SAN FRANCISCO -- Will Craig Monroe become the Randall Simon of the 2007 Cubs?
General manager Jim Hendry can only hope his latest acquisition contributes as much as Simon did during the '03 stretch run and postseason.
Like Simon, Monroe wasn't having much of a season when the Cubs came calling. He was hitting .222 when Detroit designated him for assignment last week, but the Cubs were looking at his .302 average in 96 at-bats against left-handers.
"He's not having a great year, numbers-wise, against the righties (.190 average)," Hendry said. "But he's still swinging the bat great against the lefties, and still has (55) RBIs. I was looking for a little more veteran help against lefties."
The Cubs are 12-19 against left-handed starters, including Wednesday night's win against Giants lefty Barry Zito, who left with a no-decision despite throwing eight solid innings. They began Thursday ranked 13th in the NL with a .253 average against left-handed pitching.
Monroe, 30, hit 28 home runs and drove in 92 runs with the Tigers in '06, including 15 homers and 50 RBIs after the All-Star break. He also hit five home runs in the postseason, helping the Tigers into the World Series.
"He's a good athlete, a good outfielder and he's got some pop," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said.
"The teams we're playing here, they all have left-handed starters in their rotation. He'll be a valuable addition."
The Cubs hope he's as valuable as Simon was in 2003. Acquired in an August trade from Pittsburgh, Simon hit .282 with six home runs and 21 RBIs in 33 games. He hit .333 with a homer and six RBIs in the playoffs.
Monroe is arbitration-eligible in '08 and is likely to be non-tendered in November since he makes $4.8 million and the Cubs already are scheduled to pay Alfonso Soriano and Jacque Jones a combined $18 million in '08.
Detroit will pay around $600,000 of the remaining $900,000 of Monroe's '07 salary and receive a player to be named later.
The Tigers reportedly are seeking a left-handed pitcher on the Cubs' 40-man roster, which suggests either Clay Rapada or Neal Cotts.
The move shows the Cubs aren't satisfied with the play of Matt Murton, hitting .246 since his call-up from Triple-A Iowa. Monroe will platoon in right with Cliff Floyd but will also play some left until Soriano returns from his quad injury.
"This gives Lou some options here we didn't have before," Hendry said.
Cubs bench coach Alan Trammell, who had Monroe for three years when he managed in Detroit, said the outfielder could always hit and plays well defensively in the corner spots.
"He's a great guy and will fit in very, very well," Trammell said. "He gives us some experience, and a guy that's produced at the major-league level."
The Cubs designated Triple-A Iowa outfielder Buck Coats for assignment, giving them room on the 40-man roster to add Monroe, who will join the team in Arizona on Friday. Jake Fox is likely to be sent to Iowa on Friday, and probably will be recalled after Sept. 1, when the rosters expand.
General manager Jim Hendry can only hope his latest acquisition contributes as much as Simon did during the '03 stretch run and postseason.
Like Simon, Monroe wasn't having much of a season when the Cubs came calling. He was hitting .222 when Detroit designated him for assignment last week, but the Cubs were looking at his .302 average in 96 at-bats against left-handers.
"He's not having a great year, numbers-wise, against the righties (.190 average)," Hendry said. "But he's still swinging the bat great against the lefties, and still has (55) RBIs. I was looking for a little more veteran help against lefties."
The Cubs are 12-19 against left-handed starters, including Wednesday night's win against Giants lefty Barry Zito, who left with a no-decision despite throwing eight solid innings. They began Thursday ranked 13th in the NL with a .253 average against left-handed pitching.
Monroe, 30, hit 28 home runs and drove in 92 runs with the Tigers in '06, including 15 homers and 50 RBIs after the All-Star break. He also hit five home runs in the postseason, helping the Tigers into the World Series.
"He's a good athlete, a good outfielder and he's got some pop," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said.
"The teams we're playing here, they all have left-handed starters in their rotation. He'll be a valuable addition."
The Cubs hope he's as valuable as Simon was in 2003. Acquired in an August trade from Pittsburgh, Simon hit .282 with six home runs and 21 RBIs in 33 games. He hit .333 with a homer and six RBIs in the playoffs.
Monroe is arbitration-eligible in '08 and is likely to be non-tendered in November since he makes $4.8 million and the Cubs already are scheduled to pay Alfonso Soriano and Jacque Jones a combined $18 million in '08.
Detroit will pay around $600,000 of the remaining $900,000 of Monroe's '07 salary and receive a player to be named later.
The Tigers reportedly are seeking a left-handed pitcher on the Cubs' 40-man roster, which suggests either Clay Rapada or Neal Cotts.
The move shows the Cubs aren't satisfied with the play of Matt Murton, hitting .246 since his call-up from Triple-A Iowa. Monroe will platoon in right with Cliff Floyd but will also play some left until Soriano returns from his quad injury.
"This gives Lou some options here we didn't have before," Hendry said.
Cubs bench coach Alan Trammell, who had Monroe for three years when he managed in Detroit, said the outfielder could always hit and plays well defensively in the corner spots.
"He's a great guy and will fit in very, very well," Trammell said. "He gives us some experience, and a guy that's produced at the major-league level."
The Cubs designated Triple-A Iowa outfielder Buck Coats for assignment, giving them room on the 40-man roster to add Monroe, who will join the team in Arizona on Friday. Jake Fox is likely to be sent to Iowa on Friday, and probably will be recalled after Sept. 1, when the rosters expand.
No comments:
Post a Comment