Soto a starter in 2008?

[CuseCubFan69]

Unless Lou talks him out of it, watch Hendry trade for Pudge now that the Tigers have picked up his 13 for 2008.

[CUBZ99]

Unless Lou talks him out of it, watch Hendry trade for Pudge now that the Tigers have picked up his 13 for 2008.

 

Maybe Hendry will go after Posada

[TruffleShuffle]

The only way I don't have Soto as the starter next season is if Posada could be lured away from New York.

 

I don't see Posada leaving the Bronx, and I don't really see the point in the Cubs spending $10-15M on a catcher when there's already a pretty good one here waiting at the league minimum. Address the weaknesses at other positions where there aren't as good options.

[CuseCubFan69]

Unless Lou talks him out of it, watch Hendry trade for Pudge now that the Tigers have picked up his 13 for 2008.

 

Maybe Hendry will go after Posada

 

I hope he doesn't do that either but you're right, that's possible. I hope Lou hearts Soto.

[CubinNY]

Posada will be 36 next season and coming off of a near career year. Can the Cubs please not sign another aging vet hoping to get lucky?

[Guest]

The only way I don't have Soto as the starter next season is if Posada could be lured away from New York.

 

I don't see Posada leaving the Bronx, and I don't really see the point in the Cubs spending $10-15M on a catcher when there's already a pretty good one here waiting at the league minimum. Address the weaknesses at other positions where there aren't as good options.

 

Not to mention that Posada is 36 and I doubt he takes a one year deal which would be the longest deal I'd guarantee him (would mind including a club option for a second year). Long term deals to catchers in their 30's are generally not a good idea.

[Guest]

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.

 

What makes you think that Patterson, Theriot, Fontenot, and Cedeno could give the same production as DeRosa? While Patterson has basically no AB's at the ML level (he had 8 this year), the other three have all been given extended, consistent playing time and have failed to get it done. DeRosa put up a .792 OPS this year. Theriot played the whole year and put up a .672. Fontenot finished with a .738 OPS but hasn't done a thing since June ended and had a line of .214/.293/.253/.546 from July 1 through the end of the year. Cedeno still hasn't been able to get it done at the ML level.