When I first wrote about former Red Sox righthander Koji Uehara signing with the Cubs here last week, the reported contract figure was $4.5 million.
Now, we learn that the dollar figure is actually a bit higher:
The Cubs and pitcher Koji Uehara have agreed to terms. One year for $6 million.
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) December 14, 2016
I also found this interesting:
Was told Uehara did not take the highest offer in coming to the Cubs which has been a bit of a pattern with free agents going back to 2015
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) December 14, 2016
There are quite a number of examples of players doing this to sign with the Cubs; Jon Lester and Jason Heyward both reportedly rejected higher dollar amounts to come to the North Side, as did Trevor Cahill last year. This is a credit to the organization that Theo & Co. have built, not to mention the World Series win.
So the $6 million will make the Cubs’ projected payroll just a bit higher than I suggested here a couple of days ago. It might go even higher if this trade rumor comes to fruition:
#Cubs have been in contact with #Tigers on a possible Justin Wilson trade, source says; unclear if there is current momentum. @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 12, 2016
Justin Wilson is a lefthander and the Cubs have been trying to pile up lefthanded relievers, though it should be noted that Wilson has reverse splits, doing better against righthanders. Wilson didn’t have that great a year in 2016 (4.14 ERA, 3.18 FIP, 1.330 WHIP, 0.4 bWAR) and made $1.525 million in his first year of arb eligibility. Beyond the “momentum” being unclear, as Morosi put it, it’s not clear who the Cubs would have to give to the Tigers in trade. Other teams have also inquired about Wilson:
#Astros have spoken with #Tigers about reliever Justin Wilson, source says. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 13, 2016
So that’s what’s happening Cubs-wise on a cold morning in Chicago. The Cubs have not yet issued a press release confirming the Uehara signing, but I would think that’d come sometime today. When it’s official, the 40-man roster will stand at 37 players.