word is he is going to sign a 1-2 year deal with the Cubs. Mets are willing to take Sosa if Cubs pay half of his salary this year and half next year.
Nomar/SOSA
- Thread starter Kdogg21
- Start date
when he is healthy, Cliff Floyd would look real good in cubs lineup....
As expected, free agent Todd Walker met with the Rangers over the Thanksgiving weekend.
The Rangers see Walker as a designated hitter, which is certainly not where he's at his most valuable. Walker has a solid bat, but there are players in the minors who could do just at least as well as a DH for 15-20 percent of what Walker is going to make next season.
As expected, free agent Todd Walker met with the Rangers over the Thanksgiving weekend.
The Rangers see Walker as a designated hitter, which is certainly not where he's at his most valuable. Walker has a solid bat, but there are players in the minors who could do just at least as well as a DH for 15-20 percent of what Walker is going to make next season.
i think the cubs are gonna end up keeping walker, but we will see. Floyd will be a good addition.
nice observation/commetary a week ago last friday on cubs situation from baseball propsectus...
keep in mind, negotations have changed in few instances since article...for example closer signings by other clubs..
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Slammin' The Door: Slammin' Sammy Sosa has gone from the smiling stereotype to disgruntled exile in a hurry. The Windy City breezes have blown ill for Sosa since Dusty Baker arrived two years ago. Baker's vaunted clubhouse skills worked in 2003, getting the Snugglies past Sosa's corked bat and curse-worn jitters and into the playoffs. Last year wasn't so successful; the late-season collapse seemed to stand staring at Baker's office door. Even the announcing team turned on the manager, but in typical Baker style, he deflected the attention using his Jedi Toothpick Tricks and a press corps all too willing to bite the hand that once fed them. Sosa's iconic boombox lay shattered in front of his locker, a symbol of his sharp fall.
A "poison pill" option in Sosa's contract--he'd have to be paid $18 million in 2006 if he's dealt--makes him difficult to trade, but Jim Hendry is proving that it may not be impossible. While value is certainly not the first consideration, ongoing talks with the Mets new GM, Omar Minaya, have focused on money and Cliff Floyd. With Sosa willing to negotiate on the clause, perhaps making it a vesting option or a guaranteed year at less money, and the Players Association willing to allow this, the Cubs appear willing to trade an attitude problem for an injury problem.
How would this look on the field? Sosa is a shell of his former self, a one-dimensional slugger who has seen his performance--down 25 points a year of EqA--and playing time--at least ten games fewer each season--drop in every year since 2001. At 36, it's asking a lot to expect these trends to stabilize, much less reverse themselves.
Even at that, Sosa is a good bet to outplay Floyd next year. The left fielder's back-to-back 140-game seasons in 2001 and 2002 are a distant memory; he's averaged 111 appearances in his two years in New York, reverting to the fragile slugger he'd been his entire career. He's a good, not great hitter--trending downward--and an indifferent outfielder--also trending downward. The difference between the two players over a full season might be a win. Of course, Floyd is no more likely to stay healthy this season than Tara Reid is to stay sober at P. Diddy's next yacht party. The trade is a push, unless rumors that Mike Piazza could be included prove true.
No More Nomar? While the Cubs lust after their neighbor's shortstop, the one they have isn't shabby. Nomar Garciaparra may have missed time with a lingering Achilles injury and chronic wrist problems, but his numbers compare well with both Edgar Renteria and Orlando Cabrera. This chart, courtesy of Christian Ruzich, shows pretty clearly how they stack up.
RENTERIA CABRERA GARCIAPARRA
AGE 29 30 31
BORN IN Colombia Colombia U.S.A.
