A Return of Sammy?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The Rangers want to make room for Jason Botts. Also with the turn of Teixiera, the Rangers 1b/of/dh situation has gotten crowded.

 

So, reports are that Sammy is on the block.

 

Link.

 

The Rangers most immediate priority leading up to the July 31 trade deadline is to find a new home for Sammy Sosa.

 

The Rangers, according to Major League officials, will drive a hard bargain for first baseman Mark Teixeira and relievers Akinori Otsuka and Eric Gagne, but have told teams they will be more than reasonable if somebody is interested in Sosa.

 

Sammy is only hitting 241/292/445 this season, but is hitting 344/434/594 vs left-handers this season. Sosa might make the perfect right-handed platoon partner for Floyd in rightfield.

 

He'd be extremely cheap to acquire.

 

I know there's going to be lots of people who aren't in favor of such a move. Sosa, however, seems to be the model citizen in Arlington. He also hasn't whined when his playing time has been limited.

 

It might be a decent move that costs little of nothing. Maybe the Rangers move him for fallen prospect Brian Dopirak or a lesser prospect like Mathes. Perhaps, we could get Sosa while unloading Eyre on the Rangers.

[Carlos Zambrano]

That would be interesting. But I seriously can't see Sammy Sosa and the number 21 in right field ever again.

[Rusch33]

If not Griffey or Dunn, do it.

[Schwarber Fan]

That would be interesting. But I seriously can't see Sammy Sosa and the number 21 in right field ever again.

 

That's because #21 plays pitcher not RF :D

[TruffleShuffle]

egads no

[JWCUB]

Gagne please.

[E.J.]

There's no way it happens. No way Hendry brings him back.

[dew1679666265]

There's no way it happens. No way Hendry brings him back.

 

I tend to agree with you, but I really wish it would happen. Bringing back Sammy to help us with our first real playoff push since he was here would be terrific.

 

Like you said, though, I doubt Hendry's willing to consider it.

[dew1679666265]

Gagne please.

 

Not if they're asking an arm and a leg for him. The report said they were going to drive a "hard bargain" for him - he's not worth giving up as much as that implies considering our situation.

[Backtobanks]

There's no way it happens. No way Hendry brings him back.

 

Never say never. We'll take Sosa, Gagne, Young, and Lofton and give them Jones, Eyre, Izzy, and Bowen/Hill. Even Hendry might welcome Sammy back with that deal.

[circlecitycub]

I don't see a big problem with it. If Sammy can be productive versus left handed pitching and can be had for a reasonable deal I see nothing negative about it.

 

I think Sammy would love to make that sprint out to RF once again for the Cubbies, especially on a team that very well could see the post season.

 

McDonough is probably just as interested and may be able to influence Hendry if there is a personal rift there.

[TruffleShuffle]

There's no way it happens. No way Hendry brings him back.

 

Never say never. We'll take Sosa, Gagne, Young, and Lofton and give them Jones, Eyre, Izzy, and Bowen/Hill. Even Hendry might welcome Sammy back with that deal.

 

hey if we're ripping them off, might as well have them throw in teixeira too

[RammyFanny]

It would seriously be crazy sweet, but I doubt Jimbo even considers it. Sammy's numbers aren't great but he's still going to end up with around 30 HR's and alot of RBI's.

[Butterscup1679666578]

A package deal that landed Sosa and Gagne would be sexy.

[Backtobanks]

It would seriously be crazy sweet, but I doubt Jimbo even considers it. Sammy's numbers aren't great but he's still going to end up with around 30 HR's and alot of RBI's.

 

Especially if he basically faces lefties only.

[UMFan83]

Sorry, we have too many crappy #21s on the Cubs

[UBlink]

The real issue is that someone is going to get Sammy and if the Cubs don't pick up a better RH bat Hendry is going to have to answer for that (to NSBB if not the rest of the baseball world).

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Pass. Model citizen or not, I refuse to believe he's a different person than the one that walked out on his team a few years ago. I know how much he's done for this team, and this city, but his time here is over. Feel free to destroy this post if you want, but that's my feeling, and I'm sure there are others that feel the same way.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

344/434/594

 

That's his line vs LH pitching. He's destroying left-handers. If he's reformed, and all accounts say he has, he's worth making a run at.

 

He's cheap. My guess the Rangers would give him away for a very cheap prospect...hell, we might convince them to take one of our problems and in essence dump some salary.

[CubsBears29]

This is going to sound extremely two-faced, but while I wouldn't (and don't) root for Sammy's return... I could learn to live with it - if it happened.

 

As mentioned, it would [in theory] do alot to help alleviate the problems vs LHP, but it just wouldn't feel right to campaign for his return, even if interested, IMO.

 

545 of his 602 homers did come in Cubbie blue, so somehow it would be a bit fitting if he ended his career on the Northside, but again, after how he left and why a couple years ago... its hard to really hope he comes back.

 

 

Even though it probly wouldn't help our 'needing a RH bat' and 'vs LHP' needs at all, I'd much rather see Hendry get Griffey before Sosa, if it came down to it.

 

 

However, if Hendry swung a deal for Sosa AND Lofton, it would me a bit more appealing;

 

[vs RHP]

Lofton, CF

Fontenot, SS

Lee, 1B

Soriano, LF

ARam, 3B

Floyd, RF

DeRosa 2B

Soto, C

Pitcher

 

[vs LHP (primarily)]

Lofton, CF

Theriot, SS

Lee, 1B

Soriano, LF

ARam, 3B

Sosa, RF

DeRosa, 2B

Soto, C

Pitcher

 

[vs LHP (occasionally)]

Soriano, LF

Theriot, SS

Lee, 1B

ARam, 3B

Sosa, RF

DeRosa, 2B

Soto, C

Pie/Pagan, CF

Pitcher

[soapy]

honestly, if it was anyone not named Sammy Sosa, people would be all over it.

 

i'd certainly be in favor of it (as a platoon) but i know there's pretty much no chance Hendry would do it. i'd also be in favor in going after Lofton.

[TruffleShuffle]

344/434/594

 

That's his line vs LH pitching. He's destroying left-handers.

 

sample size

[Backtobanks]

344/434/594

 

That's his line vs LH pitching. He's destroying left-handers.

 

sample size

 

That's only in 64ABs. His last 3 years (2004-2006), when he was no longer the feared slugger he had been, shows .271/.381/.457 against lefties in 199 ABs. Not the greatest numbers, but I agree with some other posters in that the Cubs would probably be interested if his name wasn't Sammy Sosa.

[Roast]

Part of me would, obviously, love it.

 

But, reality tells me that it's probably a bad idea. A large majority of our fans, unfortunately, despise him. And I certainly wouldn't want to hear the ignorant chorus of boo's he'd receive each time he stepped to the plate. And, if I was Sammy, I wouldn't want to come back.

[USSoccer]

I'd deal for Sosa without hesitation. You'd give up nothing, he's making nothing, and if it doesn't work out, you've lost nothing.

 

The Cubs need to-for once-not put PR over a baseball decision. Sosa against LHP is a good baseball decision.