According to multiple reports, the Chicago Cubs are set to sign first baseman Carlos Pena to a one year, $10 million contract. No deal has been announced yet, however.
The Cubs are clearly paying a premium in salary to limit the deal to one year, as $10 million for Pena just seems like a crazy amount of money. That the Cubs are so eager to limit the deal to one year, however is a sign that the team anticipates going hard after one of the bigger name first baseman in 2012 (e.g., Adrian Gonzalez, Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols, etc.).
Pena would bring with him an elite glove and elite power potential – but below average everything else.
The deal would not necessarily put an end to the Cubs’ pursuit of Chris Davis, who offers a bit of upside and versatility beyond just playing first base, and reliever Darren O’Day.