All Spring Training IGT

[TC in Mississippi]

I'm thinking they would at least wait til Mid May before trading for a piece like that. Get a better idea of what they truly have. ST, especially early ST numbers are so hard to judge.

If it's a sure fire arm they think they need, sure they might wait but if it's just another flyer for someone who might not make a roster I could see them making a minor deal and letting the guy show what he has in AAA. Meanwhile you go with Richard or be more right handed in the pen than they would prefer. It's very early to write off Brothers though, I was thinking out loud.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Yea, he was extremely wild. The Cubs, in general, played absolutely awful. You like fundamentals. That was not the game to watch. I know its early spring, but Im sure Joe said some things after it.

Split squad today.

Yeah I'm not getting worried after a few ST games, Brothers just struck me and not in a good way.

 

[85Bears]

Yeah, that game was a mess. Mostly minor leaguers and backups after the first couple of innings, but they weren't playing against Arizona's A team either. Oh well, early ST.

Heard a great interview with Arrieta on 670 a little bit ago. They asked him which batters he might be a little bit afraid of. He hemmed and hawed a bit and finally admitted Miguel Cabrera in the AL always made him a little nervous. They asked him if there were any in the NL that did and he just said, "No."

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Heyward hit his first Cubs HR today.

 

[CSF77]

Yeah, that game was a mess. Mostly minor leaguers and backups after the first couple of innings, but they weren't playing against Arizona's A team either. Oh well, early ST.

Heard a great interview with Arrieta on 670 a little bit ago. They asked him which batters he might be a little bit afraid of. He hemmed and hawed a bit and finally admitted Miguel Cabrera in the AL always made him a little nervous. They asked him if there were any in the NL that did and he just said, "No."

Looks like there have been some pre extension talks but Arretta wants 6-7 years at the fair market value. I.E.: 200 mil range. Cubs didnt go there yet.

IDK: I would wait until the all star game. He puts on a stellar 1/2 then you have to lock him up. He looks human again hold the deck.

No need to lock up 200 mil on a 1 year situation. Those guys that got payed had years of that level of production that justified the contract.

 

[chibears55]

Looks like there have been some pre extension talks but Arretta wants 6-7 years at the fair market value. I.E.: 200 mil range. Cubs didnt go there yet.

IDK: I would wait until the all star game. He puts on a stellar 1/2 then you have to lock him up. He looks human again hold the deck.

No need to lock up 200 mil on a 1 year situation. Those guys that got payed had years of that level of production that justified the contract.

They dont wanna commit to paying a 36 - 37 yo 30 mil per after just 1 great season and i dont blame them..

Id wait to see what he does this year before committing that much money and years..

 

[Parade_Rain]

They dont wanna commit to paying a 36 - 37 yo 30 mil per after just 1 great season and i dont blame them..

Id wait to see what he does this year before committing that much money and years..

I want to see what Jake does down the stretch and in the playoffs this season. If he doesn't run out of gas then it may be time to think more deeply about money/length of contract.

 

[SilenceS]

He has been great for almost 2 years. The innings are only 1 year. I don't know. Im not worried about his stamina. He looks in great shape and Maddon said he works out like a mad man. I completely agree with he has to show the stamina but I wouldn't put last year as an issue because he never had to do that before. Makes sense? But, I did see he wants 5 to 7 years.

I been drinking so to paraphrase, I agree with seeing his stamina this year but I am not as worried about it as others. I just think for the first time he had to do it and now he knows where he has to go. As long as that cut/slider is still devastating, I think he will do it.

 

[Parade_Rain]

He has been great for almost 2 years. The innings are only 1 year. I don't know. Im not worried about his stamina. He looks in great shape and Maddon said he works out like a mad man. I completely agree with he has to show the stamina but I wouldn't put last year as an issue because he never had to do that before. Makes sense? But, I did see he wants 5 to 7 years.

I been drinking so to paraphrase, I agree with seeing his stamina this year but I am not as worried about it as others. I just think for the first time he had to do it and now he knows where he has to go. As long as that cut/slider is still devastating, I think he will do it.

Last season is an issue, because if a team is going to pay top dollar, last season needs to be improved upon regarding how the player finishes the season. If he struggles at the end/in the playoffs again, the contract terms are not the same, as to a pitcher that gets stronger down the stretch.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Last season is an issue, because if a team is going to pay top dollar, last season needs to be improved upon regarding how the player finishes the season. If he struggles at the end/in the playoffs again, the contract terms are not the same, as to a pitcher that gets stronger down the stretch.

That's splitting hairs a little bit but I essentially agree with you. I think his innings need to be managed better early and through the the middle of the season, but I also agree that you'd like to see him still in good shape at around 200 innings. If he continues to have a FIP under say 2.6 with the K/9 and BB/9 numbers remaining at what they've been since 2014 he'll continue to be an elite pitcher in the game and the Cubs have a decision to make. Frankly I think what they do at the deadline is going to be influenced by their confidence and/or desire to sign Arrieta. I don't know what they're offering but I would think it's something like buying out next year's arb at say $16 mil and then tack on 4 years at $28 mil AAV. That's essentially giving him $128 mil guaranteed right this minute and most seem to think he wants 2 more years that that and $200 mil. If he is the guy that we've seen the last 2 years for the next 2 he'll get Grienke money/years in FA at a similar age and if I'm him I have to weigh his desire to be a Cub and that absurd amount of money very carefully. If I'm the Cubs I need to know who my #1 starter is for 2018 by next offseason. It's going to be interesting.

