Levine: Soto called up; 3 teams interested in Izturis

[Soul]

Do we have any independent confirmation that Soto has been/will be called up, or is it just Levine's word on this?

 

I do not yet see anything. Hopefully soon.

[otis89]

YES!!! I guess it's time to change my signature.

[brinoch]

Not to get away from the Soto lovefest, but who in the world could be interested in Izturis?

He's in the last year of his contract and I'm assuming the Cubs would pick some of the remaining money up, so he would be a fairly cheap "solution" to anyone desperately needing middle infield help.

That's desparation at its finest.

 

The Orioles are playing Brandon Fahey at SS, they are desperation defined.

 

Yes, I've pointed this out once or twice relatively recently. Unless there's someone in the O's system you really want, just trade Izturis for a PTBNL. You might be able to get Baltimore to take on the contract in such a deal, too. At this point in the season, Izturis is only owed about $2M.

[CubmanPi]

I wonder if the Cubs can ship Izturis to the Tigers. Since Perez is suspended (and maybe going to be released afterward?), the Tigers might be looking for a new back-up defensive specialist at SS.

I think that would cement Tiger fans' hatred of the Cubs forever.

[Banedon]

it is time for this league to see the splendor that is our O-Face!

 

:wink:

 

That sounds like a t-shirt idea.

[anabiono]

it is time for this league to see the splendor that is our O-Face!

 

:wink:

 

That sounds like a t-shirt idea.

 

take it and run with it my friend...take it and run with it!

[chuckywang]

I wonder if the Cubs can ship Izturis to the Tigers. Since Perez is suspended (and maybe going to be released afterward?), the Tigers might be looking for a new back-up defensive specialist at SS.

I think that would cement Tiger fans' hatred of the Cubs forever.

 

Hey, that's fine by me.

[RynoRules]

FYI - I checked some the usual places and have not seen an confirmation beyond what I heard said during the ESPN Radio update.

 

Please don't kill the messenger.

[Wheelimus]

Be careful what you ask for. The Tigers might offer to take Jacque's contract on if we take Neifi's.

[Outshined_One]

I wonder if the Cubs can ship Izturis to the Tigers. Since Perez is suspended (and maybe going to be released afterward?), the Tigers might be looking for a new back-up defensive specialist at SS.

 

If they have a light-hitting catcher in A-ball, all the more reason to execute the deal!

[jersey cubs fan]

FYI - I checked some the usual places and have not seen an confirmation beyond what I heard said during the ESPN Radio update.

 

Please don't kill the messenger.

 

I'm trying to remain cautiously optimistic on this one.

[Sarcastic]

For anyone who heard the radio report, did Levine mention when he thought Soto would be called up? Is it possible that he was merely making a bigger deal than necessary out of a move that is only being considered for some future time?

[craig]

We'll see what happens, if Soto is really up.

 

I'm with I think the majority view: Soto up would not be tied to Izturis being moved. Not much point in having three catchers.

 

If you did bring Soto up, and replace one of the existing catchers, the prevailing view has been that Hill would go.

 

I wonder. Lou has been a humungous lefty-right guy. Hill hits lefty. Soto for now, and Blanco if/when he comes back, also hit righty. I could see Lou preferring to keep the LH-hitting Hill. (It may be a factor in why Hill was called up rather than Soto in the first place, I don't know.)

 

Also, IMO Hill has looked better defensively than Bowen. Hard to see Hendry having the nerve to dump Bowen weeks after getting him. But that might almost make more sense.

 

A related question, assuming soto really was called up, woulc be whether they intended to use him extensively. Or whether he'd be a #2 catcher, and would be optioned as soon as Blanco came back, if in fact that does happen.

 

In other words, if Blanco returns shortly, a month from now will we be looking at Blanco and Soto, with neither Bowen nor Hill around? Or will whoever gets dropped for Soto be just getting a jump on dropping that same guy anyway if Blanco returns. And the guy who might survive now would still survive when Blanco was activated, with Soto just going back?

 

Heh, I suppose performance might factor in on that. If Soto hits like Fontenot, he might stay in the mix. If Soto hits like Pie or Bowen, his out-of-career-character Iowa hot streak might be forgotten quickly enough.

[UMFan83]

FYI - I checked some the usual places and have not seen an confirmation beyond what I heard said during the ESPN Radio update.

 

Please don't kill the messenger.

 

I'm sure they haven't made an official announcement yet. With the day off today, they don't really have to make a move like that until tomorrow. Especially because his roster spot might open up via a not yet completed trade. Bruce probably got the word from his Cubs insiders.

[TheDude]

I had emailed Bruce Miles a few days back regarding Soto, and his reply wasn't overly optimistic: "I don't think you'll see him soon, but at some point, the Cubs acknowledge he's owed a look."

 

I'd be surprised if Soto was coming up only days after saying something like that. But then, ball clubs constantly surprise us.

[JeffH]

If you did bring Soto up, and replace one of the existing catchers, the prevailing view has been that Hill would go.

 

I wonder. Lou has been a humungous lefty-right guy. Hill hits lefty. Soto for now, and Blanco if/when he comes back, also hit righty. I could see Lou preferring to keep the LH-hitting Hill. (It may be a factor in why Hill was called up rather than Soto in the first place, I don't know.)

 

Craig, both Hill and Bowen are switch hitters.

[Shilzzz]

i'm waiting to see what happens here. optimistic, but...

[sporrer17]

If you did bring Soto up, and replace one of the existing catchers, the prevailing view has been that Hill would go.

 

I wonder. Lou has been a humungous lefty-right guy. Hill hits lefty. Soto for now, and Blanco if/when he comes back, also hit righty. I could see Lou preferring to keep the LH-hitting Hill. (It may be a factor in why Hill was called up rather than Soto in the first place, I don't know.)

 

Craig, both Hill and Bowen are switch hitters.

 

They both swing from both sides of the plate...neither of them qualify as "hitters".

 

Congrats to Soto, and let's hope he can put up respectable numbers here and be a nice piece to the puzzle. Goodbye Koyie/Rob.

[jersey cubs fan]

For anyone who heard the radio report, did Levine mention when he thought Soto would be called up? Is it possible that he was merely making a bigger deal than necessary out of a move that is only being considered for some future time?

 

I'm convinced many people just misinterpret reports. Guys go on the radio and say "One of the things the Cubs could do today is call up AAA catcher Geovany Soto from Iowa" and many people think they heard Soto was called up. Not saying that happened here or not, but it's definitely happened in the past.

 

But we probably wouldn't hear anything official until tomorrow, unless a trade happens today. No need to make a roster move until game time.

[B]

no link=not true

[UBlink]

If you did bring Soto up, and replace one of the existing catchers, the prevailing view has been that Hill would go.

 

I wonder. Lou has been a humungous lefty-right guy. Hill hits lefty. Soto for now, and Blanco if/when he comes back, also hit righty. I could see Lou preferring to keep the LH-hitting Hill. (It may be a factor in why Hill was called up rather than Soto in the first place, I don't know.)

 

Craig, both Hill and Bowen are switch hitters.

 

FWIW this year Soto's splits show he hits much better against RHP - OPS 1.066 against RHP, .871 against LHP.

[Schwarber Fan]

If Soto plays even semi-well I wonder what happens between Blanco and Bowen? I'd bet Bowen is shipped off at the deadline.

[ctcf]

Sadness if this was untrue.

[SouthSideRyan]

What the hell are you gonna get for Bowen at the deadline? Catching tandem the rest of the year should be Soto/Bowen. And I'm not even that optimistic about Soto. Blanco and Hill are just that terrible.

 

Assuming this is true, this is about 2 months earlier than I expected, I thought there was no way he got called up before 9/1.

[craig]

 

Craig, both Hill and Bowen are switch hitters.

 

Oops! Thanks, Jeff. Wake up, me! Bowen's pre-Cub splits actually were much better versus RHP, I think?