Offseason rumors/discussion thread

[anotheridiot]

Everything comes down to what they finally decide to want to spend. I'm resigned to Harped not being a Cub. I can hate it, but I know there's plenty of offense if the team is healthy.

But it is nice to dream of 2-5 of Bryant, Harper, Baez, Rizzo.

1-4 of Baez, Rizzo, Bryant, Harper

 

[smknivy420]

Looks like they're serious about Tulo. I would love it. Believe me, we all know about his health history but all they would be giving him is the league minimum, so that's a plus and he'll instantly become that clubhouse veteran leader that they claim they're lacking. It's a win win. The only difference with the Tulo situation is that he has to choose the Cubs out of all the other teams in on him since money is not a factor. Anyone who signs him will be on the hook for the same amount, so hopefully he chooses the Cubs.

 

[beckdawg]

Looks like they're serious about Tulo. I would love it. Believe me, we all know about his health history but all they would be giving him is the league minimum, so that's a plus and he'll instantly become that clubhouse veteran leader that they claim they're lacking. It's a win win. The only difference with the Tulo situation is that he has to choose the Cubs out of all the other teams in on him since money is not a factor. Anyone who signs him will be on the hook for the same amount, so hopefully he chooses the Cubs.

Tulo is probably getting more than the league min. While I agree with signing him and while it's unlikely to be super expensive to sign him just think he'll get a few million. Something similar to what Kinsler got(2/$8 mil) is probably likely. I'd guess maybe he gets slightly less given his health concerns.

 

[smknivy420]

Tulo is probably getting more than the league min. While I agree with signing him and while it's unlikely to be super expensive to sign him just think he'll get a few million. Something similar to what Kinsler got(2/$8 mil) is probably likely. I'd guess maybe he gets slightly less given his health concerns.

Any team he signs with will only be on the hook for the league minimum. Since Toronto released him they still owe him $38M for the next 2yrs., so any team that signs him will only have to pay him the league minimum, which is like $545,000.

 

[anotheridiot]

Tulo is probably getting more than the league min. While I agree with signing him and while it's unlikely to be super expensive to sign him just think he'll get a few million. Something similar to what Kinsler got(2/$8 mil) is probably likely. I'd guess maybe he gets slightly less given his health concerns.

Maybe a team can give him some incentives, but I am pretty sure his salary total just simply adds up to what his contract is for, so paying him more is just taking dollars away from what Toronto has to pay. I am pretty sure the best incentive he can have is finding a team that has a legitimate shot at a ring and wants him. I would put both the cubs and dodgers in that regard, with the injury history to both teams now, but I would think he might prefer going to Coors 9 times next year.

 

[beckdawg]

Edit: Tried to delete this as it was wrong but it wont let me so ignore this

 

[Castor76]

It will be very interesting to see who signs Trulo. I guess it will truly come down to chance to be on a winner versus playing time.

 

[chibears55]

You can cross Brantly off your wish list..

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1074813260115951616?s=19

 

[CSF77]

It will be very interesting to see who signs Trulo. I guess it will truly come down to chance to be on a winner versus playing time.

bit of both most likely.

Ideally you want both.

Cubs IMO would be flex at first. But Joe has proven that if a guy rakes he plays.

 

[CSF77]

You can cross Brantly off your wish list..

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1074813260115951616?s=19

Already did after that last report on mid tier level issues. I don't expect anything unless a bad deal gets removed.

 

[CSF77]

New beat: Like him more than Carrie

https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/inbox-are-cubs-interested-in-yasmani-grandal/c-301940650

How about Tyler Chatwood for Russell Martin? The Cubs have a rotation of Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, Jose Quintana, Hamels and Darvish, with Mike Montgomery wanting to start. It is hard to see how Chatwood breaks into the rotation. Martin's trade value is low because of the other available free-agent catchers. It would give the Cubs the backup catcher they were looking for and some payroll relief for 2020. The Blue Jays get another starter who might be better with a change of scenery.
-- Mark C., Chicago

This is the kind of deal the Cubs would probably have to do in order to move Chatwood -- a swap of large contracts. I could get on board with this, but part of it would depend upon Toronto's willingness to take on the 2020 salary. In terms of the luxury-tax aspect, Martin's average annual salary is $16.4 million, while Chatwood's is $12.6 million. So it'd be roughly a $3.8 million hit to the Cubs' bottom line for '19.

