Cubs sign Soriano

[abuck1220]

For those who didn't see this the other 11 times I posted it in this thread:

 

Soriano OPS+

2004: 98

2005: 110

 

That means our great $17 million man had a league average OPS for those years (with Park and League factors included).

 

However, he should continue to put up better numbers because he's in the NL , but nothing that would deserve $17 million, unless you are enamored with made up stats like 40-40-40.

 

The other $17 Million man, Beltran, put up OPS+ of 108, 126, 136 the three years before his contract.

 

but yet you only point out soriano's last two, leaving off his 2006.

 

soriano's last three were 98, 110, and 132. and the two years before that, he was 131 and 128. 110 or higher four of the past five years, and around 130 for three of them. he's no beltran, and he's not worth $17 mil, but he's had some pretty productive seasons.

 

like i've said before, whether this blows up in the cubs' face depends entirely on whether he turned the corner plate discipline wise in 2006. if he did, i think he's got a chance to repeat his 2006 for at least a couple seasons.

[Derwood]

and Beltran sucked his first year with the Mets (OPS+ of 95)

[goonys evil twin]

This is exactly why it is a terrible signing. More needs to be done, it seems we all agree, but now we have far less payroll flexibility for 2007 and beyond. Sor's money would have bought Drew *and* most of a Meche or Lilly contract. I would be shocked if Hendry didn't think he was done with the offense (save for signing a Lugo, maybe) and turn 100% of his attention to pitching.

 

I still see plenty of room to make moves. If little else happens, I'll hate this contract. But I see more coming.

[CubinNY]

like i've said before, whether this blows up in the cubs' face depends entirely on whether he turned the corner plate discipline wise in 2006. if he did, i think he's got a chance to repeat his 2006 for at least a couple seasons.

 

This is my position as well.

 

It's not that Soriano is a bad signing. As I've said before, the Cubs will still have a hard time scoring runs on a consistent basis unless Soriano has stopped his free swinging ways.

 

But what I'd really like to see is Soriano dropped in the order to take advantage of his SLG. He's not really a guy that brings a ton of OBP with him. But he can drive in runs.

 

?

Murton

Lee

Soriano

Aramis

 

or

 

?

Murton

Lee

Aramis

Soriano

[Vinestal]

Anyone heard anything about when we might see a press conference?

[CubinNY]

Anyone heard anything about when we might see a press conference?

 

I imagine the press conference will be tomorro. He's supposed to be taking a physical today.

 

I hope his blood pressure is in acceptable ranges after potentially making his children's children rich.

[Derwood]

Anyone heard anything about when we might see a press conference?

 

I imagine the press conference will be tomorro. He's supposed to be taking a physical today.

 

I hope his blood pressure is in acceptable ranges after potentially making his children's children rich.

 

he'll make more money in his first game than I have made in my lifetime

[FergieJ31]

This is exactly why it is a terrible signing. More needs to be done, it seems we all agree, but now we have far less payroll flexibility for 2007 and beyond. Sor's money would have bought Drew *and* most of a Meche or Lilly contract. I would be shocked if Hendry didn't think he was done with the offense (save for signing a Lugo, maybe) and turn 100% of his attention to pitching.

 

I still see plenty of room to make moves. If little else happens, I'll hate this contract. But I see more coming.

 

If Hendry can somehow swing a trade for an OBP machine who will be in the everyday lineup, it'll ease the sting of this bad contract. Sor does provide some SLG which will be nice, but with him batting first we won't even make the most of that punch.

[hardcorecubfan]

Now that he is almost signed how will this affect Murton? they are also looking for another corner man so is Jones out or Murton? what about Pierre?

 

these have probably been answered on page >>>>>? but this signing muddles the pic or at least the phrasing on cubs.com has

[cubweiser03]

This is how i looked at this offseason. It was either Drew or Soriano or this offseason was a bust. I prefered Drew but if he wasnt going to sign i was more than happy taking Soriano. Those 2 guys were going to get overpaid because of the limited supply and who wanted them. You got to compete with Boston, LAA, Mets for Drew and you got to compete with LAA, LAD, Mets and Philly for Soriano. A couple of those teams are going be left out of the cold and if you dont want to be left out of the cold you are going to have to overpay. Its that simple. You dont want Soriano and want Drew thats fine. But you better get Drew or you are damn near bent. Thats one helluva risk to take for a team that desperatly needs another hitter. The Cubs dont have the pieces in place to pull of a trade for a bat like Drew or Soriano. FA was the only bandaid for this team and you were going to have to overpay and pay in length of contract.

