Zambrano figures to benefit from Soriano deal with Cubs
Zambrano figures to benefit from Soriano deal with Cubs
By Paul Sullivan
Tribune staff reporter
November 21, 2006, 9:47 PM CST
重點:Zambrano明年11月成為FA 希望簽 6YR 85M~90M
而且期望留在芝加哥
2007年 Zambrano和HILL在ROTATION上 MILLER&COTTS爭五號
想要交易來D-TRAIN
乳溝可能會來守中外野直到PIE長好 MURTON會守左外
而且打擊絕對不會比PLATOON差
FLOYD會簽但是要他腳傷沒問題 而且順位很後面
PIE 2008年才準備讓他上來 之前不會在簽外野的長約
The second-happiest Cub, after Alfonso Soriano, is probably Carlos Zambrano.
Soriano scored big with his $136 million contract and Zambrano stands to become
the next beneficiary of general manager Jim Hendry's spending spree.If the Cubs
don't sign Zambrano to an extension before the start of the 2007 season, they
risk losing their ace to free agency next November.
Zambrano will be seeking a six-year deal for around $85 million to $90
million, sources said, and because he will be only 26 when he's eligible for
free agency, the Venezuelan right-hander is certain to get a handful of teams
willing to make that long-term commitment. Unlike Aramis Ramirez, Zambrano is
not expected to give the Cubs a significant hometown discount, though his
preference is to stay in Chicago.
Meanwhile, Hendry continues his search for a couple of starters to follow
Zambrano in the '07 rotation.
"Where we were [in 2003-04], we thought we had it going," Hendry said "[We] got
derailed and none of us saw it coming. We have a lot of good people coming
through the system, a lot of good arms, but for the first time in a while we
need some more pitching, and some more position players, either in a regular
role or bench help."
Zambrano and Rich Hill are the only certainties for the rotation, while Wade
Miller and Neal Cotts are possibilities for the fifth spot. Mark Prior remains
the mystery man who could be No. 2 or could be pitching in simulated games,
depending on his shoulder's strength.
Among the candidates Hendry is considering are Gil Meche, a former Lou Piniella
favorite in Seattle, Vicente Padilla, a hard-throwing right-hander with
untapped potential, Jake Westbrook, who posted a 2.88 home earned-run average
at Cleveland, and projects Miguel Batista and Jason Marquis.
The starters' market may be slow to develop because there are only two
standouts—Barry Zito and Jason Schmidt—and a dozen or so second-tier pitchers.
The Cubs could go the trade route and will be very interested if Florida's
Dontrelle Willis is put on the block, a move the Marlins aren't planning.
The outfield picture remains a puzzle, with Soriano the only certainty.
"It's impossible to see how it's going," Hendry said. "We have so many other
key things to address."
Sources said the Cubs' interest in shortstop Julio Lugo, another Piniella
favorite, is lukewarm. But they already have received word from Lugo that he
would agree to play center field if he came to Chicago, with the possibility of
moving back to short when top prospect Felix Pie is ready to play in center.
The Cubs believe Lugo could make the transition to the outfield easily, and
would be a perfect No. 2 hitter behind Soriano. Matt Murton looks like he will
have no worse than a platoon role in left, depending on whether Jacque Jones
gets traded. Mets corner outfielder Cliff Floyd is still on the Cubs' radar,
but he isn't a priority because of the uncertainty of his foot injury.
Pie, meanwhile, won't be expected to make the team in spring training, but
Hendry doesn't intend to bring in a center fielder to block his path to the
majors.
"We're not going to get another long-term, extended deal in the outfield," he
said. "If Pie is good enough to play this year, he will, and he's certainly
going to be good enough to play [in '08]."
Hendry cautioned that Pie is only 21, that he missed half a season at Double A
in 2005 with a broken leg and that he had a slow start at Triple-A Iowa last
year. But Pie also is the kind of athletic outfielder Piniella craves and the
Cubs certainly lack left-handed hitters.
Pie would figure to feel far less pressure batting low in the power lineup the
Cubs now have, but Hendry dodged a question about the chances of him joining
Soriano in the Opening Day outfield.
--
if the earth open up in my feet i woundn't move till i say this,lois,will you
marry me?
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 220.131.221.206
※ 編輯: Sugareo 來自: 220.131.221.206 (11/23 01:29)
推
11/23 01:40, , 1F
11/23 01:40, 1F
Cubs 近期熱門文章
11
17
PTT體育區 即時熱門文章
39
71