saddle the Cubs with every cent of his salary for the next 3 years and not think twice about it. They’re desperate to cut payroll since they can’t get rid of Lee anymore than the Cubs can get rid of Soriano, and he’ll account for a minimum of 1/3 of their payroll next year.

--------------------------------
Just North of Wrigley Field

by jameslcrockett on Aug 22, 2011 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions

No need to act like a jerk because I misread your post.

by bdlugz on Aug 23, 2011 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions

its not an act

by circuitclout on Aug 23, 2011 2:05 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Pass

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Aug 22, 2011 7:42 AM CDT reply actions

Anyone willing to try out Paul Maholm instead of C.J. Wilson this offseason?

He’ll probably come much cheaper, for a player who isn’t THAT much worse. I suppose we could get both as well.

never forget...
1.7%
anything is possible...

by wrigleyrocker12 on Aug 22, 2011 2:45 PM CDT reply actions

Either way, I trust

Friedman/Cashman/Cherington to bring in quality at a lower price than JH.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Aug 22, 2011 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Wilson's a lot better than Maholm

You gotta factor in the difference between pitching in the NL and in the AL. But if the bidding for Wilson gets out of control, Maholm wouldn’t be a bad plan B.

Pat Riley is the devil.

by Poloplaya14 on Aug 22, 2011 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions