More than players were involved in the trade that sent catcher Rick Wilkins from the Cubs to Houston for outfielder Luis Gonzalez and catcher Scott Servais. A message was sent, too, to every other player still in Cubs pinstripes:
Produce or start packing.
This new Cubs regime isn’t taking kindly to the loveable losers image.
“For whatever reason, Rick Wilkins just didn’t produce and it was time to make a move,” said General Manager Ed Lynch in a voice gone gruff with 18 losses in 27 games. “We had to do what we had to do.
“We’re going to continue to try to make this club better. This is just another step along the road in trying to make this a World Series contending club.”
In less than four months, Lynch and President Andy MacPhail have made a series of moves to improve the quality of the Cubs. And they have spared little expense.
They signed Mark Grace and Sammy Sosa to nearly $8 million worth of contracts. Lynch traded for Brian McRae and brought in free-agent pitcher Jaime Navarro. And, just 12 days ago, he shipped veteran pitcher Mike Morgan and two minor-leaguers to St. Louis for third baseman Todd Zeile.
“We aren’t done yet,” promised Lynch.
The Cubs will have to make a move when Gonzalez, expected to platoon in left field with red-hot rookie Ozzie Timmons, and Servais report to Wrigley Field for Thursday’s game against the Cardinals. The two-for-one trade leaves them with 26 bodies for the 25-man roster.
“Technically, we don’t have to make a move until the new players arrive,” said Lynch. “We’ll do something before game.”
Lynch and manager Jim Riggleman refused to hint what that move might be, but the logical move would be to take an outfielder off the roster. And Kevin Roberson seems most vulnerable.
Just as they did in the Zeile trade, the Cubs raised the quality of the team without dramatically raising the payroll.
Wilkins recently signed a one-year contract for $1.475 million. Gonzalez is making $1.4 million and Servais is signed for $355,000. So the difference is less than $300,000–a fact that surprised many in Houston, who were led to believe the Astros were trying to reduce their payroll.
Lynch said he had been working on the deal for “a long time” and Gonzalez was the key.
A solid defensive player, Gonzalez is a lifetime .390 hitter (39 for 100)–with eight doubles, three triples, eight homers and 25 RBIs–at Wrigley.
“He’s been killing us,” said Lynch. “He’s going to produce for us at Wrigley Field.”
Servais, 28, hit .225 in 28 games for the Astros this season. His playing time was reduced because Tony Eusebio had taken over the main catching job in Houston. Servais will replace Wilkins as the regular Cubs catcher, but National League scouts say he is better suited to a backup role and the Cubs probably will continue looking for another catcher.
Wilkins has been with the Cubs since he was drafted in the 23rd round in 1986 and was visibly stunned by the trade. He found out when he was taken out of Wednesday’s game after grounding into a double play.
“It’s a funny day for me. I always thought I’d be a Cub for a long time,” he said. “I was shocked. I would have expected to go to Triple-A before I would have expected to be traded.”
Wilkins is one of only six catchers to bat .300 and hit 30 or more homers in one season. He did that in 1993, when he batted .303 with 30 homers. Since then, though, Wilkins has batted just .215 with 13 homers and 147 strikeouts. He was batting a miserable .191 this year.
“It’s tough to go out there and hit .185. It weighs on you,” said Wilkins. “I think frustration is the biggest thing I’ve had to handle. It’s tough not to go out there and play to your level of ability.”
Not only is it tough, it could cost you your job with the Cubs.
