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

[Cubs Fan Dan]

I am very happy with this move I think it is very possible we will be paying less than we did for Lee last year with a decent chance at 35 bombs and .850 ops.

[Southpaw191679666239]

I am happy with this signing as well.

 

He just can't have his number in Tampa here on the Northside. He'll probably take #25.

[Exile on Waveland]

I'm actually quite happy with this move. Considering the money Dunn got, one-year, $10-million sounds like a good deal for Pena. He's also a buy-low candidate, as, even despite his age, I expect him to rebound a bit (low BABIP, moving to the NL Central and all). I do wish there was a team option for a second year, but that's picking nits. The Cubs likely upgraded at first -- obviously only for the very short term -- and did not pay a ton to do so.

[Guest]

Pena on a 1 year deal is a solid decision. My only confusion is why it was necessary to go to 8 figures for him, coming off a .732 OPS/1 WAR season at age 32. Was he that insistent on 2 years? Was the bidding really that high? Ultimately, it doesn't matter. This team doesn't really have another position where there's a gap needing to be filled like 1B was, it's only a 1 year deal, and if Pena becomes a bright spot in a dark season his salary won't really be a hindrance to dealing him. Now add Webb or nothing at all for SP, and if you decide to trade away Gorzelanny and/or Kosuke, don't be stupid about it and get someone good in return.

[Outshined_One]

1/10 works fine for me. If he does well and enjoys himself here, then the Cubs will get first crack at signing him come the 2012 offseason. Plus, the Cubs don't have to give up a draft pick for him (Type B), which is nice.

[jersey cubs fan]

Not thrilled by Pena at first but he should be an offensive upgrade over last season at less money than we paid Lee last year, so fair enough.

 

Just curious but what would be your first option? I personally prefer this over the money/years Dunn got and over the prospects given up/money/years Gonzalez got.

 

There is nobody in the system even close to being capable of playing 1B at a decent level next year. You are just going to have to go out and overpay another guy next year.

[davell]

I'm fine with this deal. Mainly because it's just for one year. I think I still want them to pursue the Texas deal(mainly for O'Day), sign Webb, and call it an offseason. Deal Gorzelanny away if you have to do so(especially if that puts Cashner in the rotation). I still have a feeling though that Fukudome gets dealt.

[jersey cubs fan]

1/10 works fine for me. If he does well and enjoys himself here, then the Cubs will get first crack at signing him come the 2012 offseason.

 

Which would be a much much worse decision than just signing Dunn this season.

[Backtobanks]

Not thrilled by Pena at first but he should be an offensive upgrade over last season at less money than we paid Lee last year, so fair enough.

 

Just curious but what would be your first option? I personally prefer this over the money/years Dunn got and over the prospects given up/money/years Gonzalez got.

 

There is nobody in the system even close to being capable of playing 1B at a decent level next year. You are just going to have to go out and overpay another guy next year.

 

If the Texas deal goes through, you have a year to groom Davis or Colvin for the future.

[abuck1220]

any boost pena provides to the offense will be negated when they trade fukudome, so i can't get too excited about the deal.

[shnsajax]

I really wonder what happened with all of the Washington talks for him to settle with 1 year with the Cubs. Still I will take it as it all looks like they are just bridging over to the 2012 season.

[fiver]

I like this move. I think he has a decent chance of putting up a 360+obp, 800+ops type line.

[jersey cubs fan]

Not thrilled by Pena at first but he should be an offensive upgrade over last season at less money than we paid Lee last year, so fair enough.

 

Just curious but what would be your first option? I personally prefer this over the money/years Dunn got and over the prospects given up/money/years Gonzalez got.

 

There is nobody in the system even close to being capable of playing 1B at a decent level next year. You are just going to have to go out and overpay another guy next year.

 

If the Texas deal goes through, you have a year to groom Davis or Colvin for the future.

 

They are baseball players. You can't really groom them into being something they are not. Neither of those guys is a decent bet to hit well enough to justify a starting 1B gig.

[jersey cubs fan]

I really wonder what happened with all of the Washington talks for him to settle with 1 year with the Cubs. Still I will take it as it all looks like they are just bridging over to the 2012 season.

