Chicago Cubs’ Theo Epstein defends the move to sign free agent Scott Baker – MLB News
Is it time to ward off criticism? No. It is probably the time to undertake risks that have the potential to pay off.
Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein defended the club’s decision to sign free agent pitcher Scott Baker who had – earlier this year, undergone Tommy John surgery after an elbow injury.
Previously associated with the Minnesota Twins, the pitcher had pulled interest from his former team. However, it was ultimately the Cubs who won the bid, signing a $5.5 million one-year contract with the pitcher that entails a possible $1.5 million in performance bonuses.
At a time when the Cubs are in relentless pursuit of bringing in experienced and dependable arms for rotation, this pitcher appears promising. Also, given the thin market for pitchers, the Cubs could not possibly ask for a better pitcher at this point in time.
"You don't set out looking for Tommy John guys," Epstein said. "The reality is it's not exactly a buyer's market for pitching so you have to take your risks.”
For Epstein, someone who has the fame of putting the unlikely teams on the right track and winning glory, the move will be rewarding enough in the long run.
Epstein said, “Do you want to take a risk on a guy with bad makeup? Do you want to take a risk on a guy with bad command? Or do you want to take the risk on a guy you really believe in who is coming off Tommy John surgery and has appropriate value points? I think we're very comfortable placing our bet on Scott Baker."
An otherwise underrated pitcher, Scott Baker has a career ERA of 4.15 in the 163 games that he played since his debut in 2005 – having a 63-48 record with 1.26 WHIP. This year’s Tommy John surgery rendered him unable to play all the games.
Baker is well aware of the challenges looking him in eyes. Since there has been a fitness problem, his inability to pitch regular may well become a handicap. However, he is someone who has vowed to bring productivity to the Cubs’ rotation, making it good enough to compete rival teams in the league.
Tags: