Cubs Sign Scott Eyre

by Al on Nov 17, 2005 8:09 PM CST in News

If you haven't already heard, or read it in one of the diaries already posted, the Cubs signed left-handed reliever Scott Eyre to a two-year contract, with a player option for a third year.

No money details in that link, but I suspect it'll be close to the $9 million reported on various sites.

This is a little more than I would have liked to spend, but Eyre is a dependable reliever who gets lefthanders out (and at least in 2005, got righthanders out too -- LH opponents hit .182, RH opponents .213). His BB/K ratios are good, and he doesn't give up many HR (only three in 68.1 IP last season).

Good first step to solidifying the bullpen.

And if he gets really famous, maybe Nike will start a shoe line in his honor.

You know, "Air Eyre".

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Eyre

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5092172

11M I guess..

by Ienpw on Nov 17, 2005 8:13 PM CST 0 recs

$11 million...

... for a LOOGY.

All I can say is, for that money, he better be the best LOOGY in the game.

by Al on Nov 17, 2005 8:14 PM CST up 0 recs

Yup

Seems like they overpaid about $1M a year. This will also cost the Cubs a draft pick. I've got to believe that Eyre is an A or B player according to Elias. The Cubs finished in the bottom half of the standings, so they can't lose their first round pick, but they'll likely lose their next pick for this one. The interesting thing is that the Giants are quite cheap when it comes to the draft and they did a few things last year to not have to pay big bonuses to high draftees (their first pick last year was in the fourth round). I wonder if they can decide to not offer Eyre arbtration even after he's signed.

DmL

by dmlichte on Nov 17, 2005 8:25 PM CST up 0 recs

Are you sure...

... about that draft pick thing? I haven't seen an Elias list, and I wouldn't say anything about it until I do.

And no, I think once a player is signed, he's signed. Sure, they could non-tender him, but I doubt that's what Hendry has in mind.

by Al on Nov 17, 2005 8:27 PM CST up 0 recs

Draft Pick

I was wondering if the Giants could decline arbitration now or if they have to accept the draft pick. I didn't say that the Cubs would do anything, just that if the Giants are allowed to decline the draft pick via whatever transactions make it so.

As for the Elias rankings, according to USA Today, Eyre is an A player:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2005-11-01-player-rankings.htm
The Cubs will draft in the top 15, so they can't lose their first round pick. The Giants will get a sandwich pick as well as the Cubs 2nd round pick, unless, of course, the Giants can pass on the pick or unless the Cubs signed a higher ranked FA.

DmL

by dmlichte on Nov 17, 2005 8:34 PM CST up 0 recs

Thanks...

... for the Elias ranking link. I'm going to put it on the left sidebar for easy reference.

by Al on Nov 17, 2005 8:38 PM CST up 0 recs

Usually...

... Baseball America or MLB.com has the complete Elias Rankings. I'll see if I can't find them somewhere.

DmL

by dmlichte on Nov 17, 2005 8:48 PM CST up 0 recs

Full Free Agent Info

Here are the Elias groupings for the 2005 free agent class. This was posted in Baseball America in the 11/17 "Ask BA"
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/columnists/askba.html

Type A free agents result in the free agent's previous team getting the new team's first round pick, as well as a suplimental pick between the 1st and 2nd rounds. Type B free agents net the old team just a 1st round pick. Type C's = 2nd round pick. Of course a team cannot lose their first round pick if that pick is amongst the first 15 picks.

Of course arbitration offers enter into this (and this always confuses people). Teams must offer their free agents arbitration by 12/7 if they wish to continue negotiating with them (this has nothing to do with 4-6 year players). Once a team decides not to offer arbitration to a player, they lose any right to compensation.

The Elias Sports Bureau ranks the players, so if a team signs two players of the same type, they obviously cannot lose the same pick twice. So if a team signs two Type A free agents, the player who was ranked higher will net his former team the first round pick, then the second player will net his team a second round pick (2nd and 3rd round if the team is in the top half round of the draft).

A good example would be Matt Clement, who was a Type B free agent after the 2004 season. The Cubs offered him arbitration and would have gotten the Red Sox 1st round pick, except that Boston also signed Edgar Rentaria and David Wells, both higher ranked players according to Elias.

