Cubs, Matt Garza Avoid Arbitration
by Al Yellon on Feb 3, 2012 9:04 AM CST
in Chicago Cubs News
Email
Print
The Theo Epstein/Jed Hoyer era in Chicago begins with the team avoiding any arbitration hearings. The last unsigned player was Matt Garza, and this tweet from his agent gives the scoop on Garza's deal:
@CAA_Baseball
CAA Baseball Matt Garza agrees to $9.5 Million contract + Performance Bonuses to avoid arbitration. #Cubs #MLB
Favorite Retweet
The Cubs had offered $7.95 million and Garza had asked for $12.5 million; the midpoint of those was $10.225 million, so the settlement is somewhat less than that, although the unspecified "performance bonuses" could presumably make up the difference.
Just 15 days until pitchers and catchers report to Mesa to begin workouts.
121 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Always makes me wonder . . .
. . . who blinked at the last minute, you know?
Glad to have this taken care of.
In consequence, I'm inclined to reserve all judgments, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me and also made me the victim of not a few veteran bores. - Nick Carraway
It's just about the midpoint
… so it sounds like a fair compromise.
Join us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation's Baseball Nation
What team will he have to play for, in order to get that post-season performance bonus?
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
Good Job Theo!
Always good to avoid Arb
"I've got a head full of whiskey and some bad ideas" - Scott Holt
Works for me.
Now, let’s sign a Cuban outfielder and get to Mesa.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
by elgato on Feb 3, 2012 9:40 AM CST reply actions 2 recs
a couple of cuban outfielders please.
hey, just sayin.
I bet we get one, not both.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
I see what you did there.
Not funny, Tim. :)
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
Sounds like Kosuke will be a Met or back in Japan.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
Boom.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/02/latest-on-mets-search-for-outfield-bat.html
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
No problem.
It sounds a tad speculative, but I stand by my original comments because, well, I’ve seen nothing else to indicate any other team is interested in Kosuke.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
The only other team that makes some sense for him is the A's.
But I have not seen him specifically linked to them.
Join us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation's Baseball Nation
Do the A's need another OFer?
I know Oakland digs walks, but still …
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
Brace yourself - A's might be where Manny ends up
Makes very little sense, but then again, when’s the last time anything involving Manny made sense? In that concrete stadium, before a dwindling fan base, and probably sub-500 record, it might be the perfect place to just let Manny be Manny…
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Of course, he couldn't play until almost June.
Join us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation's Baseball Nation
Its a Joke
MLB is letting him halve his suspension. He ran off and “retired” when he was caught. Now he comes back and he only has to serve half the suspension. What a joke.
plus he can play in the MInors
for part of it. I dont agree with that part of the drug suspension policy
Condoms prevent minivans
by Cubbie-Tim on Feb 3, 2012 9:37 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Agreed...very much
Not enough teeth to the policy
There are no facts, only interpretations.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Lets Go Theo!!! 10/13/2011
im just trying to get him back for you
since you owe him a ride to the airport still
Condoms prevent minivans
I think the greater BCB community ...
will be happier without the routine elgato rants about Kosuke, don’t you? :)
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
depends
if we sign him today, and can trade him minutes after re-introducing him at Wrigley to the Mets and you get to drive him as promised, then it wont be too much, and hopefully you have a good story about your driving him to the airport
Condoms prevent minivans
cuz we all know how much you are hurting inside for not being able
to drive him when he was traded
Condoms prevent minivans
Funny thing:
I don’t even own a car anymore.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
Zipcar, probably.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
I use Hourcar here in St. Paul
It’s a nice alternative. There are four within walking distance, they’re generally clean and well-kept, and it’s a monthly fee plus hourly/mileage based on use.
Now if only some of the other users could learn the basics of diagonal parking!
A Perfect Storm...
June 27, 2012 – Wrigley Field, top of 5th inning, Mets 8 – Cubs 5; one on, one out.
Rodrigo Lopez on the mound for the Cubs; Kosuke Fukudome at the plate for the Mets.
And Security is summoned to the left-field corner of the bleachers to separate elgato and Al…
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Feb 3, 2012 12:12 PM CST up reply actions 6 recs
At least you know that I'd be rooting for the Cub in that situation. ;)
Al would probably want Kosuke to go yard to put RoLo further down the depth chart!
