Cubs opt for Nady
The Cubs appear to have settled on free agent Xavier Nady as their fourth outfielder.
Xavier Nady will sign a one-year deal to join the Cubs, provided that he passes a physical later this week, according to multiple reports. That is not a guarantee, however, because Nady is coming off of his second Tommy John surgery that limited him to seven games in 2009.
If Nady passes the physical, he likely will platoon with Kosuke Fukudome in right field and provide insurance behind Alfonso Soriano and Derrek Lee. The 31-year-old Nady is a .280 career hitter who combined for 25 home runs and 97 RBIs in his last healthy season in 2008.
Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman reported that Nady's deal calls for him to earn $3.3 million, plus up to $2 million more in performance incentives based on games played.
Nady (6-0, 180) bats and throws right-handed. He played in the National League for San Diego and Pittsburgh before joining the New York Yankees, where injuries limited his playing time.
The Cubs also had interest in Jermaine Dye, Jonny Gomes and Reed Johnson for their fourth outfielder position. Those players appear to be out of the picture unless Nady fails his physical.
In other news, free-agent pitcher Ben Sheets signed with the Oakland Athletics. The Cubs were rumored to have interest in Sheets, who won 86 games in eight seasons with Milwaukee.
-Tom Musick