A team cannot lose a draft pick to another team that they get as compensation for losing another player.

Here are the categories for the 2005 free agent class:

Type A
Wilson Alvarez (LAD), Brad Ausmus (Hou), A.J. Burnett (Fla), Jeromy Burnitz (ChC), Royce Clayton (Ari), Roger Clemens (Hou), Jeff Conine (Fla), Johnny Damon (Bos), Octavio Dotel (Oak), Erubiel Durazo (Oak), Scott Eyre (SF), Kyle Farnsworth (Atl), Rafael Furcal (Atl), Brian Giles (SD), Tom Gordon (NYY), Mark Grudzielanek (StL), Ramon Hernandez (SD), Trevor Hoffman (SD), Bob Howry (Cle), Todd Jones (Fla), Paul Konerko (CWS), Matt Lawton (NYY), Braden Looper (NYM), Kevin Millar (Bos), Bengie Molina (LAA), Matt Morris (StL), Bill Mueller (Bos), Mike Piazza (NYM), Joe Randa (SD), Al Reyes (StL), Kenny Rogers (Tex), B.J. Ryan (Bal), Rudy Seanez (SD), Julian Tavarez (StL), Ugueth Urbina (Phi), Billy Wagner (Phi), Larry Walker (StL), Jeff Weaver (LAD), Rondell White (Det), Bob Wickman (Cle), Tim Worrell (Ari).

Type B
Antonio Alfonseca (Fla), Rich Aurilia (Cin), Paul Byrd (LAA), Hector Carrasco (Was), Elmer Dessens (LAD), Cal Eldred (StL), Juan Encarnacion (Fla), Shawn Estes (Ari), Carl Everett (CWS), Julio Franco (Atl), Nomar Garciaparra (ChC), Alex Gonzalez (Fla), Todd Greene (Col), Chris Hammond (SD), Scott Hatteberg (Oak), Rick Helling (Mil), Roberto Hernandez (NYM), Jason Johnson (Det), Jacque Jones (Min), Al Leiter (NYY), Esteban Loaiza (Was), Kenny Lofton (Phi), Brian Meadows (Pit), Jim Mecir (Fla), Jose Mesa (Pit), Dan Miceli (Col), Kevin Millwood (Cle), Jamie Moyer (Sea), Mike Myers (Bos), Rafael Palmeiro (Bal), Todd Pratt (Phi), Felix Rodriguez (NYY), Reggie Sanders (StL), J.T. Snow (SF), Sammy Sosa (Bal), Russ Springer (Hou), Frank Thomas (CWS), Brett Tomko (SF), Michael Tucker (Phi), Daryle Ward (Pit), Jarrod Washburn (LAA), Bernie Williams (NYY), Preston Wilson (Was), Eric Young (SD).

Type C (first-time free agents only)
Joey Eischen (Was), Scott Elarton (Cle), Abraham Nunez (StL).

by dmlichte on Nov 17, 2005 10:30 PM CST up 0 recs

I don't want to rain on the parade here, but......

....I don't see what the big fuss is about Eyre. I understand he had a very good year last year, but he still walks way too many hitters; he has his whole career. Prior to last year, he was a very average reliever overall. I understand he got a no-trade clause as well. With all the priority on guys like Rusch, Neifi and now Eyre, I'm hoping Hendry is as free with the cash when it comes to obtaining guys like Furcal and Pierre, real difference makers, imo. While addressing the bullpen was key, and while I think he'll be pretty good this year, I think the Cubs overspent some here and I hope we're not paying $11 mil for a one-year wonder. I don't think there's any way Eyre matches his '05 numbers. If he CAN or come relatively close for three years, it's a very good signing. I'm guessing Rusch is now the #5 guy in the rotation now as well with the addition of Eyre and Ohman already there.

by cubboy89 on Nov 18, 2005 8:12 AM CST up 0 recs

Time to get sick

If this report is true, Hendry grossly overpaid for Eyre.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5094612

$3 mil this year and $4 mil for each of the next two years? $1.5 mil signing bonus; the potential for another $2.4 in incentives AND a no trade clause? I'd rather have Joey Eischen for half the price or Glendon for his already-signed deal.......

The patience preached by Al is starting to wear thin.

by tville on Nov 18, 2005 8:39 AM CST up 0 recs

also...

led the NL in holds for 2005 with 32.

