Cubs Sign Floyd, 1 yr / $3M

[RammyFanny]

Hey, maybe this time they are serious.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/deluca/221821,CST-SPT-cub21.article

 

With a nod of approval from new leadoff hitter Alfonso Soriano to give center field a try, the Cubs appear poised to sign veteran outfielder Cliff Floyd to a one-year contract.

The Floyd deal, which might be completed this week, has been in the works since the winter meetings, but the Cubs weren't sure whether they would add Floyd or a veteran center fielder to hold down the fort until prospect Felix Pie is ready at midseason. Floyd, a former Thornwood star, is expected to serve as a fourth outfielder, giving left fielder Matt Murton and right fielder Jacque Jones regular rest.

 

The lefty-hitting Floyd, 34, batted .244 with 11 home runs and 44 RBI in 97 games last season for the New York Mets. The Cubs began reviewing his medical records last month.

Good thing the article specifies he is going to be used as a fourth outfielder and not interfere with Murton. I actually like this signing, I mean how nice is it going to be in pinch hit situations to choose from Ward, Floyd, and Theriot (assuming he isn't patrolling center or anything, which this article makes out Fonzy to be locked in center), compared to last year whenever we needed a clutch hit and it was always Neifi, Cedeno, and Mabry to the rescue. Plus for the days Murton and Jones need a break, Floyd gives some nice pop to the lineup still (and a lefty bat) compared to the crap we ran out there last year.

[C.C.]

During the convention Lou said that he really liked Murton. He said that a few times. He also said if Soriano will play CF we are set with Murton in LF, Soriano in CF, and Jones in RF.

[otis89]

It will be nice having an actual threat off the bench for a change.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Hopefully Jones learned how to throw this offseason. I can't take another season of his crap arm in RF. It's like watching Eckstein play RF.

 

I think it's been awhile since Floyd played RF. Most of his ABs are going to come at Murton's expense. Lou won't play the vet card like Dusty did, but it look like Matt has to prove something to the Cubs before they'll just give him his 550-600 ABs.

[CubColtPacer]

This news is absolutely wonderful. It now sounds as if they are not going to trade Jones, and if Soriano does play center that cuts off people like Finley or Erstad from being signed to play the position. Also, the signing of Floyd gives us another big bat off the bench, and it sounds like he is going to replace both Murton and Jones almost equally, which is better than we here had expected (because we thought that Jones was going to play center, and Soriano was not going to sit out that many games). If this is all really true, the offense just became locked in, and it looks pretty good right now (not great, but pretty good).

[rawaction]

Does make the Cubs a lot better team if Soriano is in CF. Floyd seems kinda redundant with Ward already here, but it gives the Cubs an extra bat. If Floyd is healthy, which he should be in a bench role, when he plays for Murton, the Cubs don't lose anything in OBP. When he plays for Jones, the Cubs can make up some of the LH power.

[BigbadB]

I think Floyd makes the team better, but I think his addition takes away from Murton at bats. Will Lou want Ward and Floyd as the main threats off the bench, or will he like Ward and Murton?

 

I fear Jones will play everyday. Especially considering Jacque wanted to be traded and Hendry failed to accomodate him.

 

I think Floyd (when healthy) and Murton are better producers than Jones. So, if Jones is playing everyday and Murton and Floyd are splitting time, the Cubs really improved very little by adding Floyd. That improvement is basically only in the form of bench help.

 

But, I suppose I shouldn't assume Lou is Dusty part 2. But, he is the same manager who had Alex Gonzalez playing 3b in Tampa.

[CP_414]

I think Floyd makes the team better, but I think his addition takes away from Murton at bats. Will Lou want Ward and Floyd as the main threats off the bench, or will he like Ward and Murton?

 

I fear Jones will play everyday. Especially considering Jacque wanted to be traded and Hendry failed to accomodate him.

 

I think Floyd (when healthy) and Murton are better producers than Jones. So, if Jones is playing everyday and Murton and Floyd are splitting time, the Cubs really improved very little by adding Floyd. That improvement is basically only in the form of bench help.

