Cubs sign Soriano

[soccer10k]

Apparently, Soriano passed his physical, he likes Chicago, negotiations went quickly, he hasn't spoken to Aramis yet who is flying up tomorrow for his press conference, and - oh yeah - sources tell Paul Sullivan that the Cubs may put Soriano in right and swap Jock to center.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-061120cubssoriano,1,288880.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

 

The Cubs are in talks with Cliff Floyd, the nature of which Sullivan describes as 'heated'. Presumably, he'll platoon with Murton. Not sure if I am crazy about that idea.

 

the only reason that doesn't bother me yet is that it's sullivan saying it. bruce would be another thing.

 

Which part are you talking about - Soriano in right or Cliff Floyd? Bruce has reported that Soriano could be playing RF.

 

i know bruce was the first to report the right field thing...

 

was speaking more about the floyd talk. that would be terrible.

 

Ok, just wasn't sure what you were referring to.

 

And yes, Floyd coming to Wrigley would be a nightmare.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Olney.........

 

If the Cubs were so willing to overspend on a couple of guys in the name of pursuing a championship, why didn't they overpay to land Barry Zito, Jason Schmidt and Jeff Suppan?

 

Overpay to land suppan?????? Talk about making a point ( i believe some of his points are worth consideration) and then shooting yourself in the foot. What about the idea of us having flex in the payroll 2-3 years from now as Gallagher and Veal enter the rotation??

 

I would bet that Buster Olney has no idea who those two are. He's a clown.

[TheDude]

^^ Well if the whispers about Cliff Floyd are true, it could be bad for MM

 

The whispers I read say the Cubs are looking at Floyd for the bench, not to start (ESPN Insider). I like Floyd off the bench, but not as a starter. His decline has been sharp. 1999-2003 were great years for Floyd, but he hasn't been the same since then.

[goonys evil twin]

^^ Well if the whispers about Cliff Floyd are true, it could be bad for MM

 

The whispers I read say the Cubs are looking at Floyd for the bench, not to start (ESPN Insider). I like Floyd off the bench, but not as a starter. His decline has been sharp. 1999-2003 were great years for Floyd, but he hasn't been the same since then.

 

Floyd was awesome in 2005.

[Electron Blue]

Did anyone post the Buster Olney article on here yet? Not a big fan of this signing either...

 

Here is the Cubs part of the article:

 

The Cubs have now committed about $224 million to three players in the last eight days (Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Mark DeRosa), and I don't know if they're any closer to winning a World Series than they were before they broke out the Tribune Company credit card. There are going to be days when the wind is blowing out at Wrigley Field and Lou Piniella and his guys are going to pick on some No. 4 or No. 5 lefty starter having a bad day, and they will hammer six or seven homers and everybody can happily hoist a few beers and toast the Cubbies.

 

But if they're going to be serious contenders, the Cubs still need pitching -- solid, frontline starting pitching, to slot in behind Carlos Zambrano. They've got Rich Hill and Sean Marshall, and maybe Mark Prior, and perhaps a couple of those guys will work out. The team finished 27th in starters' ERA last season, and so far they've done nothing to change the makeup of the rotation.

 

If you're a Cubs' fan, you're probably thrilled the team has finally unleashed its extraordinary financial power. But we might as well start counting down the days to when the team starts thinking about shedding Aramis Ramirez and/or Soriano. Neither is a flawless player -- Ramirez's effort has been erratic, he is not a great third baseman and he is coming off a season in which he had a .352 on-base percentage, which is good if you're making $5 million a year, rather than the $15 million Ramirez is being paid.

 

Similarly, Soriano has big holes, as a guy who swings and misses a whole lot (160 strikeouts last season), and he is hardly an on-base machine -- his career-high .351 OBP ranked 91st last year in the big leagues. If you spend $224 million, you'd want to make sure that you get one of the top four or five offensive players in the game, an elite hitting force, and the Cubs did not do that -- not even close.

 

When Manny Ramirez began his eight-year contract with the Red Sox, he was 28 years old. A-Rod was 25 years old when he signed his 10-year deal with Texas. Derek Jeter was 26. Soriano will turn 31 years old on Jan. 7. The Cubs locked him up for the seasons in which he'll be 37 and 38 years old, at $17 million per. Wow.

 

If the Cubs were so willing to overspend on a couple of guys in the name of pursuing a championship, why didn't they overpay to land Barry Zito, Jason Schmidt and Jeff Suppan?

 

The Cubs will now have a very right-handed lineup (the only veteran lefty hitter in this lineup is Jacque Jones) and they've got a lot of hitters who may struggle against frontline starters like Chris Carpenter and Roy Oswalt, and their outfield defense promises to be subpar, at best. Within this piece, Toni Ginnetti writes that the Cubs are also pursuing left fielder Cliff Floyd and pitcher Gil Meche. That means the Cubs outfield would be Floyd, Soriano and Jones.

 

The Cubs will be a very strange team, indeed.

 

Sorry if it was posted already

 

He makes some good points, but he still almost lost me with his lead-in here. The cubs aren't closer to the World Series after locking up Aramis and Soriano? They have an equal or lesser chance to succeed without these two?

 

There are many reasons to be frustrated with this deal, but the overall quality of next year's team is certainly improved. (Granted, the money spent on Soriano may be prohibitive to improving next year's pitching staff, but come on, Buster -- there's no reason to assume that yet, as no FA starter has signed with ANYONE, much less reject a low Cubs bid).

[TheDude]

^^ Well if the whispers about Cliff Floyd are true, it could be bad for MM

 

The whispers I read say the Cubs are looking at Floyd for the bench, not to start (ESPN Insider). I like Floyd off the bench, but not as a starter. His decline has been sharp. 1999-2003 were great years for Floyd, but he hasn't been the same since then.

 

Floyd was awesome in 2005.

 

I guess it's all relative. Floyd's 2005 was similar to Jones 2006, but few people credit Jones season as 'awesome'. Floyd was solid in 2005, but it was a decline from his previous years.

[goonys evil twin]

^^ Well if the whispers about Cliff Floyd are true, it could be bad for MM

 

The whispers I read say the Cubs are looking at Floyd for the bench, not to start (ESPN Insider). I like Floyd off the bench, but not as a starter. His decline has been sharp. 1999-2003 were great years for Floyd, but he hasn't been the same since then.

 

Floyd was awesome in 2005.

 

I guess it's all relative. Floyd's 2005 was similar to Jones 2006, but few people credit Jones season as 'awesome'. Floyd was solid in 2005, but it was a decline from his previous years.

 

626 PA, 125 OPS+

 

That's much better than what Jones did (577/107). Awesome might be a little strong, but that is a very good season. I'd kill to get a LH bat in there with such production next season.

[WrigleyinEngland]

Whilst i think that Hendry overpayed for Soriano i'm sick of reading Olney and Dianne Perry(spot the mistake!!) bash the cubs whatever they do. If hendry sits and lets Aramis go and then signed Matthews Jr and Huff would these 2 of praised him for saving $?? Of course they wouldn't and if Schmidt or Zito had signed what would they say when the inevitable injury strikes? i suppose that would of been hendrys fault too. These 2 are not baseball reporters they have a passion for cubs bashing and i'm bored of it.

[da bears]

Whilst i think that Hendry overpayed for Soriano i'm sick of reading Olney and Dianne Perry(spot the mistake!!) bash the cubs whatever they do. If hendry sits and lets Aramis go and then signed Matthews Jr and Huff would these 2 of praised him for saving $?? Of course they wouldn't and if Schmidt or Zito had signed what would they say when the inevitable injury strikes? i suppose that would of been hendrys fault too. These 2 are not baseball reporters they have a passion for cubs bashing and i'm bored of it.

 

Man I'm with you. I dont know much about Perry, but Olney is such a nerd. Anyways who cares what those morons think. I'm not even gonna watch ESPN for fear that they're gonna interview the Red Sox or Yankees personal on what they think of the Cubs deal.

[Chocolate Milk]

Neither is a flawless player

 

Well, then. Let's cut them and wait for a flawless player to come along!!!

[TheDude]

Of all the articles I have read, the Keith Law piece was the most surprising. He assumes the Cubs purpose in signing Soriano is strictly to replace Murton - which hasn't been reported by anyone.

 

He then goes on to build an entire article around why this is bad idea, which is rather silly, considering the basic premise is flawed. I kind of expect strawman arguments in a message board community, but from a respected writer and baseball man like Law?

[PrimeTime]

Everyone is bashing the Soriano signing on the radio, alot here Etc.. If the Yankees did this, no one would say a word... Whatever its not any of their money, the move shows the Cubs wanna win..Buy a world series if it takes... DO anything and everything.. no limits... Just need sum damn pitching now

[EastonBlues22]

Of all the articles I have read, the Keith Law piece was the most surprising. He assumes the Cubs purpose in signing Soriano is strictly to replace Murton - which hasn't been reported by anyone.

 

He then goes on to build an entire article around why this is bad idea, which is rather silly, considering the basic premise is flawed. I kind of expect strawman arguments in a message board community, but from a respected writer and baseball man like Law?

 

:lol:

 

If you had read GRB leading up to, and through, the WS, you would know why I find this so funny...

[WrigleyinEngland]

No way we deal Murton, he's going to get a chance to bat 2nd behind Soriano and in front of the mashers. He could have a very good year. I like the sound of some articles suggesting trading izturis and going for logo that would make me smile. Then i'll wait for olney to tell me we should of kept izturis to catch the ball.

[Master Shake]

Haven't realy followed much today, but has an official announcement been made?

[EastonBlues22]

Everyone is bashing the Soriano signing on the radio, alot here Etc.. If the Yankees did this, no one would say a word... Whatever its not any of their money, the move shows the Cubs wanna win..Buy a world series if it takes... DO anything and everything.. no limits... Just need sum damn pitching now

 

To be fair, the Yankees have been doing stuff like this for years...the media is probably a bit numb to it by now.

[Rob]

Fearless Prediction:

 

We sign Floyd to be a "bench" option. After Murton's first 0-8 slump, he gets platooned with Floyd for the rest of the year. Our lineup looks like this...

 

RF - Soriano

SS - Izturis

1B - Lee

LF - Floyd

3B - Ramirez

CF - Jones

C - Barrett

2B - DeRosa

 

When asked why Izturis is batting in the 2 hole, Piniella will proclaim we "need to break those rightys up, and Izturis knows how to lay down a bunt when we need one."

 

Old Style stock goes through the roof.

[PrimeTime]

No way we deal Murton, he's going to get a chance to bat 2nd behind Soriano and in front of the mashers. He could have a very good year. I like the sound of some articles suggesting trading izturis and going for logo that would make me smile. Then i'll wait for olney to tell me we should of kept izturis to catch the ball.

 

If the lineup stays how it is, Id have Murton leading off, Then Soriano batting second,Murton gets on alot,and atleast if Soriano hits a bomb its a 2 run shot insted of all the solos,and then you have DLee and Rameriz behind him,so hed see plenty of good pitches

[goonys evil twin]

Everyone is bashing the Soriano signing on the radio, alot here Etc.. If the Yankees did this, no one would say a word... Whatever its not any of their money, the move shows the Cubs wanna win..Buy a world series if it takes... DO anything and everything.. no limits... Just need sum damn pitching now

 

To be fair, the Yankees have been doing stuff like this for years...the media is probably a bit numb to it by now.

 

If the Yankees did this, there would be considerable criticism about them wasting time upgrading the offense and ignoring pitching. And Olney would have been in that group.

[WrigleyinEngland]

Just heard Hendry on ESPN1000, Sorianos here to lead off. Cubs offered that as a guarantee in a deal. It was so important to him that was one of the major reasons he signed here.........to go with the other $138million reasons he had............ 8)

[Laura]

Any other details?

[PrimeTime]

Just heard Hendry on ESPN1000, Sorianos here to lead off. Cubs offered that as a guarantee in a deal. It was so important to him that was one of the major reasons he signed here.........to go with the other $138million reasons he had............ 8)

 

Whys he love leading off so much is what I dont get?? I want him batting lower so he can drive in sum runs and do some damage

[WrigleyinEngland]

Nothing except that quote, Lots of talk that he is here to play right field, i think the cubs see him as a trophy to be paraded in RF. I would of thought he is far more valuable at CF. I don't understand why he feels so comfortable leading off , i would love him to hit 5th but i'd rather have him in the lineup than not.

[EastonBlues22]

If the Yankees did this, there would be considerable criticism about them wasting time upgrading the offense and ignoring pitching.

I took what he said to mean "if the Yankees handed out a contract like this."

 

In that case, of course the Yankees would take flak for signing Soriano...they had one of the top offenses in the league last year. The Cubs were 15th in the NL in runs scored. The Yankees would deserve the criticism...but the Cubs don't necessarily.

 

The signing itself is a fine one...he's a definite upgrade on an offense that sorely needed it. If Lee returns in full force next year, the offense will most likely be a part of the solution, not the problem.

 

The contract itself potentially poses some interesting problems down the road...but a lot of the seriousness of those problems depends on how well the FA SP signings of this offseason pan out, and how healthy the team stays. Complete unknowns at this point, thus the contract itself isn't a hindrance yet.

[goonys evil twin]

Just heard Hendry on ESPN1000, Sorianos here to lead off. Cubs offered that as a guarantee in a deal. It was so important to him that was one of the major reasons he signed here.........to go with the other $138million reasons he had............ 8)

 

Whys he love leading off so much is what I dont get?? I want him batting lower so he can drive in sum runs and do some damage

 

I don't get why he insists either. But if he has to, then fine.

 

At least this means they won't be going after a stereotypical leadoff hitter.