Cubs sign Soriano

[Southpaw191679666239]

Looking at Rotoworld, they think we're done signing offensive players; citing that LAA or BOS will get Drew. If Drew goes to Boston, LAA would aggessively pursue Manny.

 

I think LAA has to be tired of losing out to the Cubs in these signings, but I'd like to make them more mad if possible. :)

[cubs121]

but then again.... are you guys sold with a possible outfield defense of Murton, Soriano, and Jones? offensively it looks good but defensively im not so sure...

[Shilzzz]

Drew was my first choice but again I really can't complain in getting Soriano especially if he was signed to play CF. I for one am super glad Pierre is a goner. No more seeing that fool bounce throws to 2B because of his weak arm. We'll see what else the Cubs have up their sleeves but there's no question Piniella and the Cubs are here to win this year and next. I don't expect any more moves offensively to be honest, I think the Cubs will now focus on acquiring starting pitching. Again, I'm most thankful not having Pierre here, that guy irritated me almost as bad as Baker did.

 

I heard the Cubs are still going to go after Pierre and get him to play second since he's so familar with the grounders that are hit in that direction.

 

POST oF THE MONTH!!! :lol:

[Andy]

Here's something positive about Soriano:

 

2005 walks: 33

2006 walks: 67

Walks don't usually vary that much unless something clicks...at least I don't think they do. Hopefully I'm right but probably not. :P

[Backtobanks]

You know, some people will never be happy. If we go through the offseason and lose Soriano and Drew to other teams people would have whined and moaned about how Hendry never gets the top tier free agents. Now for once the guy went out shopping against half the teams in the majors who want this guy and finally gets the guy. So everyone whines and moans about how its to much for to long. Well sorry people but you cant have it both ways, this was probably the only way we were going to get Soriano. Hendry's rear end is over the fire and he's going all out ti try to win before he loses his job. Im not angry at the guy for finally being determined to get his target. Am I happy about an 8 year contract? No. Thats the only way we were going to get this bat into our lineup though so for that Im grateful. 4 years down the road Im sure we'll all be mad about how Soriano's contract is eating away at our budget. For now though I'll relish that we actually got the big name free agent and I'll enjoy his production in the lineup for as long as it last.

 

 

Amen! I have posted many times saying basically the same thing. Hendry is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. If the numbers are correct, he gave Soriano numbers he couldn't refuse. The longer you leave him in the free agent market, the more things that could happen.

[RockTheIvy]

Soriano was not in the top 10 or even the top 25 for best offensive players in the league last year... he was the 33rd best offensive player (VORP). He WAS, however, about 30 runs better than Pierre. Unfortunately, I am pretty sure that a 30 run upgrade still makes our offense at or below average. (With 30 more runs last year we'd like Soriano's old team and tied for 10th in runs in the NL.) Perhaps with a health Lee and the removal of the negative runs Cedeno, this could be improved more. But even with an optmistic 40 more runs from those spots this would still be a second tier NL offense. I fear that adding a $17M player likely ends the offensive upgrade.

 

By VORP, he was the best offensive player on the Cubs last year. Add in a healthy Lee, another Aramis season, and an improved season from Murton and I think the offense will be significantly improved.

[Shilzzz]

Here's something positive about Soriano:

 

2005 walks: 33

2006 walks: 67

 

is there a higher percentage of intentional walks to go along with this?

 

if not that's a real good sign(added onto a new seemingly obp minded hitting coach)

[erik316wttn]

I just don't get it why people think this is the best player available....

 

I will say though, I can never again say that the Cubs have never signed the most coveted FA on the market.

 

But you can say they gave him the most ridiculous contract.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Here's something positive about Soriano:

 

2005 walks: 33

2006 walks: 67

 

kctigers pointed this out last time it was brought up, but of the 34 walk increase, 13 of those were intentional.

[CuseCubFan69]

Here's something positive about Soriano:

 

2005 walks: 33

2006 walks: 67

 

If he has recognized that outside slider like Sammy did later in his career it could be a very good thing.

