2015 Cubs Offseason Discussion

[chibears55]

I didn't say punt at all. I believe that the need for a catching upgrade will hold more weight than adding 2 SP this year. Seeing how they inked Wada backs that theory.

I'm still standing on they try to get lester and Martin this year and if they trade Bourn for Jackson I'll be very happy going into next year.

2016's class is pretty deep. There should be a few willing to test F/A.

Just seems like some on here are hesitant on them making a big signing or two and seem to be ok with 2bd or 3rd tier guys..

I dont expect them to blow their load this off season, especially since the core kids are still question marks.
I just expect them to go hard for lester and if he chooses elsewhere then the next best starter and down the line til they get one..

I also expect a solid LFer wheather its by trade ( which is route I think they may get one ) or FA.. I dont want someone that might not even be good enough to start all year ir need to be platooned..

Im just not sold on Martin, especially if it cost years and money... id rather go with castillo and try and sign doumit as backup..

This 15 month thing is theo basically saying their gonna be adding pieces to the team this year and next as needed. .

They have a ton of money to spend because there not much committed payroll and they can always back load deals to when they will have the extra income from the new jumbo tron revenue and tv deal..

I want to see a couple of key long term addition added this offseason not bandades

 

[Boobaby1]

Just read on the Rumor Mill about the Dodgers trading out possibly Carl Crawford in an already overcrowded outfield.

Am I the only one (as I stated last month) that thinks he might be something worth looking at? Lefty, speed, veteran, LF'er, and 2-hole hitter? Check, check, check, check, and check.

Depending on how much the Dodgers eat (which they will), I wonder if Travis Wood and/or Castillo could be in a package lets say if the Cubs landed Russell Martin?

Not to mention his affiliations with Maddon and Theo. Just a thought........again.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Maybe I'm crazy but I think Turner is a #3 starter waiting to happen. Why Miami would give up on him and trade prospects for Cosart is beyond my comprehension. Turner's peripherals with Miami were pretty consistently better than his standard numbers while Cosart was kind of the opposite in Houston. Turner was also a high draft pick and at 23 years old has plenty of time to get better. A couple of years in teh #4 or #5 spot should do him some good.

 

[CSF77]

Just seems like some on here are hesitant on them making a big signing or two and seem to be ok with 2bd or 3rd tier guys..

I dont expect them to blow their load this off season, especially since the core kids are still question marks.
I just expect them to go hard for lester and if he chooses elsewhere then the next best starter and down the line til they get one..

I also expect a solid LFer wheather its by trade ( which is route I think they may get one ) or FA.. I dont want someone that might not even be good enough to start all year ir need to be platooned..

Im just not sold on Martin, especially if it cost years and money... id rather go with castillo and try and sign doumit as backup..

This 15 month thing is theo basically saying their gonna be adding pieces to the team this year and next as needed. .

They have a ton of money to spend because there not much committed payroll and they can always back load deals to when they will have the extra income from the new jumbo tron revenue and tv deal..

I want to see a couple of key long term addition added this offseason not bandades

Martin would not be a band aid. Castillo again was ranked 4th from the bottom of all major league catchers last year. Martin was the #6 ranked. That is not a small upgrade that is a major one.

I'm not fine with them band aiding the rotation but I question if they will toss 150+ mil at one guy though. Hamels is owed 114 mil over the remaining part of his deal. If it didn't cost too much it would be something to look into. I would put up Almora, Vogelbach, Johnson and Olt. Basically CF, 1B, 3B and SP for the next generation Phill's team. None of these guys would cripple the Cubs long term plans.

 

[SilenceS]

Maybe I'm crazy but I think Turner is a #3 starter waiting to happen. Why Miami would give up on him and trade prospects for Cosart is beyond my comprehension. Turner's peripherals with Miami were pretty consistently better than his standard numbers while Cosart was kind of the opposite in Houston. Turner was also a high draft pick and at 23 years old has plenty of time to get better. A couple of years in teh #4 or #5 spot should do him some good.

Turner needs a good defense to be an effective pitcher. He is a groundball pitcher and allows a lot of contact. I knew the Cubs would pick up his 1 million dollar option. They would be crazy not to considering his age and what Bosio has done for other pitchers. Miami letting him go was a head scratcher almost to the entire league but the Marlins. I read an article from one their beat writers and he couldnt even spin it. Im not saying Turner is the next coming, but for what he cost and what he could become is worth the risk everytime.

 

[chibears55]

Martin would not be a band aid. Castillo again was ranked 4th from the bottom of all major league catchers last year. Martin was the #6 ranked. That is not a small upgrade that is a major one.