Just kidding, Al.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
or want to see CLiff Johnson
climb the fence in front of the new stats board in RF to make a catch ala Major League 2
Condoms prevent minivans
Bring in the
Rule 5 guy
10-25-2011. Theo Epstein joins the Cubs. Now, the fun begins.
I luld
~Ronald Reagan has held the two most demeaning jobs in the country; President of the United States and radio broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs~ George F. Will
by unretrofied93 on Feb 3, 2012 1:35 PM CST up reply actions
Hey!
You’d probably be on Sheffield, waiting for Kosuke’s blast off RoLo. But you’d never get it, because he’d hit it high onto one of the rooftops…
Join us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation's Baseball Nation
by Al Yellon on Feb 3, 2012 1:40 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
How dare you talk that way about our No. 3 starter!
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
I think Fukudome has always been Japanese ...
for “Jacque Jones.”
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
I'm well aware.
I was just joking.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
You probably would have driven Jones to the airport, too.
Join us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation's Baseball Nation
I honestly thought JJ got a bad rap.
He was good in 2006 and had a ton of clutch hits down the stretch in 2007.
I’m not saying he was a better player than Kosuke — just that he wasn’t as personally annoying to me. That’s partly because BCBers didn’t constantly find new and weirder ways to justify Jones’ contract.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
He's bringing in millions...
…from Minnesota tourists!
"[The Cubs] have a very famous tradition in baseball, and it will be nice to be part of turning it around." ~ Jamie Quirk, Bench Coach
Jones was when I started getting fed up with Hendry.
But I think your evaluation is fair.
DUMP GARZA. CORRECT THE COSMIC WRONG.
I think the greater BCB community
is far better off with less Koyie Hill rants than Dome rants. :)
The Stat Pack
by shoemile on Oct 21, 2011 10:10 PM CDT
by Madison Cub Fan on Feb 3, 2012 9:01 PM CST up reply actions
I never really jumped on the anti-Koyie bandwagon.
I just didn’t care that much. He sucked, but he wasn’t a guy who precipitated a bunch of subsequent moves to dull the blunt of his failed contract. Koyie also didn’t get a litany of ridiculous excuses around here (though he got some).
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
by elgato on Feb 4, 2012 10:32 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
You are right about the last sentence
I guess I was thinking more of my rants about Hill, BCB is better off with out it.
Plus starting OF who made 10’s of millions and sucked, normally would be things discussed on baseball website.
I doubt there has or ever will be as much time spent discussing a back up catcher.
The Stat Pack
by shoemile on Oct 21, 2011 10:10 PM CDT
by Madison Cub Fan on Feb 4, 2012 2:13 PM CST up reply actions
but there was that one post a while back
it was a million words on Koyie, some great comments in it as well, wish i could remember the title to it.
Condoms prevent minivans
Although this is good news
I would’ve rather seen “Cubs, Matt Garza Avoid Arbitration by Signing Extension”
~Ronald Reagan has held the two most demeaning jobs in the country; President of the United States and radio broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs~ George F. Will
That's my thought and what now?
Is Garza not in our long range plans? Is this a sign and trade just waiting for July? If not Garza who (for 2013 and beyond)? Would he not agree to anything more than one year? If he’s not in our plans past this season, what is the plan for TeamTheo going forward?
A lot of questions I know. But, I like having him back but curious to why we couldn’t get a longer extension.
We'll miss you Big Boy. #10 is going into the Hall of Fame!!
Maybe sitting back and watching next years FA pitcher class
and the big name I’d keel over and die for if he made it to the north side, Mr. Josh Hamilton.
~Ronald Reagan has held the two most demeaning jobs in the country; President of the United States and radio broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs~ George F. Will
by unretrofied93 on Feb 3, 2012 1:36 PM CST up reply actions
potential 2013 FA's
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/?page_id=177
Condoms prevent minivans
DO. NOT. WANT.
There will be no excuses for not doing something the right way. - Dale Sveum
by santoswoodenlegs on Feb 3, 2012 1:43 PM CST up reply actions
because he relapsed
and had some drinks recently or because how some people (not I) want to give him a parade and other bull crap for not doing heroine since he quit (so far)
FWIW I agree I too dont want
Condoms prevent minivans
Anybody catch Quade's comments about Sveum in the Sun Times today????
