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Cubs nearing big trade with Rangers?


SSH2005

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http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=cita...adel&type=story

The rumor goes that the Cubs are close to finalizing a seven player deal with the Texas Rangers that would bring Alfonso Soriano  and Kevin Mench  to the Cubs in exchange for Jerome Williams , Todd Walker , and three minor leaguers, one of whom is believed to be right hander David Aardsma , and another shortstop Ronny Cedeno .  According to our source the two clubs have agreed on which players would be dealt, but what is holding it up is exactly what kind of deal Soriano will want in Chicago.

 

He would likely command a deal similar to Furcal's, and while his addition would solidify the infield, and first four spots in the batting order, there are questions about whether or not the Cubs would be willing to shell out a pair of $100 deals in two weeks to two players.

This part of the article makes it sound like bulls***:

 

ITI has learned from a source close to the Cubs that free agent shortstop Raphael Furcal and the Cubs have all but finalized a deal that will bring the shortstop to Chicago for the next five years, with a mutual option for a sixth year.  The source told ITI that the deal could pay Furcal as much as $100 million including the sixth year and "significant performance bonuses" that included winning a batting title, the stolen base title, and a bonus if he plays in 150 games for each of the first three years of his contract.

Furcal for $100 million? Yeah right.

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The Cubs would win this trade easy, in essence they'd be trading

 

LaTroy Hawkins, Todd Walker, Ronnie Cedeno + 2 Spects for Alfonso Soriano and Kevin Mench

 

That's 1 great offensive player and 1 very good offensive player for 2 pitchers they got for Hawkins, Todd Walker who isn't nearly as good as Soriano and some prospects like Cedeno and probably 2 pitchers.

 

If this trade did go through, it would be a good trade for the Cubs to boost their offense though they reallly should be worrying a little more about their starting pitching at this point in time.

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QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Nov 26, 2005 -> 10:34 AM)
Another question to ask:

 

Why do the Rangers always seem to be trying to trade Soriano?

They have enough offense and bad deffense to make up for the loss of Soriano. They need pitching more than anything and Soriano should be able to bring them that.

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Another question to ask:

 

Why do the Rangers always seem to be trying to trade Soriano?

They have a good shortstop prospect in Joaquin Arias so they could just move Michael Young to second base. Soriano would need to be re-signed and would get a lot of money via arbitration, maybe around $9 million. They need to spend their money on pitching. Soriano is one of the most overrated players in baseball.

Edited by SSH2005
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QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Nov 26, 2005 -> 11:41 AM)
They have a good shortstop prospect in Joaquin Arias so they could just move Michael Young to second base.  Soriano would need to be re-signed and would get a lot of money via arbitration, maybe around $9 million.  They need to spend their money on pitching.  Soriano is one of the most overrated players in baseball.

 

 

Thanks. Didn't know about the Rangers SS prospect. Also, I agree that Soraino is overrated (Yankee syndrome) and will be sickly overpaid. I would encourage the Cubs to do it with Soriano's K's and defense. Welcome back Sammy! Will Soriano blow kisses to the bleach bums though?

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QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Nov 26, 2005 -> 10:18 AM)
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=cita...adel&type=story

This part of the article makes it sound like bulls***:

Furcal for $100 million?  Yeah right.

 

ITI has learned from a source close to the Cubs that free agent shortstop Raphael Furcal and the Cubs have all but finalized a deal that will bring the shortstop to Chicago for the next five years, with a mutual option for a sixth year.  The source told ITI that the deal could pay Furcal as much as $100 million including the sixth year and "significant performance bonuses" that included winning a batting title, the stolen base title, and a bonus if he plays in 150 games for each of the first three years of his contract.

 

Good call ITI. :rolly

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what journalist writes this in an article.

 

Be afraid, be very afraid. The only obvious weakness would appear to be the lack of a left handed bat in the middle of the order, but a quality, older, cheaper, left handed hitting corner outfielder could provide that at least some of the time, and it might not matter. Yes, the starting pitching will remain in question as long as perennially injured Kerry Wood is still penciled into the rotation, and the trading of Williams would nix one of the top options for temp duty during Wood's inevitable time on the shelf, but the opportunity to assemble a lineup like this comes rarely (unless you're the Yankees).

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QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Nov 26, 2005 -> 06:35 PM)
Wow if the Cubs do this they will be really good.  I bet if he is on a team that is good Soriano will put forth a solid effort and that infield would be awesome with Barrett, Dlee, Soriano, Furcal, and Ramirez.

 

Not exactly sure of their OF Murton in LF, Mench in RF, but who plays CF?

 

Since Patterson is not involved in any deals....that's their CF...hitting 7th or 8th. I don't see the Rangers going for that deal unless P Rich Hill is involved. Why would you downgrade from Soriano to Walker (his defense is not that great either) and give up Mench for a bunch of crap? However you cut it, 30-30 or possibly even 40-40 guys like Soriano are very rare.

 

Cubs pitching: Two top of the rotation guys in Prior and Zambrano, an adequate 3 and 4 with Maddux and Rusch and its that dreaded 5th spot. Don't count on Wood being healthy so its off to the FA pool to find a cheap, Loiza-type to fill out the rotation.

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Mench is an overrated offensive player. This year, in 557 ABs, he put up a .264/.328/.469 line -- that's decent, but barely above league average (good for a 106 OPS+).

 

Soriano isn't much of an upgrade over Walker, either. Neither are good defensively, and the past two years, Walker has been the better offensive player. Sure, he's older, but by only a couple of years -- and Walker makes $5 million less than Soriano.

 

Plus, the Rangers would get Cedeno + Aardsma + others? Nice deal for Texas...

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