By Dave van Dyck
The Cubs have agreed to sign free-agent outfielder Xavier Nady, pending a physical exam on his surgically repaired right arm, according to multiple sources.
Nady played in only seven games with the Yankees last season before undergoing a second Tommy John surgery. If he has recovered enough to be able to throw, he reportedly will sign a one-year deal worth up to $5 million with incentives.
The Cubs had been looking for a fourth outfielder and were considering former White Sox Jermaine Dye, Jonny Gomes and Reed Johnson, who filled that role before being injured last season.
Nady, 31, hit .305 with 25 homers and 97 RBI in 2008 with the Pirates and Yankees. With left-handed-hitting Kosuke Fukudome in right and newcomer Marlon Byrd in center, Nady could find plenty of playing time.
The Cubs have agreed to sign free-agent outfielder Xavier Nady, pending a physical exam on his surgically repaired right arm, according to multiple sources.
Nady played in only seven games with the Yankees last season before undergoing a second Tommy John surgery. If he has recovered enough to be able to throw, he reportedly will sign a one-year deal worth up to $5 million with incentives.
The Cubs had been looking for a fourth outfielder and were considering former White Sox Jermaine Dye, Jonny Gomes and Reed Johnson, who filled that role before being injured last season.
Nady, 31, hit .305 with 25 homers and 97 RBI in 2008 with the Pirates and Yankees. With left-handed-hitting Kosuke Fukudome in right and newcomer Marlon Byrd in center, Nady could find plenty of playing time.
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Where's my notepad and pencil? Time to pose as a sportswriter in order to get into high school locker rooms.
Here to scream for help,
Nada
Wow!.
What a signing!
Another good white guy for you guys.
This ought to put the Cubs as the favorites in the Central, huh?
Mikemo: I agree with you Fuld could become an excellent player. However, having played at the minor league level (AA) I saw many excellent players never get a shot at the big leagues. There were many reasons some legit many not. Sometimes it was just the fact that the player didn't fit what the organization wanted in a player (not talent). I think the Cubs fall into that trap. Hendry in my opinion is a very poor judge of talent. Why the Cubs keep going with him is a mystery.
This is a great signing.I'm just glad they didn't resign reed johnson.Cubs have a nice team goin into this season.Nady can play
mikemo
Um, actually his professional stats include his minor league numbers, too.
Which are much more than 80 some AB's. And much more pathetic, as well.
LOL...Another right handed hitter who K's way to much and is useless on defense
Hendry needs and should have been canned
That's the point, I make it a point not to mention that during baseball discussions because I don't want to come across as a know-it-all. I just threw it out there because mikemo mentioned his credentials. If I said anything that isn't true please let me know.
Doug:
You commented like a very smart person. I appreciate that. Your comments used reasoning ,but I think that is flawed. But Do you really feel that LOU hasnt lost it or that Hendry knows what hes doing. ?
Would you have started Soto, Soriano, Bradly, Fontenot , Gregg for so long ,and played Miles at all .. This is LOU's thinking and judgement here.. And Im sorry Lou's judgement stinks. I dont know how many time with men on third(theriot johnson Fuld etc) and less than 2 outs and never a suicide bunt or sacrifice bunt early in the game or at the end in a tie game or 1 run down.. Thats why I cant bieleve in LOu .. Hendry can recognize talent. Im sorry.. He brought all those loosers last year and Soriano the years before that. let go good players like Dertosa. Johnson , and others.. So I DONT have much confidence in their rewcognizing anyone with talent .. SORRY.
I have showed stats for Sam Fuld that I think back up my thinking.. The big thing is that he batted lefty against lefties in most of all the games he played..
Doug:
You commented like a very smart person. I appreciate that. Your comments used reasoning ,but I think that is flawed. But Do you really feel that LOU hasnt lost it or that Hendry knows what hes doing. ?
Would you have started Soto, Soriano, Bradly, Fontenot , Gregg for so long ,and played Miles at all .. This is LOU's thinking and judgement here.. And Im sorry Lou's judgement stinks. I dont know how many time with men on third(theriot johnson Fuld etc) and less than 2 outs and never a suicide bunt or sacrifice bunt early in the game or at the end in a tie game or 1 run down.. Thats why I cant bieleve in LOu .. Hendry can recognize talent. Im sorry.. He brought all those loosers last year and Soriano the years before that. let go good players like Dertosa. Johnson , and others.. So I DONT have much confidence in their rewcognizing anyone with talent .. SORRY.
