Cubs Extend Oneri Fleita

[Jntg4]

The Cubs have extended the contract of player personnel director Oneri Fleita, one of the key additions of former GM Jim Hendry, writes Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune. The 44-year-old's deal is for four years, according to Toni Ginnetti of the Chicago Sun-Times.

:yeah:

 

[dabynsky]

Very odd that Fleita is getting an extension since Ricketts made it clear that the new GM was going to get the final say on baseball operations. I am somewhat conflicted about Fleita. I love what he has done in international scouting, and I do like the sometimes overagressive promotion of prospects. However, he very much falls into the Hendry mold of looking for athletes and tools at the expense of approach at the plate.

 

[Jntg4]

Sounds like Detroit would have taken him if we had waited for a new GM's decision.

 

[dabynsky]

Well the timing makes more sense than. Will be interesting to see if the new GM really will have the ability to get rid of Fleita if he wants to now.

 

[Jntg4]

Well the timing makes more sense than. Will be interesting to see if the new GM really will have the ability to get rid of Fleita if he wants to now.

I don't see why a new GM would want to get rid of Fleita and/or Wilken, they've both been great.

 

[Rice Cube]

I don't see why a new GM would want to get rid of Fleita and/or Wilken, they've both been great.

Well...because the hitters don't like to take walks and the pitchers don't like to throw strikes? That's an organizational problem and it's in no small part due to the guys who are drafted not being developed properly.

But maybe it's not all their fault. Regardless the new GM should have enough leeway to change directions if he chooses, or else Ricketts is lying and is going to hire a puppet and we'll just keep the status quo.

 

[daddies3angels]

Well...because the hitters don't like to take walks and the pitchers don't like to throw strikes? That's an organizational problem and it's in no small part due to the guys who are drafted not being developed properly.

But maybe it's not all their fault. Regardless the new GM should have enough leeway to change directions if he chooses, or else Ricketts is lying and is going to hire a puppet and we'll just keep the status quo.

I think this will hurt on what kind of GM comes in now. I know if im a proven GM i would want my own guys to be brought in. Now if rookie GM then they wont care if they have to have this guy. So now i expect a rookie GM

 

[Captain Obvious]

Well...because the hitters don't like to take walks and the pitchers don't like to throw strikes? That's an organizational problem and it's in no small part due to the guys who are drafted not being developed properly.

But maybe it's not all their fault. Regardless the new GM should have enough leeway to change directions if he chooses, or else Ricketts is lying and is going to hire a puppet and we'll just keep the status quo.

I am kind of wondering if the pitcher and hitter approaches were more of a Hendry thing, though. So far in this latest draft, it seems like they have done a good job of doing exactly what we haven't done the past few years.

 

[dabynsky]

Really interesting piece by Bruce Levine about the Cubs maybe extending Wilken next. This quote is the really interesting part:

Like Fleita, Wilken will have a number of teams interested in his services. If the Cubs decide to make a further commitment to Wilken, the next general manager will have two vital positions in place when he takes over. There will, however, be some flexibility for Ricketts and his next general manager to make changes to those spots in the near future. Fleita’s deal (and a possible one for Wilkens) will be structured creatively with buyouts and options to benefit both the team and the executives.

The bolded makes the Fleita extension a good move. The deal is structured in a way that the Cubs can buyout Fleita at various points if the new GM wants his guy, but allows the new GM the option to keep Fleita in place for a year or more. Having that option is going to be a good thing since it appears late October or early November is the earliest this decision is going to be made and the new GM is going to have to hit the ground running once he is in place.

 

[daddies3angels]

Really interesting piece by Bruce Levine about the Cubs maybe extending Wilken next. This quote is the really interesting part:

The bolded makes the Fleita extension a good move. The deal is structured in a way that the Cubs can buyout Fleita at various points if the new GM wants his guy, but allows the new GM the option to keep Fleita in place for a year or more. Having that option is going to be a good thing since it appears late October or early November is the earliest this decision is going to be made and the new GM is going to have to hit the ground running once he is in place.

Sounds like Ricketts not as dumb as we thought lol... Good idea of putting buyout in place so if new GM wants to bring in own guy

 

[dabynsky]

Sounds like Ricketts not as dumb as we thought lol... Good idea of putting buyout in place so if new GM wants to bring in own guy

Speak for yourself on that one. Though to be fair all I've said is we don't know yet, but this decision is going to be the first one that really gives us evidence for either side of the debate. I am cautiously optimistic about what is going to happen next.

 

[Jntg4]

Extend Wilken now.

 

[daddies3angels]

Extend Wilken now.

I am worried if Cubs keep extending guys that should be the new GM position no good GM's will want to join Cubs. GM's like to have there own guys. Not be told who they have to have.

 

[Jntg4]

I am worried if Cubs keep extending guys that should be the new GM position no good GM's will want to join Cubs. GM's like to have there own guys. Not be told who they have to have.

I'm pretty sure dabynsky's post on the previous page covered that...

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

Sounds like Ricketts not as dumb as we thought lol... Good idea of putting buyout in place so if new GM wants to bring in own guy

 

[Rice Cube]

AceCubbie with a nice "chill the **** out" post:

Reactions to the Oneri Fleita Re-Signing Are Strong, Probably Wrong | Bleacher Nation | Chicago Cubs News, Rumors, and Commentary

 

[2SeamHeat]

I am kind of wondering if the pitcher and hitter approaches were more of a Hendry thing, though. So far in this latest draft, it seems like they have done a good job of doing exactly what we haven't done the past few years.

This I agree with. I also have to wonder how much money came into play with that, as well as selection of available players. This draft was held well before the decision to give Hendry the axe was made. So, I doubt that came into play at all. If you know you'll have the money to back you up... you'll draft a bit more (or a lot more as this last draft went) exclusively. You'll take the risks of drafting Vogelbach in the 2nd round, Maples in the 14th... where I doubt either of those guys would have been taken last year or before.

I do also think that there's an issue with the farm system pumping out guys with almost no patience at all. That is something that can be taught, though far from an easy task. Of course, it's much easier when you draft/sign guys that already have that trait.

 

[2SeamHeat]

Speak for yourself on that one. Though to be fair all I've said is we don't know yet, but this decision is going to be the first one that really gives us evidence for either side of the debate. I am cautiously optimistic about what is going to happen next.

I've been saying give the guy a chance before you crucify him since the announcement of his purchase came out. Too many people expected him to jump right in and magically void contracts and spend $200M on payroll. I was disheartened when he gave Hendry an extra year and a half, but I didn't expect him to make any real moves for at least a couple of seasons. He had to get his bearings first.

He still may turn out to be a bad owner, but he could turn out to be an excellent owner. Only time will tell on that. I am concerned that extending guys in the front office before a GM is so much as interviewed might cause potential candidates to decide that they'd rather focus on the Yankee or Dodger jobs instead.