Is Millar or Aurilia a fit for the Cubs?

After spending the winter doing everything they could to add left-handed hitters and balance to the roster, the Cubs are reportedly looking to add a righty to the mix that can backup Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez. The two names that continue to surface....Kevin Millar and Rich Aurilia.

While one is a self-proclaimed Idiot and by all accounts a great clubhouse guy with ties to Ryan Dempster...the other pounded southpaws to the tune of a .321/.377/.526/.903 line in 64 games with five home runs and 13 doubles and can still play all four infield positions. Both will turn 38 in September, so if the Cubs are interested in both players, which one would be a better fit on Lou Piniella's bench?

Kevin Millar

Kevin Millar put together a solid year for the Orioles in 2008, despite declining numbers for the third season in a row. Millar hit .234 in 145 games (531 at bats) with a .323 OBP, 20 home runs and 25 doubles with 72 RBI. Still his line from 2008 (.234/.323/.394/.717) was a career low and his second half (.222/.296/.396/.692) more than signaled Millar's days as an everyday player were coming to an end.

Millar hit lefties (.238/.341/.395/.736 with 8 doubles and 5 home runs) slightly better than righties (.232/.316/.393/.709 with 17 doubles and 15 home runs) in less than half as many at bats (147 against lhp, 384 against rhp).

Millar made only two at bats as a pinch-hitter last season and did not record a hit in either at bat.

While Millar might be the type of player the Cubs clubhouse needs, how he could help the team win games on the field is questionable at best.

Of the 145 games Millar played in last season, 130 were at first base and the last time he played more than 10 games at any position other than first was in 2005. Millar filled in for Manny Ramirez for 20 games in left and another 14 in right the year after the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years.

Millar last played third base in 2002 with the Marlins for two games...a year earlier was the last season he played 10 or more games at the hot corner. And of Millar's 1297 career big league games, he has played 28 at third base.

For his career, Kevin Millar's line as a pinch-hitter is .214/.336/.321/.657 with 6 doubles and 2 home runs.

If the Cubs are looking for more than a right-handed bat off the bench, Kevin Millar might not be the best fit.

Kevin Millar's Player Page from Yahoo Sports

Rich Aurilia

Rich Aurilia bounced back from an injury-shortened 2007 season (.252/.304/.368/.672 with 19 doubles and 5 home runs in 99 games) and put together a very good year for the Giants.

Aurilia played in 140 games, most since 2001, and hit 10 home runs with 21 doubles in 407 at bats. His line (.283/.332/.413/.745) was not off too far from his career numbers (.277/.330.437/.767) and Aurilia played almost as many games at third base (63) as at first base (82)....he played one game at second base. Aurilia hit 10 home runs with 21 doubles in 407 at bats.

Aurilia's split stats are what separate him from Kevin Millar. Aurilia hit .321 with a .377 OBP in 137 at bats against lefties with 13 doubles and 5 home runs. And on the road, .305/.361/.433/.794 with 12 doubles and 5 home runs in 74 games (210 at bats).

Aurilia kept hitting in the second half despite the fact his playing time was cut. Aurilia finished the year by hitting .333 with a .379 OBP in 20 games in September....and his second half line was very respectable .297/.335/.392/.728 with 2 home runs and 7 doubles in 57 games.

Where Millar has been just a first baseman for the last several years, Aurilia has continued to play all over the infield.

Third Base

52 games in 2006
22 games in 2007
63 games in 2008

First Base

47 games in 2006
55 games in 2007
82 games in 2008

Shortstop

26 games in 2006
12 games in 2007
0 games in 2008

Second Base

10 games in 2006
9 games in 2007
1 game in 2008

As a pinch hitter in 2008, Aurilia was 2-for-8 with a double (.250/.250/.375/.625) and for his career 25-for-90 (.278/.350/.433/.783) with 2 doubles and 4 home runs.

Rich Aurilia's Player Page from Yahoo Sports

Lou Piniella likes to have versatility. While Kevin Millar could help with keeping the team loose and focused throughout the year, it is questionable, at best, what he could add to the mix. With Mark DeRosa no longer in the picture, Rich Aurilia could be the right fit off the bench for the Chicago Cubs.

cc002600

Call me crazy, but wouldn't it have made more sense to just keep Cedeno, who is heading into his prime vs these guys that are 38 ? I know he doesn't play first, but you have Hoffy for that. Ugh. I don't know.

I like JH, but this winter it seems like all we've been doing is re-arranging the deck furniture. I think overall the team is weaker, although not by much...but I think the the substitution of Gregg for Wood is a big downgrade in the bullpen. I think the lineup is slightly better, provided uncle Milty can play 120 games or so.

Go Cubs.

Oh Well, pitchers and catchers report next week....yea, baby !

JimK

If the money sorts out/can be found, I think Aurilia is the man. As someone mentioned, he's limited these days for SS, but he'll do in a 3-4 game stretch, and we do have alternatives on the 25 and at Iowa. Aurilia from the right and Hoffpauir (who can play the corner outfield spots as well as 1B) from the left are the kind of bats with some pop that I prefer. Everything I've read has noted that Aurilia is one of the top clubhouse guys in the league.

Jim C, T.P. got me thinking a couple of days ago as he discussed our likely starters, pen and (his view) guys like Samardzija, Wuertz, Hart, Ascaino, Wells and Stephens fighting it out for two spots. In our case, I think, having a surplus of pitching means that we should trade some quantity for another quality arm and a good prospect or two for the farm. Peavy is in our thoughts, of course, but I'm looking at an alternative--should we want one.

If it's true, that ownership certainty is a prerequisite for a possible Peavy deal, any major deal is also likely on hold. If Peavy is not going to happen, I think JH will move two or three of our roster contenders.

Here's a "blockbuster" deal I like. We get B.J. Ryan, and prospects Brad Mills (lhp #6, 22) and Brad Emaus (3b-2b #10, 23) from the Jays for Vizcaino, Gaudin, Junior Lake (ss #16, 19) and Dan McDaniel (rhp #20 +, 21). In effect, the salaries of Vizcaino ($3.5) and Gaudin ($2.0) partly off-set Ryan's $10 mil in 2009. The Jays want badly to cut payroll, and I think we could get a $3 mil offset to Ryan's remaing $10 mil in 2010.

The 33 year-old lefty horse,Ryan, was 2.95 with 32 saves and 58 IP last year following his arm surgery in '07. As I've mentioned before, I would be as happy if we got Scott Downs ($4 mil) from the Jays. But that doesn't enable moving some of our payroll and a guy like Vizcaino or getting some better prospects for the farm with surplus pitching. Having Marmol and Ryan for the end of the game would be very competitive.

Jim C (Tinley Park)

I would prefer Aurilila over Millar.

Other name to ponder, Nomar. I would preder a trade for Jorge Cantu.

agustin rexach

Aurilia seems like the right fit for the regular

season, Millar for the playoffs makes good sense.

We need to win games in October and IMO Millars

hr's can be key even though Aurilia could make

It Easier in the event that (god forbid)Ramirez or

Lee lose time. Oh well, If we end up having Peavy

any of the 2 would do just fine!!!