Scott Baker Signs with Chicago Cubs

[Seth Stohs]

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

[Boom Boom]

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.

[mikeee]

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

[Parker Hageman]

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

[Boom Boom]

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.

[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.

[LaBombo]

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

[John Bonnes]

$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.)

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

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"!

[johnnydakota]

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

[SarasotaBill]

Obviously this hurts.

 

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

[Guest USAFChief]

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

[Jeremy Nygaard]

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.

[johnnydakota]

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?

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

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.

[NoCryingInBaseball]

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.

[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.

[Guest USAFChief]

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.

[bird]

Hey, relax. It's only November.

 

There you go, Chief.

[John Bonnes]

$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.

[gunnarthor]

Baker should do better in the NL. The frightening thing for the Twins isn't losing Baker but the cost of pitching. 5.5 + 1.5 in incentives for a guy coming off TJ? Who has one 200 ip season? Who is 31? I was hoping Marcum would come on a 1 yr 8m or so but, cripes, that's way low now.

 

Give the Cubs credit, they have money and aren't afraid to use it.

[Ex-Iowegian]

Wow. That's a lot of jing for a guy fresh off of TJ.

And why would he be on the Cub's short list?

[Boom Boom]

I'm not a big fan of Baker so I won't lose sleep over this. Whatever Plan B is, though, I hope it's a good one.

[Riverbrian]

If it's 5.5 Million... Good Gravy... Let him go... Congrats to you Scott... Good Luck in Chicago... Still more FA options to consider and put a bid in for.

[Parker Hageman]

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.

 

Two things:

 

(1) Lewis was already under team control when he sided his contract. Without competing against the free market, the Rangers were able to secure a discount.

 

(2) Lewis had TJ in July while Baker had it in April. I would say Baker has a much better chance of providing innings in 2012 than Lewis.

[minn55441]

Baker should do better in the NL. The frightening thing for the Twins isn't losing Baker but the cost of pitching. 5.5 + 1.5 in incentives for a guy coming off TJ? Who has one 200 ip season? Who is 31? I was hoping Marcum would come on a 1 yr 8m or so but, cripes, that's way low now.

 

Give the Cubs credit, they have money and aren't afraid to use it.

 

My thoughts exactly. That is a lot of money for a guy that won't be ready to pitch in April. If we need three starters better than Baker, will any of them sign at a price less than $10 per year?

 

Granted, I'm sure Baker received a little more because it was a one year deal as apposed to a multi-year offer, but this could really be a bad sign for the costs of SP going forward. Perhaps Boras was correct, the new TV money will in fact be spent.

[sorney]

D'oh! Congrats to him

[Willihammer]

Dang, that hurts.

[AllhopeisgoneMNTWINS]

Its not like Baker was stellar for us year in and year out. 2 good years in a 7 year career for the Twins. Not worth 5.5 million dollar for a guy coming off TJ.

[luckylager]

There's a reason why the Cubs remain "the Cubs". Good luck to Scott Baker.