How much do you think a pitcher who just lost 16 games for a team that won their division - and the World Series to boot - in addition to sporting a lofty 6.00+ ERA in a terrible division and in an inferior offensive league is worth on today's open market?
Well, if you're Jason Marquis, you're worth $28M over three years. Unbelievable.
Cubs.com:
CHICAGO -- The Cubs may have landed another starting pitcher in Jason Marquis.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Marquis has accepted a three-year, $28 million offer from the Cubs. Marquis is coming off back-to-back losing seasons with the Cardinals, and was 14-16 with a 6.02 ERA in 2006. His best season was 2004, when he was 15-7 with a 3.71 ERA.
Cubs officials were not available for comment on Saturday. General manager Jim Hendry was in Orlando, Fla., and resting after undergoing an angioplasty Wednesday night. He was not expected back in Chicago until Sunday.
Pitching has been the Cubs' top priority lately, and they did agree to terms last week with left-hander Ted Lilly, pending a physical, which was expected to be completed this week. That will take care of one spot in the rotation.