According to the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs are seriously considering the possibility of signing former Cardinal and recently released Padre center fielder Jim Edmonds.
On the surface, it seems like a no-lose proposition, as the move won't cost the Cubs in terms of players and the money involved would be small potatoes. But the question is, does Edmonds have anything left?
Apparently the San Diego Padres don't think so. With a .178/.265/.233 line, they released him on May 9. The soon-to-be 38-year-old former St. Louis Cardinal was acquired by the Pads last December with cash from the Red Birds in exchange for infielder David Freese.
In addition to his lack of offensive production, the Padres had been concerned about Edmond's ability to track down fly balls in spacious Petco field. Perhaps the more intimate confines of Wrigley Field will give him a better chance to be successful.
Edmonds had started the season on the disabled list after straining his right calf in early March. Activated on April 5, he went 16-for-90 with just one home run and six RBI for the Padres.
Edmonds is a career .286/.377 hitter, with 363 home runs and 1127 RBI. The left-hitting and throwing Edmonds had eight gold gloves in his career.
So, let's get back to the question of whether he has anything left in the tank or not. It doesn't appear so, but given the Cubs need to replace Felix Pie with someone capable of platooning with Reed Johnson, it might be a worthwhile gamble to take.
It has become clear that Pie won't develop playing sporadically like he is now, so he needs to go back to the minors and learn the strike zone. It is equally clear that Reed Johnson is not an every day player in the major leagues either.
So go ahead, Jim Hendry, and take the chance or find someone else to pick up to help in CF (Coco Crisp?). You have to do something, as this situation is not good for the club or for a young player like Pie.
Come to think of it, the main benefit will be giving Pie a chance to play regularly again.
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5 months ago
What? No way. I am crossing all of my fingers and trying to cross my toes that this never comes to be true. The Cubs are one of the oldest teams in baseball and need to try as hard as possible to get younger. I have no problem with Felix Pie as long as Reed Johnson is the starter in center. Pie needs to be slowly groomed into a starting role in the next couple years. Not now though. Don't give up on Pie. I'm about 100% confident he could become one of the top leadoff guys in baseball with the speed he has and defensive ability. Just needs to be more patient at the plate and that comes with time. NO JIM EDMONDS! HATE THAT GUY!
from 5 months ago
Tyler, I'm only thinking of this year, so I don't really care how old the team is. If we win a world series this year, I don't care if we ever win again, I could die a happy man. We've been waiting for next year forever. Look, Pie is not ready to contribute and it's clear that Lou isn't going to play him anyway. Reed Johnson is not an everyday outfielder, he should be a 4th OF'er. We're too good a team and too close to winning now to accept crap in centerfield. Granted, I don't think Edmonds is the answer either, but they need to get someone.
from 5 months ago
How exactly are we one of the oldest teams in baseball, in regards to a players age we are pretty young.
5 months ago
When I heard about this I became instantly sick. I hate Edmonds, and seeing him in Cubs blue would be too awkward. He is too old to contribute and would take at bats away from Pie and Johnson. If the offensively challenged Padres don't need him, the Cubs certainly don't. Kenny Lofton is the only free agent outfielder I would consider if I were Jim Hendry.
What does everyone think about signing Freddy Garcia to a contract once he is cleared medically?
5 months ago
Bob, I am also thinking of this year but I don't want to sacrifice the next few years or even a decade by not giving Pie the time he needs to grow into the starter in the next few years. In particular also, Edmonds would be a worse fit than both Pie and Reed. Hit Pie or Reed down the lineup (7 or 8) and it won't matter if they suck. Check out the stats real quick, the Cubs have the best 2-6 punch in all of baseball. Looks ridiculous.
I'm still crossing every one of my fingers that we don't sign Edmonds. If we need CF help, spend some money and buy a big time player like a Carlos Gomez from the Twins. That would be flipping sweet!!!
from 5 months ago
I admit Edmonds is probably not the answer, though it is a cheap look and so they might as well. It won't take at-bats from Pie because Pie isn't playing much anyway so he needs to go down to the minors. He is simply not ready and may never be.
Carlos Gomez is not a big time player. He is a first year player with great speed but also doesn''t know the strike zone. And anyway, the Twins certainly wouldn't trade him; he was the centerpiece of the Santana deal!
I, too, would take a chance on Lofton but for some reason no one seems to want to.
Sam - lots of teams will be looking at Garcia, he will be having an open "tryout" soon. But how about Greg Maddux finishing his career with the Cubs? Now that would be sweet.