Martin would not only fit the bill as a backup, but could also offer the veteran leadership Chicago is seeking. In a perfect world, the Cubs could deal Chatwood without taking on as much salary as in this concept, but on the surface I wouldn't oppose this kind of trade if it didn't hinder the Cubs from addressing some other needs (such as the bullpen, for instance).

Kinda like the thought process here

The Cubs are supposedly targeting Troy Tulowitzki or Daniel Descalso. Why not get Daniel Murphy? He is a professional hitter that was on the 2018 roster at the end of year. He is great in the clubhouse and the young Cubs looked up to him. I'd take him before Tulo or Descalso.
-- Mike B.

Once the Cubs opted to tender shortstop Addison Russell a contract for 2019, that made it less likely for the team to then target someone like Murphy or another free agent such as DJ LeMahieu. There will be a hole at second at the start of the season, while Russell finishes out a 40-game suspension and Javier Baez handles short. But the Cubs have some internal options (Ben Zobrist, David Bote or Ian Happ).

If Tulowitzki is healthy and wants a regular role at short, well, that wouldn't make sense for the Cubs. He'd be viewed as a veteran bench player. Descalso would add veteran depth to Chicago's bench as a utility man. That is more what the team is seeking, rather than a full-timer up the middle like Murphy.

Don't like this thought process but could hold true with Theo as he puts ideals ahead of common sense.

First off, welcome to the Cubs beat! Looking forward to following along from the heart of Cardinals country here in Jefferson City, Mo. (Boo!) My question is: I don't recall seeing any updates on Yu Darvish this offseason. How is his winter progression coming, and should we expect him to be in the starting rotation come the start of the season?
-- Tyler M.

Shortly before the Winter Meetings, Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said that head athletic trainer PJ Mainville visited with Darvish in recent weeks and returned with "an A-plus glowing report" on the right-hander's rehab and offseason training progress. Until we hear otherwise, the expectation seems to be that Darvish will be ready for the start of the season.

That said, picking up Cole Hamels' option for 2019 helps guard against any setbacks anywhere else in the rotation. If Darvish or any other starter hits a snag and faces an Opening Day DL stint, the Cubs are fortunate to have strong depth in that part of the roster.

Good news there. I really wasn't concerned with the problem finally diagnosed properly.

Do the Cubs have interest in Yasmani Grandal? If they brought in Grandal, wouldn't it allow Willson Contreras opportunities to play the outfield again and get more rest days? Plus, he could learn from someone that is a better pitch framer.
-- James O., Havana, Cuba

The only way I'd envision the Cubs getting into the free-agent bidding for Grandal is if they moved Contreras in a trade, and that's not something I'd expect Chicago to do. Now, the front office has said they'd need to get "creative" to add a contract of any significance this offseason. Trading Contreras would definitely fit that description, especially if the Cubs could package him with a larger contract to free up payroll.

I've found this to be a reach honestly. I don't see Contreras moving the needle enough to move a shitty deal.

 

[Castor76]

Here's why I can't buy all the talk about the payroll. If they are of the belief that Darvish is going to be the pitcher they paid for, why spend the extra 13M on Hamels? I'm not saying he isn't an upgrade or that he isn't worth the money. In Chatwood's 24 games in 18 the cubs went 12 and 12. In the 12 starts Hamels had for the Cubs, the Cubs went 7 and 5. Average that out over 32 starts and it's 16/16 for Chatwood versus roughly 19/13 for Hamels. Could be better or worse. I'd bet better.

My contention is though, if the payroll constraints were really what the reports are, why not save the 13M to use on a pen arm that still reported as being needed?

 

[brett05]

Here's why I can't buy all the talk about the payroll. If they are of the belief that Darvish is going to be the pitcher they paid for, why spend the extra 13M on Hamels? I'm not saying he isn't an upgrade or that he isn't worth the money. In Chatwood's 24 games in 18 the cubs went 12 and 12. In the 12 starts Hamels had for the Cubs, the Cubs went 7 and 5. Average that out over 32 starts and it's 16/16 for Chatwood versus roughly 19/13 for Hamels. Could be better or worse. I'd bet better.

My contention is though, if the payroll constraints were really what the reports are, why not save the 13M to use on a pen arm that still reported as being needed?

did you just use wins on the "short"????

 

[CSF77]

When you are walking 1 guy per inning and led the league in that category with under 100 IP you don’t hang your hat on that.

That is why the Martin flip makes sense. Theo is looking for that type. Jays are looking to shed. It makes sense and something could be worked out between the two sides. Jays are going nowhere and a trade like that just rids contract

 

[anotheridiot]

Yes, lets trade Willson Contrares, who makes what, 700k so we can enter the bidding on the free agent catcher out there most probably looking for Molina money.

Where is the sense? A big deal needs to be moved to get a big deal. People want Machado and Harper are simply allowing Bryant to walk, Yeah, Gordon claims he doubts KB signs the long term deal here, still thinks he is bitter about a point I harped on of not allowing him to start with the club in 2015 when he did absolutely nothing to not win the 3B job. The "smart" keypad GM's said its good for business, dont lose a year of control. Now it could be the thorn in the side as the cubs try to buy up the arby years that they might have been able to if they did not start out trying to hold him back.

I cant wait til opening day so this madness stops.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Everything comes down to what they finally decide to want to spend. I'm resigned to Harped not being a Cub. I can hate it, but I know there's plenty of offense if the team is healthy.

But it is nice to dream of 2-5 of Bryant, Harper, Baez, Rizzo.

I wouldn't resign yourself to that. I'm more convinced than ever that Harper will sign here. The market is not shaping up, the Dodgers are just dipping their toes in and are one signing away from being out and aren't interested in the long term deal. The fact that the Cubs have done nothing means they haven't found the right deal to move salary in order to do it and Harper just sits out there. Boras is saying nothing nothing negative about the team's finances despite the fact that this is the team his player has wanted to play for all along. Plus the Cubs have clearly not gone to plan B yet. They aren't going to spend a lot of money if they don't sign Harper so they're two completely different plans. I'm still between the Cubs and Dodgers and it could go either way but right now I think it points to the Cubs. Ask me again tomorrow.

 

[CSF77]

Yes, lets trade Willson Contrares, who makes what, 700k so we can enter the bidding on the free agent catcher out there most probably looking for Molina money.

Where is the sense? A big deal needs to be moved to get a big deal. People want Machado and Harper are simply allowing Bryant to walk, Yeah, Gordon claims he doubts KB signs the long term deal here, still thinks he is bitter about a point I harped on of not allowing him to start with the club in 2015 when he did absolutely nothing to not win the 3B job. The "smart" keypad GM's said its good for business, dont lose a year of control. Now it could be the thorn in the side as the cubs try to buy up the arby years that they might have been able to if they did not start out trying to hold him back.

I cant wait til opening day so this madness stops.

Contreras was the worst framer. Grandad was the best. It would be to pack up Contreras and a bad contract. Even the beat writer didn’t like it in general and liked flipping Chatwood for Martian strait. Made more sense for the team.

 

[CSF77]

I wouldn't resign yourself to that. I'm more convinced than ever that Harper will sign here. The market is not shaping up, the Dodgers are just dipping their toes in and are one signing away from being out and aren't interested in the long term deal. The fact that the Cubs have done nothing means they haven't found the right deal to move salary in order to do it and Harper just sits out there. Boras is saying nothing nothing negative about the team's finances despite the fact that this is the team his player has wanted to play for all along. Plus the Cubs have clearly not gone to plan B yet. They aren't going to spend a lot of money if they don't sign Harper so they're two completely different plans. I'm still between the Cubs and Dodgers and it could go either way but right now I think it points to the Cubs. Ask me again tomorrow.

Pipe dream

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Pipe dream

Say what you will. When the market is essentially two teams (no I don't buy the White Sox for an instant) and neither seems all that interested you look at what's going on around them. The Cubs don't usually operate this secretly. I'm assuming you think it's the Dodgers?

 

[brett05]

Say what you will. When the market is essentially two teams (no I don't buy the White Sox for an instant) and neither seems all that interested you look at what's going on around them. The Cubs don't usually operate this secretly. I'm assuming you think it's the Dodgers?

Why would you not buy the Whtie Sox? Team has the most flexibility out of all the teams mentioned.