Cubs sign Soriano

[cubweiser03]

When do we hear details of this contract, today? I'll be suprised if those last 2-3 years as people have been saying exist, those are player options. I mean does he think that he can get more than $17M when he is 35/36? That would strike me as odd.

[CubColtPacer]

The only way this is bad is if his contract prevents us from signing other players. I have been "overpaying" for tickets and beer for the past 20 years, and those prices sure as heck aren't going down. So they gave a few extra years. If Fonzie is part of a WS team 1 out of 8 years, they can give him triple this amount, who cares? If not, then signing him for free would have been a bad deal.

 

Now, onto JD Drew and 2 pitchers. Can we get all 3 of them in for the $37 million or so we have left to spend?

 

We don't have 37 million left, we have 15-20 million. I wouldn't expect anything more for the offense through free agency except for one 4th outfielder. It looks like they are going after pitching now.

[C.C.]

The only way this is bad is if his contract prevents us from signing other players. I have been "overpaying" for tickets and beer for the past 20 years, and those prices sure as heck aren't going down. So they gave a few extra years. If Fonzie is part of a WS team 1 out of 8 years, they can give him triple this amount, who cares? If not, then signing him for free would have been a bad deal.

 

Now, onto JD Drew and 2 pitchers. Can we get all 3 of them in for the $37 million or so we have left to spend?

 

We don't have 37 million left, we have 15-20 million. I wouldn't expect anything more for the offense through free agency except for one 4th outfielder. It looks like they are going after pitching now.

 

I'm assuming the offense is done. On to the pitching.

[Rob]

The only way this is bad is if his contract prevents us from signing other players. I have been "overpaying" for tickets and beer for the past 20 years, and those prices sure as heck aren't going down. So they gave a few extra years. If Fonzie is part of a WS team 1 out of 8 years, they can give him triple this amount, who cares? If not, then signing him for free would have been a bad deal.

 

Now, onto JD Drew and 2 pitchers. Can we get all 3 of them in for the $37 million or so we have left to spend?

 

We don't have 37 million left, we have 15-20 million. I wouldn't expect anything more for the offense through free agency except for one 4th outfielder. It looks like they are going after pitching now.

 

I'm assuming the offense is done. On to the pitching.

 

Are you kidding me?

 

This offense is still only half baked.

 

DeRosa, Izturis, and who in CF? All signs point to Jacque being traded.

 

As of right now, we've got five guys with above average production for their positions in Lee, Aramis, Soriano, Barrett, and Murton...

 

DeRosa is going to be slightly below average... Izturis is an offensive black hole... there's nobody in CF... and we have the pitcher's slot.

 

I wouldn't exactly call us an offensive juggernaunt. We might not even end up being above average...

[Vinestal]

so when is the press conference?

[Mark Priors Calves]

this thread is really bad.

[CubColtPacer]

The only way this is bad is if his contract prevents us from signing other players. I have been "overpaying" for tickets and beer for the past 20 years, and those prices sure as heck aren't going down. So they gave a few extra years. If Fonzie is part of a WS team 1 out of 8 years, they can give him triple this amount, who cares? If not, then signing him for free would have been a bad deal.

 

Now, onto JD Drew and 2 pitchers. Can we get all 3 of them in for the $37 million or so we have left to spend?

 

We don't have 37 million left, we have 15-20 million. I wouldn't expect anything more for the offense through free agency except for one 4th outfielder. It looks like they are going after pitching now.

 

I'm assuming the offense is done. On to the pitching.

 

Are you kidding me?

 

This offense is still only half baked.

 

DeRosa, Izturis, and who in CF? All signs point to Jacque being traded.

 

As of right now, we've got five guys with above average production for their positions in Lee, Aramis, Soriano, Barrett, and Murton...

 

DeRosa is going to be slightly below average... Izturis is an offensive black hole... there's nobody in CF... and we have the pitcher's slot.

 

I wouldn't exactly call us an offensive juggernaunt. We might not even end up being above average...

 

I doubt DeRosa is going to be below average. I think his OPS is going to drop, but he can drop 70 points and be average from last year for second basemen, and I doubt it drops much further than that (which could be debated). I think he was still saying that one of Soriano or Jacque would play CF, which would cover those two positions. Our offense is almost definitely going to be above average. How many teams out there have just two holes or potential holes on offense? How many have less? On those teams, how many of their players are impact players on offense?

 

There are not many teams out there without many holes-we would still need upgrades to become an elite offense, but we are definitely above average at this point.

[C.C.]

