The Cubs and Blue Jays Continue to Talk Trade

With a youthful bullpen, light on solid options at the end of the game, the Chicago Cubs continue to consider options for adding a veteran right-hander. To that end, Blue Jays reliever Jason Frasor is still on the table.

The Toronto Blue Jays continue to scout all of the Cubs’ spring training games, and the Cubs have had their top scouts looking at right-handed pitcher Jason Frasor, a 31-year-old relief pitcher from Oak Forest. Frasor would go right into the role of the eighth-inning set-up man for the Cubs if he is acquired. ESPN Chicago.

Frasor has been discussed at length in this space, and I won’t belabor the issue now – suffice it to say, his 2009 was by far the best season of his career, and the Cubs don’t exactly have the best track record with veterans coming off career years.

The Minnesota Twins have also been in talks with the Blue Jays about Frasor, and following yesterday’s announcement that Joe Nathan is definitely having season-ending Tommy John surgery, you can believe that they will up their pursuit. Which means Frasor’s price tag just went up.

So the Cubs Aren’t Getting Cuban Shortstop Hechavarria

Last week, there was a head-scratcher of a rumor that had the Chicago Cubs attached to a top Cuban shortstop prospect, who is free to sign with any team. Yesterday, word trickled out that the kid – Adeinis (not Adeiny, apparently) Hechavarria – would more likely be signing soon with the Blue Jays.

The Post has learned Adeinis Hechavarria is going to get more money than the $8 million Jose Iglesias Iglesias got from the Red Sox.

However, it won’t be from the Yankees. And it has nothing to do with the Yankees not wanting to spend the money on the Cuban refugee shortstop.

According to an industry source Hechavarria is close to signing a $10 million deal with the Blue Jays because he didn’t envision himself playing short for the Yankees.

Hechavarria, 21, was leery of Derek Jeter’s impending extension that will keep him at short for the foreseeable future.

Having seen Hechavarria work out often in the Dominican Republic, the Yankees were high on the 6-foot-1, 170-pounder with a body that resembled a young Alfonso Soriano. NYPOST.com.

Alfonso Soriano? Oh, well, in that case, we don’t want him. Kidding, of course.

The Cubs’ interest was always a bit perplexing given the expect cost, and the fact that Hechevarria and Starlin Castro sound like they are both equally good at short and equally ready to play in the bigs.

Chicago Cubs Reliever Rumors

In the wake of Angel Guzman’s shoulder issues, the Chicago Cubs are being attached to a number of reliever rumors. Some are nothing new – the Cubs are still interested in Luke Gregerson from the San Diego Padres or Jason Frasor from the Blue Jays – but some are brand new.

The Cubs, who currently are scouting the Cactus and Graperfruit Leagues for a setup man, would be interested in both [Pedro] Martinez and [John] Smoltz “down the line,” according to a major-league source. FOX Sports on MSN.

It’s hard to know what “down the line” means, unless Smoltz and Martinez are currently seeking more money than they should be. Neither would be a terribly exciting addition, but they would add some veteran influence in the pen. Smoltz, who will turn 43 this year, has been exclusively a starter since 2004. He was brutal last year in Boston, but was adequate after moving on to St. Louis.

Martinez, 38, has exclusively been a starter in his career, but many believe if he’s got a future, it’s in the bullpen. He pitched just 9 games last year for the Phillies, but made the most of it.

As for the two trade targets, we’ve discussed Gregerson and Frasor at length before. The former is younger, on the upswing and under control for a couple years; the latter is in his mid-30s, had a career year last year, and is a free agent after this year. Take a wild guess at which one the Cubs will end up with. Either way, with Guzman out, you can bet that the asking price just went up.

Cubs Still Looking at Relievers, but Probably Not Kiko Calero

Although Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry has gone back and forth on whether or not the Cubs are done making moves this offseason, he waivers the most when asked about the bullpen. There can be no doubt that he’d like to add another right-handed reliever if the right opportunity comes along. It’s been rumored recently that any addition would have to be by trade, and a recent shoot-down of the Cubs’ interest in signing free agent Kiko Calero may confirm that.

The Cubs are still looking for late-inning relief help, preferably right-handed. That said, they could open camp without adding anyone else and possibly make a deal during Spring Training. There were rumors the team was interested in free agent Kiko Calero, 35, but he missed time in 2008 because of a torn rotator cuff and was sidelined last season because of inflammation in his shoulder. Calero is looking for a two-year contract, and the Cubs are probably hesitant to do something like that considering his injuries. cubs.com.

Of course, if Calero’s options dwindle to having to sign a minor league deal or a $500k-ish one-year deal, it’s hard to imagine the Cubs’ interest won’t pick back up.

For now, the Cubs seem to remain most interested in snagging Jason Frasor from the Blue Jays or Luke Gregerson from the Padres. One move makes sense (Gregerson) and one looks like a Jim Hendry special (Frasor).

Time for a Grain of Salt: Ben Sheets “All But Signed by the Chicago Cubs”

Occasionally, you stumble across a rumor that knocks you on your backside. Sometimes, the rumor is nothing more than a single statement – one that you hadn’t seen anywhere else. And sometimes, the statement is in a publication not intimately tied in with the team you’re following.

But you let yourself get excited anyway.

The Blue Jays will have a scout at tomorrow’s workout by free-agent pitcher Ben Sheets, but he’s all but signed by the Chicago Cubs. The Globe and Mail.

HOLY BANANAS!!! OMG SHEETS!!!!1!!!!1

Ok, you over it now? We need to grain of salt this one. The Globe is a Toronto publication, and the article is about the Toronto Blue Jays’ offseason. This statement was a total throwaway line about the Blue Jays’ interest in Ben Sheets, containing absolutely no sourcing or further discussion about the Cubs and Sheets.

Is it possible that the author – Jeff Blair in Washington – has greater insight into the Chicago Cubs’ dealings than does the local media? I suppose it’s possible. But it is highly unlikely. Odds are, he wanted a shorthand way of dismissing the Blue Jays as a likely destination, and tossed out the name of the team he’s read most often associated with Sheets.

So for now, we should probably stick to what we know:

1.) Sheets will be throwing for 10 teams tomorrow in Louisiana, and the Cubs will be in attendance.

2.) The Cubs do not have much money left to spend this winter, and Sheets’ previous reported demands – anywhere from $7 million to $12 million per year on a two year deal – exceed the Cubs’ ability to sign him.

3.) If Sheets demonstrates tomorrow that he is back, and able to throw, making the Cubs interested in signing him, he will definitely be out of their league in terms of cost.

h/t TCR.

Jason Frasor for Angel Guzman?

Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry continues his quest for a veteran, right-handed reliever for the bullpen. But is he getting ready to rob Peter to pay Paul?

After confirming the Cubs’ interest in Toronto Blue Jays reliever Jason Frasor, Bruce Levine had this to say:

Frasor has a good power arm, seems to have something left at age 32. He’s a free agent after next season and arbitration eligible. Toronto would want pitching in return. They’ve expressed some interest in Angel Guzman.

Now, before we erupt in cries of execration – this is just Levine shooting from the hip, and explaining what he’s heard Toronto has expressed interest in. This is not Levine saying that the Cubs have offered Toronto Angel Guzman for Frasor.

But if they have or they do…

SWEET JESUS NO!

Frasor, a free agent after this year, is set to get a substantial raise from his 2009 salary of $1.45 million. Frasor had a dominant 2009 – 2.50 ERA in 57.2 innings, with a 1.023 WHIP – so we’ll give him that. But it was also a career year by far. His lowest ERA in any of the previous three seasons? 4.18. Frasor also turns 33 next season.

Compare all of that with Angel Guzman. Guzman is headed to arbitration for the first time, meaning he’s under inexpensive control for three more years. Guzman also had a dominant 2009 – 2.95 ERA in 61 innings, with a 1.049 WHIP. It, too, was Guzman’s best year so far in his career. Guzman will be 28 all season.

Am I going to argue that Guzman is surely better than Frasor? No. The stats, and Guzman’s questionable durability, simply wouldn’t back that up. But when you stack Frasor’s slightly more predictable track record against Guzman’s cheap, three-year control and far greater upside, this isn’t even a remotely close question.

Guzman, let’s not forget, was one of the bright spots in last year’s dismal bullpen.

Chicago Cubs Talking Pitcher Trade with Toronto Blue Jays

The Chicago Cubs continue to look for another reliever and/or a swing pitcher – someone who could fill in at the back end of the rotation if necessary, but who will primarily work out of the pen. And no, for some reason, previously successful swing pitchers Sean Marshall, Tom Gorzelanny and Jeff Samardzija don’t qualify for some reason.

One name surfacing recently in bullpen talks is Jason Frasor.

The Cubs also have talked to the Toronto Blue Jays about bullpen pitchers. Former Oak Forest High School pitcher Jason Frasor is on the Cubs’ radar. Frasor was a starter at Southern Illinois for four years. ESPN Chicago.

Frasor, 31, is exactly the kind of reliever that seems to attract Jim Hendry’s attention: he had a dominant year in 2009 (2.50 ERA, 1.023 WHIP), but before that, he had five years of being decent, but not great. Perhaps he turned a corner, or perhaps *relievers are very prone to ups and downs from year to year and the truly consistent relievers become closers, which is why it is absurd to spend money or make trades for non-closing relievers.*

Roy Halladay on His Way to the Phillies

According to SI.com, the Blue Jays, Phillies, and Mariners have pulled
off a gigantic trade that would see Roy Halladay head to the Phillies,
Cliff Lee head to the Mariners, and presumably, you know, something
head to the Blue Jays.

It’s all a bit amorphous at this point, but being that it could have a
huge impact on the teams at the top of the National League – not to
mention the trade / free agent market – it seemed worth getting out
there.

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