Will Lee and Ramirez be back in 2011?

[KingCubsFan]

Lee being Right handed adds to this equation and would allow for Hendry to get a LH Bat from a typically LH position. Overbay here we come

 

I agree with you on the lefty bat thing, but I'd probably guess Carlos Pena.

Adam LaRoche seems like Hendry's kind of player

[Cubswin11]

If for whatever reason Lee isn't brought back Overbay on a 1-2 year deal wouldn't be horrible, he is going to likely be cheaper than Lee and Pena and would be a decent short term fix at 1B until we could find a long term fit. Question? If Dunn shows he can play a serviceable 1B this year defensively, at least not the -60 or whatever he is in the OF, would you guys want him to be brought in to play 1B?

Lee has clearly been very productive for us and a big part of the organization over the last few years, but if Hendry feels we need to be more lefthanded it seems as though 1B in this coming offseason is clearly the position that has the most available options of LH hitters that can be around as productive as Lee.

[biittner77]

Another priority for Hendry and Piniella has been to get more athletic ie fast. Move Soriano to first and get a LH lf with some speed. In a perfect world Tyler Colvin emerges as that guy after a healthy successful full year at AAA. That doesn't solve the need for a LH power bat but it may be a direct they decide to go in.

 

I'm not suggesting it's a good option but it would be a cheap one.

[jersey cubs fan]

Another priority for Hendry and Piniella has been to get more athletic ie fast. Move Soriano to first and get a LH lf with some speed. In a perfect world Tyler Colvin emerges as that guy after a healthy successful full year at AAA. That doesn't solve the need for a LH power bat but it may be a direct they decide to go in.

 

I'm not suggesting it's a good option but it would be a cheap one.

 

So replace Lee with Colvin? That is not only not a good option, it's not an option.

 

Soriano at first? The other fielders are going to be pissed at all the errors they get when he hops to catch their throws.

[Guest]

My thoughts on the original topic were expressed in December.

[Soul]

Move Soriano to first

 

I've never heard that as a suggestion before. My intial impression is that it's pretty radical.

[Cubswin11]

Moving Soriano to 1B would presumably allow us to sign Crawford, Hawpe, or Kubel for LF. As opposed to keeping Soriano in LF and keeping Lee at 1B or signing Berkman, Dunn, Overbay, Pena or the outside chance of a trade for Gonzalez if he isn't traded during this season.

Both options let us get more left handed, while Crawford would be the only guy that would help us get more athletic/fast. He will be 30 though so his speed/athleticism will likely be on the decline through his next contract. The rest of the guys would probably come close to or exceed Lee's production/power numbers.

Edited March 3, 2010 by Cubswin11

[Soul]

It sounds interesting. I'm just not sure Soriano would ever be a good 1B. There would definitely be a dropoff from Lee, I'm just not sure how much.

[scarey]

I was thinking about Soriano to first at some point in his contract the other day. Why not next year?

 

I understand we've grown to be spoiled by Lee's defense at first, but first base is not exactly known to have premiere defenders league wide. Hell, we've already brought up the idea of Dunn playing there. We know he at least has fielded ground balls at one point in his career. My thought is if guys like Konerko, Delgado, and Dunn can play first, surely a guy who at one time played 2nd base can play there.

 

The other idea would be Nady to first base. We'll have to see how he plays this year though.

[jersey cubs fan]

I was thinking about Soriano to first at some point in his contract the other day. Why not next year?

 

I understand we've grown to be spoiled by Lee's defense at first, but first base is not exactly known to have premiere defenders league wide. Hell, we've already brought up the idea of Dunn playing there. We know he at least has fielded ground balls at one point in his career. My thought is if guys like Konerko, Delgado, and Dunn can play first, surely a guy who at one time played 2nd base can play there.

 

The other idea would be Nady to first base. We'll have to see how he plays this year though.

 

It would help to have a 1B who can actually hit though, especially if they bring nothing to the table defensively.

[C.C.]

Soriano with this stupid hop at 1st base is not a good combination.

[swordsman]

I seem to recall too that folks were saying how much better Lee made Ramirez appear because of his size and ability to get balls Rammy airmails over to first. Is that still the conventional wisdom or not?

[Cubswin11]

I was thinking about Soriano to first at some point in his contract the other day. Why not next year?

 

I understand we've grown to be spoiled by Lee's defense at first, but first base is not exactly known to have premiere defenders league wide. Hell, we've already brought up the idea of Dunn playing there. We know he at least has fielded ground balls at one point in his career. My thought is if guys like Konerko, Delgado, and Dunn can play first, surely a guy who at one time played 2nd base can play there.

 

The other idea would be Nady to first base. We'll have to see how he plays this year though.

 

It would help to have a 1B who can actually hit though, especially if they bring nothing to the table defensively.

If Soriano moved to 1B I don't think it would be out of the question he could return to 30-35 HR form. The amount of wear and tear on his knees/quad/calf moving from LF to 1B would decrease dramatically and he could probably stay healthy a lot easier. He could also probably focus on "bulking up" a bit and adding more weight and muscle as he wouldn't need to use his speed at 1B and it seems he is coming to terms that he is no longer a base stealer.

[jersey cubs fan]

If Soriano moved to 1B I don't think it would be out of the question he could return to 30-35 HR form. The amount of wear and tear on his knees/quad/calf moving from LF to 1B would decrease dramatically and he could probably stay healthy a lot easier. He could also probably focus on "bulking up" a bit and adding more weight and muscle as he wouldn't need to use his speed at 1B and it seems he is coming to terms that he is no longer a base stealer.

 

I think the solution to Soriano's decline is much more likely to come from making him stop being an aging player with a horrible approach at the plate than in switching him to 1B.

[scarey]

Also, keep in mind that he Cubs have acquired a bunch of near-MLB ready first base recently. Brian Lahair, Matt Spencer, and Ryne White. None of those guys look like they will be up to the task of being a full time first baseman, but I could see Lahair or Spencer being capable in a platoon roll.

[Sammy Sofa]

I seem to recall too that folks were saying how much better Lee made Ramirez appear because of his size and ability to get balls Rammy airmails over to first. Is that still the conventional wisdom or not?

 

It shouldn't be. Aramis has improved significantly over the years.

[Guest]

Also, keep in mind that he Cubs have acquired a bunch of near-MLB ready first base recently. Brian Lahair, Matt Spencer, and Ryne White. None of those guys look like they will be up to the task of being a full time first baseman, but I could see Lahair or Spencer being capable in a platoon roll.

 

All of those guys are terrible options at the MLB level, Spencer and White in particular. They shouldn't even enter the mind as options for replacing Lee.

[scarey]

I was thinking about Soriano to first at some point in his contract the other day. Why not next year?

 

I understand we've grown to be spoiled by Lee's defense at first, but first base is not exactly known to have premiere defenders league wide. Hell, we've already brought up the idea of Dunn playing there. We know he at least has fielded ground balls at one point in his career. My thought is if guys like Konerko, Delgado, and Dunn can play first, surely a guy who at one time played 2nd base can play there.

 

The other idea would be Nady to first base. We'll have to see how he plays this year though.

 

It would help to have a 1B who can actually hit though, especially if they bring nothing to the table defensively.

 

I don't know what you expect here. Do you want him on the bench? It's not gonna happen.

 

There's not exactly a glut of good hitting first baseman immediately available, so why not move Soriano and grab one of the free agent outfielders. Or, save some money by having someone like Colvin or Jackson or Burke (if ready by then) move into the outfield.

 

If a worth while 1st baseman becomes available in 2012, Soriano can move back to left field as there will be a vacancy in the outfield from Fukudome.

[Splendid Splinter]

If Soto can hit this year, Cubs can try to go after Mauer and put him at 1B... probably not the best option, but it's an option though.

[SouthSideRyan]

I was thinking about Soriano to first at some point in his contract the other day. Why not next year?

 

I understand we've grown to be spoiled by Lee's defense at first, but first base is not exactly known to have premiere defenders league wide. Hell, we've already brought up the idea of Dunn playing there. We know he at least has fielded ground balls at one point in his career. My thought is if guys like Konerko, Delgado, and Dunn can play first, surely a guy who at one time played 2nd base can play there.

 

The other idea would be Nady to first base. We'll have to see how he plays this year though.

 

It would help to have a 1B who can actually hit though, especially if they bring nothing to the table defensively.

 

I don't know what you expect here. Do you want him on the bench? It's not gonna happen.

 

There's not exactly a glut of good hitting first baseman immediately available, so why not move Soriano and grab one of the free agent outfielders. Or, save some money by having someone like Colvin or Jackson or Burke (if ready by then) move into the outfield.

 

If a worth while 1st baseman becomes available in 2012, Soriano can move back to left field as there will be a vacancy in the outfield from Fukudome.

 

Why can Soriano move to 1B, and not oh, just about any free agent you'd sign??

[Backtobanks]

As for Lee, I think Hendry and Lee will find some room for compromise on a 2 year deal. I don't think Ramirez will exercise his option and will return. The bottom line is that if either (or both) leave, the Cubs will have a ton of money and two gigantic holes in their lineup. Being a big-market team with a new owner, I can't see the Cubs being satisfied with a couple of years of Lyle Overbay-type production at 1B just because he's LH.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Let them both walk, take their combined salaries, offer it to Pujols.

 

FTW!

[biittner77]

Another priority for Hendry and Piniella has been to get more athletic ie fast. Move Soriano to first and get a LH lf with some speed. In a perfect world Tyler Colvin emerges as that guy after a healthy successful full year at AAA. That doesn't solve the need for a LH power bat but it may be a direct they decide to go in.

 

I'm not suggesting it's a good option but it would be a cheap one.

 

So replace Lee with Colvin? That is not only not a good option, it's not an option.

 

Soriano at first? The other fielders are going to be pissed at all the errors they get when he hops to catch their throws.

 

Colvin replacing Lee this year certainly isn't an option. Next year, who knows? It's not really likely but it's not inconceivable that Colvin could show enough over the course of this season to be given a shot at LF next year.

 

As for the hop, that's an OF thing. I'm sure he would come up with some other dumb trademark playing first.

[KaiserCesar]

Another priority for Hendry and Piniella has been to get more athletic ie fast. Move Soriano to first and get a LH lf with some speed. In a perfect world Tyler Colvin emerges as that guy after a healthy successful full year at AAA. That doesn't solve the need for a LH power bat but it may be a direct they decide to go in.

 

I'm not suggesting it's a good option but it would be a cheap one.

 

So replace Lee with Colvin? That is not only not a good option, it's not an option.

 

Soriano at first? The other fielders are going to be pissed at all the errors they get when he hops to catch their throws.

 

Colvin replacing Lee this year certainly isn't an option. Next year, who knows? It's not really likely but it's not inconceivable that Colvin could show enough over the course of this season to be given a shot at LF next year.

 

As for the hop, that's an OF thing. I'm sure he would come up with some other dumb trademark playing first.

 

maybe he could catch every ball behind the back

[Roast]

Would the cubs sign him to 3, though, with Vitters working his way through the system?

 

Yes. And it'd be foolish of them not to for Vitters' sake, if they really want Ramirez.

 

You don't hold spots open for prospects, especially prospects who haven't seen a AA pitch yet.

 

Not directed at anyone in particular, but it's funny how every time the big league club's fortunes take a dip, people start latching onto prospects and writing out lineups five years in advance. How's that Kelton/Montanez/Choi infield working for us?

This is true. I was thinking more towards the end of this year though. Assuming Vitters plays in AA this year (and does well, which i suppose is no guarantee), I was wondering if they would really sign a player like Ramirez to a 3 year deal when they have their young sensation only about a year away from the big leagues.