Results tagged ‘ Carlos Pena ’
Are the Chicago Cubs Planning for 2012 while Rebuilding for 2011?
While the general consensus among fans is that the 2011 season is going to be nothing more than a lost cause for the Chicago Cubs, the truth of the matter is that General Manager Jim Hendry might very well have put his team into the perfect position.
I know very well what most fans think about Hendry, and with due cause because of some of his most recent mistakes, such as Milton Bradley as well as the very long contract that was given to Alfonso Soriano. He has also turned many fans against him, by handing out long term contracts with no trade clauses like they are candy. However, you have give the devil his due for some recent moves.
For one, long time fan favorite Kerry Wood is once again a Cub, and he was brought in at a price that is almost unimaginable. While there are many reasons why Wood is back, such as Ron Santo’s passing and his immense love of the team and the city, do not discount his long term relationship with Hendry. While we will never know for sure, I personally do not think there is a chance he signs with the Cubs again if Hendry is not here, at least not for the outstanding discount we were given. A one year, low dollar deal is exactly what the doctor ordered for this team, and Hendry did his job perfectly.
Signing a player of Carlos Pena’s stature to a low dollar, one year deal was a thing of beauty, showing some actual great foresight in a time when that is what is needed. Once again, Hendry filled a need on his ball club with a one year deal at a price that is very reasonable for someone who can hit 30 homeruns and drive in close to 100 RBI every year. Again though, the key in this signing is yet another one year deal.
Many fans have voiced their displeasure about Hendry’s excessive spending the past few years, and have voiced their opinions on the deals he has made for the upcoming season. They would rather, and typically I would be agreeing, that Hendry would save the money and use what funds they do have for a chance in 2012 and beyond. As I said, I would typical agree with this mindset; I would love nothing more than to see our opening day roster filled with the kids from our farm system. The deals given to Pena and Wood will slow down their arrival, but only temporarily as they were only given one year deals.
The way I see things, the Cubs are in a perfect win-win situation for the upcoming season. The moves made can, in fact, help the team compete in the year to come. Pena can hit his normal 30 home runs and drive in his typical 80-100 RBI, Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano can have rebound years as well, which would give the cub a very potent offense. This could very well be a pipe dream, but nothing is beyond the realm of possibility. Those three could help breath life into the Cubs and lead them to a divisional championship, and once you get into the playoffs anything can (and usually does) happen.
That is one side of the coin though, only half of the win-win scenario I was taking about. If, as many predict, the Cubs are to fall flat on their faces, they are in perfect position to be the center of attention come the July 31 trade deadline.
Having several players in the final year of their contracts is very attractive to contending teams. If they are in need of a serious bat and a power boost, Ramirez and Pena would look very attractive. Another player who might draw some interest would be Kosuke Fukudome, who would garner some attention from a team which with very little left to be owed to him. Carlos Silva could also get a few looks if he is able to put up a first half similar to his 2010 campaign. Regardless if these players are traded or not, there will be around $40 million coming off the books at the end of the season.
There are several other players who are also on the final year of their current deals, who do not make much who could also be attractive in the right circumstances and the right team.
One player whom could be very attractive at the trade deadline, because of price and talent, is Wood. However, I do not see the Cubs trading him away unless they get his blessing. Coming home to the Cubs at such a discount, as well as his saying he wants to be a Cub for the rest of his life, I would be very surprised to see him traded away mid season. While there is not a no trade clause in his contract, at least there has not been one reported, there may very well be a gentleman’s agreement that he will not be traded. If he was, he could very well consider that as a slap to the face after giving up multi-millions by signing here.
Whether or not the Cubs are able to trade away any or all of these expiring contracts, they are set to be in a prime position to have a massive youth movement come 2012, with more than enough cash to spend on a key free agent or two if there is a need to fill a void.
While the Cubs are building a team to put on the field for the 2011 season, their sights may be more on what is to come in 2012 and all the possibilities which will be a head of them.
The Cubs sign Carlos Pena
Because writing blogs and working on keeping my Chicago Cubs Facebook page is a hobby and I can not get paid for the time I devote to this, I have to work an actual job to earn an income. No, I am not complaining about this, because we can not all get paid for doing something we love. Instead, I mention this because of today’s, and most likely all future, news on the moves made by our beloved baseball team. Working an actual job during the day means that I can not immediately react to the news of the day and instantly get a blog out with my initial reaction. Like most sports writers (and I use that term loosely for myself because I feel to get that label you should be getting paid) I want to break the news and be the first to get a reaction out. However, working my job also allows me to fully collect my thoughts before I attempt t get them down and out. That is where we find ourselves today.
Early this morning the news broke about the Cubs signing Carlos Pena, and immediate reactions came to my mind, as they did with several other Cub fans. I was happy with the signing of Pena from the get go, and remain excited about the prospects that he can bring to the team. The more I thought about this move though, the more interesting things became.
A lot of Cub fans look batting average of just below the Mendoza line and grumbled about how General Manager Jim Hendry screwed up yet again giving too much money for a bum. That thought crossed my mind, I wont lie, but never enough to make me upset about his signing. I wont talk too much about statistics, because I am far from an expert on this matter. But I will mention briefly that even with his sub par average and basic stats last year, Pena has averaged 36 homeruns and 102 RBI over the past four seasons. Not bad at all considering everything. Looking at those base numbers, he is definitely worth $10 Million a year. That is where the problem comes into play.
His four year average, speaks volumes as to how much he is worth, which brings to mind the question, if he is that good, why did he settle for a one year deal when he could have had a multi year deal at slightly less a year? The problem comes into play when you try to sign someone basing on the season they are just coming off of. Yeah. Pena had a low batting average of .196, but a pretty decent on base percentage of .325. Not bad at all when you see how low his batting average was. He also knocked out a fair number of home runs (28) as well as a good amount of RBI (84). All this in a season when he was not fully healthy.
My thoughts, as well as several others, are that he took a one year deal in order to prove himself again. Sure, he could have likely gotten a three year deal worth maybe $24 million, but he likely felt he was worth more. He is gambling on himself, and feels that the Cubs are the right place for him to prove that he is healthy and can still drive the runs in. With the one year deal, the Cubs get a double edge sword which could benefit them more than most realize.
With the myth of the player putting out more effort and trying harder in the final year of his deal, added to the mix of a player who feels they have to prove something, Pena could be a beast from the left side of the plate, especially with the wind blowing out. Left handed power is something the Cubs have lacked for as long as I can remember.
If Pena is healthy, and the batters in front of him are able to get on base, you could easily see Pena getting back into the 100s for RBIs, and if he gets there, you would have to think that the Cubs are in contention for something, either that or he could have an Andre Dawson type of MVP season. Hopefully, between the two, the former is true. Having an MVP season on a last place team doesn’t do anything for anyone, except the player who won the award.
Along with the power potential that comes with Pena, he also brings a great glove with him as well. He plays stellar defense which would help with a young Starlin Castro, and the erratic throws of Aramis Ramirez. The former Gold Glove winner, if he is truly healthy as he claims, could be the complete package for the Cubs who need work in both the power and fielding categories.
Don’t misunderstand what I am trying to say here. Pena will not be our savior, and he can not bring the Cubs back into serious contention all by himself. The Cubs will still need a lot to go right for themselves if they want to compete. They will need Alfonso Soriano and Ramirez to have rebound years. If all three are healthy all year and produce the way they have shown they can, then the Cubs have something to build on with the offense.
The Cubs are still a long way off, and there could still be a move or two up Hendry’s sleeve. While I do not want the Cubs to trade away the farm to get aging veterans in order to make this team a contender, I have no problem with them signing Pena to bridge the gap between first baseman (because all it cost was money), nor do I have a problem with them trading away potential from their farm system for potential that could fill a void that the Cubs will have this year or in the future. However, trading for a quick fix will not do anything for the years after 2011.
Anno Catuli
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