Trading Soriano

[Little Slide Rooter]

From over at Bleachernation.com

 

The Alfonso Soriano speculation continues. Bruce Levine reiterates that the Cubs would be willing to eat 80% of the remaining $54 million (over three years) owed to Soriano, and Jim Bowden says the Tigers should consider Soriano to replace Victor Martinez. Thing is? I’m told that, when the Cubs contacted the Tigers about Soriano after learning of the Martinez injury, the Tigers wanted the Cubs to eat 95% of his remaining salary.

 

Sounds like a pretty good starting point for negotiations. A difference of $8m?

 

If plan B is to flat out cut him if he isn't traded or have a rebound season, I say take it and run.

[SouthSideRyan]

From over at Bleachernation.com

 

The Alfonso Soriano speculation continues. Bruce Levine reiterates that the Cubs would be willing to eat 80% of the remaining $54 million (over three years) owed to Soriano, and Jim Bowden says the Tigers should consider Soriano to replace Victor Martinez. Thing is? I’m told that, when the Cubs contacted the Tigers about Soriano after learning of the Martinez injury, the Tigers wanted the Cubs to eat 95% of his remaining salary.

 

Sounds like a pretty good starting point for negotiations. A difference of $8m?

 

If plan B is to flat out cut him if he isn't traded or have a rebound season, I say take it and run.

 

Take the offer where we save 900K/year??

[rawaction]

The problem is that Soriano likely wouldn't get a multiyear deal on the open market. The additional years on his contract make it hard to compare what he'd get on the open market.

 

Right, but if you think he could get 1/4, then something like 3/6-7 shouldn't make them flinch, and that would be around the midpoint.

 

Exactly. The team that gets him is going to have to be willing to eat some money too. Nobody is going to keep him on their roster for 3 years. I don't think a team at 3/7 would look at it as eating 4.6 Mil. They'd look at it as giving Soriano 1 year for 7 Million. Certainly not outlandish for a team that is desperate for power and hopeful that Soriano turns it around somewhat.

[jersey cubs fan]

The problem is that Soriano likely wouldn't get a multiyear deal on the open market. The additional years on his contract make it hard to compare what he'd get on the open market.

 

Right, but if you think he could get 1/4, then something like 3/6-7 shouldn't make them flinch, and that would be around the midpoint.

 

Exactly. The team that gets him is going to have to be willing to eat some money too. Nobody is going to keep him on their roster for 3 years. I don't think a team at 3/7 would look at it as eating 4.6 Mil. They'd look at it as giving Soriano 1 year for 7 Million. Certainly not outlandish for a team that is desperate for power and hopeful that Soriano turns it around somewhat.

 

1/7 with 2 team options at zero cost.

[Little Slide Rooter]

From over at Bleachernation.com

 

The Alfonso Soriano speculation continues. Bruce Levine reiterates that the Cubs would be willing to eat 80% of the remaining $54 million (over three years) owed to Soriano, and Jim Bowden says the Tigers should consider Soriano to replace Victor Martinez. Thing is? I’m told that, when the Cubs contacted the Tigers about Soriano after learning of the Martinez injury, the Tigers wanted the Cubs to eat 95% of his remaining salary.

 

Sounds like a pretty good starting point for negotiations. A difference of $8m?

 

If plan B is to flat out cut him if he isn't traded or have a rebound season, I say take it and run.

 

Take the offer where we save 900K/year??

 

Assuming a few prospects come our way, then yes. Obviously, we won't be getting anything remotely resembling Turner, Smyly, or Castellanos, but 900K+a a few high ceiling 20 year olds sure beats prorated league minimum+nothing.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If it's the first week of February and still nobody has bit or budged, then sure, take the $900k in savings. Better than nothing and the free roster spot has significant value.

[jersey cubs fan]

If it's the first week of February and still nobody has bit or budged, then sure, take the $900k in savings. Better than nothing and the free roster spot has significant value.

 

No it doesn't. Who do they have to squeeze into that roster? The bottom 3-4 guys are probably all going to be garbage. What's the point in getting jumpy now? If nobody was going to offer much of anything and the Cubs were going to pay all of it, then the best bet always was to try and see if he can get hot in time for the trading deadline and then cause somebody else to do something stupid.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If it's the first week of February and still nobody has bit or budged, then sure, take the $900k in savings. Better than nothing and the free roster spot has significant value.

 

No it doesn't. Who do they have to squeeze into that roster? The bottom 3-4 guys are probably all going to be garbage. What's the point in getting jumpy now? If nobody was going to offer much of anything and the Cubs were going to pay all of it, then the best bet always was to try and see if he can get hot in time for the trading deadline and then cause somebody else to do something stupid.

 

The upside of Sappelt getting that playing time >>> the upside of fantasizing that Soriano's trade value at 36 is going to improve.

[Sammy Sofa]

Kyle's Sappelt-boner strikes again.

[CubColtPacer]

If it's the first week of February and still nobody has bit or budged, then sure, take the $900k in savings. Better than nothing and the free roster spot has significant value.

 

No it doesn't. Who do they have to squeeze into that roster? The bottom 3-4 guys are probably all going to be garbage. What's the point in getting jumpy now? If nobody was going to offer much of anything and the Cubs were going to pay all of it, then the best bet always was to try and see if he can get hot in time for the trading deadline and then cause somebody else to do something stupid.

 

The upside of Sappelt getting that playing time >>> the upside of fantasizing that Soriano's trade value at 36 is going to improve.

 

There's also the thought that acceptance of advanced statistics for pitchers are well behind what they are for hitters. So if they put a better defense behind the cost controlled pitching the Cubs have, the more the can artificially inflate their trade value.

 

Those arguments are both significant, but I'm not sure if it makes up for the fact that it's only 2.7 million savings either. The Cubs can probably get more at some point, but the question becomes is the extra amount worth the opportunity you're losing by keeping him.

[davell]

There's too many DH types out there still, that are as good as Soriano and will only require one year deals. That said, I think cutting him now is better than waiting another season. We have to pay his entire salary within 18 months, if we cut him(or trade him) but it gets his contract off the books a year quicker. If he's cut, his salary becomes 27 mill each of the next 2 seasons, instead of 18 for 3. Considering we aren't spending a ton this year, it makes sense to take that kind of hit now, as opposed to waiting.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Kyle's Sappelt-boner strikes again.

 

Don't act like you aren't impressed.

[Derwood]

Guys, I had a dream that the Cubs traded Soriano to Baltimore. It's a done deal

[KingCubsFan]

The problem is that Soriano likely wouldn't get a multiyear deal on the open market. The additional years on his contract make it hard to compare what he'd get on the open market.

 

Right, but if you think he could get 1/4, then something like 3/6-7 shouldn't make them flinch, and that would be around the midpoint.

 

Exactly. The team that gets him is going to have to be willing to eat some money too. Nobody is going to keep him on their roster for 3 years. I don't think a team at 3/7 would look at it as eating 4.6 Mil. They'd look at it as giving Soriano 1 year for 7 Million. Certainly not outlandish for a team that is desperate for power and hopeful that Soriano turns it around somewhat.

 

1/7 with 2 team options at zero cost.

Given what Pena just got, 7 is way too much for Soriano.

[davell]

Matsui, Damon, Vlad, Manny, Cody Ross, Burrell, Ibanez, Kotchman, and D-Lee. All available. All will have to accept one year deals. Is Alfonso Soriano actually worth trading for over signing one of these guys? Sure, he may be slightly better than some of these guys. But, enough to take on an extra 2 years for? Not to mention the fact there are TEN names listed here and probably 3 or 4 teams at most, attempting to sign a starter at this point. Only way Soriano isn't our starting LF in April is either a) he's hurt b) Campana, Sappelt, or Cespedes beats him out or c) he's DFA'd

[JockJones]

Guys, I had a dream that the Cubs traded Soriano to Baltimore. It's a done deal

 

BigBird also confirmed that it is a done deal.

[CubmanPi]

Guys, I had a dream that the Cubs traded Soriano to Baltimore. It's a done deal

BigBird also confirmed that it is a done deal.

I won't buy it until I hear it from Rob Lowe.

