Cubs interested in Nady?

[A-Cal]

Cubs Interested In Xavier Nady

By Tim Dierkes [January 18 at 1:52pm CST]

The Cubs are interested in outfielder Xavier Nady, writes Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Nady's agent, Scott Boras, told Morosi his client is on schedule to be ready for Spring Training after July Tommy John surgery. With Nady and Jermaine Dye reportedly on the Cubs' radar, they appear to be setting their sights a little higher for their fourth outfielder role.

 

The Yankees and Braves are two other clubs that have been linked to Nady, with previous suitors such as the Cardinals and Rangers going in different directions.

[dew1679666265]

For a cheap contract and if he's healthy, I'd be interested.

 

Career #s v lefties: .308/ .383/.471/.854

[A-Cal]

TJS is different for hitters and pitchers, right?

 

Am I correct to guess that there should be less concern with Nady as opposed to a pitcher, given the timeline since operation?

[dew1679666265]

TJS is different for hitters and pitchers, right?

 

Am I correct to guess that there should be less concern with Nady as opposed to a pitcher, given the timeline since operation?

 

I really can't say for sure. I think you're right, but don't take me as in any way authoritative.

[Cubswin11]

How does Nady compare to Dye defensively? IIRC he was just ok with the Pirates and Yankees in the OF, could be wrong though.

[JonJayCutler]

I'm glad we're at least exploring some options for a 4th OFer instead of just handing the job to Fuld.

[Rob]

How does Nady compare to Dye defensively? IIRC he was just ok with the Pirates and Yankees in the OF, could be wrong though.

 

He's pretty bad.

 

Yet he's still far, far better than Dye.

[Cubbie Swagger]

If we spend a bunch of money on a 4th outfielder, and leave ourselves with a massive hole in our starting rotation...

 

Oh God... I don't even wanna think about it.

[dew1679666265]

If we spend a bunch of money on a 4th outfielder, and leave ourselves with a massive hole in our starting rotation...

 

Oh God... I don't even wanna think about it.

 

Nady's not a likely candidate to get big money as a fourth OF. And keep in mind, with the likely platoon in right field, the fourth OF would get more ABs than most 4th OFs would.

 

I also don't think we have a "massive" hole in our rotation. I'd only be interested in a top-of-the-line potential starter (a Bedard or Sheets). We have plenty of middle of the road type starters.

Edited January 18, 2010 by dew

[YearofDaCubs]

At the right price this would be a solid move.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I'm glad we're at least exploring some options for a 4th OFer instead of just handing the job to Fuld.

 

If we had a healthy Xavier Nady, as far as Im concerned, Marlon Byrds our 4th outfielder.

[Sammy Sofa]

If we spend a bunch of money on a 4th outfielder, and leave ourselves with a massive hole in our starting rotation...

 

Oh God... I don't even wanna think about it.

 

What massive hole in the rotation? It definitely could use another quality starter if one can be had, but it's not like the Cubs are short of options of guys who are likely to be capable starters (Silva aside).

[Post Count Padder]

If he's healthy and doesn't command a lot of money on a one-year deal, I'd be all for it. He could give us a .275/.330/.450 ish line off the bench, which isn't bad and better than Fuld. And he could play outfield and first base.

 

Referring to an earlier post, he's not a great defender, but he's much better than Dye.

[dew1679666265]

I'm glad we're at least exploring some options for a 4th OFer instead of just handing the job to Fuld.

 

If we had a healthy Xavier Nady, as far as Im concerned, Marlon Byrds our 4th outfielder.

 

Not at all. Nady and Byrd are somewhat similar offensively, but Byrd is an average center fielder defensively, whereas Nady is not a very good defensive right fielder. Defense makes Byrd better than Nady, especially considering Nady's coming off an injury.

[haubrich91]

This would be a solid pick-up. I don't think Nady should be commanding too much, coming off the injury and surgery. We'll see what happens with good ole' Jim.

[Cubswin11]

This would be a solid pick-up. I don't think Nady should be commanding too much, coming off the injury and surgery. We'll see what happens with good ole' Jim.

