Soriano losing it in Wrigley...

[Avsfan]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/How-can-the-Cubs-get-through-five-more-years-of-;_ylt=AgZ14KmCUI4JnihU.sTP8kcRvLYF?urn=mlb,234268

Remember 3 years ago when everyone wanted the O's to sign him? And those who didn't? Told ya!

[Palmoripken]

and to think they have 5 more years left of him and 90 million bucks. He was a good player but the Cubbies paid him like a superstar.

[berto]

and to think they have 5 more years left of him and 90 million bucks. He was a good player but the Cubbies paid him like a superstar.

He was a superstar thats why he was paid like a superstar. It is just that these big money long term type contracts are risky, because players after awhile there players can start or get injuries that bother them the res of their careers and the teams that pay big money for them are stuck with a once superstar who is now past his prime.

[mweb]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/How-can-the-Cubs-get-through-five-more-years-of-;_ylt=AgZ14KmCUI4JnihU.sTP8kcRvLYF?urn=mlb,234268

Remember 3 years ago when everyone wanted the O's to sign him? And those who didn't? Told ya!

Yep, I wonder how many would own up to wanting him now? Probably 5% of the people who did. Meanwhile many of the same people can act like they never wanted him and advocate going after other big splashes.

[byrdz]

But, but, Hendry is a much better GM than AM. Once AM was out they were able to take their team in the right direction by spending big!!

[Frobby]

He was a superstar thats why he was paid like a superstar.

No, he had one year where he was close to a superstar (.911 OPS), right before he became a free agent. The Cubs got 1-2 good years from him, but that contract was foolish and it was obvious at the time that it was so. By the way, the Carlos Lee contract handed out that winter isn't looking too good right this minute, either. Lee is hitting .097/.111/.097.

[geschinger]

It is yet another great example on why mega free agent contracts are such a bad idea a vast majority of the time.

[Frobby]

It is yet another great example on why mega free agent contracts are such a bad idea a vast majority of the time.

Especially for a team not ready to contend.

[Glenn Gulliver Fan]

I wonder what kind of contract Soriano would have landed in 2010 if he was coming off a 40/40 season at age 30 (as he was in 2006).

With the drastic shift towards valuing defense more, coupled with the continuing appreciation of OBP, Soriano may have received contract offers at only around 60% of what he got from the Cubs.

The Cubs paid Soriano as if he was 25 and entering his prime. They seem to have thought he would maintain his 2006 stats or even improve.

But these factors were clear at the time:

Can't walk.

Cant' field.

Strikes out a lot.

Steals bases but his caught stealing rate was high in 2006.

Doesn't hit over .300.

Lifetime .325 OBP (at the time).

Turning 31.

They also found out Soriano didn't respond well to batting in the middle of the order.

That's a hell of an expensive contract for a leadoff hitter that can't get on base or field.

It isn't as if the Cubs didn't have warning signs all over the place.

Thank God we dodged this bullet.

[Palmoripken]

No, he had one year where he was close to a superstar (.911 OPS), right before he became a free agent. The Cubs got 1-2 good years from him, but that contract was foolish and it was obvious at the time that it was so. By the way, the Carlos Lee contract handed out that winter isn't looking too good right this minute, either. Lee is hitting .097/.111/.097.

That was my point, thanks. Soriano had that one great year with the Nats in his contract year. He wasn't a bad player before than don't get me wrong but he got paid like a guy who put up those kind of numbers every year. The Cubs made the same mistake with Milton Bradley and arguably while it is early they made the same one with Marlon Byrd.

[Mark Carver]

He was a superstar thats why he was paid like a superstar. It is just that these big money long term type contracts are risky, because players after awhile there players can start or get injuries that bother them the res of their careers and the teams that pay big money for them are stuck with a once superstar who is now past his prime.

He was a 31 year old "good" player, not great and that did not warrant an 8 year $136m contract. 8 YEARS! A bad move by Jim Hendry that will haunt the Cubs for years to come. Because no other team will be be stupid enough to take on that contract, short of the Cubs paying 90% of it.

BTW - Andy MacPhail was gone from the Cubs by than, so don't look at him...

[Mark Carver]

Here you go... some OH threads from 2006 about Soriano's free agency. Some of you need to do the ole "duck and cover" maneuver.

Is Soriano the first player the O's SHOULD go after?

Soriano....

[Old#5fan]

Especially for a team not ready to contend.

Why rag on the Cubs for trying to improve their team by paying for talent when right now it looks like the Orioles may have made a bad move with the Roberts deal and possibly even Marakakis if he doesn't snap out of it?

[Art Wing]

Why rag on the Cubs for trying to improve their team by paying for talent when right now it looks like the Orioles may have made a bad move with the Roberts deal and possibly even Marakakis if he doesn't snap out of it?

Are you trying to defend the Soriano contract?

Are you trying to compare the Roberts/Markakis contracts to Soriano's?

[Old#5fan]

Are you trying to defend the Soriano contract?

Are you trying to compare the Roberts/Markakis contracts to Soriano's?

No, just making a general statement that the Orioles don't always make wise contract choices either. Roberts with his injured back now appears in hindsight to have been a bad move. The jury is still out on Markakis as to whether that was good or bad.