Second Tier Pitchers

With the top free agent pitchers still unsigned, (Barry Zito and Jason Schmidt), the Cubs still have plenty of second tier pitchers that they are interested in. With the GM Winter Meetings next week in Orlando, Jim Hendry knows "We had a good run for a couple weeks. I'd feel a lot worse now if a lot more pitchers had gone off the wall and we didn't have any. It's an important two or three weeks [coming up]."

Most teams in baseball are in desperate need of pitching, and that would definitely include the Cubs.  That is why you are going to see very high contracts being paid for pitcher that are just average.  With the Cubs resigning Ramierz and adding Soriano, along with a healthy Derek Lee, the Cubs may just need a few average arms to go along with that high powered offense.  Hendry is looking to sign Schmidt, Ted Lilly, Gil Meche, and Jason Marquis. There are other free agents, like Greg Maddux, who the Cubs could sign but won't because either the club is not interested in them or the pitcher is not interested in coming to Chicago.  Let's take a look at the second tier pitchers that Hendry is looking at signing.

#1-Ted Lilly

Lilly's agent, Larry O'Brien, said that Cubs general manager Jim Hendry had made an offer but that the two sides were not expected to finalize anything until they meet again in Orlando for the Winter Meetings next week. O'Brien said;

"We're beyond just preliminary discussions.  We've had an offer and we're considering coming back with maybe another counteroffer. I would say that I'm planning on meeting with Jim Hendry down in Orlando next week, but we're also going to be meeting with J.P. Ricciardi with Toronto and a few other clubs.  With what Chicago has offered us, and some other conversations that we're having with a few other clubs, I think that number is definitely achievable. Who knows, it might get richer than that."

For those people who are criticizing the Soriano signing, listen to what O'Brien has to say.

"One of Ted's biggest priorities is to get with a club that he thinks he can help get to the postseason and win a World Series. With what the Cubs have done, Ted thinks they're looking pretty good."

Lilly was 15-13 with a 4.31 ERA in 32 starts last season with the Toronto Blue Jays, striking out 160 over 181 2/3 innings. The left-hander has averaged 170 innings and 30 starts over the last four seasons, and his 15 wins last season is a career high. The Cubs are looking for a guy who can take the ball for 30 starts this season. 

Lilly does come with a little baggage, getting into a physical altercation with manager John Gibbons last season, but he may be the best of the average pitchers.

#2-Gil Meche

Meche has spent his career playing for Seattle, but has always been an underachiever.  Its been reported that Meche has more than 15 teams interested in his services and is said to be seeking at least $8 million annually.   Meche won 11 games last season, his most since winning 15 games in 2003. He made 32 starts and threw a career-high 186 2/3 innings. Meche was 8-4 and had a 3.83 ERA in the first half of the season, but went nine consecutive starts without a win in the second half and ended up with an 11-8 record with a 4.48 ERA.  Pinella managed Meche while the two were in Seattle.

#3-Jason Marquis

Marquis really had a down year last year.  Mulder went 14-16, leading the league in losses, and a 6.02 ERA.  When he came from Atlanta to St Louis three seasons ago, he was on fire, with a 15-7 record, then in 2005 had a 13-14 record, followed by this seasons 14-16 record.  He pitched over 200 inning in 2004 and 2005, and 194 in 2006.  He was so bad down the stretch though that he was left off the Cardinals playoff roster for the last two playoff series.  If St Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan couldn't save this guy, do you have faith that Rothchild can turn things around?

Wrap Up

These are the three second tier pitchers that really seem to have Hendry's  interest.  There are other pitchers, Miguel Bautista, Vincente Padilla, or Mark Redman, who could end up with the Cubs if none of the other three pan out.  With the pitching market thin and a lot of teams looking for starting pitchers, there will be a lot of competition for Meche and Lilly.  Whoever gets these guys will probably be overpaying, but that's what happens when the supply does not meet the demand.  One thing is for certain.  The Cubs can't afford to have sixteen different starting pitchers like they did in 2006.  They also had rookies start in eighty games, which is half of the seasons games.  It may be better to have proven starters, even if they overpay, they the pitching Russian Roulette that they had last year.