 

1/10 is a pretty damn good deal for a 33 year old player with his resume to "settle" on, especially when it's as much money as he's ever made in any one year. He sucked last year. Now he has another chance to play for a contract without taking any haircut for his terrible 2010 performance. Even a marginal improvement will go a long way toward convincing a team like the Cubs, with no impact bats in their system, to give him an extension. If he signed 2/14 he'd likely make less over the next two years than signing 1/10 this year.

[David]

As of right now...

 

RF - Fuk, SS - Castro, C - Soto, 3B - ARam, 1B - Pena, LF - Sori, CF - Byrd, 2B - DeWitt

 

 

That look about right?

[YearofDaCubs]

10 mil is more money I thought Pena would get but I like the fact that we have him signed to only 1 year. If we miss out on the playoffs he could also be a nice trading chip for us. He also has potential to have better number than last year, I like it.

[UMFan83]

Pena is ok. I like the 1 year thing. I like it better than Laroche or Davis. I like the lefty thing. I like moving from the AL East to the NL.

 

I am not a big fan of his last 3 years though .224/.353/.479/.832. It should improve going to the NL, but his BA has declined each of the last 3 years from his career year in 2007 when he hit .282. I know BA is not everything, and I hardly look at it unless I see something like .198 in 600 PA.

 

Anyways, I don't know what his BABIP was like last year, but hopefully its much lower than his career norm.

[jersey cubs fan]

As of right now...

 

RF - Fuk, SS - Castro, C - Soto, 3B - ARam, 1B - Pena, LF - Sori, CF - Byrd, 2B - DeWitt

 

 

That look about right?

 

Other than the apparent insistence on having Colvin replace Fukudome as early and as often as possible. Also, I doubt Soto is going to bat third all that often. I would guess Ramirez/Pena/Byrd in the 3/4/5 slots.

Edited December 8, 2010 by jersey cubs fan

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm shocked our front office would pay that much for a guy with that batting average

[JeffH]

If we miss out on the playoffs he could also be a nice trading chip for us.

 

Wait until word of the no-trade clause leaks out!

[David]

As of right now...

 

RF - Fuk, SS - Castro, C - Soto, 3B - ARam, 1B - Pena, LF - Sori, CF - Byrd, 2B - DeWitt

 

 

That look about right?

 

Other than the apparent insistence on having Colvin replace Fukudome as early and as often as possible. Also, I doubt Soto is going to bat third all that often. I would guess Ramirez/Pena/Byrd in the 3/4/5 slots.

 

 

I doubt Soto will get that honor, too, but I sure would like to see it. And yea, Fukudome is wishful thinking...

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm shocked our front office would pay that much for a guy with that batting average

 

He hit 40 points better with RISP and 60 points better with men on 3rd and less than 2 outs.

[Guest]

Rosenthal's take on the deal includes this encouraging note:

"The Cubs are strongly considering using right-hander Andrew Cashner as a starter next season."

He also mentions that the Cubs are pursuing a number of trade options in addition to the Texas rumors.

 

WHY DOES THIS EVEN NEED TO BE CONSIDERED?!

 

sadly i was just happy to see they're still considering it. i figured they would just dump him in the bullpen from now on.

 

Yeah, me too.

 

Like the Peña deal.

[UMFan83]

Looking at his monthly splits last year, it looks like his numbers suffer from 2 completely anemic months, May and September.

 

OPS by month:

April: .859 (95 PA)

May: .483 (116 PA)

June: .920 (107 PA)

July: .871 (104 PA)

August: .839 (63 PA)

September: .489 (97 PA)

[Guest]

As of right now...

 

RF - Fuk, SS - Castro, C - Soto, 3B - ARam, 1B - Pena, LF - Sori, CF - Byrd, 2B - DeWitt

 

 

That look about right?

 

Other than the apparent insistence on having Colvin replace Fukudome as early and as often as possible. Also, I doubt Soto is going to bat third all that often. I would guess Ramirez/Pena/Byrd in the 3/4/5 slots.

 

 

I doubt Soto will get that honor, too, but I sure would like to see it. And yea, Fukudome is wishful thinking...

 

Yeah, I'm not sure how you expect this org to play Fukudome over Colvin. I'll be pleasantly surprised if he's still in the organization in 2011 and hasn't been traded for a mediocre, wild reliever.