I have showed stats for Sam Fuld that I think back up my thinking.. The big thing is that he batted lefty against lefties in most of all the games he played..
Looks like the President of the Sam Fuld fan club is in the house. Look, I like Fuld too, but let's not get carried away here. So he was good in high school and college. Big deal. There have been a lot of good high school and college players who never made it in the majors. He is a great defensive player and can steal a base every now and then, which is why he's a good fit for late-inning replacement. He wasn't that great of a hitter in the minors, so why should the Cubs give him 500 at bats this year? His skill set is perfect for the 100-200 at bats he would get coming off the bench and giving Byrd the occasional day off.
Also, let's assume for a second that you are right. That the Cubs have a gem of a player who is ready to break out as the next good leadoff hitter in baseball. So why is it that no team has come to the Cubs with an offer for a trade? Fuld won't start here, so you'd think he would demand a trade if he thought he could start somewhere else. And if other teams thought he was as good as you said he is, why aren't they calling up Hendry trying to pry Fuld away from us? There are lots of teams who need a leadoff hitter and if Fuld is as good as you say he is I'm sure other teams would know too. I mean, that's why they send their scouts to Fall Leauge and Winter League games, right?
And lastly, so you played high school and college ball and you coach high school. Good for you. I hope you had fun. You know who else played high school and college ball and coached in or above the high school level? All of the Cubs coaching staff! And Hendry was a college coach too. So if you are a hitting expert, I'm sure all those guys who advanced further in the playing and coaching and management levels than you did know just as much or more about hitting as you do! So let's not pretend that you are some hitting expert. Maybe you know more about it than some on here, including myself, but I seriously doubt that you are any more of an expert than any of the Cubs major or minor league coaching staff.
mikemo, I have covered minor league baseball extensively for 10 years and have had conversations with some of the best scouts, managers and front-office people in the business. I think that gives me a pretty good perspective of the game as well. I like Fuld, his swing and his overall makeup -- especially his defense. He's a gamer, I get it. But looking at his numbers throughout his pro career, I just find it hard to believe that there is any thought that given 300-400 ABs over the course of the season he could contribute enough offensively to have an impact. Everybody loves the guy but if he were a future everyday big leaguer, how come he barely played 100 games a season in the minors?
To MTK:
Ok I have played high schol.college, semi pro ball. Coached baseball at high school level.. I think I know a little about hitting . I have studied every book by Charlie Lau and others. I never liked Micah Hoffpauir because of his big loopy swing . I never thought he would be a starter instead of Lee. Sam Fuld is different watch his swing .. Really quick and makes contact all the time. Excellent lead off man with speed.
Fuld = 5th outfielder OK stats !!!!
Professional stats.. Based on batting lefty and only playing against lefties I think his stats are very good. LOU ONHLY played him against lefties instead of FUKUDOME.
Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB Pos Awards
2007 25 CHC NL 14 9 6 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 .000 .333 .000 .333 -4 0 0 0 0 0 0 /987
2009 27 CHC NL 65 115 97 17 29 6 1 1 2 2 1 17 10 .299 .409 .412 .821 111 40 1 1 0 0 1 78/9
Fuld = 5th outfielder OK stats !!!!
Professional stats.. Based on batting lefty and only playing against lefties I think his stats are very good. LOU ONHLY played him against lefties instead of FUKUDOME.
Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB Pos Awards
2007 25 CHC NL 14 9 6 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 .000 .333 .000 .333 -4 0 0 0 0 0 0 /987
2009 27 CHC NL 65 115 97 17 29 6 1 1 2 2 1 17 10 .299 .409 .412 .821 111 40 1 1 0 0 1 78/9
@mikemo
You know, substitute Micah Hoffpauir's name in your rant and it would be just like the same rant everyone had about him last year until he went around the league once and they all found that huge hole in his swing. He should be an everyday player if we traded DLee, he could be an all-star, on and on and on! Please, Fuld is a good 5th outfielder-late inning guy but nothing more. The guy has only 2 steals and 2 RBIs in 103 career ABs! He's a good guy who plays hard, we get it, but give him 500 ABs and he wouldn't even come close to putting up the type of numbers Byrd/Nady/etc. would over the course of a season. Stop blaming this whole thing on a Lou conspiracy...the fact is there is NO ONE in the organization (or all of baseball since no one has asked for him in a trade) that believes he will be anymore than a journeyman career-minor leaguer.
mikemo, you conveniently left out Sam's professional stats.
Why?
Whatever, he could be a steal back in the NL where he was pretty good. Soriano would be great "On a another team!"
Go Cubs! On da Sout Sieed!!
LP:
FYI:SAM should start
BUT NOT with LOU at the Helm!!!
Sorry CUBS Management,
Despite being afflicted with diabetes since the age of 10, Fuld began his baseball career by twice batting .600 in high school, during which time Baseball America ranked him 19th in the country.[1] He then played college baseball at Stanford, where he was a perennial All American, set the school record for career runs scored, and set the College World Series record for career hits.[1] Drafted by the Cubs in 2004, he made his major league debut in 2007, and became a fan favorite for his acrobatic defense.[2]
LP:
DIDNT you watch ant Cub games last year.. Sam Fuld is the best defensive outfielder in the ORG. HE hit over 325 in the winter league last year and was hitting over 400 the 1st month last year, before Lousy LOU put Sorry Soriano back in the lineup.. Sam had over 400 OBP the 1st month os so. He only played against lefties and he is a left handed batter.. What more does the guy have to do .. He hits lefties and has a great swing , Steals bases and vauses pitchers fits.. It just that guys like you and LOUSY LOu wont give him a chance. PLay him against a righty and see what he can do .. NOT Sorry Soriano. BUT LOU will continue to play Sorry and NOT give Sam a chance.. TOO BAD!!
LP:
DIDNT you watch ant Cub games last year.. Sam Fuld is the best defensive outfielder in the ORG. HE hit over 325 in the winter league last year and was hitting over 400 the 1st month last year, before Lousy LOU put Sorry Soriano back in the lineup.. Sam had over 400 OBP the 1st month os so. He only played against lefties and he is a left handed batter.. What more does the guy have to do .. He hits lefties and has a great swing , Steals bases and vauses pitchers fits.. It just that guys like you and LOUSY LOu wont give him a chance. PLay him against a righty and see what he can do .. NOT Sorry Soriano. BUT LOU will continue to play Sorry and NOT give Sam a chance.. TOO BAD!!
Exasperated: Soriano can't be any worse of a second baseman than he is a left fielder!!
"I think the distinct possibility exists that signing Nady opens the door for Soriano to return to second base."
LMAO!! Soriano is a TERRIBLE 2nd baseman. Are you kidding?
Ben Sheets - LMAO!
X. Nady? Please!!
To my fellow Cub fans: please stop dreaming, wake up and face reality. This team is garbage and needs to be blown up. There will be no World Series (esp. if Soriano is at 2nd).
Why do we have to go through this every year?
I think the distinct possibility exists that signing Nady opens the door for Soriano to return to second base. Nady in left where you can hide his weak arm and take advantage of his bat on a more or less regular basis.
Nada Surf 2010 on January 26, 2010 2:18 PM
Why waste the money and take a chance on Nady when REED JOHNSON wants to stay a CUB?????
If he's healthy, this could be a good move, but that's too big an "if"
Whatever
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Let's not mistake Reed Johnson for Cal Ripken, Jr. here. Johnson has a bad back and is coming off a broken foot and is north of 30. You can say Nady is a gamble because he's coming off of injury (and you would be right), but don't then turn around and imply that the Cubs should have brought back Reed Johnson.
I for one think that Nady is a better choice, as he has more power than Johnson, gives the Cubs a decent fill-in for Fukudome against lefties or when he's going through one of his long slumps, is coming off an injury that isn't a huge deal for outfielders (as opposed to back and foot injuries with Reed Johnson), and would be a DH candidate for the interleague games (or could play left while Soriano is the DH). I'm not saying this will put the Cubs back in the driver's seat for the NL Central, but it does make them a little bit better than they were yesterday.
Wow Bobby Locker is back again. You are the reason people hate cubs fan, you are intelligent and moronic. Stop posting, Nady is a good signing if he stays healthy and is fully healed from his second tommy john surgery. Sheets was never coming to the cubs, they don't have the money right now to spend 10 million on a question mark. Think before you ever post again Bobby and save me the pain from having to read your filth.
should eliminate comments. Its making the intelligent fans of Chicago sports look really dumb. Not just Cubs posts all of them.
Why waste the money and take a chance on Nady when REED JOHNSON wants to stay a CUB?????
