Cubs apparently sign Reed Johnson for some reason

[Castro13]

Noone knows what the Cubs bid on Darvish.

[Clem Fandango]

Reed Johnson is a necessary evil, and his cost is not a burden, and as such people should just accept the fact that he's there

 

He's absoulutely not necessary in any way shape or form.

 

And that next line is BS. It's stupid. Why do we have to just accept the fact that anybody is here if we don't agree with that player being here? If the team signs Niefi Perez and you don't like it, you don't just have to accept that he's here. It's a freaking message board dedicated to the Chicago Cubs. The very reason for this site's existence is for people to discuss the team and it's players, good or bad. If management signs a crappy old veteran to a guaranteed contract (not confirmed as far as I know) then we have every right to bitch about it.

 

It's a waste of bandwidth to discuss this move.

 

Says the oblivious guy who keeps posting about how rational the move is and that we shouldn't talk about it in any negative fashion.

 

Never said it was rational, just said it's nothing to get worked up over.

[Backtobanks]

Will Theo make a serious bid on the 2 Cubans? His bid on Darvish must have been a joke by the accounts that I've read.

 

The latest Darvish rumors (i.e. made-up stuff from reporters) is that the Cubs' $20-millionish bid was more in line with everyone but Texas's.

 

Will Theo make a serious bid on the 2 Cubans? His bid on Darvish must have been a joke by the accounts that I've read.

 

The latest Darvish rumors (i.e. made-up stuff from reporters) is that the Cubs' $20-millionish bid was more in line with everyone but Texas's.

 

From MLBTR:

Rangers Won Darvish Bidding Easily

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [December 21 at 10:33pm CST]

The Rangers won the rights to Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish with a $51.7MM bid this week and though the Toronto Star reported yesterday that the Blue Jays weren't far behind, reports today indicate the Rangers outbid rival teams by a significant margin.

 

Jeff Blair said this morning on Sportsnet 590 the FAN that the Blue Jays "did not bid $50MM, as the Toronto Star is reporting. That's totally, absolutely false and inaccurate" (hat tip Drunk Jays Fans). Buster Olney of ESPN.com believes the Blue Jays were in, but not close and suggests “nobody, including Toronto, was within country miles” of the Rangers’ bid (Twitter links). Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com agrees that no one else was close. The Rangers easily out-bid the Blue Jays and the Yankees bid in the $15-17MM range, according to Heyman.

 

Darvish posted a 1.44 ERA with 10.7 K/9 and 1.4 BB/9 in 232 innings this past season and he hasn't posted an ERA above 2.00 since 2007. The Rangers have until January 18th to work out a deal with him. If the sides don't agree to a deal by next month's deadline, Darvish will stay in Japan and the Nippon Ham Fighters won't obtain any cash from the Rangers.

 

The way I interpret this report is that the Rangers easily beat out the Blue Jays (2nd in bidding) and the Yankees (3rd in the bidding) who bid $15-$17 million, so the best that the Cubs could do was come in 4th at less than $15-$17 million. I stand by my statement that Theo's bid was a joke since everyone was assuming the winning bid would be around $50 million.

[Guest]

Your interpretation is dumb.

[dew1679666265]

The way I interpret this report is that the Rangers easily beat out the Blue Jays (2nd in bidding) and the Yankees (3rd in the bidding) who bid $15-$17 million, so the best that the Cubs could do was come in 4th at less than $15-$17 million. I stand by my statement that Theo's bid was a joke since everyone was assuming the winning bid would be around $50 million.

 

Andrew Marchand reported the Cubs bid around $20 million. There were other reports that the Cubs' bid was "substantial." The likelihood is that nobody actually knows the Cubs' bid other than that it was lower than the Rangers'.

 

The report you quoted could just as easily only have known those three bids and no others rather than intentionally posting the top 3 bids by amount.

[Backtobanks]

The way I interpret this report is that the Rangers easily beat out the Blue Jays (2nd in bidding) and the Yankees (3rd in the bidding) who bid $15-$17 million, so the best that the Cubs could do was come in 4th at less than $15-$17 million. I stand by my statement that Theo's bid was a joke since everyone was assuming the winning bid would be around $50 million.