 

But, I suppose I shouldn't assume Lou is Dusty part 2. But, he is the same manager who had Alex Gonzalez playing 3b in Tampa.

 

I believe Lou when he told the convention goers this weekend Matt Murton is our everyday left fielder.

 

After hearing that, I'm on board with bringing Floyd in, it's a nice addition to our bench.

[sporrer17]

I think Murton's going to get his 500+ ABs this year...he may sit once in a while to get Ward/Floyd on the field and another LH bat in the lineup, but it won't happen all that often. I hope Murton gets all the ABs, he's a very good hitter. Floyd, if healthy though, can be a great one. First thing's first....Floyd still has to sign.

[BigbadB]

I believe Lou when he told the convention goers this weekend Matt Murton is our everyday left fielder.

 

After hearing that, I'm on board with bringing Floyd in, it's a nice addition to our bench.

 

Hmm. I hadn't read or heard that yet. Good news!

[Soul]

Signing Floyd as a 4th outfielder sounds good to me.

[Elrhino]

While Murton does have the asset of a cheap salary, I really don't project him to be a plus left fielder, so I'm not much worried about whether he gets 500 AB's or not. To me the most worrying thing is this paves the way for Hendry to trade Jones for nothing. I don't mind trading Jones, especially after bringing in Floyd, but I wouldn't do it just because Hendry has made up his mind that he has to.

 

To me the most critical thing is that Soriano is playing CF, where he reaches his highest value.

[Amazing_Grace]

If Soriano does play in center and we do sign Floyd, keeping Jones, it gives us a pretty deep outfield in case of injury, and more importantly, keeps the Cubs from having another weak position in the lineup offensively. All the other choices for CF, Erstad, Finley, Pagan, and Pie, would probably be below average on the offensive side.

 

Of course, if we trade Jones, we're then depending on Floyd to be healthy, and that's a bad bet, or we're back to Soriano in RF and likely a rent-a-CF.

[nilodnayr]

Does make the Cubs a lot better team if Soriano is in CF. Floyd seems kinda redundant with Ward already here, but it gives the Cubs an extra bat. If Floyd is healthy, which he should be in a bench role, when he plays for Murton, the Cubs don't lose anything in OBP. When he plays for Jones, the Cubs can make up some of the LH power.

 

I completely agree. Floyd, Ward, and Jones are all similar. We really needed a right handed version of one of them. If we do sign Floyd and don't trade Jones then we don't have a spot on the roster for a righthanded platoon partner. While I like floyd has a 4th outfielder in theory, in practice its the final nail in the coffin for those of us who were hoping a decent platoon partner. And employing a platoon partner would be more valuable to the team than yet another lefthanded corner OF.

[b_wiggy_66]

As long as Murton still gets his AB's and and starting spot I am in favor of this deal. If Lou does this right and uses them like the paper says, it will be putting our best players on the field.

[Twiggy]

I agree if they can do it for one year and not very much money. Could use his bat off the bench, and fill in if needed in the outfield. But not too much in the outfield please lol.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Preston Wilson

[cheapseats]

Preston Wilson

 

Yuck.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Preston Wilson

 

Yuck.

 

He can play all 3 OF positions and hammers LHP. Pretty much exactly what we need.

[Mephistopheles]

.267 .328 .470 career against righties

.258 .334 .473 career against lefties

[Transmogrified Tiger]

2004-2006

 

.279/.346/.516/.862 v. LHP

.252/.306/.410/.716 v. RHP

[Guest]

Preston Wilson

 

He's got that Cardinals pixie dust all over him. If the Cubs signed him, he would prolly make Nefti Perez look alot less crappy.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

As 4th OF, I like bringing in Floyd. Nothing to complain about on this one.

[erik316wttn]

It will be nice having an actual threat off the bench for a change.

 

I don't think we've had a legit HR threat off the bench since Glenallen Hill was traded.

[Mephistopheles]

2004-2006

 

.279/.346/.516/.862 v. LHP

.252/.306/.410/.716 v. RHP

 

Yeah, that's 300 at-bats. I'll take the career numbers over those any day of the week to compare.