Soriano rumor....

[goonys evil twin]

I really dont care if they overpay for him. I dont think it hurts a team to overpay for a very productive player. Id be more inclined to overpay for him playing 2b or CF than LF, but id still overpay for him playing LF.

 

I agree with that notion. The only problem is that before this year, Soriano wasn't a very productive player. OPS+ of 98 and 110 the last two years wouldn't be something I'd like to overpay for, especially if he's a corner OF. He was more productive with the Yankees, but he was just a piece of a great lineup back then. And then there's this season.

 

Ideally I'd go elsewhere, but the Cubs probably won't find many better options, if any.

[goonys evil twin]

How old is Soriano?

 

He is currently 30, and will be 31 this coming January. His next contract probably takes him from 31-35.

[Guest]

unfortunately he seems like the best option if the cubs want to compete soon. otherwise, its rebuild time and they might as well start shopping lee. I don't see a whole lot of impact players on that free agent list. perhaps he'll got the Sammy Sosa route.

[Backtobanks]

unfortunately he seems like the best option if the cubs want to compete soon. otherwise, its rebuild time and they might as well start shopping lee. I don't see a whole lot of impact players on that free agent list. perhaps he'll got the Sammy Sosa route.

 

I think the Cubs need to sign a top FA pitcher (Schmidt). I think there are cheaper FA position players that could help the Cubs (Durham, C. Wilson). I think the impact bat is going to have to come from a trade.

[Guest]

unfortunately he seems like the best option if the cubs want to compete soon. otherwise, its rebuild time and they might as well start shopping lee. I don't see a whole lot of impact players on that free agent list. perhaps he'll got the Sammy Sosa route.

 

I think the Cubs need to sign a top FA pitcher (Schmidt). I think there are cheaper FA position players that could help the Cubs (Durham, C. Wilson). I think the impact bat is going to have to come from a trade.

 

there aren't many pitchers out there either and they are even riskier. I would rather build an 850 run lineup and then worry about pitching.

[Rob]

unfortunately he seems like the best option if the cubs want to compete soon. otherwise, its rebuild time and they might as well start shopping lee. I don't see a whole lot of impact players on that free agent list. perhaps he'll got the Sammy Sosa route.

 

I think the Cubs need to sign a top FA pitcher (Schmidt). I think there are cheaper FA position players that could help the Cubs (Durham, C. Wilson). I think the impact bat is going to have to come from a trade.

 

there aren't many pitchers out there either and they are even riskier. I would rather build an 850 run lineup and then worry about pitching.

 

 

Yeah, but is Soriano going to be a help or a hindrance towards an 850 run lineup?

 

He'd most likely help, but not for what we'd have to pay him. I'd rather sink less money into Trot Nixon and Craig Wilson as platoonmates and slide Murton into a platoon with Jacque in right, which would also give us a big bat off the bench and another decent bat off the bench at any given moment... something we've been sorely missing for a long time.

 

Edit:

 

Of course, that thought is predicated upon viewing Soriano as a LF. If he's a 2B, it could be quite different. Though I do still find myself more inclined to grab Nixon/Wilson and Durham to fill out the holes.

[Sammy Sofa]

unfortunately he seems like the best option if the cubs want to compete soon. otherwise, its rebuild time and they might as well start shopping lee. I don't see a whole lot of impact players on that free agent list. perhaps he'll got the Sammy Sosa route.

 

I think the Cubs need to sign a top FA pitcher (Schmidt). I think there are cheaper FA position players that could help the Cubs (Durham, C. Wilson). I think the impact bat is going to have to come from a trade.

 

there aren't many pitchers out there either and they are even riskier. I would rather build an 850 run lineup and then worry about pitching.

 

 

Yeah, but is Soriano going to be a help or a hindrance towards an 850 run lineup?

 

He'd most likely help, but not for what we'd have to pay him. I'd rather sink less money into Trot Nixon and Craig Wilson as platoonmates and slide Murton into a platoon with Jacque in right, which would also give us a big bat off the bench and another decent bat off the bench at any given moment... something we've been sorely missing for a long time.

 

Edit:

 

Of course, that thought is predicated upon viewing Soriano as a LF. If he's a 2B, it could be quite different. Though I do still find myself more inclined to grab Nixon/Wilson and Durham to fill out the holes.

 

I highly doubt Soriano comes to Wrigley if he's not playing 2B. And even so, I'd still love the Cubs to pick up Wilson.

[DivineBovine]

Wow.

 

I didn't realize that Soriano has walked over 60 times this year, almost doubling his previous career high.

 

He's got an isolated patience over .70. If he could keep that up next year, I could live with him. And I'll take anyone at 2B over RonCe.

 

Go get him!

 

 

Wow, good point about Soriano's walks. If he keeps walking so much, he may turn Hendry off to him.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Soriano scares the heck out of me. He could be Carlos Beltran in 2007, or he could be Adrian Beltre. Now, if Hendry decides to go after Soriano, I pray to the baseball gods, that Hendry does his homework on Soriano.

[soccer10k]

Soriano scares the heck out of me. He could be Carlos Beltran in 2007, or he could be Adrian Beltre. Now, if Hendry decides to go after Soriano, I pray to the baseball gods, that Hendry does his homework on Soriano.

 

While Soriano is having a career year, I wouldn't even think to compare him to Adrian Beltre. Soriano has at least put up numbers in previous seasons comparable to what he's done this year whereas Beltre's 2004 season was such an anomaly that it seems like you switched his stats with somebody else's for a year. I understand the point you are trying to make, but Soriano's career numbers hardly suggest he will have a huge Beltre-esque dropoff next year.

[Backtobanks]

Soriano scares the heck out of me. He could be Carlos Beltran in 2007, or he could be Adrian Beltre. Now, if Hendry decides to go after Soriano, I pray to the baseball gods, that Hendry does his homework on Soriano.

 

A lot of the talk about Soriano is that the Cubs want him for CF. I have trouble believing that he could ever be a disappointment offensively in CF. Now defensively is another story.

[TheDude]

Wow.

 

I didn't realize that Soriano has walked over 60 times this year, almost doubling his previous career high.

 

He's got an isolated patience over .70. If he could keep that up next year, I could live with him. And I'll take anyone at 2B over RonCe.

 

Go get him!

 

 

Wow, good point about Soriano's walks. If he keeps walking so much, he may turn Hendry off to him.

 

That's just silly.

[CuseCubFan69]

How old is Soriano?

 

He is currently 30, and will be 31 this coming January. His next contract probably takes him from 31-35.

 

That is his real age, right? Thanks gooney.

 

I think the Ramirez situation is going to hurt the Cubs big tiem this free agent season unless they have already agreed to a deal. If Ramirez takes his time over the 15 days after the WS it could hamper the moves the Cubs would take and put them behind the 8 ball and we all know they don't exactly great plans to begin with.

[Backtobanks]

How old is Soriano?

 

He is currently 30, and will be 31 this coming January. His next contract probably takes him from 31-35.

 

That is his real age, right? Thanks gooney.

 

I think the Ramirez situation is going to hurt the Cubs big tiem this free agent season unless they have already agreed to a deal. If Ramirez takes his time over the 15 days after the WS it could hamper the moves the Cubs would take and put them behind the 8 ball and we all know they don't exactly great plans to begin with.

 

I think Hendry will wrap him up quickly for the reason you mentioned above. Both sides seem satisfied with ARam in Chicago, so I think ARam will get an extension rather quickly.

[soccer10k]

How old is Soriano?

 

He is currently 30, and will be 31 this coming January. His next contract probably takes him from 31-35.

 

That is his real age, right? Thanks gooney.

 

I think the Ramirez situation is going to hurt the Cubs big tiem this free agent season unless they have already agreed to a deal. If Ramirez takes his time over the 15 days after the WS it could hamper the moves the Cubs would take and put them behind the 8 ball and we all know they don't exactly great plans to begin with.

 

I think Hendry will wrap him up quickly for the reason you mentioned above. Both sides seem satisfied with ARam in Chicago, so I think ARam will get an extension rather quickly.

 

I hope you're right.

[NCCubFan]

Wow.

 

I didn't realize that Soriano has walked over 60 times this year, almost doubling his previous career high.

 

He's got an isolated patience over .70. If he could keep that up next year, I could live with him. And I'll take anyone at 2B over RonCe.

 

Go get him!

 

 

Wow, good point about Soriano's walks. If he keeps walking so much, he may turn Hendry off to him.

 

That's just silly.

It's called sarcasm.

[Neuby]

40/40/40/ from a second baseman or center field next season if fine by me.

[Backtobanks]

40/40/40/ from a second baseman or center field next season if fine by me.

 

Careful or you will hear from the stats junkies who will find some statistic to downplay his offense.

[rawaction]

40/40/40/ from a second baseman or center field next season if fine by me.

 

Careful or you will hear from the stats junkies who will find some statistic to downplay his offense.

 

Mature.

[bhogg]

mature or not, I was thinking the same thing.

[USSoccer]

40/40/40/ from a second baseman or center field next season if fine by me.

 

Careful or you will hear from the stats junkies who will find some statistic to downplay his offense.

 

You're not gonig to find a ton of people here who don't think Soriano's SLG% would help us hitting 5th or 6th.

[Guest]

mature or not, I was thinking the same thing.

 

well, his offensive game isn't perfect. up until this year, his obp was not great. for his pricetag, there should be some worries. I am not sure why you think that players are all good or all bad - most have their strengths and weaknesses and both should be considered in making a player evaluation. what is the problem with that? you are offended by people considering a player's weaknesses as well as strengths? I don't get it.

[Backtobanks]

mature or not, I was thinking the same thing.

 

well, his offensive game isn't perfect. up until this year, his obp was not great. for his pricetag, there should be some worries. I am not sure why you think that players are all good or all bad - most have their strengths and weaknesses and both should be considered in making a player evaluation. what is the problem with that? you are offended by people considering a player's weaknesses as well as strengths? I don't get it.

 

I don't think anyone was saying his offensive game is perfect, but adding the first player in history with 40/40/40 at 2B or CF would be an unbelievable upgrade. My original point is that as soon as a name is mentioned, somebody starts digging up stats to argue a point. The point is Soriano, imperfect as he may be, would look great somewhere in the Cubs' lineup. Personally, I still don't think Hendry is going to outbid other teams for Soriano.

[Jehrico]

40/40/40/ from a second baseman or center field next season if fine by me.

 

Careful or you will hear from the stats junkies who will find some statistic to downplay his offense.

 

No, you won't. What you will find is some solid evidence suggesting it'd be foolish to expect him to achieve those feats again. There's no reason to be optimistic that he's capable of repeating this years success. It's a fluke and it's out of line with his last few years.

[Backtobanks]

40/40/40/ from a second baseman or center field next season if fine by me.

 

Careful or you will hear from the stats junkies who will find some statistic to downplay his offense.

 

No, you won't. What you will find is some solid evidence suggesting it'd be foolish to expect him to achieve those feats again. There's no reason to be optimistic that he's capable of repeating this years success. It's a fluke and it's out of line with his last few years.

 

But even if he doesn't achieve those feats again, his career averages would be a huge upgrade at 2B or CF for the 2007 Cubs.