 

[SilenceS]

Last season is an issue, because if a team is going to pay top dollar, last season needs to be improved upon regarding how the player finishes the season. If he struggles at the end/in the playoffs again, the contract terms are not the same, as to a pitcher that gets stronger down the stretch.

This is pretty ridiculous. His final 46 innings of the regular season. He gave up 3 runs total. He pitched a 9 inning complete game shutout in the wild card game. He got hit for 4 runs in back back starts in the other playoff starts. He may have tired a little bit, but it was a little bit. David Price is considered one of the biggest work horses in the league and has some awful games in the playoffs. Should he have not been paid?

 

[SilenceS]

FWIW, I have also said I could see the Cubs trade Arrieta depending on situation. So, Im not saying just hand him the contract. I just think people make a big deal out of 2 starts from a guy that had a historic year.

 

[Parade_Rain]

This is pretty ridiculous. His final 46 innings of the regular season. He gave up 3 runs total. He pitched a 9 inning complete game shutout in the wild card game. He got hit for 4 runs in back back starts in the other playoff starts. He may have tired a little bit, but it was a little bit. David Price is considered one of the biggest work horses in the league and has some awful games in the playoffs. Should he have not been paid?

What's ridiculous is that your failure to recognize he looked different against Pittsburgh in the one game playoff and it continued. He was clearly out of gas. The Cubs get it, which is why they are keeping so many long relievers in camp, etc.

 

[SilenceS]

What's ridiculous is that your failure to recognize he looked different against Pittsburgh in the one game playoff and it continued. He was clearly out of gas. The Cubs get it, which is why they are keeping so many long relievers in camp, etc.

Clearly out of gas? He played a professional baseball team that won almost a 100 games and threw a shutout. He admitted he got a little tired, but ****, if that him being a little tired than some team is going to make him the highest paid pitcher. People analyze to much. He looked gassed. K. Yet again, did David Price not deserved to get paid. He had to be gassed when he gave up multiple 7 run games in the playoffs. This isn't a video game.

 

[DanTown]

I'd give Jake six years (including this one) keeping him until he was 36 but I don't think I'd go longer at the price he wants.

Cubs should go talk to Russell and Schwarber right now about taking a deal that buys out some FA. I feel Boras would never take it for Bryant and Rizzo is already fairly locked up.

Cubs might feel that they can keep Jake (and others) at a slight discount.

 

[Parade_Rain]

FWIW, I have also said I could see the Cubs trade Arrieta depending on situation. So, Im not saying just hand him the contract. I just think people make a big deal out of 2 starts from a guy that had a historic year.

So, IOW, you agree not to hand him a contract, but we're talking about two starts. What have you missed about the Cubs changing the relief staff a bit and getting at least one extra long reliever, etc.? They've even changed their pre-season program. Yikes, man. I want to see a strong pitcher late in the season AND post-season before I give a big contract through 36 years old. It isn't about W-L or two frigging starts. It's about pitching strong in late September and October.

 

[SilenceS]

So, IOW, you agree not to hand him a contract, but we're talking about two starts. What have you missed about the Cubs changing the relief staff a bit and getting at least one extra long reliever, etc.? They've even changed their pre-season program. Yikes, man. I want to see a strong pitcher late in the season AND post-season before I give a big contract through 36 years old. It isn't about W-L or two frigging starts. It's about pitching strong in late September and October.

I dont disagree. Maybe I just took it out on you because I have read so many meatballs act like he crumbled in the playoffs. Yes, the Cubs are changing some things with him, Hammel, and Hendricks. I think the extra long reliever is to limit all the pitchers innings in the beginning. I would guess the Cubs believe they will be there at the end, so they are prepping for the long haul instead of being all in at the start of the season.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

So, IOW, you agree not to hand him a contract, but we're talking about two starts. What have you missed about the Cubs changing the relief staff a bit and getting at least one extra long reliever, etc.? They've even changed their pre-season program. Yikes, man. I want to see a strong pitcher late in the season AND post-season before I give a big contract through 36 years old. It isn't about W-L or two frigging starts. It's about pitching strong in late September and October.

By the way, in the spirit of the thread, Jake is making his first appearance today, probably an inning or two.

Look, this decision is going to be one of the toughest Theo has faced so far. While I don't disagree with PR on endurance being an issue, I think they have done a pretty good job building a bullpen to deal with that. Still the bottom line is that Arrieta has been one of the best pitchers in the game since he came off of his injury in 2014. I don't question his stuff, his training or desire to win. I do worry that he may not be a guy that adjust that well when his stuff goes as others, including Lackey, have been able to do. I'm not sure I want to pay him $30 mil plus in his 36 year old season. On the other hand it isn't that easy to get a #1 starter and I think the Cubs need to know who that guy is almost immediately after the 2016 season. If they can get someone like Sonny Gray or Jose Fernandez this year I think they seriously consider listening to offers on Arrieta which could make a lot fans upset. Like I said, this one is a very tough call.

 

[DanTown]

I love when people say they don't want to pay Jake 30 million at age 36 as if that matters. Of course no one wants to pay a 36 year old 30 million but you feel a lot better about it if you get him for 30 million at ages 32 and earlier.

The Cubs risk saving money by offering him a contract now to get more info later. Maybe they won't need an ace like Jake and can spend money on their hitters new deals? The reason I would have been for a new deal (especially with an opt after four years) is that odds are you won't get Jake for just four years in two years but you can potentially get him for six now. And the Cubs really won't have to worry about having "too much money" tied up in their arms until their youths (Bryant, Russell, Schwarber) become FA after 2021 (aka six seasons).

 

[SilenceS]

2 IP, 0 runs, 0 hits, 4 K's! Pay him Cubs!

:cubstroll2: