Offseason rumors/discussion thread

[CSF77]

Not with the needs in the pen (dollar wise) and the quality you have to put on the field at second base.

I think people are expecting Murphy to expect some 6 million dollar deal.

2016: $8M, 2017: $12M, 2018: $17.5M I would expect a slimier deal to what he came off of. 12.5 AAV

This is why Russell for Billy Hamilton is not stupid.
Billy: Expected 6.25M then becomes a F/A. (Zo becomes a F/A also)
Addi: 5.25M expected with 2 more years due.

So the expected rates are almost push and it frees up the Cubs for Nico and Ademan the following year.

 

[beckdawg]

2016: $8M, 2017: $12M, 2018: $17.5M I would expect a slimier deal to what he came off of. 12.5 AAV

This is why Russell for Billy Hamilton is not stupid.
Billy: Expected 6.25M then becomes a F/A. (Zo becomes a F/A also)
Addi: 5.25M expected with 2 more years due.

So the expected rates are almost push and it frees up the Cubs for Nico and Ademan the following year.

Russell for Hamilton is stupid because he's a career .245/.298/.333 hitter.

 

[anotheridiot]

Russell for Hamilton is stupid because he's a career .245/.298/.333 hitter.

dont you see Billy Hamiltons numbers at Wrigley field? (just kidding, waiting for that response)

I dont agree with Hamilton, but its better than the idea that we can teach Frank Gore how to hit.

 

[chibears55]

Saw this question asked...

Would you take McCutchen and Machado Over Harper if the money were the same

 

[anotheridiot]

I would have to know what happened to mccutchen. Something broke him when he was told he was no good in center field anymore. That concerns me, because of that "I just signed for big money, I will put too much pressure on myself and I will suck" illness people like Lester, Heyward and various others get.

 

[CSF77]

Russell for Hamilton is stupid because he's a career .245/.298/.333 hitter.

And a potential PR nightmare that they would be forced to drop for nothing.

I’m not saying start Billy. More so late inning PR/D upg. If his bat improves then it could be interesting seeing him hit 9 and they play with the top.

Gore is a weaker D O and every other aspect. That is why you don’t draft track stars.

 

[CSF77]

Saw this question asked...

Would you take McCutchen and Machado Over Harper if the money were the same

Depends on team needs. Those questions are really situational. 30/per is a huge investment and I wouldn’t be shocked if a team like the White Sox over bid

A player like Manny or Harper could easily goto teams to just increase ticket sales vs win anything andcthise bids should end up the highest players. Those teams are under 100M and it becomes a investment in sales vs a championship situation. SDP did this last year and could end up a player for Manny after they upgraded 1B. That is a team that could absorb payroll and increase box draw. Add to it have talent (think top farm) where they could push the button this off season.

Honestly the Cubs are a reach on either one. There are better situations for both vs a team that is at the tax break.

 

[chibears55]

And a potential PR nightmare that they would be forced to drop for nothing.

I’m not saying start Billy. More so late inning PR/D upg. If his bat improves then it could be interesting seeing him hit 9 and they play with the top.

Gore is a weaker D O and every other aspect. That is why you don’t draft track stars.

Why you keep mentioning Gore?

Gore wont be on cubs in 2019

 

[chibears55]

Wondering if the Cubs would consider Suzuki as backup Catcher for Darvish

 

[CSF77]

Why you keep mentioning Gore?

Gore wont be on cubs in 2019

Tagging A.I. Pleas

 

[CSF77]

Wondering if the Cubs would consider Suzuki as backup Catcher for Darvish

I believe it would be a playing time issue. I could see him wanting 100 games and that is not a match up with the Cubs unless they move Contreras into a platoon role. Caddying Darvish is only 32 games. Kinda pricy if you ask me on a translator

 

[chibears55]

I believe it would be a playing time issue. I could see him wanting 100 games and that is not a match up with the Cubs unless they move Contreras into a platoon role. Caddying Darvish is only 32 games. Kinda pricy if you ask me on a translator

I guess yea, if he and other teams feel at 35 he got all that left on him..

Im not saying hed just catch Darvish, just think he might help Darvish fit in better

 

[CSF77]

I guess yea, if he and other teams feel at 35 he got all that left on him..

Im not saying hed just catch Darvish, just think he might help Darvish fit in better

Hamels is a better investment if going that card.

I like Suzuki if they platoon Contreras in LF with Schwarber. That should be a 100/62 split aprox. Then platoon Suzuki 100 games at catcher. That gives about 120 games to Contreras and he could fill in RF/1B for more AB’s.

 

[TL1961]

Saw this question asked...

Would you take McCutchen and Machado Over Harper if the money were the same

Why woul danyone have interest in Mccutchen?

 

[TL1961]

I don't get the statement that "Happ would be the ideal second baseman" followed by a huge "IF" regarding his offense. If he has offensive questions, what makes him ideal? He is not great at second defensively. No terrible. But what makes this "ideal" if offense is an issue?

I will concede that we may trade Russell. But if I am the Cubs I am not trading him within the division. (I know. It's the Reds, but still.)

I can't see any point in trading for Billy Hamilton and playing him at 2nd base. Was this a joke? He is a CF and doesn't hit. What value is there to playing him at 2nd base? I'd love to know what the reasoning is there.

We have Happ playing CF/2nd now, along with Almora. We have others who can play / have played 2nd base. I am just not getting this at all.

 

[CSF77]

I don't get the statement that "Happ would be the ideal second baseman" followed by a huge "IF" regarding his offense. If he has offensive questions, what makes him ideal? He is not great at second defensively. No terrible. But what makes this "ideal" if offense is an issue?

I will concede that we may trade Russell. But if I am the Cubs I am not trading him within the division. (I know. It's the Reds, but still.)

I can't see any point in trading for Billy Hamilton and playing him at 2nd base. Was this a joke? He is a CF and doesn't hit. What value is there to playing him at 2nd base? I'd love to know what the reasoning is there.

We have Happ playing CF/2nd now, along with Almora. We have others who can play / have played 2nd base. I am just not getting this at all.

Came up as a 2B. So there is that part.

Has avg 39.57 SB per season (including his 19 AB one that netted 13 SB.)

He is completely 1 dimensional on O but it is a huge tool set. D wise he is considered GG quality at CF.

End of the day if he held a OBA around .350 this convo would be flipped where Russell doesn't buy him.


Happ needs to make more contact. Rookie he put the ball into play 57% of the time. Translated to .253/.328/.514. This year 46% .233/.353/.408 I think it is pretty obvious that he went over board on the taking a pitch and it ended poorly.

He needs to get passive aggressive. Which means wait for the pitcher to throw the first called strike then attack in the zone. If the pitcher wants to act cute around the edges then hit it the other way vs get into a losing battle.

 

[beckdawg]

I would have to know what happened to mccutchen. Something broke him when he was told he was no good in center field anymore. That concerns me, because of that "I just signed for big money, I will put too much pressure on myself and I will suck" illness people like Lester, Heyward and various others get.

Nothing really broke in him defensively. He's just old. He only had 2 seasons with a positive uzr/150 in 2011 and 2013. So as he aged and slowed down he went from passable in CF to someone you don't really want in CF. In particular the range he had has left him.

 

[beckdawg]

And a potential PR nightmare that they would be forced to drop for nothing.

I’m not saying start Billy. More so late inning PR/D upg. If his bat improves then it could be interesting seeing him hit 9 and they play with the top.

Gore is a weaker D O and every other aspect. That is why you don’t draft track stars.

Sorry but I don't see the point in paying a pinch runner $6 mil or whatever he's going to make. The cubs don't even attempt to steal often anyways. While I view that as a flaw, they may not based on their internal analytics.

 

[beckdawg]

Wondering if the Cubs would consider Suzuki as backup Catcher for Darvish

I mean it doesn't really have to be Suzuki. There's nothing particularly special about him. You can find guys who do what he does even if he doesn't end up with the cubs. And yes I think they will bring in someone like him. Whether or not it's actually specifically him is kind of irrelevant to me.

 

[chibears55]

I mean it doesn't really have to be Suzuki. There's nothing particularly special about him. You can find guys who do what he does even if he doesn't end up with the cubs. And yes I think they will bring in someone like him. Whether or not it's actually specifically him is kind of irrelevant to me.

Didn't really see any decent FA backup Catchers on the list that had good offensive numbers