Soriano is willing to waive his no trade clause

[Uman85]

It's been what, 5 years since he last played at second? With the way he currently plays in LF, putting him in the infield again would result in more errors than Castro IMO. That's the last thing the Cubs need.

 

[dabynsky]

I don't know if fun is the right word.

At this point, the Cubs are to the level of fun bad, and I can actually enjoy how comically terrible they are.

 

[poodski]

less painful?

I can't really think of anything more painful than watching sori play 2nd. Even if it was a net positive it would hurt the eyes.

 

[Uman85]

At this point, the Cubs are to the level of fun bad, and I can actually enjoy how comically terrible they are.

I'm getting to that point with the Sox. Maybe a few more weeks and I'll be totally there.

Oh how fun Chicago baseball is.

 

[poodski]

It's been what, 5 years since he last played at second? With the way he currently plays in LF, putting him in the infield again would result in more errors than Castro IMO. That's the last thing the Cubs need.

Errors don't mean shit.

If the difference between soriano and barneys defense is less than the difference in their bat it's worth the move. Then we can have Colvin or Jackson play LF who are both better than Barney is.

 

[FirstTimer]

It's been what, 5 years since he last played at second? With the way he currently plays in LF, putting him in the infield again would result in more errors than Castro IMO. That's the last thing the Cubs need.

It'd look like a bad slow pitch softball game. Throwing it around the diamond.

 

[Uman85]

Errors don't mean shit.

If the difference between soriano and barneys defense is less than the difference in their bat it's worth the move. Then we can have Colvin or Jackson play LF who are both better than Barney is.

Soriano would hit more homers and give you more RBIs, but the amount of Ks and BBs would likely be about the same. Defensively Soriano would be a huge liability at second. Not worth the move IMO.

 

[Uman85]

It'd look like a bad slow pitch softball game. Throwing it around the diamond.

:lmao:

 

[dabynsky]

Soriano would hit more homers and give you more RBIs, but the amount of Ks and BBs would likely be about the same. Defensively Soriano would be a huge liability at second. Not worth the move IMO.

You would be trading a huge upgrade of slugging for a small dip in OBP between Barney and Soriano right now. I am not sure how long Soriano can maintain this level of production. I am also not certain that Colvin's total value in left field would be more than Barney's total value at 2B. Colvin certainly has more power but he is certainly is going to have a low OBP unless he has a really high average.

I just think the Cubs are better off at this point riding Soriano in the OF unless a team is willing to take half the salary or offer a decent prospect or two for him with the Cubs picking up 75% or more of the salary.

 

[poodski]

Soriano would hit more homers and give you more RBIs, but the amount of Ks and BBs would likely be about the same. Defensively Soriano would be a huge liability at second. Not worth the move IMO.

I don't think you realize how big of a liability Barney is on offense.

 

[Uman85]

You would be trading a huge upgrade of slugging for a small dip in OBP between Barney and Soriano right now. I am not sure how long Soriano can maintain this level of production. I am also not certain that Colvin's total value in left field would be more than Barney's total value at 2B. Colvin certainly has more power but he is certainly is going to have a low OBP unless he has a really high average.

I just think the Cubs are better off at this point riding Soriano in the OF unless a team is willing to take half the salary or offer a decent prospect or two for him with the Cubs picking up 75% or more of the salary.

That's more or less what I was getting at. Until and if Castro stops committing as many errors as he has, I think you're better served keeping him in LF.

 

[poodski]

You would be trading a huge upgrade of slugging for a small dip in OBP between Barney and Soriano right now. I am not sure how long Soriano can maintain this level of production. I am also not certain that Colvin's total value in left field would be more than Barney's total value at 2B. Colvin certainly has more power but he is certainly is going to have a low OBP unless he has a really high average.

I just think the Cubs are better off at this point riding Soriano in the OF unless a team is willing to take half the salary or offer a decent prospect or two for him with the Cubs picking up 75% or more of the salary.

To move him he should definitely stay in LF or be moved to first but if you are stuck with him I think it would be worth a shot to maximize the value to the team.

