Cubs land a heavy hitter in Jaramillo

No hitting coach ever has been credited with leading a team to the World Series. And not even Rudy Jaramillo's best groups of hitters have taken him there. But the Cubs -- pouncing on the sudden availability of the best hitting coach in the game when they might be able to use him most -- are betting $2.4 million over the next three years that Jaramillo will have as much impact as any free agent they've signed in at least five years. ''For us, it was just like a tremendous stroke of luck from the beginning of an offseason that obviously we deem very important,'' general manager Jim Hendry said at Wednesday's unveiling of the Cubs' new high-powered hitting coach. ''The timing of it was just phenomenal.'' Jaramillo, 59, generally has been regarded as the majors' best hitting coach over much of a 19-year big-league coaching career that included the last 15 with the Texas Rangers. Former Rangers Mark DeRosa and Alfonso Soriano lobbied Hendry to pursue him when they joined the Cubs in 2007. When the Texas native turned down a one-year offer to remain with the financially strapped Rangers, the Cubs made Jaramillo the sole focus of a search that now makes him one of the top two highest-paid coaches in the majors. Only St. Louis Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan, at $850,000 per year, is believed to make more. But if it looks like the hype and big contract in the biggest market of his career could put Jarmillo outside his comfort zone, nothing in his demeanor shows it, even as he prepares for what might be his biggest challenge in years. The Cubs are coming off a low-wattage season of underachievement in which several marquee players slumped much or all of the season. Two hitting coaches, Gerald Perry and Von Joshua, lost the job in 2009. ''I don't feel any pressure,'' Jaramillo said. ''I trust myself. I don't doubt myself in any way. I'm just in a different city.'' Backing up the confidence are his credentials, including the longest current streak of 800-run seasons (13) since World War II. In his 15 years at Texas, a laundry list of rookies, relocating veterans and even aging stars -- such as Sammy Sosa in 2007 -- thrived under his tutelage. Among his success stories was a strong working relationship with Milton Bradley, who in his lone season in Texas (2008) had the best year of his career. That doesn't mean Bradley is any more likely to return to the Cubs than he was when the Cubs suspended him the final 15 games of the season. They still are looking to move the remaining two years on his three-year, $30 million deal. ''Hiring Rudy had nothing to do with that,'' Hendry said. ''We didn't talk at all about it in the interviewing process or ... over the weekend.'' Jaramillo is more likely to have an influence over Soriano, who slumped badly most of this past season and who raves about his former coach's intelligent approach to hitting, tireless work habits and communication skills. Soriano especially hails Jaramillo's ability to teach in Spanish, which, strangely, is a rarity among coaches in a sport with such a high percentage of Spanish-speaking players. Jaramillo already has noticed problems with Soriano in 2009 that he thinks he can help correct. He has earned universal respect at his craft despite never having played in the big leagues. ''You've got a lot of people making a lot of money, different egos,'' he said. ''But that doesn't matter. You've still got to win that person's respect. And the way you do that is when you tell him something, it better work. Because it's about results.'' A FULL PLATE Newly signed Cubs hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo's 15-year track record with Houston and Texas includes 17 Silver Slugger awards, a batting title and four MVP awards for his hitters. Some of his success stories and a few Cubs in particular who could become his first projects: WITH TEXAS AND HOUSTON Mark DeRosa - .239, three-HR year before Texas; credits coach for career takeoff Michael Young - Rangers product; six-time All-Star; 2005 batting champ Ian Kinsler - 17th-round pick; .319/All-Star in '08; 31 HR/86 RBI in '09 Hank Blalock - 86 HR, 292 RBI, two A-S selections first three full years in majors Ivan Rodriguez - Said to think of leaving Texas over Jaramillo's departure Milton Bradley - Had best season with Jaramillo in 2008 (.999 OPS). Marlon Byrd - Five seasons before RJ: .263, 22 HR; three seasons after: .295, 40 Jeff Bagwell - Broke in with Jaramillo in '90, won Rookie of the Year ON DECK Geovany Soto - '08 Rookie of the Year dropped to .218, 11 HR in '09 Alfonso Soriano - Former Jaramillo pupil coming off worst season since '01 Starlin Castro and others - Cubs feel a handful of quality prospects close to big leagues