I'm not fine with them band aiding the rotation but I question if they will toss 150+ mil at one guy though. Hamels is owed 114 mil over the remaining part of his deal. If it didn't cost too much it would be something to look into. I would put up Almora, Vogelbach, Johnson and Olt. Basically CF, 1B, 3B and SP for the next generation Phill's team. None of these guys would cripple the Cubs long term plans.

I didn't say Martin would be a bandade ..

I just think youll get more of the Martin Pre 2014
and not the no.6 ranked .290 hitting career year catcher everyone seem to think he is.. especially if cost 3/4 yrs at 12-15 per...

Like I said before, if this were last off season nobody wants him despite how good he suppose to be behind the plate

He what I would consider as buyers beware. ..

 

[CSF77]

I didn't say Martin would be a bandade ..

I just think youll get more of the Martin Pre 2014
and not the no.6 ranked .290 hitting career year catcher everyone seem to think he is.. especially if cost 3/4 yrs at 12-15 per...

Like I said before, if this were last off season nobody wants him despite how good he suppose to be behind the plate

He what I would consider as buyers beware. ..

I am ranking them off their catching skills first. That alone is a major upgrade. Any O is just gravy IMO.

Turner I doubt they slate him for the rotation. I would expect him to be in the pen for the year. 1 mil is not over paying for a BP arm.

I'm leaning torwards them giving up a draft pick to land Martin. He is worth that loss. SP is the biggest question mark. Lester makes the most sense here as he has no Q-off attached. But it comes down to are the Cubs willing to spend 150 mil and is Lester wanting to play in Chicago? Those are pretty big questions to ask.

My gut feeling is it will end up Shields on a 3 year deal for 60 mil and Martin. They trade Jackson for a LF while holding the farm. If they are in it I could see them trading up for Price then extending him. By then Russell and Almora should be about ready and they will be forced to make some tough decisions with the roster regardless.

 

[CSF77]

BTW: My biggest concern about Jake Arrieta is he has never pitched 200 IP yet. It is pretty shakey to has him being the only TOR going into the season. So guys that are big question marks like Liriano, Masterson, McCarthy should be avoided. Hammel is not a huge upgrade to Wood...who would cost 5 mil. Shields has a long history of getting past 200 ip per year. So the durability factor plays big here.

Jed said it is going to take more than 1 guy next year to right the ship. So that means to me they will not toss all the cash at 1 guy. This to me means if they are going to pay 150 mil it will be on 2-3 guys.

Now after these guys are in place and they youth has settled than I would believe they would be wiling to spend big on Price.

All about timing and current situation.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

I'm not sure I want Martin but I do think they're going to sign him. I also think they'll sign Lester and Masterson and make the deal with Cleveland Jackson for Bourn. Makes the rotation Lester, Arietta, Masterson, Hendricks and either Turner or Wada and I'm not discounting a complete fall off for Hendricks. No stuff guys scare me and I'm not sure he's not the second coming of Randy Wells. Then again he could be Maddux light. I have no real feel for Hendricks but I don't want him as a #3 starter.

 

[TL1961]

I'm not sure I want Martin but I do think they're going to sign him. I also think they'll sign Lester and Masterson and make the deal with Cleveland Jackson for Bourn. Makes the rotation Lester, Arietta, Masterson, Hendricks and either Turner or Wada and I'm not discounting a complete fall off for Hendricks. No stuff guys scare me and I'm not sure he's not the second coming of Randy Wells. Then again he could be Maddux light. I have no real feel for Hendricks but I don't want him as a #3 starter.

Masterson looked pretty bad in St. Louis last year.

Maybe he could bounce back. But if they sign him, it better be damn cheap (relatively speaking, of course.)

If they get Bourne, I hope to heck it is with the mindset of him being the 4th OF. I think that would be the case. But it would be a little insurance. I am just not sold on him being a lot of help.

 

[CSF77]

Masterson looked pretty bad in St. Louis last year.

Maybe he could bounce back. But if they sign him, it better be damn cheap (relatively speaking, of course.)

If they get Bourne, I hope to heck it is with the mindset of him being the 4th OF. I think that would be the case. But it would be a little insurance. I am just not sold on him being a lot of help.

Masterson had a inflamed knee on his landing leg. It effected his performance.

He would be a 2nd arm though. I don't see them targeting him. After they signed Wada it lessened the likability of them signing 2.

 

[CSF77]

I'm not sure I want Martin but I do think they're going to sign him. I also think they'll sign Lester and Masterson and make the deal with Cleveland Jackson for Bourn. Makes the rotation Lester, Arietta, Masterson, Hendricks and either Turner or Wada and I'm not discounting a complete fall off for Hendricks. No stuff guys scare me and I'm not sure he's not the second coming of Randy Wells. Then again he could be Maddux light. I have no real feel for Hendricks but I don't want him as a #3 starter.

