KFDM COOP Posted November 27, 2006 Report Posted November 27, 2006 DeRosa signs with Cubbies 11/14/2006 5:04 PM ET Cubs sign DeRosa to three-year deal Former Rangers utility man expected to see action at second By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs continued their offseason shopping spree on Tuesday, signing versatile Mark DeRosa to a three-year deal. DeRosa, 31, batted .296 with 40 doubles, 13 homers and 74 RBIs in a career-high 136 games last season for the Texas Rangers. He rotated from second, third, short and both left and right field, and could see the most playing time at second for the Cubs. New Chicago manager Lou Piniella had youngsters Ryan Theriot and Ronny Cedeno as options at second heading into his first season with the team. A right-handed hitter, DeRosa began with the Atlanta Braves, and has compiled a .273 average, 38 homers, 93 doubles and 193 RBIs in his career. A nine-year veteran, DeRosa ended last season with a career-high batting average while his 74 RBIs were more than the 73 he totaled in the 2003-05 seasons combined with Atlanta and Texas. DeRosa excelled against southpaws, batting .342 against left-handed pitching. He's one of nine Major Leaguers to start at all four infield positions. On Sunday, the Cubs locked up third baseman Aramis Ramirez to a five-year, $73 million deal, and signed pitcher Kerry Wood to a one-year contract. Well, we knew it was coming, but I still hate to see him go....It's amazing to think about how much money Rudy Jaramillo has made a bunch of hitters with just a year or two of instruction.
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