Let's Switch Gears: Soriano Possible?

[Hosak8]

Hey... a non-Dunn thread!

 

I read today that the Yankees and Rangers have been discussing Alfonso Soriano. The Yankees want him in Centerfield, but don't have enough pitching to get him from Texas, who would like to deal him. Now, I know he isn't ideal. His OBP is not great, his defense is probably not going to be stellar in CF, and he's not a leadoff hitter. But, if we could deal Corey and a couple of arms (insert typical pitchers names here), is it worth giving Soriano a look-see in CF?

 

Discuss...

[Roast]

Nah.

 

He does not interest me. At all.

 

I am quite happy with Hairston. Center is not our problem area, IMO. Left is.

[10man]

Soriano has let it be known that he has no interest in changing positions.

[Clogged Basepaths]

Love his tools/speed, but just awful OBP.

 

Only position I'd be interested for him to play would be LF. If I remember correctly, that was his original position before D'Angelo Jiminez got hurt (surprise) and they shifted him to 2B in the Yankees farm system.

 

Also, this game is hurting me, ugh.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I don't think Soriano would be open to a position change, and we don't need an upgrade at secondbase.

 

Also, our secondbaseman is better than Soriano.

[Tracer Bullet]

The second-half of a season is not the time to teach Soriano to play center (esp when he doesn't appear to want to change positions anyway).

[imb]

If we had a hole at second base, i'd love to have him. I think a lot of people undervalue him because of his low OBP. He had the highest VORP last year among second basemen.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

If we had a hole at second base, i'd love to have him. I think a lot of people undervalue him because of his low OBP. He had the highest VORP last year among second basemen.

 

Is VORP park adjusted?

 

2004 Road: .244/.291/.444/.735

2005 Road: .230/.270/.382/.652

 

No thanks.

[HoopsCubs]

Hey... a non-Dunn thread!

 

I read today that the Yankees and Rangers have been discussing Alfonso Soriano. The Yankees want him in Centerfield, but don't have enough pitching to get him from Texas, who would like to deal him. Now, I know he isn't ideal. His OBP is not great, his defense is probably not going to be stellar in CF, and he's not a leadoff hitter. But, if we could deal Corey and a couple of arms (insert typical pitchers names here), is it worth giving Soriano a look-see in CF?

 

Discuss...

 

Hosak, I don't see a fit for us directly in a 2-way deal.

 

But here's a thought: despite getting Graffanino, I wonder if Boston and Texas would be open for a 3 way deal where Soriano goes to the Red Sox, Trot Nixon comes to the Cubs, and we send the Rangers 2 pitchers?

 

Or maybe do the same deal with the Yankees and Rangers, and Hideki Matsui comes to Wrigley.

[TruffleShuffle]

I am completely opposed to making any trade that doesn't improve the team for the long haul. Despite the Cubs playing pretty well lately against some subpar teams, I don't see this year's team going anywhere. If you're going to trade for a guy who can be a long-term contributer, go for it... otherwise, suck it up the rest of this year and try to build a better team going into next season.

[rawaction]

Hey... a non-Dunn thread!

 

I read today that the Yankees and Rangers have been discussing Alfonso Soriano. The Yankees want him in Centerfield, but don't have enough pitching to get him from Texas, who would like to deal him. Now, I know he isn't ideal. His OBP is not great, his defense is probably not going to be stellar in CF, and he's not a leadoff hitter. But, if we could deal Corey and a couple of arms (insert typical pitchers names here), is it worth giving Soriano a look-see in CF?

 

Discuss...

 

Hosak, I don't see a fit for us directly in a 2-way deal.

 

But here's a thought: despite getting Graffanino, I wonder if Boston and Texas would be open for a 3 way deal where Soriano goes to the Red Sox, Trot Nixon comes to the Cubs, and we send the Rangers 2 pitchers?

 

Or maybe do the same deal with the Yankees and Rangers, and Hideki Matsui comes to Wrigley.

 

I don't think Matsui is going anywhere, but it'd be nice. I think the Cubs would have to give up a ton in the 1st deal. My feeble attempt at a deal would be:

 

Boston gets: Soriano and Wuertz or Wellemeyer

Texas gets: Jerome Williams, Glendon Rusch, pitching prospect from Sox

Cubs get: Trot Nixon

 

The only problem I see with those 2 teams in the same deal is that both need relief help in the worst way. They are the 2 worst non-Tampa bullpens in the AL. I don't know that Wuertz or Rusch help them improve all that much and guess Dempster would be sought after by both.

[CubfaninCA]

If Baker keeps him out of the 1 or 2 spot in the order, I'd like to have him. Having an above obp isn't that big of thing if you bat him 5th. I want a guy who will drive in the 1, 2, 3 and 4 hitters, and Soriano hits for power. Having three 40 home run guys would be nice. Too bad none of them bats left handed.

[Cubway]

Why would anyone want Trot Nixon? Esp. with the young outfielders coming up.

[AAApittsburgh]

Why would anyone want Trot Nixon? Esp. with the young outfielders coming up.

Because he's good, except against lefties. Pie is at least a year away and even if Murton is one your starting outfielders next season, you're still going to need another corner OF.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If Baker keeps him out of the 1 or 2 spot in the order, I'd like to have him. Having an above obp isn't that big of thing if you bat him 5th. I want a guy who will drive in the 1, 2, 3 and 4 hitters, and Soriano hits for power. Having three 40 home run guys would be nice. Too bad none of them bats left handed.

 

Where would you play him? There's no need to make a trade that replaces the third best hitter on the team.

 

If Soriano wants to play left field, bring him on. Since that isn't the case, trading for another secondbaseman is about the most pointless thing I can imagine.

 

Why don't we also trade for a thirdbaseman and another firstbaseman?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

In honor of Lewis Black's comedy central special, which was on this evening:

 

I'm going to repeat that, because it bears repeating...

 

2004 Road: .244/.291/.444/.735

2005 Road: .230/.270/.382/.652

[TruffleShuffle]

You have got to be kidding me. Why Trot Nixon? Why not? Aside from the fact that he's rather poor against RHP, a problem that can be pretty effectively remedied by a competent RH batter, he has an OPS around .900 over the past 3+ years with neutral home-road splits - meaning he isn't helped by Fenway. In fact, his .360 OBP would look really nice starting in the OF. So I say to you, not Why Trot, but Why Not Trot?

[nilodnayr]

I like Trot Nixon just as much as the next guy...probably more as I have him on my fantasy team, but why in God's name would the Red Sox move him?