 

[dabynsky]

Well I would also be worried about a guy with a history of leg injuries being moved back to middle infield and having to deal with players sliding into him and making the pivot on double play balls. I don't think the trade between Barney's offense and Soriano's offense will outweigh the trade off made on defense. For as bad as Barney's offense has been, he is actually a 1.4 WAR player right now. He shouldn't be batting second, but you can live with Barney on offense for what he provides on defense.

And the problem with this team is pitching not the offense. The offense isn't great by any means, but the focus ought to be on doing whatever we can to help the pitchers on this team and moving Soriano to the infield is the opposite of that.

 

[Uman85]

Source: Chicago Cubs may be willing to absorb much of Alfonso Soriano's contract - ESPN Chicago

Cubs would be willing to absorb a pretty good portion of his contract. Interesting.

 

[AnythingChicago]

,Soriano!

 

[dabynsky]

Well the biggest obstacle to moving Alfonso Soriano would be gone if that is true. However, the question remains would other teams be willing to bite on Soriano at 4-9 million range and part with something of value. We are not talking about elite prospects mind you, but a couple of guys with some upside. At least that is what I was reading it when it said the "right deal."

 

[Captain Obvious]

Well I would also be worried about a guy with a history of leg injuries being moved back to middle infield and having to deal with players sliding into him and making the pivot on double play balls. I don't think the trade between Barney's offense and Soriano's offense will outweigh the trade off made on defense. For as bad as Barney's offense has been, he is actually a 1.4 WAR player right now. He shouldn't be batting second, but you can live with Barney on offense for what he provides on defense.

And the problem with this team is pitching not the offense. The offense isn't great by any means, but the focus ought to be on doing whatever we can to help the pitchers on this team and moving Soriano to the infield is the opposite of that.

Is pitching really the problem here? I don't think so. Offensively we're in the bottom 6 I believe, whereas we're either 10th or 11th from the bottom in pitching. Plus, our starters have been hurt. Offense has been the problem for this team since the end of the Sosa era. That is what needs to be addressed first.

 

[dabynsky]

Is pitching really the problem here? I don't think so. Offensively we're in the bottom 6 I believe, whereas we're either 10th or 11th from the bottom in pitching. Plus, our starters have been hurt. Offense has been the problem for this team since the end of the Sosa era. That is what needs to be addressed first.

Where are you getting your numbers? In terms of runs scored we are at 4.01 per game which is good for 9th in the NL and 18th in baseball. 7th in baseball in batting average with .263 average, and 11th in slugging percentage with .400. We kind of suck in OBP with .313 tied for 18th in baseball. But this is at worst a slightly below average offense.

The Cubs on the other hand allow 5.02 runs per game which is the second worst rate in baseball and worst in the NL. The Cubs WHIP is 1.472 which is the worst in baseball. The Cubs starters have the fewest quality starts in baseball, and have pitched the lowest amount of innings. Granted injuries played a part in that, but the reason the Cubs are this bad is that the pitching is beyond terrible. If the Cubs want to compete next year, improving the pitching has to be goals 1, 2, and 3 in my opinion.

 

[Rice Cube]

Where are you getting your numbers? In terms of runs scored we are at 4.01 per game which is good for 9th in the NL and 18th in baseball. 7th in baseball in batting average with .263 average, and 11th in slugging percentage with .400. We kind of suck in OBP with .313 tied for 18th in baseball. But this is at worst a slightly below average offense.

The Cubs on the other hand allow 5.02 runs per game which is the second worst rate in baseball and worst in the NL. The Cubs WHIP is 1.472 which is the worst in baseball. The Cubs starters have the fewest quality starts in baseball, and have pitched the lowest amount of innings. Granted injuries played a part in that, but the reason the Cubs are this bad is that the pitching is beyond terrible. If the Cubs want to compete next year, improving the pitching has to be goals 1, 2, and 3 in my opinion.

The bolded part is the most important part :lol: How much do the Ricketts and <insert GM here> have to do to turn this club into a contender considering all the suck?

 

[dabynsky]

The offense isn't perfect, and I have been clear at what I think the problem is. That said the lack of patience at the plate doesn't even compare to the problems the pitching has had. I know it is weird to say but the Cubs biggest problem isn't the offense. I know it has been nearly every year for the past decade that it has been (08 the glaring exception when this team actually was patient at the plate but largely the same group forgot how to do it the next year in 09 some how), but if the starting rotation isn't improve this club is going no where next year.