Offseason rumors/discussion thread

[chibears55]

If Theo makes big changes.....

Itll be Schwarber who outside of HRs hasn't exactly been all that good offensively with low averages and low run production...

CF has been a merry go round since Fowler left, so Theo may look to stabilize there

Heyward and his inconsistencies may be moved to cut cost, 23 mil for a defensive RFer who struggles way too often with the bat is expensive

Then there Russell and whether or not to stick with him or move on...
I think theyll move on, mainly because it may be best for Russell and teammates as it may be uncomfortable for all in that locker room... some of the players and their wives/GF were or are probably close to Russell ex and also may not be as forgiven to what he did...

So, for me if there major changes itll be in the OF

 

[beckdawg]

Zobrist in his last year, Bote, Happ, LaStella, oh and Russell is coming back so Javy will be there too. I just dont get the "need" for a second baseman. Doesn't anyone think that Zobrist should not be running around in the outfield anymore?

I think you're going to have to trade someone for relief pitching. My guess would be happ given the player deployment. I also think Zobrist is likely the starting RF unless things change via FA. Russell is out a month. So, if that were to happen do you really want Bote as your starting 2B for a month of the season?

 

[anotheridiot]

I think you're going to have to trade someone for relief pitching. My guess would be happ given the player deployment. I also think Zobrist is likely the starting RF unless things change via FA. Russell is out a month. So, if that were to happen do you really want Bote as your starting 2B for a month of the season?

I dont see anything wrong with Bote as your starter for 28 games, but I dont know why you are calling Zobrist your starting right fielder. If we are stuck with Heyward, it weakens two positions by playing him in center. When Almora got consistent at bats he was hitting .300. It was not just against lefties this year, but then he kept getting sat for Happ. So if you move happ, you are at least still playing Almora as much as last year right?

I think we need and Theo needs to see a more consistent lineup and players he wants to perform get extended at bats and at minimum, full games with Schwarber. Yeah, it worked in 2016, with a full time center fielder, full time right fielder, full time infield. Past two years did not get the same results, cant see why they would want to continue.

 

[beckdawg]

I dont know why you are calling Zobrist your starting right fielder. If we are stuck with Heyward, it weakens two positions by playing him in center.

I don't agree that it weakens 2 positions. Look at it like this... Almora showed he can hit but he's inconsistent at the very least. Zobrist was amazing in 2018 but at however old he is(37? 38?) he's not someone you count on to play 160 games. By assuming Zobrist is a starting RF you're adding depth. That's not to say how it is going to eventually play out. For example, Zobrist could have a 2017 type year and Almora could be hot. By setting it up in this manner you have redundancy vs throwing Bote and Almora out there daily and hoping. The issue in 2018 is they went with the latter and had no back up when shit hit the fan.

 

[kapooncha]

If any team suffers injury to their best hitter. 2nd best pitcher is lost to injury. Closer lost. 5th pitcher loses command. They normally become sellers. Cubs won 95 games with this loser squad.

Sometimes you write stuff that is shit. You need to look at it as it is. They were injured. And they still were playing at a higher th level.

You just add depth like Andrew Miller because Morrow is a continuous injury risk. Darvish was a impingement which is a fix in surgery. Morrow’s issues are cronic and you need to protect your self there.

That is where you need to invest.

Lead off is the 2nd spot. This is a spend on a F/A or trade for one. Or roll the dice on Almora in house.

Cubs also lost in 2017 when they were healthy. And don't start with that World Series hangover shit or nobody will take you seriously.

 

[SilenceS]

If we go status quo, we lose. Cubs have basically stayed status quo since 2016 (pitching downgrade by choosing Garbish over Arrieta).

Hey KB

 

[SilenceS]

I don't agree that it weakens 2 positions. Look at it like this... Almora showed he can hit but he's inconsistent at the very least. Zobrist was amazing in 2018 but at however old he is(37? 38?) he's not someone you count on to play 160 games. By assuming Zobrist is a starting RF you're adding depth. That's not to say how it is going to eventually play out. For example, Zobrist could have a 2017 type year and Almora could be hot. By setting it up in this manner you have redundancy vs throwing Bote and Almora out there daily and hoping. The issue in 2018 is they went with the latter and had no back up when shit hit the fan.

Zobrist defense has regressed tremendously. His bat was alive and well. Age catches up to everyone

 

[beckdawg]

https://nypost.com/2018/11/07/the-b...ems-and-on-field-brilliance-of-manny-machado/

Interesting read on machado from his former manager.

