11:26am: The Cubs are close on Maholm, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

10:59am: The Cubs and free agent lefty Paul Maholm are trying to work out an agreement, tweets Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago. Maholm has been linked to several other suitors this offseason, but most have since added starters.

The Cubs' current projected rotation has Matt Garza, Ryan Dempster, Chris Volstad, Travis Wood, and Randy Wells, perhaps with Andy Sonnanstine and Casey Coleman in the mix for the fifth starter job. In theory, signing Maholm could give the Cubs the depth to move Garza, even if Maholm is more of a back-end guy.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/01/c ... aholm.html

The Stache wrote:40 man roster is currently full, so someone would have to be let go. Probably Gaub. Or they may be waiting to announce any signings until they make another trade.

Old Style wrote:If Garza does get traded, we'll have a staff full of #4 and #5 guys.

anotheridiot wrote:

Old Style wrote:If Garza does get traded, we'll have a staff full of #4 and #5 guys.

some might say we already have that.

SymposiumX wrote:I could see Theo making this move and getting Maholm. Low risk, good/decent upside. Groundball pitcher, unlucky in the BABIp.

If Garza gets traded, a rotation of Dempster, Volstad, Maholm, Wood, Wells/Sonn/Colman. I agree with what Ip posted up above, that signing Maholm give the Cubs the ability to move Garza. Now...for what? With the moves that have been made, and the situation, what all would you like to see back in a trade for Garza?

I personally feel that it has to include a Sp...sure another position player or two added in would be great, but it has to include a sp in my mind to trade Garza.

blbnow wrote:

SymposiumX wrote:I could see Theo making this move and getting Maholm. Low risk, good/decent upside. Groundball pitcher, unlucky in the BABIp.

If Garza gets traded, a rotation of Dempster, Volstad, Maholm, Wood, Wells/Sonn/Colman. I agree with what Ip posted up above, that signing Maholm give the Cubs the ability to move Garza. Now...for what? With the moves that have been made, and the situation, what all would you like to see back in a trade for Garza?

I personally feel that it has to include a Sp...sure another position player or two added in would be great, but it has to include a sp in my mind to trade Garza.

A deal for Garza would definetly include a SP. Rumour has it that the Tigers are willing to part with Jacob Turner and much more. Im all for it.

The Cubs' revamped rotation has gotten deeper, as they've reached an agreement with lefty Paul Maholm according to his Twitter feed. "I hope to get to continue some things when I visit [Pittsburgh] during the year and start some great things as I start my Cubs career," said the southpaw. With Ryan Dempster, Chris Volstad, Travis Wood, and Randy Wells presumably penciled into the rotation, new Cubs management is either bracing for a Matt Garza trade or just building up depth.

As a member of the Pirates for seven seasons, Maholm has logged 64 career innings at Wrigley Field. The 29-year-old posted a 3.66 ERA, 5.4 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, 0.61 HR/9, and 49.9% groundball rate in 162 1/3 innings for the Bucs in 2011. I ranked him as the ninth-best free agent starter in October. Maholm, a Bo McKinnis client, had his 2011 season cut short in August due to a shoulder strain. After the season the Pirates chose a $750K buyout over his $9.75MM club option.

So far this offseason Cubs president Theo Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer have signed David DeJesus, Reed Johnson, Manny Corpas, and Andy Sonnanstine via free agency. They've added Ian Stewart, Casey Weathers, Ronald Torreyes, Dave Sappelt, Wood, Volstad, Zach Cates, and Anthony Rizzo via trade.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/01/c ... aholm.html

tripxcore wrote:*Yawn