If you were given the option right now to take Alfonso Soriano and his contract for the next 6 years or Manny Ramirez at his price for the next 6 years, which would you want? Why?
For me, it’s got to be Soriano for the simple reason that Manny is too much of a head case. I can’t deal with a player like that. I can’t stand his antics and I am not so sure he has all that much left, given his age. I know he takes great care in how hard he works preparing for at bats, but I’ll take the upside of Soriano and the hot streaks he brings and ride out his age. It’s a no-brainer for me.
On a side note, the new design of the site has been delayed due to some issues with the content management system MVN is going to be using. No word on when it will be resolved, so we’ll keep on plugging away on our end. That was the reason for the lack of posting this week.
I choose (C). Seriously, I guess I would go with Ramirez for the short term gain, he’s proven he can still hit with his LA stint. If you can keep him happy for 2 years in Chicago, he’d help the Cubs more than Soriano would, would likely be more consistent than Soriano. Good chance the last 4 years are going to be a washout with either guy, I think, and once you get tired of Manny I bet you’d be able to trade him more easily than Soriano. (Still wouldn’t be an easy sell, but easier than The Fonz.)
This one isn’t even close because of age and athleticism. Soriano.
ManRam is a better hitter right now, no question. But he will be 37 next year, and that’s in the FIRST year of a new contract. That is a huge risk for subsequent years, given his past attitude problems, and the fact that his defense is likely to go from today’s pretty bad to tommorow’s can’t-even-contemplate how horrible it might be.
Soriano plays a pretty good LF overall; some gaffes, but he has the speed and athleticism to expect reasonable defense out there when he is 38, which he will be in the last year of his contract. He figures to still be OK at the plate too, any hitting problems he has have nothing to do with lack of bat speed. Who knows, maybe he’ll get better at tracking fly balls and taking pitches as he gets older and hopefully wiser.
Whoever signs ManRam will have to really be thinking about the next two years, with any remaining years as potential punishment for signing him in the first place.
On the other hand, let’s not forget that he signed an 8-year, $160mil contract, which seemed insane at the time. You could argue the BoSox got their money’s worth, even with the attitude.
Seriously? Ramirez. For sure. Soriano is like 3 for 28 in the postseason. If we aren’t getting it done in the next two years, we’re going to have to rebuild anyway. Take the hitter who performs in the postseason. There’s no reason we can’t get there again next fall. Ramirez. No question.
To clarify, 3 for 28 in his two Cubs postseasons.
JP, I disagree with your assessment of Soriano’s athleticism. He quit running full out after the leg injury earlier this year, and he’s pretty clumsy in LF. Not as bad as Manny…..but still. No longer as flexible as he was in his younger days, average to mediocre instincts in the field and on base. And he looks like a guy whose physical skills are going to deteriorate quickly in a couple years, especially if just one more leg episode occurs.
Ramirez’ bat would help the Cubs so much more at this point. It’s not hard to quantify either through numbers or observation how much better a hitter Ramirez is than Soriano. And like I said, after 2 years I think both these contracts are going to be real albatrosses, so I will take the two years of Manny, working towards a World Series.
Dave and I are two for two. I would take Ramirez over Soriano for the same reason. We have about two years to win it all. After that, we will be in rebuilding/retooling mode. Soriano is not a clutch player. Ramirez is a head case, but he delivers. However, the dredlocks have to go along with the baggy uniform. Can you imagine a lineup that feaures Theriot and Ramirez? WOW!!!
Different dave…
I would take Manny of Soriano for a year or two, but not for six years.
Quite the question. It is hard to argue with Manny’s production in the playoffs, a spot where Soriano has sorely lacked. But Manny is a headcase, and once that contract is signed you have to wonder if he is even going to care. I think I would have to take Manny, he is simply too good and doesn’t diappear in crunch time.
That can’t be the only reason to justify your feelings. You’ve got to look at the big picture.
“but I’ll take the upside of Soriano”
What upside? His career year is behind him. He’s not going to get any better at anything.