Rob Carr - Getty Images
Starting pitcher Matt Garza of the Chicago Cubs looks up at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
The Theo Epstein/Jed Hoyer era in Chicago begins with the team avoiding any arbitration hearings. The last unsigned player was Matt Garza, and this tweet from his agent gives the scoop on Garza's deal:
@CAA_Baseball
CAA Baseball Matt Garza agrees to $9.5 Million contract + Performance Bonuses to avoid arbitration. #Cubs #MLB
Favorite Retweet
The Cubs had offered $7.95 million and Garza had asked for $12.5 million; the midpoint of those was $10.225 million, so the settlement is somewhat less than that, although the unspecified "performance bonuses" could presumably make up the difference.
Just 15 days until pitchers and catchers report to Mesa to begin workouts.
0 recs | 121 comments
Always makes me wonder . . .
. . . who blinked at the last minute, you know?
Glad to have this taken care of.
Edgewood - February 3, 2012
It's just about the midpoint
… so it sounds like a fair compromise.
Al Yellon - February 3, 2012
What team will he have to play for, in order to get that post-season performance bonus?
SackMan - February 3, 2012
http://www.instantrimshot.com
Al Yellon - February 3, 2012
Good Job Theo!
Always good to avoid Arb
Ihatethecards - February 3, 2012
i'd say its not "Always" good....
epsilon - February 3, 2012
Works for me.
Now, let’s sign a Cuban outfielder and get to Mesa.
elgato - February 3, 2012
a couple of cuban outfielders please.
hey, just sayin.
MDavis - February 3, 2012
I bet we get one, not both.
elgato - February 3, 2012
i bet we could get Fukudome for cheap
Cubbie-Tim - February 3, 2012
I see what you did there.
Not funny, Tim. :)
elgato - February 3, 2012
maybe the Yankees?
After Hendry gets them to pick up Soriano from us?
TJ11 - February 3, 2012
Sounds like Kosuke will be a Met or back in Japan.
elgato - February 3, 2012
A Met?
I had not heard that.
Al Yellon - February 3, 2012
Boom.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/02/latest-on-mets-search-for-outfield-bat.html
elgato - February 3, 2012
Thanks.
Missed that.
Al Yellon - February 3, 2012
No problem.
It sounds a tad speculative, but I stand by my original comments because, well, I’ve seen nothing else to indicate any other team is interested in Kosuke.
elgato - February 3, 2012
The only other team that makes some sense for him is the A's.
But I have not seen him specifically linked to them.
Al Yellon - February 3, 2012
Do the A's need another OFer?
I know Oakland digs walks, but still …
elgato - February 3, 2012
Brace yourself - A's might be where Manny ends up
Makes very little sense, but then again, when’s the last time anything involving Manny made sense? In that concrete stadium, before a dwindling fan base, and probably sub-500 record, it might be the perfect place to just let Manny be Manny…
ballhawk - February 3, 2012
Of course, he couldn't play until almost June.
Al Yellon - February 3, 2012
Its a Joke
MLB is letting him halve his suspension. He ran off and “retired” when he was caught. Now he comes back and he only has to serve half the suspension. What a joke.
dmlichte - February 3, 2012
plus he can play in the MInors
for part of it. I dont agree with that part of the drug suspension policy
Cubbie-Tim - February 3, 2012
Agreed...very much
Not enough teeth to the policy
jeffstorm2 - February 4, 2012
When did Fukudome become an "outfield bat"
Never really carried his weight as a hitter.
ClarkFan - February 4, 2012
im just trying to get him back for you
since you owe him a ride to the airport still
Cubbie-Tim - February 3, 2012
I think the greater BCB community ...
will be happier without the routine elgato rants about Kosuke, don’t you? :)
elgato - February 3, 2012
depends
if we sign him today, and can trade him minutes after re-introducing him at Wrigley to the Mets and you get to drive him as promised, then it wont be too much, and hopefully you have a good story about your driving him to the airport
Cubbie-Tim - February 3, 2012
cuz we all know how much you are hurting inside for not being able
to drive him when he was traded
Cubbie-Tim - February 3, 2012
Funny thing:
I don’t even own a car anymore.
elgato - February 3, 2012
pedi-cab?
