By taking a gamble that Jim Edmonds still can be a productive center fielder and hitter, Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry knew he was inviting criticism from fans who have invested a lot of time loathing the former Cardinals star.
“There is really no negatives in it,” Hendry said. “You’re not giving up players. You’re not spending a lot of dollars, so you look at things like that and, hopefully, he’ll be able to give us at least a great portion of the Jim Edmonds we all knew and used to fear in a lot of ways.”
Edmonds, who turns 38 next month, took a physical Wednesday night and signed a one-year deal for around $284,000, the pro-rated amount of the major-league minimum. He’s expected to be in the starting lineup Thursday against former Cubs ace Greg Maddux and could provide his new team with some much-needed left-handed pop in a predominantly right-handed hitting lineup.
“He’s going to hit ninth,” manager Lou Piniella said facetiously in a reference to the Cardinals’ batting order. “I’m going to move the pitcher to eighth and hit him ninth.”
Edmonds could provide Piniella with the option of moving Kosuke Fukudome into the No. 2 hole, where his high on-base percentage would be more conducive than in the 5-spot. Edmonds then could bat fifth behind Aramis Ramirez. The 16-year veteran has 363 career home runs and a .526 slugging percentage, although his last big season was in 2005, when he finished with 29 homers and 89 RBIs for St. Louis.
San Diego released Edmonds last week when he was hitting .178 in 90 at-bats. The Padres are responsible for most of the remaining $7.7 million on his contract, although St. Louis agreed to pay part of it when they traded him last winter.
Hendry said Edmonds did not need any minor-league time to get his stroke back. The eight-time Gold Glove winner also should benefit from playing in Wrigley Field, where the outfield is much smaller than spacious Petco Park in San Diego.
“He just feels he has some baseball left in him,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “He’s a competitor. He has a lot of pride. I think it could be a good fit. He’s a great instinctive center fielder. He’ll do fine here.”
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CUBS 8, PADRES 5
Alfonso Soriano and Geovany Soto homered and had 3 RBIs apiece in an 8-5 win as Ted Lilly outpitched Jake Peavy. The Cubs can win their second straight series Thursday when Ryan Dempster faces ex-teammate Greg Maddux in what could be Maddux’s final appearance at Wrigley Field.
– The Cubs sent Felix Pie to Triple-A Iowa to make room for Jim Edmonds, who is slated to make his debut in center field.
