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A Radical Idea.

We should trade Soriano.

 

BREATHE! BREATHE NOW!

 

OK.

 

Despite what you believe, I'm not an idiot. And, I love the Fonze. But, Looking at the Cubs as objectively as I can, I see Soriano as causing serious problems for the Cubs. He may believe he is, but he is not a leadoff hitter. And, if he can't get past this mental block against batting lower in the order at somepoint over the next 6 years of his contract as he ages and he's, presumbably, able to run less he'll cause more problems.

That leads us to our first, and primary, obstacle: his contract. The good news is that the going rate for outfielders is going up, not down. In a couple years, his contract will look better.

The solution is to look at clubs that have a lot of money to throw around, like the Yankees and Red Sox, or clubs that are rebuilding and need a draw, like the Giants.

But, setting aside the issue of the contract for the moment, what should we try for? Starting pitching or a left handed power hitting outfielder?

While our pitching needs shoring up (in my opinoin, and in the opinoin of many others) our more immediate concern is a lefty power hitting outfielder:

Matsui, Abreau, Dunn, Griffey Jr., Crawford, et-al

Pitching wise, how about:

Kazmir, Lincecum or Cain, Bonderman or Verlander, ect.

 

So, keeping in mind the principle of flame-free posting, what do you think?

Poll
Trade Soriano (if possible)?
Yes, for starting pitching.
22 votes
Yes, for a left power-hitting outfielder
5 votes
Yes for either one.
16 votes
No.
37 votes

80 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

0 recs  |  Comment 46 comments

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The sound of laughing you hear...

... is from 29 other GM’s taking Jim Hendry’s phone call at your request.

There’s no way he could be traded right now. Who would take that contract? The Yankees and Red Sox don’t have room for them to play on their teams right now, much less take $118 (apx) million worth of contract.

We are stuck with him.

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

by Al on May 7, 2008 4:55 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I didn't say it was going to happen

But, I had to float the idea.

If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be doing my job as an amatuer unpaid Internet blogger.

Besides, via trade the Yankees would create a spot in their lineup for Soriano.

by Snake Plisskin on May 7, 2008 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I said the same thing two weeks ago

And got the same responses verbatim. I feel ya.

by cubsonWGN4ever on May 7, 2008 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

What's The Point Of Discussing...

...and impossibility?

What would we get if we traded D Lee? How about Zambrano? What if we traded Piniella?

Jacque Jones is gone, and I doubt Ivan DeJesus would mind this!

by initram on May 7, 2008 7:43 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Impossible is a word.

We’re discussing possibilities, unlikely though they may be.

This is an Internet Blogger site not the Cubs’ Board Room, try not to be so serious.

And, we’re discussing trading Soriano because of the myriad problems he causes (albeit accidentally) to the Cubs lineup.

if you don’t want to discuss it, feel free not to post.

by Snake Plisskin on May 7, 2008 10:19 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I may be ignorant...

can you trade a manager? I feel like you can but I am not sure.

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on May 8, 2008 8:31 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

My Dad Said...

...that Piniella was actually traded for a position player…

Jacque Jones is gone, and I doubt Ivan DeJesus would mind this!

by initram on May 8, 2008 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes, he was.

The Mariners allowed him to break his contract and go to Tampa Bay. The (Devil) Rays had to send Randy Winn to the Mariners in exchange.

Chuck Tanner, who managed the 1979 Pirates to the World Series title, was also traded for a player (catcher Manny Sanguillen).

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

by Al on May 8, 2008 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't think we disagree with you

many here feel it was a horrible pickup. The problem is simply there aren’t enough stupid, rich GM’s out there. That is the only obstacle to this plan.

If there were more, I would be all for this.

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on May 8, 2008 8:30 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

A horrible pickup?

I’m no Soriano fan either, and I agree the contract is long and expensive. But if we didn’t sign him in 2007, who would be playing LF for us this year?

The only other free agent outfielders of not from the last 2 years are:
Carlos Lee
JD Drew
Barry Bonds
Mike Cameron
Moises Alou
Andruw Jones

The only 2 people on that list that could arguably give us a better chance that Soriano there are Lee and Bonds. Bonds is out for various and obvious reasons. Lee’s contract will look worse than Soriano’s in 4 years when he’s too fat to play outfield.

Again, I don’t love Soriano but he’s a valuable player who helps the team and fills a spot that would have been a glaring hole if not for him.

by Wreckard on May 8, 2008 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

LSA!

"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will

by eswan9 on May 7, 2008 8:25 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I would, but only for SP

But who’s gonna bite on that albatross of a contract?

I like the OF assists, I like the HR’s but just now on Mac Jurko and Harry, Mac was going on about the other 24 guys in the clubhouse have to abide by rules he believes Soriano doesn’t have. I usually don’t agree with Mac but he may have a point. He didn’t offer any evidence so we’ll have to see.

Fonzie is 67% opposite of what I would like to see in the leadoff spot. His BA will get better and his power is fine. But he won’t situational hit, he doesn’t take enough pitches, his OBP is too low and he’s lost some speed.

Of these 6 attributes, there is one guy on the club already that fits all of them and I’d like to see him try it but he may be too valuable anywhere in teh 2-5 spots.

by blackhawk24 on May 7, 2008 4:55 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

There's NO way

that the Rays trade for a player making over $100 million. Not that I think anyone else will but it is fruitless to even argue that point. Plus, why would they trade Crawford, a LF’er making far less than Soriano, much younger and with just as much upside besides the HR’s. That is completely ridiculous.

"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion

by DTJchris on May 7, 2008 5:00 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

One possible trade and this might be reaching

would be to the dodgers, LA does have the money but I think the only way we get them to take this monstrous contract on is by taking juan pierre’s back. Maybe a Soriano for Juan Pierre and Andre Eithier. This works for LA as it clears up their OF logjam and rids itself of Juan Pierre. Sprinkle in some prospects, relivers, cash etc. and I could see this as a possibilty.

by bheidge on May 7, 2008 5:09 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Juan Pierre

In a Cubs uniform again is a sure sign of the apocolypse. No WAY anyone in the Cubs organization wants him back.

"Hey! If the moon were made of ribs, wouldja eat it? I know I would!"

by cubs0505 on May 7, 2008 8:18 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

And no way the Dodgers trade Ethier, either.

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

by Al on May 7, 2008 8:53 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

well something

has to give in that OF, they have four starting Outfielders. The Dodgers appear that they are set on Kemp as the starting Right fielder, Andre Ethier will be traded eventually. Unless of course they find a way to get rid of Pierre or Jones. Surely you dont think Ethier is or ever will be a better player than Soriano.

by bheidge on May 7, 2008 10:01 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I dunno about that.

Ethier’s a pretty good player. Just because Ned Colletti keeps making bad free agent signings doesn’t mean he’ll also be stupid and trade Ethier.

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

by Al on May 8, 2008 3:40 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

if they wanted to get rid

of sorianos contract I am sure they would entertain the idea.

by bheidge on May 7, 2008 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Go back on your meds!!!

Just kidding. Sort of. 110 million left on the deal, and a full NTC? C’mon.

by Damen Jackson on May 7, 2008 5:13 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Pierre is doin much better, but

We wouldn’t get enough back. Maybe if we back one their young pitchers.

by Snake Plisskin on May 7, 2008 5:21 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Sorianos long and expensive

contract pretty much puts the kabosh on any elite prospects we’d get back.

by bheidge on May 7, 2008 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

kibosh

"Eighty-five percent of the world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here." - Lee Elia, 1983

"The only thing that bothers me is that I would never want to destroy the love and what the fans of Chicago are to the Chicago Cubs. I mean, God knows. If there's one pure thing in baseball, it is the fans of Chicago." - Lee Elia, 2008

by CaughtInTheVines on May 8, 2008 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well, something that COULD work with the Giants, would be for them to throw back the #1 worst all-time contract in baseball. Something like:
Soriano + Marquis for Zito + Lincecum or Cain
Which obviously is pretty horrible for us, but does give us that top of the rotation guy we so desire. It also gives us a $115 million LOOGY….but amazingly would cut salary overall. And if we then picked up a platoon partner for Murton, probably significantly improve the team. But having the dead weight of Zito would seem much worse than having the potentially good, albeit expensive, Soriano. But…..Tim Lincecum, oh yes, he would be nice to have. Although I don’t even think Sabean is dumb enough to trade him…

by Canseco's Roid Party on May 7, 2008 5:55 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Love this idea

Wish it would happen. But it wont.

by cubsonWGN4ever on May 7, 2008 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think this is pretty much the only scenario in which Soriano gets traded.

The Giants were looking at trading Lincecum/Cain for Rios and Delmon Young. Soriano’s older, but if they buy into him as a historic player….

by DGU on May 7, 2008 8:45 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I said this in the previous fanpost on this subject (uh, yeah, this wasn't that radical an idea)...

