Ken Rosenthal: Cubs Looking for Cheap CF

[soapy]

I still think the best solution (with the current roster) is to put Soriano in CF and Jones in RF (Murton of course in LF). Against lefties, DeRosa can play RF and Theriot can play 2B. If/when Pie is ready during the season, you worry about it then.

 

If Hendry really is looking to bring someone in, I hope it's Church. The asking price may go down as spring training approaches or gets underway. I have absolutely no interest in bringing in a stop-gap. Church can at least be used as a 4th OF and get a fair amount of playing time spelling Murton and Soriano and bringing Pie along (if Jones is traded). Also, if Pie struggles and doesn't pan out (this season or beyond) Church is a reasonable option as and everyday CF. Ideally, this is the approach I'd like to see though a trade for Church appears to be unlikely at this point because of Washington's demands.

[Backtobanks]

If we are going to go in house until Pie is ready, the guy's name is Jacque Jones. Let Theriot or Pagan hit against LH pitchers and call it good.

 

That way Soriano doesn't have to move positions when Pie is ready, Jones can build up some value for a trade at the deadline, especially if he plays a respectable CF.

 

If Jones and the Cubs are doing well enough, they can consider hanging onto him and let Pie have a full season in AAA and try his luck in a late season call up.

 

Ding! Ding! We have a winner. Unless or until you can get something of value for Jones in a trade, you play him in CF or RF using Derosa and Theriot against lefties. I'm sure Soriano and Pie (When he's ready) are capable of playing CF or RF. Bringing in some worthless veteran or minor leaguer until Pie is ready makes absolutely no sense. Acquiring Church for the right price would be a good move because he could easily slide into the 4th OF spot when Pie is ready.

[Amazing_Grace]

If we are going to go in house until Pie is ready, the guy's name is Jacque Jones. Let Theriot or Pagan hit against LH pitchers and call it good.

 

That way Soriano doesn't have to move positions when Pie is ready, Jones can build up some value for a trade at the deadline, especially if he plays a respectable CF.

 

If Jones and the Cubs are doing well enough, they can consider hanging onto him and let Pie have a full season in AAA and try his luck in a late season call up.

 

That scenario makes by far more sense than any other I have heard coming from Hendry's general direction. Therefore, it probably isn't even on his radar.

[biittner77]

 

Back to the topic, Maybe the cubs brass want to re-establish somesort of trade value to Jacque by saying they are going to keep him.

 

If you need a lightbulb, do you wait until they go on sale or do you buy a lightbulb? Are you willing to wait until someone throws away a lightbulb that might work?

 

Jacques Jones' value is the same now as it was at the end of last season. If a team wants him they'll pursue him. His value is determined by the number of teams that want him, not by what the Cubs think of him.

[biittner77]

 

Back to the topic, Maybe the cubs brass want to re-establish somesort of trade value to Jacque by saying they are going to keep him.

 

If you need a lightbulb, do you wait until they go on sale or do you buy a lightbulb? Are you willing to wait until someone throws away a lightbulb that might work?

 

Jacques Jones' value is the same now as it was at the end of last season. If a team wants him they'll pursue him. His value is determined by the number of teams that want him, not by what the Cubs think of him.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

If one knows that Pie isn't ready, one knows even more that Walker and Fuld aren't ready. They can't even be a consideration.

 

Neither was Adam Greenberg. All I saying, if the Cubs won't consider Soriano, or a platoon of Jones/Theriot in CF, Walker or Fuld would be BETTER option then going after Bernie Williams or Steve Finley.

 

But Adam Greenberg was much further along than Fuld for sure, and imo, Walker too.

[CuseCubFan69]

If one knows that Pie isn't ready, one knows even more that Walker and Fuld aren't ready. They can't even be a consideration.

 

Neither was Adam Greenberg. All I saying, if the Cubs won't consider Soriano, or a platoon of Jones/Theriot in CF, Walker or Fuld would be BETTER option then going after Bernie Williams or Steve Finley.

 

But Adam Greenberg was much further along than Fuld for sure, and imo, Walker too.

 

Where is Greenberg now?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

If one knows that Pie isn't ready, one knows even more that Walker and Fuld aren't ready. They can't even be a consideration.

 

Neither was Adam Greenberg. All I saying, if the Cubs won't consider Soriano, or a platoon of Jones/Theriot in CF, Walker or Fuld would be BETTER option then going after Bernie Williams or Steve Finley.

 

But Adam Greenberg was much further along than Fuld for sure, and imo, Walker too.

 

Where is Greenberg now?

 

He's in the KC Royals system, he was with the Dodgers last season after the Cubs released him.

[CuseCubFan69]

Where is Greenberg now?]

 

He's in the KC Royals system, he was with the Dodgers last season after the Cubs released him.

 

I wish the yong man well as I've always liked him. I hope he gets a shot to start someday just to see what he could do if he got a chance.

[dew1679666265]

If one knows that Pie isn't ready, one knows even more that Walker and Fuld aren't ready. They can't even be a consideration.

 

Neither was Adam Greenberg. All I saying, if the Cubs won't consider Soriano, or a platoon of Jones/Theriot in CF, Walker or Fuld would be BETTER option then going after Bernie Williams or Steve Finley.

 

How would they be a better option than Shannon Stewart? The last couple of seasons haven't been so hot for him (though he was hurt last season and only played 44 games) but from 97-04 he never had an OBP below .360 and he peaked at .380.

Granted, he's 33 and 2005's numbers (.274, .323, .388) may be the norm, but if he could do anything close to 04's .380 OBP for half a season, he'd be far, far better than Fuld, Walker, Pagan, etc.

There is some risk involved, and granted I'd prefer a Jones/Theriot platoon, but I see no reason why Stewart is not a much better bet than Fuld/Walker.

[BigbadB]

Before the plopped down more money for Shannon Stewart, I'd like to know why he hasn't seen any significant playing time in CF since 1998.

[Wheelimus]

Looks like the Sox signed Erstad because Stewart wanted too much money.

 

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?sport=MLB&id=2152&line=199136&spln=1

 

No thanks...

[dew1679666265]

Before the plopped down more money for Shannon Stewart, I'd like to know why he hasn't seen any significant playing time in CF since 1998.

 

The Jays began to phase Vernon Wells into the lineup and CF starting in 1999. He didn't play significantly early, but I think I recall them shifting Stewart in preparation of Wells' emergence.

Then, when he was traded to the Twins, they had Torii Hunter already and had no reason to put Stewart there.

[dew1679666265]

Looks like the Sox signed Erstad because Stewart wanted too much money.

 

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?sport=MLB&id=2152&line=199136&spln=1

 

No thanks...

 

If he still has injury problems lingering, or wants a big money deal then there's the reason why he's not a good option.

If he's (at least) mostly healthy and can be had for a very cheap, one-year deal, I still say give him a shot.

[BigbadB]

Before the plopped down more money for Shannon Stewart, I'd like to know why he hasn't seen any significant playing time in CF since 1998.

 

The Jays began to phase Vernon Wells into the lineup and CF starting in 1999. He didn't play significantly early, but I think I recall them shifting Stewart in preparation of Wells' emergence.

Then, when he was traded to the Twins, they had Torii Hunter already and had no reason to put Stewart there.

 

Okay, but why didn't they put Stewart there when Torii missed most of the season in 2005?

[BigbadB]

Vernon Wells didn't start playing everyday until 2002.

 

Shannon has zero games in CF since 2001. He played one game in CF in 2000. 7 games in '99.

 

Not even a couple of games here and there to rest the everyday CF.

 

Worthy of note, however, is that it appears that Jacque Jones and Lew Ford were the guys who covered for Torii when he was injured in 2005. Nick Punto and Jason Tyner got CF duty rather than Stewart.

 

The Cubs already have Jacque Jones.

[mg420]

sounds like it might be soriano in cf after all (at least to start the year):

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070123&content_id=1784608&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

[dew1679666265]

Vernon Wells didn't start playing everyday until 2002.

 

Shannon has zero games in CF since 2001. He played one game in CF in 2000. 7 games in '99.

 

Not even a couple of games here and there to rest the everyday CF.

 

Worthy of note, however, is that it appears that Jacque Jones and Lew Ford were the guys who covered for Torii when he was injured in 2005. Nick Punto and Jason Tyner got CF duty rather than Stewart.

 

The Cubs already have Jacque Jones.

 

And like I said, I would prefer a Jacque/Theriot platoon for center, but if Jacque is traded and Stewart can prove he's healthy, I don't see why he would be a better option than Fuld/Walker. Certainly not a great option or my ideal option, but perhaps as adequate a placeholder as we're going to find (outside of Church) at this point.

My argument was that he'd be better than Fuld/Walker and Pagan.

[dew1679666265]

sounds like it might be soriano in cf after all (at least to start the year):

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070123&content_id=1784608&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

That would likely be better than any option. Good news.

[RichHillIsABeast]

sounds like it might be soriano in cf after all (at least to start the year):

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070123&content_id=1784608&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

Ah. I thought they were going to call Pie up regardless. It sounds like some key guys are really down on Pie's offense.

 

Good. Tear up AAA for a year and then we can tinker with the OF.

 

Murton/Soriano/Jones will work out well, assuming Jones learns how to throw better than the average little leaguer.