Cubs sign Soriano

[Andy]

I'm still think were gonna end up with Carlos Lee in our outfield next year.

No possible way. I think Lugo is the only remaining offensive player the Cubs are really going to look at. From here on it's pitching, pitching, pitching.

[abuck1220]

wow...i came around on soriano after his improved walk rate of '06. if he keeps that up, i think he'll be all right. his power could go up in the power-friendly NL central.

 

8 years on the other hand? ouch. that's gonna be a noose around the cubs' neck when he's 39.

 

also...could have had a much, much, much better player in beltran at 7/120 two years ago. ouch and ouch.

[UK1679666180]

I'm told he's here to play right field and definitely NOT center. Murton is said to be "safe" in LF. The plan now is to put Jones in CF and say good luck and godspeed to Juan Pierre. Now if you can trade Jones...

 

I know people here (including me) generally put more faith in you than in other news writers, but other articles I've seen say that Soriano will play CF. Of course, they could just be guessing. How sure are you that RF is the plan for Soriano?

 

Very sure.

 

How much of that is based on arm strength?

 

Soriano has better range and neither has great instincts or great jumps on the ball.

 

Soriano would likely cover more ground in CF than Jones will, I just wonder if they're will sacrifice some range in CF for the increase of arm in RF.

 

Does that sound fair?

[JC]

If you have Soriano, Murton and Jones for the corners, why not take a chance with Pie in center if we can get a Lugo-type for short?

[CuseCubFan69]

I'm told he's here to play right field and definitely NOT center. Murton is said to be "safe" in LF. The plan now is to put Jones in CF and say good luck and godspeed to Juan Pierre. Now if you can trade Jones...

 

I know people here (including me) generally put more faith in you than in other news writers, but other articles I've seen say that Soriano will play CF. Of course, they could just be guessing. How sure are you that RF is the plan for Soriano?

 

Very sure.

 

I wonder if all those assists in 2006 have convinced Hendry Soriano can play right? Maybe they are still serious about Lugo in CF.

[PrimeTime]

The score is reporting that the deal is for 6/mid 90's guaranteed. The 7th and 8th year are options, not disclosed on who's options they are and after the 5th year his no trade clause is no more..Great signing

[Andy]

The score is reporting that the deal is for 6/mid 90's guaranteed. The 7th and 8th year are options, not disclosed on who's options they are and after the 5th year his no trade clause is no more..Great signing

That's not bad at all.

[WrigleyinEngland]

Just got in from the Bears game (lots of people here in London very confused about a guy jumping around in blue and orange!!) all i can say is OMG, OMG,OMG 8 YEARS???????????? :shock: Can anyone give a short description of the previous 26 pages??!! I also have a question( don't know if anyone has asked) why did he not offer this kind of deal when Beltran was up for grabs??

[frostwyrm]

wow...i came around on soriano after his improved walk rate of '06. if he keeps that up, i think he'll be all right. his power could go up in the power-friendly NL central.

 

8 years on the other hand? ouch. that's gonna be a noose around the cubs' neck when he's 39.

 

also...could have had a much, much, much better player in beltran at 7/120 two years ago. ouch and ouch.

Hendry's job wasn't hanging by a thread two years ago.

[JC]

wow...i came around on soriano after his improved walk rate of '06. if he keeps that up, i think he'll be all right. his power could go up in the power-friendly NL central.

 

8 years on the other hand? ouch. that's gonna be a noose around the cubs' neck when he's 39.

 

also...could have had a much, much, much better player in beltran at 7/120 two years ago. ouch and ouch.

 

Further, wasn't there some suspicion years ago that Soriano's age was mitigated by Dominican math?

[JeffH]

My guess is:

 

They don't want to burden Soriano with learning a difficult, key defensive position.

 

They want to put him somewhere where he will be able to stay for most, if not all, of his contract.

 

They want to keep Matt Murton.

[Pinktermite]

So if Bruce is so sure that he's going to RF, then who the hell is going to play center? Kaplan just said that they "aren't done yet...by far"...

 

Something else is going to happen. Hendry's a cowboy...ride em Jimbo!!

[Jon]

 

Wow, JC!

 

Welcome back!

 

I thought it best to lay low during the Baker Fallout Tour.

 

Way to wuss out of the fun.

 

Probably one of my better uses of discretion. I did miss you at the last Wusses Anonymous meeting, though, Raisin.

He wussed out.

 

If they're looking at him for the corner outfield, they would have been better off giving a ridiculous contract to Carlos Lee.

[Outshined_One]

The score is reporting that the deal is for 6/mid 90's guaranteed. The 7th and 8th year are options, not disclosed on who's options they are and after the 5th year his no trade clause is no more.

 

I like.

[Butterscup1679666578]

The score is reporting that the deal is for 6/mid 90's guaranteed. The 7th and 8th year are options, not disclosed on who's options they are and after the 5th year his no trade clause is no more..Great signing

 

I hope The Score is right for once, that's a great contract if so.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Murton stays? How fricking awesome is that? Booyeah!!

 

So far it looks like:

 

1B Lee

2B DeRosa

SS Izturis

3B Ramirez

LF Murton

CF Jones

RF Soriano

[Chocolate Milk]

Wow. We'll be regretting this one in a few years but at least they added a bat. I guess it really depends on what the Cubs end up spending on this team now and in the future.

[abuck1220]

If they're looking at him for the corner outfield, they would have been better off giving a ridiculous contract to Carlos Lee.

 

that's a good point. i think i'd rather give lee 5/75 than soriano 8/135.

[Shilzzz]

this makes me think...

 

dusty was a laid back guy, and hendry was pretty laid back when he was manager.

 

lou is a very agressive man, and hendry is now being super, maybe too agressive.

 

is he really anything other than an extension of the manager, why have a gm at all?

[RichHillIsABeast]

The score is reporting that the deal is for 6/mid 90's guaranteed. The 7th and 8th year are options, not disclosed on who's options they are and after the 5th year his no trade clause is no more.

 

I like.

 

Me too.

[JWCUB]

Bruce,

 

Any talk of Manny at Cubs HQ?

[Andy]

wow...i came around on soriano after his improved walk rate of '06. if he keeps that up, i think he'll be all right. his power could go up in the power-friendly NL central.

 

8 years on the other hand? ouch. that's gonna be a noose around the cubs' neck when he's 39.

 

also...could have had a much, much, much better player in beltran at 7/120 two years ago. ouch and ouch.

 

Further, wasn't there some suspicion years ago that Soriano's age was mitigated by Dominican math?

Yes there was, his age went from 24 to 26 a few years back if I remember correctly.

[RichHillIsABeast]

this makes me think...

 

dusty was a laid back guy, and hendry was pretty laid back when he was manager.

 

lou is a very agressive man, and hendry is now being super, maybe too agressive.

 

is he really anything other than an extension of the manager, why have a gm at all?

 

I think it's more the departure of MacPhail. His conservative attitude towards moves really hamstrung Hendry.

 

Hendry is a madman. Unleash the fury, Mitch! UNLEASH THE FURY!!!

[Sarcastic]

If years 7 and 8 are in fact options, and the NTC is dropped later on, then the cntract isn't so bad. However, those factors are negated by moving Soriano to RF. Soriano is a good ballplayer. He would make a good 2B or CF offensively. But RF? Even in his career year, he wouldn't make a truly exceptional corner outfielder, which is what we are paying him to be. I'd be much happier with the deal if Soriano played CF and we got cheaper and better replacement production from RF.

[JC]

If they're looking at him for the corner outfield, they would have been better off giving a ridiculous contract to Carlos Lee.

 

that's a good point. i think i'd rather give lee 5/75 than soriano 8/135.

 

Really?

 

Lee 5 years from now will be less mobile than that damn mound in Houston in the outfield.