Cubs offseason rumors/transactions

[beckdawg]

Talk I’ve heard on MLB Radio mostly and the fact that most players want to be Yankees given their druthers.

Not sure I believe that to be the case. I doubt the yankees are actually that popular. Money is their popularity not some desire to play for them.

 

[CubsFaninMN]

If you're going to settle for 20% of your starts to be from kids who "may or may not surprise", why not trade everyone and start a new rebuild? Because what you suggest sounds to me like trying to contend for a wild card slot, at best. Maybe.

The Cubs have a rare window, here. While you still have Bryant, Rizzo, Contreras, etc., I think you have to go all in. And, at least in my experience, you're not going all in to try and win this year by going into spring training witb four decent starters, one swing guy you'd rather keep in the pen, and some kids who have little to no experience pitching in the majors. They thought they could do that last year, and were the third best team in the division until they bit the bullet and traded for Quintana. After which they maintained a better winning percentage than in '16.

It would be a crime not to support this core with the pitching it needs to not just tread water, but to aggressively go for another championship. IMHO.

Edit -- meant to quote Diehard's post about biding time, not signing any more pitchers, and seeing how well that works out. Sorry, made less sense out of context.

 

[Omeletpants]

Giants to play McCutcheon in RF, even though they dont have a good CF......hmmmmmmmmm

 

[beckdawg]

Giants to play McCutcheon in RF, even though they dont have a good CF......hmmmmmmmmm

they are supposedly in on Cain.

 

[Omeletpants]

they are supposedly in on Cain.

I know. I just thought it was funny because someone here kept arguing that we should have gotten McCuthcheon because he was a quality CF

 

[CubsFaninMN]

Not sure I believe that to be the case. I doubt the yankees are actually that popular. Money is their popularity not some desire to play for them.

Yeah. The Yankees think everyone wants to play for them, but I have heard that a majority of players would prefer to play anywhere except New York. Primarily because the ownership and fan base are arrogant and the media there are unrelentingly and no-holds-barred negative about everything every player does, unless they are playing 20% better than every other player around the majors.

Remember, a vast majority of the vaunted Yankees "tradition of victory" goes back to the early days of baseball, when the league office literally forced the rest of the teams to give their best players to the Yankees, on the skewed theory that having the Yankees field the unquestionably strongest team in the majors every year was somehow in the best interests of baseball. It has been two or three generations since every major leaguer pined to play for the Yankees, from what I can tell.

As for assuming the Yankees are an unbreakable lock to win it all in '18, I'll point out that last year was the first year in many years that Stanton both played well and didn't spend a great deal of the season injured. In other words, adding one guy who had likely his peak year *last* year is not a lock. Especially one who has been prone to injury.

Just my two cents...

 

[Omeletpants]

Who says the Yankees are a lock in 18? The Astros and Dodgers have a better team

 

[CubsFaninMN]

Who says the Yankees are a lock in 18? The Astros and Dodgers have a better team

Every year without fail, the pundits always declare that last year's World Series teams are the best on paper and are the favorites to repeat their World Series appearances the following season. This year, up to now, all I read and hear is that the Yankees, with the addition of Stanton, are obviously the best team in baseball, regardless of what it says on paper.

And I don't buy it. Last year at this time, the pundits all said the Cubs and the Indians were the best teams. And look how that turned out...

 

[CSF77]

Every year without fail, the pundits always declare that last year's World Series teams are the best on paper and are the favorites to repeat their World Series appearances the following season. This year, up to now, all I read and hear is that the Yankees, with the addition of Stanton, are obviously the best team in baseball, regardless of what it says on paper.

And I don't buy it. Last year at this time, the pundits all said the Cubs and the Indians were the best teams. And look how that turned out...

Astros beat the Yanks and added Cole. Yanks have a inferior rotation to the Stroes. Adding 50 HRs inseason means nothing in a series. The best staff pretty much wins a series

 

[CSF77]

Who says the Yankees are a lock in 18? The Astros and Dodgers have a better team

Dodgers are questionable. Hill is getting old and he is the only arm that is dependable outside of Shaw in a series. Even Wood looked more hittable when the pressure increased. That team is a 2 Pitcher team. They have been that way for a long time. 2 studs and a drop off. Last year they traded to get 3 deep but the Stroes pounded Yu. Tipping or not.

So right now I see the Cubs being 3 deep with Lester/Q and Hendricks.

Dodgers 2 deep with Wood as a maybe but I’m thinking that was a fluke season for him and his stuff wasn’t high leverage enough when the competition increased.

