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Southside Envy
2005-11-29 22:38
by Mike Carminati

Apparently, the Cubbies think that the best way to become the straight curse-breaking World Champs by channeling the spirit of the current champs, the Sox, via their past bullpens.

Today, they signed Bobby Howry to a three-year, $12 M contract. This comes just on the heals of their signing Scott Eyre to a three-year, $11 M contract. That's quite a hefty bill for not a whole lot. This is a team that finished 21 games out of the money this past season and four games under .500, but I'm sure they know what they are doing.

It made me wonder what was the greatest sum ever handed over to two middle relievers. By middle reliever, I mean someone who a) started less than half his games and b) who was not the closer (i.e., did not lead the team in saves). Yeah, it's sort of nebulous, so sue me.

The Cubs actually have cut payroll from last year and come in just 18th all time:

YrTm Tot Salary Player1 salary1 Player2 salary2 WLPCT
2005Boston Red Sox $ 17,500,000 Curt Schilling $ 14,500,000 Alan Embree $ 3,000,000 9072.556
2003Seattle Mariners $ 11,983,333 Jeff Nelson $ 3,983,333 Kazuhiro Sasaki $ 8,000,000 9369.574
2003Seattle Mariners $ 11,500,000 Arthur Rhodes $ 3,500,000 Kazuhiro Sasaki $ 8,000,000 9369.574
2004Arizona Diamondbacks $ 11,000,000 Elmer Dessens $ 4,000,000 Matt Mantei $ 7,000,000 51111.315
2005New York Yankees $ 10,000,000 Steve Karsay $ 6,000,000 Mike Stanton $ 4,000,000 9072.556
2005New York Yankees $ 9,750,000 Steve Karsay $ 6,000,000 Tom Gordon $ 3,750,000 9072.556
2002St. Louis Cardinals $ 9,500,000 Mike Timlin $ 5,250,000 Dave Veres $ 4,250,000 9765.599
2004New York Yankees $ 9,500,000 Tom Gordon $ 3,500,000 Steve Karsay $ 6,000,000 10161.623
2002Cleveland Indians $ 9,250,000 Charles Nagy $ 6,000,000 Paul Shuey $ 3,250,000 7488.457
2005New York Yankees $ 9,150,000 Steve Karsay $ 6,000,000 Felix Rodriguez $ 3,150,000 9072.556
2002Boston Red Sox $ 9,033,333 Dustin Hermanson $ 5,833,333 Tim Wakefield $ 3,200,000 9369.574
2005New York Yankees $ 9,000,000 Steve Karsay $ 6,000,000 Paul Quantrill $ 3,000,000 9072.556
2002New York Yankees $ 8,936,719 Sterling Hitchcock $ 4,936,719 Steve Karsay $ 4,000,000 10358.640
2005Chicago Cubs $ 8,733,333 Mike Remlinger $ 4,233,333 LaTroy Hawkins $ 4,500,000 7983.488
2002Arizona Diamondbacks $ 8,458,333 Matt Mantei $ 4,333,333 Armando Reynoso $ 4,125,000 9864.605
2000Boston Red Sox $ 8,000,000 Rod Beck $ 3,500,000 Tim Wakefield $ 4,500,000 8577.525
2003Detroit Tigers $ 7,700,000 Matt Anderson $ 3,200,000 Steve Sparks $ 4,500,000 43119.265
2006Chicago Cubs $ 7,666,667 Scott Eyre $ 3,666,667 Bobby Howry $ 4,000,000
2003New York Mets $ 7,566,666 John Franco $ 3,833,333 Dave Weathers $ 3,733,333 6695.410
2003Seattle Mariners $ 7,483,333 Jeff Nelson $ 3,983,333 Arthur Rhodes $ 3,500,000 9369.574
2003Los Angeles Dodgers $ 7,250,000 Paul Quantrill $ 3,333,333 Paul Shuey $ 3,916,667 8577.525
2004Boston Red Sox $ 7,025,000 Byung-Hyun Kim $ 3,425,000 Ramiro Mendoza $ 3,600,000 9864.605
2002Seattle Mariners $ 6,833,333 Jeff Nelson $ 3,333,333 Arthur Rhodes $ 3,500,000 9369.574
2004Boston Red Sox $ 6,775,000 Ramiro Mendoza $ 3,600,000 Scott Williamson $ 3,175,000 9864.605
1992Kansas City Royals $ 6,741,667 Mike Boddicker $ 3,116,667 Mark Davis $ 3,625,000 7290.444
2001New York Mets $ 6,683,333 John Franco $ 3,583,333 Turk Wendell $ 3,100,000 8280.506
2004Boston Red Sox $ 6,600,000 Byung-Hyun Kim $ 3,425,000 Scott Williamson $ 3,175,000 9864.605
2001Seattle Mariners $ 6,583,333 Jeff Nelson $ 3,333,333 Arthur Rhodes $ 3,250,000 11646.716
Total24532081.541

I know, Schilling's not really a middle reliever. Again, sue me. Anyway, the Cubs can find solace in the average team's .541 winning percentage. Then again, the sub-.500 Cubbies and the godawful 2003 Tigers (eight above the '06 Cubs) make an appearance. It's a proud team that can make such questionable signings and still make an improvement.

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