2015 Cubs Offseason Discussion

[chibears55]

Ryan doumit seems like the kind of guy theyd go after for backup C, plus he could play 1B to give Rizzo a breather as he a switch hitter..

 

[TC in Mississippi]

It's not that I am not into Martin, it's more of that I don't think he is the fit for the Cubs at this moment. If the Cubs had that pitching staff in line already (Dodgers, Cardinals, Nationals for example), and the young kids had found their strides, then I would pull the trigger and upgrade.

Right now, Castillo is serviceable and the Cubs need to focus their attention elsewhere IMO. I would be content with someone like A.J. from the left side for a year until maybe something else shakes out or that they can trade for someone.

Pitching and an additional bat to help the kids is important moving forward as even with free agent pick ups, 2015 is still going to be a learning year seeing that there are still a lot of question marks with the youth.

Having the Valbuena's, Coghlan's and such on the bench is huge and not being spoke of much. The fact that they can spell the youth who have not been through a whole year yet, or that the struggles could still continue for some and they could replace them and not lose much in the line-up is a luxury.

To think that last years starters could be this years bench should tell someone that the Cubs indeed are getting stronger in most facets of the game.

Question marks still? Sure. But it's nice to have insurance on the bench.

I think this is pretty much spot on. I think you can live with Castillo especially when you're trying to figure out if Schwarber is a catcher. I think ultimately they will spend on the pitcher they like and that looks to be Lester. After that they'll sign a veteran platoon outfielder and then look for a second pitcher. I think this could be a Brandon McCarthy or Francisco Liriano. About the only thing in your post I disagree with is please, please no AJ. Dude's exactly the wrong guy to have around a bunch of youngsters.

 

[CSF77]

It's not that I am not into Martin, it's more of that I don't think he is the fit for the Cubs at this moment. If the Cubs had that pitching staff in line already (Dodgers, Cardinals, Nationals for example), and the young kids had found their strides, then I would pull the trigger and upgrade.

Right now, Castillo is serviceable and the Cubs need to focus their attention elsewhere IMO. I would be content with someone like A.J. from the left side for a year until maybe something else shakes out or that they can trade for someone.

Pitching and an additional bat to help the kids is important moving forward as even with free agent pick ups, 2015 is still going to be a learning year seeing that there are still a lot of question marks with the youth.

Having the Valbuena's, Coghlan's and such on the bench is huge and not being spoke of much. The fact that they can spell the youth who have not been through a whole year yet, or that the struggles could still continue for some and they could replace them and not lose much in the line-up is a luxury.

To think that last years starters could be this years bench should tell someone that the Cubs indeed are getting stronger in most facets of the game.

Question marks still? Sure. But it's nice to have insurance on the bench.

I would like to see how Martin and Castillo stack against each other on the D side before making a opinion.

On the surface we can look at it and say Castillo is fine and they are progressing with Schwarber. But the reality is Schwarber is a non factor in 2015. So he is not a factor here. So it comes down to is Castillo good enough? There has to be a standard in catching metrics out there and is he above them or below them. As in calling games and framing pitches more than tossing out base runners and hitting.

It is an interesting take for sure. My opinion is get a power LH bat out in LF. Russell on this team would be a #2 hitter. career OBA .354 vs a career SLG .399. If they decided to keep Castro in a RBI spot in the line up it makes sense.

I'm guessing they left
LF open because it seems that the OF is turning into a overfill landing spot right now. Russell up coming someone is getting bumped out of the IF.

 

[JZsportsfan]

Cubs are bringing back Wada on a 1-year deal. Seems like a good option. With Jackson likely gone, and Wood a trade chip the Cubs have a fall back option if they are unable to land multiple SP in free agency. Wouldn't mind having Wada as the #5 guy heading into the season

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Cubs are bringing back Wada on a 1-year deal. Seems like a good option. With Jackson likely gone, and Wood a trade chip the Cubs have a fall back option if they are unable to land multiple SP in free agency. Wouldn't mind having Wada as the #5 guy heading into the season

I agree that it's good that he's part of the mix but that #5 mix will probably include Jacob Turner, Felix Doubront and Dan Strailey as well. Of that group Turner probably has the most upside.

 

[JZsportsfan]

I agree that it's good that he's part of the mix but that #5 mix will probably include Jacob Turner, Felix Doubront and Dan Strailey as well. Of that group Turner probably has the most upside.

Yeah for sure it is Turner. Kind of surprised they brought back Wada. Maybe they will try to trade him, or 1-2 of the other back of the rotation guys along with Jackson/Wood

 

[Boobaby1]

I think this is pretty much spot on. I think you can live with Castillo especially when you're trying to figure out if Schwarber is a catcher. I think ultimately they will spend on the pitcher they like and that looks to be Lester. After that they'll sign a veteran platoon outfielder and then look for a second pitcher. I think this could be a Brandon McCarthy or Francisco Liriano. About the only thing in your post I disagree with is please, please no AJ. Dude's exactly the wrong guy to have around a bunch of youngsters.

Well here's the thing though. What A.J. could bring is something a little deeper than just his left handed bat. I think he will be a manager some day and he has a ton of baseball knowledge.

Teaching is what I would want and an occasional left handed power hitting bat for a minimal contract. I like a guy that has been on or around winners. I could care less about much else as it's about moving the team forward which IMO, he would help that.

