Cubs sign Soriano to 8 year $136M deal - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

Reds Fanatic · 11-19-2006, 03:18 PM

The Cubs have signed Alfonso Soriano to an 8 year deal for $136 million.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2668465

Quote:

Updated: Nov. 19, 2006, 3:15 PM ET
Report: Cubs agree to $136M deal with SorianoSportsTicker

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs' ownership is showing new manager Lou Piniella that they are serious about winning.

Chicago radio station ESPN 1000 reported Sunday that the Cubs have agreed to an eight-year contract worth approximately $136 million with outfielder Alfonso Soriano.

The move would clearly mark the highlight in an already busy offseason for the Cubs, who have signed free-agent infielder Mark DeRosa and have re-signed third baseman Aramis Ramirez and righthander Kerry Wood.

But the biggest prize is Soriano, who is coming off an outstanding all-around season for the Washington Nationals in which he hit .277 with 46 home runs and 95 RBI. The 30-year-old ranked third in the National League in homers and also stole 41 bases -- the sixth-highest total in the circuit.

After complaining in spring training about having to move from second base to left field, Soriano blossomed in his new surroundings. He led the league with 22 outfield assists, six more than his closest competitor, and displayed respectable range for a converted infielder.

Soriano became the first player in baseball history with 40 home runs, 40 stolen bases and 20 outfield assists in a single season. He also became the first member of the 40-40-40 club, which encapsulates homers, stolen bases and doubles.

An All-Star in each of the last five years, Soriano owns a .280 average with 208 home runs and 560 RBI in eight seasons with the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers and the Nationals.

Soriano won the AL Rookie of the Year award with the Yankees in 2001, when he hit .268 with 18 homers and 73 RBI. He finished third in MVP voting the following season, when he increased his average to .300 and collected 39 homers and 102 RBI.

pedro · 11-19-2006, 03:18 PM

That's ridiculous.

vaticanplum · 11-19-2006, 03:20 PM

I love Soriano. But that is insane. And very Cubs-like.

Eight years?!?

Ltlabner · 11-19-2006, 03:21 PM

Stunning.....absoutly stunning.

All the props to his agent for convincing the Cubs to do this deal. But wow. Don't think the Cubs owners have too much room to complain about being poor now.

M2 · 11-19-2006, 03:22 PM

I can only imagine what will happen to Soriano's game now that he's financially set for life.

reds44 · 11-19-2006, 03:23 PM

This just adds to the reasons why NOT to trade Adam Dunn.

That's alot of money for alot of years.

Highlifeman21 · 11-19-2006, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reds44

This just adds to the reasons why NOT to trade Adam Dunn.

That's alot of money for alot of years.

Very well said.

Dunn for 10M this year and 13M next year is a bargain.

I take it Soriano will be manning LF for the Baby Bears, or will we get to enjoy his efforts at 2B?

reds44 · 11-19-2006, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highlifeman21

Very well said.

Dunn for 10M this year and 13M next year is a bargain.

I take it Soriano will be manning LF for the Baby Bears, or will we get to enjoy his efforts at 2B?

DeRosa has been promised he will be the everyday 2nd baseman.

Spring~Fields · 11-19-2006, 03:49 PM

How will this move by the Cubs effect their chances of winning games, RS vs. RA etc. and how will it effect the Reds chances, if any? I hope that the Cubs don't improve their pitching.

Mario-Rijo · 11-19-2006, 03:53 PM

Outstanding point about DeRosa, how soon we forget about smaller moves when one of this stature comes along. I wonder if Houston now signs Carlos Lee if so then we better get busy signing yet another solid pitcher. The good news however is that if Lee does sign with Houston, then their LF defense is as bad or worse than ours. I actually say Dunn is better than either but Soriano can still get better.

BTW doesn't Chicago get to keep their early 1st rounder, even though they have signed Alfonso? Due to the fact that their pick is in the 1st 16.

MrCinatit · 11-19-2006, 03:25 PM

Yikes! This has more potential to turn into a remarkably bad deal than anything else. No matter how good Soriano performs - can he perform up to the Cubs' fans expectations? Doubtful.

paintmered · 11-19-2006, 03:26 PM

I can't think of a single reason why this should be considered a good deal for the Cubs.

reds44 · 11-19-2006, 03:27 PM

Is he going to play CF or LF?

We should now go try to get Matt Murton from them.

Redny · 11-19-2006, 03:27 PM

Now thats a deal that will look real bad in 5 years.

Ltlabner · 11-19-2006, 03:29 PM

Exhibit A as to why small, incremental moves are sometimes better than one blockbuster move.