I agree at this point in the offseason nobody is going to be giving him a big deal, it's in his best interest to take a 1 yr. deal and re-establish his value and then he could maybe look for a 3-4 year deal. He does have Boras as his agent which means he will probably want to start at 2yr. $20m for negotiations.

[Wrigley Rat]

I'm glad we're at least exploring some options for a 4th OFer instead of just handing the job to Fuld.

Except he will be handed the 5th OFer job, which is pretty much the same thing. He was never going to platoon with Fukudome, since they are both lefties.

[dew1679666265]

I'm glad we're at least exploring some options for a 4th OFer instead of just handing the job to Fuld.

Except he will be handed the 5th OFer job, which is pretty much the same thing. He was never going to platoon with Fukudome, since they are both lefties.

 

I'm perfectly fine with Fuld as the 5th OF. Excellent defender with a so-so bat and cheap - you're really not going to get better than Fuld in that spot without vastly overpaying.

[JonJayCutler]

I'm glad we're at least exploring some options for a 4th OFer instead of just handing the job to Fuld.

Except he will be handed the 5th OFer job, which is pretty much the same thing. He was never going to platoon with Fukudome, since they are both lefties.

 

Hopefully the fact that Hoffpauir can play OF too will keep Fuld off the roster. Doubtful though.

[jersey cubs fan]

If we spend a bunch of money on a 4th outfielder, and leave ourselves with a massive hole in our starting rotation...

 

Oh God... I don't even wanna think about it.

 

What massive hole in the rotation? It definitely could use another quality starter if one can be had, but it's not like the Cubs are short of options of guys who are likely to be capable starters (Silva aside).

 

I don't know if it's massive, but the hole is substantial. They lost Harden and will be without the services of Lilly to start, and then it's unclear how well he will rebound when he returns. They will start the year with Dempster and Zambrano, and then a bunch of questions. Wells came out of nowhere last year, but can he repeat? Samardzija sucks. Marshall has been decent but for some reason they've shown very little interest in actually starting him. Silva is terrible. Gorzelanny is questionable. Who am I missing?

 

Even if you assume Wells wasn't a mirage, that's still 2 holes to open the season, 1 of which is filling the shoes of Rich Harden. They've got bodies, but all of them have reasonable doubt.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'll wait until the holes actually exist to declare them holes.

 

I'd love it if the Cubs would pick up Sheets, and I wish they had held onto Harden, but as it stands right now the rotation is questionable and not riddled with "massive holes."

[jersey cubs fan]

I'll wait until the holes actually exist to declare them holes.

 

They already exist. Lilly is out, Harden is gone, and the cast of characters to replace them is weak. We know Lilly is out after surgery, we don't know that he'll return to form. Waiting for them to clearly be massive would be a pretty reckless way of dealing with the situation. By then it's too late.

[Sammy Sofa]

Harden is gone and Lilly will be out and Wells will be going into his second year. Those all open up question marks. If the Cubs had nothing but Silvas available to fill the gap, yes, then they've got massive holes in the lineup. Fortunately, they don't. I'm not saying it's a lock people are going to step in and be amazing, but it's likely that they end up with a very average rotation. Is that ideal or what I want? Do I want them to do nothing if reasonable options are out there to help bolster the rotation? Of course not; but someone declaring that the Cubs need to approach Sheets like they have a "massive holes" in the rotation is implying that they need to go into it with a desperate mentality that leads to bad contracts for the wrong people. No thanks. Edited January 19, 2010 by Sammy Sofa

[Peoriaman]

Nady is an average outfielder and a good first baseman. A better hitter and fielder than Dye. He will cost more also.

[dew1679666265]

I'll wait until the holes actually exist to declare them holes.

 

They already exist. Lilly is out, Harden is gone, and the cast of characters to replace them is weak. We know Lilly is out after surgery, we don't know that he'll return to form. Waiting for them to clearly be massive would be a pretty reckless way of dealing with the situation. By then it's too late.

 

I don't think the answer to that is bringing in 1-2 more averagish guys. If they targeted a Bedard or Sheets, that'd be fine by me. But we don't need more rotation filler as much as we could use another top of the line type starter.

 

Problem is, we probably don't have the cash at this point to bring in that top of the line guy, so there's little we can do right now about the rotation.