Is Soriano worth it?

[scuba]

The deal for Soriano: 8yrs/$136mil. Comes out to $17 million per season. Is he worth it? Check out his average season over the last 5 years:

154 G, .283 AVG, 108 R, 185 H, 41 2B, 37 HR, 97 RBI, 33 SB

Now you can argue that is defense is suspect and that he strikes more than he should, but when you take into account he led all of baseball (by far) in outfield assists and he is going to be playing at Wrigley, it makes those already great numbers look even better. Don't know about you guys, but I'm sold! :D :D

[Waveland007]

I have even better news for you, Dave Kaplan on WGN radio just said 6 years are guaranteed and year 7 and 8 are options. Hendry I frickin love you lol.

[Webgem]

If it brings the Cubbies a WS title, I'm all for it...:D :D

[mickeyrom51]

Soriano has shown a good arm,but how good is he at running down fly-balls?I am concerned about our outfield defense.How would fans feel in a situation where there the bases are loaded and Soriano is the one chasing a ball hit in the gap.

[newt07]

I think he will be fine. We have never been the strongest as far as outfield defense. his offense will win more games than his defense will lose. What more can we ask for?

[Waveland007]

Soriano as the season went on last year started to make good natural breaks on balls hit to him, those words came directly from Pinella. Also he's so fast that he can track down almost any ball he may misjudge off the bat.

[sneeze]

nO, NO PLAYER IS WORTH THAT MUCH........BUT i'M GLAD THE CUBS PAID IT!!! Its gonna be a fun year!!

[lwclancers]

After 98 years of losing....NO its not too much at all.

[HOLYCOW!25]

Any other offseason, this deal probably would not be this huge, but this offseason everyone is overpriced. It's just how it is.

[Jason]

Of course Soriano is worth it!

Would you rather of had the Cubs not sign him?

[scuba]

I can only imagine how pissed off the Angels are at us. First we're able to keep Ramirez even though the Angels wanted him and probably would have paid him quite a bit more, and then we go out and get the next best player on the market in Soriano when they were in the running for him. Anyone else the Angels are interested in?! :p

[Jason]

I can only imagine how pissed off the Angels are at us. First we're able to keep Ramirez even though the Angels wanted him and probably would have paid him quite a bit more, and then we go out and get the next best player on the market in Soriano when they were in the running for him. Anyone else the Angels are interested in?! :p

LOL

No kidding very well put... I thought Angels had Rameriz in the bag... they would have offered him more money as you posted.

I guess Aramis just loves us Cubbie fans... THE BEST FANS IN BASEBALL

[gosoriano]

I think we'll be fine. Anyways if he doesn't turn out AWESOME, we got the option for his 7th and 8th year + he'll draw even more fans, and keep fans that were going to jump on the ole' bandwagon. He'll do fine.

[Zamby38]

Soriano is definitley worth the money.
He is still very young and has an awesome bat.
He will add even more pop for the cubs lineup.

[bringbacktuffy]

Hell yes it's worth it. First of all its not coming out of my paycheck, well kinda since I buy tickets I guess. Second, after last year we could have paid a hell of a lot more for him and still would have been happy. Third better us than the Astros, Phillies or any other NL team looking to add offense. And as far as the Angels are concerned? F them, they have a title they can hang their hats on.

[Sheffield_&_Waveland]

I was a little upset last year because the Cubs didn't go after him when he was wanting away from the Nationals. But now that I look back on it I am now glad that he is coming in now because this is starting all over. If they would have gotten him in the middle of the season it could have left a bad taste in his mouth as bad as the Cubs played last year. Since the Cubs are making there moves and basically starting from scratch what better time to sign Soriano which will be starting all over in a City like Chicago. So now this will push the Cubs orginaization to build a team around Soriano, Ramirez, and Lee all thats left is very few holes and to remaster the pitching staff and nobody will be able to touch us in the Central. GO CUBS. Hendry keep up the good work!!

[John]

We should contact the angels and see if they would make a deal for santana, maybe we can offer some of our top players like lets say rusch, novoa, maybe even someone like wuertz, lol. I think this would put the icing on the cake.

[DLee25]

rusch, novoa, and wuertz aren't our top players.

[VanMan]

I think $17 million is a bargain if it means a World Series APPEARANCE! Remember, fellow Cubs fans, the Cubs haven't been in the Fall Classic since the autumn immediately following World War II. Since then, we've seen a goat owner get peeved, a miracle GW HR, a ground ball through a 1B legs, lights-out play by a future HoFer and fan interference.

The Cubs have to start somewhere.

[Zamby38]

Lol @ John.
Were you being serious with those guys as our top players?

[John]

NO! Just being funny that would just burn the butts of the angels,LOL.

[LeeEila's/rant]

'09 is when we can answer that.