Offseason thread

[CSF77]

Projected 40-man Competitive Balance Payrolls
2025	2026	2027	2028	2029
$25,285,714	$25.286	$25.286	$25.286	$25.286
$26,666,667	$26.667
$20,333,333	$20.333
$17,000,000	$17.000
$17,000,000	$17.000
$13,250,000	$13.250	$13.250	opt
$11,666,667	$11.667
opt (Projections)
$6,250,000 Steele
$5,250,000 Paredes
$3,225,000 Wisdom
$2,750,000 Tauchman
$2,450,000 Bethancourt
$2,150,000 Alzolay
$2,000,000 Almonte
$1,910,000 Madrigal
$1,250,000 Pearson
$1,250,000 Wingenter
$1,225,000 Merryweather
$925,000 Herget
$900,000 Thompson
$800,000 Brewer
Can cut 19.2M by cutting all except Person, Paredes & Steele.
$4,000,000
$2,604,000
$1,666,667	$1.667	$1.667	$1.667	$1.667
$17,500,000	$18.000	$18.500	$19.000	$19.500
2025	2026	2027	2028	2029

$189,308,048 (current tax)	$150.870	$58.703	$45.953	$46.453
$241,000,000(cap)	$244.000	$247.000	$250.000	$254.000
$51,691,952	$93.130	$188.297	$191.297	$207.547
$0

If they cut Arb-170M Approx. 71M under tax. They can add a starter like Burnes at 35M and add a vet pen arm and Rizzo. They would still be well under tax.

 

[CSF77]

Who is “him”?

Bellinger. The guy that just picked up his opt.

 

[TL1961]

Bench bat/helping Bush refined his skills at first base. Also he is a team leader and I think they lack that right now. They should have gotten better and they got arguably worse and I feel it was losing the leadership that Ross brought and taking on laid back approach that Craig gives. So I think they need some of that team leadership that doesn't really show up in the numbers. For 2 million that's worth it

His hitting has diminished severely. He was always terrific defensively, but with two guys in front of him, why take on the offensive problems to get his D when both guys we have are good defensively?

We don't need a guy to come in and try to be team leader of this unit he has no connection with.

I loved Rizzo when he was a Cub, but the Cubs don't need sentimental reunions.

 

[CSF77]

So looking it over:

PCA CF
Hoerner 2B (upgrade spot maybe. Injury most likely played up in his lower production)
Cody RF (same)
Suzuki DH
Happ LF
Paredes 3B
Swanson SS
Busch 1B (another spot but I think Jed is locked here)
Amaya C (I see a opertunity to add here)

So adding a 2nd catcher makes sense. I doubt that Ballestroes is MLB quality as a catcher. Hitter close.

Cody is almost 100% gone in 26 so holding Caissie at Iowa to get injury opertunities to start.

Park factor played up last year. They were near the bottom at home. Prior year they were above avg. So if it balences out the O naturally will improve and the pitching should suffer naturally at home

So in view of this pitching is a save bet to invest.

Hitting depth they have players stuck at Iowa so if a injury happens the next man up kicks in. Last year they really did not have top 100 talent a phone call away outside of PCA

So I am under the opinion that Jed banks his talent at Iowa. If the team sucks again then start flipping and promoting up. It is a simple solution.

They will need a starter. Buehler did show some life and he would be a Jed pick up to flip. Worst case he could go back to the pen when Brown and Horton are ready.

Burnes to me is the main target. I am not sure if Jed will spend. He could as the numbers show and contract will fall off in Cody and Taillon. And he has cheap replacements pending. So in theory yes but reality that is not a easy answer.

Jed has been snake bit on large contracts. So that is a real question if he will gamble on a contract playing out it's value or will he continue to look at scoring another deal with a potential bounce back guy

Jed typically is more successful going the cheapest route. Yes Lester was a exception but there was personal history and Theo was calling the shots


If it is me I would target Burnes. But if I had to bet it would be more along Buehler. It would come down to medicals but I could see Jed going after a bounce back guy knowing that he has internal depth to be able to adjust

 

[CSF77]

His hitting has diminished severely. He was always terrific defensively, but with two guys in front of him, why take on the offensive problems to get his D when both guys we have are good defensively?

We don't need a guy to come in and try to be team leader of this unit he has no connection with.

I loved Rizzo when he was a Cub, but the Cubs don't need sentimental reunions.

It is a good point. You should watch the Boston Red Sox 2004 on Netflix. It gets into Jed and Theos logic. The picked up Kevin Millar because most of the team was introverted and they needed a personality that can loosen up their players

It is really not about the x and O. The team locked the will to win and everything was about the process and other crap. That costed them the play offs

You need players that can get the players passionate. That was Ross in 2016. He was the team leader and really took a back seat that year.

Rizzo knows the park. Fans worship him. He was a team leader. He knows how to field 1B at Wrigley better than anyone has. Just pop ups and knowing the wind tendencies. Ground balls and how to field based off the spin of the ball off of the bat. There is a lot going on that Busch can polish his game and take it to the next level

For 2M that is nothing. If he can get the troops playing to their potential it is a investment

 

[TL1961]

Well, I said this late in the season and I will say it again. There’s no glaring hole in the cub lineup but the lineup as a whole hole is severely lacking. I could actually see a different GM in this position initiating a major shake up. But not Jed/Carter.

