New York Post: Cubs and Phillies Front Runners for Soriano

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Link.

 

The Phillies and Cubs were portrayed as the front-runners for free agent Alfonso Soriano by several executives at the GM Meetings. The Dodgers and Angels are believed to be very interested in Soriano, as well.

 

 

And about his salary...

 

 

One executive said that because of "the financial frenzy" this offseason, he anticipated Soriano receiving a seven-year contact. But the consensus fell more toward six years at between $84 million-$96 million. Soriano switched from second base to left field last year, and the Cubs would at least consider him for center field.

 

[Yeti]

Christ dude, do you sleep?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I just got to work. Slept from 11:30 to 6:00.

 

:lol:

[Wheelimus]

Five years, 75 million, six year $15 million club option with a $5 million buyout.

 

Swallow that down and lets win a World Series...

[Yeti]

I just got to work. Slept from 11:30 to 6:00.

 

:lol:

maybe its me that doesnt sleep :wink:

[Pinktermite]

Let the Phillies have him. He's a graduate of the "Gary Sheffield School of Complaining". I hope the Phillies open the checkbook, then we get on to signing Drew.

[C.C.]

Let the Phillies have him. He's a graduate of the "Gary Sheffield School of Complaining". I hope the Phillies open the checkbook, then we get on to signing Drew.

 

I can care less if he complains as long as he produces. Plus, the complaining stopped in the first couple of months, when he accepted LF. After that, I think, he talked more about how much he enjoyed playing in Washington...

[C.C.]

Five years, 75 million, six year $15 million club option with a $5 million buyout.

 

Swallow that down and lets win a World Series...

 

I think 6\96 will do it.

[Pinktermite]

Even if he's the second coming of Ghandi, the six year cost doesn't justify what you would get in return. Drew is worth way more, and he reportedly is only asking for 4 years.

[C.C.]

Even if he's the second coming of Ghandi, the six year cost doesn't justify what you would get in return. Drew is worth way more, and he reportedly is only asking for 4 years.

 

That's if Drew actually stays healthy...

[Wheelimus]

Who says we don't get Drew too? :D

[Fro]

Even if he's the second coming of Ghandi, the six year cost doesn't justify what you would get in return. Drew is worth way more, and he reportedly is only asking for 4 years.

 

That's if Drew actually stays healthy...

 

Yep, and we all know with the Cubs he'd be on the DL for half his contract.

[Sammy Sofa]

Even if he's the second coming of Ghandi, the six year cost doesn't justify what you would get in return. Drew is worth way more, and he reportedly is only asking for 4 years.

 

Maybe they're actually going to try both, especially if they're ideally going to unoad Izturis and some relief salary.

 

If they do somehow get both, I think people need to realize that Soriano pretty much NEEDS to bat leadoff. I know it's tempting to put him elsewhere, but over his career he's consistently achieved his best numbers batting from the #1 slot. Maybe it's a mental thing, but that's where he seems to thrives and I'd want to maximize a player's talents, especially at his cost.

[kroth1342]

How about 4/$80 for Soriano to help prevent us keeping him during his big decline years?

[BigbadB]

How about 4/$80 for Soriano to help prevent us keeping him during his big decline years?

 

That won't get him. Soriano wants someone to pay him during his big decline years, and someone will. That teams should be the Cubs.

[UMFan83]

I just got to work. Slept from 11:30 to 6:00.

 

:lol:

 

And it sounds like your workin hard too!

 

Fake Edit: I just got to work too :oops:

[UMFan83]

Please tell me why we want Soriano over Drew. Not saying this is the consensus, but I would imagine from what the Cubs are saying Drew would be the backup option to Soriano. Soriano has had one season with an over .900 OPS (last year with .911, barely over). JD Drew has a CAREER .905 OPS. Sorano consistantly has below average OBP, and his OBP was only average last year in by far the best year of his career. I didn't see his OF skills much last year, I am told they were solid but flawed in some areas (to be expected). To me, doesn't seem anywhere near worth getting into a bidding war over.

[C.C.]

How about 4/$80 for Soriano to help prevent us keeping him during his big decline years?

 

That won't get him. Soriano wants someone to pay him during his big decline years, and someone will. That teams should be the Cubs.

 

At this point I can care less about decline years. If we can win in the next three years I'm fine with it. I just want to win!

[C.C.]

Please tell me why we want Soriano over Drew. Not saying this is the consensus, but I would imagine from what the Cubs are saying Drew would be the backup option to Soriano. Soriano has had one season with an over .900 OPS (last year with .911, barely over). JD Drew has a CAREER .905 OPS. Sorano consistantly has below average OBP, and his OBP was only average last year in by far the best year of his career. I didn't see his OF skills much last year, I am told they were solid but flawed in some areas (to be expected). To me, doesn't seem anywhere near worth getting into a bidding war over.

 

All those numbers does us no good if he can't stay healthy.

[UMFan83]

Please tell me why we want Soriano over Drew. Not saying this is the consensus, but I would imagine from what the Cubs are saying Drew would be the backup option to Soriano. Soriano has had one season with an over .900 OPS (last year with .911, barely over). JD Drew has a CAREER .905 OPS. Sorano consistantly has below average OBP, and his OBP was only average last year in by far the best year of his career. I didn't see his OF skills much last year, I am told they were solid but flawed in some areas (to be expected). To me, doesn't seem anywhere near worth getting into a bidding war over.

 

All those numbers does us no good if he can't stay healthy.

 

Yet he has been 2 of the last 3 years. Honestly, I think Soriano would be like 4th or 5th on my list of players to acquire (through trade or FA).

[David]

Please tell me why we want Soriano over Drew. Not saying this is the consensus, but I would imagine from what the Cubs are saying Drew would be the backup option to Soriano. Soriano has had one season with an over .900 OPS (last year with .911, barely over). JD Drew has a CAREER .905 OPS. Sorano consistantly has below average OBP, and his OBP was only average last year in by far the best year of his career. I didn't see his OF skills much last year, I am told they were solid but flawed in some areas (to be expected). To me, doesn't seem anywhere near worth getting into a bidding war over.

 

All those numbers does us no good if he can't stay healthy.

 

As many others here have stated, the last three years he has played 145+ in two of them. His missed time in 2005 was due to a broken wrist on a HBP, not exactly your "injury-prone player" type of injury.

[goonys evil twin]

Please tell me why we want Soriano over Drew. Not saying this is the consensus, but I would imagine from what the Cubs are saying Drew would be the backup option to Soriano. Soriano has had one season with an over .900 OPS (last year with .911, barely over). JD Drew has a CAREER .905 OPS. Sorano consistantly has below average OBP, and his OBP was only average last year in by far the best year of his career. I didn't see his OF skills much last year, I am told they were solid but flawed in some areas (to be expected). To me, doesn't seem anywhere near worth getting into a bidding war over.

 

All those numbers does us no good if he can't stay healthy.

 

We don't need him to stay healthy, we need him to be healthy most of the time. I think in a 5 year deal, you'd get at least 3 semi-full to full seasons out of him. And then 2 of the seasons he's going to miss some games. But that's probably why you can get him for around $14m, when Soriano might get $17-18m.

 

Look at how the Mets handled the Pedro situation. They signed him for 4 years, and pretty much acknowledged they weren't going to get 4 strong years out of him.

 

If the Cubs were a $65 million team, Drew isn't worth the risk. If they were a very good offensive ballclub, there probably isn't much reason to sign such a player. But the Cubs are desperate for a hitter that does exactly the things JD does. They need an impact bat. Their offense could be awesome with him, and all they'd need to do was try and tread water when he misses games. For all the issues he's had, JD has never crippled a team with his problems. Give JD the same profile, but make him 34 or 35 right now, and my story would probably change. But the Cubs need this type of player, and from age 31 through age 34 or 35, they should be able to get a ton of production out of him.

[C.C.]

Please tell me why we want Soriano over Drew. Not saying this is the consensus, but I would imagine from what the Cubs are saying Drew would be the backup option to Soriano. Soriano has had one season with an over .900 OPS (last year with .911, barely over). JD Drew has a CAREER .905 OPS. Sorano consistantly has below average OBP, and his OBP was only average last year in by far the best year of his career. I didn't see his OF skills much last year, I am told they were solid but flawed in some areas (to be expected). To me, doesn't seem anywhere near worth getting into a bidding war over.

 

All those numbers does us no good if he can't stay healthy.

 

As many others here have stated, the last three years he has played 145+ in two of them. His missed time in 2005 was due to a broken wrist on a HBP, not exactly your "injury-prone player" type of injury.

 

2 outta three year is good, but has he ever had back to back healthy seasons? It seems that every other year he's not healthy. That's what scares me a bit.

[C.C.]

Please tell me why we want Soriano over Drew. Not saying this is the consensus, but I would imagine from what the Cubs are saying Drew would be the backup option to Soriano. Soriano has had one season with an over .900 OPS (last year with .911, barely over). JD Drew has a CAREER .905 OPS. Sorano consistantly has below average OBP, and his OBP was only average last year in by far the best year of his career. I didn't see his OF skills much last year, I am told they were solid but flawed in some areas (to be expected). To me, doesn't seem anywhere near worth getting into a bidding war over.

 

All those numbers does us no good if he can't stay healthy.

 

We don't need him to stay healthy, we need him to be healthy most of the time. I think in a 5 year deal, you'd get at least 3 semi-full to full seasons out of him. And then 2 of the seasons he's going to miss some games. But that's probably why you can get him for around $14m, when Soriano might get $17-18m.

 

Look at how the Mets handled the Pedro situation. They signed him for 4 years, and pretty much acknowledged they weren't going to get 4 strong years out of him.

 

If the Cubs were a $65 million team, Drew isn't worth the risk. If they were a very good offensive ballclub, there probably isn't much reason to sign such a player. But the Cubs are desperate for a hitter that does exactly the things JD does. They need an impact bat. Their offense could be awesome with him, and all they'd need to do was try and tread water when he misses games. For all the issues he's had, JD has never crippled a team with his problems. Give JD the same profile, but make him 34 or 35 right now, and my story would probably change. But the Cubs need this type of player, and from age 31 through age 34 or 35, they should be able to get a ton of production out of him.

 

Hmmm...Good way to look at it, and if you think about it you are taking the same gamble with Aramis.

[10man]

JD Drew will be a much much better hitter than Soriano in his 'decline' years. that should be considered.