The Cubs signed closer Carlos Marmol to a one-year, $2.125 million deal Thursday, avoiding arbitration.
Marmol said at the Cubs Convention he wasn't worried about signing and had no intention of going to an arbitration hearing. He asked for $2.5 million while the Cubs offered $1.75 million, and they met about halfway.
Photo: Carlos Marmol pitches the ninth against Houston last season. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Tribune)
That leaves Ryan Theriot as the only unsigned Cub among arbitration-eligible players. Theriot filed for $3.4 million, while the Cubs countered at $2.6 million. Obviously, the midway point would be $3 million, though the Cubs are reluctant to go that high and may take it to a hearing.
While the two sides may argue up to the bitter end, expect a last-minute settlement before it gets to an arbitrator. It does Theriot no good to go to a potentially contentious hearing with the Cubs, with star prospect Starlin Castro on the heels of taking his starting job at short by 2011.
The Cubs also signed Kevin Millar to a minor-league deal, as was reported Tuesday.
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I think Theriot has definitely earned his stripes, and his asking price, especially compared to certain outfielders salaries (cough). As for all this Castro talk, I'll believe it when I see it. In the meantime I hope they're not destroying morale for both the team and Theriot.In the case of Marmol, congratulations Carlos. You've also earned it.
I hope the Cubs included a strikeout to walks ratio clause in Marmols contract.
Based on Castro's 2009 minor league stats (39 errors, .740 OPS. etc), I still don't see why he's considered such a can't miss impact prospect. After all the past busts we've seen from the Cubs, I can't help but think Castro is the next Felix Pie. It would be nice if he proves me wrong.
If the Cubs want to keep Theriot they will probably move him to second for the 2011 season. Castro will probably start at AA Tennessee this year and they will see how he develops. As for Fontenot and Baker, neither one of them is a full-time player. Platooning them at second to start the year is okay, but I would think that would only be a short-term solution.
Theriot really doesnt have much bargaining power with Castro waiting in the wings.He is really just a stop gap at this point.I really dont look to see him in a Cub uniform next year unless he is willing to accept a back up role on the team.
Its not unrealistice to think Theriot is worth 3 mil. He plays a key defensive position, hits near 300 and lead the team in stolen bases. We just paid 3 mil for a 4th outfielder and Grabow makes more than that to pitch part of an inning. If I was Theriot I would be insulted by anything less than 3 mil based on the current pay structure.
I like Uggla too, but he is still on the Marlins which means he could still be traded anytime between now and July 31st. I think they will go into the season with Uggla and see how well they are doing after a month or two. It could be like 2003 when they were looking to trade Mike Lowell, with the Cubs as a potential trade partner. They decided to keep him instead and had a great second half, won the Wild Card, and eventually the World Series. We'll see how it goes this year, but yes the Cubs should keep an eye on the Uggla situation.
After the fiascoes of Milton Bradley and Kevin Gregg and their huge salaries Theriot, as the everyday shortstop, wants to see what he can get. No, he isn't worth $3 mil. but in this day of inflated player salaries why not ask for pie in the sky? All I know is the Cubs aren't going to give him a long term deal. I'm with Theriot ask for as much as you can because who knows about the next few years.
Cubs should of tried to get Uggla and trade Theriot. The-riot is not worth $3mil.
Sounds like a good deal, provide Marmol's control is more consistant this year. Baseball's arbitration system needs to be reworked. It takes an adversarial, all or nothing approach, which can really tear a team apart.