Cubs land Maholm, offer 'substantial' raise to Wood

Many Cubs fans wanted some new-age thinking from their baseball management team, and they've got it with Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer.

Take, for instance, Tuesday's signing of left-handed starting pitcher Paul Maholm to a free-agent contract.

The 29-year-old Maholm had a won-loss record of 6-14 for the Pittsburgh Pirates last year, but his ERA was a solid 3.66 and his WHIP (walks plus hits per 1 inning pitched) was a tidy 1.29.

Pitching his whole career for the losing Pirates, Maholm has piled up a career mark of 53-73, but team president Epstein and general manager Hoyer liked him enough to give him a one-year contract worth $4.25 million. There is a club option for $6.5 million in 2013 or a buyout for $500,000. The Pirates did not exercise a $9.75 million option on Maholm this off-season.

Hoyer cautioned to look past the record.

“His won-loss record certainly doesn't reflect his ability,” Hoyer said. “He pitched on some teams in Pittsburgh that have struggled. But he's been a guy that takes the ball. He eats a lot of innings. He really has kept his team in games for his whole career. He's got a great work ethic and great makeup. We're very excited.

“We started talking to Paul during this process. He really wanted to be a Cub, wanted to pitch in Wrigley Field. That's always something that means a lot to us, to hear how much he wanted to be a part of this.”

Maholm was so excited that he didn't wait for the Cubs to announce his signing. He went on Twitter Monday night and tweeted his impending arrival in Chicago. He'll be at the team's fan convention this weekend.

He cited “the passion of the fans” and the hirings of new manager Dale Sveum and pitching coach Chris Bosio as making the Cubs “a good fit.”

At Wrigley Field, he is 6-2 with a 5.48 ERA, having given up 7 home runs in 64 innings pitched.

“To me, obviously, the wind plays a factor,” he said. “If you're a groundball guy, you keep the ball down, you keep the ball on the ground. But when the wind is blowing in, you can challenge guys a little bit more.”

The Cubs also point out that Maholm's run support average of 3.38 was fifth lowest in the National League last year.

Maholm did not pitch after Aug. 17 last season because of a pulled muscle in his shoulder, an ailment he says he has successfully rehabbed.

As of now, Maholm's addition gives the Cubs starting candidates of Maholm, Matt Garza, Ryan Dempster, Randy Wells, Chris Volstad and lefty Travis Wood. Hoyer said the Cubs would prepare right-hander Jeff Samardzija to start in spring training but that he could go back to the bullpen.

Rumors have swirled that the Cubs are shopping Garza for a boatload of prospects, but Hoyer said the Maholm signing is not related.

“As a club, I think we're very comfortable with the names that we have,” Hoyer said. “You never know what's going to happen over the course of the rest of the winter, what's going to be available to us. A priority, as I said many times, was building depth … The minute you think you have enough pitching, you probably don't.

“I will say that this Maholm contract and that fact you can look at it and say that we have six starters right now is not a precursor to anything. I'm not going to comment on trade rumors, but it is important to know that this is not a precursor deal.”

Whither Wood?Jed Hoyer says Kerry Wood's long run as a fan favorite in Chicago does mean something to the new baseball brass. Wood, who signed a $1.5 million contract last winter to play for former GM Jim Hendry, still has not signed for 2012. He may be looking for something in the area of $4 million. Near the end of the season, Wood said he either would play for the Cubs in 2012 or retire. It seems he still has a desire to pitch, and Hoyer said he'd like to make that happen with the Cubs. #8220;We've been really open with the media on these negotiations, probably a little different than most,#8221; Hoyer said. #8220;I don't want to be too open about it, but we continue to want Kerry back in Chicago, and we've offered him a substantial raise, and we certainly hope it gets done.#8221;#376; Follow Bruce Miles' Cubs reports via Twitter @BruceMiles2112, and check out his Chicago's Inside Pitch blog at dailyherald.com.BBA30162137Where will reliever Kerry Wood open spring training this season? Wood hopes to decide this week, and Cubs GM Jed Hoyer said the team has offered a “substantial” raise to keep Wood with the club. Associated PressBBA