Cubs, Neifi Perez agree on 2-year contract

[Magnetic Curses]

I think you're all overreacting. How is anyone surprised that Neifi was re-signed? He's been an on-field leader (how many times was Neifi the only one to calm down Z?), he's very good defensively, he's mentoring Cedeno on his defense and reads, he's a friend of Furcal (and shares the same agent), and most importantly... he's a BACKUP! What better backups were available that had the same defense and similar intangibles? Furcal will start at SS, Cedeno will start at 2B, Neifi will backup both, Walker will be traded.

 

yep, and the cubs will take a big step backward. paying neifi a ton of money to babysit cedeno and talk freud to zambrano is idiotic, especially when his IsoD is borderline practical joke.

 

we don't need leaders, we don't need clubhouse guys or babysitters, we need to spend money on hitters like giles--guys who understand that to score runs--you need guys on base.

 

no latin ned flanders's plz.

[wilk]

That's the problem. Signing Perez probably will lead to Walker being dealt. Walker is making $2.5 million in 2006. That's a great price for a second baseman that provides his level of offense. We could have him starting at second, Furcal at SS and Cedeno backing up both. Instead, if someone isn't dealt (possibly even if someone is), Cedeno could end up back at AAA.

 

I don't see better backup infielder options. Tomas Perez? Rey Sanchez? I'd rather have Furcal/Walker startign with Cedeno backing up too but evidently the plan is for defense and for Cedeno to start. Walker will be traded to open a space for Cedeno, not Neifi. I say there's no chance Cedeno ends up in AAA. If the Cubs land Furcal, they'll deal Walker and Cedeno will start at 2B. If they don't get Furcal, Cedeno will start at SS and Walker at 2B. In any case, I think Neifi is a backup and brings better intangibles than his alternatives. Yes, $2.5 million is too much but so would anything you'd pay for Perez/Reese/Sanchez, etc. If Neifi ends up starting I won't be happy, but I'm confident Cedeno will start.

[wilk]

we don't need leaders, we don't need clubhouse guys or babysitters, we need to spend money on hitters like giles--guys who understand that to score runs--you need guys on base.

 

Right and signing Neifi precludes any chance at the bigger targets? The extra $1-1.5M that Neifi costs over an alternative means no Brian Giles? Who would you sign instead for the same backup role that doesn't make bigger signings impossible?

[Magnetic Curses]

and btw, i'd like to go on record as saying this is the end for hendry and dusty, sweeping organizational changes will be slated for next season.

 

the team will need a change after riding this marriage to aggressive hitting into the ground.

 

i guess i can't say as i blame hendry, he probably has decided that it's too late for him to change his management philosophy, at this stage of the game, he's forced to go down with the ship. i guess if you're going to fail, it's best to fail spectacularly--as he has little option left. signing a hitter like giles, trading for drew and bradley or abreu would mean that he's giving up on conventional wisdom, and he can't do that with hughes around. if he did, there would be an episode of law and order based on the ensuing chain of events.

 

and i'd watch it.

[Magnetic Curses]

we don't need leaders, we don't need clubhouse guys or babysitters, we need to spend money on hitters like giles--guys who understand that to score runs--you need guys on base.

 

Right and signing Neifi precludes any chance at the bigger targets? The extra $1-1.5M that Neifi costs over an alternative means no Brian Giles? Who would you sign instead for the same backup role that doesn't make bigger signings impossible?

 

giving dusty a player like neifi is like giving an idiot a semi-automatic handgun. he's proven that he doesn't know how to use decent veteran bench players.

 

a veteran bench is the worst thing you can give dusty.

[wade]

we don't need leaders, we don't need clubhouse guys or babysitters, we need to spend money on hitters like giles--guys who understand that to score runs--you need guys on base.

 

Right and signing Neifi precludes any chance at the bigger targets? The extra $1-1.5M that Neifi costs over an alternative means no Brian Giles? Who would you sign instead for the same backup role that doesn't make bigger signings impossible?