The only way this is bad is if his contract prevents us from signing other players. I have been "overpaying" for tickets and beer for the past 20 years, and those prices sure as heck aren't going down. So they gave a few extra years. If Fonzie is part of a WS team 1 out of 8 years, they can give him triple this amount, who cares? If not, then signing him for free would have been a bad deal.

 

Now, onto JD Drew and 2 pitchers. Can we get all 3 of them in for the $37 million or so we have left to spend?

 

We don't have 37 million left, we have 15-20 million. I wouldn't expect anything more for the offense through free agency except for one 4th outfielder. It looks like they are going after pitching now.

 

I'm assuming the offense is done. On to the pitching.

 

Are you kidding me?

 

This offense is still only half baked.

 

DeRosa, Izturis, and who in CF? All signs point to Jacque being traded.

 

As of right now, we've got five guys with above average production for their positions in Lee, Aramis, Soriano, Barrett, and Murton...

 

DeRosa is going to be slightly below average... Izturis is an offensive black hole... there's nobody in CF... and we have the pitcher's slot.

 

I wouldn't exactly call us an offensive juggernaunt. We might not even end up being above average...

 

No I'm not kidding you. It may be "Half Baked" but whose isn't in the NL? Get pitching!

[C.C.]

this thread is really bad.

 

Why?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I just wanted to let you all know how much fun I had last night. Especially CFICT for...

 

 

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/rjackson31/inyourface.gif

[Outshined_One]

this thread is really bad.

 

Why?

 

Just go back about 30 pages or so and read from there...

[RynoRules]

Instead of reading about 70 pages I'm going to step out on a limb and say the reaction was negative.

Largely, but there are a few holding out positivity. A few of us (me, jjgman, XZero, ConstableRabbit and a few others) are holding to the "hate the money, love the move anyway" opinion.

 

co-sign

 

First time since Hawk in 87' that we have signed one of the three or four best available FAs. I just hope Jim saves some cash for midseason deals - we are going to need pitching, IMO.

Edited November 20, 2006 by RynoRules

[C.C.]

this thread is really bad.

 

Why?

 

Just go back about 30 pages or so and read from there...

 

Too lazy. I'll take your word for it...

[Soul]

The only way this is bad is if his contract prevents us from signing other players. I have been "overpaying" for tickets and beer for the past 20 years, and those prices sure as heck aren't going down. So they gave a few extra years. If Fonzie is part of a WS team 1 out of 8 years, they can give him triple this amount, who cares? If not, then signing him for free would have been a bad deal.

 

Now, onto JD Drew and 2 pitchers. Can we get all 3 of them in for the $37 million or so we have left to spend?

 

We don't have 37 million left, we have 15-20 million. I wouldn't expect anything more for the offense through free agency except for one 4th outfielder. It looks like they are going after pitching now.

 

I'm assuming the offense is done. On to the pitching.

 

Are you kidding me?

 

This offense is still only half baked.

 

DeRosa, Izturis, and who in CF? All signs point to Jacque being traded.

 

As of right now, we've got five guys with above average production for their positions in Lee, Aramis, Soriano, Barrett, and Murton...

 

DeRosa is going to be slightly below average... Izturis is an offensive black hole... there's nobody in CF... and we have the pitcher's slot.

 

I wouldn't exactly call us an offensive juggernaunt. We might not even end up being above average...

 

No I'm not kidding you. It may be "Half Baked" but whose isn't in the NL? Get pitching!

 

I'd go for pitching now too. Hope that DeRosa comes through. Hope Izzy can just be a defensive gem and hit above .230 in the 8-hole.

 

The Cards went into '06 hoping these sorts of things about a ton of positions. So did the Tiggers.

 

It's about damn time this club started getting a few positive suprises from players, instead of the other way around.

 

Get pitching.

[Mark Priors Calves]

this thread is really bad.

 

Why?

 

Just go back about 30 pages or so and read from there...

exactly, and i actually read most of it. i'm more pissed at myself for actually reading it, than anything that's actually in this thread.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

this thread is really bad.

 

Why?

 

Just go back about 30 pages or so and read from there...

exactly, and i actually read most of it. i'm more pissed at myself for actually reading it, than anything that's actually in this thread.

 

You had to be there, I guess.

[goonys evil twin]

Well, Soriano makes the team better, so that's cool.

 

But it's just so Cubs that they end up spending the $17 million salary that top flight players get, only they do so for the worst player to ever get that much money.

 

Oh well, Hendry might be able to outspend his mistakes.

 

I'm guessing he gets at least one more significant position player and a couple starting pitchers. A big trade is definitely out there.

