Offseason rumors/discussion thread

[CSF77]

Jack Reinheimer
Positions: Pinch Hitter, Leftfielder and Shortstop

Bats: Right • Throws: Right

6-1, 185lb (185cm, 83kg)

It is kinda early but this has the feel of UI replacement.

Most of the scenarios given this off season has left a huge gap at SS. This one has the feel of a legit plan forming to off Russell.

Looking at depth:

3B Bryant -> Bote -> LaStella
SS: Baez -> Reinheimer
2B: Zobrist -> Bote -> LaStella
1B: Rizzo -> can end up many options over the 10 games that he sits.

So I'm pretty sure with Freeman out and Reinheimer in this is a signal of Baez taking over. At min it gives a window to Russell but it also opens up opportunity to free up more payroll.

 

[CSF77]

Johnny Field
Position: Outfielder

Bats: Right • Throws: Right

5-10, 180lb (178cm, 81kg)

Team: Chicago Cubs (majors)

This one really confused me some. They basically have this in AAA...IDK honestly here. Could be a filler move or could end up a platoon situation with Schwarber. With Happ being a void as a RH hitter this maybe the case. But I doubt this one sticks. .222 really is not a good target and I would rather it be Zag.

 

[chibears55]

This guy doesnt think Cubs will do much in FA this year

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/11/mlb-free-agent-predictions-2019.html

His numbers are way over the top

 

[CSF77]

His numbers are way over the top

When he connected the Cubs to McCrutchy I stopped reading. Stupid

 

[chibears55]

When he connected the Cubs to McCrutchy I stopped reading. Stupid

Especially 3/45

 

[CSF77]

Especially 3/45

I get the logic. Cheaper RH power. Can push Almora to 4th OF. Still dumb as **** opinion and they are scrambling after the Cubs tossed up a pay restriction. Notice how he pushed Harper off to the Dodgers after they have had no connections before.

I believe that they are focusing on opening up space to get to cap again.

Cots has them at $209,085,714 now. Russell est at $5.25 so that is a potentially huge deal right now. Just moving him for payroll relief pushes it down to 203,835,714. So that becomes a impact move. At that point they could look at readjusting with in cap. Say Happ for a controlled pen arm. The SS they added bats RH and can play LF which adds AB's as Schwarber's platoon mate.

 

[kapooncha]

I get the logic. Cheaper RH power. Can push Almora to 4th OF. Still dumb as **** opinion and they are scrambling after the Cubs tossed up a pay restriction. Notice how he pushed Harper off to the Dodgers after they have had no connections before.

I believe that they are focusing on opening up space to get to cap again.

Cots has them at $209,085,714 now. Russell est at $5.25 so that is a potentially huge deal right now. Just moving him for payroll relief pushes it down to 203,835,714. So that becomes a impact move. At that point they could look at readjusting with in cap. Say Happ for a controlled pen arm. The SS they added bats RH and can play LF which adds AB's as Schwarber's platoon mate.

We are $209 with Hamels? You sure about that?

 

[CSF77]

We are $209 with Hamels? You sure about that?

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VJ9nVwD1eUJabnL9tuQuxJa1K2oM2HXyqJS8Od0pMIo/pubhtml

 

[chibears55]

I get the logic. Cheaper RH power. Can push Almora to 4th OF. Still dumb as **** opinion and they are scrambling after the Cubs tossed up a pay restriction. Notice how he pushed Harper off to the Dodgers after they have had no connections before.

I believe that they are focusing on opening up space to get to cap again.

Cots has them at $209,085,714now. Russell est at $5.25 so that is a potentially huge deal right now. Just moving him for payroll relief pushes it down to 203,835,714. So that becomes a impact move. At that point they could look at readjusting with in cap. Say Happ for a controlled pen arm. The SS they added bats RH and can play LF which adds AB's as Schwarber's platoon mate.

Tier 3 is 246

I read that the cubs may want to have about 10 mil clear going into the season for just in case moves, so probably figure they need to be no more then 205 if they want to offer at least 30 for this year to Harper or Machado ..

So, yea have to think Russell Chatwood Kintzler are on the block along with either Schwarber or Heyward, especially if they sign Harper...

I just dont see Heyward being an everyday CF covering enough OF with Schwarber and Harper in the corners

 

[CSF77]

Projected 40-man CBT Payroll 222M
They add 14M for benefits.

 

[Castor76]

My first post. At a certain point a team almost has to say "All In" or "Stand Pat." The Cubs wouldn't be insane to say they expect players to bounce back from injury and/or improve as they are getting more experience. So Standing Pat isn't a bad idea. I just don't think it gets them back to where they want to be. I think they should make Harper an offer of 14-15 years at 400-450M. You give the him No Trade for the 5 years, probably an Opt out at years 3 and 4. Just go for broke because the window is now.

That's a possible line up of

Almora CF
Bryant 3B
Harper LF
Baez SS
Rizzo 1B
Contreras C
Zobrist 2B
Heyward RF

With other moves they've already done, they'll be in payroll shed for some of the starting pitchers. It'll also make 2-3 bench players trade assets.

 

[Omeletpants]

My first post. At a certain point a team almost has to say "All In" or "Stand Pat." The Cubs wouldn't be insane to say they expect players to bounce back from injury and/or improve as they are getting more experience. So Standing Pat isn't a bad idea. I just don't think it gets them back to where they want to be. I think they should make Harper an offer of 14-15 years at 400-450M. You give the him No Trade for the 5 years, probably an Opt out at years 3 and 4. Just go for broke because the window is now.

