The Center (Field) of Attention

The Cubs thought they had filled center field and their lead-off position when they signed Juan Pierre. However, the fans quickly soured on Pierre when he had a slow start to the season. Pierre’s contract is up at the end of 2006, so the Cubs will have to decide if they want to re-sign him or look for another player to occupy center field in 2007.

Let’s compare Pierre to others who might be available:

The Cubs current center fielder:

Juan Pierre – Left/Left, Age 28. Pierre will become a FA at the conclusion of the 2006 season. He is currently earning $5.75 million per year. Career offensive numbers (through 2005 season): .301/.350/.372, 1126 hits in 925 games, 10 HR, 259 RBI. 2006 offensive numbers (through 7/1/06): .257/.307/.335, 86 hits in 80 games, 1 HR, 12 RBI. Discussion: Pierre had a horrible start to the season. He’s starting to come around, but will it be too little, too late? Pierre’s strength has always been getting on base and creating havoc once there. For his career, he has 292 stolen bases. This year he has 25 so far.

Other center fielders:

Alex Rios (Toronto Blue Jays) – Right/Right, Age 25. Rios is signed through 2006, but will not become a FA because he currently only has 1.13 years of ML service. He currently earns $354,000 per year. Career offensive numbers (through 2005 season): .286/.335/.435, 337 hits in 329 games, 26 HR, 140 RBI. 2006 offensive numbers (through 7/1/06): .330/.383/.585, 89 hits in 72 games, 15 HR, 53 RBI. Discussion: Rios is panning out to be a very good young player. So why would Toronto trade him away. The short answer is, they probably won’t. But what if the Blue Jays have a need that can be filled by a trade with the Cubs? It’s a long shot, but something to keep mind.

Brian Anderson (Chicago White Sox) – Right/Right, Age 24. Anderson is signed through 2006, but will not become a FA since he only has .041 years of ML service. He currently earns $330,000 per year. Career offensive numbers (through 2005 season): .176/.256/.322, 35 hits in 75 games, 7 HR, 21 RBI. 2006 offensive numbers (through 7/1/06): .176/.270/.309, 29 hits in 62 games, 5 HR, 18 RBI. Discussion: Anderson had great promise prior to coming to the big leagues, but he has struggled mightily since getting there. In fact, the Sox have started playing Rob Mackowiak in CF instead of Anderson recently. If the Sox have lost their patience with Anderson, perhaps the Cubs could get him in a trade. Of course, the question is, why would the Cubs want him? Remember, Anderson was a highly rated prospect. Perhaps he can reach his potential in a Cubs uniform.

Gary Matthews, Jr. (Texas Rangers) – Right/Switch, Age 31. Matthews will become a FA at the conclusion of the 2006 season. He currently earns $2.3875 million per year plus incentives. Career offensive numbers (through 2005 season): .258/332/.412, 634 hits in 797 games, 67 HR, 277 RBI. 2006 offensive numbers (through 7/1/06): .326/.375/.522, 95 hits in 69 games, 8 HR, 41 RBI. Discussion: Matthews appears to have come into his own in 2006. Reports are that he has changed his approach at the plate and it has paid off big. Matthews has a connection to the Cubs both because he played for them early in his career and because his father is a Cubs coach. Matthews could be a nice fit if he returns to the Cubs.

Torii Hunter (Minnesota Twins) – Right/Right, Age 31. Hunter is signed through 2006 with a club option for 2007. He earns $10.75 million this year, and will earn $12 million in 2007 if Minnesota picks up his option. Oddly enough, Hunter has a limited no-trade clause which include the Cubs. Recent reports indicate the Hunter would waive his no-trade clause if he were to be traded to the Cubs. Career offensive numbers (through 2005 season): .267/.322.457, 968 hits in 1005 games, 146 HR, 554 RBI. 2006 offensive numbers (through 7/1/06): .265/.342/.436, 77 hits in 78 games, 13 HR, 48 RBI. Discussion: Rumor has it that Minnesota would like to move Hunter in order to avoid having to make a decision on his 2007 option. Hunter is a perpetual highlight reel in CF and is part of one of the best fielding OFs in baseball. But Hunter is getting older (aren’t we all) and his rather average offensive numbers may start going south. He’s a big name player, but is he the guy the Cubs should put in CF?

Willy Taveras (Houston Astros) – Right/Right, Age 24. Taveras is signed through 2006, but will not become a FA because he only has 1.028 years of ML service. He is currently earning $400,000 per year. Career offensive numbers (through 2005 season): .282/.321.334, 243 hits in 239 games, 3 HR, 47 RBI. 2006 offensive numbers (through 7/1/06): .263/.315/.319, 71 hits in 77 games, 0 HR, 18 RBI. Discussion: If the Cubs were to trade for Taveras, they would be getting an okay average hitter with no power. Taveras does have some speed and has stolen 61 bases in a total of 316 games. He’s young and has some promise, but right now he’s still a question mark.

The Cubs have two players at AAA Iowa that could potentially be called up to take the spot in CF. They are:

Felix Pie – Left/Left, Age 21. 2006 offensive numbers at Iowa Cubs (AAA): .250/.318/.395, 76 hits in 79 games, 7 HR, 36 RBI. Discussion: For a prospect of Pie’s caliber, he really isn’t putting up particularly good numbers. Pie is young and needs more time in the minors to mature. He is a year (or two or three) away from being ready for the big leagues. Let’s hope the Cubs don’t move him up too soon.

Buck Coats – Right/Left, Age 24, 2006 offensive numbers at Iowa Cubs (AAA): .273/.337/.358, 74 hits in 74 games, 4 HR, 29 RBI. Discussion: Coats doesn’t get the hype that Pie gets, but he appears to be closer to being ready for the show than Pie. However, even Coats isn’t setting the world on fire at AAA. If the Cubs are going to look elsewhere for a CF next year, they need to look somewhere other than Iowa.

Discussion: Pierre hasn’t lived up to expectations, but from the other players examined, there aren’t too many guys out there who could be counted on to do a better job. If the Cubs are going to pass on re-signing Pierre, Gary Matthew, Jr would be the guy to go after. If a trade could be worked out with Toronto, Alex Rios would be a welcome addition to the Cubs. Otherwise, Pierre should be re-signed.

If I was GM, I'd sign:

1) Gary Matthews, Jr.
2) Alex Rios
3) Juan Pierre