Carlos Pena

Carlos Pena has been added to the 2011 roster for the Chicago Cubs. The free agent first baseman comes from the Tampa Bay Rays, and he signed a one year deal with the Cubs for $10 million. This deal has been seen as a win for both the team and the player, and it can be considered a tryout of sorts for each if they'd like to continue to be together following a successful one year run. Carlos Pena carries a lot of upside, although some risk, but his addition may just prove to be a huge boost to the team at the plate, and in the field

Pena is a power hitting, left handed batter, and that will fill a major void in the lineup of the Chicago Cubs. He has hit as many as 46 home runs in a season, and from 2007 through 2010 averaged 39 home runs, which is excellent. However, last season he hit only 28 homeruns, and while he was over 100 RBIs from 2007 through 2009, in 2010 his RBIs also dropped down to just 84.

The best year of Pena's career was undoubtedly in 2007. It was his first year in Tampa Bay, and after appearing in only 97 games the previous two years and hitting a combined 19 home runs, he ended up winning the Comeback Player of the Year award because of how greatly he improved. He bat .282 that season and hit 46 home runs while driving in 121. His OBP was .411 and he scored 99 runs as well.

Throughout the rest of his career he was won several other accolades in addition to the comeback player of the year award mentioned above. He was an All Star in 2009, and he has won a Gold Glove from 2008 and a Silver Slugger from 2007. Pena was originally drafted 10th overall by the Texas Rangers and he debuted in 2001 at the age of 23. He spent just one year in Texas before being traded to Oakland and then traded again that year to Detroit, where he played three more years. After that Pena spent one year in Boston.

2010 was the worst year of his career, and it came when he had great expectations with his team and for his individual play. He only hit .196 at the plate, an absolutely dismal figure, although he started to perform a bit better by the end of the year. Therefore, the 28 homeruns and 84 RBIs don't seem like such a big drop off, because he still got those power numbers despite hitting below .200!

With all of this, some Chicago Cubs fans have been wondering why the team would pay $10 million for a hitter who is coming off a .196 season, has dropping power numbers, and at 32 years old, is perhaps simply past his best. Of course, Pena has big shoes to fill as well. First base had been manned by Derrek Lee for quite some time, and Lee had a lot of really strong years with the Cubs. Therefore, there will certainly be some expectations, as well as a general need for Pena to perform with the absence of Lee being so glaring.

The Chicago Cubs and Carlos Pena are both clearly viewing 2010 as an aberration. He has never been a high batting average guy, but he averages .241 for his career, and last year seems more like a fluke it was so low, and therefore not likely to be repeated. Going against National League pitching, if his batting average ticks back up 40 points, those power numbers will also tick back up, and he could hit 30 home runs and drive in 100 runs while batting .240 and providing the big bat from the left side of the plate that the Cubs really need.

Another factor that could be positive for the Chicago Cubs is that Carlos Pena has a strong reputation as being a great teammate, and being a great person to have in the clubhouse. That's always needed on a team, and it could provide especially useful considering the blend of youth, big names and more that currently is with the team. He should blend in well, provide solid defensive play, and if all goes according to plan, improve on his hitting from last season.

We'll all just have to wait and see how Carlos Pena performs in 2011. Some are questioning the move and the $10 million, but in truth there is little risk to the deal, while it provides a lot of upside. There are big shoes to fill and big expectations, but from his power hitting, to his clubhouse presence and defensive play, Pena should fit right in and help to improve the team and win some games.

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