I'm liking this signing more and more...

by ar_hawkins on Nov 17, 2005 9:17 PM CST up 0 recs

And...

Based on that photo, he'll get his SF uniform number too. Last Cub to wear #47 was Chad Fox -- and not for very long, as you remember.

by Al on Nov 17, 2005 8:17 PM CST 0 recs

Not really

.213/.292/.319 against righties last season. They hit .240 off him in 04. Still expensive...

by Ienpw on Nov 17, 2005 8:18 PM CST 0 recs

And...

... did you know that someone thought he was the 10th-best player in the NL in 2005?

by Al on Nov 17, 2005 8:19 PM CST 0 recs

Role Players

Hendry has been filling the roster with players who fit typical roles...and overpaying slightly for them. $3M a year for a LOOGY? $2.5M a year for a backup middle infielder? $3M a year for a sixth starter and swing man?

I think Hendry and Dusty are on the same page, here. Dusty wants to manage guys who know their role and succeed in that role. He wants to send up a LH pinch-hitter because the situation calls for a LH pinch-hitter, and if the only guy around that fits that description is Macias, so be it. If Macias fails, Dusty claims it wasn't his fault. Yes, the Cubs have money to spare, but even the Yankees need a couple cheap players to fill out their roster.

by zambranofan on Nov 17, 2005 8:37 PM CST 0 recs

Arms surplus...

We have a LOT of arms now. Look for Hendry to deal them for an OF over the next week or two...

The Cubs will thrive in twenty-oh-five... or sometime thereafter!

by shawndgoldman on Nov 17, 2005 8:40 PM CST 0 recs

Exactly...

... Jon Leicester has already been dealt. It's possible that Todd Wellemeyer, a similar pitcher who came up around the same time, with similar MLB experience, might be next.

Eyre will obviously be added to the 40-man roster, so that raises the total to 37. There have to be empty slots so that some minor leaguers can be added before the Rule V draft -- to avoid another Sisco Fiasco.

by Al on Nov 17, 2005 8:41 PM CST up 0 recs

Hmm..

This is a little expensive, but as long as Dusty trusts Eyre because he does his job it should be fine. Anything to make Dusty feel better! :P

sPaRkLe Hendry sPaRkLe!

by sparkles721 on Nov 17, 2005 9:39 PM CST 0 recs

He'll be everything....

Remlinger never was, plus younger to boot. This is a good thing.

by BeerCub on Nov 17, 2005 10:02 PM CST 0 recs

Like

the signing, don't like the $$ we had to spend for it. As long as it doesn't turn out to be like Remmie.

by cubbie08 on Nov 17, 2005 10:10 PM CST 0 recs

It depends

Eyre as setup AND they get BJ Ryan? Good move.

Eyre and NO BJ Ryan? Bad move. Eyre was coming off a career year. Check the stats. And he's 3 and a half years older than Ryan.

by Ivychat on Nov 17, 2005 11:02 PM CST 0 recs

Ryan

Once Billy Wagner returns to the Phillies, the Mets are going to go after him big time and he's going to make a lot of money. He will get closer money.

DmL

by dmlichte on Nov 17, 2005 11:12 PM CST up 0 recs

No kidding

Ryan should get closer money. The Cubs have the money to pay him.

This is one of those "unwise" signings Al rails against and "cheap" signings I hate.

by Ivychat on Nov 17, 2005 11:49 PM CST up 0 recs

Well...

... I'm not going to get into the spending debate with you. I think that the Cubs spend plenty of money to build a winner. You disagree with this. The Cubs have a closer in Dempster, so paying a second pitcher closer dollars makes little sense to me.

by dmlichte on Nov 17, 2005 11:58 PM CST up 0 recs

Ryan Will get closer money

WITH THE YANKEES. Giles will get top dollar
from the Yankees as well unless he gives
Padres the hometown discount. The Cubs
have NO realistic chance of getting these guys
OR Burnett. They will be the Beltran's of 2006

This is probably a silly question Ivy but
If Ryan signs with the Yanks for say 34 million
over 4 years and Giles for 40 Million over 4
years will you honestly still believe we should
have offered MORE?

