Offseason rumors/discussion thread

[SilenceS]

I always had a different view. I always thought Harper was an option because Rizzo could be trade bait or let walk type of guy. I know. I know. But, Rizzo beat cancer and he is chubby for an athlete. He has always had a back that tweaks. I always thought if they went after Harper its because they know they could let Rizzo walk if they had too.

 

[Omeletpants]

I always had a different view. I always thought Harper was an option because Rizzo could be trade bait or let walk type of guy. I know. I know. But, Rizzo beat cancer and he is chubby for an athlete. He has always had a back that tweaks. I always thought if they went after Harper its because they know they could let Rizzo walk if they had too.

But Rizzo doesn't have the serial killer look like Harper. Advantage Rizzo

 

[Castor76]

I always had a different view. I always thought Harper was an option because Rizzo could be trade bait or let walk type of guy. I know. I know. But, Rizzo beat cancer and he is chubby for an athlete. He has always had a back that tweaks. I always thought if they went after Harper its because they know they could let Rizzo walk if they had too.

Rizzo's contract is very friendly for its course. The Cubs could let him walk once it's done though.

 

[Castor76]

Maybe I'm connecting dots that aren't actually there but the more I read into the Harper situation the more I think his first choice is the cubs. Read something last night suggesting his wife was going to be a big part of the decision with regard to how they would fit into the club house with kids and what not. That's interesting on two levels. One it's no secret she and Bryant's wife are extremely close. It's also no secret Harper's dog wrigley was named by her. And it's also no secret the cubs in particular have made a huge effort to include family into the recruiting process going so far as to suggest doctors local for pregnant families and schools for those with kids.

Then you read stuff like the market for harper is only 3 teams. And you read the news today that apparently the ownership has signed off on a big ticket purchase. How this reads to me is if they can make the money work(ie get creative as theo said) it's going to happen. It's also kind of telling that there hasn't been a whole bunch of talk about cubs plans and what they have said would seem to suggest they like their internal players. You could read that as they aren't going to do anything but I think you could also read it as they don't plan to make many moves but adding in one for Harper would also fit that narrative.

They do say "Happy Wife, Happy Life." Just hope the ChiSox don't try to point out they'd still live Chicago as a sell point. Of course they will, unless that would be considered tampering.

 

[beckdawg]

They do say "Happy Wife, Happy Life." Just hope the ChiSox don't try to point out they'd still live Chicago as a sell point. Of course they will, unless that would be considered tampering.

Maybe this is just me being cynical but I never believe talk of the sox spending money because when have they? ESPN has a FA tracker going back to 2006. Here's the FA who've got more than $10 mil from the sox

2006 - No one
2007 - Scott Linebrink 4/$19 mil, Octavio Dotel 2/$11
2008 - no one
2009 - no one
2010 - Jesse Crain 3/$13, Adam Dunn 4/$56, Paul Konerko 3/$37
2011 - no one
2012 - Jeff Keppinger 3/$12
2013 - no one
2014 - Melky Cabrera 3/$42, Zach Duke 3/$15, Adam LaRoache 2/$25, David Robertson 4/$46
2015 - no one
2016 - no one
2017 - Welington Castillo 2/$15

This doesn't have Abreu in it presumably because he was an IFA. But when you look at it like this it's pretty striking. You had $14 mil AAV on dunn, $12.3 on Pauly, $14 on Melky, $12.5 on LaRoache, and $11.5 on Robertson. They've never even approached $20 mil let alone $30 mil AAV that some are suggesting Harper will get.

Again maybe I'm just too cynical but this stinks to me of their FO putting rumors out there that they tried to get a big fish they have no intention of actually signing because jerry never signs big FAs. The cheap moniker is well earned.

 

[CSF77]

I always had a different view. I always thought Harper was an option because Rizzo could be trade bait or let walk type of guy. I know. I know. But, Rizzo beat cancer and he is chubby for an athlete. He has always had a back that tweaks. I always thought if they went after Harper its because they know they could let Rizzo walk if they had too.

I don't see it that way. I see it as if they were going after Harper then they were thinking on Rizzo leading off. As far as value goes he has avg 3.6 fWAR over his career. Age wise he would be 30 at the time of his deal. OBA career is .385. To be honest he is Fowler quality as a lead off. With a core LH power hitter it lets Joe go full tilt with Rizzo leading off.

It is one of the perks of forcing Harper's contract onto the roster. As far as figuring payroll down the road they have to start filtering in cheaper pitching options as they develop. They have a few upwelling that can take over to Hamels in 2020.

 

[CSF77]

Maybe this is just me being cynical but I never believe talk of the sox spending money because when have they? ESPN has a FA tracker going back to 2006. Here's the FA who've got more than $10 mil from the sox

2006 - No one
2007 - Scott Linebrink 4/$19 mil, Octavio Dotel 2/$11
2008 - no one
2009 - no one
2010 - Jesse Crain 3/$13, Adam Dunn 4/$56, Paul Konerko 3/$37
2011 - no one
2012 - Jeff Keppinger 3/$12
2013 - no one
2014 - Melky Cabrera 3/$42, Zach Duke 3/$15, Adam LaRoache 2/$25, David Robertson 4/$46
2015 - no one
2016 - no one
2017 - Welington Castillo 2/$15

This doesn't have Abreu in it presumably because he was an IFA. But when you look at it like this it's pretty striking. You had $14 mil AAV on dunn, $12.3 on Pauly, $14 on Melky, $12.5 on LaRoache, and $11.5 on Robertson. They've never even approached $20 mil let alone $30 mil AAV that some are suggesting Harper will get.

Again maybe I'm just too cynical but this stinks to me of their FO putting rumors out there that they tried to get a big fish they have no intention of actually signing because jerry never signs big FAs. The cheap moniker is well earned.

Sox broke the 10M benchmark with Belle in 1997. They have been willing to spend in the past. They also were in on A-Rod so they were willing to go big if the player justified it.

 

[CSF77]

Rizzo's contract is very friendly for its course. The Cubs could let him walk once it's done though.

Again doubtful. Rizzo is pretty much the heart of the team. Theo is always going on about chemistry and leadership and spending on it. Well it starts with
Rizzo.

 

[Castor76]

Again doubtful. Rizzo is pretty much the heart of the team. Theo is always going on about chemistry and leadership and spending on it. Well it starts with
Rizzo.

Luckily, that's a 2021 off season question and not anytime soon. I love Rizzo and would hope things could work out.

 

[Castor76]

And unless they trade away Zobrist, why wouldn't you want him batting lead of when he's in the lineup?

 

[beckdawg]

Sox broke the 10M benchmark with Belle in 1997. They have been willing to spend in the past. They also were in on A-Rod so they were willing to go big if the player justified it.

You say they were in on ARod but they didn't sign him which is my point entirely. It's easy to "be in" on a player and not sign him. The fact that the one example you have is from 20 years ago should tell you everything you need to know.

 

[brett05]

Maybe this is just me being cynical but I never believe talk of the sox spending money because when have they? ESPN has a FA tracker going back to 2006. Here's the FA who've got more than $10 mil from the sox

2006 - No one
2007 - Scott Linebrink 4/$19 mil, Octavio Dotel 2/$11
2008 - no one
2009 - no one
2010 - Jesse Crain 3/$13, Adam Dunn 4/$56, Paul Konerko 3/$37
2011 - no one
2012 - Jeff Keppinger 3/$12
2013 - no one
2014 - Melky Cabrera 3/$42, Zach Duke 3/$15, Adam LaRoache 2/$25, David Robertson 4/$46
2015 - no one
2016 - no one
2017 - Welington Castillo 2/$15

This doesn't have Abreu in it presumably because he was an IFA. But when you look at it like this it's pretty striking. You had $14 mil AAV on dunn, $12.3 on Pauly, $14 on Melky, $12.5 on LaRoache, and $11.5 on Robertson. They've never even approached $20 mil let alone $30 mil AAV that some are suggesting Harper will get.

Again maybe I'm just too cynical but this stinks to me of their FO putting rumors out there that they tried to get a big fish they have no intention of actually signing because jerry never signs big FAs. The cheap moniker is well earned.

While I agree with what you said, Jerry does offer the big dollars. He did with Jordan and he did on the baseball side of things with ARod

 

[brett05]

You say they were in on ARod but they didn't sign him which is my point entirely. It's easy to "be in" on a player and not sign him. The fact that the one example you have is from 20 years ago should tell you everything you need to know.

The WHite Sox offered like 20% more than anyone else. and then Texas doubled the White Sox offer. That's not the same thing really.

 

[CSF77]

Well he hasn’t made a huge play for a while.

MLTR has reported UI/club house leader/back up catcher/bull pen.

UI: Russell is returning in May. Use Rule V for a month and return or fake an injury.

Back up catcher: basically they want another Ross. This feels misguided.

Pen arm: 1/2 of the league is in on Andrew Miller. Word is he is past injury. Joe Kelly is another target. This part is full of quality options.

I really dont see them in on Harper at all and it is all a bunch of hype.

 

[JimJohnson]

While I agree with what you said, Jerry does offer the big dollars. He did with Jordan and he did on the baseball side of things with ARod

Paying Jordan doesn't really hold water with me. Paying Jordan was essentially buying another NBA title. So of course he was paid!!

 

[fatbeard]

Again doubtful. Rizzo is pretty much the heart of the team. Theo is always going on about chemistry and leadership and spending on it. Well it starts with
Rizzo.

Of all the players on the Cubs, Rizzo is most likely to get the Seabrook treatment when the time comes.

 

[anotheridiot]

While I agree with what you said, Jerry does offer the big dollars. He did with Jordan and he did on the baseball side of things with ARod

He paid Jordan what he deserved, which was a mere 25 million dollars, but when it came time to do it again, Mike was off to Washington.

 

[brett05]

He paid Jordan what he deserved, which was a mere 25 million dollars, but when it came time to do it again, Mike was off to Washington.

It was 63 over two years. he retired for three and then was a Bullet for peanuts for two seasons. Jordan got paid more than the team cap. Jerry pays and this is proof.

 

[anotheridiot]

It was 63 over two years. he retired for three and then was a Bullet for peanuts for two seasons. Jordan got paid more than the team cap. Jerry pays and this is proof.

The last two with the bulls, yes. But when he was bringing titles and mvp's he was on an 8 year 25 million deal, his entire career he made 89 million dollars, the last two were a million per from washington which was to spite Jerry for not wanting him back again. Take away the two years at 63 and he played 11 years for the bulls for a total of 24 million dollars since he was docked when he retired and that brought 6 titles.

It was more cheap than generous.

 

[chibears55]

If the cubs end up pretty much doing nothing with the offense, I think it gonna end up being close to what we saw last year..
Alot of 3 runs or less games