I know it hasn't been rumored in any of the local papers or Web sites, but the possiblity of Mark DeRosa making his triumphant return as a Cub and wiping out the ills of Milton Bradley does exist. The Bradley part is clearly sarcasm but DeRo is a free agent and if Jim Hendry were to make an offer, he'd be foolish not to think about it. I'm a guy who was planning to buy his jersey days before he was traded to the Indians last winter, so I do really like him. However, signing him would not be a good move.

If DeRosa were on the Cubs in 2010, he'd either start at second or in right, both of which don't make much sense. He isn't a very good defensive second baseman (-7.5 career UZR/150) and though the same statistics indicate he is really good in right (21.6), moving him there would complicate the Cubs plans to maximize Fukudome's value and put him in right. Defense is probably the easiest place for the Cubs to improve with the limited flexiblity they have, and signing DeRosa seems to muck that up.

Signing him to be a "super-sub" definitely carries some salt with how quickly things went South when Aramis left a gaping hole to fill at third last year. The same can be said for Soriano's iffy health. But is signing an everyday player like DeRosa in large part to prepare for injuries really a way to run a team? If 2010 provided anything it was some depth to the organization. I would be shocked if Jake Fox is around in April, but if you really want Aramis/Soriano insurance, he is there. Same with Jeff Baker. The simple fact also is that if either, but especially Aramis, miss significant time next year, the Cubs won't compete no matter who is filling in.

As a hitter DeRosa would definitely be an upgrade to what was at second or in right field in 2009. He followed a fantastic 2008 with a horrid 2009. Some of that could be attributed to moving teams, but it is still alarming. Especially alarming is his OBP drop. After having two plus-.370 seasons with the Cubs, he posted a .319 last year (.291 with St. Louis). DeRosa isn't as good as he was in 2008, but he also isn't as bad as he was 2009. The Bill James projected line for 2010 is pretty fair (.260/.335/.418 17 HR's, 27 2B's). However is that really worth that much?

At 34 he isn't looking for short-term contracts, especially after being on 3 teams in the last year. As of the right now the Phillies are showing interest, and one would have to think they'd give him at least three years. That being said, the Cubs certainly don't need to lock themselves into another veteran for multiple years. Especially if it is a solid not spectacular player like DeRosa.

Photo courtesy mlb.com.

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