Cubs Avoid Arb with Hairston Jr.

[E.J.]

ESPN 1000 just reported on the 5pm Sportscenter Update that the Cubs and Hairston Jr. came to an agreement on a 1-year, $2.3 million deal. Hairston was looking for $2.6 is arbitration while the Cubs submitted a figure of $1.95 million.

[goonys evil twin]

So far the money for Prior and Hairston were both below what I initially thought they'd be (before I heard about their submitted figures).

[don_kessinger_was_good]

With Hendry, you will come very close to the actual numbers by simply splitting the difference between player and team numbers, that seems to be his M.O. I'd expect Zambrano to get 6.6 and Pierre 5.7, unless in Pierre's case Hendry decides to do an extension with bonus. I like Pierre, but I'd prefer to see him perform some before I'm ready to throw three more years at him.

 

Ohman, don't know what the holdup is there, the difference is just $250K, the Cubs piss away money like that without thinking twice about it. Give Will the small amount of extra dough, he had a tough time with injuries in the minors, he's earned some scratch.

[Jon]

Can't give him more than Neifi.

[ThePenguin11]

ESPN 1000 just reported on the 5pm Sportscenter Update that the Cubs and Hairston Jr. came to an agreement on a 1-year, $2.3 million deal. Hairston was looking for $2.6 is arbitration while the Cubs submitted a figure of $1.95 million.

 

Let the record show, the Score had Jerry on a couple hours ago to talk about the contract.

voice>

[Balsa]

Sounds good to me. Nothing to complain about.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Z next, please.

[Rusch33]

Sounds like a solid deal for both Jerry and the Cubs.

[rocket]

If Walker gets traded, I pray to Len he's our everyday 2B. Edited January 31, 2006 by rocket

[Rusch33]

If Walker gets traded, I pray to Len he's our everyday SS.

 

 

I also hope he is playing instead of Mr. Perez.

[JWCUB]

If Walker gets traded, I pray to Len he's our everyday SS.

 

 

I also hope he is playing instead of Mr. Perez.

 

 

Mr.? Way Way to nice. :lol:

[rocket]

If Walker gets traded, I pray to Len he's our everyday SS.

 

 

I also hope he is playing instead of Mr. Perez.

 

 

Mr.? Way Way to nice. :lol:

 

I really wish these posts weren't made before I made the edit. :(

[CUBZ99]

Suprised that more people aren't complaining about the Hairston contract #'s. Beside the fact that he was horrible last year and has a tendency to get hurt, there is no way that he warranted $2.5 M to sit on the bench all year. Especially, when you already have 2 guys that play 2B making $2.5 each.

 

So the Cubs are paying 3 guys that can play 2B approx $2.5? Seems like the money could be spent in a better way. Hendry seems to be wasting far too much money on these types of contracts.

 

$2.5M Walker, $2.5M Neifi, $3M Rusch, $2.5 Hairston, $1.5 Blanco, $1M Mabry. That's over $10M for bench players.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Suprised that more people aren't complaining about the Hairston contract #'s. Beside the fact that he was horrible last year and has a tendency to get hurt, there is no way that he warranted $2.5 M to sit on the bench all year. Especially, when you already have 2 guys that play 2B making $2.5 each.

 

So the Cubs are paying 3 guys that can play 2B approx $2.5? Seems like the money could be spent in a better way. Hendry seems to be wasting far too much money on these types of contracts.

 

$2.5M Walker, $2.5M Neifi, $3M Rusch, $2.5 Hairston, $1.5 Blanco, $1M Mabry. That's over $10M for bench players.

 

You can't call all of Walker, Neifi, and Hairston bench players. One of them has to start on the middle infield.

[CUBZ99]

Suprised that more people aren't complaining about the Hairston contract #'s. Beside the fact that he was horrible last year and has a tendency to get hurt, there is no way that he warranted $2.5 M to sit on the bench all year. Especially, when you already have 2 guys that play 2B making $2.5 each.

 

So the Cubs are paying 3 guys that can play 2B approx $2.5? Seems like the money could be spent in a better way. Hendry seems to be wasting far too much money on these types of contracts.

 

$2.5M Walker, $2.5M Neifi, $3M Rusch, $2.5 Hairston, $1.5 Blanco, $1M Mabry. That's over $10M for bench players.

 

You can't call all of Walker, Neifi, and Hairston bench players. One of them has to start on the middle infield.

 

That is why I said over $10M in bench players $13M - one of the $2.5 salaries.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Suprised that more people aren't complaining about the Hairston contract #'s. Beside the fact that he was horrible last year and has a tendency to get hurt, there is no way that he warranted $2.5 M to sit on the bench all year. Especially, when you already have 2 guys that play 2B making $2.5 each.

 

So the Cubs are paying 3 guys that can play 2B approx $2.5? Seems like the money could be spent in a better way. Hendry seems to be wasting far too much money on these types of contracts.

 

$2.5M Walker, $2.5M Neifi, $3M Rusch, $2.5 Hairston, $1.5 Blanco, $1M Mabry. That's over $10M for bench players.

 

You can't call all of Walker, Neifi, and Hairston bench players. One of them has to start on the middle infield.

 

That is why I said over $10M in bench players $13M - one of the $2.5 salaries.

 

Math is fun...

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Suprised that more people aren't complaining about the Hairston contract #'s. Beside the fact that he was horrible last year and has a tendency to get hurt, there is no way that he warranted $2.5 M to sit on the bench all year. Especially, when you already have 2 guys that play 2B making $2.5 each.

 

So the Cubs are paying 3 guys that can play 2B approx $2.5? Seems like the money could be spent in a better way. Hendry seems to be wasting far too much money on these types of contracts.

 

$2.5M Walker, $2.5M Neifi, $3M Rusch, $2.5 Hairston, $1.5 Blanco, $1M Mabry. That's over $10M for bench players.

 

Blanco is worth $1.5M IMO, but the rest is wasteful.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Suprised that more people aren't complaining about the Hairston contract #'s. Beside the fact that he was horrible last year and has a tendency to get hurt, there is no way that he warranted $2.5 M to sit on the bench all year. Especially, when you already have 2 guys that play 2B making $2.5 each.

 

So the Cubs are paying 3 guys that can play 2B approx $2.5? Seems like the money could be spent in a better way. Hendry seems to be wasting far too much money on these types of contracts.

 

$2.5M Walker, $2.5M Neifi, $3M Rusch, $2.5 Hairston, $1.5 Blanco, $1M Mabry. That's over $10M for bench players.

 

Blanco is worth $1.5M IMO, but the rest is wasteful.

 

How is Walker wasteful? If he's not starting this year, I'd agree. But overall, 2.5 mil for Walker is a solid price.

[Abe Frohman]

If Todd Walker is not traded, stays healthy, and is our starting 2nd baseman, it is not unreasonable to expect a .290+ average, 80+ runs, 170+ hits, 15-20 HR, 70 RBI and probably a .350+ OB%.

 

That is a steal for 2.5 million, offensively.

 

The Red Sox didn't do so bad with Walker at 2nd base in 03. Despite being replaced in key situations for defensive reasons, his defensive statistics were not horrible, and he made some outstanding plays in the playoffs, not to mention his lights-out hitting.

 

Todd Walker is our best bet at 2nd base. Unless there is a trade for Julio Lugo....

[Soul]

Has anyone heard a single *valid* reason why Todd Walker is on the trading block all the time?

 

How can a cheap, productive player who appears to exhibit a goodly amount of clubhouse leadership be unwanted when there's nothing but junk behind him?

 

Makes no sense to me whatsoever. I could see if we had a great player to start, and Walker was just going to sit the bench for $2.5 million. But that's not the case. He's clearly head & shoulders above any other 2nd baseman on this roster. As a starter, that salary is pretty cheap.

 

Hendry & Walker must have gotten into a screaming match one day or something. That's the only thing I can think of.

[ThePenguin11]

I think they want Hairston to have a chance to make them look even better in the Sosa trade. Walker seems like a very cool guy by all accounts. I've seen him twice in public (he had the same blockbuster, and we saw him in Mesa) and obviously he's not going to be a total jerk in public, but he seemed like quite the family man. He took his family out the same night that he got injured and missed a few games. Maybe the Cubs brass thought he was milking it...I don't really know. But I saw him there for about twenty minutes and from what I could tell he seemed like a genuine good guy.

[Andy]

Has anyone heard a single *valid* reason why Todd Walker is on the trading block all the time?

 

How can a cheap, productive player who appears to exhibit a goodly amount of clubhouse leadership be unwanted when there's nothing but junk behind him?

 

Makes no sense to me whatsoever. I could see if we had a great player to start, and Walker was just going to sit the bench for $2.5 million. But that's not the case. He's clearly head & shoulders above any other 2nd baseman on this roster. As a starter, that salary is pretty cheap.

 

Hendry & Walker must have gotten into a screaming match one day or something. That's the only thing I can think of.

Don't be asking me, Soul. I've been incredulously decrying Walker's "tradeability" since the day I found out Hendry was evidently trying to move him.

 

My theory: Todd asked for Jim Hendry to share his daily order of donuts with the team. Hendry immediately called him selfish and a clubhouse cancer and vowed that he would no longer be a Donut (err, Cub) on Opening Day 2006.

[ThePenguin11]

Has anyone heard a single *valid* reason why Todd Walker is on the trading block all the time?

 

How can a cheap, productive player who appears to exhibit a goodly amount of clubhouse leadership be unwanted when there's nothing but junk behind him?

 

Makes no sense to me whatsoever. I could see if we had a great player to start, and Walker was just going to sit the bench for $2.5 million. But that's not the case. He's clearly head & shoulders above any other 2nd baseman on this roster. As a starter, that salary is pretty cheap.

 

Hendry & Walker must have gotten into a screaming match one day or something. That's the only thing I can think of.

 

I heard that Todd slept with Ryn- Okay, bad joke.

[ChiCubsFan]

Has anyone heard a single *valid* reason why Todd Walker is on the trading block all the time?

 

How can a cheap, productive player who appears to exhibit a goodly amount of clubhouse leadership be unwanted when there's nothing but junk behind him?

 

Makes no sense to me whatsoever. I could see if we had a great player to start, and Walker was just going to sit the bench for $2.5 million. But that's not the case. He's clearly head & shoulders above any other 2nd baseman on this roster. As a starter, that salary is pretty cheap.

 

Hendry & Walker must have gotten into a screaming match one day or something. That's the only thing I can think of.

 

I heard that Todd slept with Ryn- Okay, bad joke.

 

Hahaha :lol: i liked that one.

[CubsWin]

Suprised that more people aren't complaining about the Hairston contract #'s. Beside the fact that he was horrible last year and has a tendency to get hurt, there is no way that he warranted $2.5 M to sit on the bench all year. Especially, when you already have 2 guys that play 2B making $2.5 each.

 

So the Cubs are paying 3 guys that can play 2B approx $2.5? Seems like the money could be spent in a better way. Hendry seems to be wasting far too much money on these types of contracts.

 

$2.5M Walker, $2.5M Neifi, $3M Rusch, $2.5 Hairston, $1.5 Blanco, $1M Mabry. That's over $10M for bench players.

 

You can't call all of Walker, Neifi, and Hairston bench players. One of them has to start on the middle infield.

 

That is why I said over $10M in bench players $13M - one of the $2.5 salaries.

Rusch is a bench player? Does spending $3M for a 5th starter/long reliever truly qualify as wasteful? I think Rusch's numbers over the last two seasons when examined more closely show that he is worth a contract like that.

 

I agree spending 2.5 million on Perez (especially for 2 seasons) was and is difficult to understand. With Hairston under the Cubs control, Walker's option picked up and Cedeno on the roster, couldn't Hendry have found a back-up SS (which is the only position not covered by the other player's mentioned) for less than 2.5 million?

 

But how is a mill for Mabry wasteful or 1.5 for Blanco? I fail to see how those contracts qualify as wasting money.

 

Hairston is worth that kind of money because of the coverage he provides in a lot of key areas. His .350ish OBP and good speed make him the next best lead-off hitter behind Pierre giving the Cubs decent protection if Juan were to get hurt. He can play all the OF positions and 2B relatively well defensively, and his bat isn't terrible for a bench player.

 

So, of your list, I really only see the Perez signing as worthy of the phrase "wasting money". But I'm open to understanding why you think differently.