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Around SBN: The Most Dangerous Division in Sports

Speculation on an Unlikely Trade: Soriano to the Angels?

Let me say up front that this is based on nothing but my speculation and imagination. No  "Deep Goat"-type inside information was used in the creation of this post. But everybody else likes to write up their wild trade speculations, and it's a slow day.

That said, I think the Cubs and Angels could work out a trade with Alfonso Soriano as the centerpiece of the deal. Here's my proposal:

To the Angels

Soriano and cash (36M)

To the Cubs

Juan Rivera

The logic behind the trade for the Angels:

  • The Angels' owner, Arte Moreno, has been successful in acquiring Latin American and DR players and marketing them to the Hispanic community in Southern California.
  • They were willing to spend money, but came up short in the Crawford and Werth sweepstakes.
  • They have a hole in LF. The Angels' internal options: Reggie Willits, Peter Bourjos, and Rivera are not inspiring as full-time players
  • They have just lost Hideki Matsui to the A's, so the DH position is open. Bobby Abreu is a below average fielder and his knees aren't getting any younger, so he will fill that role for a portion of the season.
  • While Soriano is not as big a splash as Crawford, Werth or any of the other FA's, he comes in at 9M-10M a year with the Cubs eating about half of his salary.
  • Torii Hunter, even at 34, can make up for a lot of Soriano's fielding issues.

The logic behind the trade for the Cubs:

  • Soriano is a sunk cost - paying half of his salary frees up the outfield for a Colvin/Byrd/Fukudome/Rivera combination.
  • Rivera is signed at 5.25M at a FA after 2011 and can play the corner outfield and 1b (although he is very average).
  • He would be a suitable platoon partner for Fukudome and could fill in at 1b for Pena on occasion.
  • As a impending FA, he might be good deadline trade bait if the Cubs are out of contention (or when the Cubs are out of contention, for you glass half empty folks).

Why Soriano would waive his no-trade.

  • It's a total assumption, but I am guessing Soriano would prefer to play in the warm-weather climate of Southern California.
  • He would not be a full-time DH, but would have the chance to rest his body as he gets older.
  • The Angels are perennial contenders.
  • The Angels might be more inclined to let him bat leadoff.

Conclusion

Soriano gets a fresh start, the Angels get a power bat at a discount, the Cubs get a needed part who fits into the roster. Yes, it is expensive to move him, but that is life - cheaper to pay half his salary and bid him adieu than to pay 19M for league-average production. It would be nice to get something else back from the Angels (how about soon-to-be-has-been-prospect Brandon Wood?), but is unlikely.

So there you go. Rip away, point out my errors, explain why I am wrong, or ignore. But above all, have a nice day.

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.

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I think that Soriano needs to go to AL

If he was smart, he would waive his NTC if he could go to a place like LA.

by jerry morales rules on Dec 14, 2010 2:10 PM CST reply actions  

Bourjos is such a stud

that Hunter moved to right field. Still, he could cover ground in left center than Soriano couldn’t

by Adam U on Dec 14, 2010 2:27 PM CST reply actions  

That infield tarp is kind of expensive

I would do it for a 24 pack of MGD.

Come on Lisa, I'm trying to impress people here. You don't win friends with salad. ~ Homer J. Simpson

by TheBeerBaron on Dec 14, 2010 7:43 PM CST up reply actions  

are you getting or sending the MGD?

Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot

by Cubbie-Tim on Dec 14, 2010 7:52 PM CST up reply actions  

MGD 64?

Or the regular kind?

Late in the season, in the midst of an inning and it’s just past the top of the hour so Pat mentions that we’re due for a station break. Ron kinda mumbles "Didn’t we just have one of those?" and without missing a beat Pat says "About an hour ago."

by Champaign Cubbies on Dec 14, 2010 10:03 PM CST up reply actions  

TJ I laughed real f-ing hard at that.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Dec 14, 2010 10:17 PM CST up reply actions  

I think that the problem is less Soriano's cost -

…and more that he’s not really good enough to start for a contender, especially not at a corner OF spot.

MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown

by D98 on Dec 14, 2010 2:57 PM CST reply actions  

Right, but he could DH most of the time.

