Cubs general manager Jim Hendry’s last meeting with agent Jeff Moorad resulted in the hiring of Dusty Baker, which gave instant credibility to a franchise synonymous with losing.
Hendry’s next meeting with Moorad will take place Saturday at the winter meetings in Nashville.
The two will discuss free-agent catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, whose signing could give instant credibility to an offense that produced a dismal .246 batting average last season.
Hendry continued to sidestep questions about his interest in Rodriguez, who is likely to seek a three-year deal worth at least $30 million.
But Moorad needed no convincing the Cubs will make a run at the 10-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner.
“All indications are that we’ll have serious discussions,” Moorad said Friday.
The Orioles are the only other team known to be pursuing Rodriguez, who overcame back injuries last season to hit .314 with 19 homers and 60 RBIs in 108 games.
Moorad said there is a third “team with significant interest” but declined to name it.
The Cubs have leverage after signing catcher Damian Miller to a two-year, $5.7 million deal. Hendry said Friday that Miller would not have to be traded to make room for Rodriguez. He could serve as his backup and the club could non-tender Paul Bako.
Hendry also said there’s no urgency to sign a “big bat” such as the one Rodriguez, Jeff Kent or Edgardo Alfonzo could provide.
“Even if some of your better hitters don’t get rolling in April and May,” he said, “if you pitch and catch it well, you’ll be in a lot of games.”
True, but the Cubs doomed themselves last season by batting .238 in April and .229 in May. And they have yet to improve their lineup significantly.
The Cubs expect Moises Alou to return to his pre-2002 form. And they believe Corey Patterson will flourish under Baker’s tutelage. But it might be asking a lot to expect first basemen Hee Seop Choi and Eric Karros to surpass Fred McGriff’s 30 homers and 103 RBIs.
The 31-year-old Rodriguez has been sidelined by hand, knee and back injuries the past three years. But after coming off the disabled list June 7, he played in 96-of-104 games and finished strong, batting .350 in August and .361 in September.
Observers say his defense slipped somewhat last season. And he frustrated some teammates because he refused to warm up the starting pitcher in the bullpen before games.
“We haven’t heard that [his defense] has fallen off,” Baker said. “According to the reports, he came back strong after his injury. He looked like the Pudge of old and is still relatively young. I hear he’s working out and in great shape.”
Meanwhile, Hendry met Friday with agents for closer Tom Gordon, lefty relievers Mark Guthrie and Mike Stanton and backup outfielders Troy O’Leary and John Vander Wal.
The Cubs’ interest in Stanton will peak if the former Yankee is willing to accept a two-year deal.
Vander Wal, who hit .260 with six homers in 84 games for the Yankees, and O’Leary, who batted .286 for Montreal, are being considered along with Orlando Palmeiro and Todd Hollandsworth. All bat left-handed.
The Cubs have had preliminary conversations with Bob Garber, the agent for infielder Mark Loretta, a Northwestern alumnus who hit .304 for the Brewers last season. But in part because Loretta hits right-handed, Bill Mueller remains a more attractive target.
The Cubs also want a left-handed starter and will continue to pursue Shawn Estes, who turns 30 in February.
Estes went 64-50 for Baker’s Giants in 1995-01, including 15-6 with a 4.26 ERA in 2000. But he fell apart last season, going 5-12 with a 5.10 ERA for the Mets and Reds. Lefties hit .300 against him.
“Shawn still has the stuff,” Baker said. “He’s healthy and still very competitive. But he got away from pitching the way he should be pitching.
“I don’t know if `fix’ is the right word. But I know him, and (bench coach) Dick Pole knows him. When you know you’re better than you’re [showing], you’re searching for the right kind of help.”
