Cubs sign Aaron Miles per Levine

[jersey cubs fan]

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

 

No. I was hoping for a platoon, and this is probably what's going to happen with Miles.

[rocket]

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

 

are you serious? he was horrible every season from 2004-2007. his last season was his only acceptable season.

 

look beyond batting average.

[CUBZ99]

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.

 

It's reasonable for a bench player that provides some sort of value, by doing something really well. But does Miles do anything really well? I don't think so. His career seems like definition of replacement level production.

 

Depends on what your definition of "really well" is. His last three year splits have him getting on base at a .374 clip against LHP. That would be a nice compliment to Fontenot, who thrives off of RHP. Also, he does some value in that he can adequately play almost any position on the field. I'm not arguing that he is a great signing, just that he is a decent option off the bench.

[jersey cubs fan]

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

 

His only non-bad year was 2008.

[Bruce Miles]

Time for Miles to write a column about signing Miles. :D

 

Guess I can get that jersey with my name on it now.

[cubsfan26]

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

 

 

 

Yeah he's a fine bench/platoon player, personally I think 2.5m per season is a little high. But he made 1.4m last year after hitting 290/328/676 in 07, so he was gonna get a raise after hitting 317/355/753. Actually I'm pretty excited about this move, because I don't think it happens unless we have a deal in the works. Because spending 2.5m on Miles makes no sense with DeRosa, Fontenot and Theriot around, so one of those guys will be gone soon.

[rchap24]

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.

 

It's reasonable for a bench player that provides some sort of value, by doing something really well. But does Miles do anything really well? I don't think so. His career seems like definition of replacement level production.

 

Depends on what your definition of "really well" is. His last three year splits have him getting on base at a .374 clip against LHP. That would be a nice compliment to Fontenot, who thrives off of RHP. Also, he does some value in that he can adequately play almost any position on the field. I'm not arguing that he is a great signing, just that he is a decent option off the bench.

 

That's what I meant...They were spectacular numbers, but they weren't god awful and he'll be a nice platoon with Fontenot against LHP

[kujay]

So has anyone seen/heard this anywhere else? Seems like it's gonna be an interesting few days here. Marquis and DeRosa moving out, Bradley in...still not sure any of it links in with Peavy though.

[Banedon]

Time for Miles to write a column about signing Miles. :D

 

Guess I can get that jersey with my name on it now.

 

If only the Cubs would trade for Jay Bruce.

[rchap24]

So has anyone seen/heard this anywhere else? Seems like it's gonna be an interesting few days here. Marquis and DeRosa moving out, Bradley in...still not sure any of it links in with Peavy though.

 

And if that all goes down and we add Peavy that I really don't mind this move...yeah the money is a little high, but its not ridiculous as previously stated after having a career year

[Banedon]

So has anyone seen/heard this anywhere else? Seems like it's gonna be an interesting few days here. Marquis and DeRosa moving out, Bradley in...still not sure any of it links in with Peavy though.

 

Looks like Bruce didn't exactly shoot it down a few posts back.

[kujay]

So has anyone seen/heard this anywhere else? Seems like it's gonna be an interesting few days here. Marquis and DeRosa moving out, Bradley in...still not sure any of it links in with Peavy though.

 

Looks like Bruce didn't exactly shoot it down a few posts back.

 

Just saw his post and thought the same thing.

[BigbadB]

Time for Miles to write a column about signing Miles. :D

 

Guess I can get that jersey with my name on it now.

 

Better hurry. Those are sure to sell like hotcakes.

[kujay]

So has anyone seen/heard this anywhere else? Seems like it's gonna be an interesting few days here. Marquis and DeRosa moving out, Bradley in...still not sure any of it links in with Peavy though.

 

And if that all goes down and we add Peavy that I really don't mind this move...yeah the money is a little high, but its not ridiculous as previously stated after having a career year

 

Right, but I think one may have nothing to do with the other. Marquis and DeRosa are salary moving trades to set up to sign Miles and Bradley.

 

Don't see the connection with Peavy, though perhaps it clears up the ability to trade Cedeno. If we ever really needed him.

[Clem Fandango]

Time for Miles to write a column about signing Miles. :D

 

Guess I can get that jersey with my name on it now.

 

Better hurry. Those are sure to sell like hotcakes.

 

Like hotcakes made out of motor oil and soot

[Banedon]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1356723,cst-spt-cubs-miles31.article

[rchap24]

So has anyone seen/heard this anywhere else? Seems like it's gonna be an interesting few days here. Marquis and DeRosa moving out, Bradley in...still not sure any of it links in with Peavy though.

