Offseason Stuff

[CSF77]

I never saw Rizzo get recruited by university of North Carolina to play both basketball and baseball. Jumping on tarps doesn’t make someone a better athlete. Technically anybody can jump on tarp, most guys probably just wouldn’t try it because they don’t have as much heart as Rizzo and it’s also just rare that opportunity occurs. I love Rizzo as a player and person, but Lee was a far superior athlete and actually in his short prime Lee was probably one of the best cubs ever for a couple years.

He had 1 great year. I felt that he never reached his potential as a player.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

He had 1 great year. I felt that he never reached his potential as a player.

He had one great year, an injury riddled year, then 3 very good years. In fact the last full year with us was more great than very good. He hit .305, 35 home runs, 111rbis, and a 972 ops. In his very good years he hit .317 and .291 but hadn’t seemed to recover from his broken wrist as evidenced by his power numbers. His broken wrist did seem to hinder his power/production numbers for a couple years.

 

[CSF77]

He had one great year, an injury riddled year, then 3 very good years. In fact the last full year with us was more great than very good. He hit .305, 35 home runs, 111rbis, and a 972 ops. In his very good years he hit .317 and .291 but hadn’t seemed to recover from his broken wrist as evidenced by his power numbers. His broken wrist did seem to hinder his power/production numbers for a couple years.

.365 career OBA. He was a solid AB. But in a PED fueled era he never stood out as a player. Never took the team leadership role.

He had a great year for sure but there will be doubt if it was natural.

 

[zack54attack]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1192553580076646400

 

[CSF77]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1192553580076646400

Good for him

 

[beckdawg]

What would you lot feel about essentially swapping Bryant for Lindor? There's strong belief at least one of Lindor Betts and Bryant will be traded. I doubt it would just be a straight up 1 for 1 deal or anything but if we say for a moment you effectively give up similar value and wherever they end up the cubs get Lindor effectively for Bryant.

Personally if it were possible I think it would be interesting. It kind of creates one hole but fixes a different one. And I think the cubs have a better shot at extending Lindor than they would bryant not to mention I feel like if you have Lindor in hand that Baez probably wants to stay too because they are both from PR and from my knowledge pretty friendly. The pro is obviously Lindor is one of the best lead off hitters in baseball and is phenomenal defensively at SS. Cubs have Baez but he'd likely be just as good at 3B or 2B.

The down side is the cubs don't really have a future 3B in the pipeline. So unless you move Baez there you are going to have to figure that out via FA and more over they don't have many big power guys in the minors.

 

[Steve_A]

I don't think Heyward is untradable, But if the Cubs are eating much more than 7 M per remaining, then what's the benefit? Unless it's just a move to shed, plug in farm hand, and plan for next year.

Alzolay.

Al-zo-lay.

I dont think cheap has anything to do with the pitchers. Eventually, the only way you get out of being a laughing stock of pitcher development is actually rehabbing and or developing a fucking pitcher. And you will never do that if you never give these guys a shot at actually pitching in the majors.

I am sick of watching these 5 man betteran rotations, no competition, spring trainings that pitchers are given a number when they get off the plane. Maybe that is the change we might see, a real competition for CF and 2B, not signing Nick and just putting Heyward out there because you have to play your highest paid player.

Good for him

What would you lot feel about essentially swapping Bryant for Lindor? There's strong belief at least one of Lindor Betts and Bryant will be traded. I doubt it would just be a straight up 1 for 1 deal or anything but if we say for a moment you effectively give up similar value and wherever they end up the cubs get Lindor effectively for Bryant.

Personally if it were possible I think it would be interesting. It kind of creates one hole but fixes a different one. And I think the cubs have a better shot at extending Lindor than they would bryant not to mention I feel like if you have Lindor in hand that Baez probably wants to stay too because they are both from PR and from my knowledge pretty friendly. The pro is obviously Lindor is one of the best lead off hitters in baseball and is phenomenal defensively at SS. Cubs have Baez but he'd likely be just as good at 3B or 2B.