 

Andrew Marchand reported the Cubs bid around $20 million. There were other reports that the Cubs' bid was "substantial." The likelihood is that nobody actually knows the Cubs' bid other than that it was lower than the Rangers'.

 

The report you quoted could just as easily only have known those three bids and no others rather than intentionally posting the top 3 bids by amount.

 

How would they know 3 bids and not any others?

[jersey cubs fan]

The way I interpret this report is that the Rangers easily beat out the Blue Jays (2nd in bidding) and the Yankees (3rd in the bidding) who bid $15-$17 million, so the best that the Cubs could do was come in 4th at less than $15-$17 million. I stand by my statement that Theo's bid was a joke since everyone was assuming the winning bid would be around $50 million.

 

Andrew Marchand reported the Cubs bid around $20 million. There were other reports that the Cubs' bid was "substantial." The likelihood is that nobody actually knows the Cubs' bid other than that it was lower than the Rangers'.

 

The report you quoted could just as easily only have known those three bids and no others rather than intentionally posting the top 3 bids by amount.

 

How would they know 3 bids and not any others?

 

Some front offices are more apt to talk than others.

[Backtobanks]

Your interpretation is dumb.

 

Well you can offer your opinion as to what that report states, but the bottom line is that the Cubs weren't even close to the winning bid.

[jersey cubs fan]

Your interpretation is dumb.

 

Well you can offer your opinion as to what that report states, but the bottom line is that the Cubs weren't even close to the winning bid.

 

you don't know that

[dew1679666265]

Well you can offer your opinion as to what that report states, but the bottom line is that the Cubs weren't even close to the winning bid.

 

The only thing we know as a fact in this is that the Rangers bid the most. Other than that, there is only rumor, speculation, and opinion. The Cubs may have bid $51.69 million or they may have bid $1. We don't know and we never will.

[ChiCubsFan]

How much is RJ signed for? Im lazy and can't search through all the whining to find it. I don't get why people hate this move. DeJesus can't hit lefties, but for the majority of Johnson's career he's murdered them (compared to his success again right handers). Sounds like a pretty good, and cheap, platoon in right to me.

 

Or is his defense in right really that terrible?

[dew1679666265]

How much is RJ signed for? Im lazy and can't search through all the whining to find it. I don't get why people hate this move. DeJesus can't hit lefties, but for the majority of Johnson's career he's murdered them (compared to his success again right handers). Sounds like a pretty good, and cheap, platoon in right to me.

 

Or is his defense in right really that terrible?

 

He's signed for just over $1 million. The problem with Reed is that he's old (35), has had nagging back injuries, and had a ridiculously large amount of luck last year to get the line he had. Rob pointed out in a front page article that if you normalize Reed's luck from last year, he'd end up with a roughly .630 OPS.

 

EDIT: The exact numbers would be 0.252/0.295/0.396. So I was underselling him a bit, as his normalized luck OPS was .691.

Edited December 23, 2011 by dew

[dew1679666265]

Interesting tweet from Bruce Miles:

 

Bruce Miles

BruceMiles2112 Bruce Miles

@

@Beep200 Was fine with firing. But substitute "Hendry" for Theo/Jed with some of these deals and what would reaction be?

[Guest]

Interesting tweet from Bruce Miles:

 

Bruce Miles

BruceMiles2112 Bruce Miles

@

@Beep200 Was fine with firing. But substitute "Hendry" for Theo/Jed with some of these deals and what would reaction be?

 

Outside of Reed Johnson, I'd be shocked that Hendry was getting such good value and actually selling high on pieces.

[dew1679666265]

Outside of Reed Johnson, I'd be shocked that Hendry was getting such good value and actually selling high on pieces.

 

I think that was before we found out how good the Marshall trade actually was. My guess is he was talking specifically about the Reed and Corpas signings, and maybe the Stewart trade. He has made a lot of Hendry:Theo/Jed correlations on his twitter feed, though.

