Best and Worst Free Agent Signings

OK, let me take a stab at this.

Best: Hmm. There aren’t a lot of “bests” to choose from, because for years the Cubs stayed away from the free-agent market. Alfonso Soriano has been pretty good, despite his noted disappearances in the postseason. Kevin Tapani turned out OK, at least in 1998.

Worst: Todd Hundley, hands down. Four years, $24 million, for which the Cubs got two years of bad production and worse attitude. The only saving grace was that Jim Hendry managed to dump his contract and get two useful players for him.

Dishonorable mentions: Danny Jackson, Candy Maldonado, Willie Wilson, Dave Smith, Doug Jones, Mel Rojas

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 20, 2008 10:35 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Good signings

Jaime Navarro comes to mind. Didn’t cost a ton and he had two excellent years for the Cubs.

Mike Morgan had a great first year with the Cubs but then went to crap.

Randy Myers was the one closer signed by the Cubs who had a really nice Cubs career.

I’ve got to disagree on Soriano. The Cubs way overpaid on that one and by the end of the contract its going to get ugly.

To add to the bad signings, gotta put Jeff Blauser.

by dmlichte on Dec 20, 2008 10:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Myers may have been the best, I forgot about him.

Blauser, definitely added to the worst list.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 20, 2008 11:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Myers gets demerits

because he was signed instead of Maddux. Not Randy’s fault, but we’re giving credit to the front office, not the player. That’s why you can’t make Andre Dawson the “best” signing. He clearly was the best signing ever by the Cubs, but the front office was colluding just like everyone else and was forced to do it by Dawson. He does deserve a mention, though.

by Josh77 on Dec 20, 2008 1:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Maddux and Myers

I wish the Cubs had them at the same time. I wonder how many games Maddux would have won from 1990-92, if the Cubs had Myers as the closer. Dave Smith, Paul Assenmacher, and Bob Scanlan were not “Nasty Boys”.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Dec 21, 2008 8:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

1993 Cubs

If they had resigned Maddux and Dawson and still traded for HIbbard and signed Myers they might have gone places. They did win 84 games.

Barbara V. October 14, 1941 - December 19, 2008. A great lady who was a friend to all and like a second mom to her children's friends (she was my best friend's mom)

by cubstoseriesby100 on Dec 21, 2008 8:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

A little off-topic, but since we're talking about Myers

I remember watching a game on TV that was Randy Myers poster day. Sometime around 2000, I think. I guess he must have been on a downturn with the Cubs. Sure enough, he blew the save and I remember virtually every Randy Myers poster ended up on the field. The game was held up for like 20 minutes and more and more posters showered down in the outfield. Anyone know exactly when this game was played? I’d love to reminense the box score.

by West Coast Diehard on Dec 25, 2008 8:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ooops, I mean sometime around 1990. Sorry

by West Coast Diehard on Dec 25, 2008 8:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The game was on August 15, 1993.

He gave up back-to-back HR to Barry Bonds and Matt Williams in the 11th inning. Boxscore here.

That was, of course, the year Myers set the NL record for saves in a season, which stood until 2002 when John Smoltz broke it. His 53 saves in ‘93 is still the Cubs’ team record.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 26, 2008 8:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thank you, Al

I guess the fans must have been feeling a little cantankerous that day . . .

by West Coast Diehard on Dec 27, 2008 10:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Along those closers lines

I think you have to look at the Ryan Dempster signing as brilliant. The value we got out of him was huge.

by Wreckard on Dec 20, 2008 11:18 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Good point

but no one really thinks of Dempster as a fee agent signing because he wasn’t a guy who had played in the league for six years and had earned free agency. The Reds just released Dempster. We picked him up like we picked up Jim Edmonds et al. Perhaps the most successful “dumpster diving” ever by the Cubs.

Maybe we should start calling it “Dempster Diving.”

by Josh77 on Dec 20, 2008 1:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

How is Soriano one of the best?

We gave him the money of someone that hits 40 HR and steals 40 bags a year. He hasn’t come anywhere close to that. Add to that the fact that he has played 135 and 109 games in each of his two seasons and doesn’t figure to get healthier as he gets older. While he has a fantastic arm the rest of his defense has been very below average. Takes poor routes, gets bad reads, and is afraid of the wall. My biggest peeve however is the streakiness of his offensive production. 8HR in five games and then 15 K’s in the next five.
And we have him for 6 more years! Everytime i see him play I almost cry to myself saying “That could have been Carlos Lee.”

by JJDiesel21 on Dec 23, 2008 11:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm pretty sure

No one expected him to replicate his 06 season.
Also, why does the streakiness of his production matter if he’s one of the best producers? I’d rather have him go off on a tear every now and then than be consistently mediocre. He’s also been more valueble than Lee the last couple of years.
And yes, I’ll give you the fact that his contract was too long and too big, but so is just about every contract in MLB.

