Offseason discussion/rumors

[brett05]

Does this trade for Sale make Boston the favorites in the AL? If I'm a Boston fan, I'm really digging this.

As soon as the trade went down, Vegas changed their odds from 10-1 to 5-1 to win the World Series in 2017.

 

[brett05]

Why does it feel like the white Sox shorted themselves on this deal?


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They did, but here is what I think happened. The Front Office was tired of Sale. So instead of risking anything happening, they took a good package instead of holding for a great one but then of course risk something happening making it a poor package (e.g Castro to the Yankees).

 

[brett05]

It's being reported this morning on Chicago Radio that Soler for Davis is a one for one deal.

 

[brett05]

This trade leads me to believe that Theo will be all in on trying to repeat. Otherwise, trade makes no sense.

There really was no room for Soler to increase his value so he took the best that he could muster and still help the club. I don't think Theo will make any rash decisions.

 

[anotheridiot]

This trade leads me to believe that Theo will be all in on trying to repeat. Otherwise, trade makes no sense.

Makes no sense without making a run at Melancon that would not cost us a player of any caliber with Rondon and Carl Edwards getting a half year to win the job. The Nationals have jumped into the deal, so its now a bidding war for Davis. Do we really need to give up too much?

 

[Washington]

As soon as the trade went down, Vegas changed their odds from 10-1 to 5-1 to win the World Series in 2017.

Makes sense. I think Boston got the best of this deal in a big way. Their fans have to be elated.

 

[Washington]

This trade leads me to believe that Theo will be all in on trying to repeat. Otherwise, trade makes no sense.

He should always be all in on trying to win the championship every year especially with the talent base he has. To do otherwise is a disservice to the players busting their asses throughout the whole year. I said that last year too when they were looking at Miller and Chapman. I don't give a shit about next year. You go for it this year. Winning championships is all that matters. Fortunately, I know Theo believes that.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Makes no sense without making a run at Melancon that would not cost us a player of any caliber with Rondon and Carl Edwards getting a half year to win the job. The Nationals have jumped into the deal, so its now a bidding war for Davis. Do we really need to give up too much?

The Nationals are out. The deal is done pending physicals.

 

[CSF77]

1:1 just means they are getting out of the contract. He is a depth player making too much to come off the bench.

 

[chibears55]

Makes no sense without making a run at Melancon that would not cost us a player of any caliber with Rondon and Carl Edwards getting a half year to win the job. The Nationals have jumped into the deal, so its now a bidding war for Davis. Do we really need to give up too much?

Cubs aren't spending big money this offseason. .
Especially on relievers..

Luxery tax and more importantly Arbs coming up next year on bryant etc. and I believe a better stock of FA starters. .





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[CSF77]

People got to slow down on Rob Z as "for sure" in the bullpen or in any sort of reliable roll. Sure he was ok in September but he's a 4A arm type at the moment who is still not even a top 15 arm in the organization. Tough to judge guys in Iowa for ERA/FIP cause that league is so offense heavy but I think we can say a lefty who throws 91-94 and has trouble locating with no real plus off-speed pitch isn't some "sure thing" guy in the bullpen. If he earns it, sure.

They put him in the pen because he is a 2 pitch pitcher. Fastball/cutter. Younger version of Travis Wood. He should be fine as he gains more MLB experience. Add to it being brought up as a starter he should be durable.

If we were talking abut him starting it would be a red flag. He lacks a quality 3rd pitch which takes time to develop

 

[TC in Mississippi]

He should always be all in on trying to win the championship every year especially with the talent base he has. To do otherwise is a disservice to the players busting their asses throughout the whole year. I said that last year too when they were looking at Miller and Chapman. I don't give a shit about next year. You go for it this year. Winning championships is all that matters. Fortunately, I know Theo believes that.

Ideally you do both at the same time. Trading for Davis as opposed to signing Jansen or Chapman will allow them the financial freedom to spend big next year and open their second window within the larger window. The noises coming out of the winter meetings are that there will be no exception to the new international signing rules for Japanese players that would allow for Shohei Otani to come over in 2018 but Otani seems determined to come over anyway. Rules are made to be broken though and Theo has made a career out of exploiting them. Nobody will speak it out loud but a team could, theoretically, trade for international slot money to the maximum $10 million and sign Otani with a handshake deal to offer him an extension as soon as its allowable. Of course the player takes the risk but Otani wants to play in MLB so badly that he might do that. In addition Yu Darvish is available in FA next year as well as Matt Moore and others. Bumgarner and Cueto have opt outs. The Cubs want to have the money to retool their pitching in 2018 while competing for a World Series in 2017. Trading a player in Soler with no real place to play on your team for 1 year of Wade Davis makes sense on both fronts.

