2015 Cubs Offseason Discussion

[chibears55]

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

You might be right but 4 mil is a lot of money to keep in AAA

Maybe their looking to trade him...

 

[nickofypres]

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

Release?

 

[JZsportsfan]

Release?

Possibly. Unless a team wants to give their Low-A backup catcher and take on about $500 of his contract. They maybe able to work out a bad contract swap with another team. Papelbon, and Upton have been rumored.

There's just no way the Cubs enter next year with Jackson in the rotation, and the pen is too good for him. Maybe he can fill Villaneuva's role as a guy who starts 2-3 times a year and only pitches if someone gets rocked early in the game.

 

[DewsSox79]

id give him a tryout. id give up nothing for him not even a danks swap. he has value to a team that gets all of the contract taken. other than that ive seen enough of him on both chicago teams.


Sent from My 1998 Palm Pilot Using Tapatalk

 

[nickofypres]

Jackson had success with Don Cooper, I would trade Danks for EJ straight up. I don't know if the Cubs would.

 

[DewsSox79]

Jackson had success with Don Cooper, I would trade Danks for EJ straight up. I don't know if the Cubs would.

**** that. i dont care what cooper did. 193 innings for danks vs 140 innings pitched. danks is getting healthier. jacksons era+ was 60. danks had an 82 era+. now i want danks gone but not for edwin jackson. and its not a cub thing with me.


Sent from My 1998 Palm Pilot Using Tapatalk

 

[brett05]

Jackson had success with Don Cooper, I would trade Danks for EJ straight up. I don't know if the Cubs would.

EWWW!!!

 

[TL1961]

I see people listing a starting rotation here that doesn't include Travis Wood. Given the way Wood pitched last year, it would be good of they improve to the point of not needing him.

But I don'rt see any way they have Arietta, Hendricks, Wada, Doubront, Turner...and not Wood. He has experience and can give you a lot of innings. None of the five guys listed have proven they can do that.

I certainly would like to see a rotation much better than last year and one good enough to push Wood down or even out. But they will need to add two starters to even consider that, and even then I don't see him losing his spot to those last three.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

I see people listing a starting rotation here that doesn't include Travis Wood. Given the way Wood pitched last year, it would be good of they improve to the point of not needing him.

But I don'rt see any way they have Arietta, Hendricks, Wada, Doubront, Turner...and not Wood. He has experience and can give you a lot of innings. None of the five guys listed have proven they can do that.

I certainly would like to see a rotation much better than last year and one good enough to push Wood down or even out. But they will need to add two starters to even consider that, and even then I don't see him losing his spot to those last three.

To me Turner has far more upside than Wood and I think will get every chance to beat him out. If by some stroke of luck the Cubs end up with 2 TOR starters through FA or trades your looking at a pool of Wada, Wood, Turner, Doubront & Strailey for a #5 starters slot and you'd have to figure both Wada and Turner to be ahead of Wood in the race. Frankly I think he gets moved in the off season as he just doesn't seem to fit anywhere cleanly.

 

[beckdawg]

While many have been quick to connect the Yankees to the top names on the market, as is the case in most offseasons, Mark Feinsand and Bill Madden of the New York Daily News hear that the team has no intention to pursue any of the “Big Three” starting pitchers — Max Scherzer, Jon Lester and James Shields — or top third baseman Pablo Sandoval.

Not surprising to me but may end up helping the market for the cubs.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Not surprising to me but may end up helping the market for the cubs.

I saw this but not sure whether I believe it. Scott Boras' going around telling people that negotiations for Scherzer start at 7 years $230 million could only be aimed at the Yankees, no one else would even entertain those numbers, so either he miscalculated or the Yankees are bluffing. I suspect the latter but hope for the former. I've been guessing Scherzer would sign with NY for somewhere in the 7 years/$195 million range but if they're not a player he's more likely to get 6 year/$175 mil from a Boston or Texas. That would make Lester more affordable and Shields more affordable still. The Yankees set the market at whatever position they target so if they're not targeting starting pitching it changes everything.

 

[TL1961]

If Scherzer starts at 7/230 the talks will end quickly.

He is not worth that.

 

[Shawon0Meter]

Possibly. Unless a team wants to give their Low-A backup catcher and take on about $500 of his contract. They maybe able to work out a bad contract swap with another team. Papelbon, and Upton have been rumored.

