The thought is that the Cubs are looking at Jermaine Dye or Xavier Nady as possible fourth outfielders/RF platoons. I've already commented on how much I dislike the Dye choice. Actually, the Nady option has some upside, especially if you have some doubts about how durable Soriano will be coming off surgery. Nady is a pretty good player when he is healthy, and he is only 31. Of course, he is coming off a second surgery on his elbow, his first having been done early in the decade when his career was just starting. It's a big chance, but he ought to be obtainable at a fairly cheap price, cheaper I think than Dye and with a better upside.
Actually, I have never been able to figure out why the Cubs think they need a platoon with Fukudome. Granted he was awful last year against lefties, but he only had fifty at-bats or so. In 2008, he had a better average and a better OBA against lefties than he did against righties, though his power numbers were weak. Still, if he is going to lead off anyway, what difference does that make? Also, since almost everyone in the lineup bats right-handed right now, I'm not sure teams are going to be throwing a lot of lefties at the Cubs in any case. You would think the Cubs would be looking instead for a left-handed bat off the bench instead, especially as they do not seem to have confidence in Hoffpauir in this regard.
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