Cubs to Sign Jim Edmonds

by Charlie Wilmoth on May 13, 2008 2:26 PM EDT

The Cubs are set to sign Jim Edmonds and send young centerfielder Felix Pie to the minors.

As a Pirates fan, I heartily approve. Edmonds has now been dumped by two NL teams, including the team with the worst record in baseball. I've seen Edmonds several times this year and he looks like he's toast. Maybe I like Pie more than I should, but I don't think you have to like him much to think he's got to be better than Edmonds and Reed Johnson. Pie has better numbers than Edmonds so far this year, and he's obviously a more important part of their future as well. He has nothing left to prove in the minors. The Cubs need to start him regularly, but they haven't and won't.

Tweet Comment 8 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Read More: jim edmonds, felix pie, reed johnson

Comments

Maybe Pie should be playing,

but he has been struggling mightily. I think they should try to give Pie a little more time to beat out Reed Johnson, who I really don’t like as a starter, and then Edmonds would be in a purely bench role. The Cubs have wanted a left handed bat, and this is a really, really cheap option that could benefit them.

Good defense and a little bit of lefty pop off the bench for the major-league minimum is probably worth the flier. They have a legitimate shot at a series this year and I think Edmonds is a fair bet to be a decent bench player.

by DITO on May 13, 2008 2:46 PM EDT reply actions

Edmonds isn’t a plus defender anymore. From what I’ve seen, he’s actually downright bad. Edmonds is probably worth a shot in a purely PH/5th OF type of role, you’re right, but the Cubs aren’t the right team to use him that way—Johnson, Pie and several guys they’ve got at AAA are all better. if the Cubs send down Pie to make room for him, they’re making a big mistake, in my judgment.

by Charlie Wilmoth on May 13, 2008 3:06 PM EDT reply actions

I haven't watched too much of him,

just kind of speaking on reputation. If he doesn’t have much glove benefit, then all you have is (maybe) some bench power, and he probably isn’t a guy worth having.

by DITO on May 13, 2008 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions