Carlos Pena claimed on Waivers

[Tarver]

Carrie Muskat of MLB.com writes that Cubs first baseman Carlos Pena is "not going anywhere."

Pena was claimed off waivers by the Yankees on Wednesday, but the Cubs refused to trade the slugger at last month's non-waiver deadline and don't seem inclined to part with him here in August. The reasons: half of Pena's $10 million salary for this season has been deferred to 2012, and the Cubs are still hoping to re-sign him as a free agent this winter. Pena, 33, has 23 homers and 67 RBI through 124 games with Chicago.

Related: Yankees

 

 

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

If our new GMs 1st order of business is to give Carlos Pena a 3 year extension, I hate him already. I have no faith in a team with Carlos Pena unless he's batting 5th behind a legit major league 3-5 hitters unless we can somehow manage to sign CJ Wilson and trade for Felix Hernandez.

 

Even then I don't want him. He's the epitome of bland mediocrity and offers no upside whatsoever. At least take a chance with someone else, the floor's not likely to be much lower and the ceiling would be higher.

[Four and Twenty]

Really, my point on this being a ploy on the part of the FO is don't get too concerned with media reports we're looking to resign him. There is plenty of room for subterfuge to be utilized by the Cubs, something they haven't done in nearly a decade, and hopefully this is a sign they are willing to play that game now.

 

Edit: Rickett's handling of the Hendry firing is already testament to his deft use of covert business operations. Not a leak until it was announced. It shows a willingness to operate with a bit more tact than before.

Edited August 24, 2011 by Four and Twenty

[Tarver]

Really, my point on this being a ploy on the part of the FO is don't get too concerned with media reports we're looking to resign him. There is plenty of room for subterfuge to be utilized by the Cubs, something they haven't done in nearly a decade, and hopefully this is a sign they are willing to play that game now.

 

That's all fine and good if that's what they're thinking. I just pray they're not buying into all this leadership BS.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Carrie Muskat of MLB.com writes that Cubs first baseman Carlos Pena is "not going anywhere."

Pena was claimed off waivers by the Yankees on Wednesday, but the Cubs refused to trade the slugger at last month's non-waiver deadline and don't seem inclined to part with him here in August. The reasons: half of Pena's $10 million salary for this season has been deferred to 2012, and the Cubs are still hoping to re-sign him as a free agent this winter. Pena, 33, has 23 homers and 67 RBI through 124 games with Chicago.

Related: Yankees

 

 

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

If our new GMs 1st order of business is to give Carlos Pena a 3 year extension, I hate him already. I have no faith in a team with Carlos Pena unless he's batting 5th behind a legit major league 3-5 hitters unless we can somehow manage to sign CJ Wilson and trade for Felix Hernandez.

 

Even then I don't want him. He's the epitome of bland mediocrity and offers no upside whatsoever. At least take a chance with someone else, the floor's not likely to be much lower and the ceiling would be higher.

 

Right, he is what he's going to be. Probably closer to 2011 than 2010, but 2007 Carlos Pena isn't coming back, and '08-'09 are very doubtful as well. There's no point in giving any amount of money in a guy who won't make you good enough to compete and is too expensive if you don't plan to.

[Vanilla Ice]

Really, my point on this being a ploy on the part of the FO is don't get too concerned with media reports we're looking to resign him. There is plenty of room for subterfuge to be utilized by the Cubs, something they haven't done in nearly a decade, and hopefully this is a sign they are willing to play that game now.

 

That's all fine and good if that's what they're thinking. I just pray they're not buying into all this leadership BS.

Eh, the person that is gonna make the first base decision next year is likely not even working for the Cubs right now

[Cubs Fan Dan]

LOL i love how Muskat knows that the future unnamed GM wants to re-sign Carlos Pena..... Sometimes media's "inside information" is such a joke. People are not seriously worried that this is the case right?

[Vinestal]

LOL i love how Muskat knows that the future unnamed GM wants to re-sign Carlos Pena..... Sometimes media's "inside information" is such a joke. People are not seriously worried that this is the case right?

Well this is the Cubs, we've been embracing mediocrity for quite a while.

[Four and Twenty]

I should correct myself and state that it's a ploy in playing down the Cubs' interest in Pujols and Fielder in the eyes of other interested teams, not their agents. And the more of these press releases by the Muskat and others I read the more I believe that. I won't be surprised if, when the free agent season rolls around, we hear nothing of the Cubs' interactions with their agents until a signing is agreed upon. Edited August 24, 2011 by Four and Twenty

[Four and Twenty]

LOL i love how Muskat knows that the future unnamed GM wants to re-sign Carlos Pena..... Sometimes media's "inside information" is such a joke. People are not seriously worried that this is the case right?

 

Exactly. It's merely posturing. Much like the reports that Hendry was going to be retained, perhaps in order to facilitate a smoother draft signing process.

[PrimeTime]

Just updated on Roto

 

Carlos Pena was told by the Cubs' front office that he will be pulled back from waivers.

 

Pena was claimed Wednesday by the Yankees, but the Cubs have no interest in dealing the 33-year-old slugger. In fact, they're hoping to re-sign him this offseason. He's batting .223/.341/.449 with 23 homers and 67 RBI.

[erik316wttn]

Carlos Pena is not good. If you re-sign him, how exactly do you expect to be in the Pujols/Fielder sweepstakes?

 

Are we sure Jim Hendry was fired? No reason not to trade him here.

