Congratulations to Jim Hendry for signing a relief pitcher to close out games for the handful of occasions this team might actually need him for this year....and for 3 years no less...and for $20 million...and with a no trade clause.
Here is how the Carlos Marmol deal breaks down, my friends...
Year 1: $3.2 million (good deal)
Year 2: $7 million (not a good deal)
Year 3: $9.8 million (ugh!)
Now that third year is buying out his first year of free agency. For his last two years of arbitration, the Cubs are paying Marmol about $5 million per season.
The money seems a little high to me...but the bigger issue is the years. Yes, buying out that first year of free agency obviously is very important to Jim Hendry, but giving a reliever...any reliever...a three year contract is just flat out wrong. The better move would have been to meet Marmol half way this year, and then try to sign him to a two year deal next year.
Relief pitchers are relief pitchers for a reason. They are inconsistent from year to year. Marmol has not shown that he can pitch 3 consistently good years in a row.
To add to the 'ick' of this deal, the Cubs have given Marmol a limited no trade clause...what is the limit of it? I'm guessing all it limits is the Cubs options when Marmol's arm starts to fall off during the 2012 season.
If you haven't guessed, I don't like this deal.
But it is what it is and Marmol is a Cub for 3 years.
I'm a little bummed that Hendry is already spending all the extra money he'll have after this season.
