Cubs sign Reed Johnson 1 yr/$1.3 million

[MillerParkSouth]

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2008/03/cubs-sign-reed.html

 

looks like they have no faith in Pie and that Murton may be out the door.

[Big Reed]

If i'm the Cubs, I'd ship Pie off to baltimore as quick as possible for brian roberts. his value is never going to be any higher. The only problem is the orioles now have Adam Jones and no need for Pie. the Cubs will regret not completing the brian roberts deal.

[JoeHova]

I hate to see the Cubs making a nice move. I like Johnson a lot better than Kapler or Gwynn as a 5th outfielder.

 

The problem with Pie is that I don't know if his value is all that high. They have been rumored to be trading him for months. That kind of thing knocks down a players value (look at the Lastings Milledge situation).

[DrWood]

I didn't think johnson played CF, though they had better options in Wells and Rios. I don't know what his role will be.

[JoeHova]

he's played a little CF in the majors. To be fair, I don't know that he's very good at it.

[joepepsi]

This is good move by the Cubs. I don't understand why Lou doesn't like Murton, though. I think it's clear the Cubs are proceeding as though the Roberts deal is dead.

[cubfan1126]

Johnson will platoon in center with Pie.

 

Murton has been a solid if not spectacular player since we've had him.For those of you that were stating in another thread that we really haven't done anything other than sign Fukudome and will have Soto for a full season, the guys that they replaced are why we are better.

Jacque Jones (while he dodged trade rumors and taunts by Cubs fans both years he was here) was as big a detriment in our outfield as Braun was at 3rd base for you. Coming from Minnesota, he never learned how to throw on real grass. Soto is replacing Barrett/Bowen/Hill/Kendall. That in and of itself is an improvement - having 1 guy all season. Barrett never could throw (except a punch) Bowen and Hill weren't around long enough and I don't think Kendall threw anybody out the 3 months he was here. Our defense was good last year but now it's better.

[TooLiveBrew]

Jacque Jones (while he dodged trade rumors and taunts by Cubs fans both years he was here) was as big a detriment in our outfield as Braun was at 3rd base for you.

I mean this in the nicest way, but that's not even close to being true.

 

 

the guys that they replaced are why we are better.

Fukudome isn't that much of an upgrade over the Cubs' 2007 RF production, and Soto had a fluky good year. Adjust his BABIP to a normal level, and he isn't even called up in 2007.