2010 Offseason Targets
Cubs Potential Offseason Targets: Randy Winn or Marlon Byrd
I had to take a break from the series last week cause of that annoying paying job that I jeopardize every day spending way too much time here on TCR. So I'm gonna double up the efforts and today we look at some more potential center field candidates. Let's start with Randy Winn.
Cubs Potential Offseason Targets: Mike Cameron
I'll go through a few more lower level free agents this week and pick it up to some possible bigger names next week. As we know, there's talk that if the Cubs can move Milton Bradley, they'd put Kosuke Fukudome back to right field and try and improve the outfield defense with a more true center fielder. And that's where Mike Cameron comes in...
Cubs Potential Offseason Targets: Kelvim Escobar
Trying to figure out which relievers the Cubs may try to acquire - if any - to bolster a poor bullpen performance is like trying to find a decent Cubs position player developed by the Cubs farm system over the last 35 years. For all I know the Cubs won't do much but try and resign John Grabow and then see who might stick from the current crop of youngsters plus a few Chad Fox-type reclamation projects that they might hope to stick...and probably Chad Fox himself.
We do know Hendry likes his strikeout pitchers and Escobar has a 7.89 K/9 rate for his career which trends higher when he's worked out of the bullpen as you'd expect. There hasn't been much chatter on Escobar since he went down with a shoulder injury after pitching just 5 innings in 2009 (and he missed all of 2008 as well after labrum surgery), but I think it's a fair bet he'll come back in 2010 as a reliever...that is if he's coming back at all.
Cubs Potential Offseason Targets: Akinori Iwamura
Let's move back to the infield and check in on another possible second basemen...the Rays Akinori Iwamura.
Year | Age | Tm | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | OPS+ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | 28 | TBD | 123 | 559 | 491 | 82 | 140 | 21 | 10 | 7 | 34 | 12 | 8 | 58 | 114 | .285 | .359 | .411 | .770 | 105 |
2008 | 29 | TBR | 152 | 707 | 627 | 91 | 172 | 30 | 9 | 6 | 48 | 8 | 6 | 70 | 131 | .274 | .349 | .380 | .729 | 92 |
2009 | 30 | TBR | 69 | 260 | 231 | 28 | 67 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 9 | 1 | 24 | 44 | .290 | .355 | .390 | .745 | 94 |
3 Seasons | 344 | 1526 | 1349 | 201 | 379 | 67 | 21 | 14 | 104 | 29 | 15 | 152 | 289 | .281 | .354 | .393 | .747 | 97 |
Cubs Potential Offseason Targets: Rajai Davis
To view past articles in this series, you can always click on the 2010 Offseason Targets tag in the byline above.
Let's give credit to Arizona Phil for this suggestion as he pointed out that Rajai Davis qualified for Super Two status and could be available if the A's want to save some money.
Year | Age | Tm | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | OPS+ | TB | GDP | HBP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | 25 | PIT | 20 | 17 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | .143 | .250 | .214 | .464 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
2007 | 26 | TOT | 75 | 219 | 190 | 32 | 53 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 22 | 6 | 21 | 28 | .279 | .361 | .374 | .735 | 92 | 71 | 1 | 4 |
2007 | 26 | PIT | 24 | 57 | 48 | 6 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 3 | .271 | .357 | .354 | .711 | 87 | 17 | 1 | 0 |
2007 | 26 | SFG | 51 | 162 | 142 | 26 | 40 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 17 | 4 | 14 | 25 | .282 | .363 | .380 | .743 | 93 | 54 | 0 | 4 |
2008 | 27 | TOT | 113 | 226 | 214 | 30 | 52 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 29 | 6 | 8 | 40 | .243 | .272 | .346 | .618 | 68 | 74 | 1 | 1 |
2008 | 27 | SFG | 12 | 19 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .056 | .105 | .056 | .161 | -56 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2008 | 27 | OAK | 101 | 207 | 196 | 28 | 51 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 25 | 6 | 7 | 34 | .260 | .288 | .372 | .660 | 80 | 73 | 1 | 1 |
2009 | 28 | OAK | 125 | 432 | 390 | 65 | 119 | 27 | 5 | 3 | 48 | 41 | 12 | 29 | 70 | .305 | .360 | .423 | .784 | 112 | 165 | 12 | 7 |
4 Seasons | 333 | 894 | 808 | 128 | 226 | 44 | 11 | 7 | 76 | 93 | 27 | 60 | 141 | .280 | .336 | .387 | .724 | 94 | 313 | 14 | 12 |
Cubs Potential Offseason Targets: Jeremy Hermida
As I mentioned earlier, this is an exercise at some of the low profile names the Cubs could or should look at this offseason. And remeber, these articles are designed to just start the discussion, not settle the case one way or another.
I think it's a fair assumption that the Cubs will be likely focusing at second base and either center or right field along with some bullpen help. So today's guest is another possible non-tender candidate, Marlins outfielder Jeremy Hermida.
Hermida was the 11th pick in the 2002 draft and was the top Marlins prospect from 2004 to 2006 according to Baseball America.
