Jon Lester Signs With Cubs

[JZsportsfan]

By the wsy.. reading some tweets sbout David Ross
I really hope he not part of the Lester Package
Guy 38 YO and provides nothing

I hope they stick with Castillo as back up /RH platoon

I agree. It is possible there was some sort of agreement made with Lester on Ross, but the reason they went out and got Montero was because he was so good at pitch framing. So why would Ross start?

If they can get a package that they like for Castillo, I think they will jump on it. So it is very possible that the Cubs need another catcher.

I don't think Johnny Gomes makes any sense, if Bryant is going to play in LF and that seemed to be the plan a few weeks ago

 

[SilenceS]

Am I missing something Silence?

Lester 25, Montero 13, E-Jax 13, Hammel 9, Castro 6, Rizzo 5.5, Wada 4 and then the Arb's

As it sits, the Cubs are at 48,159,523. Thats with Montero, but not with Hammels and Lester.

Add in 9 million for Hammel and probably 26 million for Lester. Thats 83,159,523 before arbitration.

Projected arbitration numbers

Chris Coghlan (4.148) – $1.4MM
Luis Valbuena (4.148) – $3.1MM
Justin Ruggiano (4.019) – $2.5MM
Travis Wood (4.004) – $5.5MM
Pedro Strop (3.156) – $2.4MM
Jake Arrieta (3.145) – $4.1MM
Felix Doubront (3.120) – $1.3MM
Welington Castillo (3.009) – $2.1MM

That would give a grand total of 104,259,523. I suspect we will add some low level guys for our bench and maybe BP. So, I see our payroll between 115 and 125.

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2014/11/4/7156795/2015-projected-cubs-arbitration-salaries

http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/chicago-cubs/payroll/

 

[SilenceS]

I forgot about another 18 players that will receive around 500,000 grand this year for being on the 40 man roster.

 

[Boobaby1]

I forgot about another 18 players that will receive around 500,000 grand this year for being on the 40 man roster.

Figure on some players being moved too, so the number will bounce now that they have added two pitchers.

Can't pay them all: Lester Arrieta, Hammel, Hendricks, Wada, E-Jax, Wood, Doubront, Straily. Depth is fine, but something has got to give.

Nice to know that Edwards and Johnson are coming too, so that could keep things on the cheap, even if they are #4 or #5's.

 

[Six]

YEAH YEAH YEAH!

 

[CreepyBasementGuy]

So...I don't really watch baseball, how good is Lester?

 

[brett05]

Que the guys who say the Cubs dont spend by saying this is a bad signing.

First the dig...told ya 20% as reported by the media

Secondly
Congrats!!!!

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Figure on some players being moved too, so the number will bounce now that they have added two pitchers.

Can't pay them all: Lester Arrieta, Hammel, Hendricks, Wada, E-Jax, Wood, Doubront, Straily. Depth is fine, but something has got to give.

Nice to know that Edwards and Johnson are coming too, so that could keep things on the cheap, even if they are #4 or #5's.

Well they can pay them all but can't play them all so there are some moves still to be made here.

I'm thrilled with this move for Lester. It's a similar move to what Washington did to signify the end of their rebuild by signing Jayson Werth and it begins to confirm the theory that this front office has been operating under that they can build with bats and depth and sign TOR pitching. There's more to do there but now they can evaluate this team and look towards the 2015 trade deadline to add to what is now a solid but not yet great rotation. Are they a playoff team in 2015? I don't know, there are too many unanswered questions for that in guys like Baez, Bryant, when Russell might be ready, what Kyle Hendricks really is and more but I'm confident in saying this is not a team that will be out of the running in July and that's often when good teams get better. Theo, Jed and company gave made baseball relevant in Chicago again (tip if the hat to the White Sox for doing the same btw) and that's a great thing. This lifelong Chicagoan, transplanted to Mississippi, will be watching a lot of baseball in 2015.

 

[brett05]

Figure on some players being moved too, so the number will bounce now that they have added two pitchers.

Can't pay them all: Lester Arrieta, Hammel, Hendricks, Wada, E-Jax, Wood, Doubront, Straily. Depth is fine, but something has got to give.

Nice to know that Edwards and Johnson are coming too, so that could keep things on the cheap, even if they are #4 or #5's.

I think what you are going to see if the long list of AAAA type pitchers that the Cubs have will be traded to teams that need a #3-5 but want to pay AAAA pricing. They will trade back to the Cubs former TOR guys prior to some bad years and/or some injured pitchers. To me this makes perfect sense for the Cubs. See if you can straighten them out or help them recover and try to catch another #3 or better type guy by rolling with the pitchers who were at one time projected as TOR type guys. At least if I was GM it would be what I would be doing with my AAAA guys.

 

[CSF77]

Lester, Arrieta, Hammel, Hendricks, Wada (Wood/Jackson/Turner?)

Pen: Rondon, Strop, Ramirez, Grimm, Schlitter, Rosscup, Doubront

They have depth on the staff. They could plug Wada, Doubront, Turner and Jackson in the pen if they can't get any trade offers.

LF: Coghlan/Ruggiano
CF: Alcantara
RF: Soler

My opinion is they should use Coghlan and Ruggiano as the 4th and 5th OF. Mostly for PH and x2 switches. Free up Alcantara to play 2B if needed.
They need a every day LF.

3B Valbuena and Olt. How long until Bryant? They would be smart in dealing with Boras and trying to ink a 10 year deal now to have Bryant on the opening day line up so they can trade those 2.

SS: Castro Ya they wont trade him this offseason...nothing was said about the deadline. I'm expecting him to be in the center of a trade to add another TOR.

2B: Baez We will see if the offseason work he does helps with his 46% SO rate....If it drops down to 30% (which is still bad) it would be acceptable.

1B Rizzo All star enuf said

C: Montero.. adds a very needed LH bat that will balance out Soler, Bryant, Castro, Baez. His career OBA is .342. around a 11% BB rate. His bat should hold value here.

They need a legit lead off hitter IMO. That is the glaring need.

 

[JosMin]

Que the guys who say the Cubs dont spend by saying this is a bad signing.

Just go on over to Mud 'n Cleats, I'm sure "Theo made the wrong move" and "They overpaid" and "He's not that good," and "They signed the wrong guy, should've signed Scherzer or Shields" will be the narratives over there.

Also, see my avatar. It's time, gentlemen.

 

[CSF77]

If Baez could hold down LF they could use La Stella as the lead off at 2B. 36 BB in 319 AB over 10%. OBA was .328.
Last year the league adjusted to him but his BB % was about the same. So he still kept his eye. Aug was just a bad month. .193 BA after a .309 July. IMO he should end up a .280's hitter with a 10% BB rate. He would be a cheap/effective lead off.

 

[CSF77]

Just go on over to Mud 'n Cleats, I'm sure "Theo made the wrong move" and "They overpaid" and "He's not that good," and "They signed the wrong guy, should've signed Scherzer or Shields" will be the narratives over there.

Also, see my avatar. It's time, gentlemen.

Dout that. Only a Cubs basher or a Bo-Sox fan would hate on that deal.

 

[JosMin]

Dout that. Only a Cubs basher or a Bo-Sox fan would hate on that deal.

Well half of that is correct.

 

[TL1961]

Ive read it from different sources on twitter. Ive read it before the winter meetings. I heard they are looking for a Lastella type bat for LF. Thats means OBP.

I'm cool with that. An OBP guy ahead of Rizzo, Bryant, Soler, Baez will be a better addition than another guy swinging for the fences.

This team will have a lot of K's and a lot of HR's. Let's have people on base when we hit those HR's. That's a weakness.

 

[CSF77]

2114 #'s
Coghlan: .352 OBA/Ruggiano: .337 OBA
Castro: .339 OBA
Rizzo: .386 OBA
Soler: .330 OBA
Montenero: .329 OBA
Baez: .227 OBA
Valbuena: .341 OBA
Alcantara: .254 OBA

Pretty much opening day line up as is.

 

[Zvbxrpl]

Good.

**** Boston.

Now get a hitter.

 

[Zvbxrpl]

Just go on over to Mud 'n Cleats, I'm sure "Theo made the wrong move" and "They overpaid" and "He's not that good," and "They signed the wrong guy, should've signed Scherzer or Shields" will be the narratives over there.

Also, see my avatar. It's time, gentlemen.

Pretty sure they'd be rejoicing......

They've wanted the cubs to spend money and be competitive the past 3 going on 4, and now they have......

Or are you just being 'that guy.'

Its time for what? Lester isn't the cherry on top. This team still has holes and still has one of the most dangerous teams in baseball to leap frog in their division.

Its a damn good start though.

 

[Shawon0Meter]

Wow....we have an ace. Not some guy who's been on the team for 5 years so he's the opening day starter out of respect....an ace.

 

[Six]

so glad I bought those seasons last month. Lester-wainwright on opening day.