Finley signs minor-lg deal w/Rockies (was: why is Finley?)

[Schwarber Fan]

Link

 

Free-agent outfielder Steve Finley is trying to decide whether to wait for a potential opening with the Chicago Cubs or accept a job as a reserve with another club.

 

The Cubs would need to trade right fielder Jacque Jones before they would consider signing Finley, and such an opportunity might not arise until the end of March. Finley, who turns 42 next month, probably would need to resume playing before then.

 

I suppose he'd be a decent bench option but the team is pretty much set...

[CubColtPacer]

Link

 

Free-agent outfielder Steve Finley is trying to decide whether to wait for a potential opening with the Chicago Cubs or accept a job as a reserve with another club.

 

The Cubs would need to trade right fielder Jacque Jones before they would consider signing Finley, and such an opportunity might not arise until the end of March. Finley, who turns 42 next month, probably would need to resume playing before then.

 

I suppose he'd be a decent bench option but the team is pretty much set...

 

The Cubs are the only place where Finley could even potentially start-he is just trying to gamble that somehow the Cubs don't have anybody play center. He's just desperate-I don't think that it would be likely at all that 1)Soriano can't play center, 2) Jones can't play center, and 3)Pie isn't ready, which would all have to happen before Finley would be signed.

[CuseCubFan69]

Link

 

Free-agent outfielder Steve Finley is trying to decide whether to wait for a potential opening with the Chicago Cubs or accept a job as a reserve with another club.

 

The Cubs would need to trade right fielder Jacque Jones before they would consider signing Finley, and such an opportunity might not arise until the end of March. Finley, who turns 42 next month, probably would need to resume playing before then.

 

I suppose he'd be a decent bench option but the team is pretty much set...

 

The Cubs are the only place where Finley could even potentially start-he is just trying to gamble that somehow the Cubs don't have anybody play center. He's just desperate-I don't think that it would be likely at all that 1)Soriano can't play center, 2) Jones can't play center, and 3)Pie isn't ready, which would all have to happen before Finley would be signed.

 

Bill Murry can't play center....

[Laura]

Steve Finley seems to be the main person who keeps mentioning Steve Finley.

[CuseCubFan69]

Steve Finley seems to be the main person who keeps mentioning Steve Finley.

 

Let's hope it stays that way.

[soccer10k]

The Cubs had better not trade Jacque to sign Steve Finley. It would be such a horrible idea.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The Cubs had better not trade Jacque to sign Steve Finley. It would be such a horrible idea.

 

+1

[BigbadB]

If the 25th roster spot came down to Steve Finley, Angel Pagan or Ronny Cedeno, I think I'd take Finley.

[Rob]

If the 25th roster spot came down to Steve Finley, Angel Pagan or Ronny Cedeno, I think I'd take Finley.

 

Again, FWIW PECOTA predict a .278/.342/.426 line for Pagan, and .245/.318/.378 for Finley. I don't have time to check the other projection systems, but I can't imagine any being too high on a 42 year old who has suffered a severe dropoff lately.

[BigbadB]

If the 25th roster spot came down to Steve Finley, Angel Pagan or Ronny Cedeno, I think I'd take Finley.

 

Again, FWIW PECOTA predict a .278/.342/.426 line for Pagan, and .245/.318/.378 for Finley. I don't have time to check the other projection systems, but I can't imagine any being too high on a 42 year old who has suffered a severe dropoff lately.

 

What does PECOTA draw that information from? He's never posted that high of an OPS in his entire minor league career (excluding extremely small sample sizes). His minor league career numbers are: .281/.340/.371

[Amazing_Grace]

The likeliest reason is that this is a very slow period for baseball newswriters and they have to print something, so they stir the pot by interviewing a few remaining FA's that have every incentive to promote themselves any way they can. Are the Cubs really interested in Finley or does Finley just want the rest of MLB to think that?

[rchap24]

If the 25th roster spot came down to Steve Finley, Angel Pagan or Ronny Cedeno, I think I'd take Finley.

 

agreed, he's old and not who he used to be, but he is definitly the best hitter out of the three. If he is willing to just be a back up center option and a bat off the bench I dont mind him.

[imb]

You know how badly I wanted to say that if we signed Finley, Dusty would play him? I won't believe he's not managing until I see Lou on TV with my own eyes.

[YearofDaCubs]

If the 25th roster spot came down to Steve Finley, Angel Pagan or Ronny Cedeno, I think I'd take Finley.

 

agreed, he's old and not who he used to be, but he is definitly the best hitter out of the three. If he is willing to just be a back up center option and a bat off the bench I dont mind him.

I do mind. No reason to have a 42 year old on the team when his numbers the last two years were downright pathetic.

[Abe Frohman]

I'd take Steve Finley for a bench job every day of the week. Dude's got a lot of postseason experience, multiple Gold Gloves, and all kinds of accomplishments. He'd be a good guy to have off the bench. Can still play outfield and still moves well.

 

Hell yeah I'd take him over Pagan and/or Cedeno. He's nuts if he thinks he'll be starting, but I would take him for a bench role.

[Rob]

If the 25th roster spot came down to Steve Finley, Angel Pagan or Ronny Cedeno, I think I'd take Finley.

 

Again, FWIW PECOTA predict a .278/.342/.426 line for Pagan, and .245/.318/.378 for Finley. I don't have time to check the other projection systems, but I can't imagine any being too high on a 42 year old who has suffered a severe dropoff lately.

 

What does PECOTA draw that information from? He's never posted that high of an OPS in his entire minor league career (excluding extremely small sample sizes). His minor league career numbers are: .281/.340/.371

 

Well the average and on base percentage appear in line. Is it really too hard to believe a 25 year old will add some power?

[KaiserCesar]

I'd take Steve Finley for a bench job every day of the week. Dude's got a lot of postseason experience, multiple Gold Gloves, and all kinds of accomplishments. He'd be a good guy to have off the bench. Can still play outfield and still moves well.

 

Hell yeah I'd take him over Pagan and/or Cedeno. He's nuts if he thinks he'll be starting, but I would take him for a bench role.

 

Yeah, the Cubs may be leading candidate for the bench role (starting is a pipe dream) not because of a potential Jacque trade necessarily, but the team lacks a natural center fielder or a defensive outfielder. I don't know how great Pagan would be in center and if he is all that great of a basestealer despite his speed. He could probably outhit Finley though, so its close between the two.

[Guest]

I'd take Steve Finley for a bench job every day of the week. Dude's got a lot of postseason experience, multiple Gold Gloves, and all kinds of accomplishments. He'd be a good guy to have off the bench. Can still play outfield and still moves well.

 

Hell yeah I'd take him over Pagan and/or Cedeno. He's nuts if he thinks he'll be starting, but I would take him for a bench role.

 

Too bad the Cubs already have 3 lefty hitting OFers on the roster (Ward/Floyd/Jones), so getting Finley, would be part of the redundacy department. Either go with Pagan as the final player on the bench, or McGehee, or heck, if Cedeno "shows" something, he still would be a better fit for the Cubs bench then Finley.

[BigbadB]

Well the average and on base percentage appear in line. Is it really too hard to believe a 25 year old will add some power?

 

I posted minor league numbers. Is it hard to believe he'll do better than his minor league numbers in a very limited part time role at the major league level? Yes. I think it is hard to believe.

[rchap24]

I'd take Steve Finley for a bench job every day of the week. Dude's got a lot of postseason experience, multiple Gold Gloves, and all kinds of accomplishments. He'd be a good guy to have off the bench. Can still play outfield and still moves well.

 

Hell yeah I'd take him over Pagan and/or Cedeno. He's nuts if he thinks he'll be starting, but I would take him for a bench role.

 

Thats what Im saying. as a bench option he wouldnt be to bad. Like he said Finley can still move which means hes probably still a decent fielder.

[goonys evil twin]

Why is Steve Finley still being mentioned?!...

 

Because people like to piss me off.

[USSoccer]

Why is Steve Finley still being mentioned?!...

 

Because people like to piss me off.

 

Because Darin Erstad isn't available.

[Abe Frohman]

I'd take Steve Finley for a bench job every day of the week. Dude's got a lot of postseason experience, multiple Gold Gloves, and all kinds of accomplishments. He'd be a good guy to have off the bench. Can still play outfield and still moves well.

 

Hell yeah I'd take him over Pagan and/or Cedeno. He's nuts if he thinks he'll be starting, but I would take him for a bench role.

 

Too bad the Cubs already have 3 lefty hitting OFers on the roster (Ward/Floyd/Jones), so getting Finley, would be part of the redundacy department. Either go with Pagan as the final player on the bench, or McGehee, or heck, if Cedeno "shows" something, he still would be a better fit for the Cubs bench then Finley.

 

I disagree, respectfully. Cedeno has no fit on this team, IMO. We have the corners covered with Ramirez and Lee, and I don't think we will need another offensively-challenged middle infielder. We have Theriot, Izturis, and DeRosa up the middle. I'd rather see what Fontenot or E. Patterson could do than go with Cedeno again.

 

If it comes down to the wire and you can pick Finley, Pagan, or Cedeno - I'd take Finley in a heartbeat. He could keep CF warm for Pie. Still think the best bet is to put Soriano in RF and move Jacques to CF. We need as many lefties as we can get, considering how righty heavy this team is (especially on the IF). Remember, Murton and Soriano are RH hitters also.

[goonys evil twin]

We need as many lefties as we can get, considering how righty heavy this team is (especially on the IF). Remember, Murton and Soriano are RH hitters also.

 

I disagree with this train of thought. What you need are guys that can produce with the bat. The Cubs have been RH heavy for years, but they've also been worse against LHP than RHP during that time. If anything, the Cubs need more RH bats, to offset guys like Jones who cannot hit LHP worth a lick. Last year the Cubs were 14th in the NL for OPS. But they were dead last against LHP, and 9th against RHP.

 

Finley is washed up garbage. He doesn't do a thing to help this team and shouldn't be considered for any sort of position.

[BCVM22]

No longer an issue.

 

Rockies, veteran OF Finley agree on minor-league deal.

 

One less questionable veteran who could end up in a Cubs uniform.