Cubs sign Soriano

[Yeti]

but I wouldn't be getting my hopes up if I was a Cubs fan.

that possibility went out the window long ago...for me anyway

[cubs121]

Kap and Waddle just said about a week or two ago Soriano sat down with his family and had the choice of six teams which had interest in him and Cubs were dead last on his list. He wasn't sold on the Cubs. Hendry called his agent and said promise me I'll at least get a chance to talk to him. Hendry had a meeting with him that lastest 3 hours and Hendry sold Soriano on coming to Chicago.

 

Kaplan also quoted unnamed agents as saying that Hendry's presentation was the best he'd ever seen and that Hendry's rep among players (past and present) helped seal the deal.

 

Lou was active in this recruiting process and also met with Soriano separately.

 

I hope they made him promises of huge payrolls beyond the boatloads of money they game him. Adding Schmidt and a back of the rotation pitcher (Lilly, Igawa, Westbrook) would have me ready to buy World Series tickets.

 

Hendry says he'll be pursuing pitching. As I posted earlier, there's some speculation that they wanted to sign Soriano early to boost credibility and improve there chances with potential FAs, such as Schmidt.

hmmm schmidt? now your talking!!!! :D

[WrigleyField 22]

OPS+ breakdown from first full seasons (age 25 and 24, respectively) actually that wasn't truely Sosa first full season, but it corresponds closely age wise with Soriano and Sosa had a partial prior to that season plus couple seasons where he probably wasn't ready. Anyways:

 

OPS+

92 vs 108

131 vs 127

128 vs 123

98 vs 128

110 vs 99

132 vs 160

 

Not as close of a correlation than straight BA/OBP/SLG, but close

[Sammy Sofa]

Kap and Waddle just said about a week or two ago Soriano sat down with his family and had the choice of six teams which had interest in him and Cubs were dead last on his list. He wasn't sold on the Cubs. Hendry called his agent and said promise me I'll at least get a chance to talk to him. Hendry had a meeting with him that lastest 3 hours and Hendry sold Soriano on coming to Chicago.

 

Kaplan also quoted unnamed agents as saying that Hendry's presentation was the best he'd ever seen and that Hendry's rep among players (past and present) helped seal the deal.

 

Lou was active in this recruiting process and also met with Soriano separately.

 

I hope they made him promises of huge payrolls beyond the boatloads of money they game him. Adding Schmidt and a back of the rotation pitcher (Lilly, Igawa, Westbrook) would have me ready to buy World Series tickets.

 

Hendry says he'll be pursuing pitching. As I posted earlier, there's some speculation that they wanted to sign Soriano early to boost credibility and improve there chances with potential FAs, such as Schmidt.

 

Wow, if this is true, who is this man and what the hell has he done with Jim Hendry?

[Jazz]

Can anyone do a photoshop where Hendry has the terminator look where half of his face is peeled off to reveal a robot?

[XZero771679666304]

Can anyone do a photoshop where Hendry has the terminator look where half of his face is peeled off to reveal a robot?

 

The Hendrinator!

[erik316wttn]

Kap and Waddle just said about a week or two ago Soriano sat down with his family and had the choice of six teams which had interest in him and Cubs were dead last on his list. He wasn't sold on the Cubs. Hendry called his agent and said promise me I'll at least get a chance to talk to him. Hendry had a meeting with him that lastest 3 hours and Hendry sold Soriano on coming to Chicago.

 

Kaplan also quoted unnamed agents as saying that Hendry's presentation was the best he'd ever seen and that Hendry's rep among players (past and present) helped seal the deal.

 

Lou was active in this recruiting process and also met with Soriano separately.

 

I hope they made him promises of huge payrolls beyond the boatloads of money they game him. Adding Schmidt and a back of the rotation pitcher (Lilly, Igawa, Westbrook) would have me ready to buy World Series tickets.

 

Hendry says he'll be pursuing pitching. As I posted earlier, there's some speculation that they wanted to sign Soriano early to boost credibility and improve there chances with potential FAs, such as Schmidt.

 

Wow, if this is true, who is this man and what the hell has he done with Jim Hendry?

 

Light a fire under someone's ass and you tend to get good results.

[Elrhino]

Yep, amazing what happens when your job is on the line. That's why the MacPhail resignation was so critical to the future of this franchise ... there was no accountability in this organization with him as President. Wrigley sold out every game. The Tribune made money and the "baseball people" circled the wagons and further cemented their groupthink, knowing the president was one of them.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Kap and Waddle just said about a week or two ago Soriano sat down with his family and had the choice of six teams which had interest in him and Cubs were dead last on his list. He wasn't sold on the Cubs. Hendry called his agent and said promise me I'll at least get a chance to talk to him. Hendry had a meeting with him that lastest 3 hours and Hendry sold Soriano on coming to Chicago.

 

Hendry is the man.

[cubs121]

Kap and Waddle just said about a week or two ago Soriano sat down with his family and had the choice of six teams which had interest in him and Cubs were dead last on his list. He wasn't sold on the Cubs. Hendry called his agent and said promise me I'll at least get a chance to talk to him. Hendry had a meeting with him that lastest 3 hours and Hendry sold Soriano on coming to Chicago.

 

Hendry is the man.

:shock: :shock: :D

[A New Era]

Kap and Waddle just said about a week or two ago Soriano sat down with his family and had the choice of six teams which had interest in him and Cubs were dead last on his list. He wasn't sold on the Cubs. Hendry called his agent and said promise me I'll at least get a chance to talk to him. Hendry had a meeting with him that lastest 3 hours and Hendry sold Soriano on coming to Chicago.

 

Kaplan also quoted unnamed agents as saying that Hendry's presentation was the best he'd ever seen and that Hendry's rep among players (past and present) helped seal the deal.

 

Lou was active in this recruiting process and also met with Soriano separately.

 

I hope they made him promises of huge payrolls beyond the boatloads of money they game him. Adding Schmidt and a back of the rotation pitcher (Lilly, Igawa, Westbrook) would have me ready to buy World Series tickets.

 

Hendry says he'll be pursuing pitching. As I posted earlier, there's some speculation that they wanted to sign Soriano early to boost credibility and improve there chances with potential FAs, such as Schmidt.

hmmm schmidt? now your talking!!!! :D

 

I mean honestly. If you were shmidt. And Hendry came to you with his plan to win. Then you look at the Cubs line-up now. With Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, Barret, Jones in it, wouldn't you think you'd have a good chance to win here? Would the "winning" play a part in wanting to come over?

 

The difference between not re-signing Ramirez. To now having Ramirez, Lee, AND Soriano. Makes this team look MUCH more attractive to FAs.

[cjbucks]

Kap and Waddle just said about a week or two ago Soriano sat down with his family and had the choice of six teams which had interest in him and Cubs were dead last on his list. He wasn't sold on the Cubs. Hendry called his agent and said promise me I'll at least get a chance to talk to him. Hendry had a meeting with him that lastest 3 hours and Hendry sold Soriano on coming to Chicago.

 

Hendry is the man.

 

The chickens will all be running around until they find out who is the man..............or something like that. Man I've had a long day.

[Guest]

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.

Said bat would be nice, but I'd rather it replace Jones than take away 60-80% of Murton's AB like the rumors are speculating.

[mhuber92211]

its amazing how Hendry can be looked at now as opposed to last week. First there was a 100 page thread on a false report of AR leaving, then Hendry signs him. Then through the week Hendry signs DeRosa for what is now below market (or right at) market value and add on the solid trade for Cotts and now Soriano. Hendry is on a roll and the posters here are somewhat out of gas for the Fire Hendry bandwagon.

 

This is a good thing. Hendry needs the support of the fans to get more players. The whole "best fans in world" has gone to our rivals and its time to get it back. Signings like these will go a LONG way towards that.

[nilodnayr]

 

If it ends up that the deal is basically $96/6 plus options, I'll consider that a pretty good deal relative to the market. And be pretty pleased that Hendry did it fast. The fast action simplifies his landscape. he knows what to focus on now. And, it jazzes up the public perception. Ten days ago, Schmidt for example might look at Cubs and say "Hmm, 27th place team, not my first choice." Now, if you talk to Schmidt about the Cubs, his impression is probably very different and he might be much more excited about signing here.

 

Fast action also gives Hendry time to focus on his other situations. Do we have a shot at schmidt, or not? Are they in on Igawa, or not? What kind of interest can he find for Jacque?

 

When Levine was on ESPN radio last night, there was some talk about how surprising it was that Soriano signed so quickly (I know, big contract). He said that Lou has been very active in recruiting free agents and that -- as you mention above -- they wanted to sign Soriano early to build credibility for future FA and trade targets.

 

Why would we need to build credibility for a trade target...unless they have a no trade clause that they would have to waive coughARODcough

[nilodnayr]

Kap and Waddle just said about a week or two ago Soriano sat down with his family and had the choice of six teams which had interest in him and Cubs were dead last on his list. He wasn't sold on the Cubs. Hendry called his agent and said promise me I'll at least get a chance to talk to him. Hendry had a meeting with him that lastest 3 hours and Hendry sold Soriano on coming to Chicago.

 

Kaplan also quoted unnamed agents as saying that Hendry's presentation was the best he'd ever seen and that Hendry's rep among players (past and present) helped seal the deal.

 

Lou was active in this recruiting process and also met with Soriano separately.

 

I hope they made him promises of huge payrolls beyond the boatloads of money they game him. Adding Schmidt and a back of the rotation pitcher (Lilly, Igawa, Westbrook) would have me ready to buy World Series tickets.

 

Hendry says he'll be pursuing pitching. As I posted earlier, there's some speculation that they wanted to sign Soriano early to boost credibility and improve there chances with potential FAs, such as Schmidt.

hmmm schmidt? now your talking!!!! :D

 

I mean honestly. If you were shmidt. And Hendry came to you with his plan to win. Then you look at the Cubs line-up now. With Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, Barret, Jones in it, wouldn't you think you'd have a good chance to win here? Would the "winning" play a part in wanting to come over?

 

The difference between not re-signing Ramirez. To now having Ramirez, Lee, AND Soriano. Makes this team look MUCH more attractive to FAs.

 

Considering the other team that is supposedly going after shmidt currently resides in the Bronx, he has a better option.

[jjgman21]

still no breakdown of the years and money?

[NorthsideAvenger]

Kap and Waddle just said about a week or two ago Soriano sat down with his family and had the choice of six teams which had interest in him and Cubs were dead last on his list. He wasn't sold on the Cubs. Hendry called his agent and said promise me I'll at least get a chance to talk to him. Hendry had a meeting with him that lastest 3 hours and Hendry sold Soriano on coming to Chicago.

 

Kaplan also quoted unnamed agents as saying that Hendry's presentation was the best he'd ever seen and that Hendry's rep among players (past and present) helped seal the deal.

 

Lou was active in this recruiting process and also met with Soriano separately.

 

I hope they made him promises of huge payrolls beyond the boatloads of money they game him. Adding Schmidt and a back of the rotation pitcher (Lilly, Igawa, Westbrook) would have me ready to buy World Series tickets.

 

Hendry says he'll be pursuing pitching. As I posted earlier, there's some speculation that they wanted to sign Soriano early to boost credibility and improve there chances with potential FAs, such as Schmidt.

hmmm schmidt? now your talking!!!! :D

 

I mean honestly. If you were shmidt. And Hendry came to you with his plan to win. Then you look at the Cubs line-up now. With Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, Barret, Jones in it, wouldn't you think you'd have a good chance to win here? Would the "winning" play a part in wanting to come over?

 

The difference between not re-signing Ramirez. To now having Ramirez, Lee, AND Soriano. Makes this team look MUCH more attractive to FAs.

 

Considering the other team that is supposedly going after shmidt currently resides in the Bronx, he has a better option.

 

But it is a EASIER road to the World Series in the NL, then it is in the AL. Not to mention Schmidt has seen what the AL has done to pitchers going from the NL to the AL in recent yrs. (ie Beckett/Randy Johnson) My guess is....unless the Yanks GROSSLY JUAN PIERRE'D Schmidt, I get the feeling that it will be only Seattle as the only AL team he would be interested in. My guess is Schmidt stays in the NL (not saying the Cubs, but perhaps.....Arizona?).

[UMFan83]

I'm sorry...what's the basis for comparing Soriano's career path to that of Sosa again?

 

Similar early career stats, breakout seasons at the same age.

 

At a similar point in their careers, both low walk, high K, lots of power, just got huge contracts, Both once skinny Domincans...

 

Crap, I forgot one more....both were almost traded for each other at one point in 2000.

[NewUserName]

After a day to let this sink in I have decided that only 2 outcomes can come from this signing.

 

1. Cubs win the World Series in the next couple of years with Soriano being a plus 9 OPS guy. Great signing

 

or

 

2. Cubs not win the WS in the next couple of years and Soriano is putting up Jacque Jones type numbers in 2010. Horrendous signing

 

 

I pray its 1 but would be more inclined to beat on 2.

How about:

 

1) Aramis eats himself off third base, but we can't move him to 1B because Derrek is already there

2) The pitching doesn't come through

3) We don't win the WS even though Soriano breaks through to a 1.00+ level of OPS

 

 

What I was really saying is if we win the WS it is a good signing if not it is going to be a bad signing. I really think it boils down to that. The money is too much for the talent. The only justification is we win the World Series.

[Bluescale]

After a day to let this sink in I have decided that only 2 outcomes can come from this signing.

 

1. Cubs win the World Series in the next couple of years with Soriano being a plus 9 OPS guy. Great signing

 

or

 

2. Cubs not win the WS in the next couple of years and Soriano is putting up Jacque Jones type numbers in 2010. Horrendous signing

 

 

I pray its 1 but would be more inclined to beat on 2.

How about:

 

1) Aramis eats himself off third base, but we can't move him to 1B because Derrek is already there

2) The pitching doesn't come through

3) We don't win the WS even though Soriano breaks through to a 1.00+ level of OPS

 

 

What I was really saying is if we win the WS it is a good signing if not it is going to be a bad signing. I really think it boils down to that. The money is too much for the talent. The only justification is we win the World Series.

 

If we win the World Series, it won't be because we signed Soriano. He's not a good enough player to take a 66 win team and turn them into WS champions. He might contribute, though, and I guess that's what you're saying.

[A New Era]

I'm SORE for soriano!!

[Fred Hornkohl]

I'm SORE for soriano!!

 

Perhaps a therapist could help ?? :wink:

[NorthsideAvenger]

After a day to let this sink in I have decided that only 2 outcomes can come from this signing.

 

1. Cubs win the World Series in the next couple of years with Soriano being a plus 9 OPS guy. Great signing

 

or

 

2. Cubs not win the WS in the next couple of years and Soriano is putting up Jacque Jones type numbers in 2010. Horrendous signing

 

 

I pray its 1 but would be more inclined to beat on 2.

How about:

 

1) Aramis eats himself off third base, but we can't move him to 1B because Derrek is already there

2) The pitching doesn't come through

3) We don't win the WS even though Soriano breaks through to a 1.00+ level of OPS

 

 

What I was really saying is if we win the WS it is a good signing if not it is going to be a bad signing. I really think it boils down to that. The money is too much for the talent. The only justification is we win the World Series.

 

If we win the World Series, it won't be because we signed Soriano. He's not a good enough player to take a 66 win team and turn them into WS champions. He might contribute, though, and I guess that's what you're saying.

 

To be fair there isn't ONE PLAYER IN BASEBALL that can help win a World Series by himself---and that includes Albert Pujols.

[C.C.]

After a day to let this sink in I have decided that only 2 outcomes can come from this signing.

 

1. Cubs win the World Series in the next couple of years with Soriano being a plus 9 OPS guy. Great signing

 

or

 

2. Cubs not win the WS in the next couple of years and Soriano is putting up Jacque Jones type numbers in 2010. Horrendous signing

 

 

I pray its 1 but would be more inclined to beat on 2.

How about:

 

1) Aramis eats himself off third base, but we can't move him to 1B because Derrek is already there

2) The pitching doesn't come through

3) We don't win the WS even though Soriano breaks through to a 1.00+ level of OPS

 

 

What I was really saying is if we win the WS it is a good signing if not it is going to be a bad signing. I really think it boils down to that. The money is too much for the talent. The only justification is we win the World Series.

 

If we win the World Series, it won't be because we signed Soriano. He's not a good enough player to take a 66 win team and turn them into WS champions. He might contribute, though, and I guess that's what you're saying.

 

Don't forget getting a healthy DLEE back will be nice also.