Come on Lisa, I'm trying to impress people here. You don't win friends with salad. ~ Homer J. Simpson

by TheBeerBaron on Dec 14, 2010 7:43 PM CST up reply actions  

Maybe

How would Soriano do if he didnt’ have any defensive responsibilities? My guess is that he’d have a nice improvement. If you can get a .275 hitter with 35 HRs out of him, that would be great.

by jerry morales rules on Dec 15, 2010 9:48 AM CST up reply actions  

They throw a lot of sliders in the NL too

IMO, the pitching is better in the NL than it is in the AL. Especially if Soriano plays in the AL West. He would be playing on the team in the West that HAS the best pitching in that division.

Come on Lisa, I'm trying to impress people here. You don't win friends with salad. ~ Homer J. Simpson

by TheBeerBaron on Dec 16, 2010 9:37 AM CST up reply actions  

Well, I've often heard Soriano compared to Vlad Guerrero...

…and the Angels lived with him as a DH.

Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!

by daver on Dec 15, 2010 11:23 AM CST up reply actions  

Ummmm....Guerrero is a LOT better than Soriano

For starters, while he will swing at anything too, he puts the bat on the ball a lot more and hits it harder when he does.

by ClarkFan on Dec 17, 2010 8:19 PM CST up reply actions  

Just a comparison I've heard/read a few times.

Obviously, they’re not the same player.

Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!

by daver on Dec 20, 2010 9:57 AM CST up reply actions  

How did that comparison work?

“While they are both free swingers, Alfonso Soriano is no Vladimir Guerrero when it comes to actually hitting the ball.”

MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown

by D98 on Dec 17, 2010 8:51 PM CST up reply actions  

Similiar body types...

…both had speed earlier in their careers, free swingers (as mentioned), capacity to hit for power. Again, not my comparison, just one I’ve seen used.

Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!

by daver on Dec 20, 2010 10:12 AM CST up reply actions  

Burrell won a WS ring last year.

"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman

by BucknerKongCardenal on Dec 15, 2010 9:50 PM CST up reply actions  

I'm not holding my breath for an .872 OPS out of Soriano.

I suppose it’s possible, but I don’t think that it’s likely. Both the OBP and the SLG seem to be in modest decline.

MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown

by D98 on Dec 16, 2010 9:21 AM CST up reply actions  

You guys act like Soriano is a worthless player
he’s not really good enough to start for a contender, especially not at a corner OF spot.

The following contenders had worse starting corner outfielders than Soriano last year (by WAR):
White Sox (Piere)
Twins (Young)
Angels (Abreu)
Braves (Cabrera)
Reds (Gomes)

That’s half of the playoff teams right there, plus the White Sox who were in it into September.

Soriano is not worth his salary, but he’s still a pretty solid major league player.

by Wreckard on Dec 16, 2010 10:48 AM CST up reply actions  

I really don't understand....

The point of these posts. No one wants our overpaid, underperforming duds. No one is gonna magicly help us out. Why some feel like we can get anything for our lineup full of nothings is beyond me.

by cubsluver22 on Dec 14, 2010 5:50 PM CST reply actions  

because idiotic trades happen all the time

Why isn’t at least worthy of discussion that the Angels—a team that missed out on everyone they were after—wouldn’t at minimum entertain something like this if the Cubs paid a large portion of his salary?

Even if the Cubs pay 60-70%, it might be worth it.

Come on Lisa, I'm trying to impress people here. You don't win friends with salad. ~ Homer J. Simpson

by TheBeerBaron on Dec 14, 2010 7:45 PM CST up reply actions  

Because this wouldn't even qaulify...

As an idiotic trade. It would be somewhere below that. Were the laughing stock of baseball and continue to embarass ourselves one signing after another.

by cubsluver22 on Dec 14, 2010 8:06 PM CST up reply actions  

The Cubs are the laughing stock of baseball?

Doesn’t that distinction belong to the Mets amongst the “real” teams?

Aside from that, the clear “laughing stock” is the Pirates.

Come on Lisa, I'm trying to impress people here. You don't win friends with salad. ~ Homer J. Simpson

by TheBeerBaron on Dec 14, 2010 9:01 PM CST up reply actions  

In that case...

…the Angels would probably be better off trading for Ryan Doumit or Garrett Jones.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Dec 14, 2010 9:59 PM CST up reply actions  

umm no....

 They have won a WS in the last 100 Years!

by cubsluver22 on Dec 14, 2010 10:01 PM CST up reply actions  

make that at least three ('60, '71 and '79)

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Dec 14, 2010 10:14 PM CST up reply actions  

They sure do.