 

And if that all goes down and we add Peavy that I really don't mind this move...yeah the money is a little high, but its not ridiculous as previously stated after having a career year

 

Right, but I think one may have nothing to do with the other. Marquis and DeRosa are salary moving trades to set up to sign Miles and Bradley.

 

Don't see the connection with Peavy, though perhaps it clears up the ability to trade Cedeno. If we ever really needed him.

 

Where do you think DeRosa is going then?

[AZCub]

Time for Miles to write a column about signing Miles. :D

 

Guess I can get that jersey with my name on it now.

 

If only the Cubs would trade for Jay Bruce.

 

Any chance the Cubs sign a guy named Kozlowski? Otherwise I'm screwed...

[jersey cubs fan]

So has anyone seen/heard this anywhere else? Seems like it's gonna be an interesting few days here. Marquis and DeRosa moving out, Bradley in...still not sure any of it links in with Peavy though.

 

And if that all goes down and we add Peavy that I really don't mind this move...yeah the money is a little high, but its not ridiculous as previously stated after having a career year

 

The career year part is the problem. He had a career year at 31. It was a very mediocre year, but why overpay for career years from guys who have had poor careers, especially those who are past 30?

[Post Count Padder]

You've gotta be *****ing me.

[Backtobanks]

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.

 

Surely you realize that signing Miles is a precursor to everything else happening. Trading DeRosa gets us the prospects we need to trade for Peavy and someone has to replace DeRosa. Also, Wood's deal is for $20 million (over 2 years), so that would limit options for 2009 and 2010.

[kujay]

So has anyone seen/heard this anywhere else? Seems like it's gonna be an interesting few days here. Marquis and DeRosa moving out, Bradley in...still not sure any of it links in with Peavy though.

 

And if that all goes down and we add Peavy that I really don't mind this move...yeah the money is a little high, but its not ridiculous as previously stated after having a career year

 

Right, but I think one may have nothing to do with the other. Marquis and DeRosa are salary moving trades to set up to sign Miles and Bradley.

 

Don't see the connection with Peavy, though perhaps it clears up the ability to trade Cedeno. If we ever really needed him.

 

Where do you think DeRosa is going then?

 

Perhaps. And I guess the other thing I forgot is that we could be sending prospects we get for DeRo to San Diego.

 

So, I guess there isn't a literal connection, dude...

[rchap24]

So has anyone seen/heard this anywhere else? Seems like it's gonna be an interesting few days here. Marquis and DeRosa moving out, Bradley in...still not sure any of it links in with Peavy though.

 

And if that all goes down and we add Peavy that I really don't mind this move...yeah the money is a little high, but its not ridiculous as previously stated after having a career year

 

Right, but I think one may have nothing to do with the other. Marquis and DeRosa are salary moving trades to set up to sign Miles and Bradley.

 

Don't see the connection with Peavy, though perhaps it clears up the ability to trade Cedeno. If we ever really needed him.

 

Where do you think DeRosa is going then?

 

Perhaps. And I guess the other thing I forgot is that we could be sending prospects we get for DeRo to San Diego.

 

So, I guess there isn't a literal connection, dude...

 

No I was actually asking where you guys think DeRosa will get traded if not to San Diego?

[Mephistopheles]

You can never have enough backup secondbasemen. With Fontenot, Cedeno, Soriano and Miles we have four in case Lou runs through his classic double switch fiascos late in a critical 24 inning game in the playoffs, provided we don't trade DeRosa. Kudos for Hendry to keep his forward-thinking up.

[CubColtPacer]

Interesting.

 

For a middle infielder, he has average OBP skills. Below average power. Overall a below average offensive player. I'm pretty sure he is rated at being very solid defensively (I know the Cardinals saw him as a strong middle infielder defensively). Overall, an average middle infielder.

 

If DeRosa or Cedeno isn't traded, this is the end of the road for Cedeno. I don't see that as likely though. More likely is that DeRosa is traded, which means that Miles is on the bench so that the Cubs can use another bench spot on a player with very few positions (Hoffpauir) along with more depth. He would probably instantly slide in as the backup at 3B, where I don't think the Cubs trust either Cedeno or Fontenot defensively.

 

Miles is a solid player to have on the bench. I'm not sure that's worth 2.2 million, but he has value to the ballclub if DeRosa is traded. He's never going to be a guy that is going to be very popular because he isn't very good. But he's good insurance that the Cubs will be turning to a "meh" kind of guy when having an injury rather that a likely horrible one.