Dunn to the White Sox (p. 12)

[Flames24Rulz]

4 years and $56M would have been near the upper limits, but I wouldn't have been upset had the Cubs signed him to that contract.

 

I would've loved it, personally. But signing Dunn wasn't a realistic option.

[jersey cubs fan]

4 years at 14 million is steep in length and dollars. I can't say that I'm upset that the Cubs didn't give him that contract, but I sure hope they have something worthwhile in the pipe for 1B.

 

I'm not sure how $14m is steep in price.

 

I don't really trust the metrics for 1B, but Dunn is 31 and needs to keep hitting at the same rate at age 31-34 plus be at least an average 1B for that to be a worthwhile deal. He's far from a slam dunk to be worth that dollar amount.

 

Sure, he's not a consistent force. But the Cubs don't have options. They have to get better at 1B. The 4 years is more risky than $14m per year. They don't have anywhere near the pitching SF had to get away with mediocrity in the lineup, but that is exactly what their plan is.

[Larry Horse]

Is there any question that the Ricketts are hurting financially? Any Cub fan expecting a big splash is in for a letdown. Carlos Pena and Kevin Millwood are more the speed for Hendry right now.

 

Not a lot they can do until the bad money's off the books.

[erik316wttn]

4 years at 14 million is steep in length and dollars. I can't say that I'm upset that the Cubs didn't give him that contract, but I sure hope they have something worthwhile in the pipe for 1B.

 

I'm not sure how $14m is steep in price.

 

It's steep if the owner doesn't have any money.

 

Then why'd he buy the damn team?

[Larry Horse]

4 years at 14 million is steep in length and dollars. I can't say that I'm upset that the Cubs didn't give him that contract, but I sure hope they have something worthwhile in the pipe for 1B.

 

I'm not sure how $14m is steep in price.

 

It's steep if the owner doesn't have any money.

 

Then why'd he buy the damn team?

 

 

Boyhood dream? Who knows.

 

Keeping Hendry was a big red flag for me regarding Ricketts. And I was pretty happy when he bought the team.

 

And asking for the bonds 1 year in to ownership? He didn't really have a lot of goodwill banked to be trying that move.

[davell]

I truly think Ricketts is over his head here. I also don't buy the angle that he's waiting for bad contracts to fall off either. I expect us to always be in the top 3-4 payroll teams in the NL, but considering how big the Chicago market is and how much money he's going to be making, I'm not enamored with that, by any stretch.

 

Basically, I think he's going to be happy with putting out an average product as long as the seats are filled. Which is kind of what he grew up with. When you here things like "build from within" it's great if you're doing the things to make that happen. But, there are cases where you have to fill needs from outside your own organization and if you continually go "cheap" instead of landing the big fish on occasion, I think we're heading towards a long run of mediocrity.

[Ballgame64]

So how does a guy who could barely get a job two years ago and settled for a 2 year deal for $10 mil per now gets a 4 year deal for $14 mil per year? He is the same player he was then except for 2 years older. I'm not mad the Cubs didn't get Adam Dunn necessarily, but I am mad that there is no money to spend.

[UMFan83]

So how does a guy who could barely get a job two years ago and settled for a 2 year deal for $10 mil per now gets a 4 year deal for $14 mil per year? He is the same player he was then except for 2 years older. I'm not mad the Cubs didn't get Adam Dunn necessarily, but I am mad that there is no money to spend.

 

The market changes every year. No one got paid a couple of offseasons ago.

 

Except Milton Bradley.

[illiniguy]

So how does a guy who could barely get a job two years ago and settled for a 2 year deal for $10 mil per now gets a 4 year deal for $14 mil per year? He is the same player he was then except for 2 years older. I'm not mad the Cubs didn't get Adam Dunn necessarily, but I am mad that there is no money to spend.

He was a bad outfielder then, now he's a firstbaseman?

[Cubs Fan Dan]

I would rather have Agon for 3-5 mil more per year.

[Backtobanks]

The only way Dunn is worth $56 million over 4 years is with an AL team because he will be a DH for the last 2 years. As someone else posted, the WS can have him for that money and those years.

[Rob]

I wouldn't have had much of a problem with $14 mil per, but the fact it took 4 years makes me glad we didn't sign him.

 

Hopefully this convinces the front office to go with a full rebuild this offseason instead of signing Lance Berkman and Bobby Jenks and struggling to 78 wins.

[imb]

i like dunn, but not for this contract.

