Cubs Sign Cliff Floyd

January 24, 2007 by cubsnet

After months of speculation, the Cubs have finally signed Cliff Floyd. (Hat tip: Baseball Think Factory.) The deal is for one year with a mutual option for 2008. No word on the amount yet. If the Cubs keep Jacque Jones as well, the big loser here for the 2007 season is Felix Pie.

PECOTA projects Floyd at .265/.344/.461 next season. Those numbers could be even better if Lou Piniella severely limits Floyd's at-bats against left handed pitching. For each of the past five seasons, Floyd's OPS against righties has been at least 100 points higher than his OPS against lefties.

UPDATE (9:20pm): Contract details, courtesy of the AP: The 2007 contract is for $3M, initially. He "can make an additional $4.5 million this year in bonuses based on plate appearances and time on the active 25-man roster. The deal includes a mutual option for 2008 that could become guaranteed if he has 100 games started or 425 plate appearances this year. He could earn $17.5 million over two years if he has 550 plate appearances each season and $15.5 million if he has 500 each season."

Floyd says he is OK with platooning with Matt Murton: "I don't think it becomes an issue. Everybody gets caught up in this is what you want to do. If you want to win, you do what the team needs you to do to win."

Frankly, Jacque Jones needs a platoon partner more than Floyd, assuming Floyd is healthy.

Permalink