Cubs looking at “Heart Attack” Jonny?

There are rumors out there that the Cubs are interested in free agent outfielder Jonny Gomes.  They could do worse. 

Gomes has plenty of potential but the knock on Heart Attack Jonny (he suffered a heart attack in 2002) is the injury issue.  He hasn’t put in a full season in the seven years in the majors.  To be fair, let’s call it five since he was up for just a cup of coffee for the first two. 

I feel Gomes has a lot of power potential.  Take the last five years.  Accumulated, he’s averaged 28 homers per 500 at-bats.  Yes, his batting average is a tad low.  By a tad low, I mean averages like .216, .244, .182 and a whopping .267 last year.  To his credit, Gomes ability to get on base with the walk raises his OBP to a more respectable career level of .330.

Last year to go along with his Hornsby-like .267, Gomes hit 20 longballs in 281 at-bats proving that he’s making improvements.  The question is could he do this over an extended and more importantly, do the Cubs have a need for him. 

At this point, yes, I feel the Chicago Cubs could most certainly find a use for Heart Attack Jonny.  I wouldn’t expect him to play a full season if he was acquired but he would play a vital role.  As a righty, he could platoon in right field and spell Soriano when (yes, when not if)he goes down. 

Gomes is 29 and if he could fashion a respectable year in 2010, he could right his career.  He’s been one of those players that had very interesting numbers and I’ve always liked to see what would happen if he was given a chance.

Rafael: Live & Die in LA

furcal Deja vu all over again, as Rafael Furcal once again is the center of controversy regarding signing with a team as a free agent. This time it’s Furcal choosing the Dodgers over the Braves, last time he snubbed the Cubs when he signed with LA in 2005.

Here’s what Braves president John Schuerholz had to say about Furcal signing with the Dodgers. “Having been in this business for 40-some years, I’ve never seen anybody treated like that. The Atlanta Braves will no longer do business with that company — ever. I told agent Arn Tellem that we can’t trust them to be honest and forthright. I told him that in all my years, I’ve never seen any agency act in such a despicable manner”. It seems as though the Furcal team had a verbal agreement with Atlanta, then went with LA.

I remember a similar thing happened with the Cubs in 2005. Aramis Ramirez, Neifi Perez, & Greg Maddux had all talked with Rafael, telling him to sign with Chicago, his name was already penciled in as the leadoff hitter, but then he signed with the Dodgers.

Boras picks up another one

scottboras Manny Ramirez fired his agent and has hired Scott Boras.  Or maybe it’s more appropriate to say that Boras has picked up Ramirez as a client. 

Ramirez, never one shy to speak his mind, said he’d like to stay in Boston but the idea of free agency wouldn’t be so bad either:

“I want to stay here, but it’s up to them if they want to bring me [back]. But if they don’t want to bring me back, that’s fine. I know I’ll be a free agent after ’08 so that’s another thing I’m looking forward to.”

In a free agent year, you can bet Manny’s fantasy value will go up. 

With a growing list of teams who simply won’t deal with Scott Boras, Manny might be find his options somewhat limited next spring should he go that route.  Then again, any team who deal with Boras probably can’t afford Manny anyway.