 

What people are afraid of is not just the extra 1.5 to 2M for Neifi, but the extra 2m for Rusch and whatever bad signing is next. Those start adding up when you have guys like Cedeno and Williams who are just as good for way less.

 

They have arguably spent 11M over the next two years on players whose production could have been matched for nearly league minimum.

 

That's the difference between Giles and Encarnacion, I'm afraid.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

This ensures that within 12 months time, both Hendry and Baker will be out of here. Thank God. One more year of mediocrity, and then a new regime.

[Mizzou]

You have GOT to be kidding me.

 

Fire Hendry. I've supported him, but no more. This is complete garbage.

[YearofDaCubs]

Is it possible that the Cubs are going to trade Cedeno and others to Florida for either Pierre or Castillo?

 

I'd kill for Castillo if it blocked Neifi from regular playing time.

 

The scary thing is this may be the proverbial robbing Peter to pay Paul. If Castillo comes to the Cubs I think that means they couldn't sign Furcal and guess who slides over to the SS spot?

 

Maybe Walker goes to Flordia, thus eating a little bit of Castillo's salary. The Hendry will have his 2 speedsters in the 1-2 spots.

 

The part I don't understand is this. Hendry knows Perez wants to be a starter and it's in Hendry's character to be straight up about things like this. This is why I think Perez will be starting at 2B or SS for the Cubs or another team if he is eligable to be traded.

 

Then I guess we're stuck with him. Great.

 

I'm not going to crucify Hendry until I see how this plays out, but I'm certainly not optimistic about all of this. Unless this is part of a very good plan that no one can possibly predict, this is just not a good signing.

Are you serious man? What more do you need to see to finally realize Hendry has a jockstrap for a brain? He signed not one but two mediocre players to be back on this roster. Who the hell is Neifi Perez to get a 5mil contract? We have Cedeno that could do anything that Neifi can but better. This is a terrible move. Typical Hendry. I have lost all faith in this man. Him and his personal clown Dusty. You can add the money he gave Rusch and Perez to get a really good relief pitcher. What are these clowns thinking? These are the type of moves I feared going into the offseason and now I know why. Hendry has no gameplan and he is signing the mediocre players we had last year to be back this next year. What a farce.

[fromthestretch]

That's the problem. Signing Perez probably will lead to Walker being dealt. Walker is making $2.5 million in 2006. That's a great price for a second baseman that provides his level of offense. We could have him starting at second, Furcal at SS and Cedeno backing up both. Instead, if someone isn't dealt (possibly even if someone is), Cedeno could end up back at AAA.

 

I don't see better backup infielder options. Tomas Perez? Rey Sanchez? I'd rather have Furcal/Walker startign with Cedeno backing up too but evidently the plan is for defense and for Cedeno to start. Walker will be traded to open a space for Cedeno, not Neifi. I say there's no chance Cedeno ends up in AAA. If the Cubs land Furcal, they'll deal Walker and Cedeno will start at 2B. If they don't get Furcal, Cedeno will start at SS and Walker at 2B. In any case, I think Neifi is a backup and brings better intangibles than his alternatives. Yes, $2.5 million is too much but so would anything you'd pay for Perez/Reese/Sanchez, etc. If Neifi ends up starting I won't be happy, but I'm confident Cedeno will start.

 

I have no problem with Neifi as a backup. I do have a problem with paying him that much. I also am not as optimistic as you regarding Neifi's backup status. I think he's going to be playing a lot more often than you think.

[badgercub]

With the GM meetings underway in CA, could it be possible that Hendry has laid the groundwork for a deal (with Walker being one of the pieces) to land a bat for either CF or RF, which made it necessary (at least in his mind) to sign (overpay) for Neifi? What I am trying to say is that a deal including Walker is all but done, if not I don't how this signing would make any sense.

[WrigleyinEngland]

Sent my e-mail in to espn1000 Bruce levine at the gm meetings will post what is said.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Since Cedeno now rots on the bench, would Washinton give us Jose Guillen for him?

 

Or what about a Walker, Cedeno, Nolasco for Castillo and Pierre?

[Jon]

Just another painfully, painfully obvious sign that not only does Hendry not know how to fix the team, he has no clue as to what's wrong.

 

The contract extensions Dusty and Hendry will receive shortly, I'd assume, are just going to be final dagger.

[wilk]

giving dusty a player like neifi is like giving an idiot a semi-automatic handgun. he's proven that he doesn't know how to use decent veteran bench players.

 

a veteran bench is the worst thing you can give dusty.

 

Should we have no bench then because Dusty doesn't use it right? Should we only have rookie options at 2B therefore Dusty must play a rookie? Through all the complaining I've heard about this re-signing, I haven't heard anyone suggest an alternative for the backup role. I'd prefer the route of Furcal at SS, Walker at 2B, Cedeno at backup... but Hendry has said that Cedeno's planned to start so I think Cedeno is at 2B with Furcal or SS with no Furcal. Neifi is insurance in case Cedeno falls apart and a normal backup otherwise. In that context, who would be better at backup? Make sure it's someone Dusty likes less than Cedeno so that Cedeno will be first choice? Yeah, let's build a team playing juvenile mind games with our manager! Neifi is a fine sub and he's fine insurance for starting a rookie. I very much doubt that Neifi is going to be starting with a .300 OBP over Cedeno if Cedeno is hitting better. If Cedeno is good enough to start, he WILL.

[Mizzou]

I'm so pissed off right now. What a crappy way to start the day.

 

When can we expect the announcement of Macias's two year deal? :evil:

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

What other decent 2 hole hitter do we have?

 

Murton

 

whom JH did trade for. Oh never mind! Sorry, boys! I didn't mean to ruin the pessimist party.

 

You're going to count on Murton to set the table? That's not too bright considering he doesn't even have 1 full MLB season under his belt.

 

Murton could very well be a good 2 hole hitter, but if he goes through a sophomore slump (which is a pretty common occurance) we're looking at Neifi in the 2 hole (as if dusty would put murton before lee and aram anyway :roll: ).

[CuseCubFan69]

Since Cedeno now rots on the bench, would Washinton give us Jose Guillen for him?

 

Or what about a Walker, Cedeno, Nolasco for Castillo and Pierre?

 

Plan A is Furcal

Plan B is a deal with the Marlins

Plan C is a Lofton type player

 

That's my opinion and with each one Perez is a starter.

[Mizzou]

giving dusty a player like neifi is like giving an idiot a semi-automatic handgun. he's proven that he doesn't know how to use decent veteran bench players.

 

a veteran bench is the worst thing you can give dusty.

 

Should we have no bench then because Dusty doesn't use it right? Should we only have rookie options at 2B therefore Dusty must play a rookie? Through all the complaining I've heard about this re-signing, I haven't heard anyone suggest an alternative for the backup role. I'd prefer the route of Furcal at SS, Walker at 2B, Cedeno at backup... but Hendry has said that Cedeno's planned to start so I think Cedeno is at 2B with Furcal or SS with no Furcal. Neifi is insurance in case Cedeno falls apart and a normal backup otherwise. In that context, who would be better at backup? Make sure it's someone Dusty likes less than Cedeno so that Cedeno will be first choice? Yeah, let's build a team playing juvenile mind games with our manager! Neifi is a fine sub and he's fine insurance for starting a rookie. I very much doubt that Neifi is going to be starting with a .300 OBP over Cedeno if Cedeno is hitting better. If Cedeno is good enough to start, he WILL.

 

Cedeno wont start over Neifi with Dustbrain running this team. Even if Ronny wins the job in ST, a two game slump will lead to him being benched for the season.

