Chicago Cubs, John Grabow Talk Multi-Year Deal; Wait, You Want to Do What?

Filed: November 3rd, 2009   Bruce Levine of ESPN 1000 is reporting that the Cubs and reliever John Grabow are in the midst of heavy talks for a multi-year deal. Levine reports that the offer is reportedly to be a $6.5 to $7.5 million pact, with a third year being a possibility. Some people never learn. I expected the Cubs to make a meaningful offer to retain John Grabow, especially given that he was effective down the stretch for the Cubs. If, at the end of the day, the Cubs can lock him up at under $6.5 million, preferably with the second year as an option, then this is a win-win in my book. But I'm seeing the continuation of disturbing trends here that I hoped would cease with the ownership transition. Multi-year deals for relievers are reserved for lights-out firemen, closers, and guys with an established history of success. Not for lefties with average stats, pitching in low-stress innings for a perennial loser in Pittsburgh. The formula is to have these guys on one-year deals, where ... (link)