[MWV]

Maybe the Cubs are taking the stance that they have no interest in Pujols or Fielder so as not to force the hand of a prospective GM, assuming the job might appear less attractive if it comes with the caveat of "Pujols/Fielder or bust"? Possibly? That's all I got.

[XZero771679666304]

I find it a bit odd that people are conjecturing that the Cubs "are hoping to re-sign Pena in the offseason" when the GM who will allegedly be given near total autonomy and will be conducting said offseason has yet to be determined.

 

I really think it's as simple as the offers being worth less than a prospective comp pick.

[PrimeTime]

I hope to God and all that's holy that they're just posturing and it's a ploy and they actually don't plan on resigning him. I know how this organization loves " experience and leadership" and feeds the fans this crap and ignores that the guy bats .220 and doesn't benefit a whole damn lot. Well see what happens, but if they seriously go into 2012 signing Pena again,especially to a multi-year deal.Ugh. Yes, Im worrying a little to much, but it's the Cubs. Its normal. They might see his glove driving in just as many runs as Neifi did.

[davearm2]

Really, my point on this being a ploy on the part of the FO is don't get too concerned with media reports we're looking to resign him. There is plenty of room for subterfuge to be utilized by the Cubs, something they haven't done in nearly a decade, and hopefully this is a sign they are willing to play that game now.

You do realize that by the time the Cubs can actually talk with Fielder or Pujols, the Cubs' exclusive window to negotiate with Pena will have ended, and Pena will be a FA as well.

 

Hard to imagine anyone falling for that "ploy".

[haubrich91]

Just make Pena our hitting coach for next year. The Cubs can't be this stupid after doing something positive.

[Sammy Sofa]

It's Muskat.

 

MUSKAT.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Really, my point on this being a ploy on the part of the FO is don't get too concerned with media reports we're looking to resign him. There is plenty of room for subterfuge to be utilized by the Cubs, something they haven't done in nearly a decade, and hopefully this is a sign they are willing to play that game now.

 

Edit: Rickett's handling of the Hendry firing is already testament to his deft use of covert business operations. Not a leak until it was announced. It shows a willingness to operate with a bit more tact than before.

 

Doing things quietly has been the biggest plus of the Ricketts so far. Anything good happening with this franchise right now is down on the down low. It's probably because the only thing that should be done with noise is winning, which the ML team isn't doing.

[Little Slide Rooter]

As much as hearing that the Cubs want to re sign Carlos Pena puts a knot in my stomach, I don't know how they're getting that info. This would be the decision of the GM, and in case Muskat and friends forgot there is no GM. Whether we get one who wants to build an immediate winner or one who has a more long term plan, I can't see Pena being a part of either scenario, unless the GM to be simply wants to build a mediocre baseball team. If the Cubs like Pena so much, just let him go to the Yankees where his final months will mean something. The Yankees must actually wantvhim, there's no reason to have made the claim to block the Red Sox who have A Gon at 1st and Ortiz at DH. Just work something out.

[fiver]

Keeping Pena on the team and 'happy' for the remainder of this season doesn't preclude us from signing Pujols or Fielder, I guess.....However, if I were Danny Sheridan's corpse, I'd put the odds of having Pena at first base next season pretty high.

[YearofDaCubs]

I cannot wait for a new GM to be hired. Not getting rid of Pena is pretty stupid.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I dont give a [expletive] how much I come under fire for this, I want to see Brian LaHair goddamit. Send Pena to the Yankees for whatever. He's of no use to us. If the Cubs decide to sit out of the Fielder/Pujols sweepstakes, it will suck, but it will have nothing to do with LaHair. Yes, if we can't land Fielder, Pujols, or even Cuddyer, I would prefer LaHair, Ridling, or even Colvin over Pena, because it would likely mean they don't plan on building a team to win in 2012.

 

Even if the Cubs do sign C.J. Wilson, and then resign Aramis and Pena, if anything it would probably do nothing more than bump us to a 3rd-4th place team rather than a 5th place team. The fans arent as stupid as they once were and arent going to accept another Jeromy Burnitz, which another season of Pena would basically be.

[Guest]

Bryan LaHair was in 1st grade when Starlin Castro was born. Trading Pena is fine, trading him because you want to see LaHair is dumb.

 

 

Olney on the radio just now saying that there's still a chance Pena gets dealt.

[abuck1220]

i keep forgetting you're the guy that thinks every 27 year old having a good season at AAA would be a productive major leaguer.

[Little Slide Rooter]

i keep forgetting you're the guy that thinks every 27 year old having a good season at AAA would be a productive major leaguer.

 

If were talking about a band-aid if we decide to sit out of the Fielder/Pujols sweepstakes, then yes. Ryan Ludwick, Garrett Jones, and Melvin Mora are a few examples of guys who bloomed in their late 20's, although even they were a few years younger than LaHair and their success was relatively short lived. Still, if were just talking about a short erm band-aid and not a long term answer, than yes, I'd be willing to give LaHair a shot, and maybe see is we can get Votto in 2013, if not, keep changing band-aid until 2015(at the earliest) when Vogelbach will be ready, unless something better makes it's way through our farm system. As I've said, my choices 1A and 1B are Fielder and Pujols, with Cuddyer as a distant backup plan, and even then he could shift to outfield if we were to land Votto in '13. If we can't get them, I have no interest in another year of Pena.

 

Then again, could Aramis to 1st be an option?