The down side is the cubs don't really have a future 3B in the pipeline. So unless you move Baez there you are going to have to figure that out via FA and more over they don't have many big power guys in the minors.

Seems like the Padres are ready to package prospects to win now.
Any of you see a possible trade between the two sides?

 

[anotheridiot]

Seems like the Padres are ready to package prospects to win now.
Any of you see a possible trade between the two sides?

sounds like Theo's master plan in getting Harris out in SanFran is to get Heyward there.

 

[fatbeard]

sounds like Theo's master plan in getting Harris out in SanFran is to get Heyward there.

"Scott, I really need you to knock that SF interview out of the park so I can fleece you into trading for an overpriced, mediocre player who you know is overpriced and mediocre because we've watched him together for the past four years. It'll make a great impression with your new bosses."

"Sure thing, Theo. Sounds like a great move for my new org! They're sure to love it!"

 

[anotheridiot]

"Scott, I really need you to knock that SF interview out of the park so I can fleece you into trading for an overpriced, mediocre player who you know is overpriced and mediocre because we've watched him together for the past four years. It'll make a great impression with your new bosses."

"Sure thing, Theo. Sounds like a great move for my new org! They're sure to love it!"

Didnt he get Jed to give him Rizzo from San Diego?

Keep putting your foot in your mouth.

 

[CSF77]

Cubs would have to eat contract to even get a return and some contract removed.

Cubs would have to eat: $20M signing bonus (paid in four $5M installments, each April 1, 2024-27)

20:$21M, 21:$21M, 22:$22M, 23:$22M

And they would most likely eat another 20M here just for a DFA return.

They would never get a quality prospect.

But he plays plus D in RF so IMO eat your plate children.

 

[fatbeard]

Didnt he get Jed to give him Rizzo from San Diego?

Hoyer was the Cubs' GM when they traded with San Diego for Rizzo.

On January 6, 2012, the Padres traded Rizzo and right-handed starting pitcher Zach Cates to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for right-handed starting pitcher Andrew Cashner and outfielder Kyung-Min Na. The deal was negotiated by Jed Hoyer, the Cubs' general manager. Hoyer had also drafted Rizzo while working as an assistant general manager for the Red Sox, and later acquired Rizzo while he was the Padres' general manager.[23] He blamed himself for calling up Rizzo to the majors too early in San Diego.[24][25]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Rizzo

Keep putting your foot in your mouth.

LOL

 

[beckdawg]

Seems like the Padres are ready to package prospects to win now.
Any of you see a possible trade between the two sides?

Padres are in a weird spot. Like they went heavy into IFA a few years ago so much so that their 40 man roster is a mess right now because some of those prospects they can't protect from the rule 5 draft. Its that more so than anything as to why they are ready to move guys. As for a possible trade, cubs have recently done a fair bit of business with the Pads. They picked up Wick from them prior to the season and Weick during the deadline. So, it wouldn't exactly shock me if they did business.

I'd like to see them kick the tires on Luis Urias. He's not been great in the majors but the guy has been a great lead off type bat in the minors. He hit .308/.397/.433 in the minors and keep in mind he was well below the average age most of the time. He made it to AAA at 19. He's probably a 2B in the majors rather than a SS but that kind fits with the cubs needs. SD might be willing to move on from him to win now and to clear up some roster space and if so I think he's an interesting guy. You wouldn't necessarily need to pencil him in as a starter but having the option for him to be a bench bat or someone they start in AAA would be interesting.

SD also has Austin Hedges who's fantastic defensively stuck behind Francisco Mejia. He'd interest me as well should the cubs shake up their C situation.

 

[CSF77]

Last week, 10 players received qualifying offers. Teams interested in signing Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, Zack Wheeler, Madison Bumgarner, Jake Odorizzi, Anthony Rendon, Josh Donaldson, Marcell Ozuna, Jose Abreu or Will Smith will therefore be required to forfeit draft and perhaps international bonus considerations in order to sign anyone from that bunch — assuming each of the 10 rejects that one-year, $17.8MM sum. Here’s a breakdown of the specific penalties that all 30 teams would face in signing a “qualified” free agent:

Competitive Balance Tax Payors: Red Sox, Yankees, Cubs

If any of these three teams signs a qualified free agent, they will forfeit their second- and fifth-highest selections in next summer’s draft. They’d all also see $1MM docked from their 2020-21 international bonus pools. The Red Sox, in particular, seem more intent on shedding payroll and lowering their luxury hit than on adding a high-end free agent. Signing a second qualified free agent would mean then surrendering their third- and sixth-highest selections as well as an additional $1MM in international funds.