"I don't know, I think the Bears should just defer so they don't have to put their offense out there to start" -Tony Kornhesier

by rea5661 on Dec 26, 2008 8:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Erroneous!

In the last two seasons D Lee played good defense Soriano has not. D Lee has averaged 153 games Soriano 122. Lee has batted .304, Sori .291. D Lee has more rbi’s but that is skewed because of his place in the batting order. But the clearest difference, and granted its only 6 games, playoff batting: Lee 10-22, 6 K’s. Soriano 3-28, 8 K’s. Put on top of that D Lee is a great clubhouse guy. He is clearly more valuable to the team than Soriano.

by JJDiesel21 on Dec 28, 2008 7:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I have a question which may sound dumb

How did players switch teams before the free agency period. How did teams operate in the off season?? Just a question I’ve thought about here and there and not really asked..

BCB Works Miracles: It saved my English grade!

by Chanman25 on Dec 20, 2008 10:35 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Trades, primarily.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 20, 2008 10:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

so players pretty much players played for a small number of clubs

as opposed to today where a player could play for 10 throughout his career?

What would happen when someone’s contract ran out? Sign with the team or get traded?

BCB Works Miracles: It saved my English grade!

by Chanman25 on Dec 20, 2008 10:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Contracts didn't run out.

Under the reserve clause, they could be renewed indefinitely. So players were either traded or released. Only when the reserve clause was ruled illegal, could players play where they wanted.

It’s not true that old-time players only played “for a small number of clubs”. Many players got traded multiple times.

Check out this one, for example.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 20, 2008 10:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What would happen if a player was released, they wouldn't be able to play anywhere else?

BCB Works Miracles: It saved my English grade!

by Chanman25 on Dec 20, 2008 11:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No, then they could sign with any team...

… being released from their contract (and thus the reserve clause for that team). But as soon as they signed another deal, they’d be bound to that team until traded or released.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 20, 2008 11:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

oh ok I see that makes sense now

BCB Works Miracles: It saved my English grade!

by Chanman25 on Dec 20, 2008 11:22 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This whole system is what was struck down by arbitrators ...

… and resulted in the free agent system we have today.

That’s a FAR too simplistic version of what really happened. If you’re interested in finding out more there are some good histories of what happened. Google around and you’ll find them.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 20, 2008 11:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

alright I think I'll look into it

Sounds interesting. In a current baseball “society” (if you will) that we are in today, its hard to believe that at one point there wasn’t free agency

BCB Works Miracles: It saved my English grade!

by Chanman25 on Dec 20, 2008 1:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

actually, any team in the same league

Until around 1960, a player couldn’t switch leagues unless he passed through waivers for his current league. For example, if a player was released by the Cubs, he couldn’t sign with an AL team until the other seven NL teams had passed on him. This rule basically prevented any interleague trades and, moreover, meant that players would only switch leagues at the beginning or the tail end of their careers.

"Some people will look at a glass of water and say it's half-empty, while another guy will look at it and say it's half-full. A Cubs fan looks at the same glass and asks, "When's it gonna spill?" - Mike Royko

by LaddieRenfroe on Dec 20, 2008 12:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Very Interesting

When I think of high-profile interleague trades, the furthest back I go is Frank Robinson for Milt Pappas before the 1966 season. I can’t think of any before 1960.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Dec 21, 2008 8:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I am surprised Barry Zito didn't make the list

BCB Works Miracles: It saved my English grade!

by Chanman25 on Dec 20, 2008 10:41 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Zito IS on the list.

Click through and read Heyman’s article.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 20, 2008 10:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Here is the...

… link.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 20, 2008 10:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

One of the Best: Mark DeRosa

DeRo got 3 years/$13M (2007-09)

Consider some comparable deals:
Ray Durham: 2 years/$14.5M (2007-08)
Adam Kennedy: 3 years/$10M (2007-09)
Luis Castillo: 4 years/$25M (2008-11)
Kaz Matsui: 3 years/$16.5M (2008-10)
Freddy Sanchez: 2 years/$11M (2008-09), plus 2010 club option
Brandon Phillips: 4 years/$27M (2008-11), plus 2012 club option

DeRo is better than all of those guys and outpaid by most of them.

