Cubs sign Soriano

[Shilzzz]

Signing Drew now is a bad idea. We need the money for one of the Starters. Then we need to trade for one, of course.

 

Sign Meche/Lilly. Trade Jones's contract. Sign Drew. I don't think it's that impossible. Who knows, the payroll maybe be bigger than the 115-120 that we've been hearing.

 

if that's it the rotation is horrible at worst and very average at best, definately not a world series champion.

[Uber]

Rotoworld is reporting CF:

 

The Chicago Tribune says Alfonso Soriano, who is only a physical away from finalizing a $136 million contract, will play center field and bat leadoff for the Cubs.

At least they're trying him at the right position. Having him hit leadoff doesn't maximize his value, but it's what he prefers and it probably doesn't make much difference. The Cubs could be looking at a lineup of: CF Soriano, 2B Mark DeRosa, 1B Derrek Lee, 3B Aramis Ramirez, RF Jacque Jones, C Michael Barrett, LF Matt Murton and SS Cesar Izturis. It's a group that should contend if the Cubs spend about $15 million-$20 million per year to address their rotation. If they make the mistake of trading Barrett because they think they have enough offense without him, that would hurt their chances. Barrett has an 843 OPS to Soriano's 848 mark the last three years.

 

You mean rotoworld is passing along that the Trib is "reporting" CF. And by reporting I mean assuming.

 

Tomayto, Tomotto.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Signing Drew now is a bad idea. We need the money for one of the Starters. Then we need to trade for one, of course.

 

Sign Meche/Lilly. Trade Jones's contract. Sign Drew. I don't think it's that impossible. Who knows, the payroll maybe be bigger than the 115-120 that we've been hearing.

 

if that's it the rotation is horrible at worst and very average at best, definately not a world series champion.

 

I don't think Z, Hill, Meche, Lilly/Westbrook, Prior/Miller with Marshall and Marmol possibly in there too is a horrible pitching staff.

[nilodnayr]

Did Lou say Soriano will be a corner OF on the radio?

 

Supposedly yes. Or it was implied when he said the cubs are still looking for a CF and starting pitching.

[Neuby]

I'm interested on how active Hendrys is right now in trying to move Jones.

[Derwood]

Did Lou say Soriano will be a corner OF on the radio?

 

Supposedly yes. Or it was implied when he said the cubs are still looking for a CF and starting pitching.

 

Maybe Lou wants Soriano as his #1 bench option ;)

[jjgman21]

Signing Drew now is a bad idea. We need the money for one of the Starters. Then we need to trade for one, of course.

 

Sign Meche/Lilly. Trade Jones's contract. Sign Drew. I don't think it's that impossible. Who knows, the payroll maybe be bigger than the 115-120 that we've been hearing.

 

if that's it the rotation is horrible at worst and very average at best, definately not a world series champion.

 

bit of a short term memory there? let me remind you

 

Carpenter

Suppan

Weaver

Reyes

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Did Lou say Soriano will be a corner OF on the radio?

 

Supposedly yes. Or it was implied when he said the cubs are still looking for a CF and starting pitching.

 

Ok, thanks.

 

I'd prefer Dave Roberts in CF to Julio Lugo.

[Butterscup1679666578]

I'm interested on how active Hendrys is right now in trying to move Jones.

 

Think the Rockies would take Jones and Marshall/Marmol/Mateo/Ryu for Jennings?

[ToupeeOnFire]

Speak of the devil, Paul Sullivan on WGN radio right now.

[Neuby]

Sully on WGN radio right now...

[Mephistopheles]

I don't think that is really the case. Most teams have a weak hitter at some point in the lineup. Barrett's plus abilities on offense help offset weak hitters at SS. Generally, I would say one bad hitter in the lineup, particularly a great defensive shortstop, can't be pointed to as the single problem with an offense.

 

Cubs shortstops hit .246/.275/.324 last season. Only the Royals had a lower OPS from their ss. Only FIVE teams had their SS produce an OPS under .690, much less under .600.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Speak of the devil, Paul Sullivan on WGN radio right now.

 

Hopefully he didn't see me call him a goober.

[Mephistopheles]

Think the Rockies would take Jones and Marshall/Marmol/Mateo/Ryu for Jennings?

 

 

With Hawpe and Holliday?

[Neuby]

Doesn't see them out of the Schmidt sweepstakes yet.

[ToupeeOnFire]

Sullivan thinks the Cubs can sign Jason Schmidt.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Think the Rockies would take Jones and Marshall/Marmol/Mateo/Ryu for Jennings?

 

 

With Hawpe and Holliday?

 

Forgot about Hawpe, good call.

[Neuby]

Jones could be traded.

[Sarcastic]

Jones could be traded.

 

Wow, Sullivan really got the scoop on that one.

[Neuby]

mind boggling on the contract

[Butterscup1679666578]

Jones could be traded.

 

Wow, Sullivan really got the scoop on that one.

 

It's a funny comment because of your name. :wink:

[jjgman21]

I don't think that is really the case. Most teams have a weak hitter at some point in the lineup. Barrett's plus abilities on offense help offset weak hitters at SS. Generally, I would say one bad hitter in the lineup, particularly a great defensive shortstop, can't be pointed to as the single problem with an offense.

 

Cubs shortstops hit .246/.275/.324 last season. Only the Royals had a lower OPS from their ss. Only FIVE teams had their SS produce an OPS under .690, much less under .600.

 

one player does not a lineup make.

 

World Series Champion's catchers in 2006 = .605 OPS

[Shilzzz]

Signing Drew now is a bad idea. We need the money for one of the Starters. Then we need to trade for one, of course.

 

Sign Meche/Lilly. Trade Jones's contract. Sign Drew. I don't think it's that impossible. Who knows, the payroll maybe be bigger than the 115-120 that we've been hearing.

 

if that's it the rotation is horrible at worst and very average at best, definately not a world series champion.

 

I don't think Z, Hill, Meche, Lilly/Westbrook, Prior/Miller with Marshall and Marmol possibly in there too is a horrible pitching staff.

 

as much as i'd like hill to succeed and think he will eventually, it's not a good idea to have him slated in the three spot after the ups and downs he's had. prior/miller can't be counted on exactly and even if you replace an injured prior/miller with marmol or marshall it's not that great.

 

the point being, there is a not so fine line between average and great. 2003 rotation was great, 2006 rotation was below average. i really think the cubs need to sign a schmidt or trade for something close to that to ensure anything pitching wise.

[Jazz]

WAH-WAH WEE-WAH! VERY NICE! AH LIKE! :D

 

This is a great move by Hendry if he's planning on winning in the next year or so. And if the contract is really 5/84 with 3 option years (hopefully at least 2 of them are team/mutual), then this is a deal for sure. I'd venture to guess that this deal is also heavy on the backloaded side, something like this

 

 

Alfonso Soriano

 

2007 - 14M

2008 - 17M

2009 - 17M

2010 - 18M

2011 - 18M

2012 - (17M Option) (10M Buyout)

2013 - (17M Option) (5M Buyout)

2014 - (17M Option) (5M Buyout)

 

That's really not all that bad. I would rather Hendry had spent this money on Beltran, but Soriano is a big time free agent, probably the best one we've ever signed (not saying much but still). Let's look at how this contract contrasts with the long term contract's we're already on the hook for

Derek Lee

 

2007 - 13M

2008 - 13M

2009 - 13M

2010 - 13M

 

Aramis Ramirez

 

2007 - 14M

2008 - 15M

2009 - 15M

2010 - 15M

2011 - 16M

 

So for these 3 players, we will be shelling out an average of 43 mil for the next 4 years. All with NTC's for that amount of time. Add in a hopeful Zambrano contract worth around 10-15 mil a year, and youd be paying upwards of 60 mil for a core of 4 players.

[illiniguy]

Signing Drew now is a bad idea. We need the money for one of the Starters. Then we need to trade for one, of course.

 

Sign Meche/Lilly. Trade Jones's contract. Sign Drew. I don't think it's that impossible. Who knows, the payroll maybe be bigger than the 115-120 that we've been hearing.

 

if that's it the rotation is horrible at worst and very average at best, definately not a world series champion.

 

I don't think Z, Hill, Meche, Lilly/Westbrook, Prior/Miller with Marshall and Marmol possibly in there too is a horrible pitching staff.

 

as much as i'd like hill to succeed and think he will eventually, it's not a good idea to have him slated in the three spot after the ups and downs he's had. prior/miller can't be counted on exactly and even if you replace an injured prior/miller with marmol or marshall it's not that great.

 

the point being, there is a not so fine line between average and great. 2003 rotation was great, 2006 rotation was below average. i really think the cubs need to sign a schmidt or trade for something close to that to ensure anything pitching wise.

Or maybe we will catch a break and the real Mark Prior will show up again.