Trib Suggests that Furcal Will Be Offseason Target

[rawaction]

Can anyone tell me what the market for Furcal is? Who are the high spending teams this year that will be in search of a SS?

 

$8M/yr for Furcal is crazy.

 

Chicago NL

Chicago AL

Los Angeles NL

 

Also teams like Seattle (a lot of young SS talent, but all unproven), Philly (if they can get rid of Rollins), St. Louis (not sure of Eck's situation), Washington (if they admit Guzman was a monumental mistake), and Florida's a darkhorse for everyone.

[wastra]

I ahve to ask why anyone thinks Furcal is a good buy at $8 MM. He is a sub-par offensive player. Period. With all the holes we have to fill, if we're spending $8MM on a position player, he had BETTER be a better offensive player than Rafael Furcal, or Hendry needs to go.

 

 

 

 

(This is assuming we don't run a $110MM payroll next year and put $8MM players at EVERY opening).

[goonys evil twin]

First of all, his production numbers really aren't that great as others have pointed out. A .750 OPS is decent for a shortstop, but really isn't that much better than what Nomar/Neifi/Ronny have given us in 2005.

 

Actually, prior to Nomar's return and hot start to August, the Cubs were at the bottom of the league in terms of SS OPS. They are still bottom half at about 679. They need more than that.

[JC]

Can anyone tell me what the market for Furcal is? Who are the high spending teams this year that will be in search of a SS?

 

$8M/yr for Furcal is crazy.

 

Chicago NL

Chicago AL

Los Angeles NL

 

Also teams like Seattle (a lot of young SS talent, but all unproven), Philly (if they can get rid of Rollins), St. Louis (not sure of Eck's situation), Washington (if they admit Guzman was a monumental mistake), and Florida's a darkhorse for everyone.

 

I thought the Dodgers were content with Izturis. If they are indeed in the market, I'd wager they'd go after Nomar. After a solid 2004, Uribe sucks this year, so the ChiSox likely would have interest.

 

I can't see St. Louis paying $8M for Furcal in light of Eck's year, or Philly getting rid of Rollins. In the same vein, I can't see Bowden admitting the Guzman mistake or MLB letting him buy his way out. (No, I don't believe they will have an owner in place by 2006).

 

I didn't see Seattle in the market due to their young talent, but I really have no sense of what they want to do. So, it looks like there are indeed players out there. If someone other than the Cubs want to pay $32M, more power to them.

[rawaction]

Can anyone tell me what the market for Furcal is? Who are the high spending teams this year that will be in search of a SS?

 

$8M/yr for Furcal is crazy.

 

Chicago NL

Chicago AL

Los Angeles NL

 

Also teams like Seattle (a lot of young SS talent, but all unproven), Philly (if they can get rid of Rollins), St. Louis (not sure of Eck's situation), Washington (if they admit Guzman was a monumental mistake), and Florida's a darkhorse for everyone.

 

I thought the Dodgers were content with Izturis. If they are indeed in the market, I'd wager they'd go after Nomar. After a solid 2004, Uribe sucks this year, so the ChiSox likely would have interest.

 

I can't see St. Louis paying $8M for Furcal in light of Eck's year, or Philly getting rid of Rollins. In the same vein, I can't see Bowden admitting the Guzman mistake or MLB letting him buy his way out. (No, I don't believe they will have an owner in place by 2006).

 

I didn't see Seattle in the market due to their young talent, but I really have no sense of what they want to do. So, it looks like there are indeed players out there. If someone other than the Cubs want to pay $32M, more power to them.

 

Izturis has been horrid since his strong start. After hitting .342 with a high .380s OBP in April and May. He has hit .173/.218....including the worst June I have ever seen. 9 for 86, with 4 walks and a double. He scored 16 runs in May....15 since then. Add in that this has perhaps been his worst defensive season to date, and the Dodgers will be looking.

[Guest]

First of all, his production numbers really aren't that great as others have pointed out. A .750 OPS is decent for a shortstop, but really isn't that much better than what Nomar/Neifi/Ronny have given us in 2005.

