Sign Kosuke to a 2 year deal if possible

[Bowas temper]

I know this might not be a good foot to start on here, but I am one that thinks that Kosuke should be (gulp) resigned this winter. As bad as his power numbers have been, the guy has a career OBP of nearly .370. And to say he is one of the better defenders in RF in the NL is not a stretch.

 

I think Kosuke pressed here and was throw into the: "You're our savior" role too fast. Kosuke is a good addition to many teams at, say, a 2 year, 12-15M deal.

 

Let him bat leadoff next year. For whatever reason, I just think he will flourish again. You can do a lot worse.

[dew1679666265]

I'd be fine with re-signing Kosuke to a cheap, 1-2 year deal on one of two conditions:

 

1: We trade Marlon Byrd and free up CF for Brett Jackson.

2: We find a decent deal for Soriano (either the other team takes at least 50% of his contract or gives us solid prospects) and free up a spot for Brett Jackson.

 

Basically, I want to have a spot for Brett Jackson next year. I don't have strong feelings on which current OF to get rid of, however.

[Sammy Sofa]

Can Jackson not play RF?

[Guest]

Can Jackson not play RF?

 

It's a lot less certain that his bat will play in RF.

[Sammy Sofa]

Gotcha.

[idakepps]

I'd be fine with re-signing Kosuke to a cheap, 1-2 year deal on one of two conditions:

 

1: We trade Marlon Byrd and free up CF for Brett Jackson.

2: We find a decent deal for Soriano (either the other team takes at least 50% of his contract or gives us solid prospects) and free up a spot for Brett Jackson.

 

Basically, I want to have a spot for Brett Jackson next year. I don't have strong feelings on which current OF to get rid of, however.

 

Totally agree on this.

[Sammy Sofa]

DON'T FORGET ABOUT KEMP.

[JimSorgi]

DON'T FORGET ABOUT KEMP.

I'd very much enjoy an outfield of Szczur, Jackson, and Kemp.

[pitchcs]

Can Jackson not play RF?

 

It's a lot less certain that his bat will play in RF.

 

 

Gotta be better than Fuk

[TruffleShuffle]

Can Jackson not play RF?

 

It's a lot less certain that his bat will play in RF.

 

 

Gotta be better than Fuk

 

brett jackson has gotta be better than a guy who's posted a .368 obp in his major league career???

[SouthSideRyan]

DON'T FORGET ABOUT KEMP.

I'd very much enjoy an outfield of Szczur, Jackson, and Kemp.

 

There'd be like 7 hits dropping in that OF all season.

[KingCubsFan]

And to say he is one of the better defenders in RF in the NL is not a stretch.

Is this really true or is this based on reputation? I don't put much stock into defensive stats, but they suggest he's pretty bad out there and the only thing that impresses me when watching him is his accurate arm. He basically has one skill, and that's getting on base. His walk rate is at a career low this year and he's getting older. I wouldn't mind him as an insurance policy/4th outfielder, but there's no reason to give him starter money.

[Exile on Waveland]

DON'T FORGET ABOUT KEMP.

 

I've long thought about wanting Fukudome to return, but this is my concern too. I really want to make a run at Kemp (or Ethier -- I think you're less enthralled with signing Ethier, but still) next offseason. Assuming the Cubs don't/can't trade Soriano, that doesn't leave a spot for Brett Jackson. Now, I have no independent knowledge about Jackson, but it seems like he should/could have a spot in the outfield next year. And I haven't even mentioned Byrd yet. My concern is that, without other movement (or something we don't know about Jackson and/or free agency), re-signing Fukudome means either Jackson is blocked and doesn't develop or no free agency push for Kemp/Ethier.

[UMFan83]

1-2 year deal? How about just a 1-2 month deal and let him go on June 1st.

 

I know everyone knows this but I've ever seen a player who is so consistently inconsistent.

 

OPS by Month, career:

April: .979

May: .767

June: .640

July: .741

August: .834

September: .633

[imb]

The thought of Kemp in a cubs uniform is almost too much to handle. OKLAHOMA PRIDE.

[Bote McBoteface]

pfft...I've seen it on MLB The Show like a million times.

[toonsterwu]

I'm not against this, but financially, other priorities have to come first in terms of long run decision-making because the focus needs to be more on the future than the present. Furthermore, looking at the season OBP belies the fact that the number is propped up by a red hot April that was ... a bit fluke-ish, to say the least, and that his power numbers have dropped to a scary level overall.

 

Issues at first and third have to take precedence. I am curious what happens with Soriano, not because I think he will be dealt, but more because, if Levine is right and the Cubs are willing to eat the money, I half wonder if they may just cut him to open up space. I doubt it, but it's crossed my mind.

 

At some point in 2012, we will likely see Brett Jackson in CF. I'd like to see us move on from Marlon Byrd, as I think, if Brett isn't ready, you could go with a stopgap of say, a Reed Johnson and another veteran perhaps, but it wouldn't surprise me if the organization kept Byrd around to start the year. Are there a lot of teams that are going to want Byrd at 6.5 million to start the year? Not sure. He doesn't show a ton of power to compensate for his approach, and the speed has dwindled with age. If we eat any of Byrd's contract, then I don't see the point of moving him (unless we got surprising quality in return).