Year | Age | Tm | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | OPS+ | GDP | HBP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | 21 | FLA | 23 | 47 | 41 | 9 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 12 | .293 | .383 | .634 | 1.017 | 168 | 1 | 0 |
2006 | 22 | FLA | 99 | 348 | 307 | 37 | 77 | 19 | 1 | 5 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 33 | 70 | .251 | .332 | .368 | .700 | 84 | 6 | 5 |
2007 | 23 | FLA | 123 | 484 | 429 | 54 | 127 | 32 | 1 | 18 | 63 | 3 | 4 | 47 | 105 | .296 | .369 | .501 | .870 | 125 | 10 | 4 |
2008 | 24 | FLA | 142 | 559 | 502 | 74 | 125 | 22 | 3 | 17 | 61 | 6 | 1 | 48 | 138 | .249 | .323 | .406 | .729 | 91 | 12 | 7 |
2009 | 25 | FLA | 129 | 491 | 429 | 48 | 111 | 14 | 2 | 13 | 47 | 5 | 2 | 56 | 101 | .259 | .348 | .392 | .740 | 96 | 6 | 4 |
5 Seasons | 516 | 1929 | 1708 | 222 | 452 | 89 | 7 | 57 | 210 | 20 | 8 | 190 | 426 | .265 | .344 | .425 | .769 | 102 | 35 | 20 |
Cubs Potential Offseason Targets: Kelly Johnson
I'm in the midst of one of my hell projects at work, this one just happens to be a little more hellish and is gonna last until December. In order to keep the fun going around here, I thought I'd present some reasonable trade and free agent targets over the next weeks - some of the low-hanging fruit that will probably be more in line with Hendry's budget for 2010. I'm not really going to make a case one way or another, rather just try and open up the discussion. Today's guest is Atlanta Braves second basemen Kelly Johnson....
Braves GM Frank Wren came out today and said Martin Prado will pretty much go into 2010 as the their starting second basemen which leaves Kelly Johnson as prime trade bait. It doesn't mean the Braves have to move him, but he's certainly going to be available for the right price, which can't be a whole lot for a guy with a .692 OPS last year. He's also arbitration eligible and coming off a 2.85M payday in 2009, so it's very possible - let's go ahead and call it likely - that he'll just end up being non-tendered if he's not traded before December 12th.
Recent comments
Cubster (view)
I was there for the PCA homer as well. 50 degree baseball is no longer fun when sitting in the shade (knit hats, scarves and gloves are football gear) but I agree it’s one of those really cool moments. I loved the bear hug given by Swanson at home plate and of course the added impact that the PCA homer became a game winner.
Cubster (view)
Holy Screaming Bananas
CubbyBlue (view)
In honor of dispatching with the Astros, this painting is titled “The Sweep”.
I retired a couple years ago, and took a job at Wrigley as a security guy. SO cool having Wrigley as your office. SO cool being there when PCA got his first hit.
“The Sweep” happens at the end of every game - the security staff sweeps through the ballpark making sure it’s empty.
(Hopefully I’ll be putting this painting up often this year.)
Lastly, because working for the Cubs, they understandably don’t want you voicing opinions on social, which is why I’m only painting the banners here.
First.Pitch.120 (view)
Honorable mention to Jim Bullinger via BleedCubbieBlue:
Bullinger, a converted shortstop, had pitched in three games before he came to the plate. He had entered the game to relieve starter Shawn Boskie after four innings, and came to the plate to lead off the fifth, and hit Rheal Cormier's first pitch over the left-field wall to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead; they eventually won the game 5-2 in 14 innings. Of the 129players to homer in their first MLB at-bat, Bullinger is one of just 32 to hit that blast on the first big-league pitch he saw (including Contreras) and one of just six pitchers to do so.
TarzanJoeWallis (view)
Most of this activity will lead nowhere, of course, but it is fantastic that they’re looking for talent in every nook and cranny. You never know where that can lead, and virtually nothing is lost if if leads nowhere, as long as no one of superior talent and potential is losing an opportunity.
First.Pitch.120 (view)
Fun 1st Hit / HR Fact…
Recent Cubs players to have HR as 1st MLB hit:
PCA
Morel
Happ
Contreras
Baez
Soler
Castro
Arizona Phil (view)
Childersb3: Miguel Cruz walked six in 1.2 IP in his last start, so I guess he is improving. Wilme Mora also walked six in one of his appearances a week or two ago, and one or two others have walked five. I don't know what would be the most I have ever seen a pitcher throw in a game out here, because the manager / pitching coach usually gets the pitcher out of the game if it gets too ridiculous.
As for the attendance, probably about 20 of the 25 were early arrivals for the Savannah Bananas game who came over to Field # 1 to see what was going on, and once they saw all the bases on balls (12 walks by Cubs pitchers and four by Angels pitchers) they ran away screaming. I'm used to it so it didn't bother me that much.
Childersb3 (view)
Jed has added Teheran, Tyranski, Kissaki, and now Straily and Nico Zeglin today.
Zeglin is 24 yrs old. Pitched well at Long Beach St in '23 and well in some Indy Ball.
They also added Reilly and Viets in late ST.
Have to search for MiLB arm depth anywhere you can and at all times!!!
Childersb3 (view)
25 in Attendance!!!
Phil, is that a backfield record?
Also, 6 BBs for Cruz in 2 IP. What's the most walks you've seen in one EXT ST outing that you can recall?
TarzanJoeWallis (view)
He has a pulse. Apparently that’s the only requirement at this point.