Cubs sign Soriano

[Post Count Padder]

Rotoworld's take:

 

Alfonso Soriano-OF-Nationals Nov. 19 - 2:59 pm et

 

 

The Cubs are close to signing Alfonso Soriano, perhaps for as much as $135 million over eight seasons, FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal reports.

 

Gulp. Soriano is enough of an athlete that it seems likely that he'll retain his skills through his mid-30s. However, signing him through age 39 would be a huge risk. He's had only one 900 OPS season in his career, and before being traded to the Nationals, he played at far less than a superstar level in his two years with the Rangers. The Cubs better hope he can play center field well. If they put him in left and trade Matt Murton, he could prove to be a huge letdown just within the first couple of years.

Source: FOXSports.com

[ChiCubsFan]

I could care less if he sucks at 38 still with this team, the fact is that for once Hendry's going after the big fish with guns blazing.

I'm much more worried about his sucking at the age of 31 relative to that deal.

Maybe he will.

 

But on the other hand, maybe this is a sign that he's learned his lesson relative to guys that seem to have an injury bug following them around re: JD Drew.

 

Soriano and Drew were the two guys that gave us the best chance to win now, and getting one of them would be a great accomplishment.

 

So you are ignoring Sori's 2004 and 2005 seasons, yet harping on Drew's injuries from 4+ years ago? If Sori does not reproduce his 06 season then he isn't going to give us the best chance to win now, definitely not as good as if Drew reproduces his 2006, 2005, 2004, etc.

 

And you are ignoring Soriano's 2003 and 2002 stats.

[Andy]

I could care less if he sucks at 38 still with this team, the fact is that for once Hendry's going after the big fish with guns blazing.

I'm much more worried about his sucking at the age of 31 relative to that deal.

Maybe he will.

 

But on the other hand, maybe this is a sign that he's learned his lesson relative to guys that seem to have an injury bug following them around re: JD Drew.

 

Soriano and Drew were the two guys that gave us the best chance to win now, and getting one of them would be a great accomplishment.

 

So you are ignoring Sori's 2004 and 2005 seasons, yet harping on Drew's injuries from 4+ years ago? If Sori does not reproduce his 06 season then he isn't going to give us the best chance to win now, definitely not as good as if Drew reproduces his 2006, 2005, 2004, etc.

Drew played 72 games in 2005. These issues aren't miles in the past.

 

I'm not saying I'd rather have Soriano than Drew, but I'm psyched that we managed to get one of them.

[mg420]

my guess is that henrdy is trying to make up for losing furcal last year. i guess they learned nothing after the sosa contract. i really hope this doesnt mean that they are going to try to stick him in lf and trade murton.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I could care less if he sucks at 38 still with this team, the fact is that for once Hendry's going after the big fish with guns blazing.

I'm much more worried about his sucking at the age of 31 relative to that deal.

Maybe he will.

 

But on the other hand, maybe this is a sign that he's learned his lesson relative to guys that seem to have an injury bug following them around re: JD Drew.

 

Soriano and Drew were the two guys that gave us the best chance to win now, and getting one of them would be a great accomplishment.

 

So you are ignoring Sori's 2004 and 2005 seasons, yet harping on Drew's injuries from 4+ years ago? If Sori does not reproduce his 06 season then he isn't going to give us the best chance to win now, definitely not as good as if Drew reproduces his 2006, 2005, 2004, etc.

 

And you are ignoring Soriano's 2003 and 2002 stats.

 

He still couldn't get on base then either.

[ChiCubsFan]

If you're being sarcastic, he's most definitely not worth 8 figures.

 

 

I'm not being sarcastic. He isn't worth 8 figures. Hell most players in baseball are not worth their contracts. He is overpaid, and probably overrated, but still, match him up with Lee, and Aram...and we have some major thunder in the lineup now.

 

No, he's not major thunder, that's the point. For crying out loud, Barrett is probably just as good if not better offensively after they both regress from their career years.

One more time:

 

Soriano

2004: .280 .324 .484 .808

2005: .268 .309 .512 .821

2006: .277 .351 .560 .911

 

Why leave out 03 and 02?

[CuseCubFan69]

So now a probable Lou lineup:

 

Soriano

DeRosa

Lee

Ramirez

Jones

Barrett

Murton

Izturis/Theriot/Cedeno

[BDWeav71]

please lord tell me if he signs for 8 years at least two of those years are a mutual/club options....

 

That is the only way signing him for that long of a contract is acceptable

[moorecg]

If this is true, we are now paying Soriano more than Pujols is getting in STL...and for a longer period. Think about that for a second.

 

 

 

That being said, if we just ignore the $$ for a sec....Yeah...we signed a big free agent...if he plays Center and leads off we're on the right track.

 

 

(somewhere in the distance Carlos Zambrano's agent just pissed himself with anticipation)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

okay jim, why didnt you do this to beltran

 

Seriously.

[Careless]

$17 million could be a bargain 8 years from now. . .

 

It's expensive, but the Cubs aren't hurting for money. . .

it might be. for another pllayer. who isn't 38 years old and not great

[Vinestal]

You know, some people will never be happy. If we go through the offseason and lose Soriano and Drew to other teams people would have whined and moaned about how Hendry never gets the top tier free agents. Now for once the guy went out shopping against half the teams in the majors who want this guy and finally gets the guy. So everyone whines and moans about how its to much for to long. Well sorry people but you cant have it both ways, this was probably the only way we were going to get Soriano. Hendry's rear end is over the fire and he's going all out ti try to win before he loses his job. Im not angry at the guy for finally being determined to get his target. Am I happy about an 8 year contract? No. Thats the only way we were going to get this bat into our lineup though so for that Im grateful. 4 years down the road Im sure we'll all be mad about how Soriano's contract is eating away at our budget. For now though I'll relish that we actually got the big name free agent and I'll enjoy his production in the lineup for as long as it last.

[nilodnayr]

Well, if it's true, Hendry is answering all of the critics who complain he doesn't get any top FAs. Also, I guess he doesn't just overpay for mediocre players.

 

I think he smashed his piggy bank to do this.

 

Somewhere Carmen is crying.....

 

And so are all knowledgeable cubs fans.

 

One advantage to this I suppose is if Drew does go to Boston Manny going to Chicago is a decent possiblity.

 

I don't know if we can add 18M a year after supposedly just adding 17M a year. That right there puts us over 115M without doing anyting to the rotation. I'd much rather have let Sori sign elsewhere, Drew sign with the BoSox, and us trade for Manny.

[ChiCubsFan]

I could care less if he sucks at 38 still with this team, the fact is that for once Hendry's going after the big fish with guns blazing.

I'm much more worried about his sucking at the age of 31 relative to that deal.

Maybe he will.

 

But on the other hand, maybe this is a sign that he's learned his lesson relative to guys that seem to have an injury bug following them around re: JD Drew.

 

Soriano and Drew were the two guys that gave us the best chance to win now, and getting one of them would be a great accomplishment.

 

So you are ignoring Sori's 2004 and 2005 seasons, yet harping on Drew's injuries from 4+ years ago? If Sori does not reproduce his 06 season then he isn't going to give us the best chance to win now, definitely not as good as if Drew reproduces his 2006, 2005, 2004, etc.

 

And you are ignoring Soriano's 2003 and 2002 stats.

 

He still couldn't get on base then either.

 

just because he doesnt get on base too good, doesn't make him a bad player. I think they are paying him too much (and I would have prefered Drew) but Soriano is a good player. He helps your team score runs, which is the ultimate goal in baseball.

[CuseCubFan69]

okay jim, why didnt you do this to beltran

 

Seriously.

 

Because he's reactive and not proactive.

[Rob]

If you're being sarcastic, he's most definitely not worth 8 figures.

 

 

I'm not being sarcastic. He isn't worth 8 figures. Hell most players in baseball are not worth their contracts. He is overpaid, and probably overrated, but still, match him up with Lee, and Aram...and we have some major thunder in the lineup now.