11-19-2006, 03:18 PM	#2
pedro Please come again Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: portland, oregon Posts: 14,716	Re: Cubs sign Soriano to 8 year $136M deal That's ridiculous. __________________ Get your nunchucks and the keys to your dad's car. I know where we can get a gun

11-19-2006, 03:20 PM	#3
vaticanplum Has big taste Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 6,704	Re: Cubs sign Soriano to 8 year $136M deal I love Soriano. But that is insane. And very Cubs-like. Eight years?!?

11-19-2006, 03:21 PM	#4
Ltlabner 2009: Fail Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 7,441	Re: Cubs sign Soriano to 8 year $136M deal Stunning.....absoutly stunning. All the props to his agent for convincing the Cubs to do this deal. But wow. Don't think the Cubs owners have too much room to complain about being poor now. __________________ a super volcano of ridonkulous suckitude. I simply don't have access to a "cares about RBI" place in my psyche. There is a "mildly curious about OBI%" alcove just before the acid filled lake guarded by robot snipers with lasers which leads to the "cares about RBI" antechamber though. - Nate Last edited by Ltlabner; 11-19-2006 at 03:26 PM.

11-19-2006, 03:22 PM	#5
M2 Posting in Dynarama Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Boston Posts: 26,668	Re: Cubs sign Soriano to 8 year $136M deal I can only imagine what will happen to Soriano's game now that he's financially set for life. __________________ Baseball isn't a magic trick ... it doesn't get spoiled if you figure out how it works. - gonelong I'm witchcrafting everybody.

11-19-2006, 03:23 PM	#6
reds44 #TheReturn Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 23,656	Re: Cubs sign Soriano to 8 year $136M deal This just adds to the reasons why NOT to trade Adam Dunn. That's alot of money for alot of years.

11-19-2006, 03:49 PM	#9
Spring~Fields Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 8,630	Re: Cubs sign Soriano to 8 year $136M deal How will this move by the Cubs effect their chances of winning games, RS vs. RA etc. and how will it effect the Reds chances, if any? I hope that the Cubs don't improve their pitching.

11-19-2006, 03:53 PM	#10
Mario-Rijo HOF CLASS OF '12 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 8,989	Re: Cubs sign Soriano to 8 year $136M deal Outstanding point about DeRosa, how soon we forget about smaller moves when one of this stature comes along. I wonder if Houston now signs Carlos Lee if so then we better get busy signing yet another solid pitcher. The good news however is that if Lee does sign with Houston, then their LF defense is as bad or worse than ours. I actually say Dunn is better than either but Soriano can still get better. BTW doesn't Chicago get to keep their early 1st rounder, even though they have signed Alfonso? Due to the fact that their pick is in the 1st 16. __________________ 2008 Reds Draft Prospect RZ Scouting Reports 2009 Reds Draft Prospect RZ Scouting Reports 2010 Reds Draft Prospect RZ Scouting Reports "You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one." --Woody Hayes

11-19-2006, 03:25 PM	#11
MrCinatit Baseball card addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Piqua Posts: 4,426	Re: Cubs sign Soriano to 8 year $136M deal Yikes! This has more potential to turn into a remarkably bad deal than anything else. No matter how good Soriano performs - can he perform up to the Cubs' fans expectations? Doubtful. __________________ whisper words of wisdom I wrote a book! My AmazonShort My other AmazonShort

11-19-2006, 03:26 PM	#12
paintmered SERP Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 7,007	Re: Cubs sign Soriano to 8 year $136M deal I can't think of a single reason why this should be considered a good deal for the Cubs. __________________ What if this wasn't a rhetorical question? All models are wrong. Some of them are useful.

11-19-2006, 03:27 PM	#13
reds44 #TheReturn Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 23,656	Re: Cubs sign Soriano to 8 year $136M deal Is he going to play CF or LF? We should now go try to get Matt Murton from them.

11-19-2006, 03:27 PM	#14
Redny Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 1,357	Re: Cubs sign Soriano to 8 year $136M deal Now thats a deal that will look real bad in 5 years.

11-19-2006, 03:29 PM	#15
Ltlabner 2009: Fail Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 7,441	Re: Cubs sign Soriano to 8 year $136M deal Exhibit A as to why small, incremental moves are sometimes better than one blockbuster move. __________________ a super volcano of ridonkulous suckitude. I simply don't have access to a "cares about RBI" place in my psyche. There is a "mildly curious about OBI%" alcove just before the acid filled lake guarded by robot snipers with lasers which leads to the "cares about RBI" antechamber though. - Nate

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