Sox offer arb to Konerko, Putz (Cubs quiet)
It’s a quiet day in Cubdom, but with Scot off, we can report that the White Sox have offered salary arbitration to free agents Paul Konerko and J.J. Putz while declining arb to A.J. Pierzynski and Manny Ramirez. As you know, the Sox will preserve draft-pick compensation if other teams sign either Konerko or Putz. They’re free to negotiate with all free agents.
Konerko made $12 million this season, and Putz made $3 million. If either player accepts the offer of arbitration, they’re back with the Sox at a salary to be determined, and in Konerko’s case, it will be a big one. The players have until Nov. 30 to announce whether they’ll accept arbitration.
As far as the Cubs go, they seem to be taking advantage of the pushed-up timetable for tendering contracts (Dec. 2) to players. There would seem to be a buyer’s market once all the non-tendered players are out there.
It’s not like the Cubs are going to be big-time players in the free-agent game. I’m not seeing Adam Dunn at all on their radar. (The Nats have offered arbitration to Dunn, by the way, not that it would affect the Cubs.)
From talking to various people, I see the Cubs more interested in Carlos Pena at this point than they would be in Adam LaRoche to play first base. There was some chatter yesterday about pitcher Javy Vazquez, but I’m also hearing he’d rather stay out east and train in Florida. In other words, I don’t see any quick strikes by the Cubs as they let the market develop. Aubrey Huff, as expected, has returned to the world-champion Giants as their first baseman.
The Cubs will play the Sox twice in spring training, as the Sox released their spring-training schedule today. The Sox open as the “road” team against the Dodgers at their shared Camelback Ranch facility on Feb. 28. The Cubs will visit the Sox on March 11, and the Sox will head to Mesa March 24.
Jaramillo is so good, sign Pena.
...to be your savior is a "pie in the sky" thought process.
Of all baseball coaches, hitting coaches are interchangable.
Hitting coaches are there to assist professional hitters deal with mechanical issues, etc. Jaramillo has a great track record, but he is not a savior who can tranform the washed up or the crappy into something special.
I don't want Carlos Pena. He is washed up and was never much to begin with. It took him four organizations until things started to finally click in Tampa Bay. But his reign ended after a few year burst.
That's pretty interchangeable too - no? JK - you're absolutely right. Counting on Jaramillo to turn anyone around is wishful thinking.
that's really what I meant. when Jimmy signed Jaramillo he was all aglow. by mid season it was something like "it takes time for the hitters to get used of a new approach/HC". I mentioned it as what a joke the Cubs/Hendry are.
Do the Cubs really want to sign a FA, and pay the price of losing a draft pick A or B, not worth it. Lee and Berkman are getting old in the tooth, after coming off injuries are they worth a signing. Pena and LaRoche will probably want more then 1 year, Overbay has little power. But the Cubs do need someone with RBI power to back up Ramirez, Sori and Marlon are not the guys, nor would Colvin or Soto.
Cubs don't lose a draft pick signing any of those guys.
There are so many guys available that will be basically crapshoots - so all I hope Cubs do is don't do anymore than a one year deal on any of these guys and see which of the group of Pena, LaRoche, Berkman, Lee falls to them for about $3-5M. I actually like Pena more than the rest becuase he's got the massive power potential, and best glove of the rest of them besides Lee. I love D-Lee and can see him bouncing back as well, but I selfishly want to see someone new out there at this point. Really - any of those 4 could be steals at a one-year deal and as I've said too many times, could easily outproduce a Paul Konerko who'll get a big deal off his career year. But - each of them could easily crap-out as well. On a one-year deal, its worth that risk since the Cubs have no one else ready to take over the position in 2011.
Why is signing a free agent to play 1st base Plan A if none of them are appealing?
Did they ban trading or something?
As far as trading for a 1b, there just aren't a lot of good matches. The Cubs , understandably , dont want to surrender the young talent it would require to pick up a"young vet" like G Sanchez or even Billy Butler, if he became available. As far as blocked prospects(C.Davis, Alonso, Kila), the Cubs aren't going to roll the dice on such an important offensive position with a completely unproven rookie, despite the fact that it will effectively be an evaluative year. Furthermore, even the stalled prospects would require good young talent in return. Of the Cubs' stated three main offseason needs(1B, veteran SP, RHRP), 1B is/should be the area where they need to get the most proven commodity , even if it is a vet coming off a sub-par yr. Their offense was abysmal last yr and has few internal options for near-term improvement. The pitching, on the other hand, at least has some hope of near-term help from the farm(Carp,Archer, JJackson).
But there don't seem to be too many really good young guys out there. You've mentioned two between the Reds and Yankee guys - but most feel Montero won't go or would cost way too much in prospects.
My approach is obviously different then yours John/ Ron as I've said often the Cubs can compete in 2011. But like most everyone else - I do consider this a bridge year. So if I were running the Cubs, I'd make no trade of my top 5-10 prospects, and sign no free agents to no greater than a two-year (one preferred deal). I believe of the 4 guys I mentioned, at least two will have very good years next year and re-establish their value for a multi-year deal in 2012. I've accepted that the Cubs payroll will be around low $130M's - and I'm suggesting ways the Cubs can maximize that payroll in 2011.
