MLB Trade Rumors: Cubs Going After John Lannan Would Be Wrong Move

The Washington Nationals' reassignment of starting pitcher John Lannan to the minor league came as quite a surprise, but it looks like the Chicago Cubs are looking to take advantage. 

According to the Gordon Wittenmyer of the Sun Times, the Cubs inquired about Lannan, who requested a trade after being sent down. 

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The Cubs already had talked to the Nationals about lefty pitching, including Lannan and former Cub Tom Gorzelanny, the source said, with Cubs center fielder Marlon Byrd included in those discussions.

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The report goes on to say that Nationals manager Davey Johnson is intent on keeping Lannan, and that might just be a blessing in disguise for the Cubbies. 

It's understandable Theo Epstein and company are looking for pitching help, but this doesn't seem like the right direction to solve those problems. Let's break it down.

First, the starting rotation.

The "Big 2" as I (and probably nobody else) like to call them, Ryan Dempster and Matt Garza, aren't going anywhere until at least the trade deadline, and we'll get to that later.

At No. 3 is the questionable one, Jeff Samardzija. The former wide receiver was terrific last year in relief, compiling an ERA of 2.97. He certainly earned a spot in the rotation with a great spring.

He wasn't good the last time he started a game, which was in 2010, but if the Cubs are willing to move him to the rotation, it's unlikely they bring him back out of it. 

They can't keep moving him around, and I'm a believer that he will stick in the rotation this time.

That leaves Chris Volstad and Paul Maholm.

They certainly won't blow you away, but compare their 2011 numbers to Lannan's:

Lannan had a 3.70 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 5.2 K/9 and a 1.25 GB/FB ratio.

Volstad had a 4.89 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 6.4 K/9 and a 1.13 GB/FB ratio.

Maholm had a 3.66 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 5.4 K/9 and a 1.02 GB/FB ratio.

All three are ground ball pitchers, but Lannan benefited from a better defense around him. He had the worst WHIP of the three and worst strikeout ratio, yet he kept his ERA low. 

If the Cubs trade for Lannan expecting an ERA that low, it's unlikely they'll get it. Granted, Volstad and Maholm aren't that much better, but there's really nothing Lannan offers that they don't.

All that leaves is a spot in the bullpen.

Lannan could conceivably keep the bullpen warm and then replace Dempster or Garza, who many think will be traded by July. But this seems like an over-pay if that's all Lannan is going to provide.

It's good to see the Cubs looking to improve the pitching, but resisting the urge to jump at the first available name should be the move this time around.