chibears55
Well-known member
- Joined:
- Apr 18, 2013
- Posts:
- 13,554
- Liked Posts:
- 1,915
With Free Agency starting tonight figured i start a thread for it..
Cubs needs: SP. LF. BU Catcher
Cubs needs: SP. LF. BU Catcher
- Status
Papa Wheelie
New member
- Joined:
- Aug 24, 2014
- Posts:
- 348
- Liked Posts:
- 90
No b/u C for me, I want Martin! I can't think of a better addition than a veteran C that's great at framing, great at handling a pitching staff, great at throwing out base runners, and hit 300 on top of it. It seems like a perfect match for our staff and new manager to me.
chibears55
Well-known member
- Joined:
- Apr 18, 2013
- Posts:
- 13,554
- Liked Posts:
- 1,915
Hit .300 ? The guy a .259 career hitter..
He had a career year in his contract year, he hit under .240 the 3 previous years..
This guy will just be another why the hell did we sign him for all that money and years mistake. ..
Welington Castillo is fine....
TL1961
Well-known member
- Joined:
- Apr 24, 2013
- Posts:
- 34,927
- Liked Posts:
- 19,050
Agreed. Russell Martin will be overpaid. I hope the Dodgers do it, not the Cubs.
If the Cubs use the $ it would cost for a slight upgrade at C, and use it in pitching, it will be better bang for the buck. Sign a TOR starter - or TWO. If one, get another starter on the next tier down. And sign a lefty reliever.
If the right LF was available, I could see it. But Coghlan is better than many give him credit for. Not real good defensively, but did OK offensively. But it would be nice to have him as our 4th OF.
chibears55
Well-known member
- Joined:
- Apr 18, 2013
- Posts:
- 13,554
- Liked Posts:
- 1,915
Interested in seeing how much impact maddon may have on bringing in FAs to cubs now. .
I think of the FA LFers, Cabrera might be the only one the Cubs could be high on.. have to see if he accepts the option or not.
JZsportsfan
New member
- Joined:
- Mar 31, 2013
- Posts:
- 2,503
- Liked Posts:
- 674
- Location:
- Chicago
Martin would be a good pickup IMO, but I wouldn't bet on him having another year like this one. Curious as to how many years he gets, wouldn't want to go beyond 3 years on him. Catchers break down quickly and Schwarber maybe ready at that time if he does pan out
chibears55
Well-known member
- Joined:
- Apr 18, 2013
- Posts:
- 13,554
- Liked Posts:
- 1,915
Would rather take my chances with Castillo then dropping 12 + Mil on Martin for the next 2-3 years
JZsportsfan
New member
- Joined:
- Mar 31, 2013
- Posts:
- 2,503
- Liked Posts:
- 674
- Location:
- Chicago
If it were just a 2-3 year deal I'd take a run at him for $30-$40 million. He's probably going to get something bigger than that though
- Joined:
- Apr 24, 2010
- Posts:
- 29,059
- Liked Posts:
- 7,249
- Joined:
- Apr 24, 2010
- Posts:
- 29,059
- Liked Posts:
- 7,249
not much. it still comes down to money.
Sent from My 1998 Palm Pilot Using Tapatalk
theberserkfury
Active member
- Joined:
- Jul 23, 2013
- Posts:
- 626
- Liked Posts:
- 149
- Location:
- Los Angeles, CA
Well, Rizzo's got 1st locked down. Baez is probably gonna have every chance to sink or swim at 2nd. Castro has short locked. Third or left will be taken by Bryant a few weeks into the season. Castillo behind the plate (someone to platoon with him would probably be good). Soler's gonna get every chance in right. Mendy's gonna get a real good shake in center. So either left or third needs someone... but getting a starter anywhere else is gonna be blocking a stud prospect (who yes, has a large probability of flaming out).
I guess chibears55 could add another SP to that need list... unless he just meant "Starting Pitching" instead of "Starting Pitcher" in which case it seems like he's got it pretty well set.
Boobaby1
New member
- Joined:
- Apr 18, 2013
- Posts:
- 2,236
- Liked Posts:
- 1,180
TC in Mississippi
CCS Staff
- Joined:
- Oct 22, 2014
- Posts:
- 5,305
- Liked Posts:
- 1,816
I think they'll sign Lester but for that to happen you have to figure on the Yankees going hard after Scherzer or staying out of the bidding entirely. That little scenario is already started With Scott Boras saying the negotiation start at 7 years $230 million and the Yankees saying they're not pursuing the top pitchers. If the Yankees are serious, and oddly they could be, the price tag on all these guys is going to go down a bit. Right now I think Scherzer gets 7 years $195-$200 mil from NY, Lester gets 6 years $162 in Chicago and Shields gets 5 years $95 million from Boston. If The Yankees sit out I think Boston signs Scherzer for 6 years somewhere approaching $175 mil and the dominoes fall from there. That could give the Cubs a legitimate and affordable shot at Lester and Shields. More likely it Lester and a Liriano, McCarthy or Masterson type. I don't think these guys would touch Jake Peavy with a ten foot pole.
After that you fill in pieces. High OBP guys with at least one that can play at least two outfield positions and platoon with the likes of Soler, Alcantara and Coghlan. I think they might take a look at Martin but 5 years $70 million isn't going to happen and someone might do that. Castillo will be fine for 2015 and maybe he gets back to his 2013 numbers and then we wait to see if Schwarber is a catcher. They're going to want his bat in 2016 so they won't wait long.
After that you fill in pieces. High OBP guys with at least one that can play at least two outfield positions and platoon with the likes of Soler, Alcantara and Coghlan. I think they might take a look at Martin but 5 years $70 million isn't going to happen and someone might do that. Castillo will be fine for 2015 and maybe he gets back to his 2013 numbers and then we wait to see if Schwarber is a catcher. They're going to want his bat in 2016 so they won't wait long.
CSF77
Well-known member
- Joined:
- Apr 16, 2013
- Posts:
- 18,664
- Liked Posts:
- 2,845
- Location:
- San Diego
After they signed Wada it leads me to believe that they will sign 1 TOR this year and 1 next. Lester should get into the 25 mil per season money.
Payroll after Arb cases should be around 60 mil. Add 25 for Lester it puts payroll at 85 mil. So I expect 25 mil left over. The upgrades they could spend on are catcher and LF. The question is would Martin and Cabrera take 12.5 mil per year each?
I was expecting 2 SP but after they signed Wada it changed my opinion. During the season I thought that they could use Wada as a place holder for Price and that now looks to be the master plan.
Payroll after Arb cases should be around 60 mil. Add 25 for Lester it puts payroll at 85 mil. So I expect 25 mil left over. The upgrades they could spend on are catcher and LF. The question is would Martin and Cabrera take 12.5 mil per year each?
I was expecting 2 SP but after they signed Wada it changed my opinion. During the season I thought that they could use Wada as a place holder for Price and that now looks to be the master plan.
- Joined:
- Aug 23, 2012
- Posts:
- 9,995
- Liked Posts:
- 3,624
My favorite teams
Agreed about going and getting 1 TOR this off-season and then the likely target later on will be Price.
CSF77
Well-known member
- Joined:
- Apr 16, 2013
- Posts:
- 18,664
- Liked Posts:
- 2,845
- Location:
- San Diego
It wouldn't surprize me if they sign Shields this year and Price next though. They added Joe and there is already a connection there. Basically they can finish what they started in Tampa with the payroll restrictions removed. This is a real possibility
- Joined:
- Aug 23, 2012
- Posts:
- 9,995
- Liked Posts:
- 3,624
My favorite teams
So tell us what your team needs besides a new ball park with some charisma greater than a plain paper plate, a GM, a manager, a catcher and a lot better hitting.
TC in Mississippi
CCS Staff
- Joined:
- Oct 22, 2014
- Posts:
- 5,305
- Liked Posts:
- 1,816
They signed Wada for $4 million. That's not even #5 starter money. I think they'll try hard for Lester, settle for Shields if they have to and probably sign a McCarthy, Liriano, maybe Masterson. The problem is that I don't think Price will make it to free agency unless Scherzer shocks everyone and stays a Tiger. If Scherzer leaves they'll have zero choice but to try to keep Price at all costs. Sure it may not happen but they could easily make him an offer he can't refuse. There are lots of ways this could fall but I don't see the signing of Wada as being particularly meaningful in predicting any of them. That all being said I don't know that entering the season with a rotation of Lester or Shields, Arietta, Hendricks, Wada, Turner would be awful and of course there is always the trade deadline to work with.
fatbeard
Well-known member
- Joined:
- Dec 25, 2013
- Posts:
- 13,193
- Liked Posts:
- 11,018
The thought of signing a 31-year old catcher coming off a career year to a long contract makes me rather uncomfortable...
Boobaby1
New member
- Joined:
- Apr 18, 2013
- Posts:
- 2,236
- Liked Posts:
- 1,180
If they don't want to pursue a back-up like A.J., then I would kick the tires on dealing out Wood and a minor league pitcher for Montero if the D-Backs would be interesed. Then the Cubs could go for an option with a Bret Anderson or Jason Hammel.
A TOR, Anderson/Hammel, a bat, and a trade for a catcher or A.J. would be a good start.
You could have a rotation of at least:
Lester/Shields
Arrieta
Hendricks
Anderson/Hammel/Wood
Wada
Eat a good chunk of E-Jax's salary and see if they can get something in return like they did for Soriano. Maybe a little better spec depending.
2015 is still going to be a major evaluation with the youth. No reason to completely dive in head first until they see exactly what they have or don't have moving forward.
- Status