Cubbies get some relief....

Although all the details havn't been mashed out yet, and all but ending the chances of a run at a top calibre reliever, the Cubs will announce tommorow that they have signed lefty reliever Scott Eyre to a 2 year deal, with a third year player option that could make the total package worth $11 million. Eyre was in high demand but his choice to come to the Cubs came down to a few things: 1) He wanted to stay in the National League, 2) A past relationship with Dusty Baker and Dick Pole, and 3) he wanted a three year deal. San Francisco offered Eyre two years with a club option, but he wanted three years and thats essentially what he got with a third year player option. Eyre will also have bonuses in his contract for each season of $100,000 at 70 games entered and $200,000 at 80 games entered.

Eyre broke in with the White Sox in 1997 but was up and down for most of his career. Then in 2002 he was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and that essentially changed his career. Heres an article on his condition. Essentially he couldn't concentrate at all times on the mound leading to a breakdown of his focus. During his diagnosis the Blue Jays released him but he was picked up by Baker during the stretch run of the Giants 2002 World Series season and apparently Eyre never forgot that.

Heres what GM Jim Hendry had to say about the signing, "Scott was the best guy on the market for us, he had a terrific year. He has proven he can pitch almost every day with 80 appearances. He's affective against righties and lefties. We felt it was important to add a quality lefty to the pen to go with Ohman.
I cannot lie, I am not a big fan of this signing. Eyre is essentially a glorified lefty specialist who had an outlier year in 2005 against righties. Don't get me wrong, ever since he found out about the ADHD he has been more than solid in getting lefties out, but in that period his BAA against right-handed hitters has been .254 - and that includes a .213 mark last season. On the flip side, his numbers on the road have been significantly better than his numbers at home, which doesn't make much sense playing at PacBell. That is the only chance he has of living up to the money the Cubs gave him a few hours ago. It is possible that he may have turned another corner in his career, but at age 33 the odds are very unlikely. I think in two years we will have paid almost four million a year to a lefty specialist who cannot be the main set-up that Trader Jim will want him to be - or at least he should be for this kind of money.


Around the division....

The Pirates are spending money again inking 2004 Rookie of the Year Jason Bay to a 4 yr/$18.5 million extension. Even though he wasn't arbitration eligible till the end of next season the Pirates apparently thought that they could get a better deal now by signing him to the long term deal. This new contract does not however take him through any free agency years as he will still be on track for free agency in 2009. If Bay keeps up the numbers he put up last season, or bests them, this is a great deal for the Pirates as his arbitration years would yield much more than he will get in this contract. Bay gets a signing bonus of $1 million and a base salary, in order, of $750,000 ; $3.25 mil ; $5.75 mil ; and $7.5 mil.


Lets get Brian Giles....

Just my one reminder per post that the Cubs should sign Brian Giles. Here's the on the road stat line he authored last season: .333/.463/.545 ; with significantly more runs, doubles, walks, and less strikeouts.