[Peoriaman]

Nice get by Hendry. MLB teams are absolutely awash in money. This is the new reality.

[Soul]

Well, Soriano makes the team better, so that's cool.

 

But it's just so Cubs that they end up spending the $17 million salary that top flight players get, only they do so for the worst player to ever get that much money.

 

Oh well, Hendry might be able to outspend his mistakes.

 

I'm guessing he gets at least one more significant position player and a couple starting pitchers. A big trade is definitely out there.

 

I know it. It's Sammy money. At least Soriano is younger than that. Barring injury he should have at least 4 good years in him I would think.

 

Maybe by the time 2010 rolls around $17 million won't seem so bad for a ballplayer. Probably not though.

 

The consensus seems to be, like the player but the deal seems excessive. I'll go with that, keeping in mind that if another ballclub had signed AS for $17mil/yr, we probably wouldn't think quite as badly of it. If the Red Sox make that deal people go "oh well, it's the Sox they have the money."

 

The Trib has it too, we just know they won't spend it without limit.

[danesoz]

Ok ok I've read...most ... of the pages on here and I haven't seen anyone bring up the fact that you know IF (and its a big IF) Hendry can finally put together a team worthy enough to go to the World Series and get this team to the World Series and I don't know maybe win it for the first time in 99 years, he can bankrupt the Tribune Company for all I care.

I see it as if we win the world series sometime soon I'll live with Sorieno for 6,7 more years and not care how much money we give him.

Now Hendry start overpaying for pitching...better yet trade for some.

[goonys evil twin]

Nice get by Hendry. MLB teams are absolutely awash in money. This is the new reality.

 

I've been wondering about this theory, that teams are awash in money.

 

Is it really true, or is it a case of the Cubs entering the fray with the big 2, who have always spent? As far as I can tell, only the Cubs and Red Sox have spent significant cash this offseason.

 

The Angels, Blue Jays and Tigers have been steadily increasing payroll the past few years, but is anybody but the Cubs really in-line to significantly blow through past payroll levels? Philly might have some money to spend, but that's only because they gave away Abreu. The Mets might be spending, but it'll be because of money that was coming off their books. The White Sox don't seem ready to significantly increase payroll, they already did that last year.

 

Past offseasons spending sprees were fueled by the Yankees and Red Sox. Then Anaheim, Toronto and Detroit would occasionally make a splash with one or two big moves. Now, throw the Cubs into the group of NYY and BOS, and it could look like everybody is spending like nuts, when really, only the Cubs are doing so.

 

Anyway, just thought it was interesting that despite all the talk of everybody having cash, there have really only been a couple moves so far. And there hasn't been a real indication of anybody but the Cubs going bonkers.

[UMFan83]

Instead of reading about 70 pages I'm going to step out on a limb and say the reaction was negative.

Largely, but there are a few holding out positivity. A few of us (me, jjgman, XZero, ConstableRabbit and a few others) are holding to the "hate the money, love the move anyway" opinion.

 

co-sign

 

First time since Hawk in 87' that we have signed one of the three or four best available FAs. I just hope Jim saves some cash for midseason deals - we are going to need pitching, IMO.

 

I just don't see why people can't see that the numbers say this is a bad signing. Saying we signed one of the best FAs out there is like saying that the Bulls got one of the best 3-4 players in the 2000 draft when they got Marcus Fizer, meaning, its true but its a weak crop of players. The fact that we gave him one of the top 6-7 highest paid contracts in history makes me worry.

 

That said, I am happy that they did something. Certainly this is better then nothing..but personally there were about 2-3 other FAs I would have spent my money on first.

[soapy]

I see a lot of people writing off the size of the contract by saying that they don't care about the long term effects of paying Soriano $17 million at age 38 (if that turns out to be true) because they'll be happy with the WS title before that. I wouldn't be handing out any WS trophies no matter what the Cubs do. Big spending does not equal championships. Ask the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox. They still have to be smart.

[CP_414]

I missed the last 60 pages. Do we know if there are option years? Do we know for sure where Soriano will play? Is it official yet?

[RynoRules]

I see a lot of people writing off the size of the contract by saying that they don't care about the long term effects of paying Soriano $17 million at age 38 (if that turns out to be true) because they'll be happy with the WS title before that. I wouldn't be handing out any WS trophies no matter what the Cubs do. Big spending does not equal championships. Ask the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox. They still have to be smart.

 

Why would I ask the Mets? Omar Minia is a spend-whore if ever there was one. That team was dead as recently as two seasons ago, and just got off the mat by outspending the entire league. They aren't winning based solely on Wright and Reyes.