 

No, he's not major thunder, that's the point. For crying out loud, Barrett is probably just as good if not better offensively after they both regress from their career years.

One more time:

 

Soriano

2004: .280 .324 .484 .808

2005: .268 .309 .512 .821

2006: .277 .351 .560 .911

 

Why leave out 03 and 02?

 

Three year splits are more indicitive of future performances than five year splits, typically.

 

I do find it funny, though... you'd think starting his splits the year he went to one of the best hitters parks in the league would be helpful.

[Sterling30]

okay jim, why didnt you do this to beltran

 

Seriously.

 

Andy. MacPhail.

[elinas]

Why do you guys want him to bat lead off with such a low OBP?

[Jon]

If you're being sarcastic, he's most definitely not worth 8 figures.

 

 

I'm not being sarcastic. He isn't worth 8 figures. Hell most players in baseball are not worth their contracts. He is overpaid, and probably overrated, but still, match him up with Lee, and Aram...and we have some major thunder in the lineup now.

 

No, he's not major thunder, that's the point. For crying out loud, Barrett is probably just as good if not better offensively after they both regress from their career years.

One more time:

 

Soriano

2004: .280 .324 .484 .808

2005: .268 .309 .512 .821

2006: .277 .351 .560 .911

 

Why leave out 03 and 02?

Fine. Add in the previous three years in which he was above average at best:

 

2001 .268 .304 .432 .736

2002 .300 .332 .547 .879

2003 .290 .338 .525 .863

 

Then he was average before a career year. And if you put them all together, you get a career line of .280 .325 .510 .835.

 

So now we have a grossly overpaid leadoff hitter with good power and little ability to get on base.

[ConstableRabbit]

OK, so we overpaid and signed him for too many years. That I am definitely against.

 

However, Soriano IS a good player and will help a lot next year provided he is used the right way (e.g. not batting leadoff).

 

He's probably not going to be worth it during years 5-8, (or maybe earlier) but at the very least, he's going to help us win now. (I hope)

 

Hopefully we can sign Drew or Manny and really bolster the offense.

[KingCubsFan]

You know, some people will never be happy. If we go through the offseason and lose Soriano and Drew to other teams people would have whined and moaned about how Hendry never gets the top tier free agents. Now for once the guy went out shopping against half the teams in the majors who want this guy and finally gets the guy. So everyone whines and moans about how its to much for to long. Well sorry people but you cant have it both ways, this was probably the only way we were going to get Soriano. Hendry's rear end is over the fire and he's going all out ti try to win before he loses his job. Im not angry at the guy for finally being determined to get his target. Am I happy about an 8 year contract? No. Thats the only way we were going to get this bat into our lineup though so for that Im grateful. 4 years down the road Im sure we'll all be mad about how Soriano's contract is eating away at our budget. For now though I'll relish that we actually got the big name free agent and I'll enjoy his production in the lineup for as long as it last.

Co-sign. Too many people expect Hendry to sign people like Soriano to 4 year deals, and trade crap like Roberto Novoa for something worthwhile.

[wolf stansson]

OH. MY. GOD.

 

 

Sweet.

[Butterscup1679666578]

$17 million could be a bargain 8 years from now. . .

 

It's expensive, but the Cubs aren't hurting for money. . .

it might be. for another pllayer. who isn't 38 years old and not great

 

And who knows, maybe he'll be great the next few years. Sometimes it takes players longer to figure it all out. It's worth the damn risk.

[Andy]

Why do you guys want him to bat lead off with such a low OBP?

The belief is that he's better batting leadoff. We'll see. I like him 5th behind Lee and Ramirez, with Murt hitting 2nd and hopefully Julio Lugo batting 1st at SS (SB Tribune reported today that the Cubs are hot for Lugo).

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

Finally, the Cubs are showing signs of wanting to win! I do not believe this is the last signing of the off-season either. Good for Hendry, good for the Cubs and I will stay in the minority that I am happy regardless of the money and years!

 

GO CUBS!