FoxSports.com reports: The Cubs are among a number of teams monitoring the progress of free-agent pitcher Kris Benson. Other teams in the mix include the Diamondbacks, Reds and Nationals, according to a major-league source.
Last week, Benson's agent said he expected the oft-injured right-hander -- who has made only eight major-league appearances since 2006 -- to join a new team within the next few weeks. He pitched briefly for Texas last season.
Meanwhile, former Cubs reliever Kevin Gregg has narrowed his choices to the Blue Jays and Rockies after ruling out a return to the Marlins, according to sources close to the negotiations.
Get the full story: FoxSports.com
Last week, Benson's agent said he expected the oft-injured right-hander -- who has made only eight major-league appearances since 2006 -- to join a new team within the next few weeks. He pitched briefly for Texas last season.
Meanwhile, former Cubs reliever Kevin Gregg has narrowed his choices to the Blue Jays and Rockies after ruling out a return to the Marlins, according to sources close to the negotiations.
Get the full story: FoxSports.com
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Because Nady has more power and the Cubs could use a little more pop off the bench. Plus if the Cubs offered Reed Johnson a one year contract for less than a million I'm sure he would have passed and looked for something else. Remember, he wanted to see if he could start somewhere. The Cubs needed to fill a hole on their bench and couldn't wait for Reed to decide if he wanted to try to be a starter or not.
Why did we pay Nady 3.3 million and let reed Johnson get away for 800K?
Why not give pitchers like Sheets and Benson a look? The Cardinals signed Chris Carpenter after he had shoulder surgery at the end of 2002. Carpenter sat out the entire 2003 season as a Cardinal, but despite his injury history and inconsistent pitching as a Blue Jay he became one of the top pitchers in the NL from 2004-06. Then after missing most of the next two seasons, he returned to being one of the best in the NL in 2009.
Just because the Cubs are looking doesn't mean they have a contract ready to go for that pitcher. The Cubs are a little short on quality starters now, and since this year's free agency market was weak on starters (Randy Wolf was the #2 starter on the market this year people!) why not try to find a diamond in the rough?
I am all for the Cubs checking out starting pitching but cant they find anybody who doesnt have an arm surgeon on their speed dial?
Diamondbacks, Reds and Nationals are the other teams scouting Benson. Wow, aren't the Cubs in the company of winners. How many games did the Nationals win last year? If they're interested in this guy you know he's a hot commodity.
for a team that says they hope they stay healthy, why are they signing/looking at all these injury prone players? not to mention they are old, slow, arm shot, etc.
as far as putting presure (Nady) on Soriano and fukudome, wrong. Lou needs Soriano's consent so that puts the presure on Fukudome who Lou can't wait to bench.
Why are we looking at Benson????
Isn't Jarrod Washburn and Erik Bedard still available? Why not try signing one of these two guys to a cheap one year deal? Let one of them be our swing man for a season so they don't over-exert themselves, which has always been their biggest issue with staying healthy...
Hell, they could have had Jon Garland for $5 million for one year as they're 5th starter! I would have done that deal..
Gregg is choosing which teams he's interested in? My gosh...he should be happy with what he gets.
It might be nice having his wife in the seats, otherwise this guy is useless.