If he's healthy, this could be a good move, but that's too big an "if"
Whatever
mightymo on January 26, 2010 2:06 PM
What in the world.. The Cubs need pitchging NOT outfielders.. What are they doing.. Sam Fuld should be a starter.. Why more outfielders. you know Lou is playing SOrry Soriano till he drops.. Reed Johnson and Sam Fuld should be on this team.. What a bad org.
Sam Fuld Fan...
________________________________
When Sam gets his minor league ops over .800 he'll get his chance.
What I am trying to say is Sam Fuld will never (and should never) be a starter.
What in the world.. The Cubs need pitchging NOT outfielders.. What are they doing.. Sam Fuld should be a starter.. Why more outfielders. you know Lou is playing SOrry Soriano till he drops.. Reed Johnson and Sam Fuld should be on this team.. What a bad org.
Sam Fuld Fan...
Jim Richards on January 26, 2010 1:53 PM
Mr. Dictionary and I must be looking in a mirror.
========================
I once knew a Jim Richards in Arizona.
Creepy dude. He would pretend to be a sportswriter to get into HS locker rooms.
Have any of you ever watched a baseball game? And how did this become about Jermaine Dye? I like Reed Johnson. I hope the Cubs bring him back. But if Nady is anywhere close to healthy he is the better choice. Nady has a lot of pop in his bat and he is a solid addition. Hey guys, he doesn't have to pitch. Even with a repaired arm who in the Cubs outfield has a stronger one than Nady? I have to say it again. Should have signed Adam Dunn instead of Idiot Bradley and a lot of this could have been avoided. Hendry should have been canned just for that. Viva Carlos Silva!!
Mr. Dictionary on January 26, 2010 1:39 PM
"By the way, let's get the pronunciation down now: Unlike the university in Cincinnati (two syllables, ZAY-veer), his first name has three syllables: ecks-ZAY-veer."
CORRECTION: it's actually pronounced: ex-PLAY-er
Noun:
1. washed up; finished
-----------------------
You seem to have Nady confused with Andruw Jones, or possibly the beyond awful Al-EX Rios, who Nady was more productive than in 2009 despite playing in only seven games.
Who is Xavier Whats-His-Name and is he left-handed?
"By the way, let's get the pronunciation down now: Unlike the university in Cincinnati (two syllables, ZAY-veer), his first name has three syllables: ecks-ZAY-veer."
CORRECTION: it's actually pronounced: ex-PLAY-er
Noun:
1. washed up; finished;
2. a "has been" who is usually signed to fool gullible Cub fans into thinking the team will compete (see Nomar Garciapara)
I'm going to wash your mouth out with soap for that kind of language.
Great! Another has-been for Cubs fans to get overly excited about! Add Ben Sheets to the list too - LMAO! If these guys were any good, they'd sign with the Yanks, Boston, Braves, Cards, etc. NOT the Cubs. Wrigley is were the desperate fill in time before retirement.
Wrigley = The Land of Misfit Boys
Typical Jim Hendry signing, a player who's had multiple surgeries, fantastic.
2010, I'm still waiting for you to post something that makes sense, can you do it?
Good signing if he's not expected to play more than 120 games. If he's healthy, he'll be productive.
By the way, let's get the pronunciation down now: Unlike the university in Cincinnati (two syllables, ZAY-veer), his first name has three syllables: ecks-ZAY-veer.
2010 on January 26, 2010 1:11 PM
Just Do It on January 26, 2010 1:07 PM
Hope the Cubs sign Jermaine Dye just to piss off White Sox fans
========================
Yeah, never mind that the guy sucks.
Go away
Yeah all the homers he's hit at Wrigley during the Crosstown Classics, yeah he sucks, you're a moron.
Hope the Cubs sign Jermaine Dye just to piss off White Sox fans.
So he may not have the big arm anymore... but he's a better hitter than Fukodome will ever be. Nady ought to be your starting right fielder, with Fukodome coming off the bench. But Hendry will have it back-asswards. I wish Fukodome was the one with the 1-year deal. And Soriano... And...
Sheets just signed with the A's. Doubt they will also bring back Reed now...
Cubs are going to sign a player who has had 2 Tommy John surgeries, why am I not surprised, the Cubs love broken down has beens.
Great pick up if he is healthy...a big if. Hope the Cubs medical staff goes over the injury with a fine toothed comb. Also hopeful that the deal is incentive laden. Good news is it is only one year. Bad news is he may just be a rental if he has a great bounceback year. I look for them to try and trade Fuko if Nady starts hot and stays healthy. Either way, I think this significantly cuts his playing time.