Ichiro Rumor???

[hardcorecubfan]

Yes, two of my co-workers came in this morn and said so I heard "the Cubs are looking into Ichiro for next year" Where? I relplied, they said on the news.

 

Help me out, did anybody else here this ridiculous rumor? (could only hope)

[CuseCubFan69]

Could he play CF? What's his contract like?

[Bull]

Ichiro = Left coast or New York.

 

Don't expect him to come to the midwest.

[HoopsCubs]

Could he play CF? What's his contract like?

 

Three things come to mind:

 

(1) Ichiro is under contract for $11M in 2007. Free agent after the 2007 season.

(2) Near as I can tell, he did not get a no-trade clause in his last deal.

(3) On several occasions last year and last offseason, Suzuki questioned Seattle's commitment to winning and their managerial choice.

 

If there is a private feeling amongst Seattle management and/or Ichiro that he will not be a Mariner in 2008, it may be in everybody's best interest to deal him this offseason. Cubs certainly have the financial wherewithall to get him, and his OBP would be a big improvement.

[fromthestretch]

Could he play CF? What's his contract like?

 

He's been playing a lot of CF this year, I believe.

 

EDIT: Just looked, it's not as much as I thought, but he's played 23 games (started 22) in CF this year. I remember reading that he really didn't want to switch to CF.

Edited September 14, 2006 by grassbass

[goonys evil twin]

.311/.360/.392, that's a nice line for a 2B, not so much for a RF. Ichiro is a good player, with some freaky abilities. But overall, he doesn't bring a ton to the table. His OPS+ was 135 in 2004, which is very good, but it was 110 and 109 in 2003 and 2005. He'll be 33 next season, and coming off what is probably going to be his worst year in the majors.

 

I fear you'll be paying (money and prospects) for the reputation, hype and name, moreso than for what the player will do for you on the field in 2007. If you have him in center, leading off, he would certainly be an upgrade over Pierre. And if he's in center next year and Pierre is nowhere to be seen, I'll be happy as heck. But I can only assume Seattle will be looking for even more than what the Cubs gave up for Pierre, and then you're looking at a 33 year old soon to be free agent who will probably be looking for a pretty hefty contract to return in 2008 and beyond.

 

I'm all about the OBP he'd bring, but since it's so AVG dependent, can we really expect it to remain so high?

[goonys evil twin]

Could he play CF? What's his contract like?

 

He's been playing a lot of CF this year, I believe.

 

174 of his 1240 innings have been in CF. 221 of his 8000+ MLB career innings.

[fromthestretch]

Could he play CF? What's his contract like?

 

He's been playing a lot of CF this year, I believe.

 

174 of his 1240 innings have been in CF. 221 of his 8000+ MLB career innings.

 

Yeah, I just edited my post. I thought he had been playing there the entire second half, but it's only been 23 games.

[Banedon]

A quick google of "Cubs Ichiro" came up with a Mariners message board where there's a thread about the Cubs having tried to get Ichiro for Maddux. Or course it's just a message board rumor, but this could show that there was previous interest by the Cubs...

 

http://mb8.scout.com/fseattlemarinersfrm1.showMessage?topicID=10135.topic

 

EDIT: Someone later in the thread indicates he has a NTC through '07.

[CuseCubFan69]

Could he play CF? What's his contract like?

 

Three things come to mind:

 

(1) Ichiro is under contract for $11M in 2007. Free agent after the 2007 season.

(2) Near as I can tell, he did not get a no-trade clause in his last deal.

(3) On several occasions last year and last offseason, Suzuki questioned Seattle's commitment to winning and their managerial choice.

 

If there is a private feeling amongst Seattle management and/or Ichiro that he will not be a Mariner in 2008, it may be in everybody's best interest to deal him this offseason. Cubs certainly have the financial wherewithall to get him, and his OBP would be a big improvement.

 

I think if the Cubs did get him he'd have to play CF. If he didn't, then the Cubs have to get a power hitter for CF or 2B and what would they do with Murton and Jones?