EXPERIENCE Nine years Eight years Nine years
2004 SALARY $7.25MM $6.0MM $11.5MM
PERCEPTION Good guy Team player Malingerer
CAREER OFFENSE .289/.346/.400 .268/.316/.409 .322/.370/.549
CAREER HR/RBI 83/565 72/412 182/710
CAREER BB/K 434/675 244/321 295/420
CAREER SB/CS 237/89 (72.7%) 97/30 (76.4%) 86/29 (74.8%)
# ALL-STAR APPEARANCES 4 0 5
# GOLD GLOVES 2 1 0
# WORLD SERIES RINGS 1 1 0
2004 OFFENSE
AVG/OBP/SLG .287/.327/.401 .264/.306/.383 .308/.365/.477
HR/RBI 10/72 10/62 9/41
BB/K 39/78 39/54 24/30
VALUE OVER REPLACEMENT 26.5 13.7 29.7
EQUIVALENT AVERAGE .255 .241 .285
OFFENSIVE REPUTATION Good Eh Fading
2004 DEFENSE
RUNS ABOVE AVERAGE -12 -7 -8
DEFENSIVE REPUTATION Good Very good Challenged
CONTRACT ESTIMATE 3Y/$25MM 2Y/$15MM 1Y/$9MM
keep in mind, negotations have changed in few instances since article...for example closer signings by other clubs..
=====
Slammin' The Door: Slammin' Sammy Sosa has gone from the smiling stereotype to disgruntled exile in a hurry. The Windy City breezes have blown ill for Sosa since Dusty Baker arrived two years ago. Baker's vaunted clubhouse skills worked in 2003, getting the Snugglies past Sosa's corked bat and curse-worn jitters and into the playoffs. Last year wasn't so successful; the late-season collapse seemed to stand staring at Baker's office door. Even the announcing team turned on the manager, but in typical Baker style, he deflected the attention using his Jedi Toothpick Tricks and a press corps all too willing to bite the hand that once fed them. Sosa's iconic boombox lay shattered in front of his locker, a symbol of his sharp fall.
A "poison pill" option in Sosa's contract--he'd have to be paid $18 million in 2006 if he's dealt--makes him difficult to trade, but Jim Hendry is proving that it may not be impossible. While value is certainly not the first consideration, ongoing talks with the Mets new GM, Omar Minaya, have focused on money and Cliff Floyd. With Sosa willing to negotiate on the clause, perhaps making it a vesting option or a guaranteed year at less money, and the Players Association willing to allow this, the Cubs appear willing to trade an attitude problem for an injury problem.
How would this look on the field? Sosa is a shell of his former self, a one-dimensional slugger who has seen his performance--down 25 points a year of EqA--and playing time--at least ten games fewer each season--drop in every year since 2001. At 36, it's asking a lot to expect these trends to stabilize, much less reverse themselves.
Even at that, Sosa is a good bet to outplay Floyd next year. The left fielder's back-to-back 140-game seasons in 2001 and 2002 are a distant memory; he's averaged 111 appearances in his two years in New York, reverting to the fragile slugger he'd been his entire career. He's a good, not great hitter--trending downward--and an indifferent outfielder--also trending downward. The difference between the two players over a full season might be a win. Of course, Floyd is no more likely to stay healthy this season than Tara Reid is to stay sober at P. Diddy's next yacht party. The trade is a push, unless rumors that Mike Piazza could be included prove true.
No More Nomar? While the Cubs lust after their neighbor's shortstop, the one they have isn't shabby. Nomar Garciaparra may have missed time with a lingering Achilles injury and chronic wrist problems, but his numbers compare well with both Edgar Renteria and Orlando Cabrera. This chart, courtesy of Christian Ruzich, shows pretty clearly how they stack up.
RENTERIA CABRERA GARCIAPARRA
AGE 29 30 31
BORN IN Colombia Colombia U.S.A.
