Lukewarm Stove: Pujols and Fielder Aplenty, Wilson, Marmol, Cespedes, Darvish, Buehrle

Nov 11, 2011

The latest Cubs-relevant news and rumors from around MLB…

Jayson Stark takes an extended look at the two big boys on the market this Winter: Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder. After speaking with “a dozen executives from clubs that are unlikely to participate in this auction,” Stark was able to lay out the following expectations: the average projection for Pujols was 8.5 years at just over $28 million per year (as high as $300 millions over 10 years, and as low as $90 million over 3 years), while the average projection for Fielder was about 7 years and $22.5 million per year. Stark doesn’t think Fielder will take a deal with an average annual value under $25 million, though – the amount Ryan Howard got on his recent extension. As for landing spots, every executive but one said Pujols would stay in St. Louis (the lone dissenter had him coming to the Cubs), and Fielder’s votes were split evenly among Texas, Baltimore, Miami, Seattle, Washington, and Chicago.

The Marlins, who are meeting with Pujols today, plan to make an aggressive offer for the first baseman. With a new stadium to fill, it’s not a surprise. You can expect the Marlins to be serious bidders on a great number of free agents this year.

The Angels might consider Pujols or Fielder, too. “Don’t assume that we have no interest in Fielder or Pujols,” Angels’ GM Jerry Dipoto said. “We don’t want to lock the door. We are a high-revenue team and I’m a big believer in acquiring impact players. However, they are not our greatest need and are not priority number one on our list.”

The Dodgers, on the other hand, are not expected to be able to make serious offers to big names like Pujols and Fielder until the team is sold. Ditto Orioles on the no big-time free agent thing. And the Rangers probably won’t make an offer on either of them if it requires seven or eight years.

Jon Heyman doesn’t see Pujols leaving the Cardinals for an extra $20 million. It’ll take a huge offer to get him to leave.

Every article you read on Pujols’ free agency cites the Cubs as one of his expected pursuers, but, do you still get that sense? I don’t. I think the Cubs would consider Pujols for big money despite his age, but only if he came for about five years. I just don’t see Pujols doing that.

Remember when I said earlier this week that it “felt” like CJ Wilson’s expected contract had fallen far from the $100 million range? Well, now there’s word that if it exceeds a “mere” five years and $75 million, the Rangers will probably bow out of the bidding. And that’s about where his contract is expected to be at this point. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a big commitment to a guy with such a limited track record as a starter, but … at five years and $75 million, I can’t be the only guy thinking the Cubs should be bidding.

That 4-year, $44 million deal the Phillies had in place with closer Ryan Madson might never have been in place to begin with. That’s according to Phillies’ GM, Ruben Amaro. The Phillies are now checking out Jonathon Papelbon, and, from the Cubs’ perspective, the only hope is that whomever they land on, they give the guy a healthy contract – thus increasing the attractiveness of Carlos Marmol’s two-year, $17 million deal. Of course, there are still some “affordable” closer options on the market, including Jonathan Broxton, Joe Nathan, and Brad Lidge. UPDATE: As I was typing, the Phillies signed Papelbon to a deal that is around four years and $50 million (with a vesting option that could take the deal over $60 million). Yo. That’s good news, generally speaking.

Yoenis Cespedes is expected to get more than the six-year, $30.5 million deal Aroldis Chapman got from the Reds. The Cubs are listed as one of his possible suitors in that article, something I heard from a source earlier this week.

Stark cites a couple sources in his Fielder/Pujols article who are concerned that Yu Darvish hasn’t been posted yet, and Jon Heyman hears the same. Because the process takes so long, even if Darvish were posted today, the team winning the bid might not know it until late December. And then it can take another 30 days to negotiate a contract. In short: time is ticking. Of course, wouldn’t that be a nice pre-negotiating tactic? Wait on the posting, so that by the time the “winning” team gets to negotiate with Darvish, it’s so late in the offseason that all the other quality arms have been signed. There goes your leverage, and up goes Darvish’s price.

Mark Buehrle says he won’t be giving a hometown discount to the Sox, and sources indicate there are as many as 10 teams interested in the 32-year-old lefty.

The White Sox will listen to offers on John Danks, Gavin Floyd, and Carlos Quentin – all of whom could potentially interest the Cubs.

The Reds aren’t expected to be heavy players in the free agent market this year.

Keep up with the latest with Bleacher Nation on Facebook and on Twitter.

written by

Brett Taylor

Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

more cubs news

Chicago Cubs

Now We Know Why Ian Happ Was Removed Mid-game

In the top of the seventh inning of today's 8-3 win over the Miami Marlins, Alexander Canario trotted out to left field in place of Ian Happ. At first, we thought (or maybe just hoped) that Craig Counsell was giving...

Michael Cerami

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 8, Marlins 3 – April 19, 2024

And just like that the Chicago Cubs are the first team in the NL Central to reach 12 wins! They're not technically in first place yet because the Brewers (11-6) have played fewer games, but we're talking about a matter...

Michael Cerami

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson with Back-to-Back Slick Defensive Plays

With a lefty Marlins starter on the mound this afternoon, Nico Hoerner lead off today's game for the Chicago Cubs. And he did it in style, ripping a leadoff double to the left-center field wall, before coming into score a...

Michael Cerami

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Pre-Gamin’: Marlins at Cubs – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

*The Cubs were rained out yesterday, but today? Today, we've got a Friday 1:20 start at Wrigley Field, and that means all is right in the world. Before you take a look at the Cubs lineup against Miami, check out...

Michael Cerami

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Cubs

MLBits: The White Sox Might be the Worst Team Ever, What Games I’m Watching this Weekend, More

Happy Friday! Well, for everyone except for the pilots who were supposed to be manning the Colorado Rockies flight last week but instead allowed a member of the Rockies coaching staff to hop in the pilot's seat for a fun...

Patrick K. Flowers

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Can I Interest You in a Positive Injury-Update on Justin Steele?

Justin Steele, arguably the single most irreplaceable player on the Chicago Cubs 2024 roster, went down with a hamstring injury just 4.2 innings into his Opening Day start against the Rangers on March 28. In his place, the Cubs sixth...

Michael Cerami

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Cubs

FAA Reportedly Investigating How a Passenger on Colorado Rockies Team Flight Was Seen Accessing the Cockpit

If you do this job long enough, it's really wild to see the range of topics that can somehow become attached to sports. That is to say, I did not envision myself at some point writing about flight safety, cockpit...

Brett Taylor

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Farm Report | April 19, 2024: Kevin Alcántara is Heating Up!

The Iowa Cubs were rained out, but the rest of the farm was in action, and so was Kevin Alcántara, who picked up four hits and now has seven in his last three games as he breaks out of an...

Patrick K. Flowers

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Cubs

It’s Not Kyle Hendricks Last Chance (But…), Ben Brown, Jameson Taillon, and Other Cubs Bullets

Well, the rain stole one from us yesterday, which is a blessing and a curse. On the bright side, the bullpen gets an extra day of rest (on top of the day Hayden Wesneski bought them). But on the flip...

Michael Cerami

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs Are Not Stealing Bases So Far This Year

The Chicago Cubs are against theft. Of bases: https://twitter.com/codifybaseball/status/1781046629103231339 The Chicago Cubs this year have stolen just three bases, the fewest in all of baseball. Dansby Swanson has stolen two bases, Nick Madrigal has stolen one. That's it. I don't...

Brett Taylor

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Now We Know Why Ian Happ Was Removed Mid-game

Michael Cerami

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Bulls

Scottie Pippen’s Youngest Son Will Play at Michigan

A familiar last name will be in the Big Ten next season. Scottie Pippen's kid, Justin, has committed to the University of Michigan, according to Krysten Peek of Yahoo Sports. The youngest son of the Chicago Bulls legend, Pippen started...

Elias Schuster

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson with Back-to-Back Slick Defensive Plays

Michael Cerami

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 8, Marlins 3 – April 19, 2024

Michael Cerami

Apr 19, 2024

Picks

Blue Jays vs. Padres Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, April 19, 2024

Following a two-homer game in a loss to the Yankees, Daulton Varsho leads the Toronto Blue Jays (10-9) into action as -112 favorites against the San Diego Padres (11-10). First pitch from PETCO Park at 9:40 PM ET on Friday,...

Data Skrive

Apr 19, 2024

Picks

Diamondbacks vs. Giants Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, April 19, 2024

Jung Hoo Lee will look to extend his 10-game hitting streak when the San Francisco Giants (9-11) take on the Arizona Diamondbacks (9-11). The Diamondbacks are listed as -121 favorites on the moneyline for the contest, which starts at 10:15...

Data Skrive

Apr 19, 2024

Picks

Dodgers vs. Mets Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, April 19, 2024

The New York Mets (10-8) will put their four-game win streak to the test when they visit the Los Angeles Dodgers (12-9) Friday at 10:10 PM ET on MLB Network. Bookmakers consider the Dodgers to be -201 favorites, while the...

Data Skrive

Apr 19, 2024

Picks

Jonas Valančiūnas Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Kings – Friday, April 19, 2024

The New Orleans Pelicans face the Sacramento Kings at 9:30 PM ET on Friday, in the NBA Play-In Tournament, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this matchup requires only one make from Jonas Valančiūnas.Jonas Valančiūnas' Three-Pointer Prop Odds...

Data Skrive

Apr 19, 2024

Picks

Brandon Ingram Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Kings – Friday, April 19, 2024

Brandon Ingram must make two 3-pointers to beat his prop when the New Orleans Pelicans meet the Sacramento Kings on Friday at 9:30 PM ET, in the NBA Play-In Tournament.Brandon Ingram's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the KingsBrandon Ingram's over/under for...

Data Skrive

Apr 19, 2024

Picks

CJ McCollum Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Kings – Friday, April 19, 2024

CJ McCollum's New Orleans Pelicans play the Sacramento Kings on Friday at 9:30 PM ET in the NBA Play-In Tournament, and to beat his 3-point prop, he must make four from downtown.CJ McCollum's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the KingsCJ McCollum's...

Data Skrive

Apr 19, 2024

Lukewarm Stove: Pujols and Fielder Aplenty, Wilson, Marmol, Cespedes, Darvish, Buehrle

Read More

more cubs news

Latest News

more cubs news

Most Popular

Most Popular

Latest News

Most Popular

Most Popular