Miles deal likely a precursor for Cubs
The Cubs indicated to me last night that they’d have something in the way of an announcement today. I was led to believe it was neither the Jason Marquis trade to Colorado nor the signing of switch-hitting outfielder Milton Bradley.
Today we come to find out the Cubs signed infielder Aaron Miles (no relation that I know of) to a two-year deal worth about 5 mil.
The Miles move is probably a precursor to other things, such as the trading of infielder-outfielder Mark DeRosa. Just as DeRosa was a couple years ago, Miles is coming off a career year with the Cardinals, for whom he put up a .355 OBP this year with a .317 batting average. The switch hitter batted .315 vs. left-handed pitching and .317 vs. righties. And just as the DeRosa signing was criticized a couple years ago _ remember, the Cubs gave “all that money to a utility guy coming off a career year” _ the Miles signing is sure to meet with some criticism.
Whether it’s a good move or not, time will tell. But the Cubs are looking for increased versatility and more left-handed hitting in their lineup. Miles played seven positions for the Cards this year (tomorrow I can say “last year”), including shortstop and all three outfield spots. And, like it or not, he’s got that “gamer” quality that GM Jim Hendry values a lot (see Reed Johnson). As long as "gamers" put up .355 OBPs, I'm OK with it.
The Cubs will have to trade DeRosa to free up money for Bradley, whose deal may get done next week. Trading Marquis to the Rox for reliever Luis Vizcaino (whom the Cubs may flip in another deal), also frees up some money. And with Miles, Bradley (provided he signs), Mike Fontenot and Kosuke Fukudome (provided he can hit), the Cubs stand a chance of running four left-handed batters out there on given days and also having some lefties and switch hitters to come off the bench to pinch hit on other days.
As far as the Jake Peavy deal with San Diego goes, it’s still dormant for now, but it’s not dead. However, the Cubs’ ownership situation will have to be settled before anything gets done on that front. That could take awhile.
Happy New Year.
I would have liked them to move Soriano to 2nd base and sign Abreu.
Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly, Harden & Marshall/Samardzija going into spring training. This rotation is better than what we had spring training '08. We also have a kid in AAA named Mitch Atkins who might come in and steal the #5 spot in the rotation.
Let's say the Cubs make the playoffs in '09 and Samardzija is the #5 starter all year. No need for a #5 in post season, move him to the pen where we know he can perform considering he did a great job in the short amount of time that he was up this year. Did anyone really think that having Marquis (this years #5 man) on the NLDS roster as a reliever was any sort of weapon?! LOL Samardzija would make any bullpen stronger. Marmol, Gregg, Samardzija and some nasty lefty we pick up in June and we have ourselves a lights out bullpen!
Pick up Bradley or Abreu and I think we go to spring training trying to develop some chemistry. History suggests that Hendry will go out in June or July to pick up any parts we might need for later on in the season.
Happy New Year!
And let me espouse my thoughts on the idiot game piece Milton Bradley.
He is a train wreck waiting to happen, he was a Dh, couldnt play the outfield if you closed two feilds.. Stupid , Stupid, Stupid move if the Cubs get him..Mark my words, this guy is a cancer...He has not played 100 games in the outfield for 3 years...
move does not bring Brian Roberts, Hendry gave away the MVP of the team. The Cubs do not need Peavy. Unless this trade gives Mcphail want he wants to trade Roberts , the Cubs lose.. Does anyone think Aaron Miles can play 3rd base as DeRosa did, I will guarantee you, Ramirez never plays 150 games at third.. The Cubs do not need Peavy..
The Cubs could have gotten more for DeRosa -- not one of those kids are in the Indians top 20 prospect list, from what I hear.
So, they won't be as good offensively or defensively, but doggone it, they'll be scrappier. Who needs talent when you've got scrappiness?
Of course, Hendry could have more up his sleeve, but I'm not overly confident.
At any rate, Happy New Year.
Hey Bruce,
Happy New Year!
Comparing Aaron Miles' OBP against lefty pitchers and righty pitchers vs. DeRosa, Theriot, Fontenot and Cedeno:
LHP RHP
Miles .377 .345
DeRo .398 .367
Theriot .410 .379
Fontenot .417 .393
Cedeno .306 .351
Miles has the worst numbers of all except for Cedeno. So, I don't buy the notion that this move has anything to do with injecting more left-handed hitting into the line-up.
Strictly from an OBP point of view, Miles is a step backwards compared to DeRosa, Theriot and Fontenot.
I buy the notion that signing Miles and trading DeRosa does 4 things:
- cost cutting move for 2009 (net gain of $3.25M)
- allows the Cubs to get something for DeRosa (3 mid-tier prospects) now rather than let him walk away for nothing at the end of the year - based on the 2010 payroll and DeRosa's age, it was doubtful Hendry would re-sign DeRosa IMO.
- Miles' ability to play SS allows Hendry to trade Ronny Cedeno - whose usefulness was nothing more than emergency SS
- the happiest guy in the world should be Mike Fontenot, who should see a great increase in his playing time in 2009 - if he performs anywhere near 2008, he'll provide multi-million productivity at league minimum price
Hoops
Bruce,
For $5M, I'd spend some time at Ancestry.com if I were you looking at the "Miles" name... I'm not sayin'...I'm just sayin'.. :-)
If he was related, maybe I'd have seen some dough by now.
Bruce,
Do you see the DeRosa trade as simply freeing up money rather than a precursor to a Peavy deal?
This trade has more to do with Bradley than Peavy. As I mentioned in the blog, the ownership thing probably needs to be resolved before the Cubs attempt to land Peavy again. They will continue to talk to San Diego.
Well the Miles deal came out of nowhere. Lots of things start to spin when deals like this, and POSSIBLY the deal with marquis go down.
DeRosa was a HUGE factor in the past 2 seasons and I'm sad to see him go. I can only hope that his leaving (if it happens) brings back quality players that the Cubs can use for future trades. It also leaves the Cubs a bit vunerable in depth. Soriano has broken down the past 2 years, and I can only assume some stupid hop will lead to more IR time. With Fukudome imploding, Johnson can only be in 1 spot at 1 time, which means Gathwright becomes a huge piece to this puzzle. Plus if you get Bradley he needs to be wrapped in bubble wrap as he is as fragile as Mike Brown.
The other alarming thing about the Marquis trade now is, is that your depth is limited. Smarzdjia now is forced to be stretched out to be a possible 5th or spot starter with guys like Zambrano and Harden showing signs last season. Not to mention Dempster has a history of arm problems, and made all his starts last year. Rich Hill is gone, so who steps in? Guzman? Which makes me think that Hendry will re-engage the Padres sometime this spring once the ownership is resolved (god willing). OR maybe he takes a chance on a Randy Wolf type player who he has coveted the past few years.
Happy new year.
had TJ surgery right before he came to the Cubs, he doesn't have a history of injuries.
Since that time, approx 5 years ago, he has had a grand total of 1 injury and that was a muscle pull/strain.