There's just no way the Cubs enter next year with Jackson in the rotation, and the pen is too good for him. Maybe he can fill Villaneuva's role as a guy who starts 2-3 times a year and only pitches if someone gets rocked early in the game.

I'd be all for that.

The idea of paying 90% of his contract for him to play somewhere else and only getting trash in return makes me sick to my stomach. Let him be an overpaid blowout guy, OUR overpaid blowout guy lol

It really pisses me off because all of us new how bad that contract was from the beginning. It's not a hindsight thing, it was a STUPID signing.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

If Scherzer starts at 7/230 the talks will end quickly.

He is not worth that.

That's just Yankee bait. If they're in it he'll get about what I said 7/$195 mil or so.

 

[CSF77]

They could get creative and work a deal with the Phills. Cole Hamels (22.5 mil in 2015) and Dominic Brown (Arb 1).
For Jackson (11 mil 2015) (Lemon for Lemon in Jackson for Brown), Alcantara, Olt and Edwards....ya it would take Edwards to make this deal float. If not it would cost one of Baez, Castro or Russell to center the deal.

Now from the Cubs side they get a TOR LH SP that slots #2 inbetween Arrieta and Hendricks at a realistically affordable price. They off set it with getting rid of Jacksons 11 mil owed this year. So in reality they are only adding 11.5 mil to payroll while adding a major rotation upgrade. Now I believe the main target would be Russell again and Phill wouldn't want to add Castro's contract. Baez would be a out for them as he has middle of the order power and really is still potential. Alcantara is in the same boat.

Pills could have Baez at SS and Alcantara at 2B and Olt at 3B with Jackson in at SP. Cubs would have to move Coghland over to CF with Brown at LF and have Valbuena at 2B until Russell promotes. But, they also have Almora at AA or AAA and Schwarber at AA next year who could still go to LF to replace Brown.

It would be kinda painful but adding Hamels and a power LH bat in LF while losing Jackson in one move would change the dynamics of this team fast.

Yes they would lose Baez...and his SO's also and Alcantara but Russell > Baez and Almora > Alcantara.

You trade from system depth.

 

[chibears55]

Soriano announced retirement. .. 2020 HOF

 

[TL1961]

They could get creative and work a deal with the Phills. Cole Hamels (22.5 mil in 2015) and Dominic Brown (Arb 1).
For Jackson (11 mil 2015) (Lemon for Lemon in Jackson for Brown), Alcantara, Olt and Edwards....ya it would take Edwards to make this deal float. If not it would cost one of Baez, Castro or Russell to center the deal.

Now from the Cubs side they get a TOR LH SP that slots #2 inbetween Arrieta and Hendricks at a realistically affordable price. They off set it with getting rid of Jacksons 11 mil owed this year. So in reality they are only adding 11.5 mil to payroll while adding a major rotation upgrade. Now I believe the main target would be Russell again and Phill wouldn't want to add Castro's contract. Baez would be a out for them as he has middle of the order power and really is still potential. Alcantara is in the same boat.

Pills could have Baez at SS and Alcantara at 2B and Olt at 3B with Jackson in at SP. Cubs would have to move Coghland over to CF with Brown at LF and have Valbuena at 2B until Russell promotes. But, they also have Almora at AA or AAA and Schwarber at AA next year who could still go to LF to replace Brown.

It would be kinda painful but adding Hamels and a power LH bat in LF while losing Jackson in one move would change the dynamics of this team fast.

Yes they would lose Baez...and his SO's also and Alcantara but Russell > Baez and Almora > Alcantara.

You trade from system depth.

Lose Baez AND Alcantara AND Olt AND add $11 million in payroll for ONE starter?

Overpay Scherzer by $3 million a year and your cost is far less.

 

[TL1961]

Soriano announced retirement. .. 2020 HOF

Absolutely NO WAY.

So....a year ago we were wrong to trade him, and now he himself admits he is done. Hmmmm.

 

[Shawon0Meter]

from David Kaplan

Reading Nick Swisher rumors to Cubs. That would be a bad move. Please don't do that. Please. Check out the teams he's been on. No thank you.


Ask people who have played or worked with him. No thank you. He was here in Chgo with the White Sox. Ask around.

 

[chibears55]

from David Kaplan

Reading Nick Swisher rumors to Cubs. That would be a bad move. Please don't do that. Please. Check out the teams he's been on. No thank you.


Ask people who have played or worked with him. No thank you. He was here in Chgo with the White Sox. Ask around.

Swisher ? Why would they trade for swisher ? He a 1B/ DH