The Chicago Cubs have filled their need for a left-handed hitting first baseman, reportedly signing free agent Carlos Pena to a one-year deal worth $10 million. The deal, reported by Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal and apparently struck around 3:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday, now hinges on Pena passing his physical.
Carlos Pena, Chicago Cubs Reportedly Agree To One-Year, $10 Million Deal
Pena replaces Derrek Lee, who was traded by the Cubs to the Atlanta Braves in August.
The 32-year old is a career .241/.351/.490 hitter, but his numbers took a decline in 2010, when he hit just .196 with a .732 OPS (after putting up an .893 OPS the year prior). He spent the past four seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays and slugged an average of 36 home runs each season, including 28 in 2010.
Over at our Cubs blog, Bleed Cubbie Blue, it’s being seen as a low-risk, potentially high-award deal:
If Pena doesn’t play well in 2011, the deal’s over and the Cubs let him walk. If he does play well, talk of an extension will begin and the Cubs would likely at the very least offer him arbitration to try to keep him for a second year. [...] The money seems a bit much, but otherwise, this is a fairly low-risk deal.
The deal is similar to the one his agent, Scott Boras, got for Adrian Beltre, whom signed for one year and $9 million with the Boston Red Sox after a disappointing 2009. He went one to have one of his best seasons as a pro with Boston.
In addition to the $10 million, former Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux helped to land the free agent.
Read more at SB Nation Chicago, Bleed Cubbie Blue and our Rays blog, DRaysBay.
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