Thread: Scott Baker Signs with Chicago Cubs

According to several sources (including MLB's), the Cubs have signed RHP Scott Baker to a one year contract. More information to come.

Hmm, a one-year-deal?

I'd be surprised if the Cubs' offer was significantly more than the Twins were willing to give Baker. Sounds like Scott didn't want to come back as much as we thought.

Well at least we won't have to worry about how the gamble on baker's recovery turns out.

But wait. I thought the Twins had already signed him to a three-year deal?

Originally Posted by Parker Hageman

But wait. I thought the Twins had already signed him to a three-year deal?

Evidently the Cubs didn't check with thrylos98's source.

I'll be interested to see how much guaranteed money the got. I always liked Baker, but don't see him contributing until the second half of the season. I wonder how many real offers he received? If you are looking for a chance to prove yourself on a one year deal, I don't think I would pick the Cubs.

Let the feverish re-writing of all the variations of "3 (4?) Easy Steps to 2013 Twins Rotation Bliss" posts begin.

$5.5M for one-year, plus incentives for a guy who had TJ in April? And no option year?

You're welcome to him Theo. Congrats to Scotty's agent. (My guess is you'll be hearing from Colby Lewis shortly.)

Well, this is a little disappointing. I hope he does well with the Cubs. There are plenty of other pitching options available, so no harm. I think the Twins should offer a similar deal to Rich Harden. But, you know of course for less money and more "incentives"!

Originally Posted by minn55441

I'll be interested to see how much guaranteed money the got. I always liked Baker, but don't see him contributing until the second half of the season. I wonder how many real offers he received? If you are looking for a chance to prove yourself on a one year deal, I don't think I would pick the Cubs.

face it we are the poor american leaque version of the cubs , hey nice job terry lyan

Obviously this hurts.

Hopefully Ryan signs two legit FA SP and trade for another.

Commence "but, but, but its only November...relax!" posts in 3...2...1

Originally Posted by Boom Boom

Originally Posted by Parker Hageman

But wait. I thought the Twins had already signed him to a three-year deal?

Evidently the Cubs didn't check with thrylos98's source.

I heard talks broke down when Baker got wind of thrylos leaking inside information.

Seriously though, I'm bummed to hear that Baker left and even more bummed to hear that this is the going rate for pitching.

Originally Posted by SarasotaBill

Obviously this hurts.

Hopefully Ryan signs two legit FA SP and trade for another.

terry(my lipps are moving)lyans? jaime moyer and kevin correia and then trades for kevin slowey ...see we can compete on the cheap , hey jippy do i get another bonus for reducing payroll?

Originally Posted by Jeremy Nygaard

Originally Posted by Boom Boom

Originally Posted by Parker Hageman

But wait. I thought the Twins had already signed him to a three-year deal?

Evidently the Cubs didn't check with thrylos98's source.

I heard talks broke down when Baker got wind of thrylos leaking inside information.

Seriously though, I'm bummed to hear that Baker left and even more bummed to hear that this is the going rate for pitching.

I don't think this is going to be the conventional thing we'll see. One has to think the Cubs overpaid quite a bit to pry him away from the Twins, seeing as how much he liked it here. I really don't mind losing him. He's a huge question mark after TJ and the Twins are not in a position to gamble rotation wise.

Damn!...I was hoping he might come back with the Twins, even though he was returning from Tommy John. I agree with the Twins that $5.5 million was too much.

$5.5M for one-year, plus incentives for a guy who had TJ in April? And now option year?

You're welcome to him Theo. Congrats to Scotty's agent.

I haven't seen anything that has said an option year. Plus, I don't see what that is so hard to accept as what is a normal deal in the MLB. Revenues have gone up and the cost of acquiring FA talent has gone up.

Roy Oswalt -- who was DOA in 2011 -- received a $5M contract with $1M in incentives to pitch from May onward of last year. Baker has a much higher upside if healthy and will likely be full strength by May or June. Not a bad deal for either side.

Originally Posted by Jeremy Nygaard

Originally Posted by Boom Boom

Originally Posted by Parker Hageman

But wait. I thought the Twins had already signed him to a three-year deal?

Evidently the Cubs didn't check with thrylos98's source.

I heard talks broke down when Baker got wind of thrylos leaking inside information.

Seriously though, I'm bummed to hear that Baker left and even more bummed to hear that this is the going rate for pitching.

that acquiring pitching is going to be expensive, one way or another, should not be surprising to anyone.

Either pay the going rate, or accept that The Dedunos of the world will form a large part of the foreseeable rotation. Wishing it were not so isn't a strategy likely to work.

Hey, relax. It's only November.

There you go, Chief.

Originally Posted by Parker Hageman

$5.5M for one-year, plus incentives for a guy who had TJ in April? And now option year?

You're welcome to him Theo. Congrats to Scotty's agent.

I haven't seen anything that has said an option year. Plus, I don't see what that is so hard to accept as what is a normal deal in the MLB. Revenues have gone up and the cost of acquiring FA talent has gone up.

Roy Oswalt -- who was DOA in 2011 -- received a $5M contract with $1M in incentives to pitch from May onward of last year. Baker has a much higher upside if healthy and will likely be full strength by May or June. Not a bad deal for either side.

I mistyped. I meant "no option year."

The market for Baker was set by the deal Colby Lewis took a few months ago. Lewis has had better years than Baker, is coming off a smaller injury and is more likely to be 100% when teh season starts. And he took a $2M + $4M in incentive. Baker got nearly that much guaranteed.