 

Actually, prior to Nomar's return and hot start to August, the Cubs were at the bottom of the league in terms of SS OPS. They are still bottom half at about 679. They need more than that.

Yes, but as bad as our SS have been our OF has been far worse. It's cheaper/easier to build a good outfield than to find a good-hitting SS, so that's where I would focus my offseason attention. If we can construct an average-good OF for 2006, I think our top-of-the-line hitters at C, 1B, 2B, and 3B could easily cover for a below-average starter at short.

[goonys evil twin]

First of all, his production numbers really aren't that great as others have pointed out. A .750 OPS is decent for a shortstop, but really isn't that much better than what Nomar/Neifi/Ronny have given us in 2005.

 

Actually, prior to Nomar's return and hot start to August, the Cubs were at the bottom of the league in terms of SS OPS. They are still bottom half at about 679. They need more than that.

Yes, but as bad as our SS have been our OF has been far worse. It's cheaper/easier to build a good outfield than to find a good-hitting SS, so that's where I would focus my offseason attention. If we can construct an average-good OF for 2006, I think our top-of-the-line hitters at C, 1B, 2B, and 3B could easily cover for a below-average starter at short.

 

I agree with that assessment. I would be satisfied if they made improvements to the OF, and let Cedeno take over at SS. I cried like a little girl when I realized what OF Hendry was planning on going with this season.

[JC]

I cried like a little girl when I realized what OF Hendry was planning on going with this season.

 

Don't blame it on the outfield, Tenderfoot.

[wastra]

First of all, his production numbers really aren't that great as others have pointed out. A .750 OPS is decent for a shortstop, but really isn't that much better than what Nomar/Neifi/Ronny have given us in 2005.

 

Actually, prior to Nomar's return and hot start to August, the Cubs were at the bottom of the league in terms of SS OPS. They are still bottom half at about 679. They need more than that.

Yes, but as bad as our SS have been our OF has been far worse. It's cheaper/easier to build a good outfield than to find a good-hitting SS, so that's where I would focus my offseason attention. If we can construct an average-good OF for 2006, I think our top-of-the-line hitters at C, 1B, 2B, and 3B could easily cover for a below-average starter at short.

 

 

That is perfectly said.

 

We can spend the same $8MM on an outfielder and get much better production than $8MM on a shortstop.

 

I think that the difference between an $8MM (Furcal, for instance) shortstop and a $4MM shortstop (Lugo, for instance) is far less than the difference between an $8-10MM Right Fielder (Giles, for example) and a $4MM right fielder (2005 Burnitz, for example).

[treebird]

Perez will be the starting SS for the Cubs in 2006.

 

i agree

[Tim]

Perez will be the starting SS for the Cubs in 2006.

 

i agree

This will become a less family-friendly website if that's the case...

[TXCubsFan]

Perez will be the starting SS for the Cubs in 2006.

 

i agree

 

I don't think so. I suspect Neifi! will be starting elsewhere. Ronny was put on the 40-man roster long before his talent was apparent to the average fan. Hendry is not going to let one of his best prospects rot on the bench in his second season with the team.

[frostwyrm]

In all seriousness, at this point I've come to believe Baker doesn't want Hendry to have a clear picture of what Cedeno can do at the MLB level. I am certain Baker wants Hendry to pick between Furcal and Neifi, and to further that goal Baker is doing his best to keep Cedeno in the shadows, without being too blatant about it. Obviously he couldn't get away with not playing Cedeno at all.

[frostwyrm]

I cried like a little girl when I realized what OF Hendry was planning on going with this season.

 

I don't remember if/how I cried, but I do remember I was firmly in the "this outfield sucks" camp going into opening day.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Can anyone tell me what the market for Furcal is? Who are the high spending teams this year that will be in search of a SS?

 

$8M/yr for Furcal is crazy.

 

Chicago NL

Chicago AL

Los Angeles NL

 

Also teams like Seattle (a lot of young SS talent, but all unproven), Philly (if they can get rid of Rollins), St. Louis (not sure of Eck's situation), Washington (if they admit Guzman was a monumental mistake), and Florida's a darkhorse for everyone.

 

You think the Dodgers will be interested in Furcal with Izturis and Robles?