[nilodnayr]

I'll leave the contract impacts until we hear what the actual deal is.

 

From a player impact, in the worst case, what we have done with this move is to take Juan Pierre, give him an arm and about 30-40 extra home runs a year. That's a pretty significant improvement.

 

In the best case, Soriano turned a corner last season in his plate discipline / pitch recognition. I am optimistic that this is the case. If he can continue down that path he could absolutely explode with production.

 

Let's hope the investment we made in our new hitting coach that emphasizes a disciplined, zone approach to hitting pays off!

 

I think he did turn a corner. In addition to adding about 25 walks, he also struck out more, because he was seeing more pitches per at bat.

 

If he posts a 340+ OBP, we have ourselves the offensive equivalent of Andruw Jones in CF. Sure, he's probably overpriced and not as good as Jones, but we got some firepower now.

 

Half those walks were intentional and the other half could very well have been intentional unintentional walks. I'm not sold he turned a corner in plate discipline as much as everyone thinks.

[USSoccer]

Here's something positive about Soriano:

 

2005 walks: 33

2006 walks: 67

Walks don't usually vary that much unless something clicks...at least I don't think they do. Hopefully I'm right but probably not. :P

 

16 IBB's in 2006-Actually more than all his other season's IBB's combined.

[RockTheIvy]

Here's something positive about Soriano:

 

2005 walks: 33

2006 walks: 67

 

kctigers pointed this out last time it was brought up, but of the 34 walk increase, 13 of those were intentional.

 

He did see a lot more pitches per at bat though as well.

[frostwyrm]

Has anybody considered how this deal looks if the Cubs are sold and payroll drops back to $95M? This could be a franchise-crippling boat anchor.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Watch football for a while, and I miss all this? I don't like this deal much.

[Shilzzz]

Soriano was not in the top 10 or even the top 25 for best offensive players in the league last year... he was the 33rd best offensive player (VORP). He WAS, however, about 30 runs better than Pierre. Unfortunately, I am pretty sure that a 30 run upgrade still makes our offense at or below average. (With 30 more runs last year we'd like Soriano's old team and tied for 10th in runs in the NL.) Perhaps with a health Lee and the removal of the negative runs Cedeno, this could be improved more. But even with an optmistic 40 more runs from those spots this would still be a second tier NL offense. I fear that adding a $17M player likely ends the offensive upgrade.

 

By VORP, he was the best offensive player on the Cubs last year. Add in a healthy Lee, another Aramis season, and an improved season from Murton and I think the offense will be significantly improved.

 

replace cedeno with lugo and it looks much better

[YearofDaCubs]

I just don't get it why people think this is the best player available....

 

If he has a season like last year again, then I dont think there's a better FA option out there.

 

Soriano's production last year is basically equivalent to Drew's career numbers.

 

QFT - this speaks volumes. A five-year deal will be bad enough, but if it's eight years?? I just threw up in my mouth a little.

 

Face it, if Soriano's signed Drew's *not coming*. Hendry will think he's done as far as the offense goes, with an OF of Murt, Sor and Jones. Next he will sign Lilly or Meche and call it an offseason.

I too believe that Drew will not be signed here now. I think the Cubs will put more emphasis on starting pitching now. This is the lineup I imagine.

 

CF Soriano

LF Murton

1B Lee

3B ARam

C Barrett

RF Jacque

2B DeRosa

SS Theriot( anybody but Izturis please)

PITCHER

 

The lineup gets bad after ARam.

[CUBZ99]

You know, some people will never be happy. If we go through the offseason and lose Soriano and Drew to other teams people would have whined and moaned about how Hendry never gets the top tier free agents. Now for once the guy went out shopping against half the teams in the majors who want this guy and finally gets the guy. So everyone whines and moans about how its to much for to long. Well sorry people but you cant have it both ways, this was probably the only way we were going to get Soriano. Hendry's rear end is over the fire and he's going all out ti try to win before he loses his job. Im not angry at the guy for finally being determined to get his target. Am I happy about an 8 year contract? No. Thats the only way we were going to get this bat into our lineup though so for that Im grateful. 4 years down the road Im sure we'll all be mad about how Soriano's contract is eating away at our budget. For now though I'll relish that we actually got the big name free agent and I'll enjoy his production in the lineup for as long as it last.

