It was made clear to all of us that the Cubs did not have a lot of money to spend this offseason, and that they weren’t going to be trading prospects to get players. So the chance to get any kind of meaningful player to add to the roster was pretty slim.
So if you’re upset by the Cubs signing Carlos Pena to a one year contract, you can’t say you at least didn’t see it coming.
The interesting thing is that this is a very un-Jim Hendry like move. Not the part where you take a chance that a .194 .196 hitter with a bum foot can rebound, but the part where you don’t give him three years and a no-trade. Couple with the fact that Hendry convinced Pena’s agent, Scott Boras, to allow half of the $10 million salary to be deferred to January 2012, and the move almost makes perfect sense.
Consider me not underwhelmed. Or overwhelmed. I’m just whelmed.
What the Cubs are getting is a Gold Glove first baseman who has averaged 36 homers and better than 100 RBI the last four seasons. He strikes out a lot (about 180 times per 162 games played) but until this past year he compensated by getting on base a fair amount of the time (.368 on base average which includes a bad .325 last year.)
He’s 32, so he’s starting his descent, but the Cubs are hopeful that his plantar fascitis that slowed him in 2010 will heal and help him rebound.
It’s kind of sad that one of the reasons you like a deal is that you feared it would be so much worse. Pena’s not the long-term solution at first for the Cubs, but for the first time in a while they haven’t signed a guy who’s not a long-term solution to a long-term contract. This isn’t giving Milton Bradley, Jock Jones or Jason Marquis three year deals. This is a move you can get behind. It’s also a move you can conveniently run from if it doesn’t work out.
The Cubs had somewhere between $12-15 million to spend this offseason, and Pena’s deferred money means they still have $7-10 million left. So there’s still time for Hendry to screw it up and give a four year deal to a middle reliever or something. But for now, let’s bask in the glow of a move that drips of something approaching competence.
Whelcome to Cubbieland.
I think Hendry is just trying load up the roster with players named Carlos.
Where’s Scott Boras? I’ll take a cool million to play for the Cubs and hit .025. Tell Hendry I’ll even change my name to Carlos.
The Cubs at best will be a 70-80 win team. Why spend $10,000,000 on Carlos Pena? If the Cubs don’t have a decent first base prospect in the minors, then trade for someone else’s first base prospect and play him. How does signing Pena help this team in the future? 2011 is already in the toilet and moves made this off-season should be pointed toward 2012 and 2013.
Since when do the Cubs have anyone that any team would want in return for a prospect?
“It’s kind of sad that one of the reasons you like a deal is that you feared it would be so much worse.”
This x 1000
At least we didn’t sign Adam Dunn for 4 years & $40MM. This way we only have to deal with 1 year of flailing strikeouts, and the guy doesn’t look like he’s trying to play 1st base with a pair of meat hooks for hands.
I don’t know who franks is, but he said 100% exactly what I think. Actually, maybe he’s just me visiting from the future.
For all of the reasons above; Can someone tell me why they released Micah instead of signing him for a million and giving him a long term tryout at first?
Hits Lefty? Check.
Power? Good enough for 25-30 over full season. Check.
Decent defense? Good enough for this team.
An average higher than .200? Check.
He could have been had for cheap.
What’s the point in paying Pena $10,000,000?
You honestly think Hoffpauir would have hit 25-30 home runs? You’re a dope.
No John, I’m an Ass_Hole.
Micah may be lacking in some things but power is not one of them. Over a full season of 500+ AB’s, I think he can hit 25 HR. The point I was making is that he would have been a decent option at first now for a rebuilding team.
So how much brains does it take to call someone a dope?
You Cock-sucking father-fucker!
;>)
Leave it to Jim Hendry to figure out a way to backload a one-year deal.
Yeah, why not let Hoffpauir or Colvin play 1B? Why put any more money into this shit team? No one’s buying a ticket to see Pena.
Give me a P….give me an A….give me an N…..another A. What’s that spell?
DUMB-ASS.
A terrible waste of $. You have a point andy….not the worst move Jimmy has made but a Gold Glove winning 1B???? How ironic and dead wrong of you andy. The three time NL GG winning 1B , D Lee was sent packing last season. Pena has never won a GG…..never will. Maybe you were trying to say he is a Golden Sombrero winning 1B. That is a safe bet.
I know they don’t have the Interwebs in St. Louis yet, but you are a fucking moron.
November 6, 2008 – Pena scoops up first Gold Glove
First baseman’s triumph in AL field a first for Rays, too
ST. PETERSBURG — Carlos Pena’s slick fielding paid off Thursday with a Gold Glove for the Rays first baseman.
I’m like 30 years old… not a long term solution
and I’m not good
Micah,
You Not read so good?
You would have been a good SHORT TERM solution for a CRAPPY team that’s not good either.