[HoopsCubs]

This is exactly why it is a terrible signing. More needs to be done, it seems we all agree, but now we have far less payroll flexibility for 2007 and beyond. Sor's money would have bought Drew *and* most of a Meche or Lilly contract. I would be shocked if Hendry didn't think he was done with the offense (save for signing a Lugo, maybe) and turn 100% of his attention to pitching.

 

I still see plenty of room to make moves. If little else happens, I'll hate this contract. But I see more coming.

 

If Hendry can somehow swing a trade for an OBP machine who will be in the everyday lineup, it'll ease the sting of this bad contract. Sor does provide some SLG which will be nice, but with him batting first we won't even make the most of that punch.

 

I think Hendry should call Kevin Towers and find out what it would take to get Brian Giles here. Giles would look great in the #2 hole. Giles has 2 years and $18M; Jones has 2 years and $11.7M. If the Cubs gave up a good pitching prospect or 2 fair ones in addition to Jacque, SD might be convinced it's a good deal. It would free up some additional payroll for them to go after Zito or Bonds.

[Derwood]

Now that he is almost signed how will this affect Murton? they are also looking for another corner man so is Jones out or Murton? what about Pierre?

 

these have probably been answered on page >>>>>? but this signing muddles the pic or at least the phrasing on cubs.com has

 

pierre is gone. jones/murton is unanswered

[neely crenshaw]

if this is the only step they take then it is not a good move but i have to believe with Piniella signing on it is not going to be the last move.

 

just making this move shows there is a difference. hendry has made some moves but never has he gone out and gotten one of the stud players on the market. i hold out hope that he is feeling the pressure to win now!

[abuck1220]

I haven't read all 98 pages of this so pardon me if this has been brought up before:

 

For those complaining about still paying him $17 million when he's 38 years old, how do we know that in the 2014 market that won't be a bargain? At the rate salaries are increasing, backup catchers may be making $8 or $9 million a year by then (and superstars making $25million+).

 

This is a good point. Some of the contracts that seemed way out of line when they were signed, are looking better now. Player contracts are trending up so it might take some of the sting off this one, down the road.

 

That's what people thought when Hampton, Giambi, Jeter, and A-Rod signed their contracts 5-7 years ago.

 

and the yankees are getting along just fine toting the contracts of giambi, jeter and arod around.

[Guest]

i'm sorry we haven't won in 100 years..i got give a crap about the long term effects of this contract!

 

i will happily trade a WS championship in the next few years for being crapppy again in 8....

we were the worst team in the NL last season how can a long contract makes us any worse?

 

Does spending $17 million on Soriano mean the Cubs will win a WS though?

 

I'm sorry, I'm just having trouble leting this go. It brings them closer, yes. But it's a pretty far cry from a sure thing that they would even make the playoffs with this team. More needs to be done.

 

Okay, I'll stop now.

 

Obviously more needs to be done. If this was it, and there was no room for anything else, then it's a terrible signing. But that doesn't seem to be the case.

 

This is exactly why it is a terrible signing. More needs to be done, it seems we all agree, but now we have far less payroll flexibility for 2007 and beyond. Sor's money would have bought Drew *and* most of a Meche or Lilly contract. I would be shocked if Hendry didn't think he was done with the offense (save for signing a Lugo, maybe) and turn 100% of his attention to pitching.

Prepare to be shocked. Lou said they were still looking for another piece on offense last night on the radio.

[Andy]

Here's something I don't think has been brought up:

 

What if the Cubs get Dave Roberts for CF, lead him off, and bat Fonzie 2nd? I know it's unorthodox and I know Soriano doesn't have the OBP of, say, Murton, but can you imagine sending up Soriano, Lee and Ramirez back to back every day? I'd imagine he'd have no problem finding pitches to hit, which would fit into his free-swinging philosophy.

[abuck1220]

Here's something I don't think has been brought up:

 

What if the Cubs get Dave Roberts for CF, lead him off, and bat Fonzie 2nd? I know it's unorthodox and I know Soriano doesn't have the OBP of, say, Murton, but can you imagine sending up Soriano, Lee and Ramirez back to back every day? I'd imagine he'd have no problem finding pitches to hit, which would fit into his free-swinging philosophy.

