Trading Soriano

[ctcf]

I know we've been down this road before, but part of me wonders if this is the best chance they've had. Per rotoworld:

 

According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, teams are "kicking the tires" on Alfonso Soriano.

It's a bit hard to believe given that Soriano is owed $54 million over the next three seasons, but perhaps the Cubs are willing to eat a significant portion of that money. The 35-year-old batted .244/.289/.469 this past year with 26 home runs and 88 RBI. He'd be a better fit for an American League team, so that he could DH at times.

[JeffH]

"at times" = all the time

[davell]

Soriano for Figgins, Cubs kick in 13 mill. Leaves Mariners responsible for 3/24 on Soriano's deal. Leaves us with 2/17 for Figgins. Yes, Figgins is AWFUL, but I can't see us finding anything better than this. Keep Soriano another year and trade him when he's got 2/36 left on his deal. It's not worth taking on a Figgins or a Vernon Wells or even a Barry Zito. I guess if we could get nothing in return and find a team willing to pay him 3/24, I'd be OK with sending 10 a year to whoever. Having an extra 8 mill per season to work with would help some at least.

[Little Slide Rooter]

If we could get a decent prospect package, I'd be willing to eat a huge chunk of the salary. However, I don't know how much other teams are going to give up for a declining 35 year old. He still has those hot streaks in which he can carry a team, but their becoming shorter and less frequent. I'd be surprised if we could get a package any better than what we got for Sosa even though Sosa only had one year on his contract at the time.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Soriano for Figgins, Cubs kick in 13 mill. Leaves Mariners responsible for 3/24 on Soriano's deal. Leaves us with 2/17 for Figgins. Yes, Figgins is AWFUL, but I can't see us finding anything better than this. Keep Soriano another year and trade him when he's got 2/36 left on his deal. It's not worth taking on a Figgins or a Vernon Wells or even a Barry Zito. I guess if we could get nothing in return and find a team willing to pay him 3/24, I'd be OK with sending 10 a year to whoever. Having an extra 8 mill per season to work with would help some at least.

 

I'd take Figgins, Wells or Zito. They'd be the best matches. Zito and Wells are most similar contract wise. However, I dont knopw if the Angels would do it for Wells as he is still a better fielder and hitter and when the Giants traded Sanchez I think they pretty much ensured Zito a rotation spot. Figgins would be an interesting thought and another one I'd love to do is Adam Dunn, but we might end up having to eat all of Sorianos salary and some of Dunns for that to happen.

[MWV]

I'd just stand pat if it came down to a Soriano for Figgins trade. Figgins is barely roster-worthy at this point, and it isn't as though Sori's blocking some vaunted LF prospect.

[Backtobanks]

If we could get a decent prospect package, I'd be willing to eat a huge chunk of the salary. However, I don't know how much other teams are going to give up for a declining 35 year old. He still has those hot streaks in which he can carry a team, but their becoming shorter and less frequent. I'd be surprised if we could get a package any better than what we got for Sosa even though Sosa only had one year on his contract at the time.

 

There's absolutely no way we would get a "decent prospect package" for Soriano. Getting any prospect (and I mean anybody) and eating $10 million per year would be a miracle.

[KingCubsFan]

I'd just stand pat if it came down to a Soriano for Figgins trade. Figgins is barely roster-worthy at this point, and it isn't as though Sori's blocking some vaunted LF prospect.

No, but he's blocking a better player at a lower price. If you can get any type of salary relief from Soriano's contract, you dump him. With the new CBA, we need all the money we can get to spend on the major league roster.

[treebird]

I'd just stand pat if it came down to a Soriano for Figgins trade. Figgins is barely roster-worthy at this point, and it isn't as though Sori's blocking some vaunted LF prospect.

No, but he's blocking a better player at a lower price. If you can get any type of salary relief from Soriano's contract, you dump him. With the new CBA, we need all the money we can get to spend on the major league roster.

 

soriano is blocking someone?

[Guest]

I'd just stand pat if it came down to a Soriano for Figgins trade. Figgins is barely roster-worthy at this point, and it isn't as though Sori's blocking some vaunted LF prospect.

No, but he's blocking a better player at a lower price. If you can get any type of salary relief from Soriano's contract, you dump him. With the new CBA, we need all the money we can get to spend on the major league roster.

 

soriano is blocking someone?

 

I think he means, theoretically, whoever you could sign with the salary relief, which, I suppose, is debatable.

[dew1679666265]

I'd just stand pat if it came down to a Soriano for Figgins trade. Figgins is barely roster-worthy at this point, and it isn't as though Sori's blocking some vaunted LF prospect.

 

Yeah, no interest in trading Soriano if Figgins is all we can get. There's still a non-zero chance Sori has a rebound year, I'm not sure that's the case with Figgins.

[KingCubsFan]

I'd just stand pat if it came down to a Soriano for Figgins trade. Figgins is barely roster-worthy at this point, and it isn't as though Sori's blocking some vaunted LF prospect.

No, but he's blocking a better player at a lower price. If you can get any type of salary relief from Soriano's contract, you dump him. With the new CBA, we need all the money we can get to spend on the major league roster.

 

soriano is blocking someone?

 

I think he means, theoretically, whoever you could sign with the salary relief, which, I suppose, is debatable.

Right. Or even putting Brett Jackson in LF and improving the roster elsewhere.

[noisesquared]

Just an idea - What about Soriano for Dunn? I believe both have 3 yrs left at comparable $. Soriano as DH at the Cell could be productive, and buying low on Dunn seems like the type of move the Cubs need to make. I'm not sure what the consensus is these days on Dunn's miserable 11 season though - was it an isolated instance, or the start of a horrible decline in production?

[Sammy Sofa]

It makes negative sense for the White Sox to do that unless they're convinced that Dunn is done. Then it makes negative sense for the Cubs to do it.

[treebird]

It makes negative sense for the White Sox to do that unless they're convinced that Dunn is done. Then it makes negative sense for the Cubs to do it.

 

What's Dunn is Done.

 

:D :D :D =D> =D> =D> :D :D :D

[Tracer Bullet]

Insufficient smilies.

[MSG T]

It makes negative sense for the White Sox to do that unless they're convinced that Dunn is done. Then it makes negative sense for the Cubs to do it.

 

 

If the Cubs are able to sign Fielder/Pujols, I fully agree. If they missed on both, I wouldn't mind taking that chance near as much. Granted the WS most likely wouldn't, but from a Cubs perspective, Dunn is much more likely to rebound into usefulness than Soriano.

[Guest]

It makes negative sense for the White Sox to do that unless they're convinced that Dunn is done. Then it makes negative sense for the Cubs to do it.

 

 

If the Cubs are able to sign Fielder/Pujols, I fully agree. If they missed on both, I wouldn't mind taking that chance near as much. Granted the WS most likely wouldn't, but from a Cubs perspective, Dunn is much more likely to rebound into usefulness than Soriano.

 

Except that right now, Soriano is far more useful than Dunn. He has some value, whereas Dunn just had one of the worst years of any regular in the history of the game. Where he goes from here is hard to predict, but he has a long way to go to even be as valuable as Soriano was last year.

[Little Slide Rooter]

It makes negative sense for the White Sox to do that unless they're convinced that Dunn is done. Then it makes negative sense for the Cubs to do it.

 

 

If the Cubs are able to sign Fielder/Pujols, I fully agree. If they missed on both, I wouldn't mind taking that chance near as much. Granted the WS most likely wouldn't, but from a Cubs perspective, Dunn is much more likely to rebound into usefulness than Soriano.

 

Except that right now, Soriano is far more useful than Dunn. He has some value, whereas Dunn just had one of the worst years of any regular in the history of the game. Where he goes from here is hard to predict, but he has a long way to go.

 

Soriano is pretty much what he's going to be and will only decline if anything. If he can keep up what he did in 2010-2011, he'll be useful especially to an AL team as a DH who can play some OF and a lefty killer.

 

As for Dunn, he's younger and can offer a much greater reward with a full rebound, however if 2011 was in fact what we have to look forword to with him, he's absolutely worthless. A lot of people are saying that his best chance is going back to playing (poor) defense.

 

To sum it up, Dunns more likely to rebound and his rebound can offer a better reward, but if both players are what they are, then you're better off with Soriano. It's a roll of the dice.

[noisesquared]

Soriano is pretty much what he's going to be and will only decline if anything. If he can keep up what he did in 2010-2011, he'll be useful especially to an AL team as a DH who can play some OF and a lefty killer.

 

As for Dunn, he's younger and can offer a much greater reward with a full rebound, however if 2011 was in fact what we have to look forword to with him, he's absolutely worthless. A lot of people are saying that his best chance is going back to playing (poor) defense.

 

To sum it up, Dunns more likely to rebound and his rebound can offer a better reward, but if both players are what they are, then you're better off with Soriano. It's a roll of the dice.

 

Pretty much what I was thinking. I initially thought the Sox would be crazy to entertain this trade, but if they're at all concerned that Dunn may not rebound, this could be a chance to move him for something useful. Soriano as a DH in a hitter friendly park may be appealing to a team like the Sox.

[CUBZ99]

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2011/11/source-cubs-talking-with-several-teams-regarding-soriano-headley-still-in-play/

 

Carroll reports that the Cubs have a "firm grasp" on a Soriano deal. Sounds encouraging.

[champaignchris]

Soriano is essentially a one win over replacement type of player. If you can trade him for nothing but a smidgen of salary relief that allows you to sign a two wins over replacement type player(s), you've still improved the team.

 

Thus, trade him for 20% of his salary and a bag of rocks, put Jackson in the outfield, and use the extra $2M - $3M/year saved on more productive players.

 

Seems like it could be done with a small market AL team that has nothing at the DH.

[JeffH]

You have to hope that Soriano doesn't decide to exercise his no-trade clause.

[Clem Fandango]

You have to hope that Soriano doesn't decide to exercise his no-trade clause.

 

Where there's smoke there's fire and it seems Soriano could be on the move so I'd imagine this is the only thing that could prevent a possible deal, and if he does exercise it I'm going to track him down and kick him in the face with a golf shoe.

[jersey cubs fan]

You have to hope that Soriano doesn't decide to exercise his no-trade clause.

 

Where there's smoke there's fire and it seems Soriano could be on the move so I'd imagine this is the only thing that could prevent a possible deal, and if he does exercise it I'm going to track him down and kick him in the face with a golf shoe.

 

There's plenty of smoke without fire in hot stove talk. But maybe Theo pulled a reverse Schilling and spent his thanksgiving convincing Soriano to get the hell out of here. Something tells me he would not want to go to Oakland, and probably not San Diego either, for power sapping reasons. But would Washington be interested? They like big splashes and if they don't actually get Fielder they could be adding some real power for next to nothing at least.

 

There's also a chance he could talk to the guy he replaced last time and send Soriano to Baltimore, which likes to do stupid stuff and acquire big names well past their prime.

Edited November 30, 2011 by jersey cubs fan