That's a possible line up of

Almora CF
Bryant 3B
Harper LF
Baez SS
Rizzo 1B
Contreras C
Zobrist 2B
Heyward RF

With other moves they've already done, they'll be in payroll shed for some of the starting pitchers. It'll also make 2-3 bench players trade assets.

Harper is the most overrated player in baseball. Waste of money and handcuffs Cubs in future

 

[JP Hochbaum]

14-15 years!!

 

[CSF77]

My first post. At a certain point a team almost has to say "All In" or "Stand Pat." The Cubs wouldn't be insane to say they expect players to bounce back from injury and/or improve as they are getting more experience. So Standing Pat isn't a bad idea. I just don't think it gets them back to where they want to be. I think they should make Harper an offer of 14-15 years at 400-450M. You give the him No Trade for the 5 years, probably an Opt out at years 3 and 4. Just go for broke because the window is now.

That's a possible line up of

Almora CF
Bryant 3B
Harper LF
Baez SS
Rizzo 1B
Contreras C
Zobrist 2B
Heyward RF

With other moves they've already done, they'll be in payroll shed for some of the starting pitchers. It'll also make 2-3 bench players trade assets.

You have just won the internet with that one. 1/2 billion on Harper. Yep

 

[Castor76]

The biggest deal in history is 13 years for 325M. Both of those number will be broken by whomever signs Harper. The future is already handcuffed. The Cubs aren't getting a better starter than they already have on staff or in the system. The downside of Harper is he's as likely to play <120 games as he is >140 games. His numbers the past 4 seasons with Runners On, RISP, and RISP w/ 2 Outs are outstanding. The Cubs are in Go Big or Go Home stage.

Or you can be happy to stand pat and hope people develop.

 

[CSF77]

Tier 3 is 246

I read that the cubs may want to have about 10 mil clear going into the season for just in case moves, so probably figure they need to be no more then 205 if they want to offer at least 30 for this year to Harper or Machado ..

So, yea have to think Russell Chatwood Kintzler are on the block along with either Schwarber or Heyward, especially if they sign Harper...

I just dont see Heyward being an everyday CF covering enough OF with Schwarber and Harper in the corners

222,407,143 after 14.5M player benifits/2,250,000 40 man covered. 2.3M clubed controlled/42,250,000 Arb.

So that is 23,592,857 under that figure. Adding Harper at 30M pushes it 253,592,857 or 7,592,857 over that cap. That is talking moving Russell and Montgomery and back filling with min deals. Even then it is 342,857 short.

That is why it is far fetched right now. Adding Hamels was a big deal and a choice that they made that impacted 2019. Basically they would have to flip Q at this point to get the cash relief needed and back fill with Montgomery or give Chatwood another shot at it. That is highly doubtful.

 

[CSF77]

The biggest deal in history is 13 years for 325M. Both of those number will be broken by whomever signs Harper. The future is already handcuffed. The Cubs aren't getting a better starter than they already have on staff or in the system. The downside of Harper is he's as likely to play <120 games as he is >140 games. His numbers the past 4 seasons with Runners On, RISP, and RISP w/ 2 Outs are outstanding. The Cubs are in Go Big or Go Home stage.

Or you can be happy to stand pat and hope people develop.

Or you can use math and figure out where they are at and what is possible in their situation vs playing with other peoples money.

 

[Castor76]

Or you can use math and figure out where they are at and what is possible in their situation vs playing with other peoples money.

But isn't that what we're all doing, playing with other people's money? If you're dancing on the edge of the threshold with no relief in sight, tell me why you don't take the leap for the next 3-5 years? What's 10 draft slots really? Of the top 5 picks from the last 5 drafts, how many can you name without looking it up? How many have made a difference to the team's success? How many are even in the majors?

Maybe the Cubs have enough already to win it all again. I hope so. I just don't think so.

 

[CSF77]

But isn't that what we're all doing, playing with other people's money? If you're dancing on the edge of the threshold with no relief in sight, tell me why you don't take the leap for the next 3-5 years? What's 10 draft slots really? Of the top 5 picks from the last 5 drafts, how many can you name without looking it up? How many have made a difference to the team's success? How many are even in the majors?

Maybe the Cubs have enough already to win it all again. I hope so. I just don't think so.

We pretty much know that they are over. we know that every dollar over goes to the poorer teams payroll. IE they are flipping the bill for a shitty team to get better. And if they go 40M over they lose 10 spots in the next draft. So it really starts to hit the future.

And it locks you into it because now you have to pay up to retain your homegrown...

That is why I/we look first before spouting nonsense. Sure I could say. Dump 15 years 450M. And not even regard the potential impact because it is just play money. But that really does nothing. It is not even trying to look at it from their prospective and using that to predict. I wouldn't have predicted Smyly but when the numbers started taking shape and seeing how Smyly was a easy move it made perfect sense.

 

[kapooncha]

But isn't that what we're all doing, playing with other people's money? If you're dancing on the edge of the threshold with no relief in sight, tell me why you don't take the leap for the next 3-5 years? What's 10 draft slots really? Of the top 5 picks from the last 5 drafts, how many can you name without looking it up? How many have made a difference to the team's success? How many are even in the majors?

Maybe the Cubs have enough already to win it all again. I hope so. I just don't think so.

I agree. At this point Cubs just need to go big and see if they can win another WS in the window. Just crossing fingers and praying we can win with what we've got is pathetic and futile.