[dew1679666265]

Matsui, Damon, Vlad, Manny, Cody Ross, Burrell, Ibanez, Kotchman, and D-Lee. All available. All will have to accept one year deals. Is Alfonso Soriano actually worth trading for over signing one of these guys? Sure, he may be slightly better than some of these guys. But, enough to take on an extra 2 years for? Not to mention the fact there are TEN names listed here and probably 3 or 4 teams at most, attempting to sign a starter at this point. Only way Soriano isn't our starting LF in April is either a) he's hurt b) Campana, Sappelt, or Cespedes beats him out or c) he's DFA'd

 

If the Cubs are paying as much of Soriano's salary as it sounds like we'll have to, then the years remaining on the deal won't be significant. If a team ends up owing him 3/7 after the trade, they could simply count the full $7 million toward year one of the deal, pay it all to him then, and cut him after the season at no further cost.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Carlos Pena barely got 1/7. No one wants Soriano for 7.

[dew1679666265]

"I think that's unlikely [that Soriano will start the season with another team]," said the GM. "We don't want to do anything to hurt our pitchers (with his defense), but we do believe there's something left in Sori."

 

As many as eight clubs inquired about Soriano earlier this offseason (including the Orioles), and chairman Tom Ricketts has made it clear that they're willing to eat most of $54MM left on his contract to facilitate a trade. The 36-year-old outfielder hit .244/.289/.469 with 26 homers last season.

 

MLBTR

[PrimeTime]

"I think that's unlikely [that Soriano will start the season with another team]," said the GM. "We don't want to do anything to hurt our pitchers (with his defense), but we do believe there's something left in Sori."

 

As many as eight clubs inquired about Soriano earlier this offseason (including the Orioles), and chairman Tom Ricketts has made it clear that they're willing to eat most of $54MM left on his contract to facilitate a trade. The 36-year-old outfielder hit .244/.289/.469 with 26 homers last season.

 

MLBTR

 

 

You can totally tell they really want to unload him and have no confidence in him at all with that statement and the comment about his bad defense. Breath of fresh to hear that instead of the old "He's our opening day left fielder, he's gonna help the clubhouse and help us in so many ways and he's such an important piece to our team!"

[Sammy Sofa]

What?

[Guest]

That quote is excerpted from Jed answering a question in a much more positive way. To paraphrase what he actually said: "I don't think Soriano is going anywhere before Opening Day. He's been working on conditioning this offseason, and we want to be sure we aren't hurting our pitchers with our defense like last year. We feel that with some better health/conditioning we'll see some better work in LF, and we still think he has life left in his bat."

[davell]

I don't see much of a chance we'll ever be able to actually trade Soriano, unless it's a bad contract swap. First, there's always going to be a bunch of older guys available in FA each year. Because they are only getting one year deals now to begin with. Secondly, Soriano's production hasn't gotten as poor as it probably will. He may very well regress each of the next 3 seasons, for all we know. It's very unlikely though, that he'll do MORE than he has recently however, and even if he did, other team's would look at it as an aberration anyway. We're stuck with him. My guess is he'll be here all of 2012 and we'll finally DFA him midway thru 2013.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I don't see much of a chance we'll ever be able to actually trade Soriano, unless it's a bad contract swap. First, there's always going to be a bunch of older guys available in FA each year. Because they are only getting one year deals now to begin with. Secondly, Soriano's production hasn't gotten as poor as it probably will. He may very well regress each of the next 3 seasons, for all we know. It's very unlikely though, that he'll do MORE than he has recently however, and even if he did, other team's would look at it as an aberration anyway. We're stuck with him. My guess is he'll be here all of 2012 and we'll finally DFA him midway thru 2013.

 

The thing is, he's going to get 18 mil/year for the next 3 years regardless of if and where he plays. Chances are, we'll be paying a big chunk of it, if not all, regardless of if and where he plays. As of now, he's just there and not bothering anyone. However, if we were to sign Cespedes, that would signify the end of him, if not immediately, as soone as Brett Jackson is ready to come up. Therefore, the question is, if we're paying the money is it in our best interest to

 

A. Keep him around, even if he's a bat off the bench

B. Set him free

C. Do similar to what we did with Zambrano and try to get the best return possible, no matter how lackluster and hope that the other team is willing to at least chip in a few mil.

 

IMHO, B. shouldn't even be an option. C is probably the best bet. I think that if they didn't have to pay much or any money, teams in need of an extra bat would be willing to send us either a former top prospect who's star is all but faded or even a few guys from the back fourth of their top 20. Teams should be willing to pay the same amount for Soriano that they would for someone like Damon or Matsui, so if we could sell them on paying less money than they would for one of them, we should be able to get something of mild use.