 

i'd rather have murton than roberts.

[Andy]

Here's something I don't think has been brought up:

 

What if the Cubs get Dave Roberts for CF, lead him off, and bat Fonzie 2nd? I know it's unorthodox and I know Soriano doesn't have the OBP of, say, Murton, but can you imagine sending up Soriano, Lee and Ramirez back to back every day? I'd imagine he'd have no problem finding pitches to hit, which would fit into his free-swinging philosophy.

 

i'd rather have murton than roberts.

We'd still have Murton in left.

[FergieJ31]

Prepare to be shocked. Lou said they were still looking for another piece on offense last night on the radio.

 

It looks like JJ might be on the trading block. I love Hoops' idea of spinning Jones + pitching to SD for Giles. But I'm assuming Drew is out of the picture now. I feel like the spoiled kid who wanted a bicycle (Drew) for Christmas but got a warm (and expensive) sweater instead.

[abuck1220]

Here's something I don't think has been brought up:

 

What if the Cubs get Dave Roberts for CF, lead him off, and bat Fonzie 2nd? I know it's unorthodox and I know Soriano doesn't have the OBP of, say, Murton, but can you imagine sending up Soriano, Lee and Ramirez back to back every day? I'd imagine he'd have no problem finding pitches to hit, which would fit into his free-swinging philosophy.

 

i'd rather have murton than roberts.

We'd still have Murton in left.

 

i'd rather have jones than roberts.

[rocket]

Here's something I don't think has been brought up:

 

What if the Cubs get Dave Roberts for CF, lead him off, and bat Fonzie 2nd? I know it's unorthodox and I know Soriano doesn't have the OBP of, say, Murton, but can you imagine sending up Soriano, Lee and Ramirez back to back every day? I'd imagine he'd have no problem finding pitches to hit, which would fit into his free-swinging philosophy.

 

i'd rather have murton than roberts.

We'd still have Murton in left.

 

i'd rather have jones than roberts.

 

yes. me too.

[fibro]

Tom Paciorek who was an announcer for the Nationals last year was the score earlier today thought I would just list some his thoughts on Soriono since he saw him everyday.

 

He gushed over what great guy he is and how is always the first guy to park everyday and what a hard worker he is.

 

Said he played left very well said most of errors came early in the year and as the season wnet on he got better and better. Led the league in outfield assists.

 

He thought he was going to be a 50 50 guy but struggled the last month of the year. He thought this was mainly a mechanical problem he had at the plate the last month.

 

Very streaky looks like the best player in baseball one week can't hit anything the next.

 

Also thought he would be even better in center than left. I know there was more but thats all I can remeber right now.

[UMFan83]

Tom Paciorek who was an announcer for the Nationals last year was the score earlier today thought I would just list some his thoughts on Soriono since he saw him everyday.

 

He gushed over what great guy he is and how is always the first guy to park everyday and what a hard worker he is.

 

Said he played left very well said most of errors came early in the year and as the season wnet on he got better and better. Led the league in outfield assists.

 

He thought he was going to be a 50 50 guy but struggled the last month of the year. He thought this was mainly a mechanical problem he had at the plate the last month.

 

Very streaky looks like the best player in baseball one week can't hit anything the next.

 

Also thought he would be even better in center than left. I know there was more but thats all I can remeber right now.

 

Thanks for that. It's good to hear what someone who saw him play on a day to day basis thinks.

[Uber]

Not sure if it was posted, since I'm not going to read the 40 pages since I went to sleep.

 

The Giants had an offer out to Alfonso Soriano before the outfielder took an eight-year, $136 million contract from the Cubs.

San Francisco was a big long shot for Soriano, but that GM Brian Sabean was trying to sign him can be taken as another sign that Barry Bonds might be on the way out. It would have been hard for the Giants to fit both players on the payroll.

Edited November 20, 2006 by Uber

[David]

Just a random thought. I'm not suggesting anything by it, believe me, because we've seen his defense at 2B, let alone SS.

 

Anyways, wasn't Soriano going up through the Yankees system as a SS? I remember he was being sold as a future stud SS when the Cubs were going to get him in the 2000 Sosa trade. If not for Jeter, would he have come up as a major league SS? Would he have played it adequately?