Cubs offseason needs/ Talk

[TL1961]

After all the cunting, they sign Swanson.

7 years 177 million. I like this contract a lot better than Correa

The "cunting" was that they were going to wind up signing Swanson.

This news will have fans wanting to paint the town beige, due to the expectations Ricketts set, as mentioned earlier..

All kidding aside, nobody will mind not having the 11 or 13 year contracts. Let's hope he continues to play well offensively. With the prospects joining eventually, he will need to be the veteran anchor. He has done a lot of winning, so let's hope that continues.

 

[Diehardfan]

After all the cunting, they sign Swanson.

7 years 177 million. I like this contract a lot better than Correa

Me too....he'll only be 35 at it's end and by the time he gets there, $25 mill might seem like a bargin.

 

[SilenceS]

Me too....he'll only be 35 at it's end and by the time he gets there, $25 mill might seem like a bargin.

All im looking for Swanson is a Brandon Crawford player. Top notch D with pop in the bat and a good average.

 

[TL1961]

I clearly liked Correa better and was open about not wanting the least player at the least money just to not spend.

But as the contracts got insane, this made more sense than when initially we thought the total commitment to each would be in the same ballpark.

7/$177 vs 13/$368 is smarter, even if it feels underwhelming. He and Correa are making the same amount of money per year, and that's weird given that Swanson has had essentially one good offensive season.

 

[beckdawg]

I'll need to dig into swanson more to have a firm opinion. Feels very much to me like a more modern heyward deal where you're buying the glove more than the bat which is probably unfair to label swanson the same way given how people view the heyward deal.

 

[TL1961]

Actually, while his per year offensive numbers over seven year career seem "meh", the last two years he has 52 HR and 184 RBI. If he puts up numbers annually in line with the last two years we won't be upset.

OBP and strikeouts are far from ideal, but overall the offense recently has been good.

 

[TL1961]

Now use the money saved to sign Ohtani next year.

 

[Probie2429]

Career 250 hitter with OPS of 738. Hope it works out.

 

[Castor76]

Not going to be that upset. Of course I'd like better OBP but that's really solid up the middle D and if Mervis can make the jump the Cubs have potential to be a contender next season. I'd guess they'd go Hoerner leading off with some combo of Swanson, Bellinger, Happ, Suzuki, Mervis for 2-6. They have guys who have won the whole thing and Ross there with the same experience. The Cubs would still have money to go after one of the big 3 in 2023.

 

[SilenceS]

Career 250 hitter with OPS of 738. Hope it works out.

Yes, the Cubs are concerned about what he did 3 years ago and not what he is doing now. Seems right.

Swanson had severe anxiety that is well documented that affected all aspects of his game. He has beat that with therapy.

This isnt a corner IF or OF. Top D with a solid bat

 

[CSF77]

I am pleased. Current payroll 181.1M Tax hit 203M. So they could add more contract now or wait and see for the deadline.

Over all what we should have expected from a market from the Cubs. Put up a team worthy of the fan base.

 

[Castor76]

I am pleased. Current payroll 181.1M Tax hit 203M. So they could add more contract now or wait and see for the deadline.

Over all what we should have expected from a market from the Cubs. Put up a team worthy of the fan base.

Isn't it 233M? The Cubs should be at about 203M with the Swanson deal. Still, no need to spend it just to spend it.

 

[TL1961]

I am pleased. Current payroll 181.1M Tax hit 203M. So they could add more contract now or wait and see for the deadline.

Over all what we should have expected from a market from the Cubs. Put up a team worthy of the fan base.

What does this mean?

 

[CSF77]

Isn't it 233M? The Cubs should be at about 203M with the Swanson deal. Still, no need to spend it just to spend it.

Between Swanson, Bellinger, Taillon, and Brad Boxberger, Chicago has spent a little over $265MM on guaranteed free agent deals this offseason. Even with a projected $181.1MM in payroll for 2023 and a luxury tax number (which is based on average annual values) of a little over $203.1MM, it seems possible that the Cubs and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer might not be done yet.

The Cubs’ Opening Day payroll in 2019 cracked the $203MM mark, so Hoyer might have at least another $22MM to spend if that past record total does represent ownership’s upper limit. Since the Cubs crossed the luxury tax threshold in 2016, 2019, and 2020, it could be that ownership might even green-light more spending at least up to the current $233MM tax line. “Intelligent spending” has been one of Hoyer’s chief descriptions of the Cubs’ spending strategies over the last two winters, and club chairman Tom Ricketts said at the start of the offseason that the front office would have “the necessary resources available to substantially supplement our current roster.”

 

[CSF77]

Damnit csf, you were back to making some sense until this post

Schwindel leaves and we gain bellinger and taillon.

Cubs lost a bit of talent.

Contreras 3.3 fWAR
Smyly 1.3 fWAR
Miley .5
Robertson .5
Givens .2
Effross 1.2

Sure now they are a better unit. But before Swanson? It was sketchy.

If you think about it Sampson 1.5 fWAR? that will never happen again. He is the pitching version of Schwindel. Fluke. At best he goes journeyman and tags on poor teams.

Miley was a 3-5 fWAR pitcher. we just got a broken year out of him. He should go back to what he was with a clean bill of health.

Steele was way better than anyone expected. Innings were down but I think that we can ink him in as a solid #4 now,

So over all ya they were a 72 win team that should have been a 65 win team. Except Sampson came out and pitched way over his talent level.

Going into 2023.

Alozay seems to have bought in. Quoted ready to come out of the bull pen. He is an asset and might end up as a true late inning weapon.
Thompson is a guy that you can put 3 innings on and he will dominate them,
Sampson I would also push into the 2-3 inning role. I am fine with him there. Starting means that Jed went cheap.

So add Boxberger for vet leadership and Wick.

Reliever Codi Heuer Already Throwing Again 6 Months After TJ Surgery -

Cubs reliever Codi Heuer has missed the entire season following Tommy John elbow reconstruction back in March, but it looks as though his rehab is going quite well. He recently shared a short video on his Instagram page in which he’s participating in light throwing exercises just six months...

cubsinsider.com

Expect Codi back also. I personally expect him to be the closer when all said and done but going in he should be in lower pressure situations to keep the adrenalin levels more reasonable. No reason to wreck him.

So I could say right now. They might be a 80 win team now. It hinges on Bellenger getting back to pre injury levels.

 

[CSF77]

What does this mean?

Any team valued over 1B should be pushing a 180M+ roster. Anything less is ripping off the fan base.

 

[CSF77]

#1 NEW YORK YANKEES
Valuation : $6 billion

1-Yr Change: 14%



#2 LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Valuation : $4.075 billion

1-Yr Change: 14%



#3 BOSTON RED SOX
Valuation : $3.9 billion

1-Yr Change: 13%



#4 CHICAGO CUBS
Valuation : $3.8 billion

1-Yr Change: 13%



#5 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Valuation : $3.5 billion

1-Yr Change: 10%



#6 NEW YORK METS
Valuation : $2.65 billion

1-Yr Change: 8%



#7 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Valuation : $2.45 billion

1-Yr Change: 9%



#8 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Valuation : $2.3 billion

1-Yr Change: 12%



#9 LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Valuation : $2.2 billion

1-Yr Change: 9%



#10 ATLANTA BRAVES
Valuation : $2.1 billion

1-Yr Change: 12%



#11 TEXAS RANGERS
Valuation : $2.05 billion

1-Yr Change: 15%



#12 WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Valuation : $2 billion

1-Yr Change: 4%



#13 HOUSTON ASTROS
Valuation : $1.98 billion

1-Yr Change: 6%



#14 TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Valuation : $1.78 billion

1-Yr Change: 6%



#15 CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Valuation : $1.76 billion

1-Yr Change: 4%



#16 SEATTLE MARINERS
Valuation : $1.7 billion

1-Yr Change: 4%



#17 SAN DIEGO PADRES
Valuation : $1.575 billion

1-Yr Change: 4%



#18 DETROIT TIGERS
Valuation : $1.4 billion

1-Yr Change: 11%



#19 MINNESOTA TWINS
Valuation : $1.39 billion

1-Yr Change: 5%



#20 COLORADO ROCKIES
Valuation : $1.385 billion

1-Yr Change: 7%



#21 ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Valuation : $1.38 billion

1-Yr Change: 5%



#22 BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Valuation : $1.375 billion

1-Yr Change: -4%



#23 PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Valuation : $1.32 billion

1-Yr Change: 3%



#24 CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
Valuation : $1.3 billion

1-Yr Change: 12%



#25 MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Valuation : $1.28 billion

1-Yr Change: 5%



#26 CINCINNATI REDS
Valuation : $1.19 billion

1-Yr Change: 10%



#27 OAKLAND ATHLETICS
Valuation : $1.18 billion

1-Yr Change: 5%



#28 KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Valuation : $1.11 billion

1-Yr Change: 5%



#29 TAMPA BAY RAYS
Valuation : $1.1 billion

1-Yr Change: 4%



#30 MIAMI MARLINS
Valuation : $990 million

1-Yr Change: 0%

 

[CSF77]

 

[JP Hochbaum]

They will be adding more pieces. Still need a first baseman (Mancini?) and catcher.

 

[Castor76]

CSF77 - By the standard you put out there, every team in baseball except the Marlins should have payrolls of 180M or more. Not saying you're wrong. But maybe the 2 billion evaluation would be a better line. But there are many teams not putting up respectable roster because they'd rather make the money.