 

[CSF77]

Pretty sure those guys will be avoided at all cost

 

[CSF77]

Padres are in a weird spot. Like they went heavy into IFA a few years ago so much so that their 40 man roster is a mess right now because some of those prospects they can't protect from the rule 5 draft. Its that more so than anything as to why they are ready to move guys. As for a possible trade, cubs have recently done a fair bit of business with the Pads. They picked up Wick from them prior to the season and Weick during the deadline. So, it wouldn't exactly shock me if they did business.

I'd like to see them kick the tires on Luis Urias. He's not been great in the majors but the guy has been a great lead off type bat in the minors. He hit .308/.397/.433 in the minors and keep in mind he was well below the average age most of the time. He made it to AAA at 19. He's probably a 2B in the majors rather than a SS but that kind fits with the cubs needs. SD might be willing to move on from him to win now and to clear up some roster space and if so I think he's an interesting guy. You wouldn't necessarily need to pencil him in as a starter but having the option for him to be a bench bat or someone they start in AAA would be interesting.

SD also has Austin Hedges who's fantastic defensively stuck behind Francisco Mejia. He'd interest me as well should the cubs shake up their C situation.

They are going to pull trades.

I could see the Cubs trading Q and Almora for pitching from them.

But SD is locked into a140M 2020 payroll. So trades are going to be their focus and they have blue chips to spare

 

[Castor76]

SD is sitting at around 127M in payroll projections for next year.

 

[Steve_A]

"Scott, I really need you to knock that SF interview out of the park so I can fleece you into trading for an overpriced, mediocre player who you know is overpriced and mediocre because we've watched him together for the past four years. It'll make a great impression with your new bosses."

"Sure thing, Theo. Sounds like a great move for my new org! They're sure to love it!"

Padres are in a weird spot. Like they went heavy into IFA a few years ago so much so that their 40 man roster is a mess right now because some of those prospects they can't protect from the rule 5 draft. Its that more so than anything as to why they are ready to move guys. As for a possible trade, cubs have recently done a fair bit of business with the Pads. They picked up Wick from them prior to the season and Weick during the deadline. So, it wouldn't exactly shock me if they did business.

I'd like to see them kick the tires on Luis Urias. He's not been great in the majors but the guy has been a great lead off type bat in the minors. He hit .308/.397/.433 in the minors and keep in mind he was well below the average age most of the time. He made it to AAA at 19. He's probably a 2B in the majors rather than a SS but that kind fits with the cubs needs. SD might be willing to move on from him to win now and to clear up some roster space and if so I think he's an interesting guy. You wouldn't necessarily need to pencil him in as a starter but having the option for him to be a bench bat or someone they start in AAA would be interesting.

SD also has Austin Hedges who's fantastic defensively stuck behind Francisco Mejia. He'd interest me as well should the cubs shake up their C situation.

SD is sitting at around 127M in payroll projections for next year.

Is it okay to think that considering they have

Machado (Bryant's position) / Mejia (Contreras's position)

a blockbuster type of trade is unlikely to happen?

 

[TL1961]

.365 career OBA. He was a solid AB. But in a PED fueled era he never stood out as a player. Never took the team leadership role.

He had a great year for sure but there will be doubt if it was natural.

Yeah, dismiss the effect of a broken wrist on a player’s power, but imply steroid use for no reason whatsoever.

 

[Castor76]

Is it okay to think that considering they have

Machado (Bryant's position) / Mejia (Contreras's position)

a blockbuster type of trade is unlikely to happen?

Bryant could easily slot into RF or LF for them as could Contreras. And they might move Machado to SS if they felt like it.