Cubbie-Tim - February 3, 2012
Zipcar, probably.
elgato - February 3, 2012
I use Hourcar here in St. Paul
It’s a nice alternative. There are four within walking distance, they’re generally clean and well-kept, and it’s a monthly fee plus hourly/mileage based on use.
Now if only some of the other users could learn the basics of diagonal parking!
MN exile - February 3, 2012
we have a similar thing here in Austin
Car2Go
Cubbie-Tim - February 3, 2012
Doesn't he play for the Rockies?
Al Yellon - February 3, 2012
A Perfect Storm...
June 27, 2012 – Wrigley Field, top of 5th inning, Mets 8 – Cubs 5; one on, one out.
Rodrigo Lopez on the mound for the Cubs; Kosuke Fukudome at the plate for the Mets.
And Security is summoned to the left-field corner of the bleachers to separate elgato and Al…
ballhawk - February 3, 2012
At least you know that I'd be rooting for the Cub in that situation. ;)
Al would probably want Kosuke to go yard to put RoLo further down the depth chart!
Just kidding, Al.
elgato - February 3, 2012
or want to see CLiff Johnson
climb the fence in front of the new stats board in RF to make a catch ala Major League 2
Cubbie-Tim - February 3, 2012
Bring in the
Rule 5 guy
timh815 - February 3, 2012
I luld
unretrofied93 - February 3, 2012
Hey!
You’d probably be on Sheffield, waiting for Kosuke’s blast off RoLo. But you’d never get it, because he’d hit it high onto one of the rooftops…
Al Yellon - February 3, 2012
How dare you talk that way about our No. 3 starter!
elgato - February 3, 2012
I take it Fukudome is now Japanese for Glenallen
Cubbie-Tim - February 3, 2012
I think Fukudome has always been Japanese ...
for “Jacque Jones.”
elgato - February 3, 2012
Except Jones rarely walked.
Al Yellon - February 3, 2012
I'm well aware.
I was just joking.
elgato - February 3, 2012
You probably would have driven Jones to the airport, too.
Al Yellon - February 3, 2012
I honestly thought JJ got a bad rap.
He was good in 2006 and had a ton of clutch hits down the stretch in 2007.
I’m not saying he was a better player than Kosuke — just that he wasn’t as personally annoying to me. That’s partly because BCBers didn’t constantly find new and weirder ways to justify Jones’ contract.
elgato - February 3, 2012
He's bringing in millions...
…from Minnesota tourists!
daver - February 3, 2012
Daver ...
FTW!
elgato - February 3, 2012
Jones was when I started getting fed up with Hendry.
But I think your evaluation is fair.
shoemile - February 3, 2012
I think the greater BCB community
is far better off with less Koyie Hill rants than Dome rants. :)
Madison Cub Fan - February 3, 2012
I never really jumped on the anti-Koyie bandwagon.
I just didn’t care that much. He sucked, but he wasn’t a guy who precipitated a bunch of subsequent moves to dull the blunt of his failed contract. Koyie also didn’t get a litany of ridiculous excuses around here (though he got some).
elgato - February 4, 2012
You are right about the last sentence
I guess I was thinking more of my rants about Hill, BCB is better off with out it.
Plus starting OF who made 10’s of millions and sucked, normally would be things discussed on baseball website.
I doubt there has or ever will be as much time spent discussing a back up catcher.
Madison Cub Fan - February 4, 2012
but there was that one post a while back
it was a million words on Koyie, some great comments in it as well, wish i could remember the title to it.
Cubbie-Tim - February 5, 2012
found it
Koyie Hill versus The World
Cubbie-Tim - February 5, 2012
Although this is good news
I would’ve rather seen “Cubs, Matt Garza Avoid Arbitration by Signing Extension”
unretrofied93 - February 3, 2012
That's my thought and what now?
Is Garza not in our long range plans? Is this a sign and trade just waiting for July? If not Garza who (for 2013 and beyond)? Would he not agree to anything more than one year? If he’s not in our plans past this season, what is the plan for TeamTheo going forward?