 

[beckdawg]

Zobrist defense has regressed tremendously. His bat was alive and well. Age catches up to everyone

Eh... i mean i wouldn't say tremendously. Certainly you're right he's not the same guy but if we're talking RF and 2B which seem like places he's likely to play, the past 2 years he was +7 DRS and 7.2 UZR/150 at 2B(937.1 innings) and -4 DRS and -1.2 UZR/150 in RF(653.0). So it's not like he's fallen off a cliff. You're likely talking some where in the average to slightly below range in RF and slightly better than average at 2B. For his career he's a 5.8 UZR/150 at 2B and 12.3 UZR/150 in RF. And in terms of his RF being much worse for whatever reason he was really bad in 2017 but not as bad in 2018 You're tallking -6 DRS/-9.1 UZR/150 in 2017 and 2 DRS/3.9 UZR/150 in 2018.

 

[Castor76]

If we go status quo, we lose. Cubs have basically stayed status quo since 2016 (pitching downgrade by choosing Garbish over Arrieta).

Let's be fair. By all reports, they made to offer to Jake first.

 

[chibears55]

I think you're going to have to trade someone for relief pitching. My guess would be happ given the player deployment. I also think Zobrist is likely the starting RF unless things change via FA. Russell is out a month. So, if that were to happen do you really want Bote as your starting 2B for a month of the season?

I hope they dont sign Andrew Miller, he 34 had a terrible year last year..
His best days are behind him

 

[CSF77]

I hope they dont sign Andrew Miller, he 34 had a terrible year last year..
His best days are behind him

Injury is a ***** like that.

 

[kapooncha]

Injury is a ***** like that.

We need to stay healthy in 2019. And win. If not, you're going to see people turn on the team real quick. No more lovable losers nonsense.

 

[chibears55]

Injury is a ***** like that.

Another reason to stear clear from him..

34, injury, arrow not pointing up

 

[TC in Mississippi]

I hope they dont sign Andrew Miller, he 34 had a terrible year last year..
His best days are behind him

I'd take him depending on the money, but with his estimate (via Spotrac) being 3/$54 mil I don't see that happening. No way do I give him that kind of money.

 

[CSF77]

I'd take him depending on the money, but with his estimate (via Spotrac) being 3/$54 mil I don't see that happening. No way do I give him that kind of money.

His value should be depressed coming in. I see the Cubs sitting strong at 12AAV. 18AAV is what a closer makes coming off a solid season.

 

[CSF77]

Manny Machado is the third-greatest player to ever hit free agency following his age-27 season or sooner, as calculated by The Athletic’s Cliff Corcoran (subscription required) in a 13-player ranking. Bryce Harper, interestingly, ranks just 11th on the list. The players were compiled in regards to what they had achieved before hitting the open market, so it’s worth noting that both Machado and Harper (who are both only 26 years old now) had a bit less seasoning than some of the slightly older names on the list. Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds are the only names ahead of Machado on this list dotted with several all-time greats, though as with any free agent, past performance is no guarantee of future performance. Case in point, the fourth-best player on Corcoran’s ranking is Jason Heyward, who has been a significant disappointment since signing an eight-year, $184MM deal to join the Cubs.

 

[anotheridiot]

Let's be fair. By all reports, they made to offer to Jake first.

They made a take it or leave it proposal to Jake saying he either signs it or they are making the offer to Darvish.

So lets be fair, that is a little bit different than an offer. It was a non negotiable mob type offer you cant refuse.

 

[TL1961]

They made a take it or leave it proposal to Jake saying he either signs it or they are making the offer to Darvish.

So lets be fair, that is a little bit different than an offer. It was a non negotiable mob type offer you cant refuse.

That's a bit of a misrepresentation. They tried to resign Jake before signing Darvish, and then still offered him the same as Darvish accepted. Jake chose to move on. I don't think it's fair to say the Cubs chose Darvish over Jake. They chose Darvish over being left empty handed.

And Jake is on the downturn.

 

[kapooncha]

That's a bit of a misrepresentation. They tried to resign Jake before signing Darvish, and then still offered him the same as Darvish accepted. Jake chose to move on. I don't think it's fair to say the Cubs chose Darvish over Jake. They chose Darvish over being left empty handed.

And Jake is on the downturn.

If you consider Jake on the downturn, what do you consider Darvish? Darvish may never pitch again.

If Cubs would have had Jake last season, they wouldn't have had to trade for Hamels and they'd have a lot more payroll flexibility this offseason.

Bottom line is Garbish fucked us dry.