[fromthestretch]

 

I'm not going to crucify Hendry until I see how this plays out, but I'm certainly not optimistic about all of this. Unless this is part of a very good plan that no one can possibly predict, this is just not a good signing.

Are you serious man? What more do you need to see to finally realize Hendry has a jockstrap for a brain? He signed not one but two mediocre players to be back on this roster. Who the hell is Neifi Perez to get a 5mil contract? We have Cedeno that could do anything that Neifi can but better. This is a terrible move. Typical Hendry. I have lost all faith in this man. Him and his personal clown Dusty. You can add the money he gave Rusch and Perez to get a really good relief pitcher. What are these clowns thinking? These are the type of moves I feared going into the offseason and now I know why. Hendry has no gameplan and he is signing the mediocre players we had last year to be back this next year. What a farce.

 

Nice of you to read one freaking post of mine and make a judgement based on that. If you read through my numerous posts in this thread, I'm not happy with the signing at all. Not one bit. I think it's absolutely terrible. I also believe that Cedeno could produce as well if not better than Perez. Personally, I'd rather have Nomar and Walker starting with Cedeno as the primary backup. Unfortunately, that won't happen.

 

However, if he does actually have something good planned and this is part of it, then I'm going to wait until it unfolds. As you'll see from my post you responded to, I'm not optimistic that he has any plan whatsoever. At least not a good one anyway. I think this signing actually handicaps the team. Having several options for middle infield is a good thing. However, the point of having those options is to keep the ones that actually help your team. Unfortunately, the Cubs are not re-signing Nomar, they are probably going to deal Walker, and they'll probably throw too much money at Furcal.

Edited November 8, 2005 by grassbass

[Jon]

With the GM meetings underway in CA, could it be possible that Hendry has laid the groundwork for a deal (with Walker being one of the pieces) to land a bat for either CF or RF, which made it necessary (at least in his mind) to sign (overpay) for Neifi? What I am trying to say is that a deal including Walker is all but done, if not I don't how this signing would make any sense.

Good glove guys who can't get on base can be had for a heck of a lot cheaper than this. I doubt there were many people knocking on Neifi's door despite the reports, but my guess this is just another case of Hendry bidding against himself. And I don't even want to think about what kind of trade that would be...

 

We'll see how long it takes Hendry to say that this contract is a "reward" for how "well" Neifi did last season.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Although it's more yrs and $ I would have given. Really this signing isn't about Neifi, it's about Dusty. Edited November 8, 2005 by CardsFanInChiTown

[CubfaninCA]

Am guessing that this means Hairston won't be back. Was hoping they'd opt for Hairston instead of Neifi. They overpaid by a million dollars. Not my money, so oh well. I'm sure we'll hear over and over and over and over how the Cubs overpaid though.

 

I'm going to go ahead and pencil in Neifi as the starting 2b. Just hope he's batting 8th.

[Magnetic Curses]

Should we have no bench then because Dusty doesn't use it right? Should we only have rookie options at 2B therefore Dusty must play a rookie? Through all the complaining I've heard about this re-signing, I haven't heard anyone suggest an alternative for the backup role.

 

then you haven't talked to me at all. i've championed a youthful bench for dusty for a long time. if i had to have dusty as my field manager, i wouldn't dare give him lenny harris, neifi perez, jose macias, or todd hollandsworth.

 

but Hendry has said that Cedeno's planned to start so I think Cedeno is at 2B with Furcal or SS with no Furcal.

 

and when hendry starts writing the lineup cards, you'll be right in thinking that.

 

I very much doubt that Neifi is going to be starting with a .300 OBP over Cedeno if Cedeno is hitting better. If Cedeno is good enough to start, he WILL.

 

based on what, dusty's history of rewarding young players with playing time?

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

wait...walker for 2.5 million at 2B or Neifi at 2.5 million at 2B?

 

 

I can't believe this. Hendry is basically saying that Walker = Neifi. :shock: