By Paul Sullivan
The Cubs are talking to free-agent outfielder Jonny Gomes, according to major-league sources.
The 29-year-old corner outfielder is a right-handed hitter who would serve as the team's fourth outfielder, platooning with Kosuke Fukudome in right field. He hit 20 home runs and drove in 51 runs in only 281 at-bats last year, and had a .307 average against left-handed pitchers.
Gomes was non-tendered by Cincinnati last December and spent most of his career with Tampa Bay.
The Cubs also are talking to Jermaine Dye and Xavier Nady, as previously reported.
The Cubs are talking to free-agent outfielder Jonny Gomes, according to major-league sources.
The 29-year-old corner outfielder is a right-handed hitter who would serve as the team's fourth outfielder, platooning with Kosuke Fukudome in right field. He hit 20 home runs and drove in 51 runs in only 281 at-bats last year, and had a .307 average against left-handed pitchers.
Gomes was non-tendered by Cincinnati last December and spent most of his career with Tampa Bay.
The Cubs also are talking to Jermaine Dye and Xavier Nady, as previously reported.
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Sean Johnson wrote on January 23, 2010 1:58 AM
{"We'll overspend on absolutely everyone (like Marlon Byrd)" Hey KVA or whoever you are. I want you to explain to me how the cubs are overpaying Marlon Byrd?}
Sean Johnson, the Cubs are over spending on Marlon Byrd for the simple fact that they game him a three year deal. Why did they do that???? Hendry has a knack for giving players long contracts so they come here when he doesn't have to.
Examples,
Soriano- Who were the Cubs bidding against when they signed him? No one, that's who... No other team was offering him $18 million per year like the Cubs and yet we gave him 8 years on top of an overly rich cash offer when it wasn't necessary.
Milton Bradley- No other team offered Bradley the amount of money the Cubs offered, but yet Hendry felt it necessary to offer three years with laughable performance based option years. When no other team had ever offered Bradley a contract longer than 1 year, Hendry gave him one for three when he was already offering the most cash! Why did he give him both and create the huge problem the team had to deal with this off season?? Bradley was in no position to demand a long term deal, so how did he get one???
They’re more examples like this one, but you get the picture I hope.
I fully expect alfonso soriano to return to hit 36 Hr 80-90 rbi.This guy can play and he deserves better fans than the perputual whiny cub fans.
Soriano is the cubs most productive and best outfielder period.I'd rather the cubs signed him to 115-120 million he still has helped the cubs reach the postseason twice I have absolutely no complaints about alfonso soriano.He has helped the cubs more than he has hurt them.The redundant cubs fans who hate soriano but love sam fuld(who is average at best) are completely clueless about baseball.Soriano will be much better this year he got his knee scoped he was injured for 3/4 of last year.
Number 1, Sean johnson needs to spellcheck his insults. Number 2, learning to count would be good. Number 2, check number 2.
"We'll overspend on absolutely everyone (like Marlon Byrd)" Hey KVA or whoever you are. I want you to explain to me how the cubs are overpaying Marlon Byrd? Number one- the contract is back loaded so in reality were only paying him 3 mill this yea. Number 2- That 6 million that the Mariners gave to the cubs is going towards Marlon Byrd so in reality the Mariners are paying his 3rd year so really it. Number 2 your an idiot you wanna have Soriano who they are paying 136 million too to sit on the Bench and then you want Johnny "i can't field or throw the ball" Damon.
Dude you sound stupid because you have no idea what the hell your talking about at all. Soriano Has won more games than he has lost.
ROFL @ "All too typical cubs fan".Sounds just like your average idiot clueless cub fan for real.Hahahahahaa
Seriously...our 4th outfielder should be Alfonso Soriano. Xavier Nady should be our left fielder...heck, Johnny Damon should be our left fielder.
We'll overspend on absolutely everyone (like Marlon Byrd), but when there's actual proven guys out there, we back away like the plague.
Xavier Nady would be the best fit...that's why he won't be a Cub...and if miraculously, he becomes a Cub, Lou will bat him lead-off.
Bring back Dah-Roesssssa! He was da only good thing da Cubbies ever had going for dem! Dat way we can surround him wit solid guys who hustle and play da game da right way! Guys like Sam Fuld, Mikey Hoffpauir and The Riot! Yeah, baby! And we can ditch stiffs like Lee and Ramirez, who never produce and never come t'rough for us! Then we'll be contenders again! Who needs guys who hit lots of homers? Give us a team full of scrappy guys who love da game! And den we can finally win sumthin'! Yeah! Go Cubbies!!!! Wooooooo!!!!
I meant to say likely get Reed back for about the same money...I misspoke.
Don't need another free swinger. Based on his low RBI numbers, it looks like he hits a lot of solos and does not look to drive in runs in RBI situations but hacks for a HR. He had 85 K's in only 281 AB. OB% not very impressive either. If he is coming off the bench, why would we want someone who is all or nothing. PH need a disciplined approach at the plate...he ain't got it. And if he is indeed a liability defensively as some have suggested, I just don't see any upside of signing this guy, especially when we could get Reed back for less money, and get a better contact guy, a better fielder, and a great clubhouse guy the fans love. Gomes sounds like another Jeromy Burnitz type guy, and we have had enough of those in recent memory.
Scouting report:
Tends to swing far too freely at the plate, leading to a lot of strikeouts and few walks. Is a below-average fielder and he doesn't hit for average.
Sounds like the entire line up.......Back to waiting for the 3 run HR.....Gonna be a long season...again
20 HR's and 51 RBI's in only 281 AB's with a .307 avg. against lefties? Those are pretty good numbers any way you slice it, especially for a player in which is going to be used in a platoon situation. Obviously they need somebody to platoon with Fukudome, before he corkscrews himself any further into the left side batter's box.
Talk about another of the many bad signings that Hendry has stuck the Cubs with, and Fukudome rates right up there with the best of them.
Good gosh people. He had 20 homers and 51 RBI last year in under 300 at bats. Sam Fuld or Reed Johnson aren't going to come anywhere near that production. Let go of the bitterness and open your eyes.
I still say bring back Tuffy Rhodes or Glen Allen Hill.
Gomes could be a good addition if he continues his career revival; however isn't he a pretty lousy defender?
Right ON Jack.Sam fuld is a late inning defense replacement at BEST.He's not an every day player these simpleton cub fans just don't get it.LOL @ This guy playing everyday the cubs would suck wasting a spot with that guy for 150+ games he would be mike fontenot part 2.Remember how everybody was crying how he should play everyday? Then he did and SUCKED.Some players are Reserves not starters and that's what fuld is.
Jim Charnot on January 21, 2010 7:43 PM
It doesn't matter they'll suck again this year anyway.
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Keep dreaming, punk! Cubs will win it all.
It doesn't matter they'll suck again this year anyway.
Sam Fuld should be playing every day????? What have you been smoking? The reason you don't hear his name mentioned is that he is at best the 24th player on a 25 man roster.
Dont get any other outfielders you DUMB CUBS .. where is Sam Fuld going to play.. He should be playing every day and I never hear his name mentioned.. What a shame . and YES bring back Reed Johnson to fill in against a lefty. LOu and Hendry are 1 DUMB group.. Get a reliver or another starter NOT another outfielder unless they think FUKO is going to flop again.
Bring back Reed Johnson!
NO!!! This dude sucks he got cut by tampa and the reds last year he's more famous for pounding coco crisps head(cheap shots) when crisp charged the mound than anything he ever did on a baseball field.Nady or damon(if he drops his asking price) End of Story..anything else is uncivilized.