Joey Gathright To Sign With Cubs

[RedLegSuperStar]

Per MLBTradeRumors.com and Chicago radio stations..

Word from WSCR 670 in Chicago is that the Cubs will sign outfielder Joey Gathright. We've heard the same from a source. Gathright, 28 in April, was non-tendered by the Royals on Friday.

[wheels]

That guy is an excellent defender, and seems to have a decent eye at the plate.

Not much power to speak of, but he should prove useful as a spare for the Stinking Cubs.

[Benihana]

Don't they already have a younger version of him in Felix Pie?

[RedEye]

Originally Posted by Benihana

Don't they already have a younger version of him in Felix Pie?

Sort of. I have the sense that Pie has way more power and much less discipline though. They are both good defenders, I think.

[Mario-Rijo]

Originally Posted by RedEye

Sort of. I have the sense that Pie has way more power and much less discipline though. They are both good defenders, I think.

Wow the poor mans versions of CPatt & Taveras. Now if they just had Dusty back and we had Lou (like should have occured to begin with) we wouldn't have to worry about the Cubs.

[Tom Servo]

Joey Gathright more like Joey Gathwrong

[reds44]

I love Gathright. He's not very good, but I love him.

[Topcat]

So much better an option than Taveras, whom to quote puffy "I loathe"

[camisadelgolf]

Originally Posted by Topcat

So much better an option than Taveras, whom to quote puffy "I loathe"

What's so much better about Gathright? Granted, Gathright is a little bit better as a defender, but overall, I'd say they're pretty much equal, even though Taveras is better at slugging and stealing bases.

Willy Taveras        AB    R    H   2B 3B  HR  RBI  SB CS  BB  SO   BA   OBP   SLG *OPS+  TB   SH  SF IBB HBP GDP
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
 162 Game Avg        591   88  167  18  4   2   33  51 11  35  98  .283  .331  .337   72  199  12   3   0   9   4

Joey Gathright       AB    R    H   2B 3B  HR  RBI  SB CS  BB  SO   BA   OBP   SLG *OPS+  TB   SH  SF IBB HBP GDP
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
 162 Game Avg        455   67  120  12  3   0   38  31 11  37  81  .263  .328  .304   68  138  13   2   0   8   6

[camisadelgolf]

I worry that this signing is the Cubs' way replacing Pie so they can trade him to the Padres for Peavy.

[Spitball]

Originally Posted by camisadelgolf

I worry that this signing is the Cubs' way replacing Pie so they can trade him to the Padres for Peavy.

From the Chicago Sun Times

Cubs looking to shop Pie
The Cubs just signed a guy who's so fast, he already has run past Felix Pie on the outfield depth chart and looks like he's about to run Pie right out of the organization. What's certain is this: Former Rays and Royals outfielder Joey Gathright is a left-handed hitter with more experience, at least as much defensive versatility and better baserunning ability and instincts than Pie, and he made a better impression on manager Lou Piniella with Tampa Bay than Pie has made in Chicago. With the Cubs pursuing free-agent outfielder Milton Bradley and with three other outfielders locked in, there's room for only one Gathright-Pie type. It's doubtful Pie -- who recently was considered the organization's top prospect -- will last the offseason without being traded, considering he's out of options and was a long shot to make the 25-man roster out of spring training even before Gathright was signed.

[OnBaseMachine]

I'd like to see Walt go after Felix Pie. He's got a ton of talent and is still only 23 years old.

[RedLegSuperStar]

Pie for Roenicke?