Theriot's Looking Over His Shoulder

From the USA Today - 

Before teen phenom Starlin Castro steals his job, Chicago Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot has a message for those eager to welcome the franchise's latest savior: Only one of them has proven himself at the game's highest level.


"Competition is good because it brings out the best in all of us. But to be quite honest with you, 'What have you done at the major league level?"' Theriot said Thursday at training camp. "Those expectations and that pressure, everybody deals with that differently. I think it takes a little bit more than just ability."

Chicago manager Lou Piniella regularly praises Castro, comparing the rangy, 19-year-old Dominican to former All-Star Edgar Renteria. Though Castro has only 111 at-bats above the Single-A level, Piniella said "the kid" probably would be the shortstop if Theriot gets hurt.
"Come on, man! Knock on wood, bro!" Theriot said, tapping the side of his locker when told of Piniella's comment. "Don't be messing around like that, talking about injuries."
Two hours later, Theriot was struck on the back of his left hand by a batting-practice fastball delivered by young right-hander Rafael Dolis, one of the organization's hardest throwers. After picking himself off the ground and getting looked at by a trainer, Theriot was laughing.
It was only a bruise.
"That's right, Theriot!" Piniella shouted from behind the batting cage. "You can't hurt steel!"
Piniella insists Theriot is his shortstop, continuing a relationship that began in 2007, the manager's first season with the Cubs. Theriot surprisingly won the job in spring training after having played well at second base the previous September.
Still, Piniella clearly is impressed and intrigued by Castro, who batted .376 during the Arizona Fall League after hitting .299 in the minors last year. And many Cubs fans, desperate to snap the franchise's 102-year championship drought, believe some Starlin magic just might be the cure.
"He's got a ton of ability, obviously, and we have to play him (in spring exhibitions) to see it," Piniella said. "If the kid shows he can handle it and we had an injury at the position, why not?"
Most likely, Piniella said, Castro will go to Triple-A Iowa, where he can play every day.
The 30-year-old Theriot, noticeably stronger after an offseason weight-training program, said he hasn't even noticed Castro during camp so far.
"But I guess everybody can't be wrong about him, right?" Theriot said. "So we'll see."
Though he sounds a little defensive as he protects his turf -- he'd rather not return to second base -- Theriot said he's all about the Cubs reclaiming the National League Central Division. They won it in his first two full seasons before going 83-78 last year.
"It would be wonderful to see a guy come up with those tools and use every single one of them," Theriot said of Castro. "It could change my role, sure, but that's all right. My role's been changed quite a bit. The good news is, I've always had a role.

"Be a part of it. Contribute. Win. That's the ultimate goal of everybody here. You put your personal feelings aside and do what's best for the club."

Cubs Win Arbitration with Theriot

Not much of a surprise here, but the Cubs have won their arbitration hearing with shortstop Ryan Theriot. 

Theriot was trying to bump his salary from $500,000 last year to $3.4 million.  Instead, the arbitration panel sided with the Cubs.  This isn't that bad of news for Theriot who will still get a substantial pay increase up to $2.6 million.

Last year, Theriot, whose best trait is probably the effort he puts into his play, batted .284 with 7 homeruns, 54 RBIs and 21 stolen bases.

This was the first arbitration the Cubs have had to have since the arbitration with Mark Grace seventeen years ago.

Cubs and Theriot Arbitration Hearing Friday?

According to a source on ESPN, the Cubs' first arbitration hearing in 17 years tomorrow.  Word has it that the hearing between the Cubs and shortstop Ryan Theriot will happen tomorrow in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

At that hearing, representatives of the Cubs and Theriot will make their cases for their respective proposed salaries for Theriot.  The three person independent panel of arbitrators will either have to award Theriot's number of $3.4 million or the Cubs' number of $2.6 million.

The arbitration panel have 24 hours to reach their final, non appealable decision.

Cubs avoid arbitration with Marmol

The Cubs and Carlos Marmol have avoided arbitration.  In his first arbitration eligible year, Marmol was seeking $2.5 million while the Cubs were offering $1.75 million.  The two sides reached an agreement Thursday morning at $2.125 million.

Marmol ended the year as the Cubs' closer and will resume that role this season.  Carlos was 2 and 4 last year, with a 3.41 ERA and 15 saves out of 19 save opportunities.  Marmol logged 74.0 innings last year in 79 games. 

Marmol's signing leaves Ryan Theriot as the only arbitration eligible Cub who has not yet signed.  By all accounts, it looks like the Cubs will not be able to reach a deal with Theriot, which will prompt an arbitration hearing later this month.

Theriot may be first to go through with arbitration with Cubs in 17 years

Seventeen years ago, Mark Grace and the Cubs were not able to reach an agreement on Grace's contract, which led to an arbitration hearing that the Cubs won.  Since then, no Cubs player has had to go to arbitration.

At least until now.  It looks like Theriot may break the 17 year streak as, to date, he and the Cubs have not been able to reach an agreement.

The Cubs shortstop has asked for $3.4 million while the Cubs have offered $2.6 million.  The rumor is that the Cubs have offered more unofficially while Theriot is still stuck on $3.4 million.

Major League Baseball will assign hearing dates for teams and players who have not resolved their arbitration disputes before February 20. In these cases, an independent arbitrator presides over a hearing where both sides present their cases and explain why the arbitrator should side with them. The arbitrator must choose either the team's number or the player's figure. He's not allowed to award anything in between the two numbers.


Last season, Theriot batted .284 with 7 homers, 54 RBIs, 20 doubles, 5 triples and 21 stolen bases.  He has walked 51 times and stuck out 93 times.