Cubs Considering Manny?

"Soriano has a great arm, doesn't he? Why can't he be moved to right, allowing the team to bring in Manny or a left-handed hitting left fielder like Ibanez/Dunn?"

That would give the Cubs one of the worst defensive OFs in baseball.

Soriano's barely passable in LF, let alone in one of the most difficult RF's in the majors. That's an idea that will haunt my dreams tonight.

The idea of Manny is good, but why would the Dodgers want Soriano? If they're going to pay a similar amount of money, why not get a guy they're already familiar with (Manny) and have had success with?

Everyone knew that the Soriano contract would look terrible down the road when he signed it. Everyone. So, now that it looks bad, why are we surprised? Yes, it's uglier than it should be this soon but that happens.

The only way I see this getting done is if (and these are colossal 'ifs') the Cubs could somehow sign Manny and Furcal. If that happens, then the Cubs could possibly trade Theriot and Soriano to LAD to fill their open positions. I'm not sure what would come from LAD but that's not the point.

Even if all this happens, are the Cubs better off? Let's say Manny gets 5/$100M and Furcal gets 4/$60M. Is that better than 6/$106 for Soriano and arbitration numbers for Theriot? I don't know the answer, just throwing that out there.

The only positive from this scenario is that the Cubs would actually have a legitimate lead-off hitter.

This doesnt make any sense at all for Dodgers. Let Manny walk then trade for Soriano?

Cubs are stuck with Soriano and I dont see a problem with it, he's producing

The cubs already have enough bad contracts why would they be dumb enough to get involved in another one. Manny Ramirez is not going to be Manny Ramirez 6 years from now much less 4 years from now.

What about Soriano to the Mets. They have a need in LF for a big right handed bat. I could definitely see the Mets interested if they didn't have to give up much and take on that contract.

Ok, this is just not going to happen for a couple reasons. #1 Jim Hendry is NOT STUPID: He has a guy at 3rd base that produces big time, and a guy at left field that had the best offensive production on a team that was the best offensive team in the national league, and considering that that guy in left field was out on the DL for part of the season. #2 The Cubs would be losing A LOT. Everyone seems to forget all the strugglest that the Cubs went through to find a 3rd baseman. It had been a joke that the Cubs had not had a REAL 3rd baseman since Ronny played way back in the day. So now we're going to trade that one that we STOLE?! Nope, not going to happen. #3 We would be downgrading: Yea, Manny is going to bring decent numbers to this club, probably better than either Ramirez or Soriano, but thats two big bats your are losing on a team that needs just one big bat to be complete. Yes I know that is the the TYPE of big bat that they need (#3 hitter) but they would still have that vacant #4/5 hitter big bat that they would still have to fill in right field or 3rd base. #4 LOOK AT THE GUY YOU ARE GETTING!!!: This is Manny Ramirez!!! This is one of the guys most disliked in all of sports by the media and teams. How many years have we heard the term phrased "Manny is just being Manny" after he decides to withdraw his trade request out of the Red Sox organization. He had the chance this year to make big bucks by opting out of his contract so that he could make big bucks in the free agency. I mean, look at what hes done even since he got to the Dodgers. He's 'changed' his attitude (hmm contract year?????), he got in a feud "for show" as he put it in the NLCS, and he didn't even gracefully talk about the time with the Dodgers and the usual answer that a pending free agent gives. He said he wanted to see "the highest bidder". That's all that matters to this man. He's going to be under investigation for just that reason with the whole trade out of Boston then the apparent renewal in attitude. Who are these morons that are accepting this change from Manny? I know that I'm not that easily fooled. He's 37 years old, and he's going to be holding a contract BIGGER THAN SORIANO. Soriano is still a steal considering the kind of player he could be when fully healthy and the amount of money he would get THIS year if he had his contract year come up. If Manny would be the player to finish the puzzle, is this the kind of way that we want to win this thing? Do we want to do it with a guy that's focused on playing for the highest bidder? Or do we want a couple guys that committed to playing in Chicago a couple years ago, Soriano in an offseason where the Cubs lost over 90 games and Ramirez in what could have been a big bucks free agent contract year. No, they decided to come/stay in Chicago. Let's do this thing the right way fokes. Let Manny be Manny somewhere else.

