Cubs GM Jed Hoyer appeared on "The Carmen, Jurko & Harry Show" on ESPN 1000 today to discuss a number of topics, and ESPN Chicago provided a transcript of the hot stove related items. Unsurprisingly, Hoyer acknowledged that the team is unlikely to trade Alfonso Soriano before the season…
"I think that's unlikely [that Soriano will start the season with another team]," said the GM. "We don't want to do anything to hurt our pitchers (with his defense), but we do believe there's something left in Sori."
As many as eight clubs inquired about Soriano earlier this offseason (including the Orioles), and chairman Tom Ricketts has made it clear that they're willing to eat most of $54MM left on his contract to facilitate a trade. The 36-year-old outfielder hit .244/.289/.469 with 26 homers last season.
Hoyer also spoke briefly about Matt Garza, specifically the team's interest in keeping him around beyond his final two years of team control…
"It was a long (arbitration) process, but we talked to Matt a number of times since and we're happy we didn't have to go into a hearing room with him," Hoyer said. "He's a great pitcher and a guy we're going to talk to him about being part of our future, for sure. We need more guys like Matt, not less, and if we can work something out we'll certainly have those discussions."
The Cubs and Garza avoided arbitration with a one-year deal worth $9.5MM last week, though he's been a popular name on the trade rumor circuit this winter. He won't become a free agent until after the 2013 season, and the Cubbies can certainly afford to keep him around long-term. There's no urgency to trade him or extend him right at this moment, though.
Who is this Hoyer guy and why is he saying he’s the Cubs GM?
I laughed.
That was my first thought! Did Epstein allow him to talk?
he’s the assistant GM
False, Jed is the GM. Theo is the President of Baseball Operations.
I wish you put that on a Dwight Shrute meme.
Lunchbox…tooo funny my man
Serenity now. Insanity later. Had to say that…
you’re not giving away our waterpik!
Jed Hoyer is the GM not the assistant GM. Theo is President of Baseball Operations
he was making a joke bro
Teams asking the cubs about Soriano is the MLB equivalent of ding-dong-dash.
I always called it ding-dong-ditch
if it has triple alliteration, it’s ok in my book
Oh so “Ding-dong-run away quietly so old man Johnson doesn’t see you” doesn’t fly?
Do kids still play that these days?
i don’t know, what’s your address?
We called it “Nicky-nicky-nine-doors.” Never really knew why.
Soriano is a better bargain than Garza.
??????
i know they need some power in that line-up but if you could move some money on Soriano and get a useful piece or two back, why wouldn’t you do it? My guess is, they got offered little to nothing in return while expected to eat the majority of the money left which is why Jed is now putting on the happy face abour Soriano and saying they believe they can get something out of him.
this.
the way i see it- the cubs either max out on garza between now and the trade deadline, or they just lock him up. i’d prefer they just ship him out with the new draft restrictions, considering we can just throw money at a starter but can no longer do the same with uncertain prospects. dump byrd and sori, soto too if he shows enough to warrant a good return. this is reeeally going to be a good year to see exactly what theo and jed do knowing they have free reign to just tear it all down as they see fit.
I’m sure there’s some logic in this post somewhere, I just can’t find it. Because we can’t pay over slot in the draft, we need to get rid of Garza? Are you saying, get some proven minor leaguers for Garza because that’s the only way left to get good minor leaguers any more, and then get a FA SP to replace him? If that’s what you mean, I can see some sense in that – but I have no idea what you really mean.
the one thing the cubs have is money, not talent. the new cba rules restrict spending overslot in the draft, making the cubs’ ONE strength($) a non-factor in bringing in younger players. MY feeling, is that trading garza for young players, and just replacing him in the offseason with a free agent SP, would allow them to maximize the $ spent because rather than having garza, they COULD have prospects and a garza-esque SP and the only difference would be leg-work and obviously going out and getting that garza replacement in FA.