Soto a starter in 2008?

[nilodnayr]

Seems as though even despite quotes from Lou, Soto is completely the guy for the cubs right now as hes played the overwhelming majority of the games down the stretch/playoffs. Considering Kendall was actually playing fairly well (at least offensively) when he was replaced, it seems as though the Cubs have a lot of confidence in Geo, and he hasn't let them down.

 

I was frustrated with the late call up of Soto because I didn't feel as though the cubs would give him enough time to prove whether or not he could be considered a starter for 2008. Well, I guess I was wrong, because it seems as though the Cubs are ready to hand the starting role over to Geo.

 

Whats everyone elses read on the situation?

 

Personally, I love Geo back there. He seems to call good games, has a good arm. Offensively, hes...well crap he just hit a homer, so yeah hes doing well. But what I like most is his patience. He has great pitch recognition and doesn't mind going deep into counts. A breath of fresh air for this team.

[E.J.]

YES

[CubColtPacer]

Lou has said a couple of times that he could easily see Soto as the #1 catcher going into next year. I think at this point that Lou will be ready to go with Soto unless they brought in some other good catcher. Since there are pretty much no good ones available, Soto will be the guy.

 

I'm very happy with that as well. He has developed a lot from where he was when the fans got to see him for a limited time last September. The development of his power turns him from a good backup catcher to an average to good starter.

[rocket]

i think soto has proven himself in lou's eyes and i'd be shocked if he wasn't the starting catcher next year.

[BCVM22]

I still say he'll need a new uniform number. I don't want my eventual SOTO jersey shirt to have No. 58 on it.

[rawaction]

I will admit, I wanted Kendall signed as insurance for Soto. But he's done. Soto's gonna be the starter. Blanco can back up, I don't care. Soto should catch 120 provided he's healthy next year.

[Backtobanks]

I don't see how it can be anyone else. Kendall has trouble throwing the ball to the pitcher's mound. Soto rates ahead of him both offensively and defensively.

[YearofDaCubs]

I don't see the Cubs signing Kendall. It's obvious the Cubs want Soto as their starting catcher and they already have the worthless Blanco locked up for next year. Kendall walks which is fine with him because he wouldn't accept a backup role anyway.

[Bull]

do you offer Kendall arby?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

do you offer Kendall arby?

 

only if he signs with someone else before the deadline

[nilodnayr]

do you offer Kendall arby?

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the lowest we could offer him in arbi 10.4M? Isn't there a max 20% cut, or did that change with the new CBA?

[nilodnayr]

do you offer Kendall arby?

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the lowest we could offer him in arbi 10.4M? Isn't there a max 20% cut, or did that change with the new CBA?

 

Or does that rule only apply to pre-FA players?

[jersey cubs fan]

Considering Kendall was actually playing fairly well (at least offensively) when he was replaced, it

 

Actually, that ended well before he was replaced. Kendall had a great August, but as soon as Sep 1 rolled around, he disappeared again. Soto became the starter around the 15th, Kendall was hitting about .170 with an OPS near 500 in the first half of September.

[BigbadB]

There is zero reason to retain Kendall. They probably can't afford to give him the money he'll expect. The writing appears to be on the wall for Kendall.

 

Blanco will be back next year since his contract requires it. But, that pretty much locks down the catcher position going into next year. I like that tandem, actually.

 

Any money spent this offseason should be used to retain Prior and Wood and improve the SS situation.

[rawaction]

My thinking is that Blanco could retire. His career may be done, and I'd have to imagine he won't get much PT next year. And his injuries are starting to mount. I'd settle for Koyie Hill as a backup (to Soto) next year if it meant Blanco retired or was DFA'd and Kendall was elsewhere.

[Mizzou]

Soto was the starter down the stretch, and he's the starter in the playoffs... he'll be our starter next year. No doubt about it.

[jersey cubs fan]

My thinking is that Blanco could retire. His career may be done, and I'd have to imagine he won't get much PT next year. And his injuries are starting to mount. I'd settle for Koyie Hill as a backup (to Soto) next year if it meant Blanco retired or was DFA'd and Kendall was elsewhere.

 

I agree. I could almost see the Cubs and Blanco coming to a buyout decision with Henry moving into some sort of coaching position, possibly instructing minor league catchers or as a bullpen coach.

 

I would definitely settle for that sort of $700,000 catching situation, if it means investing millions in a real bat elsewhere.

[treebird]

he better be, there's not going to be anything else to watch on this lousy team

[UK1679666180]

Nice to finally upgrade a position and not have to trade for them and/or overpay them.

 

Let Pie start as well, while they're at it.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Nice to finally upgrade a position and not have to trade for them and/or overpay them.

 

Let Pie start as well, while they're at it.

 

I really like the idea of Pie and Murton in the OF with Soto behind the plate, a rotation that includes Hill and possibly Marshall, a bench that includes Theriot and Fontenot, and a bullpen with Marmol and maybe a guy like Hart. That's a lot of payroll cleared up for a SS upgrade.

[XZero771679666304]

I think Lou answered this question by starting Soto in the first two games.

 

Barring Geo crapping the bed in ST, I think it's a lock.

 

Soto/Blanco in 2008.

[UK1679666180]

Nice to finally upgrade a position and not have to trade for them and/or overpay them.

 

Let Pie start as well, while they're at it.

 

I really like the idea of Pie and Murton in the OF with Soto behind the plate, a rotation that includes Hill and possibly Marshall, a bench that includes Theriot and Fontenot, and a bullpen with Marmol and maybe a guy like Hart. That's a lot of payroll cleared up for a SS upgrade.

 

I don't see alot of payroll being cleared up.

 

They owe an additional 20 mil worth of salary to Z, Soriano, Ramirez, Lilly, Marquis, and Derosa compared to '07. That's more than salaries of the FAs that would leave.

 

They'd have to unload salary to take on additional salary.

 

They already have to have a large increase to keep a somewhat similar roster, adding someone like Renteria/Tejada, without them taking on salary doesn't seem like it fits.

 

Which is unfort. b/c this team is still one (great/Arod) to 3 (good) players from becoming good enough to contend.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Nice to finally upgrade a position and not have to trade for them and/or overpay them.

 

Let Pie start as well, while they're at it.

 

I really like the idea of Pie and Murton in the OF with Soto behind the plate, a rotation that includes Hill and possibly Marshall, a bench that includes Theriot and Fontenot, and a bullpen with Marmol and maybe a guy like Hart. That's a lot of payroll cleared up for a SS upgrade.

 

I don't see alot of payroll being cleared up.

 

They owe an additional 20 mil worth of salary to Z, Soriano, Ramirez, Lilly, Marquis, and Derosa compared to '07. That's more than salaries of the FAs that would leave.

 

They'd have to unload salary to take on additional salary.

 

They already have to have a large increase to keep a somewhat similar roster, adding someone like Renteria/Tejada, without them taking on salary doesn't seem like it fits.

 

Which is unfort. b/c this team is still one (great/Arod) to 3 (good) players from becoming good enough to contend.

 

I'm referring more toward dedicating payroll to those guys vs spending 2-10 million at each position for some marginal veteran presence.

[YearofDaCubs]

My thinking is that Blanco could retire. His career may be done, and I'd have to imagine he won't get much PT next year. And his injuries are starting to mount. I'd settle for Koyie Hill as a backup (to Soto) next year if it meant Blanco retired or was DFA'd and Kendall was elsewhere.

 

I agree. I could almost see the Cubs and Blanco coming to a buyout decision with Henry moving into some sort of coaching position, possibly instructing minor league catchers or as a bullpen coach.

 

I would definitely settle for that sort of $700,000 catching situation, if it means investing millions in a real bat elsewhere.

I doubt that happens. The Cubs are stuck with Blanco, period. You won't see any buyouts at a discounted price.

[jersey cubs fan]

Nice to finally upgrade a position and not have to trade for them and/or overpay them.

 

Let Pie start as well, while they're at it.

 

I really like the idea of Pie and Murton in the OF with Soto behind the plate, a rotation that includes Hill and possibly Marshall, a bench that includes Theriot and Fontenot, and a bullpen with Marmol and maybe a guy like Hart. That's a lot of payroll cleared up for a SS upgrade.

 

I don't see alot of payroll being cleared up.

 

They owe an additional 20 mil worth of salary to Z, Soriano, Ramirez, Lilly, Marquis, and Derosa compared to '07. That's more than salaries of the FAs that would leave.

 

They'd have to unload salary to take on additional salary.

 

They already have to have a large increase to keep a somewhat similar roster, adding someone like Renteria/Tejada, without them taking on salary doesn't seem like it fits.

 

Which is unfort. b/c this team is still one (great/Arod) to 3 (good) players from becoming good enough to contend.

 

I would strongly consider dealing away Jones. I think Marquis might actually be tradeable. And a black horse candidate for money saving potential is DeRosa. He's had a nice year, but nice isn't what this team needs. He's basically a slightly over 100 OPS+ guy the last two years, but a bit below for his career. He'll be 33 as well. I don't think he's a lock to repeated his 2007, in which case, I'm not convinced the Cubs would be unable to get similar production out of Patterson, Theriot, Fontenot, Cedeno. Plus, I think DeRosa would actually be valued relatively high on the trade market, as opposed to being a salary dump. They could actually get something for him, and save some millions in return to spend on a real SS, RF or CF.