 

[CSF77]

 

[CSF77]

That was well said.

Depth:

LF Happ. AAA: Alàcantara
CF: PCA
RF: Cody AAA: Caissie
DH: Suzuki
3B: Paredes
SS: Swanson
2B: Hoerner AAA: Shaw
1B: Busch
C: Amaya AAA: Ballestroes

This shows a bit of injury depth plus trade chips either way in July.

With Taillon expiring he also becomes a chip in Aug. You want a established starter now.

With Smyly off the team Wicks makes sense in that role Brown and Horton should prep for the rotation. I watched a video on what they are calling a death ball. It is the curve that Brown has. 80mph+ curve that has 8-10" vertical drop. It is becoming a premier out pitch in baseball.

But adding a vet bat, back up catcher. Vet pen arm and a starting pitcher should be the goal now

 

[TL1961]

I’d like to see them play well before the trade deadline in July. I’d like them to add what they need before opening day.

 

[knoxville7]

Bellinger. The guy that just picked up his opt.

The guy that you claimed would be opting out lol

 

[CSF77]

I’d like to see them play well before the trade deadline in July. I’d like them to add what they need before opening day.

I would love to see that to

It would take 2 F/A signings. Minter was tossed out there for a high leverage lefty. I prefer Burnes as a #1. At that point Jed has to trade for a bat.

A unpopular trade would be bringing Castillo back. It would fix the catcher spot and add a middle of the order bat. But after the smack he talked not a good pr move.

Another tossed out was with the Angels. Hoerner for Logan O'Hoppe.

That one Jed can add In Davis or Canario and Little to push through. Promote Shaw for 2B

Gives a strong catching unit.

The issue would be payroll but that scenario should keep it under tax

 

[CSF77]

The guy that you claimed would be opting out lol

Most resources were saying that he would opt. I felt 50/50 but got caught up in the rumor mill

 

[TL1961]

One minute you’re telling us that we’re in trouble because of Horn’s injury, and the next minute you are suggesting trading him so some other team must not be aware of the injury is that it?

 

[CSF77]

One minute you’re telling us that we’re in trouble because of Horn’s injury, and the next minute you are suggesting trading him so some other team must not be aware of the injury is that it?

Not sure where this comes from

Hoerner would have been a trade chip regardless. From most reports this is a normal clean up procedure that players go through in the off season. Most cases are not even note worthy. If it was not about all of the vibe going on with Shaw this would have been a non reported issue

 

[CSF77]

After surgery, you can expect:
Recovery time: Light activities may be resumed after 6–8 weeks, but it may take up to 6 months to regain full range of motion.

Swelling: Swelling should be significantly reduced or gone by 10–12 weeks.

Hand use: You should not use your hand for any work or self-care tasks for about 6–8 weeks.


So expected is 6 months for full recovery post op. He should be doing P.T. on his hand and it should not affect his lower body conditioning after the 2 months period.

So Dec he should be in light activity and starting to ramp up his rehab. March might be doable TBH with that time line depending on how much rehab he was able to do.

 

[CSF77]

Cubs Claim Rob Zastryzny, Designate Jimmy Herget
November 4th, 2024 at 4:20pm CST • By Mark Polishuk
The Cubs announced that right-hander Rob Zastryzny has been claimed off waivers from the Brewers. Fellow righty Jimmy Herget was designated for assignment in a corresponding move, and Chicago also outrighted four other players off their 40-man roster: catcher Christian Bethancourt, and right-handers Yency Almonte, Enoli Paredes, and Colten Brewer. All four players elected free agency after clearing waivers.

More to come…

 

[CSF77]

That got them down to 40. Today was the deadline. Deadline for non tenders is the 22nd.

Next trim should come to protect players eligible for rule V

 

[CSF77]

Cubs Pursuing Help At Top Of Rotation, Back Of Bullpen

The Cubs will "aggressively" pursue help at the top of the rotation and the back of their bullpen this winter. Read more at MLB Trade Rumors.

www.mlbtraderumors.com

 

[CSF77]

Cubs predicted to land a trio of high-profile free agents this offseason

MLB Trade Rumors predicts the Chicago Cubs will be in on several free agents this offseason, including Max Fried, AJ Minter and Danny Jansen.

cubbiescrib.com

 

[CSF77]

I don't know how I feel about 3 lefties at the top.

It is a rumor but it is getting some traction on Fried.

But here is how that plays out:

Fried 26M (6 pitches)
Steele (2 pitches)
Shota (6 pitches)
Taillon
Assad

Other rumors are Minter (another Swanson connection) LHSU. Pair with Pederson for Hodge.

Catcher Jansen

The line up still lacks that impact bat. Jansen feels like another good but not great hitter to a bunch of not bad but not great players


Seems this would be opening day if it played out

LF Happ
DH Suzuki
RF Bellinger
3B Paredes
1B Busch
SS Swanson
CF PCA
2B Hoerner
C Jansen/Amaya

I just don't feel that Jansen is that good and anything more than a 1 year deal is a mistake here. His highest WAR year was 2.9 in 2022. That is not a major contribution to a lackluster line up