Everyone has been waiting for weeks for the Cubs to trade Matt Garza and now... they still have to wait. What they don't have to wait for is the Cubs to replace Garza in the rotation as they look to have lined up his replacement by signing free agent pitcher Paul Maholm today.
Financial terms of the deal have not been released yet, but this definitely looks like a smart move for the rebuilding Cubs. Maholm may not be anything special, but he has his uses. Not only is the 29-year old coming off a season in which he posted a 3.66 ERA and had been a reliable innings horse up until this season when he suffered a shoulder strain in August. Even with that DL trip, Maholm still managed to pitch 162.1 innings, the lowest total of his career. At a minimum, the Cubs are getting someone who can eat up some innings for them, which is important for a rebuilding team that doesn't want to burn out younger arms.
But it isn't just about innings, Maholm is actually a sneaky good pi...
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