Cubs Part Ways With Silva

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Mar 28, 2011 3:10PM

A wild weekend for the Cubs ended with the team releasing pitcher Carlos Silva on Sunday, forcing the team to eat many millions left on his contract. The move came a day after Silva learned he was the odd man out when the Cubs announced their 25-man roster. Andrew Cashner was named their fifth starter while Marcos Mateo earned the final spot in the bullpen. With Silva left off the team, The Cubs told him they hoped to trade him, or else he could pitch for Triple-A Iowa.

The news didn't sit well with Silva. Upon receiving it, the 31-year old pitcher made it abundantly clear to the media that he would accept no minor league assignment and blasted Cubs pitching coach Mark Riggins, saying "has to learn he's in the big leagues now, know what I mean? There's no kids around here anymore."

Cubs GM Jim Hendry fired back at Silva on Sunday:

Obviously, we're dealing with a man at this particular point of his career that's not willing to face the facts that what he's done the last few years, except for a two-month period (last year), is well below major league standards. And he seemed to make a continual problem of blaming everyone but himself. (He gave up) 29 hits in his first 11 innings of camp, and I've never had anyone I've dealt with classify that as "bad luck." His comments (criticizing) Mark Riggins were totally unacceptable. And once again, it's a weakness for someone that doesn't perform well and chooses to blame somebody else on the way out.

Manager Mike Quade, who took responsibility for the roster move, also jumped to Riggins' defense,

First of all, he[Silva]'s dead (bleeping) wrong, OK, about my pitching coach," he said. "And I've got no (bleeping) time for that. Second of all, respect … it's a two-way street, period. And whether it's him or anybody else on my club, or myself, I mean, it's a two-way street, and I don't want to hear anything about respect.If you're not willing to give it. you ain't getting it, OK?

Silva, acquired in return for Milton Bradley, began the 2010 campaign 8-0 but finished the season 10-6, sporting an ERA of 11.12 after the All Star Break. Combining last year's second half with Silva's two years in Seattle where his cumulative ERA was over 8.00, he clearly isn't a Major League pitcher any more. And everybody seems to see that but him.

While Hendry initially had planned to pitch Silva in Monday's exhibition game to try and generate some trade interest, Silva's actions led to his immediate release. The Cubs are now on the hook for his $11.5 million salary, which was taken on when they were so desperate to move Milton Bradley's onerous contract and bad attitude last year. Lot of good that did.