Article on Cubs.com Hendry Focused on Pierre Aram Wood

[Knyption]

Why do I get the feeling that Hendry will spin resigning these guys or keeping thier services as a successful offseason and not bring in anyone else that will make a difference?

[bhogg]

why? because nothing would be better than having a team full of pierre's, that's why.

[NewUserName]

I really dislike Juan Pierrre. Sadly he seems like a first class guy too. What a waste of 8 to 10 mill a yr to resign him though.

[CubsWin]

I really dislike Juan Pierrre. Sadly he seems like a first class guy too. What a waste of 8 to 10 mill a yr to resign him though.

I really like Juan Pierre. He isn't the greatest lead-off hitter. But a team could do a lot worse, too.

 

He needs to walk a lot more than he does to raise his OBP, but his floor is pretty high as floors go. He is a very safe bet to give you a .330 OBP with 50 SBs and a decent defensive CF. I like that. But I don't love it. Nor would I pay 8 million to retain it.

 

I especially wouldn't pay 8 million to retain it knowing that I already have someone on my roster at the league minimum who can likely do better than Pierre at getting on base and steal 30-40 bases while playing above average defense at 2B. Ryan Theriot. Theriot's minor league numbers in OBP and AVG over the last three seasons are remarkably good and consistently so. He is on a hot streak right now, for sure, but he should be able to maintain an OBP somewhere between .350 and .370. That's good enough to lead-off for my team anyday especially at the league minimum salary.

 

With Theriot in the fold, I would let Pierre go and replace him with a CFer that has a good SLG%. If they can trade for Andruw Jones without gutting the minors too much, of course, I'd do it. The Twins may be looking to move Torii Hunter. The Jays might trade Vernon Wells. Mike Cameron for a year until Pie is ready? There are a lot of other options for Hendry to consider. I hope he does.

[Soul]

If Hendry resigns Pierre, and he stinks in April, May, and June again------there will be hell to pay.

 

He might do it. It's a risk. But we need much more than a CF, too. I guess it all comes down to price.

[CubsWin]

If Hendry resigns Pierre, and he stinks in April, May, and June again------there will be hell to pay.

 

He might do it. It's a risk. But we need much more than a CF, too. I guess it all comes down to price.

It is that fact, that the Cubs need more than a CF, that has me conclude to let Pierre walk especially if his asking price is anywhere near the rumored 8 million.

 

With a better lead-off hitter already on the roster at the league minimum, big time holes to fill in the rotation, and several other CF options out there, including one in-house (Felix Pie), the need to sign a CF to a long term contract is very, very low.

 

I would love to see if the Cubs could trade for Carl Crawford.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The Cubs need to add some slugging somewhere. Regardless of what one thinks of Pierre, CF or 2b make the most logical choices as places to add it. The third possibility involves moving Murton and adding it at left.

 

I think the Cubs should make a priority to look into trading for Andruw Jones or signing Soriano. Either one of those answers the slugging problem at CF or 2b respectively.

[Backtobanks]

Everything that I have seen says Pierre wants to test the FA market. Assuming that is true, I can't see Hendry paying Pierre what he wants for the number of years that he wants. I would assume Pierre wants something like $24 million over 3 years and Hendry doesn't have that kind of money to pay a singles-hitting CF when he has a ton of other problems to address. Lofton could produce about the same for $4 million for 1 year.

[UMFan83]

I saw Pierre's interveiw on Comcast and he didn't really look excited for the chance to come back to the Cubs next year. And he was still wearning his Cubs uni.

[Laura]

He seemed less than enthused.

 

I think he said, "well, I wouldn't rule it out" and his expression was like he just bit into a sour lemon.

[A New Era]

He seemed less than enthused.

 

I think he said, "well, I wouldn't rule it out" and his expression was like he just bit into a sour lemon.

 

Probably because he knows dusty is being "let go" and he really likes dusty. And playing in a season where you are 30 below .500 also doesn't bode well to having a "great experience" as a Cub. And I wouldn't blame him if he left for a decent contract.

 

I also would be happy for the Cubs. I'd honestly much rather just play Pie and use that money to go after some big boppers elsewhere. Pie is ready to bat 7th or 8th in the MLB. Surround him with some good talent plz. .

[soccer10k]

He seemed less than enthused.

 

I think he said, "well, I wouldn't rule it out" and his expression was like he just bit into a sour lemon.

 

Translation: "If they offer me a buttload of money that is significantly more a year than anyone else does, then I'll come back."

[CuseCubFan69]

He seemed less than enthused.

 

I think he said, "well, I wouldn't rule it out" and his expression was like he just bit into a sour lemon.

 

Translation: "If they offer me a buttload of money that is significantly more a year than anyone else does, then I'll come back."

 

Yep, money talks. I hate the fact that the Cubs played this guy every game, almost every inning, and never looked to see how anyone else could play CF like Jones or Pagan.

[goonys evil twin]

I really dislike Juan Pierrre. Sadly he seems like a first class guy too. What a waste of 8 to 10 mill a yr to resign him though.

I really like Juan Pierre. He isn't the greatest lead-off hitter. But a team could do a lot worse, too.

 

He needs to walk a lot more than he does to raise his OBP, but his floor is pretty high as floors go. He is a very safe bet to give you a .330 OBP with 50 SBs and a decent defensive CF. I like that. But I don't love it. Nor would I pay 8 million to retain it.

 

I think in the short-term you might be right, even though as recently as last year he was below .330 OBP (and has been below 50 SB 3 times). But I think he's not far from having a much lower floor. He has already declined from his age 25 and 26 level of production, and seems to have set a new lower range of productivity. Plus, his prolonged slump to start 2006 was definitely not a fluke, it was a sign of things to come. He should probably be able to match his 2005 and 2006 numbers next year, at 30. But how much longer will that last? Another slow start in 2007 and he could easily end at career lows. At 31, in 2008, and the guy could be a complete noose around the neck of an offense, putting up sub .300 OBP and sub .340 SLG. Then you're talking Neifi territory.

 

This guy's entire game is predicated on speed. He does nothing else. He does not hit balls hard. He is bound to get worse in his 30's. The question is how quickly and how far he will fall. Maybe he repeats his 2006 in 2007 (or maybe his 2005 becomes the standard), and that is bad enough. But he could be pretty bad, pretty soon.

[CuseCubFan69]

I really dislike Juan Pierrre. Sadly he seems like a first class guy too. What a waste of 8 to 10 mill a yr to resign him though.

I really like Juan Pierre. He isn't the greatest lead-off hitter. But a team could do a lot worse, too.

 

He needs to walk a lot more than he does to raise his OBP, but his floor is pretty high as floors go. He is a very safe bet to give you a .330 OBP with 50 SBs and a decent defensive CF. I like that. But I don't love it. Nor would I pay 8 million to retain it.

 

I think in the short-term you might be right, even though as recently as last year he was below .330 OBP (and has been below 50 SB 3 times). But I think he's not far from having a much lower floor. He has already declined from his age 25 and 26 level of production, and seems to have set a new lower range of productivity. Plus, his prolonged slump to start 2006 was definitely not a fluke, it was a sign of things to come. He should probably be able to match his 2005 and 2006 numbers next year, at 30. But how much longer will that last? Another slow start in 2007 and he could easily end at career lows. At 31, in 2008, and the guy could be a complete noose around the neck of an offense, putting up sub .300 OBP and sub .340 SLG. Then you're talking Neifi territory.

 

This guy's entire game is predicated on speed. He does nothing else. He does not hit balls hard. He is bound to get worse in his 30's. The question is how quickly and how far he will fall. Maybe he repeats his 2006 in 2007 (or maybe his 2005 becomes the standard), and that is bad enough. But he could be pretty bad, pretty soon.

 

If Pierre could hit 320 or better I'd be fine with it but he doesn't and I don't like the fact that pitchers know they can throw strikes to him and not worry about any damage power wise, it reduces the amount of pitches and sets the tone for the game IMO.