Neifi signs...Furcal to follow?

by Whitebacon on Nov 8, 2005 4:29 AM CST

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-051107cubs,1,1170609.story?coll=cs-c ubs-headlines

Agent Paul Kinzer, who also represents free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal, worked out the deal with the Cubs. Furcal appears to be the Cubs' primary target, but the Atlanta Braves hold exclusive negotiating rights through Thursday.

Hopefully this is some sort of package deal, otherwise, I don't think I like this signing, this early, all that much.

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Here's what I don't understand from that article..

It says:

Garciaparra could move to third base, where the Cubs are set with Aramis Ramirez,

So if the Cubs are set at 3B, how could Nomar move there? That makes no sense at all.

About Neifi, I don't think this is a surprise at all; I think most of us expected him back (whether you wanted him or not), and if he's to be used strictly as a backup, that's fine with me.

Geez. How are we gonna make it till Friday?

by Al Yellon on Nov 8, 2005 4:35 AM CST reply actions

I didn't like

the way that article was written as all. I have no problem keeping Neifi as a backup. But unless we get Furcal, I forsee a platoon of Neifi and Cedeno.

"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" -Homer J. Simpson

by Whitebacon on Nov 8, 2005 4:59 AM CST up reply actions

I didn't like

the way that post was written at all, either. I think I should go to bed. Big election tomorrow.

"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" -Homer J. Simpson

by Whitebacon on Nov 8, 2005 4:59 AM CST up reply actions

There was another team in Chicago

that won a world series with a SS that is probably worse than Neifi, Juan Uribe. Not saying Neifi is the answer, but he isn't the problem as long as he is batting 8th in the lineup.

Although I would much rather have Furcal.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 8, 2005 8:09 AM CST up reply actions

With Dusty we rusty

You just watched Dusty Baker single handedly destroy Derrek Lee's shot at the RBI crown by batting Neifi and Patterson 1-2 for most of the season. Baker's lineup construction has sucked during his entire tenure here ( and in SF as well, I'd be willing to bet). No lightbulb is suddenly going to go on.

by jolietconvict on Nov 8, 2005 10:25 AM CST up reply actions

It will go on...

... if the Cubs sign Furcal.

Relax, you guys. Perez isn't being re-signed to be a starter, and I think we all know that, and yes, I think Baker knows that as well.

The point about him taking Macias' spot is well taken -- I think that makes sense and is likely what's going to happen.

by Al Yellon on Nov 8, 2005 10:30 AM CST up reply actions

super-subs

I really hope you are right Al. I just haven't seen anything in Dusty's history to suggest any different. I understand he is not supposed to be a starter, but Dusty has a way of finding reasons to start the vets. This is really a disappointing start to the offseason, and I can only hope we sign Furcal and your prediction proves correct. I just remember hearing that Neifi wants to be a starter and find it odd that he would sign a two year contract as a bench player after making those statements.

by daveg on Nov 8, 2005 11:16 AM CST up reply actions

Well...

... Furcal is a "proven veteran". If acquired, he'll start and Neifi won't. Book it.

by Al Yellon on Nov 8, 2005 1:16 PM CST up reply actions

at short...

Second base is 'nother scenario. Signing Furcal would most likely mean that Walker gets traded and Cedeno/Neifi battle for second next year. Guess who wins?

by RobG @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 8, 2005 1:48 PM CST up reply actions

Not necessarily...

... I don't see how a Furcal signing mandates a Walker trade.

by Al Yellon on Nov 8, 2005 2:00 PM CST up reply actions

Wait and see

That's what my perspective is on Perez. If used properly, he's fine to have around. At this point, I'd like to see an infield with Lee at first, Walker and Cedeno platooning at 2b, Furcal at short and Ramirez at 3B. Neifi can back up any of those positions. If he's starting more than one game per week next season, keeping him is a colossal mistake.