Absolutely hilarious…He still does not get it…
No. Link?
For some fans, Kerry Wood is that dollap of pumpkin paste.
by Nunyabidness on Feb 3, 2012 10:26 AM CST up reply actions
This man managed a major league team..
The further we get from this idiot’s reign, the better, but little things like this bring me right back to how he managed that team, and make me wonder how that even happened.
And then I remember that Jim Hendry was our GM.
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Feb 3, 2012 10:42 AM CST up reply actions
And then I shiver and get a knot in my stomach.
There will be no excuses for not doing something the right way. - Dale Sveum
by santoswoodenlegs on Feb 3, 2012 10:44 AM CST up reply actions
...
"Maybe I’m being an idiot, but I thought we gave apretty damn good effort every night. I don’t know, maybe that was [Sveum’s] philosophy or a backhanded shot. I didn’t hear that.’’
The answer is…He’s being an idiot.
There will be no excuses for not doing something the right way. - Dale Sveum
by santoswoodenlegs on Feb 3, 2012 10:43 AM CST up reply actions
Idiot is a key word.....He must have been in the crapper everytime Soriano batted....
He already thought Soriano batting 40 points higher than he did.
"every night"?
I hate to say it…but it’s Wrigley Field. Wouldn’t “every game” be more appropriate than “every nite”? Exactly what team was Quade managing??? LOL
There are no facts, only interpretations.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Lets Go Theo!!! 10/13/2011
Quade
Was going to comment on this yesterday… Quade strikes me as a nice guy and a class act. The more he opens his mouth, the more I want to smack him. He seems to typify the concept of “when everyone but you is laughing, the joke’s on you…”. There is a reason that some guys are destined to be minor league managers and occasionally one of them gets promoted to the majors. It doesn’t take long to see that they are WAY over their head.
I just don't understand why he felt he had to say anything.
All he did was make himself look like, well, what he called himself.
Join us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation's Baseball Nation
Honestly, the interview lasted about a minute, based on the amount of quotes.
Quade probably picked up and didn’t think he should shut his mouth until 60 seconds in.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
It was a humorous flashback to last year and the horridness of the Chicago Cubs
One of the worst run teams I have ever seen
Quade was really bad, no question.
But he was handed such a dud of a team. He got the sloppy seconds (or thirds) from the 2007-08 squads. It was largely a group of veterans that knew it wasn’t going anywhere by June 1 and kind of played that way (with some exceptions). I’m not sure another manager could have gotten much better results or effort — though I bet we would have seen more young guys. To me, that was the worst part about Mike Quade. That Bryan LaHair wasn’t up earlier was just ridiculous.
My guess for a while has been that Ricketts retained Hendry and Quade for 2011 figuring that a new management team would spend at least two years dealing with the leftover bad contracts from the Tribune era. So why not give Hendry/Quade one more shot to write the team’s wrongs — particularly after the strong finish in 2010?
Then, when it became clear how barren the farm system was and how dumb Quade was, Ricketts decided it was time for a massive overhaul.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
The kids should have been playing daily from July on...the lazy vets...should have sat. They earned that spot....
But finally that is all over………..And what Dale said is spot on……Quade can get over it.
Perhaps...
… he’s trying to cement himself as the second coming of Jim Essian. The way Quade looks at it, you’d think that the Cubs won the division by 20 games. It was clear that there were numerous problems and everyone seems to get it but Quade. I guess you can say what’s the point of rehashing it all, but, IMO, Quade’s inability to do that is part of his bigger problem, wherein he buries his head in the sand and allows the inmates to run the asylum.
My guess is
… that Quade has had his last major league job. If he wants back in the game, it’ll likely be managing a Triple-A franchise somewhere.
Join us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation's Baseball Nation
He might get a coaching job in the majors.
But managing? Hell no.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
"i'm gonna have to have speaks with Sveumsie about this!"
by EalyEagle on Feb 4, 2012 9:12 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I was laughing so hard at that
my boyfriend actually asked me what was so funny.
The Stat Pack
by shoemile on Oct 21, 2011 10:10 PM CDT
by Madison Cub Fan on Feb 4, 2012 2:15 PM CST up reply actions
I'm glad Quade said this....
it has to be reassuring to TR that it was a complete mistake by Hendry to hire this guy as a manager of a ML team, and that it was the absolute right thing to do and let JH go. Ricketts had to have asked himself watching Quade manage the ‘11 season, what the heck is Hendry thinking and that he could no longer trust the direction JH was taking this team. Quade had to be the "the straw that broke the camel’s Hendry’s back."
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Feb 3, 2012 11:09 AM CST up reply actions 3 recs
Agree with this completely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They both made Ricketts look bad by association.
Probably why Hendry got fired early
Obviously, Quade was a bad hire.
But I don’t think he’s why Hendry got fired early. Hendry was on the hot seat going into 2011, and the team he assembled just wasn’t that good. He was counting on a lot of lucky breaks (and a weak division) to get the team into contention, so he could argue that he made chicken salad out of the chicken sh*t leftover from the Tribune years. Then, he could have argued to Ricketts that with the money coming off the books after 2011, he could get the team back into contention
When Cashner and Wells went down, the team’s complete lack of organizational starting pitching depth killed any slim chances the 2011 team had and showed that Hendry, on top of the disastrous FA signings of Soriano/Bradley/Kosuke/Zambrano had let the farm system deteriorate.
I’m guessing seeing Davis/Russell/Lopez start two days a week was more the last straw than hearing Quade’s string of ridiculous nicknames. Earl Weaver couldn’t have done much with the hand Hendry dealt Quade last year — though Quade sure found ways to make the situation worse.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
this is all any one is saying about him in my opinion...
Quade sure found ways to make the situation worse.
I don’t think for a minute that Quade’s nicknames were his or Hendry’s downfall. I think it was the both of them taking what everyone agrees was a bad situation and indeed making it worse…unlike what TheJedi is doing!
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Feb 3, 2012 11:31 AM CST up reply actions
Yeah, we're arguing at the margins.
Everyone agrees that Quade sucked and that Jimbo had to go. I just don’t think Quade was the last straw.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
yeah, I didn't think we were arguing....just thought you misunderstood what I was trying to say.
anyway I’m happy they’re both gone and things like this just makes me a little bit more happy :)
Go Cubs!
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Feb 3, 2012 11:43 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Agreed Coolio....
We probably will not be good this year…BUT I am much more excited to see a team giving a good effort and seeing what the future will bring.
Quade did have a bad team....yes.....but he made almost every bad move possible....
They worked together to bring some terrible baseball to Chicago.
No disagreement there.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
Good things
Another good thing with Garza’s signing. The Cubs are moving onward and upward. The future is theirs to win.
Subtract Garza and add Wells
All signs point to Garza being traded by April 1st.
Look at the signs: a one-year arb deal instead of two. No extension.
This team is building itself up for the long haul, not just a win in 2014. I dont think Theo has any plans to start out this run by saddling himself with a five- year, $80-million contract for a #2 pitcher.
Garza is no ace. But he’s worth a future ace or two in trade, and I think that’s the goal here. Not a Chris Archer, but a bonafide ace prospect, and more. THEN we have a core to establish a winning future.
Matt Garza is the most valuable piece we have. Time to do this right.
-- Jerome Horwitz
by KO Stradivarius on Feb 4, 2012 9:39 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
All signs point to Garza being traded by April 1st.
Really now. What signs are those? I have not seen any.
Join us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation's Baseball Nation
Okay then
A few signs point vaguely in the direction of Garza maybe getting dealt by April 1 or July 31st.
If Garza was to remain with this team, yesterday would have been the announcement of an extension. If Garza was in next year’s plans or beyond, they would have at least given him a two-year deal.
It’s easy to get blinded by the hope that this team is going to make the playoffs this year and next. They might. But TheoJed has made it very clear that if a decision does not make sense in terms of the overall “build” for the future, they will not get bogged down by it.
I open the floor to anyone who can explain how an expensive extension to Garza fits in with anything else TheoJed have done so far. Myself, I have deduced from their words and actions that Garza is to be traded for outstanding, young talent. See “converting short-term assets into long-term assets”. We build a strong, affordable foundation. Big spending comes in phase two, a few years from now.
-- Jerome Horwitz
by KO Stradivarius on Feb 4, 2012 11:29 AM CST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
It takes two sides to make a deal...
You have no idea what Garza’s camp was pushing for. Maybe they didn’t want anything other than a 6+ year deal or a 1 year deal.
