Chicago Cubs Ticket Blog

The Cubs have announced Friday that they have signed outfielder Xavier Nady to a one-year deal worth $3.3 million. The deal was held up for a few days as Nady had to pass a physical with the Cubs. The 31-year-old has good career numbers (.280, 87 HR’s, 325 RBI’s), but his career has been plagued by injury. The journeyman ball player has played for the Padres, Mets, Pirates, and Yankees. In 2008 Nady hit .305 with 25 HR’s and 97 RBI’s playing for the Pirates and then Yankees. Nady spent the majority of 2009 out after undergoing Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career. Bringing in a player with such a history of injury problems is a risk the Cubs are willing to take, but looking back at the Cubs’ 2009 season the move looks safer than signing a troublemaker like Milton Bradley.

Adding another run producer to the lineup could make a huge difference who had to rely to much on Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez for RBI’s. Nady joins Marlon Byrd as new outfield signing for the Cubs. Byrd career power numbers aren’t as high Nady’s, but the former Texas Rangers center fielder has played the majority of his last three season. No matter who starts in the outfield come opening day the addition of Nady does add some needed depth to the Cubs roster. I’m just glad the Cubs are doing something. It’s never too early to get excited for opening day at Wrigley Field. All this snow and cold makes me miss baseball season. I can’t wait for the days of sunshine, hot dogs, ivy, and Cubbie blue. Who knows maybe Xavier Nady will turn out to be a master stroke by GM Jim Hendry? It could happen!