John Mabry?

by china423 on Nov 28, 2005 2:28 PM CST

Cubs Acquire John Mabry
The word over at Bernie's Buzz via Viva El Birdos is that the Cubs have signed 35 year-old OF/1B/3B John Mabry to a one-year contract for $1MM. Mabry is coming off a poor season during which he hit .240/.295/.407 in 246 at-bats.

This rumor is not yet confirmed. A million bucks sounds a bit high coming off an off year, although Mabry earned $725,000 in 2005. He was a spectacular role player in 2004, hitting .296/.363/.504 in 87 games. It may be that Mabry was given more playing time than is good for him in '05.

Mabry's versatility would indicate that Jose Macias might be cut from the 40 man roster. Macias made $800,000 in 2005 while playing many positions, none of them well.

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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Read the link...

... it comes from a St. Louis fan forum and one poster says:

Supposedly Mabry signed for $1 Million with the Cubs on Friday. Cardinals offered him $750,000. He is in Chicago today for a physical. Reportedly this came from Mabry himself, was hunting with a friend of my friend over the weekend.

"Hunting with a friend of my friend"? Oh, puh-leeze.

I'll believe this when I hear it from a more credible source.

by Al Yellon on Nov 28, 2005 2:37 PM CST reply actions

Puhleeze tell me..........

...........this is not true. I'm no fan of Jose Macias, but for crying out loud we don't need a guy like John Mabry for our bench.

Frankly, I'd rather have John Mayberry...........

Guys like Mabry - or BETTER - will be available off the scrap heap in a few more weeks. Geez, can't we get a REAL position player signed before we fill our bench?!?!

I've been sold - in part - on these bullpen moves in advance of inking a bona fide position player, but to fill our last bench spot before confirming a starting OF or a regular for the middle infield is beyond comprehension.

And if this mope takes one of the spots on the 40-man roster, what in the world is Hendry thinking?!?!

by tville on Nov 28, 2005 10:57 PM CST up reply actions

But... but...

... you've got to get what's available WHEN it's available.

What, you think Hendry is going to hold a gun to Rafael Furcal's head and say, "Hey, the fans say I have to sign you before I sign a couple of bench players"?

I repeat, as I have often said...

P A T I E N C E

by Al Yellon on Nov 29, 2005 4:15 AM CST up reply actions

I am waiting, Al...............

..........but I don't see the point in securing back ups when you can't actually know what your front line squad is going to look like.

Mabry is below average defensively, no matter where you stick him; zero speed; so his sole purpose can only be as a LH bat. And if he plays like he did last year, he'll be a bust. Looking back, this guy has only hit better than .280 four times in 11 years.

I'm not impressed, and if Hendry has +$1 mil to toss around, then "better than Macias" should be much better than John Mabry.

by tville on Nov 29, 2005 8:28 AM CST up reply actions

But the point is...

... Mabry IS a good hitter, and specifically a good pinch-hitter. Yes, he had a bad year in 2004 -- but he was pretty good in 2003.

$1 million to "toss around"? In today's market that isn't all that much money, frankly.

He can play LF passably, and also play 1B, which could give Derrek Lee a break from time to time. The Cubs had no one to do that last year.

I think we all agree that the Cubs bench sucked in 2005. Improving the bench is one thing Hendry needs to do. Signing Mabry, while not a major move, isn't a bad one, either.

by Al Yellon on Nov 29, 2005 9:09 AM CST up reply actions

Okay, Al.................

...........but let's agree to review the players likely available in the $750K to $1.5 mil range after the first of the year.

I contend we will be able to find a better player than John Mabry in this price range PLUS we will have a better understanding of the Cubs' starting line up.

A "better player", especially in this range, will be rather subjective, I suspect, so perhaps it can be the basis for the first poll question of 2006.

by tville on Nov 29, 2005 1:39 PM CST up reply actions

Sure....

... we can do that.

But if Mabry takes over the JFM spot on the roster, I contend it'll be worth doing.

by Al Yellon on Nov 29, 2005 1:50 PM CST up reply actions

Nope..........

..........because if there is someone better than Mabry, that clearly means there is someone better than JFM.

by tville on Nov 29, 2005 2:12 PM CST up reply actions

Maybe...

... but who would it be? Name some names.

by Al Yellon on Nov 29, 2005 2:21 PM CST up reply actions

Better then Macias

Me. You probably. My mailman.

by DTJchris on Nov 29, 2005 2:28 PM CST up reply actions

LOL!

I meant among available MLB players who would be useful bench players, and wouldn't cost too much money.

Mabry qualifies. Who else?

by Al Yellon on Nov 29, 2005 2:29 PM CST up reply actions

But do these players..........

........have to be LH hitters? With Neifi and Walker on the bench (presumably), would another LH stick be necessary? Cubs could go with a RH bat based on the bench as we know it today.

(This kinda gets back to my point about getting a better feel for a starting line up before working the bench, but I'll let it go.........).

by tville on Nov 29, 2005 2:41 PM CST up reply actions

No...

... it doesn't HAVE to be a LH hitter. But, considering the vast majority of hitters in the majors are right-handed, having a top-notch LH pinch-hitter (which Mabry is), would help in forcing other managers to go through their bullpens.

I still don't see why you can't solidify your bench first, considering it was a problem last year; just as the Cubs have shored up their problem bullpen with the Eyre and Howry signings.

by Al Yellon on Nov 29, 2005 2:56 PM CST up reply actions

I moved over, Al............

..........to provide more space.

It's seems bassackwards to me to define the "support group" when you can't know the strengths/weaknesses of your front line guys.

Hendry knows he'll have Prior/Z/Maddux/Rusch/Williams available as starters (to say nothing of Wood), so shoring up the pen AFTER setting the rotation is fairly reasonable. The position players present a very different scenario.

Now to the players.................

I suspect Miguel Cairo, Wes Helms, Joe McEwing, Edwardo Perez and Jose Vizcaino could be prided on par with John Mabry. The LH issue aside, I'm partial to these guys for various reasons. And if we are looking more for a guy to spell DLee, then I'd add Travis Lee to the list. Scott Hatteberg might also fit if he'd accept a bit of a pay cut.

On the outside are guys like Rich Aurilia, Joe Randa and Kevin Millar who might consider taking less to play a role on a winner.

And if Hendry had moved the bench up on his priority list, it would have made sense to sign Geoff Blum, Marlon Anderson or even Jeff Cirillo before they were snagged by other teams.

by tville on Nov 29, 2005 3:33 PM CST up reply actions

OK, you named names...

... I don't see a single name on that list that is demonstrably better than John Mabry.

Look, Mabry's not a great player -- he is a role player. So are all the rest of those guys (and I can't believe you'd really rather have Travis Lee or Wes Helms).

This move isn't a fabulous move, but rather, as I saw one thread titled over at cubs.com's message board, a "smart move", made rather than a "sexy move" (and no, that's not in reference to the new blog ad!).

The White Sox made a "sexy move" trading for Thome. Oh, how the MSM lauded Kenny Williams for that. But Jim Hendry shored up the Cub bullpen, and if he signs Mabry, that shores up a pitiful bench.

If the NEXT move is signing Furcal, I'd say the Cubs have had a successful offseason to date, and it's not nearly over yet.

by Al Yellon on Nov 29, 2005 3:58 PM CST up reply actions

I've always thought...........

.........Travis Lee was going to be the next Will Clark, and perhaps I can't let go.

I believe Joe McEwing is a appreciable upgrade from Mabry. He'll cost less, can deliver some defense and at more positions. His power would be substandard, but he puts the ball in play and hustles like hell.

Eduardo Perez is the same player defensively and on the base paths as Mabry, but I think he has more pop.

Both guys are RH, which makes Hatteberg a more interesting target. 1B only, which does paint the bench into a corner, but a good clubhouse guy who's has more career walks than Ks. Quite a change on the Cubs roster.

by tville on Nov 29, 2005 9:35 PM CST up reply actions

Actually, Al...........

..........Joe McEwing's offensive numbers are pretty pathetic. I still like his energy and versatility, but his bat is weak.

I'm not caving on Travis Lee, however.........

by tville on Nov 30, 2005 9:03 PM CST up reply actions

lousy comparison

why? Because Mabry offers versatility of playing all the corners. Lee can only man 1B. Mabry is more valuable to the Cubs.

by socalbob on Nov 30, 2005 10:19 PM CST up reply actions

Please check..............

...........my previous post.

by tville on Nov 30, 2005 11:20 PM CST up reply actions

I did

and I said it's a lousy comparison. If Lee could play 1B, 3B, LF, and RF then you would have a position to argue from. To argue Mabry or anyone else is not a good fit and then throw Travis Lee (only plays 1B) as your player is not a strong argumentative position.

by socalbob on Dec 1, 2005 12:46 PM CST up reply actions

The comment was made...............

.........IN JEST!!!!!!!!

by tville on Dec 1, 2005 2:06 PM CST up reply actions

mabry vs macias

i doubt its true, but I would take mabry over macias.

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 28, 2005 2:48 PM CST reply actions

I'd take...

... anyone posting on BCB over Macias.

by Al Yellon on Nov 28, 2005 3:05 PM CST up reply actions

I swear

Al, if I make the team I'll lean into inside pitches even if the bases are empty.

by helen on Nov 28, 2005 6:20 PM CST up reply actions

OK!

You're hired!

by Al Yellon on Nov 28, 2005 7:23 PM CST up reply actions

Wagner signed with the mets

for 4 years/ 43 million, with a fifth year option.

Billy should be sending a thank you letter to BJ.

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

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 28, 2005 3:22 PM CST reply actions

wow

would have loved to see Billy Wagner in a cubs uni, but definitely not at that price. It's been said before, but maybe Jim Hendry knew what he was doing when he wrapped up Dempster right away.

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 28, 2005 3:56 PM CST up reply actions

Wow again...

Thank goodness we have Dempster otherwise we would have never been able to get anything but a closer in this market.

If Billy really signs with the Mets, I will have one free agent prediction right. I feel so dumb now that I picked Ryan to go to the Braves. If he was asking for the much money that never would've happened. Did anybody predict Ryan going to the Blue Jays in the BCB contest?

sPaRkLe Hendry sPaRkLe!

by sparkles721 on Nov 28, 2005 4:59 PM CST up reply actions

Here is the link

this means we have Dempster, Eyre, and Howry, all for the price of one of these guys(Wagner or Ryan)

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

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 28, 2005 3:34 PM CST reply actions

HAH

"Mabry's versatility would indicate that Jose Macias might be cut from the 40 man roster. Macias made $800,000 in 2005 while playing many positions, none of them well."

HAH! It's funny because it's true.

2006 -- AC036097 -- Eamus Catuli!

by priorpwnz on Nov 28, 2005 3:41 PM CST reply actions

By the way what is wrong with that

mlbtraderumors site. According to them Juan Pierre should have been a cub on nov. 23rd and now this Mabry B.S. pulled off of a cardinals forum.

Maybe they will use my comment as a rumor.

Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz acquired in Blockbuster trade for Jose Macias and Corey Patterson.

Red Sox agree to pay majority of Ortiz and Ramirez's salaries, Manny drops 30 lbs.and converts to a CF, and Ortiz trims down and plays Right Field.

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

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 28, 2005 4:02 PM CST reply actions

LOL!

sPaRkLe Hendry sPaRkLe!

by sparkles721 on Nov 28, 2005 4:36 PM CST up reply actions

Sweet!

The ultimate bench players!!

2006 -- AC036097 -- Eamus Catuli!

by priorpwnz on Nov 28, 2005 4:48 PM CST reply actions

I like Mabry...

I think he is definitely better than Macias.

I had no idea Mabry was 35! I thought he was in his late 20's early thirties.

sPaRkLe Hendry sPaRkLe!

by sparkles721 on Nov 28, 2005 5:01 PM CST reply actions

No qualms here...

cut away as far as Mr. Macias is concerned. And I definitely love the above mentioned ideas C pat and Macias for Manny and Papi. What GM (or lack therof) wouldn't jump at a steal like that! I did hear something (actually I just missed it)on ESPN about Furcal right before they announced Mabry's signing...anyone know of any updates on Furcal?

Always Hopeful on the North Side...

by Kinky Reggae on Nov 28, 2005 6:11 PM CST reply actions