Also, as much as I would like to have Lester, I am going to temper my emotions on this. When the FO said in the next 12-15 months, that could very well mean a mid-tier arm now, and a TOR arm next year or at the deadline when quite possibly, better fits for the team might be there.

Way too many things have to align for all of this to come to fruition.

 

[chibears55]

Well here's the thing though. What A.J. could bring is something a little deeper than just his left handed bat. I think he will be a manager some day and he has a ton of baseball knowledge.

Teaching is what I would want and an occasional left handed power hitting bat for a minimal contract. I like a guy that has been on or around winners. I could care less about much else as it's about moving the team forward which IMO, he would help that.

Also, as much as I would like to have Lester, I am going to temper my emotions on this. When the FO said in the next 12-15 months, that could very well mean a mid-tier arm now, and a TOR arm next year or at the deadline when quite possibly, better fits for the team might be there.

Way too many things have to align for all of this to come to fruition.

I don't disagree what you say about AJ, I just think AJ himself would prefer to join a team that closer to winning it all for 1 more shot.. this may be his last year being 38


ill be really pissed for the first time in these 3 years if the cubs don't seriously make a push for lester or scherzer to where they at least offer them a deal to where when they decide who to sign with, it isn't about the money but the team if they choose another over the cubs..

for me if they end up with shields and or peavey on 3 yr deals, it would just be like signing Edwin jackson

 

[TL1961]

I hope the Cubs sign some FA's at 11:05 Central time tonight, just to fuel the "tampering" fire.

 

[chibears55]

Edmonds hits first homer as a Cubs, cubs cut rockies lead to 9-4 in 6th.. ; ))

 

[JZsportsfan]

Well here's the thing though. What A.J. could bring is something a little deeper than just his left handed bat. I think he will be a manager some day and he has a ton of baseball knowledge.

Teaching is what I would want and an occasional left handed power hitting bat for a minimal contract. I like a guy that has been on or around winners. I could care less about much else as it's about moving the team forward which IMO, he would help that.

Also, as much as I would like to have Lester, I am going to temper my emotions on this. When the FO said in the next 12-15 months, that could very well mean a mid-tier arm now, and a TOR arm next year or at the deadline when quite possibly, better fits for the team might be there.

Way too many things have to align for all of this to come to fruition.

I think that holds true outside of Lester. Lester requires no draft pick compensation which is a game changer for this FO. Also that timeline was Pre-Maddon. Now that Maddon is at the helm the process could be expedited and more FA will likely be willing to come here as a result. Also with the renovations finally underway I think we will start to see a permanent change in payroll starting this season

 

[CSF77]

Turner signed for 1 mil. Wada 4 mil plus 2 mil in incentives. Hendricks and Arrieta as the core. Have to guess they are going after Lester and sticking with that rotation now. Shields IMO is the back up plan to that.

 

[chibears55]

I think turner starts in AAA..

Arrieta, Hendricks, and Wada for sure in rotation

Have to believe their looking for 2 starters..

Interested now in seeing how they move Jackson and Wood and what they get in return. ..

 

[beckdawg]

I think turner starts in AAA..

Arrieta, Hendricks, and Wada for sure in rotation

Have to believe their looking for 2 starters..

Interested now in seeing how they move Jackson and Wood and what they get in return. ..

How? He has no options. They'd have to expose him to waviers.

 

[CSF77]

How? He has no options. They'd have to expose him to waviers.

bingo.

He will compete for the rotation in S/T. If he gets beat bet he hits the pen as a long man. If he just sucks than most likely cut.

 

[chibears55]

How? He has no options. They'd have to expose him to waviers.

If he their 4 and wada 5, that would actually suck..
Especially if they dont land lester and wind up with another 3 type starter..

Your hope going into this off season is seeing them strengthen their rotation by adding 2 quality starters and pushing if not both Arrieta and Hendricks down in rotation, then at least Arrieta a 2 and Hendricks as a 4...

 

[CSF77]

I would put the rotation as:

Arrieta
Hendricks
Wada
Turner
Doubront

As of now. Lester would sit well between Arrieta and Hendricks. Get a R/L/R/L/R thing going.

But the back end of the rotation I would believe Turner and Doubront will fight over the #5 spot. Jackson they should eat his deal but never know. They might view him as a potential middle innings guy. Wood have to believe them signing Wada signals him not getting offered Arb now and becoming a F/A.

 

[CSF77]

If he their 4 and wada 5, that would actually suck..
Especially if they dont land lester and wind up with another 3 type starter..

Your hope going into this off season is seeing them strengthen their rotation by adding 2 quality starters and pushing if not both Arrieta and Hendricks down in rotation, then at least Arrieta a 2 and Hendricks as a 4...

Wada kept his FIP under 4.00 which is league standard. That to me is a big reason why they retained him. You have to remember these guys are saber guys and they are goinng to look at FIP/K/9 and BB/9 to see if they are going to retain.

 

[SilenceS]

Wada isnt guaranteed a spot in the rotation at all. In fact, he will probably be competing for the number 5 spot at best.

 

[chibears55]

Wada kept his FIP under 4.00 which is league standard. That to me is a big reason why they retained him. You have to remember these guys are saber guys and they are goinng to look at FIP/K/9 and BB/9 to see if they are going to retain.

Wada has only 13 ML starts and he 34, i wouldn't bet too much on him pitching like he did last year for a full season. ..

If i see 2 of Turner, wada, or Dubront in the starting rotation in April i will be pissed.. because they have the opportunity to spend some money and improve the rotation this off season