Scott Baker missed the entire 2012 season and wont throw from a mound again until the middle of December at the earliest. He couldnt even showcase himself with a bullpen session.
The Cubs still acted fast on Tuesday, guaranteeing Baker 5.5 million with a one-year deal that contains incentives that could yield an extra 1.5 million. That speaks to his reputation with the Minnesota Twins (63-48, 4.15 ERA) before a right elbow injury, the advancements in Tommy John surgery and the rising cost of pitching across an industry juiced by television money.
Baker was too polite to name names or get into other contract offers left on the table. The Cubs are simply going to have to pay this price.
There was definitely some serious interest from some other ballclubs, Baker said. We all know pitching is at a premium and I think youre going to see its going to be a very active offseason for a lot of teams. Im just excited to be here. I think this is an unbelievable opportunity for me and my family.
The Cubs are hoping for more good news after Matt Garza undergoes another scan on his right elbow this week to see how the stress reaction is healing. They still need to sign at least one more starter they can plug into their Opening Day rotation alongside Garza, Baker, Jeff Samardzija and Travis Wood.
Whos on deck for another Wrigley Field news conference? It appears Theo Epsteins front office could go bigger with their next move.
Were pursuing pitchers across the spectrum, Epstein said, some guys who would be classified as buy-low, others that might even be buy-high guys, or hopefully buy-high and stay there. Some one-year deals, some multi-year deals, some tradeswere looking for pitchers who can step in and improve our rotation.
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If there are sound investments out there, whether theyre big or small, well pursue them and try to sign them.
Medical concerns recently helped convince the Cubs to pull the plug on the Carlos Marmol-for-Dan Haren trade with the Los Angeles Angels. The reality is they will likely wind up with another flawed pitcher with upside potential, whether its a Brandon McCarthy, a Shaun Marcum or a Francisco Liriano.
Obviously, youd love to sign pitchers who are 100 percent healthy and have never been hurt, but those animals dont really exist, Epstein said. The medical assessment on every pitcher is important, and if you have to sign a pitcher whos coming off surgery, Tommy John is the one you want, (because) its a very predictable rehab with a very strong success rate upwards of 95 percent.
Baker grew up in Shreveport, La., and went to Oklahoma State University, where he overlapped during the 2001 season with future Boston Red Sox pitching coach (and current manager) John Farrell, at the time an assistant coachpitching and recruiting coordinator for the Cowboys.
The Los Angeles Dodgers just bid 25.7 million for the right to negotiate with South Korean left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin. Zack Greinke and Anibal Sanchez could wind up with nine-figure deals. By the time teams start throwing money around at next months winter meetings in Nashville, Tenn., this could seem even more reasonable.
The reality is its not exactly a buyers market for pitching out there right now, so you have to take your risks, Epstein said. Do you want to take a risk on the guy with bad makeup? Do you want to take a risk on the guy with bad command? Or do you want to take a risk on a guy you really believe in whos coming off Tommy John at an appropriate value point? Were very comfortable placing our bet on Scott Baker.