Cubs Keeping Tabs on Pedro?

Multiple sources (cubs.com, chicagotribune.com) reporting that the Cubs were one of the teams keeping tabs on RHP Pedro Martinez as he works out in his home country the Dominican Republic.


I am still one to believe that the Cubs stagnant sale will affect their ability to make moves before the trade deadline. Maybe because of the lack of rumors (besides Cub fans desires to bring back DeRo) this may be just a page filler, but still an interesting idea.

I would assume Pedro could be had cheaply as only half the season at most may remain by the time he is MLB ready and the fact that a one year deal would be a win win for both sides as the team would just have the quick commitment of 2009 and Pedro would have the chance to prove his health and quality to try to cash in this coming off season.

I will be the first to admit that the Peavy rumors got me going this past off season. But we have seen the past couple weeks and the past division winning seasons that starting pitching has not been a problem (not counting the playoffs, but come on... no aspect of the game did its part in the playoffs). It is the lack of hitting that has been killing the Cubs.

So even before Peavy hurt himself for a good chunk of the rest of the season, I began to believe that getting a top of the line starter is not the biggest need right now. But I'll address the offense talk in another post.

So why do I like the Pedro idea? Because the Cubs bullpen is still a bit shaky, even including Marmol at times. While there may be no talk of his possible roles for any team because its still early, why do I think the Cubs are interested?

How bout Pedro out of the pen? Many quality, top of the rotation starters in recent years have spent time in the closers role. John Smoltz, Derek Lowe, Kerry Wood. The Cubs are solid in the rotation, so I would have to assume that this could be a possible option for the pen.

Considering Pedro's age and injury history, a role as the closer would ease the strain on his arm. And the closer position is still a glory role that demands top dollar if Pedro can dominant, providing a second wind for his career.

Even if the Hendry and Co. are looking at Pedro as a starter, the bullpen still gets bolstered with Marshall and Wells being switched into long relief.

But the final angle on this starter to closer theory would be keep Marshall and or Wells in the rotation along with Pedro and then move the oft injured Rich Harden into the closers role. His devastating fastball, change up combination could easily rival that of Trevor Hoffman's.