Aramis Ramirez $42M extension a coup for Hendry??

[AramisRamirez]

Aramis signing for 4-years/$42M may very well turn out to be a coup for hendry. in the beginning of the season i started to question whether or not he was worth it, but he's proving my signature right.

 

with another blast tonight he's up to 27 HR's and 72 RBI's. 40/120 is very attainable, thanks in part to walker's everyday presence and good OBP. plus Dlee is getting walked every at-bat now, tonight he's drawn 3 so far.

 

his BA has been good also. Aramis is very impressive offensively, bringing him here in the Lofton deal was an exceptional move by Hendry and its a big reason for why he had so much respect in chicago in 03 and 04. that and Lee was the best move ever pretty much.

 

but if Aramis stays healthy i think .300, 40 HRs and 120 RBIs is pretty much what he's on pace for....maybe 40 and 105, but either way he's certainly turning out to be worth his extension. lets hope he can keep this up through the duration of his deal. You look at Adrian Beltre and see his extension and his production, and you have to be thankful for Aramis. he's very soft-spoken, he hardly ever talks in public. he isnt a distraction, he's just extraordinarily productive. he's one of the NL's best hitters and with his age im thinking he should peak over the next 5 years. 27 HR's with alot of games left to play....it seems like him and Dlee hit one out every game. I hate Jay Mariotti but he may be right in his article today stating Aramis may finish with more HRs or RBIs than Dlee.

 

on a side note, i randomly looked up stats for albert belle today and he had some of the best numbers ive seen. 150 RBIs one year, 50 HRs another, a .320 BA. wow. his second year with the white sox was monsterous.

[10man]

I hate Jay Mariotti but he may be right in his article today stating Aramis may finish with more HRs or RBIs than Dlee.

Derrek better watch out cos Aram has made up a ton of ground on him this month. Seems like anyone that Lee leaves on base, Aram just gobbles up.

[TB_11]

He's even more of a joy when you look at other third basemen in the majors and consider that:

 

- Beltre is essentially stealing money from the Mariners (not a good idea with all their supposed ties to the Yakuza, by the way)

- Rolen is injured

- Troy Glaus is also pulling in $9M

- Chavez is pulling in $8.5M

- Mike Lowell is so unwanted that he can't get the Marlins to pay him enough not to be a part of the team

- Ensberg is playing a little bit over his head

- Alex Rodriguez costs costing the Yankees close to $20M per year

 

Given the age, salaries and physical condition of all the third basemen in the league, I don't think I'd want any of them over Aramis for the forseeable future.

[Zaphkiel]

That's why nearly every announcer/sports writer I see says that the Cubs have perhaps the most brutal one-two punch in baseball right now. With Hairston and Walker finally at the top of the order, I don't think there's a pitcher in baseball that wants to face Lee, Burnitz and then A-Ram. Imagine if we had a true everyday LF to either hit after A-Ram, or after Lee and then put Burnitz sixth.

 

1. Jerry Hairston Jr.

2. Todd Walker

3. Derrek Lee

4. Jeromy Burnitz

5. Aramis Ramirez

6. Adam Dunn/Luis Gonzalez/Kevin Mench

7. Neifi Perez

8. Michael Barrett

9. Pitcher

 

And that's before Nomar comes back.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

Don't forget about David Wright. (although I guess that is against your point now that I reread it....)

 

I also find it funny how a couple of months ago posters on this board were calling that deal a bad move and how they wanted him to earn his contract before he got it. It sounds funny in retrospect.

[Brian]

Won't be if he decides to opt out of his contract after 2 season :oops:

[ToupeeOnFire]

While I love A-Ram, doesn't he have a player's option after two years? While we are blessed to have Aramis in his prime performing at a hall-of-fame level, what happens if he elects to take the free agent route after 2006? Hopefully Hendry and the Cubs do whatever it takes to keep Aramis happy.

[CubfaninCA]

The acquisitions of Lee and Ramirez should keep Hendry fully employed for several more years. Now if he could only figure out how to hire a manager. :D

[NorthsideAvenger]

That's why nearly every announcer/sports writer I see says that the Cubs have perhaps the most brutal one-two punch in baseball right now. With Hairston and Walker finally at the top of the order, I don't think there's a pitcher in baseball that wants to face Lee, Burnitz and then A-Ram. Imagine if we had a true everyday LF to either hit after A-Ram, or after Lee and then put Burnitz sixth

 

1. Jerry Hairston Jr.

2. Todd Walker

3. Derrek Lee

4. Jeromy Burnitz

5. Aramis Ramirez

6. Adam Dunn/Luis Gonzalez/Kevin Mench

7. Neifi Perez

8. Michael Barrett

9. Pitcher

 

And that's before Nomar comes back.

 

Or how about getting a LEGIT CF who can hit, field, and run, and put Hairston in LF, where he is abit more comfortably, defensively.

[Balsa]

Is the R-L-R thing really that important? I mean, maybe it wastes pitchers against teams with manager's names ending in Russa, but I'd rather see Ramirez back up Lee, so teams won't walk Lee to face a much easier Burnitz and get an extra out.

[CubfaninCA]

Is the R-L-R thing really that important? I mean, maybe it wastes pitchers against teams with manager's names ending in Russa, but I'd rather see Ramirez back up Lee, so teams won't walk Lee to face a much easier Burnitz and get an extra out.

 

You make a good point. I'd prefer ARam batting 4th too. The manager may figure that out by next month. It took him half the season to figure out the 1-2 hitters. At least he doesn't have his beloved Neifi batting 4th.

[nilodnayr]

While I love A-Ram, doesn't he have a player's option after two years? While we are blessed to have Aramis in his prime performing at a hall-of-fame level, what happens if he elects to take the free agent route after 2006? Hopefully Hendry and the Cubs do whatever it takes to keep Aramis happy.

 

He does but said that he wants to stay in Chicago and end his career here. Pretty much all that option is, is negotiating leverage to be able to extend the contract even longer after 2 years. Even though hes been mashing, IIRC hes going to be making a pretty penny in the last two years as his contract stands. I dont think theres anything to be worried about.

[nilodnayr]

While I love A-Ram, doesn't he have a player's option after two years? While we are blessed to have Aramis in his prime performing at a hall-of-fame level, what happens if he elects to take the free agent route after 2006? Hopefully Hendry and the Cubs do whatever it takes to keep Aramis happy.

 

He does but said that he wants to stay in Chicago and end his career here. Pretty much all that option is, is negotiating leverage to be able to extend the contract even longer after 2 years. Even though hes been mashing, IIRC hes going to be making a pretty penny in the last two years as his contract stands. I dont think theres anything to be worried about.

[Crash]

That's why nearly every announcer/sports writer I see says that the Cubs have perhaps the most brutal one-two punch in baseball right now. With Hairston and Walker finally at the top of the order, I don't think there's a pitcher in baseball that wants to face Lee, Burnitz and then A-Ram. Imagine if we had a true everyday LF to either hit after A-Ram, or after Lee and then put Burnitz sixth

 

1. Jerry Hairston Jr.

2. Todd Walker

3. Derrek Lee

4. Jeromy Burnitz

5. Aramis Ramirez

6. Adam Dunn/Luis Gonzalez/Kevin Mench

7. Neifi Perez

8. Michael Barrett

9. Pitcher

 

And that's before Nomar comes back.

 

Or how about getting a LEGIT CF who can hit, field, and run, and put Hairston in LF, where he is abit more comfortably, defensively.

 

Actually I would much rather get a power hitting left fielder and keep Hairston in center. Even ignoring the fact that getting a slugging left fielder is a heck of a lot easier than getting a CF who can do all you ask, putting Hairtson in LF just means we are going to continue to get subpar production for that position. Hairston in CF and a league average LF is better than Hairston in LF and a league average CF.

[CubfaninCA]

That's why nearly every announcer/sports writer I see says that the Cubs have perhaps the most brutal one-two punch in baseball right now. With Hairston and Walker finally at the top of the order, I don't think there's a pitcher in baseball that wants to face Lee, Burnitz and then A-Ram. Imagine if we had a true everyday LF to either hit after A-Ram, or after Lee and then put Burnitz sixth.

 

1. Jerry Hairston Jr.

2. Todd Walker

3. Derrek Lee

4. Jeromy Burnitz

5. Aramis Ramirez

6. Adam Dunn/Luis Gonzalez/Kevin Mench

7. Neifi Perez

8. Michael Barrett

9. Pitcher

 

And that's before Nomar comes back.

 

With AZ only 2 1/2 out in the West, I can't see them dealing off Gonzo. It doesn't look good for Dunn either. Now TX could be in the trade market, but Soriano looks to be the guy they'd like to move. They've fallen under .500 and need some pitching. The Cubs could give them some young arms, Patterson and Walker and get Delucci and Soriano. Some of the obp fanatics may not like Soriano batting 6th cause he won't be getting on base for Barrett, Neifi and the pitcher, but he should help put Lee, Burnitz and ARam across home plate more often w/ his .540 slugging %.

[Zaphkiel]

I'll admit that when I came up with those three names for LF, I basically had espn.com list all LF, and then picked three that I thought might be somewhat possible. Outside of Dunn(who I suppose isn't likely anymore), I wasn't really sure what LF were really available that we'd want.

 

Maybe the D-Backs will get swept by whoever they're playing now, and then they'll go into sell mode after we sweep them. :)

[Chocolate Milk]

Aramis is good.

[sandberg23]

Aramis is good.

 

This is true.