Nats are 2 deep but could end up 4 deep if they show faith in Tanner va push him aside. They are a team that should have gone farther. I wouldn’t be shocked if they rep the NL honestly

Rest are also rans. WC teams really are at a huge disadvantage now with them having to blow their ace on a 1 game.

AL: Stroes have the deepest rotation in baseball. #2 is Cle but they are short lived with their lack of resourse. Minn might push them this year. Minn is lacking a TOR to push Cle out but it shiuld be close. East is NYY to lose right now. Their rotation is good enough with their O to push 100 wins. But Bos has a better rotation so they are the better play off team.

 

[CubsFaninMN]

Dodgers are questionable. Hill is getting old and he is the only arm that is dependable outside of Shaw in a series. Even Wood looked more hittable when the pressure increased. That team is a 2 Pitcher team. They have been that way for a long time. 2 studs and a drop off. Last year they traded to get 3 deep but the Stroes pounded Yu. Tipping or not.

So right now I see the Cubs being 3 deep with Lester/Q and Hendricks.

Dodgers 2 deep with Wood as a maybe but I’m thinking that was a fluke season for him and his stuff wasn’t high leverage enough when the competition increased.

Nats are 2 deep but could end up 4 deep if they show faith in Tanner va push him aside. They are a team that should have gone farther. I wouldn’t be shocked if they rep the NL honestly

Rest are also rans. WC teams really are at a huge disadvantage now with them having to blow their ace on a 1 game.

AL: Stroes have the deepest rotation in baseball. #2 is Cle but they are short lived with their lack of resourse. Minn might push them this year. Minn is lacking a TOR to push Cle out but it shiuld be close. East is NYY to lose right now. Their rotation is good enough with their O to push 100 wins. But Bos has a better rotation so they are the better play off team.

Agreed on all points. One issue I was trying to address is that pitching is more important than hitting, when it comes to going deep into the post-season. As I said many times that year, the '16 Cubs did it with pitching -- especially a strong rotation -- more than with offense. Which is why I want to see us pick up another quality starter before spring training starts.

Assuming any of the top three available FAs decides to sign for less than a dozen years and a third of a billion dollars... sigh...

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Who says the Yankees are a lock in 18? The Astros and Dodgers have a better team

I'm not sure the Dodgers win their division. They look great going forward with guys like Urias and Verdugo and the other kids in their system, but does anybody think Taylor, Turner or Puig will come close to their 2017 numbers? Also There is no way that Kershaw and a bunch of 3/4 types gets it done as a rotation to years in a row and Alex Wood had a career year. Still a good team but 2018 is going to be a down year. Now the Astros on the other hand look loaded but the record of World Series winners the next year is not great. Even given that I'd still pick them to get back to the WS though.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

they are supposedly in on Cain.

I think Jarrod Dyson is more likely because of the money. Some think Dyson could sign with them as early as today after they make one more push for BillyHamilton.

 

[chibears55]

As i read articles on cubs and tv deal , i cant help but think how much sweeter that deal will be if the cubs do sign bryce harper ...

That would be another huge selling point for cubs to get them to sweeten the pot..

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

 

[SilenceS]

Read a major free agent is willing to hold out until mid season because he feels he isnt getting anywhere near what he should. It is a Boras client. Im thinking Martinez.

 

[CSF77]

Agreed on all points. One issue I was trying to address is that pitching is more important than hitting, when it comes to going deep into the post-season. As I said many times that year, the '16 Cubs did it with pitching -- especially a strong rotation -- more than with offense. Which is why I want to see us pick up another quality starter before spring training starts.

Assuming any of the top three available FAs decides to sign for less than a dozen years and a third of a billion dollars... sigh...

Cle should have won it. They went 3 man in a 7 and the 2nd time around they were vulnerable due to short rest. Cubs stuck with a 4 man and had the advantage.

That is why having 4 quality starters matters so much. Especially for a WC team. The first series is a 5 game one and having a 4 deep rotation pays off when one is used on the 1 game. Then they can reset in the 5 game series. They would go in vs the div best record but in general that team was on cruse control while they were fighting to get in and have the fighters mentality going into the series.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Dodgers are questionable. Hill is getting old and he is the only arm that is dependable outside of Shaw in a series. Even Wood looked more hittable when the pressure increased. That team is a 2 Pitcher team. They have been that way for a long time. 2 studs and a drop off. Last year they traded to get 3 deep but the Stroes pounded Yu. Tipping or not.

So right now I see the Cubs being 3 deep with Lester/Q and Hendricks.

Dodgers 2 deep with Wood as a maybe but I’m thinking that was a fluke season for him and his stuff wasn’t high leverage enough when the competition increased.

Nats are 2 deep but could end up 4 deep if they show faith in Tanner va push him aside. They are a team that should have gone farther. I wouldn’t be shocked if they rep the NL honestly

Rest are also rans. WC teams really are at a huge disadvantage now with them having to blow their ace on a 1 game.

AL: Stroes have the deepest rotation in baseball. #2 is Cle but they are short lived with their lack of resourse. Minn might push them this year. Minn is lacking a TOR to push Cle out but it shiuld be close. East is NYY to lose right now. Their rotation is good enough with their O to push 100 wins. But Bos has a better rotation so they are the better play off team.

As long a Boston adds J.D. Martinez I think that Division is going to be a dogfight. I really like that Yankees team but they aren't without holes. They're going with two rookies at 3B and 2B in Andujar and Torres and who knows what they'll give them? Also they do have a rookie manager and could use another starter (who they could also pick up at the deadline). Again I see them as fairly evenly matched as long as Boston adds power in the person of Martinez.

 

[anotheridiot]

Dodgers are questionable. Hill is getting old and he is the only arm that is dependable outside of Shaw in a series. Even Wood looked more hittable when the pressure increased. That team is a 2 Pitcher team. They have been that way for a long time. 2 studs and a drop off. Last year they traded to get 3 deep but the Stroes pounded Yu. Tipping or not.

So right now I see the Cubs being 3 deep with Lester/Q and Hendricks.

Dodgers 2 deep with Wood as a maybe but I’m thinking that was a fluke season for him and his stuff wasn’t high leverage enough when the competition increased.

Nats are 2 deep but could end up 4 deep if they show faith in Tanner va push him aside. They are a team that should have gone farther. I wouldn’t be shocked if they rep the NL honestly

Rest are also rans. WC teams really are at a huge disadvantage now with them having to blow their ace on a 1 game.

AL: Stroes have the deepest rotation in baseball. #2 is Cle but they are short lived with their lack of resourse. Minn might push them this year. Minn is lacking a TOR to push Cle out but it shiuld be close. East is NYY to lose right now. Their rotation is good enough with their O to push 100 wins. But Bos has a better rotation so they are the better play off team.

These are all great points, it almost feels like the pirates are going away, the reds might be better, brewers and cardinals eh, do the cubs now think they don't have to give up an extra year because they are in good shape for the division?

 

[TC in Mississippi]

These are all great points, it almost feels like the pirates are going away, the reds might be better, brewers and cardinals eh, do the cubs now think they don't have to give up an extra year because they are in good shape for the division?

They shouldn't. IMO Darvish makes them a mortal lock for the Division, Arrieta pretty close to the same and if it's Cobb I'll be worried about St. Louis but still think if the offense gets on track early they'll be fine (I do NOT want Cobb though). Milwaukee is likely to take a step back until some of their younger players develop but they aren't going away either, the Reds have a nice offense and pen but as much as I like DeScalafani I'm not sure he's a 1 and Homer Bailey is their #2 starter. They'll be better but not a threat and Pittsburgh has some work to do for a couple of years here. As they stand I don't think the Cardinals are a threat but add Holland and another bat and who knows? Publicly they seem content with their pen but how does that make sense? I view 2018 as an opportunity. If they sign Darvish I think they're the clear second best team in the NL after Washington but baseball is gonna baseball.

 

[CSF77]

As long a Boston adds J.D. Martinez I think that Division is going to be a dogfight. I really like that Yankees team but they aren't without holes. They're going with two rookies at 3B and 2B in Andujar and Torres and who knows what they'll give them? Also they do have a rookie manager and could use another starter (who they could also pick up at the deadline). Again I see them as fairly evenly matched as long as Boston adds power in the person of Martinez.

In a series I would pick Boston right now. Last year Price was coming off injury and wasn’t a factor. But they have the leagues best 1-2,combo.

Astros have the best rotation with Cleveland right next to them. NYY is a TOR short right now. If they got Cole they would have been scary. Right now they look like a fun HR happy team like Oak was like in the late 80’s but lack Oak’s pitching that made them a force.

Tanaka stepped up last year but if he is your 2nd best starter and a over the hill CC is your 4 there are core issues going on. That rotation is a fine in season staff but in higher pressure series they will end up losing again.

Right now the Astros are the best team with Cleveland the 2nd best. 3rd has to be Boston and NYY #4. Minn is a bubble team. Nice players but too many holes.

NL is more clear. LAD/CHC/Nat still. Mets moved the needle enough to get into the WC. Col also. Mil/Cards have not done enough. But the NL is the weaker league right now IMO so there should be less drama.