EXPERIENCE Nine years Eight years Nine years
2004 SALARY $7.25MM $6.0MM $11.5MM
PERCEPTION Good guy Team player Malingerer
CAREER OFFENSE .289/.346/.400 .268/.316/.409 .322/.370/.549
CAREER HR/RBI 83/565 72/412 182/710
CAREER BB/K 434/675 244/321 295/420
CAREER SB/CS 237/89 (72.7%) 97/30 (76.4%) 86/29 (74.8%)
# ALL-STAR APPEARANCES 4 0 5
# GOLD GLOVES 2 1 0
# WORLD SERIES RINGS 1 1 0
2004 OFFENSE
AVG/OBP/SLG .287/.327/.401 .264/.306/.383 .308/.365/.477
HR/RBI 10/72 10/62 9/41
BB/K 39/78 39/54 24/30
VALUE OVER REPLACEMENT 26.5 13.7 29.7
EQUIVALENT AVERAGE .255 .241 .285
OFFENSIVE REPUTATION Good Eh Fading
2004 DEFENSE
RUNS ABOVE AVERAGE -12 -7 -8
DEFENSIVE REPUTATION Good Very good Challenged
CONTRACT ESTIMATE 3Y/$25MM 2Y/$15MM 1Y/$9MM
If Garciaparra can be convinced to stay in the Friendly Confines and to sign a one-year deal in hopes of cashing in on a healthy, productive campaign, he'd be the best of the bunch. Planning for Garciaparra's expected absence is also the only way to explain the Cubs signing Neifi Perez, and at that it's a lame excuse. Just how bad is Perez? According to early research by Tom Gorman, in the time he filled in for Ray Durham during the latter's DL stint, he cost the Giants two full games in the standings. Remember, the Giants only missed the division title by three games.
The Achilles Heel: There's going to be a lot of focus on Mark Prior this off-season. His injury-marred season certainly contributed to the team's third-place finish, despite able replacement starts from a revitalized Glendon Rusch. Prior is reported to be fully healthy, and is even scheduled to conduct a pitching camp in December. Prior will not be the only one facing injury questions heading into 2005. Dusty Baker again must get a long look, pushing Prior, Kerry Wood, Matt Clement and Carlos Zambrano to pitch counts that make Rany Jazayerli break out in hives.
Closing In: Troy Percival is gone. Armando Benitez is still on the market. Ugueth Urbina may be available in trade. Danny Kolb isn't available, but he has a fan in Jim Hendry. Clearly the Cubs won't head into 2005 with Joe Borowski and LaTroy Hawkins at the back end of their bullpen. Call it Keith Foulke Envy if you will. The Cubs' long history of closers may include Bruce Sutter and Lee Smith, but their free-agent closers have always seemed to go bust quickly. Dave Smith and Mel Rojas turned big bucks into big trouble instead of big saves.
Of course, the Cubs have a perfectly good short reliever in Hawkins, who had a year right in line with the 2002 and 2003 performances that earned him a three-year contract. Unfortunately, Hawkins is shouldering a disproportionate share of the blame for the Cubs' September collapse. Hawkins was dinged with three blown saves in nine days down the stretch, two of them in cases where he was on the mound with two outs and no one on in the ninth. This brief stretch of misfortune has, as it does in baseball, reinforced the idea that Hawkins is perfectly capable of pitching the eighth inning, coming in with runners on base, facing the opposition's toughest hitters...but that he cannot do the same in the ninth.
If the Cubs are dead set on adding a closer, it will have to come from outside the organization. The team may lose Kyle Farnsworth and Kent Mercker, and the minors don't offer much hope, unless one of the bevy of flamethrowing pitching prospects is converted the way Todd Wellemeyer was last season. Hendry isn't alone in looking for the next Joe Nathan among the available relievers. It's just surprising that a team that found Joe Borowski in the independent leagues isn't looking at more non-traditional sources for saves.
The Achilles Heel: There's going to be a lot of focus on Mark Prior this off-season. His injury-marred season certainly contributed to the team's third-place finish, despite able replacement starts from a revitalized Glendon Rusch. Prior is reported to be fully healthy, and is even scheduled to conduct a pitching camp in December. Prior will not be the only one facing injury questions heading into 2005. Dusty Baker again must get a long look, pushing Prior, Kerry Wood, Matt Clement and Carlos Zambrano to pitch counts that make Rany Jazayerli break out in hives.
Closing In: Troy Percival is gone. Armando Benitez is still on the market. Ugueth Urbina may be available in trade. Danny Kolb isn't available, but he has a fan in Jim Hendry. Clearly the Cubs won't head into 2005 with Joe Borowski and LaTroy Hawkins at the back end of their bullpen. Call it Keith Foulke Envy if you will. The Cubs' long history of closers may include Bruce Sutter and Lee Smith, but their free-agent closers have always seemed to go bust quickly. Dave Smith and Mel Rojas turned big bucks into big trouble instead of big saves.
Of course, the Cubs have a perfectly good short reliever in Hawkins, who had a year right in line with the 2002 and 2003 performances that earned him a three-year contract. Unfortunately, Hawkins is shouldering a disproportionate share of the blame for the Cubs' September collapse. Hawkins was dinged with three blown saves in nine days down the stretch, two of them in cases where he was on the mound with two outs and no one on in the ninth. This brief stretch of misfortune has, as it does in baseball, reinforced the idea that Hawkins is perfectly capable of pitching the eighth inning, coming in with runners on base, facing the opposition's toughest hitters...but that he cannot do the same in the ninth.
If the Cubs are dead set on adding a closer, it will have to come from outside the organization. The team may lose Kyle Farnsworth and Kent Mercker, and the minors don't offer much hope, unless one of the bevy of flamethrowing pitching prospects is converted the way Todd Wellemeyer was last season. Hendry isn't alone in looking for the next Joe Nathan among the available relievers. It's just surprising that a team that found Joe Borowski in the independent leagues isn't looking at more non-traditional sources for saves.
local Cubs beat writer says its 80% that Sosa will stay put. no teams are really interested in him except the Mets. he said that could change, but alot of teams don't want to pay the salary. Garciapara is still on Hendry's list, but word is if nothing is worked out, they may try Renteria for a 4 year deal. Walker is still up in the air, they may try Womack again or Palonco. Closer role is still strange, but word is that Ryan Dempster may get a shot at the closing role. Cubs are talking to the Brewers about Kolb. Urbina is out, cubs don't want to take a chance on him, with all the crap that is going on with his mother and stuff
Mets quickly backing off Sosa.
Afraid of his physical abilities since getting off the juice. Don't want a Giambi situation.
Afraid of his physical abilities since getting off the juice. Don't want a Giambi situation.
yea, i think they are going to be stuck with him. Word is though, they are gonna still go for Beltran, and move Patterson to left field.
Heard on the local sports radio this am that the Cubs were offering Nomar a 1 yr deal for btw 6 and 8 mill with incentives taking the contract up to possibly 10.5 mill. An option would kick in for a second year with some pretty easy to achieve incentives. Supposed to hear by the middle of the week.
read the same thing this morning. looks like they may be putting of Farnsworth on the trading block as well.
KDogg
All I'm hearing is how the Cubs need a closer. What was wrong with the cat they had to start the season (Borowski) and got hurt. He's adequate enough.
All I'm hearing is how the Cubs need a closer. What was wrong with the cat they had to start the season (Borowski) and got hurt. He's adequate enough.
Henry doesnt seem to worried about it. i think he will stick with him again and have Latroy set up. He may use Dempster on and off as well. He was on local stations today and he didn't really say much about it, just saying that he is preety confident Joe can do the job
Hendry on local air today saying they are going to assume Sosa is coming back. These winter meetings will be interesting. I think they will still move him.
also the royals are interested to as well. i have a feeling they won't be able to move them, but who knows.
rrc said:
He'd look good with that team.
Easy for him to aquire illegal substances in DC. No need to sit in airports with paper bags of large amounts of US currency. :142lmao:
sosa willnot be a cub next year, even if he goes to camp as a cub he will leave with another shirt on his back, he is done as a cub and hates the lizard and who can blame him, he sucks as a manager always has always will. He can not make the right calls which in mlb come out to about 30 games a year tops where the right call can make or break the game , dusty breaks more then he has made everywhere he has been.
