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Cubs Finally Sign Floyd

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After weeks of being close, the Cubs have signed outfielder Cliff Floyd to a one-year deal with a mutual option for ’08.  The AP has the terms.  It’s $3MM guaranteed, with bonuses that can bring it to a maximum of $17.5MM over the next two seasons.   

The homecoming was a long time coming as Jim Hendry has had various ties to Floyd for many years. He hoped to acquire him for Sammy Sosa in ’04.

Floyd will make a solid fourth outfielder for the Cubs.  His signing doesn’t leave much room for uber-prospect Felix Pie, but Jacque Jones could still be traded.

Erstad Options

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According to Ken Rosenthal, free agent center fielder Darin Erstad is expected to choose a team this week.  The 32 year-old has a slight chance at signing with the Angels or Cubs, but is more likely to choose between the Marlins or White Sox.

It appears that Florida is Erstad’s best shot at regular playing time, given that his competition is Alex Sanchez.  With Chicago Erstad would split time with Brian Anderson and perhaps Ryan Sweeney.

Rosenthal reports that the Cubs hope to acquire a young, cheap CF to hold the fort until Felix Pie is ready.  This comes despite the recent proclamation that Alfonso Soriano would play center. Pie has an interesting PECOTA projection – Baseball Prospectus forecasts a .289/.342/.481 line from him as a 22 year-old in the Majors.

Cubs Still Close On Floyd

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The Cubs are still close to an agreement with Cliff Floyd, though you have to question the word "close" when it’s been that way for more than a month.  The Daily Southtown has some new info on the situation today, though.

Jeff Vorva reports that the deal may include a player option for 2008.  Additionally, the Pirates and several AL West teams have shown interest in Floyd.  I think the A’s have been connected to him before.

Cubs Close On Floyd

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I know I’ve used that headline at least twice before.  But the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that a Cliff Floyd deal might be completed this week.

The catch was getting Alfonso Soriano to sign off on trying center field.  It appears that he’s willing to try it – it was revealed to the crowd at the Cubs Convention yesterday.  Soriano could shift to right field in 2008 when Felix Pie is ready. 

Floyd will be the fourth outfielder for the Cubs.  He’d make a solid bat off the bench.  Lou Piniella seems to like Matt Murton and he’ll hopefully get 500 ABs.

Meanwhile, the Daily Southtown reports that Jacque Jones could still be traded if the Cubs think Pie is ready to debut in right.

Carlos Zambrano Speaks

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This weekend’s Cubs Convention gave all the local papers a chance to snag some quotes from Carlos Zambrano concerning his contract negotiations.

From the Sun-Times:

"I don’t want to talk contract when the season starts. It has to be before the season starts or spring training."

"There’s a [good] chance I sign with the Cubs. This is a business. I want to stay here, but like I said, this is a business."  MLBTR note: if he didn’t actually say "good," doesn’t that change this quote drastically?

"You take less than Zito take and everybody talks about you, saying, ’Zambrano sign a bad contract.’ You take more and everybody says, ’Zambrano is taking advantage.’ I think the thing is to be around what Zito signed for, more or the same."

"He [Jim Hendry] spent a lot of money. I hope he has more for Big Z."

From the Daily Herald:

"We’re talking right now. (Today) will be the second time my agent meets with Jim Hendry."

From the Tribune:

"Zito is a great pitcher, and it’s good for him he got that contract, and I think that will help me."

Cubs Still Looking To Trade Jacque Jones?

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The Cubs have certainly been looking to trade right fielder Jacque Jones all offseason.  It’s not a matter of performance or salary – Jones played a respectable right field last year for a mere $3MM.  He’s due $9MM for 2007-08.

But as Chris De Luca reports, Jones hasn’t been comfortable in Chicago since the beginning of last season.  His source indicated that both parties feel a trade would be best.  However, De Luca makes a good point in that the Cubs need Jones right now.  Why trade him and then sign Steve Finley or someone to bridge the gap until Felix Pie is ready?  The Cubs should just keep Jones and use him in center.  He hasn’t played more than 10 games in CF since 2000, but it’s worth a shot.

De Luca also says the Cubs are reluctant to sign Cliff Floyd until Jones is dealt.  The Cubs have been aggressively trying to swing a Jones to anywhere trade all offseason.

Meanwhile at the Tribune, which owns the Cubs, Paul Sullivan mentions that "Floyd has told friends he intends to be a Cub, while Jones isn’t expected at the weekend fan convention, indicating he’s likely on his way out of town."

Cubs Close On Cliff Floyd

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I swear I used that headline last week, but here are.  Paul Sullivan reports that the Cubs are "on the verge" of acquiring Cliff Floyd. 

He’d platoon with Matt Murton, which begs the question: why does Murton need a platoon partner?  As I said five days ago:

"It seems like a great way to stunt Matt Murton’s growth and waste a year of cheap service time.  Floyd hit .266/.342/.423 against righties in ’06.  Murton managed a .295/.356/.426 line against them in his first full season.  The Big Murt also hit .319/.390/.522 after the break.  And he has red hair."

There better be a brilliant Jacque Jones trade in the offing.  Still, while nonsensical, this move won’t rival the Jose Vidro trade for the offseason’s worst.

Cliff Floyd To Cubs Soon?

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According to Jerry Crasnick in today’s chat for ESPN, he remarked on the status of the Cubs’ negotations with free agent outfielder Cliff Floyd:

"I’m hearing that the Cliff Floyd signing will come soon. He has some health issues, but he’s a good on base percentage guy and a great clubhouse guy. He should be a nice fit for the Cubs."

Floyd’s power plummetted in 2006, another injury-plagued year.  Cornelius Clifford Floyd, born in Chicago, recently turned 34.  He’s been connected to the Cubs and Jim Hendry for years. 

I’m guessing he’d be the part of a left field platoon that faces righties.  I don’t like the idea.  It seems like a great way to stunt Matt Murton’s growth and waste a year of cheap service time.  Floyd hit .266/.342/.423 against righties in ’06.  Murton managed a .295/.356/.426 line against them in his first full season.  The Big Murt also hit .319/.390/.522 after the break.  And he has red hair.

If a Floyd signing precedes a Jacque Jones trade, who plays right?  Floyd hasn’t done it since ’02.  And when Floyd gets hurt, the Cubs will miss the reliably mediocre Jones.  If Soriano goes to right, the Cubs are forced to rush Felix Pie.

Cubs Sign Jason Marquis

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As has been rumored for a while now, the Cubs have signed 28 year-old righthander Jason Marquis.  The Tribune says three years, $20MM, while the Post-Dispatch says three years, $28MM.

I think this is a bad signing.  I was actually naive enough to suggest yesterday that Marquis would draw a tiny commitment of just one year and $3MM – after all, he is coming off a 6.02 ERA.  I figured it would be comparable to the Kip Wells deal – too much uncertainty to guarantee more than a year.

The Cubs didn’t feel that way; now it’s up to Larry Rothschild to coax three league average innings out of Marquis.  Apparently eating innings, no matter how poorly, is worth $6-9MM per season.

UPDATE: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick says it’s for three years and $21MM.

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