Also, I know that this is all speculation and not even a real rumor, so don't think you need to make a follow up post of that nature.

Just because Phil Rogers speculated that the Cubs may be better off with Manny doesn't mean the Cubs are considering Manny. That's a very misleading headline.

Jaggie,

The Cubs couldn't get Cano or Kennedy for Soriano, especially with the Yankees picking up the whole contract. The Cubs would have to pick up the whole thing to get either of those guys, and just one of those guys.

The only way the Dodgers take on that horrible contract from the Cubs is if they take both Jones and Pierre's contracts off their hands. I don't think the Cubs would want to do that including taking on Manny's contract.

Soriano at 2nd is a joke. He is a terrible fielder there, I remember Cubs pitchers going nuts this year because of errors behind them. The Cubs would have one of the worst defensive teams in history with that lineup.

Reds would for sure want Soriano if he was available.

I posted a comment about a week ago detailing how I thought this might happen. Everyone sings the praises of the offensive production of Soriano but I would trade it in a second for the POST SEASON production of Manny. Soriano is abysmal in october and his defensive skills are sub par. We should trade him and Marquis and a decent prospect for Manny and Pierre, ship Pierre to Cincy for a prospect and stick Manny in left and pursue a RF while Fukudome serves a stint in the minors to work out his offensive woes. You get rid of 2 bad contracts in Soriano and Marquis, take 2 on and immediately dump one on Dusty whom I'm assuming would love to have Pierre in CF. As much as we might miss Sorianos 30 HR we take away the need to convince him to hit in a spot other than lead off and facilitate a change that could allow the cubs to produce even more runs. I hope Hendry at least makes some sort of run at Manny. Best case scenario, Mark Cuban buys the team and gets himself an early christmas present..

I'm so confused by these posts.

@ div ide - how in the world can the Cubs trade Soriano, Marquis and prospect for Manny and Pierre? Manny isn't signed by the Dodgers. He can't be traded. Further, the Dodgers don't want to add payroll. No way they take on Soriano and Marquis. Marquis does NOTHING for them but suck $10m in payroll.

Next, you won't be able to flip Pierre to the Reds for a prospect. Pierre has NEGATIVE trade value. You will either pay his way to Cincy OR you will be throwing in more prospects just to move the guy.

uww1: If Abreu made $16M last year, he's not going to sign for 3/$36M with the Cubs. His salary will at least stay the same, if not increase.

I understand everyone's comments about Soriano's postseason production, but you have to realize who you're talking about here. He is a very streaky hitter. He went into the postseason on a cold streak and stayed there. If he had been hot going in, who knows?

In the bigger picture, the postseason is a crapshoot for everyone. The Cubs do not have to rebuild this team. A few additions or changes and they will be favorites to win the Central again. When they do, maybe they'll get hot in October for a change. If you don't make it there, you have no chance.

I was wrong Abreu was 34 years old. opps thats a big difference from 36. But do you still think he is going to want $16 mil?

If the Yankees are hot to trade Cano (although I don't know why they would), Soriano could slot back in at 2b in a separate trade.
If he doesn't work out at second in '09, he can move into left after Damon's contract ends.

"Put Pie in center and let him play his way into or out of the line up once and for all.The Cubs carried Sandberg when he first came up at 3rd base and he was hitting about .085 his first few months.We gave up on this kid too soon."

I was and still kind of am a fan of Pie. He is about at that point where he is either going to make it, or be tagged another 'AAAA' player. The Sandberg situation was way different though. When he came over from the Phillies and started playing for the Cubs in '82, the club expectations were way low. They could afford to let Ryne go through growing pains. This current Cub team is expected to contend now. They really can't afford to carry a weak hitting Pie, if he continues to struggle. Especially since Fukudome needs to redo his swing and approach. I agree that decision has to be made next year once and for all. I am routing for Pie to make it.

Correct me if I'm wrong but Pinella isn't a fan of Pie, I thought I read that several months back. I thought it was the main reason to pick up guys like Johnson and Edmonds. Point being he probably won't get his shot.

do most of you see what you are typing?? This was a 97 win team that played bad at the wrong time. Do you think the Rays should move Crawford, Kazmir, Pena, and Upton if they dont win tonight? I mean the Rays are on the verge of blowing a 3-1 series lead. Teams can hit a cold streak at the wrong time but you dont vlow the whole thing up. I stick with my opinion that the Cubs will make only minor moves.

Fontenot will get more playing time. Fukudome will have a better year now that he knows what it takes to play a full year in MLB and the players are better here than in Japan. So I see the Cubs picking up a Rocco Baldelli and Ken Griffey Jr. That are the only moves I see Hendry making and I am happy if those are the only moves.

put me in the camp that says phil rogers doesn't have much to write about so he's speculating, just like the rest of us. i don't see it happening. not at all. i didn't read every comment in this thread, so i don't know what ideas were thrown out there, but it's been discussed elsewhere that the cubs DO NOT have an open checkbook like past off-seasons. just seems like a lot of work to acquire one player. he's a fantastic hitter, but i put a lot of stock into the idea of manny playing hard in a contract push. i can see manny getting his money and pulling his usual crap. it's just too much effort of getting soriano and ramirez to waive their NTC's for manny ramirez. it's not worth the effort. this team is hendry's creation, him and lou know they need left handed hitting. trading two of your most expensive but most productive players for one headcase? hendry's not going to tear down a 97 win team that got cold at the wrong time to get manny ramirez. i just don't see it.

"GMJ/Nick Adenhart for Soriano."

As an Angel fan I would make that trade in a heartbeat so its a little biased in favor of the Angels. Here's the even trade:

Angels Get:
Soriano

Cubs Get:
GMJ
Adenhart
S. Rodriguez OR Matt Brown

That's more even and might get Hendry thinking. What do you guys think?

We are all crazy for still trying to figure this thing out, but let me play Cubs' GM for a day, I think I can win the whole thing. First line of business would be to go get Peavy for Pie, Samardzija, and another prospect. Then I would definatly go get Brian Roberts and George Sherill from the Orioles by trading Derek Lee and Mark Derosa in a three way deal with San Francisco or any other team interested. That team could be the Angels. I have to involve them so I give them what they want in Aramis Ramirez and if I can include Soriano I would and get in return Chone Figgons and some prospects that we might need for the other above mentioned deals. I would then make sure I sign Mark Texieria and Rafael Furcal. If I could get Soriano off to the Angels or anywhere else, I'll throw the money at Manny. To complete my team I would move Fukudome to center and put left handed, power hittng Micah Hoffpauir in right.

All that being said, my 2009 opening day line up would be:

2B Brian Roberts
3B Chone Figgons
LF Manny Ramirez
1B Mark Texieria
RF Micah Hoffpauir
C Geo Soto
CF Kouske Fukudome
SS Rafael Furcal

The rotation could start off like this:
Jake Peavy, Rich Harden, Carlos Zambrano.

Bull pen would feature:
Carlos Marmol, George Sherill,
Kerry Wood, Chad Gaudin.

The bench would include:
Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot, Reed Johnson, Koyie Hill.

Give me the job and I'll complete the team.

If no one noticed the whole infield is made up of switch hitters. In one night we can have 7 lefties against a right hander(Zambrano)and when they make the call to the pen this line up would just turn around on them. Also, this is a perfect balance of speed, average, and power. In my sick, little baseball fantasy world this would be the best world series money can buy.

Ultimately it would be Ramirez and Soriano for Figgons, Texieria, and prospects. Anything to get the lineup I posted earlier. By the way you can have those pretty boy baseball players. Those guys are always out partying. I'm looking for grinders and gamers that put their career first.