So

[Lance]

Given the economic state of the game and the reluctance to give long term contracts--is the Soriano deal the worst out there?

He's a streaky player, been injured--what think you? I think I'd rather have someone else.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=14072:date=Jan 27 2009, 06:42 PM:name=Lance)-->QUOTE (Lance @ Jan 27 2009, 06:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Given the economic state of the game and the reluctance to give long term contracts--is the Soriano deal the worst out there?

He's a streaky player, been injured--what think you? I think I'd rather have someone else.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Worst deal? Not close. Here's the worst deal. Barry Zito:
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec--># 07:$10M, 08:$14.5M, 09:$18.5M, 10:$18.5M, 11:$18.5M, 12:$19M, 13:$20M, 14:$18M club option ($7M buyout)<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

It will likely be a headache at some point but I think he has a lot left in the tank and should be able to hit at a high level until the end of his contract. Watching him continue to choke in the playoffs will be annoying though.

As for the injuries, a couple freak injuries and it's never been a problem his whole career. If he gets hurt again this year I'll start to get worried, but he's been injured less in his career than most players are.

[rok]

I think we'll get another 2-3 solid years from Alf, but he'll continue to suck in the playoffs. While I think the contract won't be the worst ever, it will be judged by his postseason performance in the end. That said, does anyone see us dumping him off on another team after 2009 if he really does lay another egg in the postseason, should we get there again? I think we might do so, but will have to eat a TON of the remainder.

[Googly]

Holy crap that Barry Zito contract is nasty... another 6 years at a minimum of $18m per... yak.

[Giff]

If he stays healthy (which I think is going to happen for the first time in a Cubs uniform), I think he's going to remind people why he got $136 million.

[Runnys]

<!--quoteo(post=14103:date=Jan 27 2009, 11:32 PM:name=Giff)-->QUOTE (Giff @ Jan 27 2009, 11:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->If he stays healthy (which I think is going to happen for the first time in a Cubs uniform), I think he's going to remind people why he got $136 million.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

What have you seen the last two years to make you think he will be healthy all season? I know he was very healthy when he came to the Cubs, but since coming to us he has had a myriad of injuries.

[Andy]

Among leadoff hitters, only Hanley Ramirez has posted better overall numbers. While he may not be worth his paycheck, he's certainly not bad. He got paid what the market dictated. I know everyone expects a ton, but he's been pretty good for us.

[veryzer]

soriano is the least of my worries.

[Ace]

I'm happy to have Soriano.

But: a.) he's overpaid, and b.) he's underutilized. Of course, neither are his fault.

[BT]

I am dumbfounded by the Soriano hatred I see on this board. Is he overpaid? Yes. Does he have flaws? Yes. He also was our leading home run hitter despite only getting 450 at bats, carried our team offensively a few times, and in general was one of our better offensive players. If he continues to produce this way, he will be only slightly overpaid. when he goes downhill, he WILL be overpaid.

Conversely, if we are going to gripe about how bad he is GOING to be 3 years from now, when he doesn't perform at his salary level, then we must actually say that right now, he is UNDERPAID. He made 10 million and 14 million respectively in 2007 and 2008. He performed far above that.

Lastly, just as Soriano will probably age poorly, and become a noose around our neck, we have no idea who else will do the same. 4 years ago, I would have been laughed out of the room if I had said Scott Rolen's contract was an albatross. There is little room for argument now, as he has essentially fallen off the planet. Who thinks A.J. Burnett is going to be worth 16.5 million in 2013? Teixera worth 22 million when he is 32-37 years old?

[ColoradoCub]

<!--quoteo(post=14165:date=Jan 28 2009, 09:13 AM:name=BT)-->QUOTE (BT @ Jan 28 2009, 09:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I am dumbfounded by the Soriano hatred I see on this board.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


It's simple BT.

Soriano's postseason batting stats as a Cub: 3 for 28, 0 XBH, 1BB, 8k's and he averaged roughly 3 pitches per plate appearance.

[Fella]

<!--quoteo(post=14167:date=Jan 28 2009, 09:23 AM:name=ColoradoCub)-->QUOTE (ColoradoCub @ Jan 28 2009, 09:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=14165:date=Jan 28 2009, 09:13 AM:name=BT)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BT @ Jan 28 2009, 09:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I am dumbfounded by the Soriano hatred I see on this board.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


It's simple BT.

Soriano's postseason batting stats as a Cub: 3 for 28, 0 XBH, 1BB, 8k's and he averaged roughly 3 pitches per plate appearance.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Unfortunately, not many of our guys have been any better.

Soto and Ramirez have been especially bad as well, even Marmol has been awful.

I think the Soriano hate has more to do with his contract for most. I agree with Giff though, he will be fine. Not much anyone can do about a broken hand on a HBP, and without it he would have had great numbers last year.

Hopefully he, and everyone else, will pull their heads out of their asses in future postseasons.

[Quinn]

I thought this thread was about So Taguchi.

[Giff]

<!--quoteo(post=14129:date=Jan 28 2009, 06:35 AM:name=Runnys)-->QUOTE (Runnys @ Jan 28 2009, 06:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=14103:date=Jan 27 2009, 11:32 PM:name=Giff)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Giff @ Jan 27 2009, 11:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->If he stays healthy (which I think is going to happen for the first time in a Cubs uniform), I think he's going to remind people why he got $136 million.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

What have you seen the last two years to make you think he will be healthy all season? I know he was very healthy when he came to the Cubs, but since coming to us he has had a myriad of injuries.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
A myriad? Really? He's been on the DL three times in the last two seasons. One of those times was 6 weeks for a broken hand, so it had nothing to do with how healthy his body is. That leaves 5 weeks of DL time over two seasons...that doesn't all of the sudden make him some injury waiting to happen, like some people seem to think.

[kbwsb]

100% of the so-called "Soriano hate" is because of his contract. It was a poor use of resources, to say the least.

Still, he has been a perfectly solid player for us, so far. I like him. In fact, when we play lousy teams like the Pirates and the Nationals, and Alf turns into Babe Ruth, I LOVE him. When he tanks in the playoffs, as he has repeatedly done throughout his career, I like him a bit less.