Cubs sign Aaron Miles per Levine

[David]

From a backup middle IF? a .330~ OBP is probably acceptable.

 

Plus he might be a decent (Reed-esque) platoon partner for Fontenot.

 

w/e... this deal makes me sort of excited only to the extent that it seems to signal that DeRo is on his way out which could very well signal that Peavy is on his way in.

[BigbadB]

Surprisingly Miles is not terrible for a backup. It looks like he can play everywhere, and he gets on base at a decent clip. He is actually a pretty good signing for a bench player. I'm not sure that $2.5MM a year is reasonable for a bench player though.

 

The amount of money he is getting is what alarms me. I'm fine with him as a back up as a percursor to a Peavy deal. If all of this is not for Peavy, then I'm pissed.

[AZCub]

This is obviously a precursor to DeRosa/Cedeno being shipped out.

 

I think the acquisition of Jake Peavy would make me feel better about signing Aaron Miles…Fontenot becomes the starter, Miles is a decent backup, and our rotation is balls deep.

[UK1679666180]

Wow, I was literally just looking at 2B free agents and Miles was the name that set off a lightbulb in my head as I looked for a guy that could possibly play IF and OF as a backup in case of Derosa leaving. Miles can play 2B, SS, and all 3 OF positions. I think this clearly signals the end of the Mark Derosa era (though the Cubs could use Miles as a backup SS even w/ Derosa).

 

This signing fills the need for a backup MIF. The only problem is that Aaron Miles isn't very good.

 

How many backup middle infielders are good?

 

I don't know what his defense is like, but I'll take a .329 OBP from that spot.

 

Fontenot was a good backup middle IF.

 

And I don't think a .329 OBP is acceptable in any spot.

 

I woulda rather had Grudz come back.

 

Cedeno looks as if he is further down that depth chart, prob. should be included as a PTBNL at this point rather than compete with Pie/Gathright as the 25th man.

[RammyFanny]

Ryan Theriot with more versatility? Career year at age 31 who switch hits, Jim Hendry come on down, you're the next contestent on the Price Is Wrong, Bi***!

 

Would you rather him sign Orlando Hudson and not have any money left for Bradley or Peavy? Its a decent move if derosa is indeed gone, what else would you have done to replace derosa and get a utility man. Too many wanna be GMs on this board. Give Jim some slack if its a move toward peavy. If its not than i'll eat my words and apologize.

My thoughts. I can live with Fontenot/Miles if our rotation is completely stacked.

[laurens]

He can play middle infield AND he can pitch :lol:

[apete6]

If we don't get Peavy, Jim Hendry just essentially let Kerry Wood ($10mill) go and replaced him with Aaron Miles ($2.5mill), Kevin Gregg($5mill), Joey Gathright($800K), and (likely $1.5mill) a backup catcher.

 

Awesomeness.

 

I would have preferred Wood, Koyie Hill, and 2 homeless guys.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

Ryan Theriot with more versatility? Career year at age 31 who switch hits, Jim Hendry come on down, you're the next contestent on the Price Is Wrong, Bi***!

 

Would you rather him sign Orlando Hudson and not have any money left for Bradley or Peavy? Its a decent move if derosa is indeed gone, what else would you have done to replace derosa and get a utility man. Too many wanna be GMs on this board. Give Jim some slack if its a move toward peavy. If its not than i'll eat my words and apologize.

 

Needed to move Derosa to get Peavy and finding another plan, instead of giving a shatty bench player too much coin, are mutually exclusive events.

[UK1679666180]

Am I the only one with reservations with Fontenot becoming the starting 2B?

[AZCub]

It'd be even more awesome of Jimbo somehow found a way to not ship DeRo, and this is us signing a guy to back Theriot at SS as we deal Cedeno to the Pads.

 

Wishful thinking. :(

[wekse]

F*** me.

[AZCub]

Am I the only one with reservations with Fontenot becoming the starting 2B?

