howry to cubs

[giants!]

The Cubs and right-hander Bobby Howry have agreed to terms on a three-year, $12 million contract, pending a physical.
It's quite a bit of money, Howry could be a better reliever than Ryan Dempster over the next three years, assuming his arm woes are in the past. Still, Dempster is the closer. Howry and Scott Eyre will share setup duties in a pen that will also include Scott Williamson, Michael Wuertz and Will Ohman. If Kerry Wood is healthy at the start of the season, one more spot will go to either Glendon Rusch or Jerome Williams. So, it's not looking good for Roberto Novoa, Jermaine Van Buren, Todd Wellemeyer, Sergio Mitre, Rich Hill or any of the Cubs' other useful young arms

From Rotoworld

[RynMan]

Horrible.

[kentx12]

That seems like alot of money for him.

[RAmst23]

Wow, I get to say the opposite of what I've been saying about the Mets and NYY... anyway, the Cubs need some bats big time. Why pay so much for middle relievers when your closer situation isn't even set? Are the Cubs gonna have enough money to sign a bat so their starting line-up isn't a bunch of glorified Triple Aers (Excluding Aram and DLee)? What's the spending on Eyre and Howry so far, 6 millionish for the year? Geez.

[Mustangs989]

Wow, I get to say the opposite of what I've been saying about the Mets and NYY... anyway, the Cubs need some bats big time. Why pay so much for middle relievers when your closer situation isn't even set? Are the Cubs gonna have enough money to sign a bat so their starting line-up isn't a bunch of glorified Triple Aers (Excluding Aram and DLee)? What's the spending on Eyre and Howry so far, 6 millionish for the year? Geez.

Seems everyone last year was getting on the Cubs for not improving the bullpen. I'm not saying they didn't give Howry too much money because they did but I think the Cubs have the right idea adressing their bullpen. They still have enough money to either trade for Pierre and/or sign Furcal. It's not like Howry is a bad MR...I believe his 2nd half ERA was around 1.

[stevethumb]

hey it's not your money...i think they improved their team and can still trade for pierre and buy another bat

[Dmville]

I see no reason why their closer situation isn't set. They re-signed Dempster. He saved 33 of 37 I think last year. Any reason to remove him?

[wkelly91]

If Dempster falters or blows his arm out again...It would be nice to have a Howry ready to step in. Good move

[RugbyD]

Wood, Rusch (or whoever #5 is), and even Prior to a degree are not dependable guys so even though the price tag may be high, it's nice to have a few guys in the pen who can log huge amounts of appearances like Eyre and Howry did last year.

[Pogotheostrich]

Seems everyone last year was getting on the Cubs for not improving the bullpen. I'm not saying they didn't give Howry too much money because they did but I think the Cubs have the right idea adressing their bullpen. They still have enough money to either trade for Pierre and/or sign Furcal. It's not like Howry is a bad MR...I believe his 2nd half ERA was around 1.

I agree. The Cubs have overspent on the bullpen but that was a major flaw they had to fix. If they sign a leadoff hitter *cough*Furcal*cough* then they will have addressed their 2 biggest problems in the off-season, something they failed to do last year.