Assuming that they’d look at anything the Cubs offered ignores half of the equation.
Exactly.
And further, we don’t know if Theo & Jed might not offer an extension next week, or a month from now, or in midsummer. The fact that they signed a one-year arb deal implies exactly zero about the future. It’s an arb deal, period.
Join us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation's Baseball Nation
Do we know if he'll be offerd an extention no
but do we now know that if TheoJed get the right offer by the trade deadline, it will much easier to trade him. They left that door wide open. Smart move on Cubs part.
I LOVE BEING ABLE TO TYPE THAT LAST SENTENCE!!!!
The Stat Pack
by shoemile on Oct 21, 2011 10:10 PM CDT
by Madison Cub Fan on Feb 4, 2012 2:21 PM CST up reply actions
Sure.
But giving him an extension might also be a smart move. By midseason TheoJed will have a much better idea of the team’s direction — which will tell them whether they should extend, or deal.
Doing it now, just for the sake of doing it, is pointless.
Join us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation's Baseball Nation
I'm not sure whether he'll be traded by April 1st...
…or July 31st. But it does feel to me like Garza could still be dealt.
The funny thing about the Garza situation is we’re kind of right back where we were a few years ago with Carlos Zambrano. That is, we have a solid No. 2 (which I used to argue Z was) but have no one to put over him. So I do have to wonder whether it’s worth signing Garza to a long-term deal.
Maybe it is as long as there’s enough room in the budget to still get a No. 1 next season if one of them becomes available. Or maybe it’s not if Theo/Jed/Jason think they can get the prospects they want in the near future.
"[The Cubs] have a very famous tradition in baseball, and it will be nice to be part of turning it around." ~ Jamie Quirk, Bench Coach
One thing to note:
The speculation has been that Garza would get 5 year deal worth around $65 million, not a 5 year deal worth $91.5 million.
If this is true, it looks like the Cubs will pay their No. 2 starter like a No. 2 starter — and not like an ace. So, there’s a key distinction between Z five years ago and Garza now.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
That's what John Danks got...
…and I have read him used as a good comp for Garza. So maybe Theo & Jed will try to do both. I’m guessing they’ll still wait and see what the market may conjure up leading into the season and at the deadline.
"[The Cubs] have a very famous tradition in baseball, and it will be nice to be part of turning it around." ~ Jamie Quirk, Bench Coach
i saw a fanpost on OTM saying that garza was fair compensation and laughed my ass off
and then i saw it was written by a rays fan and said “WTF!?”
Just wee-un.
by jesus christos on Feb 4, 2012 9:54 PM CST up reply actions
I thought he was just a bozo Sox fan who lived in Tampa.
But you’re right.. his profile says Rays fan. Maybe it’s an elaborate troll, in which case it’s pretty awesome. However, on the off chance that it’s serious, we don’t claim him as one of our own. Yes, I can speak for all Rays fans.
FREE GUYER!
by SandalsNoPants on Feb 5, 2012 9:29 AM CST up reply actions
Matt Garza looks like a devil...
just sayin
Captain of the Darwin Barney Bandwagon. FUTURE HOF!!!!
by chcubsdomination on Feb 6, 2012 1:05 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
I think he's trying to channel his inner "Rock"
if he can get that one eyebrow to go up a little higher, then he’ll be yelling “Can you smeeeeelllllllllllllllllllllllllll what the Garz is cooking!!!!!!!”
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bleed Cubbie Blue
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
Cubs By The Numbers
Cubs By The Numbers is a history of the ballclub by uniform number, but the biographies help trace the history of our beloved team in a new way. For everyone who's a Cubs fan, anyone who ever wore the uniform is like family. Cubs By The Numbers reintroduces readers to some of their long-lost ancestors, even ones they think they already know.
Click here to order your copy, available now!
Recent Stories in Chicago Cubs Game Threads
Recent Stories in Ticket Exchanges
Baseball Nation Recent Stories
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Eric Hosmer redefines the Baltimore chop with infield double (Video)
- College player makes impossible over the fence catch to save tournament game (Video)
- Security!: Camden Yards guard collides with Royals’ Mike Moustakas
- The Juice: Nelson Cruz matches career high eight RBIs, Pujols stays hot in Seattle
- Benches clear at Fenway as Red Sox-Rays rivalry heats up
