The Cubs continue to add depth to their rotation by bringing in yet another arm. Last night they signed former Tigers pitcher Nate Robertson, presumably to a non-roster deal with an invite to spring training.
Robertson, 34, had his best year in 2006 when he won 13 games and had a 3.84 ERA in over 200 innings. He's more of a finesse pitcher with good, but not outstanding control. When healthy he has an 88-91 mph fastball, a slider, curve, and a change-up.
He'll join Andy Sonnanstine, Rodrigo Lopez, and fellow lefty Ryan Rowland-Smith as veteran rotation depth. He'll probably be competing for a spot on the AAA Iowa staff if he shows something this spring. Robertson spent the entire season last year playing for the Tacoma Raniers, the Seattle Mariners AAA affiliate, where he went 6-7 with a 7.14 ERA.
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If they're not done looking to the future by buying time until then by signing has-beens and one hit wonders, I think Kenny Powers is still available.
You know, I've never seen that show. I have tp assume they found something they like in Robertson. Not sure what it is, though.
I kind of like their strategy of trying to catch lightning in a bottle with all these pitchers, but I think it'll block development of the younger guys with more upside. They'll have to take a speed dating approach to player evaluation this spring if they want to thin out the herd.
Netflix has both seasons of Eastbound and Down. I recommend it highly, especially if you've had enough of saccharin stuff like Field of Dreams that I kind of enjoyed the first time I watched it.
Agreed. The more of these arms you have in camp, the better your chances of finding something worth keeping. Would have liked to have seen Rusin get more of a shot but it looks like he has no chance at this point. Wouldn't at all be surprised to see him out pitch Robertson and Smith this spring, though.
I have Netflix, but only streaming and it looks like Eastbound and Down is only available via DVDs. I'll have to figure out some way to check it out.
Meh.
Definitely a "meh" signing.
This is one of those things that made me do a Dr. Evil "Riiiiiiiight...."
I'm very much a develop from within sort of guy, so a signing like this I see purely as getting in the way of someone with more upside.
If he pitches in the majors for the Cubs this season, I think we have bigger issues than any of us realize.
I was really hoping to get a longer look at Rusin.
Hoyer and Epstein are very appearance minded. Clearly Robertson has been brought in to mentor some of the young guys in facial hair grooming techniques.
I knew there had to be a reason!
He grew the 'stache to fight the meh. If he adds a mullet, he'll go 15-6 with a 3.1 ERA.
This the epitome of a "meh" signing, not bad but nothing to get excited about. To me , he's just a guy right now
Just a guy to have in camp. Another body, another arm to the mix. The more of these guys you bring the better your chances of finding one that might help you.
Eh...this signing (and others similar to it) tell me a couple of things:
1. Theo and Jed don't feel that our upper level minor league pitchers are very close or are major league arms.
2. Theo and Jed are looking for some of these veteran guys that have upside that might contribute this season and might be a trading chip later on. If Robertson doesn't pan out, then they cut him and there's not much lost. If he performs well in spring training, he might catch somebody's eye and be worth a prospect if a team thinks he might be able to help out their staff. Maybe not a sure prospect, but it has helped to strengthen the farm, nevertheless.
Agreed on both counts. I don't know if we'd get much for these guys but in Robertson's case, the Cubs are desperately thin when it comes to LH Starters. The hope is that either he, Smith, or Rusin can provide depth.
They have wood and maholm that's more LH
than most teams.
I meant to say at the minor league level. They didn't have a single top 30 prospect until they signed Concepcion. Rusin is the only close to being ready..
If EVER there was a season where Pat Piper's "Get your pencils and scorecards ready and we will give you the correct lineup for today's ballgame" THIS IS IT!!! WHO ARE THESE GUYS?
Not a whole lot of star power being brought in. Cubs hoping to buy low and get themselves a useful arm, I suppose.
I hope the young players get their BA's and innings. Also don't fill
the AAA starting pitching staff with veterans who have no chance.
I do too. Would like to see Rusin and Rhee get their work in. Those are two non roster invitees I'm hoping to see.
I don't mind this signing or any of the other signings (Sonanstine, Rowland-Smith, etc.) as long as they don't keep them in the minors blocking prospects if they don't show anything just for the name/big league experience factor. And to John, you can watch Eastbound and Down on hbogo.com if you have hbo service on any satellite/cable provider.