 

My ideal situation is to find a top of the order bat at 2nd, but with so many internal options that are close (Baker might be here, Barney, LeMahieu, Flaherty), I think they won't spend much on a MI.

 

I would probably prioritize adding a SP over keeping Fukudome, though.

[dew1679666265]

I am curious what happens with Soriano, not because I think he will be dealt, but more because, if Levine is right and the Cubs are willing to eat the money, I half wonder if they may just cut him to open up space. I doubt it, but it's crossed my mind.

 

At some point in 2012, we will likely see Brett Jackson in CF. I'd like to see us move on from Marlon Byrd, as I think, if Brett isn't ready, you could go with a stopgap of say, a Reed Johnson and another veteran perhaps, but it wouldn't surprise me if the organization kept Byrd around to start the year. Are there a lot of teams that are going to want Byrd at 6.5 million to start the year? Not sure. He doesn't show a ton of power to compensate for his approach, and the speed has dwindled with age. If we eat any of Byrd's contract, then I don't see the point of moving him (unless we got surprising quality in return).

 

I'd have no desire to see Reed in any sort of starting role. He's posted nice numbers this year based very heavily on a significant BABIP, but he's proven that he's a very mediocre bat overall. I'd start Brett Jackson from day one before giving the starting job to Reed.

 

My ideal situation is to find a top of the order bat at 2nd, but with so many internal options that are close (Baker might be here, Barney, LeMahieu, Flaherty), I think they won't spend much on a MI.

 

I would probably prioritize adding a SP over keeping Fukudome, though.

 

I don't really see the need to spending money on second either. I don't think there's much out there (except maybe Jose Reyes) at second and we've got a bunch of young candidates for the job - Barney, LeMahaieu, Flaherty.

[toonsterwu]

I don't really want to see Reed starting, but if the Cubs can get a decent return on Marlon to justify a deal, I wouldn't be aghast at Reed/Veteran FA starting if they felt Brett needed a bit more time in AAA (which, as of now, seems possible). I'm viewing 2012 as more of a rebuilding season, though, and if Brett isn't ready, then I don't see the point of rushing him. If we wanted to be competitive from the get-go next year, then no, Reed/FA vet isn't exactly the path to take.

 

I don't really see us spending on 2nd ... but Barney feels like an over-achieving utility player, and it's debatable if Flaherty can handle 2nd on a regular basis. If LeMahieu can handle 2nd as an above average defensive player, then that would work, as his bat plays better at 2nd than 3rd for me. All that said, the reason my ideal would be to find a 2nd base top of the order hitter is because I don't really love Brett Jackson, long run, as a top of the order guy, and feel that we should have more power in RF, leaving 2nd base as the only other spot, barring Castro going to 2nd (which opens up short as the other spot). That being said, I'm also aware that the Cubs may plop Brett Jackson at the top of the order.

[dew1679666265]

I don't really want to see Reed starting, but if the Cubs can get a decent return on Marlon to justify a deal, I wouldn't be aghast at Reed/Veteran FA starting if they felt Brett needed a bit more time in AAA (which, as of now, seems possible). I'm viewing 2012 as more of a rebuilding season, though, and if Brett isn't ready, then I don't see the point of rushing him. If we wanted to be competitive from the get-go next year, then no, Reed/FA vet isn't exactly the path to take.

 

I guess that's where we differ - I don't think we should be planning on next year as a rebuilding year. If we can add Pujols or Fielder there's no reason why this team can't compete in a very weak Central division.

 

My thinking is if we got a good enough deal to justify trading Byrd, then we should bring Kosuke back for a year or two. He's not a perfect option, but he's still very likely to be much better than a Reed/FA platoon and shouldn't cost much more than the $6.5 million we'd no longer owe Byrd. If you don't want BJax to fill CF at the start of the season in that scenario, then I'd give the starting job to Colvin over Reed as well. We know Reed would be a really bad starting option in any of the three OF spots and while Colvin probably wouldn't be good, he's likely to be better than Reed as a starter as well.

 

Then, if we're out of it by the break you trade Kosuke and call up Jackson. Or if we're in it and Colvin isn't performing, you cut Colvin and call up Jackson.

 

I don't really see us spending on 2nd ... but Barney feels like an over-achieving utility player, and it's debatable if Flaherty can handle 2nd on a regular basis. If LeMahieu can handle 2nd as an above average defensive player, then that would work, as his bat plays better at 2nd than 3rd for me. All that said, the reason my ideal would be to find a 2nd base top of the order hitter is because I don't really love Brett Jackson, long run, as a top of the order guy, and feel that we should have more power in RF, leaving 2nd base as the only other spot, barring Castro going to 2nd (which opens up short as the other spot). That being said, I'm also aware that the Cubs may plop Brett Jackson at the top of the order.

 

If we're talking about ideal scenarios, I'd prefer to have Castro and Soto at the top of the order and go in-house at second. In my earlier scenario, we'd also have Kosuke back and he could go at the top of the order. I just don't see a need to spend at second when that would mean we couldn't spend on the rotation or at third base.

 

And wouldn't Jackson likely be a CF if he came up next year? I assumed he was good enough defensively in center to push Byrd to right, at least until one of Ha or Szczur make it to the majors.