Cubs need bullpen help, Cubs get bullpen help
The Cubs signed 33-year-old lefty Scott Eyre (pronounced AIR) today to help out in the bullpen. I've seen reports ranging from 2 years, 11 million to 2 years, 9million, to 3 years, 11 million. If it is indeed two years for eleven million, it sounds like an awful lot of money for a middle man. Three years, eleven makes sense. Whatever the case, the only people that have to care about the money work for the Tribune company, so let's move past that and answer the critical question, “can the guy pitch?” Yeah, he's pretty good. Last year was a career year for him and it led to his big pay day. He had a decent strikeout rate, low batting average against, and only three homers allowed in 68 innings. Oh, and a 2.63 ERA, which would have led all Cubs relievers. Before last year, he was rather steady for a few seasons. And before that, White Sox fans will remember him royally sucking from 1997 through the year 2000 on the south side. But he's been rather dependable for four straight seasons so I'd like to think he can continue to be dependable or at least one or two more. Decent move by Jim Hendry. Of course, I thought the Mike Remlinger deal was great at the time, too, so what the hell do I know.