In looking at potential free agents in the off season in baseball, the names of Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Lee jump out. They are clearing the best offensive players available this winter. Indian fans and talk show hosts have fantasized about getting the Nationals’ left fielder, moving him back to 2B, his position up to this year, and batting him fourth in the lineup behind Travis Hafner. I say signing Soriano would be a mistake for several reasons.
First, Soriano is clearly having the best season of his career. He is also 30 years old. It is very likely he will never have a season like this again. However, teams will line up to pay him based on this season. My guess is Soriano will get around $15 million per year for 5 years. That’s too much money for a player of his type.
Which brings up to point #2. What kind of player is the former Yankee and Ranger? He’s a fantasy players dream, a guy who can belt 30 HR’s and steal 30 bases. However, he’s better on paper than on the field and not a good fit for the Tribe. Why? He’s not a very good defender, especially at second. It’s no coincidence that the Indians started to play better when Shin-Soo Choo and Andy Marte, better defensive players than the guys they replaced, were put into the lineup. And for all the Ronnie Belliard fans, yes, Belliard could turn the double play, but he is a below average defender. The Indians don’t need the defense regressing in 2007.
Reason #3 is Soriano’s inability to make contact. The Tribe already leads the American League in striking out, and Soriano fans an average of 140 times per year. Stat guys don’t mind whiffs, but situational hitting depends on making contact, and the Indians already have several guys who struggle to make contact (Peralta, Sizemore, and Hafner will all whiff over 100 times in ’06). This is the reason Soriano has never been a big run producer. Despite four seasons of over 30 HR, his career high in RBI’s is only 104. This season, he has only 88 ribbies with 44 dingers. That means he is really only knocking in himself.
There is no question the Indians could use a right handed "professional" hitter for 2007 to back Hafner. The ballclub probably has some interest in Carlos Lee, and there is no question he is a better fit. Lee’s a lifetime .285 hitter who has never struck out 100 times in a season. He’s hit 30 HR’s the last four years, and knocked in 100 three of those years (99 in the other). He plays LF, the least important defensive spot. The problem with him is the same as any other marquee free agent, getting him to come to Cleveland. Not to spend Larry Dolan’s cash, but a 3 year, $40 million deal seems appropriate. That should be followed by inking Hafner for the same time period, at a little more moolah.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 