The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.

by DGU on Dec 20, 2008 10:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Well I rather have Brandon Phillips

But he’s heads and shoulders above everyone else on your list.

by MrShowtime on Dec 20, 2008 11:03 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

disagree

DeRosa has been a better player than Phillips offensively during the first 2 years and while Phillips has improved defensively I think DeRo’s better offense + the cost and flexibility makes all the difference

http://www.baseball-reference.com/p/phillbr01.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/d/derosma01.shtml

the reason Phillips is thought of as better is because of fantasy baseball which devalues OBP, and overvalues SB’s

by DartmouthCubsFan on Dec 20, 2008 12:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Phillips is 6 years younger.

I’d rather have Phillips.

If Freddy Sanchez could get it together, I’d like him over DRo as well.

DRo’s nice enough, but I fear we’re falling in love with him over one big offensive season and his ability to play average defense at 5 positions.

"Thank god I threw out my belt & shoelaces."-Bernies Mustache Wax on Evil BCB, 7/31/08

by Bildo1805 on Dec 21, 2008 3:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

DeRosa's now had three very good offensive seasons in a row.

DeRosa is also the reason Mike Fontenot was on the club at all this year and had the season he did.

Brandon Phillips had a .312 OBP last year, and so far has had only one good year in the past six, a year that wasn’t close to as good as DeRosa’s recent year.

I would still take Phillips over DeRosa in roto fantasy ball, but that’s more a mark against roto fantasy ball than it is against DeRosa.

The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.

by DGU on Dec 21, 2008 4:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

So you get to pick out OBP to show why D-Ro>Phillips

But I can’t pick out HR and SB to show how Phillips>D-Ro?

They’re different types of players. Also, Phillips is 6 years younger. I still choose Phillips.

"Thank god I threw out my belt & shoelaces."-Bernies Mustache Wax on Evil BCB, 7/31/08

by Bildo1805 on Dec 21, 2008 4:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Why pick out stats at all?

I wasn’t picking out OBP so much as pointing out the big hurdle of negative value Phillips has to overcome posting a .312 OBP.

So, a more complete look – over the past 3 years, DeRosa and Phillips are equal in SLG; Phillips has hit more HRs, but DeRosa has hit more 2Bs.

Phillips has more SBs, but he racks up the CS, too, with 10 this year. Factor those into his already sickly OBP and things get ugly.

As for him being 6 years younger, that might be relevant if we were drafting a keeper league, but we’re talking about value over a contract and Phillips is going to need to really bust out the next few years if he’s going to match the value DeRosa has given over his contract.

The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.

by DGU on Dec 21, 2008 7:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Can we all...

just be happy we didn’t sign Kaz?

by jbertram on Dec 24, 2008 10:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

right but

you only get two more years on the contract for Phillips… you don’t get to keep him for those 6 years without paying a much higher price….

i don’t get the “he’s younger” argument when deciding between players worth against their current contract. It has very little bearing in anything other than possibly projecting the last season of comparison

by DartmouthCubsFan on Dec 22, 2008 10:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Apples and oranges.

We’re discussing the best value of contracts. Phillips is signed on the current contract until 2011, club option for 2012. What’s not to love there?

"Thank god I threw out my belt & shoelaces."-Bernies Mustache Wax on Evil BCB, 7/31/08

by Bildo1805 on Dec 22, 2008 2:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

right...

you’re confusing me here because you’re making my point

DeRo’s BEEN the best “value” on the deal so far. He’s outproduced Phillips AND cost less

by DartmouthCubsFan on Dec 26, 2008 8:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It was a special case

but shouldn’t Andre Dawson be the Cubs’ best free-agent signing? I’ll give nods to Randy Myers and Ryan Dempster, too.

by elgato on Dec 20, 2008 11:56 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

agreed

Although it was tainted by the collusion that occurred that offseason, Dawson is clearly the best FA ever signed by the Cubs. After all, he came in and won the MVP award. He’d top the list even if they’d had to pay him market value rather than the crooked discount price.

