Cubs Sign Xavier Nady 1/3.3 with 2 in incentives

[Guest]

With an injury prone guy like Soriano in left and older players in center and right, having a guy on the bench who isn't a liability in the field is important, though. With the signing of Nady, if Soriano gets hurt for a month, we won't have to rely on only Fuld to replace him. If we had signed Dye, then we would have had the choice of starting Fuld every day or starting a DH in left every day.

 

Nady is the superior option for this team.

 

This would be fine if Nady wasn't injured himself. I'm reading reports that TJS takes a MINIMUM of 12-14 months to fully heal. Nady had the procedure last July. So if he can't hit we should have just went with Fuld as our 4th OFer.

Can you link to those reports for hitters? I seem to recall shortstops recovering from tjs much faster than that and they have much more strain in the field than Nady will have.

 

Most of the articles discussing Nady's TJS last summer gave the 12-14 month timeframe. This one gave a 12-18 month timeframe (fourth paragraph). I don't see anything saying its different for hitters.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090626&content_id=5543824&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb

hmm...

 

I don't particularly trust mlb.com very much as a source. It's possible that recovery time would be different than normal for the second surgery, I guess. But I'm pretty sure Hendry will have checked into this pretty deeply before committing that kind of cash.

 

Cue Hendry bashing reply in 3, 2, 1....

[Rob]

 

Should I post the math yet again that proves that if they have to play the field Sam Fuld is a better player than Jermaine Dye?

 

Nobody is supporting the idea of playing Dye fulltime.

 

Gomes or Nady are probably the best options for straight up platoon roles, but I think Dye is our best option to have around if one of the starting OF (Kosuke, Soriano, Byrd) goes down for an extended period of time and we need the 4th OF (Dye) to be starting nearly everyday against LH or RH pitching.

[dew1679666265]

hmm...

 

I don't particularly trust mlb.com very much as a source. It's possible that recovery time would be different than normal for the second surgery, I guess. But I'm pretty sure Hendry will have checked into this pretty deeply before committing that kind of cash.

 

Cue Hendry bashing reply in 3, 2, 1....

 

Yeah, that goes against everything I've ever heard. That said, I agree that Hendry almost certainly ran extensive checks on his health, so I'd think he's recovered or is on pace to be recovered. Or there was a reason why Hendry moved away from guys like Dye or Gomes.

[jersey cubs fan]

hmm...

 

I don't particularly trust mlb.com very much as a source. It's possible that recovery time would be different than normal for the second surgery, I guess. But I'm pretty sure Hendry will have checked into this pretty deeply before committing that kind of cash.

 

Cue Hendry bashing reply in 3, 2, 1....

 

Yeah, that goes against everything I've ever heard. That said, I agree that Hendry almost certainly ran extensive checks on his health, so I'd think he's recovered or is on pace to be recovered. Or there was a reason why Hendry moved away from guys like Dye or Gomes.

 

Considering the Cubs extensive history of players with TJS on their resume, I would think they'd be comfortable determining a guy's status.

[Sammy Sofa]

 

Should I post the math yet again that proves that if they have to play the field Sam Fuld is a better player than Jermaine Dye?

 

Nobody is supporting the idea of playing Dye fulltime.

 

Gomes or Nady are probably the best options for straight up platoon roles, but I think Dye is our best option to have around if one of the starting OF (Kosuke, Soriano, Byrd) goes down for an extended period of time and we need the 4th OF (Dye) to be starting nearly everyday against LH or RH pitching.

 

OK, that one dude was. The rest of us were discussing the idea of him in a platoon with Fukudome or off the bench against lefties, so don't freak out too much.

[dew1679666265]

hmm...

 

I don't particularly trust mlb.com very much as a source. It's possible that recovery time would be different than normal for the second surgery, I guess. But I'm pretty sure Hendry will have checked into this pretty deeply before committing that kind of cash.

 

Cue Hendry bashing reply in 3, 2, 1....

 

Yeah, that goes against everything I've ever heard. That said, I agree that Hendry almost certainly ran extensive checks on his health, so I'd think he's recovered or is on pace to be recovered. Or there was a reason why Hendry moved away from guys like Dye or Gomes.

 

Considering the Cubs extensive history of players with TJS on their resume, I would think they'd be comfortable determining a guy's status.

 

This is true.

[dew1679666265]

 

Should I post the math yet again that proves that if they have to play the field Sam Fuld is a better player than Jermaine Dye?

 

Nobody is supporting the idea of playing Dye fulltime.

 

Gomes or Nady are probably the best options for straight up platoon roles, but I think Dye is our best option to have around if one of the starting OF (Kosuke, Soriano, Byrd) goes down for an extended period of time and we need the 4th OF (Dye) to be starting nearly everyday against LH or RH pitching.

 

OK, that one dude was. The rest of us were discussing the idea of him in a platoon with Fukudome or off the bench against lefties, so don't freak out too much.

 

Again, though, with the age and injury history of our outfielders (specifically Soriano), there's a better than average chance that Dye would get every day playing time for at least a period of time.

[Rob]

 

Should I post the math yet again that proves that if they have to play the field Sam Fuld is a better player than Jermaine Dye?

 

Nobody is supporting the idea of playing Dye fulltime.

 

Gomes or Nady are probably the best options for straight up platoon roles, but I think Dye is our best option to have around if one of the starting OF (Kosuke, Soriano, Byrd) goes down for an extended period of time and we need the 4th OF (Dye) to be starting nearly everyday against LH or RH pitching.

 

OK, that one dude was. The rest of us were discussing the idea of him in a platoon with Fukudome or off the bench against lefties, so don't freak out too much.

 

Freak your mom out.

 

And bad jokes aside, the point remains the same. If you get somebody who can't play in the field, they become much less useful. Especially when the manager is Lou "Double Switch" Piniella and he's working with a really short bench so he can have more pitchers available than he'll ever use. All the while, Soriano is a real injury concern and we're likely to need a good 4th OF at least for a time.

Edited January 26, 2010 by Rob

[Sammy Sofa]

 

Should I post the math yet again that proves that if they have to play the field Sam Fuld is a better player than Jermaine Dye?

 

Nobody is supporting the idea of playing Dye fulltime.

 

Gomes or Nady are probably the best options for straight up platoon roles, but I think Dye is our best option to have around if one of the starting OF (Kosuke, Soriano, Byrd) goes down for an extended period of time and we need the 4th OF (Dye) to be starting nearly everyday against LH or RH pitching.

 

OK, that one dude was. The rest of us were discussing the idea of him in a platoon with Fukudome or off the bench against lefties, so don't freak out too much.

 

Again, though, with the age and injury history of our outfielders (specifically Soriano), there's a better than average chance that Dye would get every day playing time for at least a period of time.

 

Then sub Fuld & Hoff for the injured Soriano and keep Dye in a platoon/bench role. Is it ideal? Hell no, but it's not the end of the world if Dye was signed on the cheap as a platoon/backup/bench guy. He's still useful if used correctly.

[dew1679666265]

Then sub Fuld & Hoff for the injured Soriano and keep Dye in a platoon/bench role. Is it ideal? Hell no, but it's not the end of the world if Dye was signed on the cheap as a platoon/backup/bench guy. He's still useful if used correctly.

 

I agree that it's not the worst thing, but why limit your options with Dye when you can have a guy who can legitimately start some in Nady? Nady's a better option to start for an extended period of time than either Fuld or Dye, and is as good or better of a platoon option as Dye, so I don't see the interest in Dye at all.

[craig]

I want to trust that the Cubs have done their due diligence and expect him to be healthy, or at least healthy enough to hit even if he doesn't throw as well as formerly.

 

Career .792, and not counting last year (29AB), he's been .867, .805, and .790 the previous three seasons. If we get an .800+ guy as our 4th OFer for 3.3 guaranteed, that's pretty fair value.

 

Defense matters for anybody who's going to play the field, and the 4th OFer will. Possibly a lot. At least he'll platoon, but if Fuku, Soriano, Lee, or Byrd get hurt he could get expanded time. And if he's hitting well and Fuku or Byrd don't, he could also get expanded role even apart from injuries. Certainly he might not hit, and there is no certainty that he'll hit better than Fuku. But given that Fuku can be slumpy, having an option who might OPS around .800 if Fuku can't could be good.

 

I like his chances a lot better than Gomes.

 

I'm a naive optimist, so I assume they wouldn't do this without having optimistic medical evals on him.

 

Given the premise that health won't wreck him, he was ahead of Johnson, Dye, or Gomes on my preference list.

[Sammy Sofa]

Then sub Fuld & Hoff for the injured Soriano and keep Dye in a platoon/bench role. Is it ideal? Hell no, but it's not the end of the world if Dye was signed on the cheap as a platoon/backup/bench guy. He's still useful if used correctly.

 

I agree that it's not the worst thing, but why limit your options with Dye when you can have a guy who can legitimately start some in Nady? Nady's a better option to start for an extended period of time than either Fuld or Dye, and is as good or better of a platoon option as Dye, so I don't see the interest in Dye at all.

 

I didn't want Dye over Nady: my point is that it wouldn't have been the end of the world if they had gotten Dye on the cheap for a support role.

[dew1679666265]

Then sub Fuld & Hoff for the injured Soriano and keep Dye in a platoon/bench role. Is it ideal? Hell no, but it's not the end of the world if Dye was signed on the cheap as a platoon/backup/bench guy. He's still useful if used correctly.

 

I agree that it's not the worst thing, but why limit your options with Dye when you can have a guy who can legitimately start some in Nady? Nady's a better option to start for an extended period of time than either Fuld or Dye, and is as good or better of a platoon option as Dye, so I don't see the interest in Dye at all.

 

I didn't want Dye over Nady: my point is that it wouldn't have been the end of the world if they had gotten Dye on the cheap for a support role.

 

True, but Nady was a better option by quite a bit. I'd have also preferred Rob's idea (Spilborghs or Reed) over Dye.

[erik316wttn]

It's always nice to have some pop off the bench and someone who can fill in at multiple positions on the field. Solid move (for once) by Jim.

 

Is there any way to find out just how many games he has to play in for that option to vest?

[davell]

I like the move, assuming health obviously. It wouldn't shock me to see our 4th OFer get 400+ at bats and if he's healthy, I think Nady would do more with those at bats than any of the other guys. Plus, he can give Lee a break as well.

 

Now, go get Bedard on an incentive laden deal, sign a reliever if we feel we have to and head to spring training.

[erik316wttn]

I like the move, assuming health obviously. It wouldn't shock me to see our 4th OFer get 400+ at bats and if he's healthy, I think Nady would do more with those at bats than any of the other guys. Plus, he can give Lee a break as well.

 

Now, go get Bedard on an incentive laden deal, sign a reliever if we feel we have to and head to spring training.

 

If we do sign Bedard, I just hope we're still well in the race by the time he comes back and is effective. Same with Lilly.

 

I just fear our rotation until Lilly comes back, if he's even effective right away. If not, it could be a long April and May.

[dew1679666265]

I like the move, assuming health obviously. It wouldn't shock me to see our 4th OFer get 400+ at bats and if he's healthy, I think Nady would do more with those at bats than any of the other guys. Plus, he can give Lee a break as well.

 

Now, go get Bedard on an incentive laden deal, sign a reliever if we feel we have to and head to spring training.

 

If we do sign Bedard, I just hope we're still well in the race by the time he comes back and is effective. Same with Lilly.

 

I just fear our rotation until Lilly comes back, if he's even effective right away. If not, it could be a long April and May.

 

You could always go with a 1-year deal for Bedard with a team option for a second year. Then, even if we're out of the race when he returns (I strong doubt that), then we'll have him for next year when he's, hopefully, fully healthy.

[davell]

Guys, I've been looking and looking for anything on Bedard's health status. Does anyone have an update? I was thinking he was going to be ready to go in April, until someone said they thought he was out til possibly mid-year. Which, kind of makes sense, given the fact there appears to be little interest in him at this point(on the surface anyway)

[haubrich91]

Love the deal. Just gotta hope he's healthy, so this isn't dead money.

 

So...Hill, Fontenot/Baker, Blanco, Nady, Fuld/Hoffpauir/anyone else as a bench?

[Rob]

I like the move, assuming health obviously. It wouldn't shock me to see our 4th OFer get 400+ at bats and if he's healthy, I think Nady would do more with those at bats than any of the other guys. Plus, he can give Lee a break as well.

 

Now, go get Bedard on an incentive laden deal, sign a reliever if we feel we have to and head to spring training.

 

If we do sign Bedard, I just hope we're still well in the race by the time he comes back and is effective. Same with Lilly.

 

I just fear our rotation until Lilly comes back, if he's even effective right away. If not, it could be a long April and May.

 

I'm not too worried about April. Lou made a point at the Cubs Convention that we're likely to skip the 5th starter a couple times because of all the days off that month anyways.

[Butterscup1679666578]

ok i can't complain (for once)

[dew1679666265]

Guys, I've been looking and looking for anything on Bedard's health status. Does anyone have an update? I was thinking he was going to be ready to go in April, until someone said they thought he was out til possibly mid-year. Which, kind of makes sense, given the fact there appears to be little interest in him at this point(on the surface anyway)

 

I haven't been able to find anything on his healthy either. Somebody here mentioned in another thread that he'd be out til midyear and that's all I've heard. Like you said, though, given the complete lack of attention his way, that's likely accurate.

[Soul]

Wow, that seems like a smart signing. I like this. Is this the new Hendry?

 

If he pans out, it's extra power however we want to use it. If he doesn't, it's just one year so not much pain.

[pitchcs]

I am pretty happy with the Nady signing; I would much rather spend ~$4M on a very decent platoon player than an average middle reliever.

 

Liking the fact that he has shown the ability to hit with some power consistently and also to play on a consistent basis if needed. There were stretches in '08 when Nady was on an absolute tear w/Pit. If he gets hot you can play him in RF over Fuk or give Sori/Lee a day off. And when Nady gets hot, he's adding the extra power to the lineup that Reed wouldn't be able to provide. I feel like Nady's that short, powerful, Jake Fox type who can hit the ball out on a wind blowing in day.

 

Nady did have an abnormally high OBP in '08 w/Pit (.383), so hopefully he can get it up a bit from his .335 career AVG. But I don't worry about that as much with a platoon player if they can hit for power. Reed's good seasons were pretty dependent on his OBP.

 

Not too worried about the surgery either.

[cubsfan26]

I love this signing, going into the offseason I was hoping to keep Fukudome in CF and getting Nady for RF. The fact he will basically be the super sub and insurance/depth is even better. Nady was really improving as a hitter in 07-08 and is coming off his best year. Sure there's a risk involved with him missing last year and coming off Tommy John surgery, but without that we don't get this player for 3.3m and have him coming off the bench. Lets not forget in 2008 he hit 305/357/867 with 25 HR and 97 RBI's. If he hits anything like that, there's a chance Fukudome or Marlon Byrd could lose some playing time.