But there is no reason that Furcal and Walker can't be the double play combination, giving Cedeno starts against all the lefties and against some righties, giving him a few starts a week. What I've heard is that there is really no chance that Walker would be back if Nomar was brought back as short stop. Further, Steve Stone has been pretty firm in his assessment that the Cubs will not open the 2006 season with two rookies in the starting line-up. They may go with Murton or Cedeno playing every day, but not both. So with that in mind, I like the Walker/Cedeno platoon as a way to see what the Cubs have with Cedeno and to ease him into every day play in the majors.

DmL

by dmlichte on Nov 8, 2005 3:23 PM CST up reply actions

Not to Mention........

........there's no way McPhail/Hendry/Trib Tower will allow the Cubs to pay Neifi $2.5 mil to play ahead of Raffy making $8-10 mil. Regardless of Dusty's personal preferences, even someone as thick-skulled as he can see how that has to play out.

by tville on Nov 8, 2005 8:42 PM CST up reply actions

Further...

... how can you say this is a "disappointing start"?

NO ONE can sign a free agent who isn't their own, until this Friday!

Geez! The World Series ended only 13 days ago!

PATIENCE

by Al Yellon on Nov 8, 2005 1:18 PM CST up reply actions

I'll be Patient..........

.......but with the Rusch and now Neifi deal taking out $6 mil per year for each of the next two seasons, the spending had better be high on the guys who will become available within the next 48 hours.

They overspent on both of these guys, and likely overcommitted on the duration.

by tville on Nov 8, 2005 3:22 PM CST up reply actions

Or, they're setting themselves up

Hendry now knows going into free agency that he can focus on SS and OF as priorities, and not have to worry about getting stuck with a poor backup, or losing out on starting pitching. He made a calculated decision to wrap up two guys that would have almost certainly gotten paid that much in free agency so he wouldn't have to worry about replacing them later. With $24m left to spend -- at least -- he should be fine.

Just think about how you'd feel if Prior or Furcal/Garciaparra went down in August, and Jose Macias or David Aardsma took their place.

AC036198

by gjdow on Nov 8, 2005 9:47 PM CST up reply actions

Your remarks are fair, but...........

..........these same guys last year were thrust into "lead roles" and the team was a disaster.

I'm willing to accept these moves as "stepping stones", but that's all the more reason Hendry MUST obtain a number of quality players to shoulder the load in 2006.

The Cubs won in 2003 because of their bench. This component is overlooked soooo many times, yet it is critical over the long haul. So long as guys like Rusch and Neifi are expected to be minor cogs in the machine, I'm okay with this approach.

But if they're expected to play several times a week, then I'd rather have Aardsma and Cedeno getting MLB experience.

by tville on Nov 9, 2005 12:15 AM CST up reply actions

Agreed

Look at it this way, how often did we cringe when Macias stepped up to bat?

2006 -- AC026097 -- Eamus Catuli!

by priorpwnz on Nov 9, 2005 12:42 AM CST up reply actions

Perhaps...

... the article is making a generic comment about Nomar moving to 3B, but not necessarily with the Cubs.

The comment from the article that made me shake my head was this:

"I've decided I really like the guys who catch the ball," Hendry said.

What, after several years of being a GM, college coach, farm system director and head of scouting, Hendry all of a sudden had the epipheny that defense matters? Did he previously not think that defense mattered? This quote just bothers me.

DmL

by dmlichte on Nov 8, 2005 11:07 AM CST up reply actions

Completely Agree

A totally assinine comment by Mr. Hendry. One can only hope that it was taken severely out of context. Although, I have a hard time fathoming a context in which his comment wouldn't seem ridiculously idiotic.

T minus 36 hours and counting...

J.P.

by Jake @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 8, 2005 12:05 PM CST up reply actions

Baker's respnse to signing

"At last we have the leadoff batter the team needs to win".

Well, if he didn't say it, I bet he was thinking it.