"Some people will look at a glass of water and say it's half-empty, while another guy will look at it and say it's half-full. A Cubs fan looks at the same glass and asks, "When's it gonna spill?" - Mike Royko

by LaddieRenfroe on Dec 20, 2008 12:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What about

Juan Pierre? I was never a big fan of his, and I think our signing of him was pretty bad. He had a stellar year with the marlins, then regressed back to his normal out put once we got him.

In another quote attributed to him while coaching for the 1962 Mets, Hornsby was asked how well he thought he could hit the current crop of pitchers if he were playing today, to which he replied "I guess I'd hit about .280 or .290". When asked why he'd hit for such a low average, Hornsby replied "Well, I'm 66 years old, what do you expect?"

by SotoRiot on Dec 20, 2008 12:26 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

that was a trade....

which is an even bigger reason why everyone hated it

see Nolasco, Ricky

by DartmouthCubsFan on Dec 20, 2008 12:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

my bad

must have been thinking of another. Thanks for the correction. If only the Cubs got credit for every time Juan rolled over a ground ball to second or hit a weak pop up on the fringe.

In another quote attributed to him while coaching for the 1962 Mets, Hornsby was asked how well he thought he could hit the current crop of pitchers if he were playing today, to which he replied "I guess I'd hit about .280 or .290". When asked why he'd hit for such a low average, Hornsby replied "Well, I'm 66 years old, what do you expect?"

by SotoRiot on Dec 20, 2008 1:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ted Lilly

"Who's Bob Brenly? The guy that used to be the manager for Arizona?" ~ Alfonso Guilleard Soriano

by JohnM on Dec 20, 2008 12:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Good point

Plus, should get extra credit for the Lilly signing since Hendry got it done hooked to an EKG machine just before his angioplasty.

In another quote attributed to him while coaching for the 1962 Mets, Hornsby was asked how well he thought he could hit the current crop of pitchers if he were playing today, to which he replied "I guess I'd hit about .280 or .290". When asked why he'd hit for such a low average, Hornsby replied "Well, I'm 66 years old, what do you expect?"

by SotoRiot on Dec 20, 2008 12:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I would love to have a picture of that

BCB Works Miracles: It saved my English grade!

by Chanman25 on Dec 20, 2008 1:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

seriously

Lilly has been a rock.

by elgato on Dec 20, 2008 6:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Lilly has to be be one of the Cubs better Free agent signings. I am still trying to figure out how easily he vanished in last years playoffs.

by NYCUB FAN on Dec 28, 2008 11:59 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Signings

2/5ths of our rotation. Dempster and Illy are 2 of the best we’ve ever done.

Barbara V. October 14, 1941 - December 19, 2008. A great lady who was a friend to all and like a second mom to her children's friends (she was my best friend's mom)

by cubstoseriesby100 on Dec 20, 2008 1:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It could be argued that the Cubs FIRST free agent signing...

….Dave Kingman, was one of the best, if only for that monster 1979 season.

Of course, there are just as many reasons to say he was one of the worst…lol.

Whoever said you can't mix business with pleasure never owned a PuttPutt course---Andy Bernard

by carmen_fanzone on Dec 20, 2008 1:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Moises Alou

actually turned out to be a pretty good signing.

George Bell was only good in that we flipped him for Sammy Sosa the next season.

by Josh77 on Dec 20, 2008 2:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Agree on Alou

His 2002 was poor, I felt, and plagued by injury. But he turned it on in 2003 and especially in 2004. Would’ve loved to see him stay longer, but what can you do?

Willie Greene, anyone?

by AeroZach on Dec 20, 2008 3:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Alou ...

is an interesting point. Too bad his best year (by far) was in ’04.

Also, did we trade for Henry Rodriguez, or did we sign him? Can’t remember.

Nominee for the worst signing — Benito Santiago. He was pretty bad for a really bad ’99 team.

by elgato on Dec 20, 2008 6:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Alou

…had a very solid 2005 season (.321, 19HR, 63RBI in 123 games), definitely would’ve been production we could’ve used for another season up here.

As for H-Rod, he was signed as a free agent in…December, 1997, I want to say. Could be wrong, but I’m positive he was an FA.

