Rosenthal: Cubs sign DeJesus

[Guest]

So now we basically have 2 Marlon Byrds?

 

Yes.

 

Seems like a waste of money. We're going to suck this year, just let Colvin flame out once and for all and let Brett Jackson get some playing time.

 

Sucking this year is certainly not a foregone conclusion. DeJesus gives you depth and flexibility if you want to trade Byrd or Soriano, or leave Jackson in Iowa to start the year.

[bukie]

David Dejesus hasn't really been on my radar for a long time so maybe I'm missing something here. But can someone explain why this is such a great signing? His numbers look absolutely pedestrian, if not inconsistent. He's a power-deficient, average OBP, low-OPS hitter who I'd assume is still athletic, but doesn't steal many bases. Is he an amazing defender or something? He doesn't jump out at me as "get this guy in the lineup at #1 or #2 and let him roll". I'm not opposed to the move, especially since the money is reasonable, just looking for a reason to be excited. Thanks.

 

He immediately becomes the most patient hitter on the team, and is a plus fielder and baserunner. It's a bit of a defensive-leaning choice, especially for a corner OF, but the corner OF market was really bad this year, and he's probably the most promising choice among the available FAs.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Decent money, BABIP Value Bet. Fine, whatever, let's do something bigger.

[sneakypower]

Not really thrilled with having 0 power at 1 of the corner spots, especially with no 1B or 3B (or LF really) in tow. He's on the wrong side of 30, coming off a subpar season. I do have faith in the front office that he's just a piece of the puzzle and not the major acquisition of the offseason, but the Cubs don't have enough good players yet for me to get excited about a role player.

zero power's an unfair absolute, he averaged 48 XBHs from 06 to 09, so if (a big if, granted) he's at full health again, it's reasonable to expect he'll be a fine hitter

 

also, he sucks vs. LHP so you can mitigate those health concerns and improve your RF production by lifting him against lefties from time to time

[Guest]

Meh. I think the change to the NL central will help his numbers some. Certainly not a flashy signing.

[jersey cubs fan]

David Dejesus hasn't really been on my radar for a long time so maybe I'm missing something here. But can someone explain why this is such a great signing? His numbers look absolutely pedestrian, if not inconsistent. He's a power-deficient, average OBP, low-OPS hitter who I'd assume is still athletic, but doesn't steal many bases. Is he an amazing defender or something? He doesn't jump out at me as "get this guy in the lineup at #1 or #2 and let him roll". I'm not opposed to the move, especially since the money is reasonable, just looking for a reason to be excited. Thanks.

 

There's no reason to be super excited about him, and they didn't spend super exciting money on him. There OF is a complete mess and they need adequate players out there somewhere, especially if the talk of trading Soriano is true. I don't think he's a guy you sign and say "let him roll", he's a complementary player at best who fills a spot without standing in the way of something better.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Decent money, BABIP Value Bet. Fine, whatever, let's do something bigger.

 

This is how I feel. Nothing to get upset about, hopefully something bigger is on the horizon.

[ctcf]

Decent money, BABIP Value Bet. Fine, whatever, let's do something bigger.

 

This is how I feel. Nothing to get upset about, hopefully something bigger is on the horizon.

 

There's no "hopefully" about it. I'm pretty sure Theo and Hoyer didn't come here to just sign David Dejesus

Edited November 30, 2011 by ctcf

[Little Slide Rooter]

Not a fan. Nothing against DeJesus who's basically Jacksons floor but even if we do move Byrd or Soriano it probably means either Jackson's blocked or we're out of the Cespedes sweepstakes.

[Clem Fandango]

I think if anything people are more excited that Theo & Co. are finally making moves, and that this is just the first move in what will hopefully be a busy and exciting offseason Edited November 30, 2011 by The Logan

[MSG T]

this guy kind of sucked last year. his k/rate was way up from previous seasons, and he hit more fly balls than ever before, especially infield pop-ups. maybe those were all foul balls because he was playing in the stupid oakland coliseum.

 

uzr likes his defense a lot, but uzr also likes vaseline on toast, so i'm not going to get too excited about that.

 

He had a higher WAR than any Cub OF last season. He may suck, but he's still an improvement over last season.

[Elrhino]

David Dejesus hasn't really been on my radar for a long time so maybe I'm missing something here. But can someone explain why this is such a great signing?

 

He's a good buy low candidate for relatively low risk. He sucked last year, but he was a 3.5 WAR player from 2005-2010.