And I am sure that all of their fans (especially younger ones) are celebrating those championships of the previous generation while they bask in the glory of 19 consecutive losing seasons.

Come on Lisa, I'm trying to impress people here. You don't win friends with salad. ~ Homer J. Simpson

by TheBeerBaron on Dec 16, 2010 9:39 AM CST up reply actions  

Well, here's one person's thoughts on a good reason for Soriano's "embarassing" contract...
we all moan and groan about winning. why does alot of people in here keep talking about the future of players and what their gonna do later. if they can bring us talent now trade them. we haved lived in the future for 98 years. it only takes one year to win the big one. just like soriano who cares what he will be like 8 years from now. if he helps us to the big one 1 time he’s worth paying all 8 years.

by cubsluver22 on Dec 2, 2006 9:45 AM CST reply actions

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2006/12/1/175639/303#1920159

I think I speak for everyone here when I say, "Wait, what the hell are you talking about?"

by Ross on Dec 14, 2010 11:12 PM CST up reply actions  

Your point???

 Soriano will bring nothing back in a trade. I’m sure the Giants would love to trade us Barry Zito for Andrew Cashner. I’m sure the Blue Jays would love to trade us Vernon Wells for Jackson. See how ridiculous this post is? Were stuck with Soriano plain and simple.

by cubsluver22 on Dec 15, 2010 9:00 AM CST up reply actions  

In this case...

…it’s not about getting something back. It’s about freeing up payroll.

Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!

by daver on Dec 15, 2010 11:41 AM CST up reply actions  

Riiiiight....

…and this trade would be a way to, at least in part, undo one of those awful signings.

Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!

by daver on Dec 15, 2010 11:40 AM CST up reply actions  

Scioscia

Not a chance in the world that a top flight manager like Scioscia would put up with Soriano’s “style” of playing. Certainly word has reached Anaheim of Soriano standing at home plate admiring off the wall doubles that he can turn into singles. Scioscia’s teams hustle and play the game the right way. Soriano would have to relearn how to play the game.

by PalatineRol on Dec 14, 2010 8:47 PM CST reply actions  

maybe you should of put "playing" in quotations

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Dec 14, 2010 9:14 PM CST up reply actions   1 recs

Rec'd

Come on Lisa, I'm trying to impress people here. You don't win friends with salad. ~ Homer J. Simpson

by TheBeerBaron on Dec 16, 2010 9:40 AM CST up reply actions  

Not that it really matters

but the one player I would like to pry away from the Angels would be Maicer Izturis. He would be perfect for filling our 2B/leadoff void.

by Bradsbeard on Dec 14, 2010 9:32 PM CST reply actions  

He gets hurt a lot

For a little guy, he has far too many back issues. I like him a lot, but he’s unfortunately not full time material.

"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008

by BeerCub on Dec 15, 2010 10:44 AM CST up reply actions  

He did have an injury plagued year

but we have a lot of options for 2B so he wouldn’t necessarily have to start every day. He would also be a great utility guy.

by Bradsbeard on Dec 15, 2010 12:29 PM CST up reply actions  

Can I just say right off the bat....

…that I really like the way you structured this Fanpost. I’ve often thought about creating a “trade scenario template” that people could fill out when proposing trades, and you’ve come pretty close to creating it for me with his post. So kudos to you. Seriously.

About the trade itself, I think you make a pretty decent case. So the idea is to put Rivera on the bench for a season then let him walk as a FA while the Cubs would pick up $9 million of Soriano’s contract over the next four years, correct? That’s still a lot of money to pay for nothing, but it would free up a substantial amount of dollars.

I agree this is unlikely to happen, but it would be a pretty creative, blockbuster trade if ownership would approve.

Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!

by daver on Dec 15, 2010 11:39 AM CST reply actions  

Thanks for the kind words...

I think I speak for everyone here when I say, "Wait, what the hell are you talking about?"

by Ross on Dec 15, 2010 2:09 PM CST up reply actions  

I have a similar feeling about this to dat cubfan

but I don’t even see it as “paying for nothing”. It’s basically the choice to either pay $18M for Soriano to take up a roster spot that the Cubs will likely have no room for as soon as 2012 with Soriano’s declining speed and lack of defensive skill or pay only $9M and have him off the roster so Brett Jackson—amongst others—can start everyday.

