Chicago Cubs: Dumping Players, and the Measure of Regret
The All Star break marks the not-really-but-figurative mid-point of the season. It always seems like a good time to reflect on pre-season items, and how things have played out (read: cliche, but we’re doing it anyway). It is an easy time to look back with the benefit of hindsight … and regret.
The Chicago Cubs had a particularly active pre-season (and early season) in the transaction department, so a review of those moves and how they’ve played out is worth considering. Here, we’re going to focus on the guys that the Cubs moved out. Specifically, it is worth looking at all of the guys that the Cubs dumped like fat chicks before prom – and deciding the measure of regret. Player by player analysis, after the jump.
Wait, You Say Chad Gaudin Hurt His Back HOW?
Today, now a successful starting pitcher with the San Diego Padres, the Chicago Cubs welcome back the man acquired with Rich Harden last year, Chad Gaudin. Believe it or not, in many circles, Cubs fans were almost as excited about acquiring Gaudin as Harden. He was still young, had shown a penchant for pitching effectively out of the pen and the rotation, and he was under cheap control for another year.
Gaudin pitched well until a late-August back injury sidelined him for most of the rest of the year – and when he did return, he was ineffective. His ineffectiveness carried over into Spring Training this year, and despite his prior success, when time came for the Cubs to open up a roster spot, they did so by releasing Gaudin. It was surprising and somewhat bizarre, and I always felt there had to be more to the story.
Well there is. And maybe you already know this. But I didn’t.
How Gaudin hurt his back, after the jump
Series Preview: Padres v. Cubs, May 12 – May 14, 2009
The Chicago Cubs take on the finally hapless San Diego Padres. Perhaps Jake Peavy’s wistful stares in the direction of the Cubs’ dugout will give the Cubs a leg up. A refresher on the series preview here at Bleacher Nation:
The idea is to hook you up with the bare minimum of what you need to know about every series this year. That way you can look like a genius, hardcore fan in front of all your friends, with minimum effort. Oh, and there will be pictures of hot chicks, too.
Check out the Padres series preview, after the jump
Luis Vizcaino is Officially Gone – And Apparently Lou Pushed Him Out the Door
The Chicago Cubs designated reliever Luis Vizcaino, earlier received from the Rockies for Jason Marquis, for assignment two weeks ago, and now have officially released him.
The Cubs will be on the hook for $4 million, less the league minimum if a team signs him, which seems likely.
The assumption when Vizcaino was given the boot in favor of keeping Rule V pick David Patton and optionless reliever Angel Guzman was that it was a difficult decision, but was necessary to create a spot for Jeff Samardzija, and not lose either of the two previously-mentioned arms.
Well apparently that assumption was wrong.
Oh Thank God – The Cubs Might Save $400k
The Chicago Cubs dumped reliever Chad Gaudin after a crummy Spring, and looked prepared to eat his $2 million salary.
Rejoice! The Cubs look likely to now have to eat only $1.6 million!
[T]he Padres have signed right-handed pitcher Chad Gaudin to a Minor League contract, according to general manager Kevin Towers.
Gaudin will be in San Diego on Sunday to throw a bullpen session, Towers said.
…The Cubs are obligated to pay Gaudin $1.6 million of his $2 million salary for the 2009 season. padres.com.
The Cubs will only save that $400k if Gaudin actually makes the Padres.
In these difficult economic times, I know you were worried about how the Cubs would make it. You can relax now.
Cubs Release Chad Gaudin, Jeff Samardzija to AAA
The Chicago Cubs bullpen is set: David Patton and Angel Guzman are in, Chad Gaudin and Jeff Samardzija are out. Ultimately, this is the precise series of moves we had predicted a week ago, with the exception of Gaudin being released instead of traded or DL’d.
Previously, the Cubs had indicated no one would be released. Lou Piniella said he was told by General Manager Jim Hendry that the necessary moves would be by option (which could only be Samardzija) or by trade. That Gaudin was released indicates a trade fell through, or that Hendry was far too optimistic.
More about the trade and the bullpen, after the jump
Reed Johnson Thinks David Patton Is Making the Team
I actually missed this bit a couple days ago, but as we’re on the verge of Lou Piniella’s announcement regarding the bullpen, it was too good not to post. Reed Johnson, who has his own excellent blog, had a great many thoughts to share about bullpen competitor and Rule V pick David Patton.
I love watching Patton pitch. He’s 24 years old and attacking the strike zone. The only problem Lou has with guys from a pitching standpoint is when they’re not throwing strikes and that’s not what Patton is all about. He’s about pounding the strike zone. I can see why any manager or any pitching coach could fall in love with a guy like that.
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he’s with us the whole year. He’s not your typical Rule 5 guy. I think he can have a big impact on our team. Reed Between the Lines.
I must agree, Reed.
Johnson has much more to say, after the jump
Angel Guzman Drawing More Interest Than Chad Gaudin
The Chicago Cubs are going to have to move at least one of the four pitchers competing for two bullpen spots, and the two likely candidates for moving are Chad Gaudin and Angel Guzman. Each has stunk it up in Spring Training.
Cubs general manager Jim Hendry continues to work the phones to try to make a trade of one or two of the four relievers competing for two roster spots. Chad Gaudin’s poor spring and $2 million salary have scared off some potential suitors, though Angel Guzman has received plenty of interest. chicagotribune.com.
Despite Gaudin being by far the more successful major leaguer of the two, in these economic times, the stronger interest in Guzman is not terribly surprising.
Ideally, the Cubs will be able to move Guzman or Gaudin (or DL Gaudin), Jeff Samardzija can go to AAA Iowa, and then David Patton and the remaining of Guzman/Gaudin make the pen.