 

[CSF77]

Cubs aren't spending big money this offseason. .
Especially on relievers..

Luxery tax and more importantly Arbs coming up next year on bryant etc. and I believe a better stock of FA starters. .





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With Soler gone the 2018 payroll drops even further. Can't blame them as you want them spending on Bryant/Russell/Hendricks vs Soler sitting on the bench soaking payroll.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Cubs aren't spending big money this offseason. .
Especially on relievers..

Luxery tax and more importantly Arbs coming up next year on bryant etc. and I believe a better stock of FA starters. .





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Yep. Win now, prepare to win later. Win-win. I really enjoy watching these guys work. That said everyone makes mistakes and that could happen but the way they weigh risk and reward is a model of good baseball and business sense.

 

[CSF77]

Ideally you do both at the same time. Trading for Davis as opposed to signing Jansen or Chapman will allow them the financial freedom to spend big next year and open their second window within the larger window. The noises coming out of the winter meetings are that there will be no exception to the new international signing rules for Japanese players that would allow for Shohei Otani to come over in 2018 but Otani seems determined to come over anyway. Rules are made to be broken though and Theo has made a career out of exploiting them. Nobody will speak it out loud but a team could, theoretically, trade for international slot money to the maximum $10 million and sign Otani with a handshake deal to offer him an extension as soon as its allowable. Of course the player takes the risk but Otani wants to play in MLB so badly that he might do that. In addition Yu Darvish is available in FA next year as well as Matt Moore and others. Bumgarner and Cueto have opt outs. The Cubs want to have the money to retool their pitching in 2018 while competing for a World Series in 2017. Trading a player in Soler with no real place to play on your team for 1 year of Wade Davis makes sense on both fronts.

Otani is the only realist reason to open payroll. Darvish has not rebounded 100% post injury to warrant these moves. Bum is not a clear F/A. Moore is MOR. They could have gone after Cueto but didn't.

Otani is in reality the only guy they are targeting. Age is a huge factor.

 

[Shawon0Meter]

I'm a little unhappy about Wade Davis having only 1 year left on his deal but that just means the Cubs have to make the most of it..which they've now proven they can.

 

[DanTown]

Wade Davis is the perfect kind of guy to mentor CJ Edwards on how to use his starter stuff (which is good) and turn that in to an elite reliever. While the cost is high, Soler simply never lived up to the type of status that he had as a minor leaguer. And considering a full year of Schwarber (which means less opportunity to play LF) and a hopefully rebounding Heyward, there simply wasn't much room to get Soler AB. If he does end up in Kansas City, I expect him to use the regular playing time he's likely to receive and become a solid regular OF.

I mean maybe the Cubs make a minor move (probably LaStella for a 3rd C type) in terms of adding a better LOOGY but I feel the lineup is mostly set

C Contreras, Montero
IF Rizzo, Zobrist, Bryant, Baez, Russell
OF Schwarber, Jay, Almora, Heyward, Szczur
SP Lester, Hendricks, Arrieta, Lackey, Montgomery
RP Davis, Edwards, Rondon, Grimm, Strop, Duesening (LH), Battle for spot (Rob Z, Pierce Johnson, etc)

Best guesses on top/notable minor leaguers
AAA - Chesney Young, Jeimer Candelario, Victor Caratini, Mark Zagunis
AA - Ian Happ, Duane Underwood, Trevor Clifton, Preston Morrison
A+ - Eloy Jimenez, Donnie Dewes, Thomas Hatch
A - EJ Martinez, Dylan Cease, Oscar de la Cruz

 

[Omeletpants]

This trade leads me to believe that Theo will be all in on trying to repeat. Otherwise, trade makes no sense.

Newsflash: Theo wants to repeat. LOLOLOLOLO.

 

[CSF77]

Jay
Schwarber
Bryant
Rizzo
Zobrist
Russell
Heyward
Contreras

Bench

Baez
Almora
Montero
LaStella
Szczur

Lester
Hendricks
Arrieta
Montgomery
Lackey

Davis
Rondon
Strop
Edwards
Grimm
Zan
Duesening

25 man in a nutshell. To add anything would take a trade.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Otani is the only realist reason to open payroll. Darvish has not rebounded 100% post injury to warrant these moves. Bum is not a clear F/A. Moore is MOR. They could have gone after Cueto but didn't.

Otani is in reality the only guy they are targeting. Age is a huge factor.

I agree, but Otani might not be available. This is a guy who should be in MLB baseball but the powers that be might be too obtuse to see that. All I'm saying is that Theo always has backup plans.