2B in 2010.

[Grit amp Heart]

Orlando Hudson (.291/.356/.425), Felipe Lopez (.309/.369/.427) and Chone Figgins (.310/.404/.406) will all be free agents next season. Hudson and Figgins will be thirty-two next season and Lopez will be thirty. Figgins hasn't played a lot of 2B in his career, but there's no reason he can't make the switch.

 

Of the three Hudson's probably the best overall player and I don't see him being available. I think Los Angeles will lock him up before he's on the open market. Lopez will probably be cheapest option. Figgins interests me. He'd allow us to stick him in the leadoff spot and let Soriano stay down in the order and not worry about having to steal bases coming off knee surgery. He also could back up Ramirez in an emergency and would make Reed Johnson worthless, as he can play CF on days where we face a tough lefty and let Baker play 2b. He would give us a lot of versatility if we face a rash of injuries again. He could in theory play 3B, 2B, SS, LF, RF and CF. The other alternative would be a Baker/Fontenot platoon, which probably isn't that bad of an idea.

[SouthSideRyan]

If Hendry's still around he's gonna spend way too much money on Figgins. Comcast studios will need a personal janitor to mop up Dave Kaplan's reaction.

[dew1679666265]

I wouldn't be interested at all in Lopez. Hudson would be my first option and Figgins intrigues me. Two of the past three seasons he's had OBPs of .393 and .404, but he's barely slugging .400 this year and he slugged .318 last year. He'll probably be too expensive, but for around what he makes this year ($5.7) I might think about a 1-2 year deal.

 

He also has a career 74% stolen base percentage, so he's probably a net plus on the basepaths as well. Though it's been just 71% and 72% the past two seasons.

[17 Seconds]

we need a shortstop. we can move theriot to 2b.

[Grit amp Heart]

You can live with a .288/.338/.386 shortstop as long as you're getting good production at other spots, which the Cubs would do. The league average SS has hit .269/.328/.392, so Theriot is average. You don't think Boston would love to have Theriot this year?

[Guest]

You can live with a .288/.338/.386 shortstop as long as you're getting good production at other spots, which the Cubs would do. The league average SS has hit .269/.328/.392, so Theriot is average. You don't think Boston would love to have Theriot this year?

I think that was supposed to be a comment on Theriot's defense more than his offense.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

If Theriot isn't starting at SS, then he's essentially Jeff Baker. You need someone else to get the necessary offense from 2B.

[17 Seconds]

You can live with a .288/.338/.386 shortstop as long as you're getting good production at other spots, which the Cubs would do. The league average SS has hit .269/.328/.392, so Theriot is average. You don't think Boston would love to have Theriot this year?

 

Theriot plays awful defense. He's not a shortstop.

 

And no, I don't think Boston would love to have Theriot's .720 OPS with terrible defense.

[Grit amp Heart]

His defense at short is average at worst. Maybe if you want to stretch t, slightly below average. Under no definition is his defense "terrible".

[17 Seconds]

His defense at short is average at worst. Maybe if you want to stretch t, slightly below average. Under no definition is his defense "terrible".

 

seriously?

[Bote McBoteface]

Figgins is pretty much already signed to play 2nd. I just hope the contract isnt terrible. Im not against the signing at all.

[Grit amp Heart]

His defense at short is average at worst. Maybe if you want to stretch t, slightly below average. Under no definition is his defense "terrible".

 

seriously?

 

Yes.

[17 Seconds]

i thought that even the most loyal theriot supporters admitted his defense sucks

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Baker will put up a line of 305/395/580 next year. Book it. He is the next coming.

[CubbieBum]

i thought that even the most loyal theriot supporters admitted his defense sucks

 

His defense is by no means good but its not terrible and doesn't suck. Its below average but suck and terrible are in a different category. At least to me that is.

[Halman]

His defense at short is average at worst. Maybe if you want to stretch t, slightly below average. Under no definition is his defense "terrible".

 

Agreed, Same with Jeter. :roll:

[wvcbxl]

Baker will put up a line of 305/395/580 next year. Book it. He is the next coming.

 

Sounds like something Hendry will say after the budget discussions.

[TruffleShuffle]

theriot has below-average range and his arm is a little below average but he makes up for it by being sure handed and reading balls well off the bat. the sum makes him average, which is supported by most of the defensive metrics out there, but people have this idea that he's atrocious defensively so they jump on him for not getting to bouncers that ozzie smith in his prime could not have reached.

 

if he's "awful" and "terrible" let's see some statistical support for that notion.

[Tracer Bullet]

He may or may not be average, but are defensive metrics suddenly irrefutable proof of anything?

[TruffleShuffle]

He may or may not be average, but are defensive metrics suddenly irrefutable proof of anything?

 

no but when the vast majority of them have him close to average, and that meshes with how i regard him, i'm inclined to take that over the declarations of dexter morgan.

[illiniguy]

theriot has below-average range and his arm is a little below average but he makes up for it by being sure handed and reading balls well off the bat. the sum makes him average, which is supported by most of the defensive metrics out there, but people have this idea that he's atrocious defensively so they jump on him for not getting to bouncers that ozzie smith in his prime could not have reached.

 

if he's "awful" and "terrible" let's see some statistical support for that notion.

I'm not arguing, but if we could pursue a really good shortstop and then slide him to 2B, wouldn't that be win win?

 

Kick the tires on Jose Reyes. I wonder if the pricetag on him has come down a bit.

[muntjack]

 

Kick the tires on Jose Reyes. I wonder if the pricetag on him has come down a bit.

 

 

I would hope. People used to talk about him like he was the most valuable player in the league, which he never was. Career OPS of .772. I'd rather wait on Castro.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

Kick the tires on Jose Reyes. I wonder if the pricetag on him has come down a bit.

 

 

I would hope. People used to talk about him like he was the most valuable player in the league, which he never was. Career OPS of .772. I'd rather wait on Castro.

 

Those career numbers are weighed down by his first few seasons in the league when he was 20, 21, and 22 years old. The 3 previous years he OPSed .841, .775, and .833, plus 60 steals at a good clip, plus good defense at the most important defensive position on the field.

[Geech]

His defense at short is average at worst. Maybe if you want to stretch t, slightly below average. Under no definition is his defense "terrible".

 

seriously?

 

Seriously. Plus/minus has him above average at shortstop for the past three seasons. While defensive metrics may not be perfect, there's no question that I trust their methodology more than your jaundiced perceptions.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Brian Roberts. If not, probably Jeff Baker and Mike Fontenot.