[Backtobanks]

Here's a better option than Reed Johnson:

 

Yakult Swallows Sign Lastings Milledge

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [December 27 at 6:26pm CST]

The Tokyo Yakult Swallows have announced the signing of outfielder Lastings Milledge, according to a Sanspo report passed on by Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker. The deal is worth approximately $570K plus performance bonuses and includes a club option for 2013.

 

The Mets selected Milledge, now 26, with the 12th overall selection in the 2003 draft. He made the Major Leagues in 2006 and posted a .787 OPS in '07 as a 22-year-old. However the Mets traded him to Washington after the 2007 season and before long the Nationals sent him to Pittsburgh. Milledge signed with the White Sox before the 2011 season, but appeared in just two games for Chicago. He spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he posted a .295/.364/.441 line in 505 plate appearances.

[mookie]

Here's a better option than Reed Johnson:

 

Yakult Swallows Sign Lastings Milledge

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [December 27 at 6:26pm CST]

The Tokyo Yakult Swallows have announced the signing of outfielder Lastings Milledge, according to a Sanspo report passed on by Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker. The deal is worth approximately $570K plus performance bonuses and includes a club option for 2013.

 

The Mets selected Milledge, now 26, with the 12th overall selection in the 2003 draft. He made the Major Leagues in 2006 and posted a .787 OPS in '07 as a 22-year-old. However the Mets traded him to Washington after the 2007 season and before long the Nationals sent him to Pittsburgh. Milledge signed with the White Sox before the 2011 season, but appeared in just two games for Chicago. He spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he posted a .295/.364/.441 line in 505 plate appearances.

 

 

Are you serious right now?

[dew1679666265]

Are you serious right now?

 

I'd take Milledge over Reed in a heartbeat. Milledge will turn 27 next year, meaning there's the possibility (however slim) that he could get better. Meanwhile, Reed is 35 and has had nagging injury issues the past few years, meaning if he's healthy there's a very good chance he'll (continue to) decline.

 

Some numbers:

 

Reed 2011 line adjusted for BABIP: .252/.295/.396

Milledge career line: .269/.328/.395

 

At worst, they're very similar players with Milledge likely making less than Reed. There is the chance, however, that Lastings could figure something out and get a little better - making him the clear favorite.

[mookie]

And then there is the baggage train to consider. Reed is the better option. I don't think it is any coincidence that not one team took a flyer on Lastings.

[dew1679666265]

And then there is the baggage train to consider. Reed is the better option. I don't think it is any coincidence that not one team took a flyer on Lastings.

 

With Lastings there's baggage, with Reed there's huge injury risk. With both players there's a decent to good chance that they'll miss the better part of the season. With similar risks, why not take the better, younger player?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Or we could, you know, not sign bad 5th outfielders.

[dew1679666265]

Or we could, you know, not sign bad 5th outfielders.

 

That's the best option.

[Clem Fandango]

How much injury risk is there to worry about with a backup outfielder?

 

Oh no, we lost Reed Johnson with a tight hamstring, he'll not be able to not play for 7 days

[dew1679666265]

How much injury risk is there to worry about with a backup outfielder?

 

Oh no, we lost Reed Johnson with a tight hamstring, he'll not be able to not play for 7 days

 

He's had pretty bad back injuries recently hasn't he? If that starts acting up again, it could put him out for extended periods. The same could be said for Milledge, though. Sign him to a minor league deal or league minimum, he goes crazy, you cut him and find another bad 5th OF.

 

At least with Milledge there's the outside chance for some improvement. With Reed there's only downside.

[Little Slide Rooter]

How much injury risk is there to worry about with a backup outfielder?

 

Oh no, we lost Reed Johnson with a tight hamstring, he'll not be able to not play for 7 days

 

He's had pretty bad back injuries recently hasn't he? If that starts acting up again, it could put him out for extended periods. The same could be said for Milledge, though. Sign him to a minor league deal or league minimum, he goes crazy, you cut him and find another bad 5th OF.

 

At least with Milledge there's the outside chance for some improvement. With Reed there's only downside.

 

And with Dave Sappelt, theres the fact that we already have him, he's going to be 25 next week bringing him dangerously close to the AAAA label, and he probably wouldn't be any worse than either of the other 2.