Maddux to accept Cubs' offer (The Cubs are goin' to the World Series!)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 2.18.04 | MIKE KILEY

[mhking]

MESA, Ariz. -- The chase has ended. Greg Maddux has made up his mind and will return to the Cubs for a second chance at rectifying old wrongs.

While the Cubs had not made an official announcement Tuesday night, word leaked out in an Atlanta Journal-Constitution story that was posted on the Internet that Maddux was on the verge of announcing he has decided to accept the Cubs' two-year contract offer, believed to be worth close to $15 million.

The Journal-Constitution cited a source close to the negotiations. Considering Maddux spent his last 11 seasons in a Braves uniform, it's reasonable to speculate that he spoke with the Atlanta paper. The story added that Maddux plans to be in Mesa today to report as scheduled with the other pitchers and catchers.

Maddux's return is a symbolic laying to rest of a typically ugly Cubs episode. He left the team after the 1992 season when Tribune Co. wouldn't meet his financial desires. Maddux pitched for the Cubs from 1986 to '92, going 20-11 and winning the first of his four straight National League Cy Young Awards in his last season in Chicago.

Maddux picked up where he left off after signing with the Braves, never winning fewer than 15 games in any of his seasons in Atlanta.

Allowing Maddux to get away typified the underachieving ambitions of the Cubs organization for many fans. But general manager Jim Hendry and manager Dusty Baker changed the lovable losers culture last season, when the Cubs came whiskers away from a clean cut with the past. Even the NL Championship Series collapse hasn't reversed the optimism that continues to pervade the club.

Maddux joins Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano and Matt Clement in one of baseball's best rotations. The battle in the NL Central among the Cubs, Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals figures to be tight, especially with pitchers Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte strengthening the Astros.

Maddux's agent, Scott Boras, was in New York earlier Tuesday to attend Alex Rodriguez's introductory news conference with the Yankees. He spoke briefly with Hendry before boarding a flight for Phoenix, where Boras is due this morning for an arbitration hearing between closer Eric Gagne and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Because Maddux has made up his mind, all that's left for Boras and Hendry to do is sew up the final details of the contract.

Last weekend, Hendry increased his original offer, made Jan. 13, of two years at $10 million to $12 million. Maddux, who made close to $15 million with the Braves last season, likely will make about half that per year with the Cubs.

Maddux's choice appeared to come down to the Cubs, Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. Arizona is a short hop from his Las Vegas home, but the Diamondbacks did not have the money or interest.

[raybbr]

...were clobbering Kerry.

Pryor, I meant.

[Izzy Dunne]

Maddux really is my favorite player. I want to see him get 300+.

Allright, so I hope he goes 11 wins and 30 losses - how's that?

[raybbr]

Game six box score:

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
M Prior (L, 2-1) 7 1/3 6 5 3 3 6 0 2.31
K Farnsworth 1/3 1 3 3 2 0 0 5.14

Six runs given up by fastballers.

Game seven:

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Wood (L, 2-1) 5 2/3 7 7 7 4 6 1 4.23
K Farnsworth 1 3 2 2 0 2 0 6.75
Nine runs given up by fasballers.

[RazzPutin]

Sure sign of the End Times: "Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Holy Cow!"

[stylin19a]

um.. I still don't buy it. I gotta dance with who brung us.
take a good look at the entire Cubs playoff staff....not a junkballer in the bunch. They ALL throw heat, except a couple of rag arms in the bullpen...Veres & Guthrie.

[Alberta's Child]

Maddux was on the mound for the best game I've ever seen a pitcher throw -- against the Mets a few years back. He threw 78 pitches in a complete-game two-hitter that lasted all of one hour and 50 minutes. It was called a "night game," but it was still light out when he walked off the mound after getting the last out.

[duffer]

I guess you forgot the Cards.

As a Cardinal fan since I was young enough to remember I cannot even consider a Cub team winning the pennant.

Much less the Astros.

[raybbr]

I was in Aruba when these games were on and all I could remember was yelling out for curve balls, sliders, change-ups, anything but fast balls. Broke my heart to see that they could do nothing but try to get the ball past the Marlins.

[TravisBickle]

Maddux joins Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano and Matt Clement in one of baseball's best rotations. The battle in the NL Central among the Cubs, Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals figures to be tight, especially with pitchers Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte strengthening the Astros.

It was nice of them to include the Cardinals, but except for four hitters, we got nothing. The Cardinals could average 8 runs a game and it won't be enough.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Decision - Pitch to Lenny Randle or pitch to Mike Lowell ? - we pitch to Lowell)"

---

Lenny Randle? He's the guy who threw his glove in Ranger Manager Frank Lucchesi's face back in the late 1970s. I wasn't aware the Marlins had a 50-something utility infielder.

[NYCVirago]

Considering he is the biggest inmate, yes, he does. Cashman should be up for a Nobel Peace Proze for staying around so long.

The Boss is downright mellow compared to back in the day (the 70s-early 80s.) Both Cashman and Torre have been there longer than most management in baseball now, let alone Steinbrenner's Yankees!

[SaveTheChief]

I have been grinning all day about this one. I checked the Cubs website this morning and had to call my dad as soon as I read the headline.

News conference is at 7 CST.

[SaveTheChief]

The Astros need to MAKE IT TO the World Series first.

They have had more chances in the past ten years than any National League team, and yet have not cashed in.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Thought you would like a Wrigley Field Ping! God Bless

[oh8eleven]

The Cubs are goin' to the World Series!
You can tell it's only February - reality begins in April. :>)

[anncoulteriscool]

Maddux did not have a good year last year although he finished OK. But when I was watching last years game 3 off the NLDS between the braves and cubs in chicago (Maddux was pitching) I could not help but think that Maddux would be an excellent pick-up. Maddux can be a #3 or #4 starter (he wont have to be #1) and his off speed pitching can compliment to power pitching of Wood and Prior.

When I was driving to work today sitting in traffic I could not help but say: I WISH IT WERE BASEBALL SEASON!

[MikeD]

Just a little history here:

The Chicago Cubs have not been to the World Series since 1945, a season in which many Major Leaguers were serving in WWII.

The Cubs have not *won* a World Series since 1908. When Teddy Roosevelt was President.

The Red Sox are comparative winners, since they were just in a Series in '86, and last won in 1918 on the pitching strength of George H. Ruth...

MD

[Mannaggia l'America]

You have to get through my PHILLIES first.

Dat's right... Ya gotta believe the spirit of Tug is with us this year...

[stylin19a]

doh... of course you are right...Lenny Harris....the Cubs had released him earlier in the year, as he didn't hit for squat.