Starting Pitcher: Cubs, Marquis, Cutting Payroll
The Cubs may need to cut payroll, according to Gordon Wittenmyer’s report for the Chicago Sun-Times, in 
advance of acquiring a new starting pitcher and a left-handed hitting outfielder.
As such, Wittenmyer says the Cubs could look to trade Jason Marquis, while eating up to $4 million of his roughly $10 million salary, according to team insiders.
Last month, in a post to his blog for the New York Post, Joel Sherman suggested the Mets look at Marquis, along with M’s LHP Jarrod Washburn and Tigers RHP Nate Robertson, all of whom will be available, to compete with Jon Niese in spring training.
…from what i recall, the Mets inquired about marquis during 2006, and checked in on him again as a free agent, but their interest was minimal at best…however, i have not heard or seen his name connected to the Mets this off-season…at least not yet…
The 30–year-old Marquis has won at least 10 games and pitched at least 190 inning in each of the last five seasons, while posting a 4.58 ERA, during which opponents hit .261 against him.
He will be a free agent following the 2009 season.
