The Cubs got the left-handed middle reliever they wanted in Mike Remlinger, and not at too steep a price — $10.5 million over three years.

I can see why the Braves only wanted to offer Remlinger, 36 years old, a three-year deal, and I can’t say I’m thrilled the Cubs decided to give him that extra year. But Remlinger, if his skills stay intact, will be excellent trade bait come next July or even the July after that. Who doesn’t want a good left-handed middle reliever when the dog days come around?

What I don’t get is the talk of signing Ivan Rodriguez. While he’s obviously the best catcher of our era (Piazza is just the best hitter who happens to be behind the plate), the Cubs have already signed two catchers and
are trying to get rid of a third.

I suppose that Miller and Bako are insurance in case I-Rod goes elsewhere, and are trade bait if he does wind up coming here. The beauty part is that I-Rod is also represented by Jeff Moorad, Dusty Baker’s agent.

Of course, Moorad also represented Jim Thome, who wound up signing with the Phillies for $82 million over six years. There was talk of a “hometown discount” for the Cubs, but that would had to have been awfully big discount to make the signing worthwhile.

With that $13 million a year the Cubs have already gotten an excellent lefty in the bullpen for $3.5 million. Now they’ve got another $10 million to throw at a third basemen or maybe catch a currently undervalued future Hall-of-Fame catcher in I-Rod. Don’t sound too bad.