As for Santiago, didn’t mind him too much, though I will admit that he was given excellent expectations coming in and didn’t deliver. I think his average was .248 or something like that, certainly left more to be desired from somebody like him. What’s even worse is that, as far back as I can remember (I was only eight years old at the time) he was splitting time with Jeff Reed, of all people halfway through the 1999 season. He certainly wasn’t the biggest problem on the roster that season, though, which is why I hardly view him as “bad.”

by AeroZach on Dec 20, 2008 7:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

HRod

Henry Rodriguez was acquired in a trade the day of my engagement party. I don’t remember what we gave up for him though,

Barbara V. October 14, 1941 - December 19, 2008. A great lady who was a friend to all and like a second mom to her children's friends (she was my best friend's mom)

by cubstoseriesby100 on Dec 20, 2008 7:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Oops

I was thinking of Mickey Morandini. HRod was a free agent.

Barbara V. October 14, 1941 - December 19, 2008. A great lady who was a friend to all and like a second mom to her children's friends (she was my best friend's mom)

by cubstoseriesby100 on Dec 20, 2008 7:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

HRod

Was not a free agent… Cubs traded Miguel Batista to Montreal on 12/12/97 for O’Henry. Morandini was traded to the Cubs from Philadelphia for Doug Glanville on 12/23/97.

by dmlichte on Dec 20, 2008 8:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You're correct

He was re-signed by the Cubs in December 1998, my mistake.

by AeroZach on Dec 20, 2008 11:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Oops again

I wikied him and read a transaction in 1998 not 1997. And my engagement party was 12/12/97.

Barbara V. October 14, 1941 - December 19, 2008. A great lady who was a friend to all and like a second mom to her children's friends (she was my best friend's mom)

by cubstoseriesby100 on Dec 21, 2008 8:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm surprised no one mentioned

Candy Maldonado. I recall him coming in an off season with a bunch of high expectations, then he hit under .200 and was traded away before the season was up. IIRC we did get Glenallen Hill in return, so it was another case of bad signing spun into a decent trade.

This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again.

by HectorVillanueva on Dec 20, 2008 5:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I mentioned Maldonado above.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 20, 2008 5:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Oops, it slipped right by me.

This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again.

by HectorVillanueva on Dec 20, 2008 9:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

Of recent vintage….

Best….DeRosa, Lilly

Worst….Soriano, Hundley, Rojas, Smith, Morgan, Jackson, when do you want me to stop…

by BLou on Dec 20, 2008 8:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Im surprised no body mentioned...

…Latroy Hawkins as a worst. Was Sosa signed as a free agent? No doubt he produced and the Cubs dumped him at the perfect time!

Other horrible signings that come to mind for me — BY OTHER TEAMS: Darren Dreifort, Carlos Perez, Jason Shmidt, Andruw Jones, Mike Hampton, Carl Pavano, Kevin Brown, Mo Vaughn

Albert Pujols has to be one of the best bargains @ 7 yrs/$100M

Sorry if I repeated any that were already listed!!!!

"I never drink water because of the disgusting things fish do in it" -W.C. Fields

by calicubfan on Dec 20, 2008 8:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Sosa was acquired by trade.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 20, 2008 8:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He never reached Free Agency?

"I never drink water because of the disgusting things fish do in it" -W.C. Fields

by calicubfan on Dec 20, 2008 8:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The Cubs sent George Bell to the White Sox for him.

I think the Cubs signed him to contract extensions before he ever reached free agency.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 20, 2008 8:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

Yep. One of the most lopsided trades in Cubs history especially considering Bell was not going to be able to play the OF in 1992 without knee surgery apparently. He could DH.

Barbara V. October 14, 1941 - December 19, 2008. A great lady who was a friend to all and like a second mom to her children's friends (she was my best friend's mom)

by cubstoseriesby100 on Dec 21, 2008 8:16 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

My bad...

..I didn’t notice the link in the original post to the article. I thought we were just brainstorming. Must be the margaritas I had w/ dinner

"I never drink water because of the disgusting things fish do in it" -W.C. Fields

by calicubfan on Dec 20, 2008 8:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not a Cub, but...

… they left one guy off their “worst” list: Darren Dreifort.

The Dodgers signed him to a 5-year, $55 million deal after three mediocre seasons as a starter for them, before the 2001 season.

For that they got 26 starts and 60 relief appearances over parts of three years, with the lowest ERA being 4.03.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 21, 2008 4:17 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Who are you people?

I don’t see a Mr. Andre Dawson on any best FA list. If worst is high expectation/high salary failures(Hundley), then the best must be low expectation/low salary perfection.

As for the worst, they are all guys Paul Sullivan would rate as +1 (name only used-to-bes).

by N Oakley on Dec 22, 2008 1:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs