Byrnes for CF in '07?

[hawkeyecub]

Last year he was just awful in his time with the Orioles and Rockies, but with the A's he had an .810 OPS. In '04 he hit .283/.347/.467 and was 17/18 in stolen bases. This year he's hitting.291/.351/.521 with the Diamondbacks and 13/14 in stolen bases.

 

From what I can find he just signed a 1-year $2.25M contract with the Diamondbacks this year. They may not want to make a commitment to him with Young on the way.

He's not a great on-base guy but does provide some pop and has adequate patience at least for what we're used to. I'm not sure how his defense has been as a full-time CF this year though.

 

Is he primed for a decline the rest of this season? Is this just a fluke season during a contract year? If you can get the production he had in '04 and this season in CF at a reasonable cost, he may be a decent option.

Looking at the free agents there just aren't many options. Torii Hunter will likely be overpaid and doesn't fit in very well here.

[CUBZ99]

I would say NO on Byrnes for next year as Starting CF. With the middle IF as constructed right now, the Cubs need a couple of proven players in CF and LF. They can't afford to go into next season hoping that the players they pick up are going to produce at an above avg. clip.

[Flames24Rulz]

I'd rather have Pierre back next year than have Byrnes.

[Pickle]

I wouldn't mind seeing byrnes signed as a platoon partner with Jock.

[USSoccer]

I wouldn't mind seeing byrnes signed as a platoon partner with Jock.

 

I would have liked that going into the season, too.

[hawkeyecub]

I'd rather have Pierre back next year than have Byrnes.

 

Even if he's out-produced him in 2/3 years and would likely come at a much cheaper cost and for fewer years?

 

Not saying he's a #1 option, just throwing it out there for discussion. The big wild card is that I have no idea how his defense has been in CF.

[rawaction]

I kinda like Byrnes. Don't understand why anyone would want Pierre more. Byrnes is not ideal, but I'd rather the Cubs go after someone like him or Brady Clark, rather than throwing money Pierre's way or going after another slap hitting, speedy, poor excuse for a leadoff hitter.

[goonys evil twin]

I kinda like Byrnes. Don't understand why anyone would want Pierre more. Byrnes is not ideal, but I'd rather the Cubs go after someone like him or Brady Clark, rather than throwing money Pierre's way or going after another slap hitting, speedy, poor excuse for a leadoff hitter.

 

Yeah, I can't understand why anybody would even consider Pierre at $5-8m over Byrnes at $3-4m.

[coreyMVP]

I agree, especially due to the fact it is going to take a boat load of money to work on the other myriad holes that need attention this offseason.

[Lefty]

I'd rather have Pierre back next year than have Byrnes.

 

You will have your wish.

[TruffleShuffle]

I kinda like Byrnes. Don't understand why anyone would want Pierre more. Byrnes is not ideal, but I'd rather the Cubs go after someone like him or Brady Clark, rather than throwing money Pierre's way or going after another slap hitting, speedy, poor excuse for a leadoff hitter.

 

Yeah, I can't understand why anybody would even consider Pierre at $5-8m over Byrnes at $3-4m.

 

I'd be perfectly fine with Byrnes. He might not be super-patient, but he's not allergic to the walk like most of the rest of this team. He does have some solid pop, and I get the sense that he's the type of player who would be undervalued in the free agent market (a la Todd Walker). I actually think it'd be a really good move to bring him in for $3-4M per year and use the savings to upgrade one of the corner OF positions.

[kylescubs23]

I agree, I wanted him to be Jacque's platoon partner this year. Although he would probably be starting in LF everyday if that were the case.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'm fine with Byrnes if a couple of bats are added. He looks like a crackhead the way he's always fidgeting around though. Stand still, dude.

[RynoRules]

I kinda like Byrnes. Don't understand why anyone would want Pierre more. Byrnes is not ideal, but I'd rather the Cubs go after someone like him or Brady Clark, rather than throwing money Pierre's way or going after another slap hitting, speedy, poor excuse for a leadoff hitter.

 

Yeah, I can't understand why anybody would even consider Pierre at $5-8m over Byrnes at $3-4m.

 

Agreed. .350 OBP with pop (the HR he hit two nights ago still has't landed) and decent speed at 3-4 mill. Sounds like a nice fill-in until Pie is ready.

[EricG]

Pierre will be back. Hendry will overpay just so he doesn't have to think that he gave up 3 pitchers for nothing.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

Patrolling CF for your Chicago Cubs...............

 

Mr. Byrnes

 

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j163/Niner74/MrBurns.jpg

[SouthSideRyan]

I wanna say Byrnes is a pretty bad defensive corner OF. He'd be brutal in CF.

[b_wiggy_66]

I wouldnt mind seeing them go after Mike Cameron and signing someone like Lugo or L. Castillo to be our leadoff hitter. Cameron plays a very good CF and his bat looks great this year even playing Petco.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I wanna say Byrnes is a pretty bad defensive corner OF. He'd be brutal in CF.

 

According to The Fielding Bible, Byrnes is above average in LF. PMR agrees with that as well.

[RynoRules]

I wanna say Byrnes is a pretty bad defensive corner OF. He'd be brutal in CF.

 

According to The Fielding Bible, Byrnes is above average in LF. PMR agrees with that as well.

 

I was going to comment that he has looked pretty good in CF so far in this series, but there you go.

[soccer10k]

I was extremely surprised when the A's traded him to Colorado in 2005. His BA/OBP/SLG were increasing steadily from 2002-2004. His BA/OBP were down a bit (.017/.011) in 2005 from 2004 but his SLG was up a bit (.007) with Oakland when Beane traded him. I like Byrnes but with the players we currently have on the team, and those we have signed for next year, I don't want him being an everyday player.