A lot of questions I know. But, I like having him back but curious to why we couldn’t get a longer extension.
mrcubsfan - February 3, 2012
Maybe sitting back and watching next years FA pitcher class
and the big name I’d keel over and die for if he made it to the north side, Mr. Josh Hamilton.
unretrofied93 - February 3, 2012
potential 2013 FA's
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/?page_id=177
Cubbie-Tim - February 3, 2012
DO. NOT. WANT.
santoswoodenlegs - February 3, 2012
because he relapsed
and had some drinks recently or because how some people (not I) want to give him a parade and other bull crap for not doing heroine since he quit (so far)
FWIW I agree I too dont want
Cubbie-Tim - February 3, 2012
Anybody catch Quade's comments about Sveum in the Sun Times today????
Absolutely hilarious…He still does not get it…
TJ11 - February 3, 2012
No. Link?
Nunyabidness - February 3, 2012
I think this is what he's talking about.
ubercubsfan - February 3, 2012
Little league managing
TJ11 - February 3, 2012
Here...
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/10398317-573/mike-quade-takes-issue-with-dale-sveums-evaluation-of-cubs-effort.html
Easy Ed - February 3, 2012
This man managed a major league team..
The further we get from this idiot’s reign, the better, but little things like this bring me right back to how he managed that team, and make me wonder how that even happened.
And then I remember that Jim Hendry was our GM.
Craig in South Bend - February 3, 2012
And then I shiver and get a knot in my stomach.
santoswoodenlegs - February 3, 2012
Jim hired his buddy to manage......now they are not with the Cubs...
So thanks Jim?
TJ11 - February 3, 2012
but he was an All Star last year
Cubbie-Tim - February 3, 2012
Amazing!
TJ11 - February 3, 2012
...
The answer is…He’s being an idiot.
santoswoodenlegs - February 3, 2012
Idiot is a key word.....He must have been in the crapper everytime Soriano batted....
He already thought Soriano batting 40 points higher than he did.
TJ11 - February 3, 2012
"every night"?
I hate to say it…but it’s Wrigley Field. Wouldn’t “every game” be more appropriate than “every nite”? Exactly what team was Quade managing??? LOL
jeffstorm2 - February 4, 2012
good point.
Dcr18 - February 4, 2012
I cant handle the links....sorry...Thank you Easy Ed for posting it.
TJ11 - February 3, 2012
Quade
Was going to comment on this yesterday… Quade strikes me as a nice guy and a class act. The more he opens his mouth, the more I want to smack him. He seems to typify the concept of “when everyone but you is laughing, the joke’s on you…”. There is a reason that some guys are destined to be minor league managers and occasionally one of them gets promoted to the majors. It doesn’t take long to see that they are WAY over their head.
dmlichte - February 3, 2012
I just don't understand why he felt he had to say anything.
All he did was make himself look like, well, what he called himself.
Al Yellon - February 3, 2012
Honestly, the interview lasted about a minute, based on the amount of quotes.
Quade probably picked up and didn’t think he should shut his mouth until 60 seconds in.
elgato - February 3, 2012
It was a humorous flashback to last year and the horridness of the Chicago Cubs
One of the worst run teams I have ever seen
TJ11 - February 3, 2012
Quade was really bad, no question.
But he was handed such a dud of a team. He got the sloppy seconds (or thirds) from the 2007-08 squads. It was largely a group of veterans that knew it wasn’t going anywhere by June 1 and kind of played that way (with some exceptions). I’m not sure another manager could have gotten much better results or effort — though I bet we would have seen more young guys. To me, that was the worst part about Mike Quade. That Bryan LaHair wasn’t up earlier was just ridiculous.
My guess for a while has been that Ricketts retained Hendry and Quade for 2011 figuring that a new management team would spend at least two years dealing with the leftover bad contracts from the Tribune era. So why not give Hendry/Quade one more shot to write the team’s wrongs — particularly after the strong finish in 2010?
Then, when it became clear how barren the farm system was and how dumb Quade was, Ricketts decided it was time for a massive overhaul.
elgato - February 3, 2012
The kids should have been playing daily from July on...the lazy vets...should have sat. They earned that spot....
But finally that is all over………..And what Dale said is spot on……Quade can get over it.
TJ11 - February 3, 2012
Perhaps...
… he’s trying to cement himself as the second coming of Jim Essian. The way Quade looks at it, you’d think that the Cubs won the division by 20 games. It was clear that there were numerous problems and everyone seems to get it but Quade. I guess you can say what’s the point of rehashing it all, but, IMO, Quade’s inability to do that is part of his bigger problem, wherein he buries his head in the sand and allows the inmates to run the asylum.
dmlichte - February 3, 2012
My guess is
… that Quade has had his last major league job. If he wants back in the game, it’ll likely be managing a Triple-A franchise somewhere.
