Memo To Cubs: Forget Peavy!

On Sunday another major leaguer filed for free agency. While generally I wouldn't be trumpeting the name of a 36-year-old lefthander who had troubles in the second half last year, when you consider the track record of Andy Pettitte, he's the perfect fit for the Chicago Cubs.

When looking at the Cubs rotation and depth of available starting pitchers, who better than one of the best clutch pitchers of his generation to come into Chicago and teach the team how to win in October? And, if the Cubs don't give up half a dozen prospects for San Diego's Jake Peavy, do the Cubs really need a starter to come in and give them 35 starts?

Pettitte has a well documents post-season resume; he was at the front of the Yankees' rotation for the past decade in which, up to the last few years, they dominated the American League.

In the couple years he left the Bronx for Houston, Pettitte showed that even without his best stuff he can win 18 games in a National League Central Division that has significant issues with left-handed starting pitching (Ted Lilly won 17 games last year). Also remember that Pettitte led the All-Steroids Astros rotation to the World Series, losing to the White Sox.

While it would appear Jim Hendry's approach to this off season is to build a rotation with four or five Cy Young candidates, the answer might not be in the big name with the bigger salary.

What has Peavy done in a crucial situation? He was mediocre in the World Baseball Classic a few years ago, and how many times has he needed to be clutch in San Diego over the past three or four years?

Pettitte, on the other hand, has been clutch in historical proportions. He has pitched into October almost every year for the past decade, and once he's been there he's pitched big.

While Ryan Dempster apparently earned a multi-year contract while laying down this past October, and Peavy already has tens of millions owed to him between now and 2012, Pettitte would likely come with a significantly shorter contract with smaller dollars attached if he would move back to the National League for the chance to be on a winning team.

Having pitched for the Yankees as long as he has, Pettitte has an appreciation for the history of the game. He showed that when he went to pitch for his hometown Astros, and then recruited fellow Longhorn Roger Clemens to join him in an effort to bring the first World Series to south Texas.

While that effort fell just short, someone with Pettitte's level of professionalism, understanding and past successes in the post season would make him a welcome addition to a club that can't win consecutive games after September 30.

Besides, if we sign a quality arm like Pettitte instead of selling the farm for one, maybe Jim Hendry can finally mortgage his soul for Brian Roberts...