Vidro and Soriano Rumors

[Hosak8]

From cbs.sportsline.com:

 

The Cubs continue to struggle in finding a first baseman to replace the injured Derrek Lee. Baltimore, which is struggling with its own injury problems, is less likely to trade Jeff Conine, says the Daily Herald. Other options the Cubs may pursue in hopes of bolstering their offense include acquiring Washington's Jose Vidro or Alfonso Soriano.

 

Not sure how either helps us at 1B, other than by allowing us to leave Walker there. And, I'm pretty sure that Soriano isn't the answer to our woeful OBP, though it would be nearly impossible to lower it any.

[Mark Priors Calves]

From cbs.sportsline.com:

 

The Cubs continue to struggle in finding a first baseman to replace the injured Derrek Lee. Baltimore, which is struggling with its own injury problems, is less likely to trade Jeff Conine, says the Daily Herald. Other options the Cubs may pursue in hopes of bolstering their offense include acquiring Washington's Jose Vidro or Alfonso Soriano.

 

Not sure how either helps us at 1B, other than by allowing us to leave Walker there. And, I'm pretty sure that Soriano isn't the answer to our woeful OBP, though it would be nearly impossible to lower it any.

 

Another 2B!!!!!!!!!

[soapy]

From cbs.sportsline.com:

 

The Cubs continue to struggle in finding a first baseman to replace the injured Derrek Lee. Baltimore, which is struggling with its own injury problems, is less likely to trade Jeff Conine, says the Daily Herald. Other options the Cubs may pursue in hopes of bolstering their offense include acquiring Washington's Jose Vidro or Alfonso Soriano.

 

Not sure how either helps us at 1B, other than by allowing us to leave Walker there. And, I'm pretty sure that Soriano isn't the answer to our woeful OBP, though it would be nearly impossible to lower it any.

 

Not that I put much into this, but maybe the Cubs feel they can play Soriano at 2B until Lee returns and then move him to LF leaving Murton and Jones to platoon in RF. :?

 

Having said that, Soriano doesn't address the team's glaring weakness in the OBP department.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I have a feeling Soriano could soon find himself patrolling leftfield for the Yankees now that Matsui is out.

[srbin84]

Soriano would help our offense a lot, OBP or no OBP.

[BigbadB]

I have a feeling Soriano could soon find himself patrolling leftfield for the Yankees now that Matsui is out.

 

Or 2b when the Cubs trade Prior for Cano. :D

[srbin84]

I have a feeling Soriano could soon find himself patrolling leftfield for the Yankees now that Matsui is out.

 

Or 2b when the Cubs trade Prior for Cano. :D

 

I still don't see what's so bad about that deal. Prior has a name, but you're basically trading nothing for one of the better young players in the league. We may be able to get more for Prior, but getting Cano isn't laughable.

[SantoForHOF]

Soriano would help our offense a lot, OBP or no OBP.

 

uh oh, don't say that here...

 

The OBP Gestapo will be arriving shortly

[Banedon]

By the time a trade actually goes down, Lee will be back.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

By the time a trade actually goes down, Lee will be back.

 

I agree. If the Cubs want to improve the line-up, they need to make a move that will have a difference after Lee returns. Something that upgrades rigthfield production against lefties is where to look.

[NorthsideAvenger]

I have a feeling Soriano could soon find himself patrolling leftfield for the Yankees now that Matsui is out.

 

Or 2b when the Cubs trade Prior for Cano. :D

 

I still don't see what's so bad about that deal. Prior has a name, but you're basically trading nothing for one of the better young players in the league. We may be able to get more for Prior, but getting Cano isn't laughable.

 

And yet, I still wouldn't trade Prior for Cano. In Prior's peak...he will be one, if not the game's best pitcher---yes, I am still an optimis when it comes to Prior. Cano in his prime will likely be a very solid player for the Yankees. You DON'T trade a Prior for Cano. You just don't. The Yanks WOULD jump at that deal, in a heartbeat.

[Derwood]

Clearly the Cubs need to:

 

sign Macias

trade for Vidro, Cano, Soriano, and maybe 2 or 3 more 2B.

 

Then the lineup can be:

 

CF Bynum

SS Perez

3B Macias

1B Walker

LF Soriano

2B Cano

RF Hairston

C Vidro

 

With that much speed and gamership, how could we lose?

[Jon]

By the time a trade actually goes down, Lee will be back.

 

I agree. If the Cubs want to improve the line-up, they need to make a move that will have a difference after Lee returns. Something that upgrades rigthfield production against lefties is where to look.

Of course, that's been needed ever since Jones was signed and yet Hendry continued to ignore the bench. Maybe they finally realized that they need a platoon partner for Jones (could they have actually looked at his splits?), but I'm not holding my breath.

 

But yeah, with Lee back in about a month, that's what Jim needs to be focusing on.

[KingCubsFan]

By the time a trade actually goes down, Lee will be back.

 

I agree. If the Cubs want to improve the line-up, they need to make a move that will have a difference after Lee returns. Something that upgrades rigthfield production against lefties is where to look.

Of course, that's been needed ever since Jones was signed and yet Hendry continued to ignore the bench. Maybe they finally realized that they need a platoon partner for Jones (could they have actually looked at his splits?), but I'm not holding my breath.

 

But yeah, with Lee back in about a month, that's what Jim needs to be focusing on.