 

Being able to play all 3 OF positions he gives the Cubs a lot of flexibility to make other roster moves (Soriano, Byrd), but at the same time not making the kind of money that would block them from it.

Edited November 30, 2011 by Elrhino

[Guest]

Is he hurt a lot? He's only had one season in the bigs anywhere near a full season of at bats?

[MSG T]

Not a fan. Nothing against DeJesus who's basically Jacksons floor but even if we do move Byrd or Soriano it probably means either Jackson's blocked or we're out of the Cespedes sweepstakes.

 

 

It could very well just be me getting caught up in the moment, but if I had to put money on it, I'd bet neither Byrd nor Soriano start the season with the Cubs.

[treebird]

this guy kind of sucked last year. his k/rate was way up from previous seasons, and he hit more fly balls than ever before, especially infield pop-ups. maybe those were all foul balls because he was playing in the stupid oakland coliseum.

 

uzr likes his defense a lot, but uzr also likes vaseline on toast, so i'm not going to get too excited about that.

 

He had a higher WAR than any Cub OF last season. He may suck, but he's still an improvement over last season.

 

his war is only that high if you accept that his defense is worth a win and a half. hopefully it is.

[jersey cubs fan]

Not a fan. Nothing against DeJesus who's basically Jacksons floor but even if we do move Byrd or Soriano it probably means either Jackson's blocked or we're out of the Cespedes sweepstakes.

 

 

It could very well just be me getting caught up in the moment, but if I had to put money on it, I'd bet neither Byrd nor Soriano start the season with the Cubs.

 

I'd bet at least one doesn't start the season with the Cubs.

[Post Count Padder]

Excellent signing. I've always been a fan of his, good hitter with decent gap power and speed on the bases. He's also a pretty reliable fielder. It's also a team-friendly contract. I put last season's struggles on injuries and playing home games in Oakland. Looking at his splits, he was noticeably better on the road and turned it on after the All-Star break. I think he's a nice buy-low candidate and a good start by the new regime.

[MSG T]

this guy kind of sucked last year. his k/rate was way up from previous seasons, and he hit more fly balls than ever before, especially infield pop-ups. maybe those were all foul balls because he was playing in the stupid oakland coliseum.

 

uzr likes his defense a lot, but uzr also likes vaseline on toast, so i'm not going to get too excited about that.

 

He had a higher WAR than any Cub OF last season. He may suck, but he's still an improvement over last season.

 

his war is only that high if you accept that his defense is worth a win and a half. hopefully it is.

 

I'll grant you that, but he also had a wOBA nearly as high as Byrd and Soriano. Which was the lowest of his career, by far, and was it a coincidence it happened after moving to a pitcher friendly park. He may not move back to the .363 wOBA he had the year before, but I'd think he gets back close to his career norm, which is .339.

[Prizefight]

I think we any Theo/Jed signing, we should speculate what Hendry's deal would have been.

 

 

I'll go 4 years, 24m, no trade.

[CincyCubsFan]

Something tells me this move wouldn't be getting universal praise around here if Hendry was still at the helm.

I echo whoever said it's like having two Marlon Byrds on the team.

[bukie]

DeJesus contract:

 

2012: $4.25M

2013: $4.25M

2014: $6.5M team option with $1.5M buyout

[samhainn77]

Love the signing, especially as the Right-hand facing part of the platoon. He handles righties really well. Even last year was decent.

[Cubswin11]

Is he hurt a lot? He's only had one season in the bigs anywhere near a full season of at bats?

Well he bats left handed and is terrible against LHP (.690 OPS career against them) so I would guess part of it him not starting a lot against lefties that brings his ab's down. I am fine with this move, he's a placeholder and came pretty cheap. I wonder if this move means Theo/Hoyer think Jackson needs some more time in the minors or if a Soriano/Byrd trade is coming? Or if this is just a depth signing as we really didn't have a 3rd/4th outfielder and Jackson is still in the plans for this year and Dejesus will see time at all 3 OF spots due to injury/favorable splits.

[bukie]

Something tells me this move wouldn't be getting universal praise around here if Hendry was still at the helm.

I echo whoever said it's like having two Marlon Byrds on the team.

Except it's not getting universal praise, and calling him Marlon Byrd is stretching the analogy a bit.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Not a fan. Nothing against DeJesus who's basically Jacksons floor but even if we do move Byrd or Soriano it probably means either Jackson's blocked or we're out of the Cespedes sweepstakes.

 

I honestly don't see how it means any of those things. Byrd can be benched and the AA outfield still has plenty of openings.