Daryle Ward became the latest Cub to file for free agency on Saturday afternoon after a disappointing second season with the Chicago Cubs. Ward struggled off the bench for Lou Piniella last year and will likely be replaced by Micah Hoffpauir next season.
Daryle Ward hit .218 with a .319 OBP, a .402 SLG and a .721 OPS in 89 games (22-for-102) with 7 doubles, 4 home runs and 17 RBI's after compiling a .327/.436/.527/.963 line in 2007 with 13 doubles and 3 home runs in 79 games (36-for-110).
As a pinch hitter in 2008.... .145/.294/.291 with a .585 OPS (8-for-55) with 12 walks, 2 doubles and 2 home runs in 73 games.
Daryle Ward completes the list of all possible Cubs that could file for free agency.
Complete List of Free Agent Filings:
- Ryan Dempster
- Kerry Wood
- Henry Blanco
- Jim Edmonds
- Bobby Howry
- Jon Lieber
- Chad Fox
- Daryle Ward
Both Ryan Dempster and Henry Blanco are expected to return in 2009 (and in Dempster's case, beyond) but Kerry Wood resigning with the Cubs at this point is questionable at best, same for Jim Edmonds.
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Goodbye Ward...don't let the door hit you on the way out.
I agree Neil, looks like barring a trade of Lee, Hoffpauir will finally get a chance to at least be on the 25-man the whole season on the bench. I actually thought Ward deserved a DFA during the season. I mean, we did it to Eyre. Shouldn't we have done it to Ward, who was just dreadful?
Anyway, I hope we re-sign Wood and Dempster, but if I had my choice between the two, it'd be Wood. At least Wood can be unhittable at times, and he has a track record of success. Dempster, on the other hand, has only had two above average seasons, and both were as a starter. Wood has dominated at times in both relief and starting. I still have a dream of him returning to the rotation, and delivering big time in that role. Dempster is just too iffy. Who knows, at 32 or whatever he is, he might've figured it out, but between the two, I'd rather have Wood. The only thing that worries me is the health of Z and Harden, and with Guzman and the rest of the crew, we can replace at least one of them, but probably not both.
If you look at our entire organization though, it appears pitching should not be a concern, but position players are definitely a concern. I mean, we've had Theriot, Fontenot, Pie, Soto, Eric Patterson, Hoffpauir, and I guess you could consider Murton too, come up the last few years and have a decent amount of success. And all of these guys have come up each year for the past 3 years and done that. However, can you name a single guy in our system that can come up and play next year at a high level? I certainly can't, and we have a lot of older guys like Soriano, Lee, DeRosa, and even ARAM (though he's 30, he's already had a bunch of leg issues) who could go down at any time. Injuries to that group would be damning to the team, as we know how much the offense struggled at times last year, and you can't get impact players on the drop of a dime midseason if that happens, therefore, you must protect against such an event.
I believe you accomplish this protection by going after the following guys this offseason (on offense):
Dunn
Teixeira
Baldelli
Crawford (if option not picked up)
Did Dunn give you your first autograph or something?? (jk) Man, you support him an awful lot.....I hope I come out on top with that one....I would HATE to have to root for that clown.
Anyhow...I agree GOODBYE Ward...BUT...I'm not sure Lou will keep Hoffy to be the LH bat off the bench.....he prefers a veteran...so I think for Hoffy it will be A) does Lee get traded...or B) does he get a shot at RF....I think Lou will want a veteran LH stick off the bench....maybe even Edmonds??
I too would like to see Woody back in the rotation...I made my point about the need for a lights out closer.... But if Woody can't start, I would by far keep Dempster instead.
Gonna be interesting next few weeks...GM meetings this week...and then winter meetings early December....