Al Yellon - February 3, 2012
He might get a coaching job in the majors.
But managing? Hell no.
elgato - February 3, 2012
is there such thing as a clapping coach?
jesus christos - February 3, 2012
There is "waving" - he could coach 3B again....
ClarkFan - February 4, 2012
agreed
TJ11 - February 3, 2012
"i'm gonna have to have speaks with Sveumsie about this!"
EalyEagle - February 4, 2012
I was laughing so hard at that
my boyfriend actually asked me what was so funny.
Madison Cub Fan - February 4, 2012
Thats probably what he really said...
TJ11 - February 6, 2012
And it proves my point about his managing completely...
No clue about controlling a team.
TJ11 - February 3, 2012
I'm glad Quade said this....
it has to be reassuring to TR that it was a complete mistake by Hendry to hire this guy as a manager of a ML team, and that it was the absolute right thing to do and let JH go. Ricketts had to have asked himself watching Quade manage the ‘11 season, what the heck is Hendry thinking and that he could no longer trust the direction JH was taking this team. Quade had to be the "the straw that broke the camel’s
Hendry’sback."cooliogirl47 - February 3, 2012
Agree with this completely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They both made Ricketts look bad by association.
Probably why Hendry got fired early
TJ11 - February 3, 2012
Obviously, Quade was a bad hire.
But I don’t think he’s why Hendry got fired early. Hendry was on the hot seat going into 2011, and the team he assembled just wasn’t that good. He was counting on a lot of lucky breaks (and a weak division) to get the team into contention, so he could argue that he made chicken salad out of the chicken sh*t leftover from the Tribune years. Then, he could have argued to Ricketts that with the money coming off the books after 2011, he could get the team back into contention
When Cashner and Wells went down, the team’s complete lack of organizational starting pitching depth killed any slim chances the 2011 team had and showed that Hendry, on top of the disastrous FA signings of Soriano/Bradley/Kosuke/Zambrano had let the farm system deteriorate.
I’m guessing seeing Davis/Russell/Lopez start two days a week was more the last straw than hearing Quade’s string of ridiculous nicknames. Earl Weaver couldn’t have done much with the hand Hendry dealt Quade last year — though Quade sure found ways to make the situation worse.
elgato - February 3, 2012
this is all any one is saying about him in my opinion...
I don’t think for a minute that Quade’s nicknames were his or Hendry’s downfall. I think it was the both of them taking what everyone agrees was a bad situation and indeed making it worse…unlike what TheJedi is doing!
cooliogirl47 - February 3, 2012
Yeah, we're arguing at the margins.
Everyone agrees that Quade sucked and that Jimbo had to go. I just don’t think Quade was the last straw.
elgato - February 3, 2012
yeah, I didn't think we were arguing....just thought you misunderstood what I was trying to say.
anyway I’m happy they’re both gone and things like this just makes me a little bit more happy :)
Go Cubs!
cooliogirl47 - February 3, 2012
Agreed Coolio....
We probably will not be good this year…BUT I am much more excited to see a team giving a good effort and seeing what the future will bring.
TJ11 - February 3, 2012
Quade did have a bad team....yes.....but he made almost every bad move possible....
They worked together to bring some terrible baseball to Chicago.
TJ11 - February 3, 2012
No disagreement there.
elgato - February 3, 2012
Good things
Another good thing with Garza’s signing. The Cubs are moving onward and upward. The future is theirs to win.
FrostyMalt - February 3, 2012
Dempster, Garza, Maholm, Wood, and Volstad sounds fairly decent.
lexmarklover - February 3, 2012
Subtract Garza and add Wells
All signs point to Garza being traded by April 1st.
Look at the signs: a one-year arb deal instead of two. No extension.
This team is building itself up for the long haul, not just a win in 2014. I dont think Theo has any plans to start out this run by saddling himself with a five- year, $80-million contract for a #2 pitcher.
Garza is no ace. But he’s worth a future ace or two in trade, and I think that’s the goal here. Not a Chris Archer, but a bonafide ace prospect, and more. THEN we have a core to establish a winning future.
Matt Garza is the most valuable piece we have. Time to do this right.
KO Stradivarius - February 4, 2012 via mobile
Really now. What signs are those? I have not seen any.
Al Yellon - February 4, 2012
Okay then
A few signs point vaguely in the direction of Garza maybe getting dealt by April 1 or July 31st.
If Garza was to remain with this team, yesterday would have been the announcement of an extension. If Garza was in next year’s plans or beyond, they would have at least given him a two-year deal.
It’s easy to get blinded by the hope that this team is going to make the playoffs this year and next. They might. But TheoJed has made it very clear that if a decision does not make sense in terms of the overall “build” for the future, they will not get bogged down by it.
I open the floor to anyone who can explain how an expensive extension to Garza fits in with anything else TheoJed have done so far. Myself, I have deduced from their words and actions that Garza is to be traded for outstanding, young talent. See “converting short-term assets into long-term assets”. We build a strong, affordable foundation. Big spending comes in phase two, a few years from now.
KO Stradivarius - February 4, 2012 via mobile
It takes two sides to make a deal...
You have no idea what Garza’s camp was pushing for. Maybe they didn’t want anything other than a 6+ year deal or a 1 year deal.
Assuming that they’d look at anything the Cubs offered ignores half of the equation.
bdlugz - February 4, 2012
Exactly.
And further, we don’t know if Theo & Jed might not offer an extension next week, or a month from now, or in midsummer. The fact that they signed a one-year arb deal implies exactly zero about the future. It’s an arb deal, period.
Al Yellon - February 4, 2012
Do we know if he'll be offerd an extention no
but do we now know that if TheoJed get the right offer by the trade deadline, it will much easier to trade him. They left that door wide open. Smart move on Cubs part.
I LOVE BEING ABLE TO TYPE THAT LAST SENTENCE!!!!
Madison Cub Fan - February 4, 2012
Sure.
But giving him an extension might also be a smart move. By midseason TheoJed will have a much better idea of the team’s direction — which will tell them whether they should extend, or deal.
Doing it now, just for the sake of doing it, is pointless.
Al Yellon - February 4, 2012
I'm not sure whether he'll be traded by April 1st...
…or July 31st. But it does feel to me like Garza could still be dealt.
The funny thing about the Garza situation is we’re kind of right back where we were a few years ago with Carlos Zambrano. That is, we have a solid No. 2 (which I used to argue Z was) but have no one to put over him. So I do have to wonder whether it’s worth signing Garza to a long-term deal.
Maybe it is as long as there’s enough room in the budget to still get a No. 1 next season if one of them becomes available. Or maybe it’s not if Theo/Jed/Jason think they can get the prospects they want in the near future.
daver - February 4, 2012
One thing to note:
The speculation has been that Garza would get 5 year deal worth around $65 million, not a 5 year deal worth $91.5 million.
If this is true, it looks like the Cubs will pay their No. 2 starter like a No. 2 starter — and not like an ace. So, there’s a key distinction between Z five years ago and Garza now.
elgato - February 6, 2012
That's what John Danks got...
…and I have read him used as a good comp for Garza. So maybe Theo & Jed will try to do both. I’m guessing they’ll still wait and see what the market may conjure up leading into the season and at the deadline.
daver - February 7, 2012
What's up with Sox fans still thinking Garza is going to be the Theo compensation?
SandalsNoPants - February 4, 2012
i saw a fanpost on OTM saying that garza was fair compensation and laughed my ass off
and then i saw it was written by a rays fan and said “WTF!?”
jesus christos - February 4, 2012
I thought he was just a bozo Sox fan who lived in Tampa.
But you’re right.. his profile says Rays fan. Maybe it’s an elaborate troll, in which case it’s pretty awesome. However, on the off chance that it’s serious, we don’t claim him as one of our own. Yes, I can speak for all Rays fans.
SandalsNoPants - February 5, 2012
Drugs.
daver - February 7, 2012
Looks like a smart move
glad to hear no arbitration this year.
lshaffer_69 - February 5, 2012
Matt Garza looks like a devil...
just sayin
chcubsdomination - February 6, 2012
I think he's trying to channel his inner "Rock"
if he can get that one eyebrow to go up a little higher, then he’ll be yelling “Can you smeeeeelllllllllllllllllllllllllll what the Garz is cooking!!!!!!!”
ballhawk - February 6, 2012
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