So yes - try and get either of the guys in trade you mention, just don't trade Archer, Jackson, Cashner, McNutt, Lee to get them. And I don't expect that will happen.
Bruce, have you heard anything to the effect that Hendry is interested in Berkman? His power may be diminished but he can still get on base at a decent clip and should come cheaply. Neither Pena nor LaRoche do a whole lot for me.
It just seems like Berkman has the greatest potential among the remaining FA 1B-save Dunn who we are not signing- to put up a strong, bounceback year. Although Pena plays good d and has significant power, the declining BAs, even with strong BB totals, are worrisome. LaRoche seems like a carbon copy of Colvin , offensively, with decent pop and long-running plate discipline issues. The Cubs' biggest offensive problem remains poor OBP and not seeing enough pitches- Berkman would definitely help in this regard. 1yr/6-7 mil would get it done-you'd think.
I wouldn't rule out anything, but there's not been a whole lot of Berkman buzz coming out of Cubs camp. Let's see what shakes out. I appreciate the question.
--Bruce
Cubs are in on Berkman. I have always like fat Elvis. I wouldn't mind a one year deal. He was coming off knee surgery last year and could bounce back. I would think Berkman is probably looking at a 1 year deal with an option. He also says he would be willing to play 1st or OF and feels his knee is up to playing OF.
Berkman is a switch hitter. He does have upside and has a history of bouncing back from bad years due to injury. Good on base percentage and possibly good power. Probably a better option than Laroche, Overbay, Johnson, Pena, and the rest of the stiffs mentioned.
The more I think about it and look at his numbers, the more I think this looks like the Cubs best play. Berkman is only 34 years old, and could actually have a couple of more good seasons left in him. He is only one year removed from a season in which he posted a .900+ OPS and hit 25 HRs with 35 doubles, and he always takes alot of walks.
best option (for a rebound) as he's most likely to have a good first half and be net the best return in July. He hasn't hit lefties in awhile, but that won't bring down his overall numbers THAT much...
#1 - His numbers at Wrigley are abyssmal.
#2 - Every free agent coming off of injury automatically says "no prob" and that they're good to go.
ps: Didn't Nady say that he'd be ready by the end of s.t. or a month into the season at worst?
I think I like Berkman best of the FA options. It's true that he didn't hit much in Wrigley the majority of his career (though he did hit .333 a couple years at Wrigley with an OPS in the 900's a couple years and a 1.100 OPS in 2009). Lots of guys just hit well in their own ballparks and not so well on the road. It's pretty tough to look at a small sample and say for certain that he'll never hit much in Wrigley.
With regard to health, sure he's going to say he's good to go but that's the purpose of doing a physical. Bottom line, he knows the NL and the NL Central and would likely provide some instant leadership to the club, which should be a pretty young team. He has a history of crushing RHP's and would probably sign a one or two-year deal, and he won't hurt the team with his glovework. That said, I'd still rather see them land and lock up AGonz unless the Padres are asking for Jimbo to sign over the farm system.
in March of last year. He will be a year away from it by the time spring training gets here. And what difference does it make anyway. The Cubs are looking for a short term fix. Berkman has the best record of anyone the Cubs are considering and the best chance to be a good useable productive player.
...as long as you can get him at a decent price, sign him and hope he has a rebound year.
1) Are you the #1 'Get Adam Dunn' supporter?
2) Even if he puts up the same numbers as last season (which, assuming he's going to repeat his career worst year is just as bad as assuming Jose Bautista will repeat his career best year) his numbers will still be good enough to be traded mid-season for something and an improvement over the Cubs 2010 1B numbers.
I don't see why Pena over LaRoche unless Pena is cheaper.
My guess would be they want someone in DLee's league to dig out Aramis and Castro's throws in the dirt from the left side of the infield. Also, they love the long ball in Wrigley......even if he hits .210
I would rather resign Derrek Lee on a 1 year incentive laden deal and hope for a major bounce back, than buy a lottery ticket on either of those guys.
....DLee would accept a 1 yr deal in the $4-5M range, I would make the offer. Keep in mind that unless Hendry is able to unload Fukudome and Silva and recoup around $7-8M that he won't have any money to put in an 'incentive laden deal'. That is unless 'Daddy Ricketts' unloosens the purse strings for 2011. Don't forget, Jimbo has to spend what limited funds he has on a worthless 'innings eater' SP and another crappy RHRP (think, RH version of Grabow).
One point of clarification: I would trade ANY (and I mean any) Cubs 'prospect' if I thought the trade filled the one or two holes that would put this team in the World Series. Maybe I'm missing something, but all I hear are proposals and rumors that fill one hole and create two more. I'm waiting to be convinced that trading Colvin, Castro, Cashner, Archer, Vitters, Soto, Marmol, and who knows who else will bring back hitters and pitchers that produces a championship potential lineup, rotation, and bullpen.