 

 

Amen! I have posted many times saying basically the same thing. Hendry is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. If the numbers are correct, he gave Soriano numbers he couldn't refuse. The longer you leave him in the free agent market, the more things that could happen.

 

Nice post. It is still difficult to believe that Hendry set his sights on perhaps one of the best available FA in baseball this year, and got him. I'm very impressed.

[Guest]

A 21 walk increase from 33 still represents a 60% bump from the previous year.

[jjgman21]

Soriano was not in the top 10 or even the top 25 for best offensive players in the league last year... he was the 33rd best offensive player (VORP). He WAS, however, about 30 runs better than Pierre. Unfortunately, I am pretty sure that a 30 run upgrade still makes our offense at or below average. (With 30 more runs last year we'd like Soriano's old team and tied for 10th in runs in the NL.) Perhaps with a health Lee and the removal of the negative runs Cedeno, this could be improved more. But even with an optmistic 40 more runs from those spots this would still be a second tier NL offense. I fear that adding a $17M player likely ends the offensive upgrade.

 

By VORP, he was the best offensive player on the Cubs last year. Add in a healthy Lee, another Aramis season, and an improved season from Murton and I think the offense will be significantly improved.

 

doesn't VORP measure how much above the actual guy that would replace you? in other words, isn't he using how much better Soriano is than Church to say he wasn't a top 35 player?

[RockTheIvy]

Has anybody considered how this deal looks if the Cubs are sold and payroll drops back to $95M? This could be a franchise-crippling boat anchor.

 

The Cubs have been a franchise crippling boat anchor themselves. At least it could be fun for a year.

[Abe Frohman]

On the Trib.com it says that Soriano will play CF and lead off.

 

I certainly hope he is not the Cubs leadoff hitter.

[hawkcub]

I like the move. I'm not crazy about the 8 year thing, but as many have stated I am holding judgement until we find out if the last 3 years will be options and what kind of option. Right now this probably gives the Cubs one of the top 3 lineups in the NL. What the Cubs need now is one or 2 SP.

[YearofDaCubs]

You know, some people will never be happy. If we go through the offseason and lose Soriano and Drew to other teams people would have whined and moaned about how Hendry never gets the top tier free agents. Now for once the guy went out shopping against half the teams in the majors who want this guy and finally gets the guy. So everyone whines and moans about how its to much for to long. Well sorry people but you cant have it both ways, this was probably the only way we were going to get Soriano. Hendry's rear end is over the fire and he's going all out ti try to win before he loses his job. Im not angry at the guy for finally being determined to get his target. Am I happy about an 8 year contract? No. Thats the only way we were going to get this bat into our lineup though so for that Im grateful. 4 years down the road Im sure we'll all be mad about how Soriano's contract is eating away at our budget. For now though I'll relish that we actually got the big name free agent and I'll enjoy his production in the lineup for as long as it last.

 

 

Amen! I have posted many times saying basically the same thing. Hendry is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. If the numbers are correct, he gave Soriano numbers he couldn't refuse. The longer you leave him in the free agent market, the more things that could happen.

 

Nice post. It is still difficult to believe that Hendry set his sights on perhaps one of the best available FA in baseball this year, and got him. I'm very impressed.

I'm glad to see Hendry moving fast that's for sure.

[USSoccer]

Here's something positive about Soriano:

 

2005 walks: 33

2006 walks: 67

 

kctigers pointed this out last time it was brought up, but of the 34 walk increase, 13 of those were intentional.

 

He did see a lot more pitches per at bat though as well.

 

Not really. He saw 3.90p/PA in 2006. In 2001 he saw 3.84 and in 2004-5 he saw 3.65. Barely a career best, and not a gigantic improvement over 2004-5.