The main reason we have such a good shot
at Furcal is that despite the Mets making noises no big budget team NEEDS a SS
this season so we "only" have the Braves
to compete with ( which is bad enough)

I don't want the Cubs to end up like the Tigers
attracting VERY overpriced "stars" like
Ordonez & Pudge

Jessica

by jessica on Nov 18, 2005 12:22 AM CST up 0 recs

Ryan's going to get closer money

because short of the Yankees, he's going to be the closer on any team he goes to. We can't guarantee him that role.

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

by Whitebacon on Nov 18, 2005 1:17 AM CST up 0 recs

Yanks

Apparently he told a friend he didnt want to deal with the stress of the Yankees.

by Ienpw on Nov 18, 2005 2:27 AM CST up 0 recs

Duh

Ryan's gonna close with the Yanks? What would Mariano Rivera say about that?

"If Ryan signs with the Yanks for say 34 million
over 4 years and Giles for 40 Million over 4
years will you honestly still believe we should
have offered MORE?"

"We" don't offer anything. And "The Cubs" need to offer whatever it takes to "win."

Unless that isn't "your" priority. Certainly seems like it's not.

by Ivychat on Nov 18, 2005 7:09 AM CST up 0 recs

You said...

And "The Cubs" need to offer whatever it takes to "win."

So in Chuck's world, simply spending the most money guarantees winning?

You know baseball doesn't work that way.

by Al on Nov 18, 2005 11:46 AM CST up 0 recs

no...

but if you're not going to out-spend your competition, you can't afford to waste your money on mediocre starters (Rusch), relievers (Dempster, Eyre and Williamson) and middle infielders (Perez and they're STILL saving a roster spot for Macias for some reason).

My cup of faith is far from full... No offense Al, I don't want to wait until I'm as old as you are to see my team win. It's up to them to prove to me they're worthy of the unconditional love I'm going to show them anyways... but I'm not going to show them that love while wasting my time and money on this team if they don't bring it on their end too.

I don't want a commitment to competitiveness. I want them to make my happiness with their decisions undeniable and unavoidable.

by jameslcrockett on Nov 19, 2005 1:40 AM CST up 0 recs

Ryan/Giles/Yankees

I agree with the comment that Ryan will get closer money. Why is it assumed that because the Yankees want Giles, they will get him? They very well could, but Giles is an NL guy, who has played in relatively soft media markets. This will be Giles last big deal, so he he may just be looking to cash out, but the Cubs are not in a bad position and neither are several other teams. You could certainly argue that St. Louis has a better chance of winning a World Series during Giles tenure than the Yankees. The Cubs have much better starting pitching and a better atmosphere (Karros talks about it in every broadcast), and the Braves are contenders and have a 2B that Brian Giles knows prety well.

by MHef08 on Nov 18, 2005 10:43 AM CST up 0 recs

No more Mr. Optimistic here...

I wouldn't have any problem taking the $15 million we're going to give the four people we've spent our money on (Dempster, Perez, Rusch and Eyre) and given it to Giles and Ryan... if the Cubs have the money to spend in this foolish manner, then I don't want to hear any excuse why they couldn't go get B.J. Ryan, Brian Giles AND Rafael Furcal. If they can waste $15 million in this fashion before we even find out what the market will bear, then they can "afford" to hand out another $30 million to those three guys and win us a damn championship. Aren't they supposed to have $40 million to spend anyway?

by jameslcrockett on Nov 18, 2005 12:38 AM CST 0 recs

You can't win on just a few good signings

Having flexibility in your pitching staff and your lineup is essential to a winning ballclub, unless nobody gets hurt.

AC036198

by gjdow on Nov 18, 2005 4:52 PM CST up 0 recs

Right...

I totally agree, and none of the guys they've signed can do that better than guys that would make nothing... with the exception of maybe Dempster, who's nowhere near a sure thing, there's no one the Cubs have signed that are significantly better than replacement level and they're giving them multi-year, multi-million dollar contracts.

It makes the Cubs' pledge of a $100 million payroll (I'll believe it when I see it) meaningless if this is what they're going to spend it on.

My confidence and optimism is in a constant state or erosion, and they've got a long way to go to rebuild that.

by jameslcrockett on Nov 19, 2005 1:19 AM CST up 0 recs