...but if the Cubs could get Lincecum for Soriano, I would carjack Alfonso’s Hummer myself and drive him to AT&T Park myself. (Actually I didn’t say that, but you get the gist.) Don’t get me wrong—I’m not a Soriano hater. I still have faith in him and, when he gets his bat in order, he’s going to be a blast to watch. But Little Timmy Lincecum is probably my favorite young pitcher not in a Cubs uniform. Make him our No. 3 starter behind Big Z and Lilly and suddenly the post-season looks very doable.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

Oh, and remember, folks: Alfonso Soriano is NOT batting leadoff. He's batting first.

by dat cubfan daver on May 8, 2008 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Better chance

We have a better chance of moving to the American League and having Soriano be our DH than any team picking him up in the next 3-5 years.

by ak123 on May 7, 2008 6:12 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

EXACTLY

fun to pound out scenarios, but this post pretty much nails it.

OR we could trade everybody EXCEPT soriano for A-rod…

"I'll play any day. I don't care if I'm 0-for-30, playing baseball is my PASSION. I'll go out and play." - Geo Soto

by CubbyBlues on May 7, 2008 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You also mentioned the Giants needing a "draw".

They do. But what makes you think Soriano is a “draw”?

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

by Al on May 7, 2008 7:55 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

The Cubs' marketing...

and MLB’s marketing…
and ESPN’s marketing…

by DGU on May 7, 2008 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh, brother.

That old saw? You don’t think Giants fans would be as up in arms about Soriano after about a month as we are?

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

by Al on May 8, 2008 3:40 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think...

Soriano could turn it around. I mean he’s obviously not gonna bat .177 the whole season.

by wrigleyrocker12 on May 7, 2008 7:56 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Actually...

...Soriano’s at a point where the only direction he can go is up…

Jacque Jones is gone, and I doubt Ivan DeJesus would mind this!

by initram on May 7, 2008 8:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

We can't trade him.

1) No trade clause.
2) Huge contract.

but most importantly:

3) We need him.

2008: The year we put it all together.

by drewishdrewid on May 7, 2008 8:20 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Well said

(LSA) aside

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on May 7, 2008 9:10 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I object to the idea that Soriano has a mental block batting lower in the order.

Soriano is a FB hitter. He sees the most FBs batting first or second and when no one is on base. He hits best at the beginning of an inning. He has limitations, just like Derrek Lee who has trouble with pitches off the plate that get called strikes anyway and just like Ryan Theriot who has trouble with right-handed pitchers and just like every major league hitter. Hitting a baseball thrown by a major league pitcher is a very difficult thing to do. No one does it perfectly. Soriano does it very, very well. When he bats first, he does it better than when he is in RBI situations. So, bat him first, swallow the bad OBP and be glad that he, at least, unlike Juan Pierre, hits the ball hard when he does hit it.

by DGU on May 7, 2008 8:50 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Why do you object to the mental block?

D-Lee and A-Ram hit plenty of flyballs and line drives lower in the order. By your logic they should see less good pitches, and therefore hit less flyballs and line-drives.

And, i don’t think D-lee has trouble with balls off the plate outside. i think he thinks they’re balls. Besides, he can drive them the other way.

And, Theriot is batting .323 thus far this season against righties. Granted, however, it’s early and it was .260 last year.

by Snake Plisskin on May 7, 2008 10:33 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I also object to the idea that we need a LH hitting OF.

Our offense is doing just fine. It got shut down today by a pitcher who is on fire. That would have happened even with a LH hitting OF in the lineup. There is a good chance that any LH hitting OF we acquire will end the season hitting worse than Pie anyway.

by DGU on May 7, 2008 9:17 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

It's not about today.

It’s about overall. We are massively stacked to the right side, and we need a lefty power hitter to break that up (says conventional wisdom). Beyond the fact that is makes good numbers sense, it forces opposing managers to use ptchers in the late innings they might not otherwise use.

Why would any left handed hitting outfielder hit worse than Pie? Who are you thinking of?

Meanwhile, if Pie blossoms into that guy we need, then great! Problem solved. But, we are still looking for that, and he needs consistent playing time in center to prove himself.

by Snake Plisskin on May 7, 2008 10:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Anyway, the question had to be asked.

Like I said to Al earlier:

If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be doing my job as an amatuer unpaid Internet blogger.

I don’t think it’s going to happen either, at least not this year.

by Snake Plisskin on May 7, 2008 10:44 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

There is no way...

...Soriano is going anywhere for at least a couple of years. At that time, any trade that happens will mean the Cubs are eating a nice portion of his salary and that would not be a good thing.

This is why, you have to hope he can be moved down in the order, so he can capitalize on his power and lengthen the time he can be an effective player.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on May 8, 2008 10:14 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I heard that the No Trade Clause includes baseball cards too.

so unfortunately we can’t even trade Soriano’s Upper Deck for a common card, like Jerry Hairston Jr’s, not that the reds really have any need anyway.

by dogcatratcheese on May 8, 2008 12:33 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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