[Larry Horse]

Hopefully this convinces the front office to go with a full rebuild this offseason instead of signing Lance Berkman and Bobby Jenks and struggling to 78 wins.

 

Hendry will never do it.

[E.J.]

For once I'd like to spend the "too steep" of a price on a player I want.

 

I bet you wanted Soriano a few years ago. That was definitely too steep.

[Chisoxillini]

I'm surprised the Sox got him. It's an okay signing, considering Dunn is below average defensively and strikes out way too much. But if he hits like he has for the past two seasons, it will be worthwhile. Especially since Kotsay was penciled in as the DH last year. God, what a disaster that was.

 

Now resign Konerko and AJ and we'll call it an offseason.

[Little Slide Rooter]

For once I'd like to spend the "too steep" of a price on a player I want.

 

I bet you wanted Soriano a few years ago. That was definitely too steep.

 

Dont forget MIlton Bradley

[JoshiQ]

For once I'd like to spend the "too steep" of a price on a player I want.

 

I bet you wanted Soriano a few years ago. That was definitely too steep.

 

Uhh...no. That is mostly who I was referring to. Soriano was a horrible signing and something I hated from the minute it happened.

[Outshined_One]

I could swallow the four year contract since there don't appear to be any worthwhile long term options for the Cubs in the next two years. At this point, it's either Alex Gonzalez, an extension for whoever the Cubs sign to a one year deal in the offseason (along with hopes of no regression), or a miracle. There sure as hell isn't anyone in the farm system who is guaranteed to take over at 1B and produce in 2012 and beyond. I like Vitters, but he's not a sure thing. Moreover, this team sure as hell doesn't draft first basemen worth a damn.

[J.R.]

Colossal failure on the part of Mr. Tom Ricketts. This is [expletive].

[Southpaw191679666239]

I'm surprised the Sox got him. It's an okay signing, considering Dunn is below average defensively and strikes out way too much. But if he hits like he has for the past two seasons, it will be worthwhile. Especially since Kotsay was penciled in as the DH last year. God, what a disaster that was.

 

Now resign Konerko and AJ and we'll call it an offseason.

 

AJ's on his way North of the Border it seems...

[Little Slide Rooter]

I'm surprised the Sox got him. It's an okay signing, considering Dunn is below average defensively and strikes out way too much. But if he hits like he has for the past two seasons, it will be worthwhile. Especially since Kotsay was penciled in as the DH last year. God, what a disaster that was.

 

Now resign Konerko and AJ and we'll call it an offseason.

 

AJ's on his way North of the Border it seems...

 

Yup.

 

Blue Jays Close To Signing A.J. Pierzynski

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [December 2 at 6:42pm CST]

The Blue Jays are close to signing A.J. Pierzynski, according to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Even though John Buck signed with the Marlins and Miguel Olivo declined the team's offer of arbitration, the Blue Jays still have two capable catchers. Jose Molina will return in 2011 and J.P. Arencibia showed power in a late-season call-up and won Pacific Coast League MVP.

 

Pierzynski, 34 later this month, batted .270/.300/.388 with nine homers in 503 plate appearances this year. He is durable, having caught at least 128 games every season since 2001, but his offense slipped in 2010. He posted his lowest on base and slugging percentages since becoming a full-time player.

 

The Dodgers, Marlins and White Sox were among the teams interested in Pierzynski, who had a number of other potential suitors. Chicago did not offer the catcher arbitration, so he would not cost the Blue Jays a draft pick.

 

[SweetZombieJesus]

For once I'd like to spend the "too steep" of a price on a player I want.

 

I'd rather have Crawford.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I could swallow the four year contract since there don't appear to be any worthwhile long term options for the Cubs in the next two years. At this point, it's either Alex Gonzalez, an extension for whoever the Cubs sign to a one year deal in the offseason (along with hopes of no regression), or a miracle. There sure as hell isn't anyone in the farm system who is guaranteed to take over at 1B and produce in 2012 and beyond. I like Vitters, but he's not a sure thing. Moreover, this team sure as hell doesn't draft first basemen worth a damn.

 

Im assuming that you mean Adrian, unless you mean The Braves Alex Gonzalez, or perhaps the guy who botched a double play in '03.

[JoshiQ]

For once I'd like to spend the "too steep" of a price on a player I want.

 

I'd rather have Crawford.

 

To me Crawford is one of those contracts that actually is too steep if it goes 8 years. Dunn for four years just wasn't that bad.