Hendricks should be fine being a sinker ball pitcher. If he was dependent on a cutter vs a sinker I would be more concerned with his velocity. Wells was a slider pitcher. Not really the same type not to mention was older than Hendricks when he broke out.

If they sign Lester I see the rotation as: Lester, Arrieta, Wood, Hendricks, Wada.

 

[TL1961]

Finally someone has Travis Wood in the rotation.

I don't expect Travis Wood to contend for any Cy Young awards, but I think most people here are writing him off way too early. I am not predicting he'll be great. But I think with so many young guys who haven't thrown a lot of innings, one must appreciate Travis Wood-type pitchers who can give you a good number of starts/innings.

He will most likely be so-so, but we need a vet for insurance. Hendrick, Wada, Turner could fail or have arm trouble. Guys like Wood stick around in the majors for a reason.

 

[DewsSox79]

Masterson looked pretty bad in St. Louis last year.

Maybe he could bounce back. But if they sign him, it better be damn cheap (relatively speaking, of course.)

If they get Bourne, I hope to heck it is with the mindset of him being the 4th OF. I think that would be the case. But it would be a little insurance. I am just not sold on him being a lot of help.

wait. bourne as the 4th outfielder? what?


Sent from My 1998 Palm Pilot Using Tapatalk

 

[SilenceS]

Finally someone has Travis Wood in the rotation.

I don't expect Travis Wood to contend for any Cy Young awards, but I think most people here are writing him off way too early. I am not predicting he'll be great. But I think with so many young guys who haven't thrown a lot of innings, one must appreciate Travis Wood-type pitchers who can give you a good number of starts/innings.

He will most likely be so-so, but we need a vet for insurance. Hendrick, Wada, Turner could fail or have arm trouble. Guys like Wood stick around in the majors for a reason.

He doesnt locate that cutter better. He wont be in the league for long.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

He doesnt locate that cutter better. He wont be in the league for long.

Yes, and he's one of those guys where one pitch makes the difference between #3 or #4 starter or nearly out of the league. Maybe he gets it back but that's why he's trade bait to me because other GM's might think that too. If he doesn't do it quickly in 2015 all trade value is gone. With the huge glut of back end arms, and the fact that you can almost always add a reclamation project, why keep him around?

 

[TC in Mississippi]

wait. bourne as the 4th outfielder? what?


Sent from My 1998 Palm Pilot Using Tapatalk

Cleveland is said to be interested in a bad contract swap, Edwin Jackson for Bourn straight up. That would make him the 4th OF.

 

[beckdawg]

Bourn wouldn't be a 4th OF though. You're not paying someone over $10 mil to be a bench player even if it's a bad contract swap. Also, I don't see why someone would want him to be a 4th OFer. His "bad" last two seasons has him hitting .257/.314/.360 and .263/.316/.360. That's really not that bad. That's basically what Emilio Bonifacio gave you. It's a better OBP than Sweeney, Lake, Alcantara and Schierholtz all who saw playing time for the cubs.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Bourn wouldn't be a 4th OF though. You're not paying someone over $10 mil to be a bench player even if it's a bad contract swap. Also, I don't see why someone would want him to be a 4th OFer. His "bad" last two seasons has him hitting .257/.314/.360 and .263/.316/.360. That's really not that bad. That's basically what Emilio Bonifacio gave you. It's a better OBP than Sweeney, Lake, Alcantara and Schierholtz all who saw playing time for the cubs.

I get it but in the Cubs case it's the difference between eating Jackson's contract, or most of it, and swapping it an even deal for Bourn which is a total gain of $5.5 million in salary or $2.25 million a year. That's a better price than you're going to find a lesser 4th outfielder for. I don't think they make that move to supplant Alcantara in CF so he's more likely a platoon player who gives speed options on the base paths. Cleveland wants an innings eater in Jackson and are counting on him coming back closer to his career numbers and they don't want Bourn on the team. I think that deal gets done.

I guess the one thing that could happen is that Baez goes in a trade, Bourn plays CF and Alcantara moves back to second at least until Russell comes up which is starting to look like it'll be earlier than most thought.

 

[brett05]

I get it but in the Cubs case it's the difference between eating Jackson's contract, or most of it, and swapping it an even deal for Bourn which is a total gain of $5.5 million in salary or $2.25 million a year. That's a better price than you're going to find a lesser 4th outfielder for. I don't think they make that move to supplant Alcantara in CF so he's more likely a platoon player who gives speed options on the base paths. Cleveland wants an innings eater in Jackson and are counting on him coming back closer to his career numbers and they don't want Bourn on the team. I think that deal gets done.

I guess the one thing that could happen is that Baez goes in a trade, Bourn plays CF and Alcantara moves back to second at least until Russell comes up which is starting to look like it'll be earlier than most thought.

The gain would seem to be more than that since it only takes 550 PAs for the next year to vest for Bourn.