 

Jones v. RH: .312/.349/.597/.947

Jones v. LH: .056/.105/.056/.161

 

Jones has actually been a good player against righties. If Dusty continues to ignore that Jones simply cannot hit lefties, it may go down as the dumbest (and most incompetent) thing Dusty has done while here, simply because it's so obvious and past history predicted it (and, btw, that list is quite long: leaving Latroy as closer, ending Chad Fox's career, continuing to bat Corey leadoff, etc...) . I think Darren could have picked this one out a few weeks ago.

[BigbadB]

Jones v. RH: .312/.349/.597/.947

Jones v. LH: .056/.105/.056/.161

 

Jones has actually been a good player against righties. If Dusty continues to ignore that Jones simply cannot hit lefties, it may go down as the dumbest (and most incompetent) thing Dusty has done while here, simply because it's so obvious and past history predicted it (and, btw, that list is quite long: leaving Latroy as closer, ending Chad Fox's career, continuing to bat Corey leadoff, etc...) . I think Darren could have picked this one out a few weeks ago.

 

How many platoon players (or players that should be platooned like Jones) make 6m a year? How many of them recently signed a 3 year contract?

 

Did the Cubs feel like 6m for a part time player would really be good enough? Why not another 6m for the guy who could provide the same numbers against LHP so that you had a productive position in 162 games instead of half of them?

[KingCubsFan]

 

Did the Cubs feel like 6m for a part time player would really be good enough? Why not another 6m for the guy who could provide the same numbers against LHP so that you had a productive position in 162 games instead of half of them?

Playing only against righties would hardly make him a part-time player. He'd still play in most games. And you woudn't need to pay a player who only plays against LHP 6 million a year. You can find productivity against lefties for much less than that. 5-6 million for Jones (and I think it's less than that in later years because of the signing bonus) really isn't very much if he's used properly and continues to do well against righties. His salary shouldn't be a hindrance to putting a good team on the field.

[JC]

Soriano would help our offense a lot, OBP or no OBP.

 

uh oh, don't say that here...

 

The OBP Gestapo will be arriving shortly

 

Solid observation.

[BigbadB]

 

Did the Cubs feel like 6m for a part time player would really be good enough? Why not another 6m for the guy who could provide the same numbers against LHP so that you had a productive position in 162 games instead of half of them?

Playing only against righties would hardly make him a part-time player. He'd still play in most games. And you woudn't need to pay a player who only plays against LHP 6 million a year. You can find productivity against lefties for much less than that. 5-6 million for Jones (and I think it's less than that in later years because of the signing bonus) really isn't very much if he's used properly and continues to do well against righties. His salary shouldn't be a hindrance to putting a good team on the field.

 

The number of left handed starters in the NL Central is well documented. If they platooned him like they should, he should only be playing a little more than half the time.

 

Agreed on the amount paid for Jones. It was a ridiculous amount all things considered. The amount didn't really anger me as much as the length of the contract.

[CubfaninCA]

If Soriano's brought in, Murton will become the backup OF and will platoon w/ Jones. Not a bad move, considering Murton isn't tearing up righties.

 

The Cubs need power desperately. If I recall Fred's stats correctly, the Cubs are about 80 hr's off last years pace.

 

The thorough documentation of lefties in the Central is more evidence that the Cubs need Soriano, who has a .957 ops v. lefties.

[CubfaninCA]

jones just catches all kinds of hellll. yet his numbers are right there with the $12-15 million man, Brian Giles.

 

jones 6 hrs & .783 ops

 

giles 2 hrs. and .766 ops

 

the cubs didn't need to spend a bunch of money for another guy who rarely gets extra base hits. the teams loaded w/ those guys.

[Shavo]

What will it take to get Soriano? Edited May 14, 2006 by Shavo

[Shavo]

jones just catches all kinds of hellll. yet his numbers are right there with the $12-15 million man, Brian Giles.

 

jones 6 hrs & .783 ops

 

giles 2 hrs. and .766 ops

 

the cubs didn't need to spend a bunch of money for another guy who rarely gets extra base hits. the teams loaded w/ those guys.

 

Jones : .311 OBP 5 Walks

 

Giles : .401 OBP 28 Walks

[Drew Doughty]

jones just catches all kinds of hellll. yet his numbers are right there with the $12-15 million man, Brian Giles.

 

jones 6 hrs & .783 ops

 

giles 2 hrs. and .766 ops

 

the cubs didn't need to spend a bunch of money for another guy who rarely gets extra base hits. the teams loaded w/ those guys.

 

Jones : .311 OBP 5 Walks

 

Giles : .401 OBP 28 Walks

 

Does Giles spike the ball into the ground regularly? No? Oh well.

[CubfaninCA]

jones just catches all kinds of hellll. yet his numbers are right there with the $12-15 million man, Brian Giles.

 

jones 6 hrs & .783 ops

 

giles 2 hrs. and .766 ops

 

the cubs didn't need to spend a bunch of money for another guy who rarely gets extra base hits. the teams loaded w/ those guys.

 

Jones : .311 OBP 5 Walks

 

Giles : .401 OBP 28 Walks

 

Slugging?

 

Slugging > Walk

[Transmogrified Tiger]

jones just catches all kinds of hellll. yet his numbers are right there with the $12-15 million man, Brian Giles.

 

jones 6 hrs & .783 ops

 

giles 2 hrs. and .766 ops

 

the cubs didn't need to spend a bunch of money for another guy who rarely gets extra base hits. the teams loaded w/ those guys.

 

Jones : .311 OBP 5 Walks

 

Giles : .401 OBP 28 Walks

 

Slugging?

 

Slugging > Walk

 

If the OPS's are similar, the guy with the OBP that is 90 points higher is more valuable. OPS correlates lmore closely to runs when OBP is multiplied by 1.5.