USA Today reports on Cubs' outfield

According to the USA Today, the Cubs will only be as good as their high priced outfield.  That certainly was true last year -

"With Milton Bradley moping, Alfonso Soriano limping and Kosuke Fukudome whiffing, the 2009 Chicago Cubs were done in by their $214 million outfield.


Bobby Scales was called up after 10{ years in the minors and asked to save the day. Jake Fox was all-hit, no field. Sam Fuld was all-field, no-power. First baseman Micah Hoffpauir, thrown into the outfield to supply offense, batted .239.

What a mess."

Last year's result was a mess, considering the Cubs should have easily repeated as NL Central champs.  But things have changed this year.  Gone is Milton Bradley's bad attitude, replaced by the professional acting Marlon Byrd.  Soriano's knee has been surgically repaired and, according to Sori, feels great.  And the Cubs have a legitimate backup for their outfield in Xavier Nady, so if one of the starters goes down or struggles, they have a legitimate back up ready to go.

Hopefully, the Cubs' outfield will improve and, if so, so will the Cubs.

Here's the link to the rest of the USA Today's article - http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/2010-02-28-1440694430_x.htm. 

Dodgers close to deal with Reed Johnson

Reed Johnson's blog, which I enjoyed last season, may not be coming back since it appears that Johnson's not going to a Cubbie next year.  This is not unexpected with the signing of Xavier Nady as the Cubs fourth outfielder.

Now it is being reported that the Dodgers are close to reaching a deal to bring Reed Johnson to L.A. to be their fourth outfielder.  No word as to how much the deal may be worth to Johnson.

Johnson batted .255 with four home runs and 22 runs batted in last year in a season in which he sat out nearly two months because of a broken foot.  Part of Johnson's value is that he can play all three outfield positions.



The opening for Johnson to potentially be the Dodger's fourth outfielder came when the Dodgers traded another former Cub Juan Pierre to the White Sox. 

Xavier Nady

Cubbie fans, the Cubs have signed backup outfielder Xavier Nady to a one year contract worth $3.3 million with incentives of $2.05 million for games played.

While Nady missed all of 2009, he batted .305 with 37 doubles, 25 home runs and 97 RBIs in 148 games in 2008, posting a .357 on-base percentage and a .510 slugging percentage.  After the 2008 season, he had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. 

Nady is expected to platoon some with Kosuke Fukudome in right field and backup Alfonso Soriano in left field.

What do you think of the Cubs' signing of Xavier Nady?  I think its a good signing.  Let me know what you think.