Cubs Sign Pena to 1 year, $10 million Deal (p. 3)

[J.R.]

http://mlbbuzz.yardbarker.com/blog/mlbbuzz/carlos_pea_could_fit_on_north_side/3690976

 

The Chicago Cubs are showing interest in free-agent first baseman Carlos Peña, according to a major league source.

 

Peña, 32, is coming off a disappointing contract year with the Tampa Bay Rays. He batted only .196 with 28 home runs and 84 RBI in 144 games. He also missed time because of an injured heel.

 

Hitter-friendly Wrigley Field would be a favorable landing spot for Peña, particularly if he plans to reestablish his value over a short-term deal. (The one-year strategy worked well for Adrian Beltre, a fellow Scott Boras client, at Fenway Park in 2010.)

Edited November 29, 2010 by J.R.

[StarlinOnYou]

Please no.

[The Logan]

Please no.

 

Please yes. If we're not getting Dunn, and we only get a one-year stop gap so the Cubs can go after someone like Fielder or Gonzalez, Pena is the best option in terms of short term signability and upside. He plays great defense, will draw 80+ walks, and will be a legit power bat in the middle of the lineup. His BABIP last year was .222 which was 57 points below his career norm, he won't hit under .200 again, especially not if he transfers to the elite pitching smorgasbord that is the NL Central.

[b_wiggy_66]

Please no.

 

Please yes. If we're not getting Dunn, and we only get a one-year stop gap so the Cubs can go after someone like Fielder or Gonzalez, Pena is the best option in terms of short term signability and upside. He plays great defense, will draw 80+ walks, and will be a legit power bat in the middle of the lineup. His BABIP last year was .222 which was 57 points below his career norm, he won't hit under .200 again, especially not if he transfers to the elite pitching smorgasbord that is the NL Central.

 

 

I agree if Dunn is not an option (which appears to be the case) I think Pena is our best option on a one year deal. I would much rather have him than say Nick Johnson. There is some upside with Pena and if we could get him for a good one-year deal it would be the rare case of Hendry buying low.

[UMFan83]

If our offseason involved aquiring Carlos Pena and Brandon Webb, what an offseason that would be....in 2007.

[The Logan]

If our offseason involved aquiring Carlos Pena and Brandon Webb, what an offseason that would be....in 2007.

 

Sounds better than some of the other crap we've been linked to

[UMFan83]

If our offseason involved aquiring Carlos Pena and Brandon Webb, what an offseason that would be....in 2007.

 

Sounds better than some of the other crap we've been linked to

 

No doubt.

[shnsajax]

If a 1 year deal who cares.

[rawaction]

If our offseason involved aquiring Carlos Pena and Brandon Webb, what an offseason that would be....in 2007.

 

True. But you are talking about 2 guys that were among the top players in the league at their positions as recently as 2 years ago. And they are only 32 and 31 respectively opening day, so a turnaround isn't out of the realm of possibility.

[Cubs Fan Dan]

This would make me happy if its a 1 year deal.

[Sammy Sofa]

They're not getting Gonzalez or Fielder, morons.

[The Logan]

They're not getting Gonzalez or Fielder, morons.

 

No one said they were, genius

[questionmarkgrace]

Yeah, I dont see any problem provided he isnt grossly overpaid. hes a good defender, has good power, and maybe jarmillo can help him a bit. But make no mistake the guys bounced around the minors for a lot of years every one has loved his potential but who knows whether we get Pena 2009 or Pena 2010. Either way the power numbers are probably better than what we got this year from Lee and Nady combined.

[Sammy Sofa]

They're not getting Gonzalez or Fielder, morons.

 

No one said they were, genius

 

That's pretty much the running ideas that the Cubs can pull off if they can't sign Dunn. If they can't afford Dunn then it's tremendously unlikely they'll be able to afford either Fielder or Gonzalez next year given the demand that they'll command. If they sign someone like Pena I'll bet it's a multi-year deal since they'll be able to get him cheap.

[CubColtPacer]

They're not getting Gonzalez or Fielder, morons.

 

No one said they were, genius

 

That's pretty much the running ideas that the Cubs can pull off if they can't sign Dunn. If they can't afford Dunn then it's tremendously unlikely they'll be able to afford either Fielder or Gonzalez next year given the demand that they'll command. If they sign someone like Pena I'll bet it's a multi-year deal since they'll be able to get him cheap.