5 months ago
I don't think I'd be opposed. Edmonds is a solid player despite low numbers from this season. Sending Pie down wouldn't be bad because with some developmental help, Felix has the opportunity to be a good outfielder.
from 5 months ago
But every time we send Pie down he hits like .380! He dominates AAA and AA. Edmonds is a bad pick. He would come in and be a slower, less athletic, and a far worse hitting Soriano. We would sacrifice a .280 hitter in Reed for a .220 hitting Edmonds. Just can't see it. If he'll sit on the bench for cheap and be a power bat off the bench then great. If not, no way. Plus, screw the Cardinals. I don't want their garbage. If Pujols wants to come over and learn to play 2B (he made one appearance this year) then great.
5 months ago
Zack, look at the average age of the roster. The Cubs are one of the oldest teams, might be one of the oldest 5 teams. Look at the ages of the starters (not including pitching): only Theriot, Geo, Pie (if you consider him a starter) are younger than 30.
from 5 months ago
Tyler, the age is kind of skewed right now but if you get rid of Lieber (which may be coming) and add Rich Hill, we get a bit younger right there. I say if we don't win this year, trade Aramis Ramirez for some young players so we can grow some talent.
from 5 months ago
First off Tyler average age is not a good factor of age because we have a lot of low 30's which doesn't make you old it makes your guys in their prime. Our oldest player is 38, I can name 16 MLB teams with players older then that so your scewed view on the cubs being an old team is ridiculous, Jim Edmond being old isn't a problem the fact that he is terrible is the problem.
from 5 months ago
Look at it this way would you like to have 10 25 years olds and 5 44 years olds or 15 32 year old. We have a higher average team age, but in a sense I would like to say our team is younger. Average age really doesn't mean anything when your oldest player is still in his 30s.
5 months ago
Edmonds may help the Cubs to a world series - he did it for the Cardinals. Seems like the Cubs could finally use a good player.
5 months ago
Well, like it or not, it looks like he will be signed tomorrow (Wednesday).
5 months ago
Getting past the idea that Edmonds used to play for the Cards, I don't see how this could be a good idea for the Cubs. Could Kenny Lofton really be much more expensive at this point? Are the Cubs honestly lacking that much in the minors that they need to sign a 37-year old CF that isn't even a shell of his former self? You can't count on him as a defensive replacement-- between him and Soriano you might as well refer to the outfield as "the black hole." He doesn't have any range at this point in his career, and he's still relatively reckless out there-- you'd hate to have him run into that brick wall. Offensively, I doubt if he's going to offer much, especially coming off the bench. Really, the Cubs would've been better trying to get Steve Finley out of retirement.
from 5 months ago
I beg to differ. I am crossing my fingers that if he becomes a Cub he runs into a wall. At least he can sit the bench and keep Pie in CF. He will come around. Look what the Red Sox did with Dustin Pedroia. He SUCKED bad his first 2 months, then he tore it up and finished hitting above .300. Not saying Pie will do the same, but he is by far the best outfielder on our team (defensively).
5 months ago
Nice article! I actually like the prospect of getting Edmonds. Like Bob said in the article, he won't cost us much because the Padres will pick up his salary. He won't cost us any players, and what will it hurt? Maybe having an extra veteran mind in that outfield will help down the stretch. He does have playoff run experience having played with the Cardinals for years. I like Reed Johnson but he will need a day off every now and then, and I don't think Pie is quite ready. Sure he can run, but his hitting has been atrocious for a good portion of the season, and with the lack of playing time, improvement is not sure to come soon.
5 months ago
Edmonds is going to platoon with Reed Johnson, so he won't be playing every day. Look, they don't have a regular CF now. Pie needs to go down to the minors, he clearly isn't ready and may never be. But he won't develop sitting on the bench. And Reed Johnson started off hot but he's really a 4th outfielder who hits .260, doesn't have power or speed. So take a chance on Edmonds, it's almost a free look. If he doesn't have anythng left in the tank, which may well be the case, then they can release him, no harm done. But you can't have a guy like Pie in your lineup if you're a contending team. Hitting .230 with a .290 OBP, no power, is not what we need.
5 months ago
Pie will never develop without the confidence of a manager to let him work through his struggles. AKA: Dustin Pedroia.
Edmonds will be a huge flop. Granted, it doesn't cost us much, but why don't we just use that money we spent on him and invest it in a few extra beer vendors or hot dog vendors? They will get far more use than Edmonds will.
from 5 months ago
Maybe I'm not watching the same guy, but I don't see how you can continue to compare Felix Pie to Dustin Pedroia. If anything, Pie can be more likened to Corey Patterson-- and we all know how that turned out.
5 months ago
I agree. Pie is more likely NOT to develop into anything than he is to develop. Granted, we'll never know until he gets a chance but how about a little more seasoning first? A pennant race is not the time to allow those struggles. We need veterins or young guys that are ready to play NOW.
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