To contend...

[Captain Obvious]

Then the Cubs are in the same boat they were in 07-now. Long backloaded contracts. Like Rice mentioned earlier, the Cubs have to develop their own and quit overpaying for other teams free agents.

Not really. The only terrible contract we have is Soriano. With Fielder, you don't run into that because he is 27. Pujols... yeah, you run into that. But hopefully we can be smart enough to stay away from that.

True, but from what I'm understanding, you just want to spend $50M because the Cubs have $50M coming off in payroll. That doesn't work, unless the Cubs get an all-star.

A la Prince Fielder.

 

[nwfisch]

Not really. The only terrible contract we have is Soriano. With Fielder, you don't run into that because he is 27. Pujols... yeah, you run into that. But hopefully we can be smart enough to stay away from that.


A la Prince Fielder.

You're joking right? Zambrano and Dempsters contracts are awful.

 

[dabynsky]

You're joking right? Zambrano and Dempsters contracts are awful.

What is terrible about Dempster's contract? His production for the life of his deal has been excellent. The player option might hurt next year, but I would say that Dempster is probably going to pitch better than anything we could get for 14 million next year on the open market.

Zambrano on the other hand....

 

[nwfisch]

What is terrible about Dempster's contract? His production for the life of his deal has been excellent. The player option might hurt next year, but I would say that Dempster is probably going to pitch better than anything we could get for 14 million next year on the open market.

Zambrano on the other hand....

Definitely. Throughout the deal, it's been a great deal, but Dempster is going to get paid $14M for being a 500 pitcher makes it a bad contract right now.

 

[dabynsky]

Definitely. Throughout the deal, it's been a great deal, but Dempster is going to get paid $14M for being a 500 pitcher makes it a bad contract right now.

Are you really using a pitcher's winning % to determine how good they are?

 

[nwfisch]

Are you really using a pitcher's winning % to determine how good they are?

Sue me.



What are you using? I can also his 5.46 ERA to say he's not worth $14M salary, his age, and injury history.

 

[Rice Cube]

Usually these days when looking at player worth and value I look at the WAR accumulated so far in relation to prorated salary using a generic $4-5MM per win conversion rate. This is a "win over replacement", not an arbitrary "pitching win" as most people are familiar with.

 

[dabynsky]

Sue me.



What are you using? I can also his 5.46 ERA to say he's not worth $14M salary, his age, and injury history.

I look at his previous track record for the Cubs, and his performance since April. I have a little game let's play which one isn't like the other: 9.58, 3.08, 3.86. Those are his ERA by each month. If I get the guy that has been pitching since May 1st for the rest of this year and next year, his salary is a bargain.

Dempster is 34. He clearly isn't going to get better than anything he has shown us, but it isn't unreasonable to expect similar production as last year for one more year. I don't want to sign him to another 3 year deal after the player option for 14 million, but there's reason to be optimistic about Dempster earning the rest of his contract.

You are going to have to help me with injury history. I know he went on the DL a couple years ago because of jumping the railing, but he has made 33, 31, and 34 starts this year. He has yet to miss a start this year. I know there was a bit of a scare with the hip thing, but he actually pitched one of his best games that day.

 

[Jntg4]

He sure hasn't been worth 14M this year.

 

[dabynsky]

He is making 13.5 million this year, but yes he had a beyond terrible April. However, if he continues to pitch like he has I would say it is even considered what we paid for a sub 3 ERA in 2008.