Chicago Hot Stove (Pena to Cubs, Konerko back to Sox)

[FedEx227]

Didn't feel like making two separate threads for this.

Chicago Cubs sign Carlos Pena to a 1 year deal, $10 million.

Way overpaid for Pena.

The good news for me though, White Sox re-sign Paul Konerko to a 3-year, $37.5 million deal.

:marshmellow:

In conclusion Paul Konerko (158 OPS+) will make $2.5 million more than Carlos Pena (102 OPS+) next year. Hendry playing off the Werth market I suppose.

[Goober]

A lot of people getting overpaid this year, that's for sure.

[FedEx227]

But then Konerko, who was a top 5 MVP candidate last year got probably well below his market value.

:marshmellow:

[Irish]

Berkman signed 1 year for 8 mil.

I think Pena for 1 year 10 mil aint that bad considering the poor spending choices in the past. If he flops, then they are out.

It is nice to have more lefties in the lineup, either batting at 3rd or 5th.

[FedEx227]

And Berkman despite having a really, really bad year (people were questioning if he was done) and was still significantly better than Pena last year.

Berkman: .245/.368/.413, 114 OPS+
Pena: .196/.325/.407, 102 OPS+

[EmpireWF]

Pena will have a bounce back year and cash in next year.

[FedEx227]

It wasn't a fluke bad year. He's been regressing. I still kinda like Pena, I just think at $6 million he's a good signing. At $10 million for a team that's supposedly budget constrained, it's a pretty mediocre value. They still have some other holes and this was likely their entire offseason budget.

[Warner2BruceTD]

The guy hit .196.....ONE NINETY SIX.

Sometimes, you don't need to dig deep. Its an awful, terrible signing. You can't convince me they couldn't find a better player for half that amount, or even less.

[FedEx227]

Don't get me wrong, I think he's going to bounce back a little bit, but to what? Even at his career averages he's not that great... at least not at the value he got paid.

[Chrispy]

I think they are hoping he will have a Beltre type year, he did the same thing last year with Boston.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I can't get past the fact he hit .196. I don't care how much you walk, if you hit .196 you are hurting the team. He never gets hits.

[FedEx227]

Shit he was only getting on base at .325, he was dreadful last year outside of hitting some homers.

[ryne candy]

I would have been more pissed if they signed Pena for a number of years. This way, he can bounce back and the Cubs look good or he sucks and they let him go. Also read half of it is going to actually be paid in 2012, so it allows them to have $ toward other FA.

[IamMedellin]

Pena: .196/.325/.407, 102 OPS+

do the Sabermetrics backup $10 million for Pena?

[Goober]

do the Sabermetrics backup $10 million for Pena?

If Pena cuts down on his ground balls (His GB% jumped up to 45% last year) and plays good defense, while maintaining his power; he'll be worth the money. But, IMO, he's regressing and won't live up to the contract.