2015 Cubs Offseason Discussion

[CSF77]

http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/101274544/phil-rogers-cubs-trying-to-add-to-solid-pitching-core

Take the 2014 performances of Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks and Tsuyoshi Wada, then add in those of free-agent targets Jon Lester and Jason Hammel. Here's what you get: a 47-33 record and 2.81 ERA over 702 1/3 innings. The secondary numbers include a 1.09 WHIP and 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings.
What a combination.

Had any National League team had a starting rotation that put up those totals last season, it would have ranked first in ERA, first in WHIP and second in strikeouts per nine innings.
Lester and Hammel were used because they represent the combination of starters that president, baseball operations Theo Epstein and executive vice president, general manager Jed Hoyer are looking to add this offseason -- a big-ticket, front-end guy and a worker bee. Instead of Hammel, the Cubs could wind up with someone like Jake Peavy or Justin Masterson. If they did, the numbers would be a little less impressive.
With Peavy, the projected rotation would be coming off a season in which its five pieces went 44-35 with a 2.90 ERA, 728 2/3 innings, 1.14 WHIP and 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings. With Masterson, the numbers are 44-31, 3.23, 654 2/3 innings, 1.19 WHIP and 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings.

 

[CSF77]

It seems to me that they should reacquire Hammel on a team friendly deal after getting Lester. If they fail to get Lester then they should look at signing 1 year flips. Masterson would be a prime target then.

 

[chibears55]

It seems to me that they should reacquire Hammel on a team friendly deal after getting Lester. If they fail to get Lester then they should look at signing 1 year flips. Masterson would be a prime target then.

If their fall back is to sign 1 yr flips. Then there no need to sign russell martin or a LFer to be wasting another year

 

[chibears55]

@JonHeymanCBS: icymi: marlins on same page for $ (13 yrs, $325M?), but sides still working on non-monetary issues. cbsprt.co/116igMC

Crazy...

 

[brett05]

@JonHeymanCBS: icymi: marlins on same page for $ (13 yrs, $325M?), but sides still working on non-monetary issues. cbsprt.co/116igMC

Crazy...

$25 million per year...$325 total. Done and Done. If I am stanton

 

[JZsportsfan]

I'd honestly rather see Stanton go to the Yankees than waste away in Miami

 

[Shawon0Meter]

In 99.9% of the cases, baseball players don't get a lot of money in endorsements.

$300 million is $300 million.

I'll step up and be honest.

$300 million today without any risks involved means I never play say on a playoff team or maybe even a .500 team. Sign me up. There is a price where winning doesn't matter at all. $300 million is certainly a number above that price.

Anyone else want to be honest?

I'm speaking truthfully here....I'd rather have like a 5 year deal worth over $100 million and then see where things are, see what makes me happy at the time. Sure you risk injury or your skill falling off but it's still so much money that you can live the good life and pass millions down to your kids. At some point a lot of freaking money is just a lot of freaking money.

It might be that it's easy for guy like me to say that, basically as someone who's living check to check that will never see offers like that, but I really feel like I'm being honest.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

I'd honestly rather see Stanton go to the Yankees than waste away in Miami

Agreed. This is not good for the game at all.

 

[brett05]

I'm speaking truthfully here....I'd rather have like a 5 year deal worth over $100 million and then see where things are, see what makes me happy at the time. Sure you risk injury or your skill falling off but it's still so much money that you can live the good life and pass millions down to your kids. At some point a lot of freaking money is just a lot of freaking money.

It might be that it's easy for guy like me to say that, basically as someone who's living check to check that will never see offers like that, but I really feel like I'm being honest.

Given how many lottery winners go bankrupt I'm not sure 100 is enough

But you are an honest man.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Surely it all isn't guaranteed?

 

[chibears55]

Surely it all isn't guaranteed?

Yes it is. ...... baseball contracts are guaranteed

At 25 per and he continues to hit, Miami will be able to trade him in 2-3 yrs to a big market team looking to make a splash. .

 

[chibears55]

Just read the orioles not sure about offering De Aza arbitration , maybe the cubs could kick his tires for LF if they can't get anyone better..

 

[SilenceS]

Its a lot of money to give to a guy with knee injuries. I just have a bad feeling about that contract with Miami. You havent even seen how he has come back from that freak accident that occurred last year.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Exactly. How is he going to be mentally at the plate?

 

[chibears55]

Its a lot of money to give to a guy with knee injuries. I just have a bad feeling about that contract with Miami. You havent even seen how he has come back from that freak accident that occurred last year.

I agree.. with 2 yrs of control left, why look to extend now ?
At least wait til mid season to see how he bounces back..

I personally think the kid future destination has DH written all over it, marlins future could be way better off without him by trading him for a big haul ..

 

[JZsportsfan]

Discusses the next 5 players likely to land a mega-contract

Cub on the list?

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-b...-baseball-s-next-mega-contract-061150656.html

 

[CSF77]

he Cubs and Red Sox will meet with Jon Lester this week, tweets Hall of Fame journalist Peter Gammons. The Yankees could play the role of dark horse. While other sources have reported that Lester is willing to sign quickly, Gammons suggests the process may last into December.

So the Yanks have some spending limitations going on. Boston is at 114 mil but have avg 150+. They can take on another 40 mil of contract.

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story...x-show-jon-lester-money?ex_cid=espnapi_public

The take here is it will take 130 mil to even get into talks with Lester. John Hendry has a long term standing business policy of not signing players over 30 to mega deals. We see where Theo got his business model from.

So the question is who will break the model here. Theo or John?

 

[brett05]

Discusses the next 5 players likely to land a mega-contract

Cub on the list?

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-b...-baseball-s-next-mega-contract-061150656.html

Like I've said no reason not to start Kris from day 1

 

[CSF77]

Like I've said no reason not to start Kris from day 1

The problem is Boras doesn't want his clients to extend. And he really doesn't have to also unless he can make more over the 7 years of control vs the arb process. But with Bryant's talent he should get into heavy paydays by then.

If they start him in mid apr 2015 he would be at 500k 2016 500k 2017 he would be up for super 2 and that makes him a 4 year arb case. Yould have to expect he would be looing at 2-5 mil at this point then x2 that each year.

They could ink him to a 10 year deal off the bat and buy up 3 years of control for 100 mil but I'm not sure if Boras would go with that.

 

[chibears55]

The problem is Boras doesn't want his clients to extend. And he really doesn't have to also unless he can make more over the 7 years of control vs the arb process. But with Bryant's talent he should get into heavy paydays by then.

If they start him in mid apr 2015 he would be at 500k 2016 500k 2017 he would be up for super 2 and that makes him a 4 year arb case. Yould have to expect he would be looing at 2-5 mil at this point then x2 that each year.

They could ink him to a 10 year deal off the bat and buy up 3 years of control for 100 mil but I'm not sure if Boras would go with that.

Guess boras cant have it both ways then...