Players win awards but teams win championships.

by tharr on Nov 8, 2005 5:57 AM CST reply actions

if this means that neifi

will now be taking the roster spot previously held by macias, okay. if it clears the runway for furcal to land in chicago, all the better.

by dc60123 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 8, 2005 8:39 AM CST reply actions

ride the pine

With the signing of Neifi I don't think we will see Cedeno start but maybe once a month. Dusty loves his veterans, period. It's not that I don't like Neifi, it's just that he belongs on the bench as a super-sub. Unfortunately, that will never happen with Dusty coaching this team. If we get Furcal, I would expect Walker to get traded and the platoon of Neifi and Cedeno will turn into what the platoon of Holly and Dubois turned into last year. Get ready for two years of Neifi being a starter, and probably hitting one or two depending on if we get Furcal or another lead off hitter.

by daveg on Nov 8, 2005 9:31 AM CST reply actions

The infield...

...defense would be vastly improved with furcal at short and Cedeno or Neifi at second. However I don't want to see Baker just hand over the starters job to Neifi.

cubsfan4life

by cubfan4life on Nov 8, 2005 9:44 AM CST up reply actions

The beginning...

...of the end. This to me indicates that Hendry has little clue. If he really wants Cedeno to play he cannot have the Neifinator on the roster. Dusty will use him, end of story. We all agree Neifi is a great backup/defensive sub. However Dusty Baker has it in his mind that he's a starter. Furthermore, why sign a backup to a two year contract? Hendry has pretty much expended any credability he had.

by jolietconvict on Nov 8, 2005 10:22 AM CST reply actions

Give Hendry a free pass......for now.

I'm a little confused about a two year deal, especially if he is to be a back up, but I think most agree that Neifi is a good back up and great defensive SS. Let's give Hendry the benefit of the doubt for now; maybe he has something else up his sleeve (Furcal??).

by cubboy89 on Nov 8, 2005 12:48 PM CST up reply actions

i'm with you

neifi wouldn't have played as much as he did if not for the injuries of nomar, then walker, then ramirez. what is neifi supposed to do, go up to hendry and baker and say, "man, i just can't play this much. better find someone else ..."

neifi was great and taking control of the infield and calming down pitchers. gotta like that. he'll get his playing time for sure, but not as much as 2005, barring more injuries ...

by kjk on Nov 8, 2005 1:06 PM CST up reply actions

Furcal will be a Cub

You heard it here first.

I like this signing. Perez is much maligned (even by myself, I admit) because of his atrocious use by Baker. But Part of the reason he was playing was Garciaparra's injury -- I've said before that I don't mind Perez starting as long as he's at the back of the order. If the Cubs get Furcal and Kenny Lofton, Baker will be forced to bat hit 7th-8th if he starts him, which is fine with me. The man's got a good glove.

AC036198

by gjdow on Nov 8, 2005 11:27 AM CST reply actions

speaking of furcal

career .200 hitter at wrigley, .209 against us overall. Against the rest of the division he hits .260 or better, with a ballsy .345 and .367 against the cards and brew crew respectively. However he doesn't hit above .286 at a park that will exist next year in our division. OBP numbers are all better than .300 everywhere except Wrigley and agaist us. Great number against the Brewers and at Miller park.

by mike bornemann @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 10, 2005 12:30 PM CST reply actions

Furcal...

... has hit two career HR at Wrigley Field in 63 career AB there.

One of them was the last visiting player HR to land on our bleacher bench, on July 12, 2003.

by Al Yellon on Nov 10, 2005 12:41 PM CST up reply actions

This is something that scares me...

I definitely want Furcal to come here, but his stats at Wrigley aren't too comforting. The good thing is it's in limited time. Plus, I'm sure he would be able to adjust, especially with Neifi here to help him out! :)

Cubbie blue always sPaRkLeS in my eyes.

by sparkles721 on Nov 10, 2005 3:16 PM CST up reply actions