January 28, 2005
Orange Sosa?
There's an unconfirmed report that Sammy Sosa is being traded to the Orioles. It looks like the Cubs will get Jerry Hairston and two prospects and still have to pay most of Sosa's 2005 salary. Unless these prospects turn out to be Trammell and Whitaker, it doesn't sound like a great deal for the Cubs. Hairston had a good year getting on base in 2004, but Sosa has 11 seasons in which he's had more HR than Hairston's had in his career (26). More when we know more.
Posted by David Pinto at
11:10 PM
|
Trades
|
TrackBack (3)
Looks like a real stinker from the Cubs perspective. They got backed into a corner with Sosa and all they could get was a couple B-prospects and a utility infielder? There better be something more to this deal.
Remember how much criticism the Cubs took when they almost traded Sosa a few years ago? Funny how much things have changed.
I hate to point it out, but Hairston had a BA 50 points higher than Sosa last season, and an OBP 40 points higher. Sure, he has NO power, but a .370 OBP is worth a lot, especially considering Sosa is about 7 years older than Hairston.
Ali, it's a good point. However, that was Hairston's best year and Sammy's worst since 1997. I don't really believe Hairston is a .370 OBA guy. My guess is he's around .340-.350.
Well, Hairston did grow up (finally) in the O's system and might show even better offensive performance (slightly). But he's kind of a whiner who gets hurt. Not clubhouse-cancer-type stuff, just, you know, shut up, Jerry.
Steal for the Cubs might be Fontenot (AAA 2b), but Brian Roberts is a capable lead-off hitter and deep power threat against the Angels bullpen (also the Colorado bullpen, but we don't play them much), while David Newhan, a natural 2b, has also earned a slot.
If Sosa just mashes the heck out of it against soft-tossing lefties for a couple years, and is Tom Brunansky otherwise, the O's biggest problem is solved.
/We figured out how to pitch during the second half last year, but never figured out the soft-tossing lefties.
Well, Sammy Sosa can't hit without steroids (unless he uses cork instead) and he has a terrible attitude. Not only that he strikes out with regularity. I think the Cubs are well rid of him. Hariston has a lot of promise.
Hairiston had a "lucky year" last year... His BA on balls in play was extrodinarily high. That will even out and he'll be a .340 OBP guy max next year.