 

I don't think they will be able to get Fielder or Gonzalez but they'll almost certainly be able to afford them. Fukudome will likely be replaced for cheap (with either Colvin or Jackson). Silva will be gone and so will Grabow and those might be replaced in house.. If they also buyout Ramirez, they'll have holes at 1st, 3rd, and possibly a starter or reliever. But they'll probably have between 30-50 million to replace them.

[Sammy Sofa]

It all depends on what money the Ricketts can/will spend, and I'm decidedly not confident that they're going to be dishing out any gigantic contracts in the next 2-3 seasons.

[SouthSideRyan]

They're not getting Gonzalez or Fielder, morons.

 

No one said they were, genius

 

That's pretty much the running ideas that the Cubs can pull off if they can't sign Dunn. If they can't afford Dunn then it's tremendously unlikely they'll be able to afford either Fielder or Gonzalez next year given the demand that they'll command. If they sign someone like Pena I'll bet it's a multi-year deal since they'll be able to get him cheap.

 

We all know it's not that they "can't" afford Dunn, they're choosing not to. Consider that Ricketts is probably as baseball-dumb as the average fan, he probably thinks this team can't possibly compete next year, so he won't spend money this year.

[Sammy Sofa]

They're not getting Gonzalez or Fielder, morons.

 

No one said they were, genius

 

That's pretty much the running ideas that the Cubs can pull off if they can't sign Dunn. If they can't afford Dunn then it's tremendously unlikely they'll be able to afford either Fielder or Gonzalez next year given the demand that they'll command. If they sign someone like Pena I'll bet it's a multi-year deal since they'll be able to get him cheap.

 

We all know it's not that they "can't" afford Dunn, they're choosing not to. Consider that Ricketts is probably as baseball-dumb as the average fan, he probably thinks this team can't possibly compete next year, so he won't spend money this year.

 

So why would they be any closer to competing the year after that? I just think what relatively little money there is right now is tied up in priorities elsewhere.

[NewUserName]

I like the Carlos Pena gamble better then most of the other options. I think his contract is going to be higher then most expect, which may leave the Cubs out.

[SouthSideRyan]

They're not getting Gonzalez or Fielder, morons.

 

No one said they were, genius

 

That's pretty much the running ideas that the Cubs can pull off if they can't sign Dunn. If they can't afford Dunn then it's tremendously unlikely they'll be able to afford either Fielder or Gonzalez next year given the demand that they'll command. If they sign someone like Pena I'll bet it's a multi-year deal since they'll be able to get him cheap.

 

We all know it's not that they "can't" afford Dunn, they're choosing not to. Consider that Ricketts is probably as baseball-dumb as the average fan, he probably thinks this team can't possibly compete next year, so he won't spend money this year.

 

So why would they be any closer to competing the year after that? I just think what relatively little money there is right now is tied up in priorities elsewhere.

 

I don't know what drives the average sports moron, maybe something stupid will give Ricketts a twinkle in his eye this year and make him think we're close to competing in 2012

[Guest]

If you're going to get someone who's been mediocre to bad at 1B, at least make it someone young enough so that if they beat expectations, there's more than a 1 season payoff. I'd rather buy a lottery ticket on someone like Chris Davis or the Kila monster than try to draw another good season out of Pena or Branyan. Berkman I might make an exception for.

[Little Slide Rooter]

 

I don't know what drives the average sports moron, maybe something stupid will give Ricketts a twinkle in his eye this year and make him think we're close to competing in 2012

 

I dont know what to think about 2012. If we were to get Adrian or Fielder this year, which Isnt going to happen unless we end up grossly overpaying for a few months of Adrian around the deadline then the 2011 team would be very competitve. However, in the next 2 years were going to see the departures of Aramis, Kosuke, Byrd, Zambrano, and Dempster,at which point we'll be left with Castro, Colvin, Soto, whichever prospects pan out and a tough decison on how to build around them.

[Old Style]

What contracts expire at the end of the 2011 season?

[davell]

What contracts expire at the end of the 2011 season?

 

If you're talking about the Cubs, we lose Grabow, Samardzija, Fukudome, Ramirez(team option), Silva, and Dempster has a player option.

 

If you're wondering what's available through FA next offseason, the short answer is not much. But, 1B options could include Prince, A-Gon and even Pujols.

[Old Style]

What contracts expire at the end of the 2011 season?

 

If you're talking about the Cubs, we lose Grabow, Samardzija, Fukudome, Ramirez(team option), Silva, and Dempster has a player option.

 

If you're wondering what's available through FA next offseason, the short answer is not much. But, 1B options could include Prince, A-Gon and even Pujols.

I was wondering how much was coming off of our payroll. Thanks for the info.