If the Cubs could move Soriano and only eat half of his money, I honestly think it’s a move worth considering.

Come on Lisa, I'm trying to impress people here. You don't win friends with salad. ~ Homer J. Simpson

by TheBeerBaron on Dec 16, 2010 9:45 AM CST up reply actions  

That said

I also doubt the Angels would want to take on that burden. Everyone knows that Soriano is no longer the player he was in 2006…or even 2008.

If he were a free-agent, he would probably be looking at a 2-3YR deal worth about $10M per…..and that’s adjusting for the lack of quality left on the market now.

Come on Lisa, I'm trying to impress people here. You don't win friends with salad. ~ Homer J. Simpson

by TheBeerBaron on Dec 16, 2010 9:47 AM CST up reply actions  

That's the problem, isn't it?

Actually, I think that even in the 2010-2011 FA market, that Soriano would be one of the guys surviving on 1-year deals.

by ClarkFan on Dec 17, 2010 8:24 PM CST up reply actions  

No prob.

As is my wont, I’d suggest maybe posting this over at the Angels SB Nation blog and seeing what kind of reaction you get.

Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!

by daver on Dec 16, 2010 10:28 AM CST up reply actions  

I don't think its so outrageous

as some people think. Some of the contracts going out this winter don’t look so great. If Sori were on the market right now, I’d think 4/40 wouldn’t be unreasonable, so I think your 36 mil may even be a tad high.

I’m not a fan of eating $, especially so much for so long. But what if we overpaid in talent to get them to take more salary? I had thought Boston may take him (before they signed Crawford) if we included Sean Marshall. I think the biggest obstacle is the NTC.

by SouthWabashSoul on Dec 15, 2010 2:32 PM CST reply actions  

I would rather give Soriano a 2yr extension...

than even consider trading Marshall. IMO, at only 27 yrs old and cost-controlled, Marshall should be considered a top asset on this team and nearly untouchable.

by thebluecrew1908 on Dec 16, 2010 9:32 PM CST up reply actions  

I've always been a Sean Marshall fan and remain one...

…but I’m not sure that any relief pitcher should be considered “untouchable.”

Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!

by daver on Dec 17, 2010 9:29 AM CST up reply actions  

Thanks

That’s the thought I couldn’t seem to get out of my head and onto the computer

by thebluecrew1908 on Dec 17, 2010 9:19 PM CST up reply actions  

Why not if it frees up money to improve the roster?

Unloading Soriano would free up a lot of money that could be used to get guys who will be more valuable than Marshall.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Dec 18, 2010 9:06 AM CST up reply actions  

Not sure

If it’s just a personal thing (maybe I really overrate Marshall), but I feel like upgrading at another position at the expense of what could be a long term reliable arm for us is not all together a gain. Besides, defense included, Soriano was still +1.5 WAR, with a .260/.322/.818 and 24 HRs. While that is no where near good enough for his salary, I don’t see Soriano as such a huge problem thta I would be willing to dump Marshall just to cut him loose.

by thebluecrew1908 on Dec 18, 2010 12:35 PM CST up reply actions  

Unloading Soriano's contract

would give the Cubs an opportunity to upgrade at least a few spots. Losing Marshall would be a relatively small price to pay.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Dec 19, 2010 9:42 AM CST up reply actions  

I will agree

to disagree. I just feel lefties are already a premium on ths team, especially effective lefties. A young effective lefty arm is an asset to this team, IMO

by thebluecrew1908 on Dec 19, 2010 11:17 AM CST up reply actions  

I realize you are exaggerating

but I would rather live in Alabama than pay Soriano any more money.

Come on Lisa, I'm trying to impress people here. You don't win friends with salad. ~ Homer J. Simpson

by TheBeerBaron on Dec 17, 2010 9:50 AM CST up reply actions  

Yeah I was exaggerating

I would definitely NOT want Soriano extended, believe me on that. As far as untouchable goes, that may have been a bit much. I was just trying to make the point that I am not sure I would be willing to trade Marshall, even if it meant clearing Soriano from our books. I feel that Marshall has been extremely valuable since he has come up. As he is not a typical “power pitcher”, and at only 27yrs old, I am quite optimistic about his future following a very good 2010 season.

by thebluecrew1908 on Dec 17, 2010 6:48 PM CST up reply actions  

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