[CuseCubFan69]

A quick google of "Cubs Ichiro" came up with a Mariners message board where there's a thread about the Cubs having tried to get Ichiro for Maddux. Or course it's just a message board rumor, but this could show that there was previous interest by the Cubs...

 

http://mb8.scout.com/fseattlemarinersfrm1.showMessage?topicID=10135.topic

 

EDIT: Someone later in the thread indicates he has a NTC through '07.

 

I would assume the M's would have done that for salary relief in 2007. That trade doesn't make a lot of sense for the M's imo.

[SCCubbieFAN]

If you have him in center, leading off, he would certainly be an upgrade over Pierre. And if he's in center next year and Pierre is nowhere to be seen, I'll be happy as heck.I'm all about the OBP he'd bring, but since it's so AVG dependent, can we really expect it to remain so high?

 

On the Cubs.com site, it has JP current obp as .330 for the season. Ichiro's obp is .360. I'm not advocating JP over Ichiro, just pointing out that even tho Ichiro's obp is .30% points higher, that is not a significant difference.

[CuseCubFan69]

If you have him in center, leading off, he would certainly be an upgrade over Pierre. And if he's in center next year and Pierre is nowhere to be seen, I'll be happy as heck.I'm all about the OBP he'd bring, but since it's so AVG dependent, can we really expect it to remain so high?

 

On the Cubs.com site, it has JP current obp as .330 for the season. Ichiro's obp is .360. I'm not advocating JP over Ichiro, just pointing out that even tho Ichiro's obp is .30% points higher, that is not a significant difference.

 

To add to that Irchiro can throw the ball so it gets to the base he's throwing to in the air and has more power.

[goonys evil twin]

If you have him in center, leading off, he would certainly be an upgrade over Pierre. And if he's in center next year and Pierre is nowhere to be seen, I'll be happy as heck.I'm all about the OBP he'd bring, but since it's so AVG dependent, can we really expect it to remain so high?

 

On the Cubs.com site, it has JP current obp as .330 for the season. Ichiro's obp is .360. I'm not advocating JP over Ichiro, just pointing out that even tho Ichiro's obp is .30% points higher, that is not a significant difference.

 

A .330 OBP and .360 OBP is significant.

[fromthestretch]

If you have him in center, leading off, he would certainly be an upgrade over Pierre. And if he's in center next year and Pierre is nowhere to be seen, I'll be happy as heck.I'm all about the OBP he'd bring, but since it's so AVG dependent, can we really expect it to remain so high?

 

On the Cubs.com site, it has JP current obp as .330 for the season. Ichiro's obp is .360. I'm not advocating JP over Ichiro, just pointing out that even tho Ichiro's obp is .30% points higher, that is not a significant difference.

 

If you assume a decent increase in salary for Pierre next year, combined with the possibility of a multi-year deal, and Ichiro's edge in defense and power, I'll take Ichiro at the higher cost for one year over Pierre for 3-4 years at a slightly lower cost.

[Tracer Bullet]

If you have him in center, leading off, he would certainly be an upgrade over Pierre. And if he's in center next year and Pierre is nowhere to be seen, I'll be happy as heck.I'm all about the OBP he'd bring, but since it's so AVG dependent, can we really expect it to remain so high?

 

On the Cubs.com site, it has JP current obp as .330 for the season. Ichiro's obp is .360. I'm not advocating JP over Ichiro, just pointing out that even tho Ichiro's obp is .30% points higher, that is not a significant difference.

 

Disagree

[WrigleyField 22]

If you trade for Ichiro there is the possibility that he is a one year rental. We could have to give up some good prospects for him. Is that worth it? Maybe he'd work out an extension, but do we want to give an extension to a 33 year old OF who will demand big bucks?

[daske17]

If you trade for Ichiro there is the possibility that he is a one year rental. We could have to give up some good prospects for him. Is that worth it? Maybe he'd work out an extension, but do we want to give an extension to a 33 year old OF who will demand big bucks?

 

I think if Hendry was interested in making a trade for Ichiro it would be with the understanding that he would be willing to sign a new deal with the Cubs. I'm betting that it would take a minimum of four years $48-50 million for Ichiro to keep from becoming a one-year rental.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Ichiro is moving to CF in Seattle to make room for Chris Snelling. It was a recent move, thus him only playing there 23 games.

[Mizzou]

If you have him in center, leading off, he would certainly be an upgrade over Pierre. And if he's in center next year and Pierre is nowhere to be seen, I'll be happy as heck.I'm all about the OBP he'd bring, but since it's so AVG dependent, can we really expect it to remain so high?

 

On the Cubs.com site, it has JP current obp as .330 for the season. Ichiro's obp is .360. I'm not advocating JP over Ichiro, just pointing out that even tho Ichiro's obp is .30% points higher, that is not a significant difference.

 

A .330 OBP and .360 OBP is significant.

Is it? The difference is getting on base one more time every 33 tries.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

If you have him in center, leading off, he would certainly be an upgrade over Pierre. And if he's in center next year and Pierre is nowhere to be seen, I'll be happy as heck.I'm all about the OBP he'd bring, but since it's so AVG dependent, can we really expect it to remain so high?

 

On the Cubs.com site, it has JP current obp as .330 for the season. Ichiro's obp is .360. I'm not advocating JP over Ichiro, just pointing out that even tho Ichiro's obp is .30% points higher, that is not a significant difference.

 

A .330 OBP and .360 OBP is significant.

Is it? The difference is getting on base one more time every 33 tries.

 

Which is another 25 times of being on base throughout the season. He also steals bases at an 86% success rate compared to Pierre's 74%, so he's also better at staying on base.

[goonys evil twin]

If you have him in center, leading off, he would certainly be an upgrade over Pierre. And if he's in center next year and Pierre is nowhere to be seen, I'll be happy as heck.I'm all about the OBP he'd bring, but since it's so AVG dependent, can we really expect it to remain so high?

 

On the Cubs.com site, it has JP current obp as .330 for the season. Ichiro's obp is .360. I'm not advocating JP over Ichiro, just pointing out that even tho Ichiro's obp is .30% points higher, that is not a significant difference.

 

A .330 OBP and .360 OBP is significant.

Is it? The difference is getting on base one more time every 33 tries.

 

There are 7 teams getting a .330 or less out of leadoff in baseball. There are 6 getting .360 or more. If it wasn't significant, you'd basically be saying there's no significance of having a bottom fifth OBP or top fifth OBP.

[BigbadB]

Is it? The difference is getting on base one more time every 33 tries.

 

Of the top 40 in runs scored, only Jimmy Rollins has an OBP below .345

 

.330/.360 is significant.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I like Ichiro and all, but I don't like the idea of trading for leadoff hitting CFs in their walk year every offseason. I guess it can replace the annual bullpen acquisition for Hendry.

[RichHillIsABeast]

If you have him in center, leading off, he would certainly be an upgrade over Pierre. And if he's in center next year and Pierre is nowhere to be seen, I'll be happy as heck.I'm all about the OBP he'd bring, but since it's so AVG dependent, can we really expect it to remain so high?

 

On the Cubs.com site, it has JP current obp as .330 for the season. Ichiro's obp is .360. I'm not advocating JP over Ichiro, just pointing out that even tho Ichiro's obp is .30% points higher, that is not a significant difference.

 

A .330 OBP and .360 OBP is significant.

Is it? The difference is getting on base one more time every 33 tries.

 

Which is another 25 times of being on base throughout the season. He also steals bases at an 86% success rate compared to Pierre's 74%, so he's also better at staying on base.

 

And guys don't take that extra base on his arm.

 

Ichiro is a signifcant improvement over Pierre offensively, defensively, and on the basepaths.

 

If Pierre asks for something like Furcal got, this option should be explored.

 

If anything, it would but the Cubs on the map over in Japan. It may help us acquire talent from that part of the globe. It's a pretty exclusive club: Dodgers, Mariners, Yankees... There's a lot of talent over there that we might miss out on.