 

No...but our lineup was already one of the best in the league last year, and we are presumably adding Milton Bradley to it...so Fontenot is a 7/8 hitter anyways. I'm not too worried about it at that point.

[JWCUB]

Like I said, I think it was 2 years 5 Million. My radio was cutting in and out. Unless someone else can verify it, don't quote me on the contract.

[RammyFanny]

Am I the only one with reservations with Fontenot becoming the starting 2B?

 

No...but our lineup was already one of the best in the league last year, and we are presumably adding Milton Bradley to it...so Fontenot is a 7/8 hitter anyways. I'm not too worried about it at that point.

Again, my thoughts exactly.

[rchap24]

Am I the only one with reservations with Fontenot becoming the starting 2B?

 

No...but our lineup was already one of the best in the league last year, and we are presumably adding Milton Bradley to it...so Fontenot is a 7/8 hitter anyways. I'm not too worried about it at that point.

Again, my thoughts exactly.

 

All the reports were saying the Marquis money would be going towards signing Bradley...So does that hurt our chances for Bradley?

[cubsfan26]

Seems like alot per year for Miles, but he's obviously a replacement for DeRosa. There's no way the Cubs spend 2.5m per season on a middle infielder, if they have DeRosa on the roster.

[UK1679666180]

Am I the only one with reservations with Fontenot becoming the starting 2B?

 

No...but our lineup was already one of the best in the league last year, and we are presumably adding Milton Bradley to it...so Fontenot is a 7/8 hitter anyways. I'm not too worried about it at that point.

 

If Bradley can produce what Edmonds/Johnson did last year, I'd be more optimistic.

 

I'm still skeptical of Theriot, Fontenot, Fukudome, and the SP at this stage as one of those guys is your 6th best hitter. There is plenty riding on Soriano and Soto this year.

[rawaction]

Am I the only one with reservations with Fontenot becoming the starting 2B?

 

No. I think Fontenot was perfect in the role he was in last year. He got 275 PAs and performed at a high level. I think you can even take that number to 350-400. But if you're talking about 500+ PAs for him, I don't trust him to put up the same numbers.

 

I would have prefered a guy that can be an above average starting 2B if Fontenot busts or gets injured. Barmes, Felipe Lopez, Grudzielanek, maybe even (gulp!) Jerry Hairston Jr.

[rchap24]

I don't mind the spending on Miles if

 

We sign Bradley

and

We trade for Peavy

[cubsfan26]

Am I the only one with reservations with Fontenot becoming the starting 2B?

 

No...but our lineup was already one of the best in the league last year, and we are presumably adding Milton Bradley to it...so Fontenot is a 7/8 hitter anyways. I'm not too worried about it at that point.

Again, my thoughts exactly.

 

All the reports were saying the Marquis money would be going towards signing Bradley...So does that hurt our chances for Bradley?

 

 

I'm sure signing Aaron Miles isn't gonna cost us from doing anything else we wanna do this offseason. He was signed as a replacement for DeRosa. Otherwise it makes no sense to spend a good amount of money on a middle infielder, who won't get much playing time. Because you would think on the roster now he would be playing behind DeRosa, Theriot and Fontenot, unless one of those guys are traded.

[rocket]

it's not april 1st yet guys.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Interestingly bad move.

[rchap24]

also looking at his stats he's really only had one bad year in 2006...His numbers aren't that bad for a middle infielder type of platoon on our team

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

also looking at his stats he's really only had one bad year in 2006...

LOL.

[UK1679666180]

Am I the only one with reservations with Fontenot becoming the starting 2B?

 

No. I think Fontenot was perfect in the role he was in last year. He got 275 PAs and performed at a high level. I think you can even take that number to 350-400. But if you're talking about 500+ PAs for him, I don't trust him to put up the same numbers.

 

I would have prefered a guy that can be an above average starting 2B if Fontenot busts or gets injured. Barmes, Felipe Lopez, Grudzielanek, maybe even (gulp!) Jerry Hairston Jr.

 

Agreed.

 

He was an ideal match-up guy as far as playing him against RH'ers as well as coming off the bench.