Cubs Offer Schmidt

by Calhoun on Nov 28, 2006 6:33 PM EST Comment 12 comments

Cubs Offer Schmidt 44 million dollar contract either 3 or 4 years i really hope he turns them down or Walt gives him a better offer if the Cubs sign Schmidt they will start to look very good with Zambrano and Schmidt in the top two spots in their rotation and Lee,Ramirez and Soriano as their core hitters they will be very dangerous.....

Poll

Will Cubs Sign Schmidt?

Yes

17 votes

No

49 votes

66 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 12 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

That would be bad

If he signed with the Cubs, they would instantly become contenders. Im hoping Walt offers him a contract, but I sadly dont see that coming. Im just hoping a Pacific team like his home town Mariners offer him a contract, because he would for sure sign there over Chicago.....

by redbirdnation on Nov 28, 2006 6:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Piniella factor

I think what scares me most about the Cubs is they have Lou Piniella calling the shots now.

This hasn't been talked about much around here, but Lou is a better than average manager. And he has a knack of firing up a team.

If they do get Schmidt, they will be a VERY dangerous club.

And quite frankly, if we don't get a strong #2 pitcher (other than Weaver) and don't trade for another power hitter, it will be very very tough to win the Central next year, I'm afraid to say.

I know we don't want to admit it and we say "well they're still the Cubs", and all that, but folks I have never seen the Cubs go all out like they are doing this winter.

And I will admit this too, I am a little disapointed that DeWitt seems to be sitting on the loads of cash the Cards have, while the Cubs and the Astros (to a degree) keep getting better and we sign guys like Kip Wells and Adam Kennedy (as of right now). But it is still early I suppose. Or at least I hope.

But I do think Walt has something up his sleeve, at least I really hope he does.

by KYCards on Nov 28, 2006 6:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I have to agree

Lou is someone we have not talked about much, but he is a MUCH better manager than Dusty Baker. With Schmidt(and probably another pitcher on the way via trade) this team is a serious danger to the Cards. You can say all you want about them over paying people, but I have to hand it to them. Unlike like the Cards who are signing no one big on there way to a "100 million" payroll, the Cubs are going out there and getting who they want

by redbirdnation on Nov 28, 2006 6:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If Walt signs Zito or Schmidt,

we should be ok, with a much better overall team than the 2006 version. The Cubs could end up very improved, but they were a sub-.500 club last year (albeit with a lot of injuries).

I don't see who else this extra STL payroll is being spent on if not one of those two guys, barring a fairly major trade

by Valatan on Nov 28, 2006 7:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It'd be easy...

to take on other people's contracts... The Yanks and Chisox have some overpaid pitchers...

by guayzimi on Nov 28, 2006 7:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would have to imagine that the Cardinals will

put in a bid for more money than that if for nothing else than making the Cubs either a) pay more b)get Schmidt or c)drive the market for him higher.

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on Nov 28, 2006 7:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Need to do something soon!

From Bernie's post it looks like The Cards were "in" on talks with Soriano, but backed out because of the price and years.

They let one of the "big names" go to the Cubs, they can't let them get two.

We need a #2 starter really bad and I just don't see Walt finding a big name #2 via a trade. So I think Walt and Dewitt should pitch their absolute best offer at Schmidt. And go a little higher if need be.

Either that or just suck it up and re-sign BOTH Suppan & Weaver at a higher cost than they had hoped to spend on them to re-sign them.

Not a whole lot of attractive options left.

by KYCards on Nov 28, 2006 9:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

KIip Wells signing

Should have freed up some cash to make a serious run at a Jason Schmidt or a Barry Zito, as well as sign Weaver. And since these are the only two real holes in our team right now (besides a few bench players) we should have the money to do it.

I figure with the signings today we are at roughly 80 mil, and DeWitt did say something about going over the 100 mil mark, so if we could get Weaver for 8 mil, we could spend roughly 12-17 mil on Zito/Schmidt.

by gopher100 on Nov 28, 2006 10:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

How much longer do we hold our trump?

Walt and Co. did what they do best in signing Adam Kennedy and Kip Wells. They are bargains for the current market, and STL has a way of bringing out the best in these kid of guys.

IMO, now that the Cubs have made the opening offer to Schmidt, it's time to act and act accordingly.

Resign Weaver. Quickly.
Make our best offer to Schmidt, and be prepared to overpay. We need to play our trump cards here.
If Schmidt somehow gets away, (he may only want to play on the West Coast) the only a trade for someone like Willis will do.
Resign Mark Mulder to an incentive based deal. It'll be like picking him up in a trade when he comes back after the All-Star Break.

We've finally got some money to spend, (quite a bit) and if we're going to spend it on something, I'd like to see it spent on the best money can buy. I mean, if you're gonnna buy a Cadillac, you're not gonna buy the CTS, right?!

by SethWestern on Nov 28, 2006 11:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Voted No

Soriano's contract breaks down like so:

07: $8m + &9m bonus 08: $13m 09: $16m 10: $18m 11: $18m 12: $18m 13: $18m 14: $18m

I'm guessing the Cubs offered him three years since they don't expect to be able to afford the fourth year when Soriano's contract will start paying $18,000,000 per year. I'm not sure how they plan to pay Zambrano this season, much less through 2010.

by liam on Nov 29, 2006 1:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

No Panic

If I'm Schmidt I turn this offer down. He can do better. He's 33 and this is going to be his last big contract. 3 years? Give me 4, plus any kind of option. I'm thinking 4-5 years in the $55-$70 million range is what it will take to get him.

by Baseball addict on Nov 29, 2006 2:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

yeah...

if the offer really is 4 for 44 that's obviously a bargin over what was predicted (4/60). or if it was 3 for 44 that's quite a bit more but it definitely lowers his risk only having him for three years. you don't have to worry about those 4th and 5th years when he really slides off.

by FutureMan on Nov 29, 2006 11:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs