Rangers have also DFA'd Torrealba.

It was fun while it last Don Geovaini

His first season and a half in the bigs set up some expectations that were probably unrealistic going forward. I'll always remember him for being the one to relegate Jason Kendall to the bench after Soto burst onto the scene mid-2007.

And helped them make the playoffs it was a fun september. Then the next year they win 97 games and then the success window closed and here we are 4 years later

I'll always remember him for being the one to relegate Jason Kendall to the bench after Soto burst onto the scene mid-2007.

Um ... not to ruin a happy memory, but Soto only had 60 PA in 2007. Kendall played virtually every game in August and started 17 (to Soto's 11) in September.

I liked Soto - if nothing else, he was a major part of the 2008 team - but I can't say I'm bothered to see him dealt. I wish him luck down in Texas, though, and it's reasonably plausible that he'll be a big help to the Rangers.

Soriano has been dealt, but has rejected a trade to the Giants, according to Jim Bowden.

As in a different deal then sf?

Um ... not to ruin a happy memory, but Soto only had 60 PA in 2007. Kendall played virtually every game in August and started 17 (to Soto's 11) in September.

Damn it. I'll excuse my mistake given that the Cubs had 28 catchers that season.

Damn, that's a guy the Nationals really could have used.

Damn, that's a guy the Nationals really could have used.

Mike Nickeas is available.

kind of interesting that the guys the cubs supposedly are working the hardest to move don't move.

but who knows?

kind of interesting that the guys the cubs supposedly are working the hardest to move don't move.

but who knows?

***Insert obligatory they've earned 10/5 rights comment to ward off all the Don Fehr aliases****

What can Thed do? If the Soriano rumor is true, then Thed and company did all they could beyond giving Soriano (and Dempster) lockers in the back room of Murphy's Bleachers.

I can actually see Soriano's POV a lot better than I can Dempster. The Cubs were almost certainly picking up a big chunk of change in sending him to San Fran -- that means that when this dead cat bounce is over, Soriano could find himself cut and out of a job a couple years sooner than he figured to be. He'd still get the money, of course, but I honestly don't think that matters as much to him at this point as playing every day does.

So far as Soto -- I guess Thed did well to get anything for him, even if it's just a fringey 24 yo AA pitcher (who does seem to have a live arm, at least). Personally, I'm not sure I wouldn't have seen if Soto could recover a modicum of value that might make him a bit more moveable in the offseason. He's still got 2 years of arb left and I can't imagine he gets much of a raise even if he puts it back together over the next 2 months. OTOH, looks like there's a very good chance he's cooked... He'd hardly be the first catcher to fall apart around age 30.

Man, Soto is 30 already? I still think of him as a rookie.

I dunno, zonk. I always liked Soto, too, but you take away 2008 and his stint in 2007, you're not left with much. His 2010 was OK, but he was awful in 2009, last season, and this year. I think it's more likely that he's just not a very good hitter, but capable of having some flukey runs where he looks competent.

Soto wasn't awful last season, he was a perfectly average catcher.

I dunno, zonk. I always liked Soto, too, but you take away 2008 and his stint in 2007, you're not left with much. His 2010 was OK, but he was awful in 2009, last season, and this year. I think it's more likely that he's just not a very good hitter, but capable of having some flukey runs where he looks competent.

Gotta agree with Brian C here -- a catcher that can be average defensively and offensively has a good deal of value. He'll take a walk, he's got a modicum of power, but just goes through these (sometimes extended) funks where he looks like Bobby Estelella on bad days.

He does have a career OPS+ of 105 over 2000 PAs...

Still, there's a very non-zero chance he's just gone Ozzie Virgil and he'll be out of baseball within a few years.

He does have a career OPS+ of 105 over 2000 PAs...

Still, there's a very non-zero chance he's just gone Ozzie Virgil and he'll be out of baseball within a few years.

He also went thermo-nuclear in the PCL in 2007, hitting .353/.424/.652

of course it was his 3rd year there

Ron Shandler once said something like, "if you display a skill you own it"

I think Soto is a good hitter, I think he simply doesn't show it all the time because much of the time, like many catchers, he's banged up, his knees hurt, his fingers are calloused and numb, maybe he can't grip the bat properly, etc etc.

I wouldn't be surprised if over the next 4 years he hits 80, 130, 75, 125... or something like that

His 2010 was OK????

His 2010 was OK????

I agree that an OPS+ of 135 from a catcher is a lot better than "OK", but he also only played in 105 games with 387 plate appearances that year.

So this deal actually includes cash going from the Cubs to Texas and a PTBNL or cash going from Texas to the Cubs. Odd.

So this deal actually includes cash going from the Cubs to Texas and a PTBNL or cash going from Texas to the Cubs. Odd.

Sounds like cash to TEX + PTBNL to the Cubs... curious who the PTBNL might be. Prior to the deadline, you'd have to assume it's either someone injured that they don't want to bother with going commish approval on, or, perhaps a recent draftee that hasn't passed the 1 year threshold?

Can't imagine it's anything to exciting, but it'll be something to watch, I guess...

Soto since coming off the DL has hit .323/.398 in 93 PA. Not earth shattering great but his .720 OPS would probably be around a 96 OPS+.

Sounds like cash to TEX + PTBNL to the Cubs...

No, I had it right - from the Cubs press release:

The Chicago Cubs today acquired right-handed pitcher Jake Brigham and a player to be named or cash consideration from the Texas Rangers for catcher Geovany Soto and a cash consideration.

Here's what the Trib reports on the cash/PTBNL:

As was reported Monday night, Soto went to the Rangers for Double-A right-hander Jake Brigham, with the Cubs paying part of Soto's remaining salary. The Cubs will have the option of a player to be named later from the Rangers, or a cash payment (basically a partial refund on the money going along with Soto).