Offseason thread

[CSF77]

 

[knoxville7]

matthew boyd, come on down for 29 mil over 2 years

my god, the dumpster diving is insane

who were the cubs bidding against?! the tokyo drifters?!

 

[CSF77]

Cubs To Sign Matthew Boyd

The Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a two-year contract with free agent starting pitcher Matthew Boyd. Get more details at MLB Trade Rumors.

www.mlbtraderumors.com

 

[CSF77]

matthew boyd, come on down for 29 mil over 2 years

my god, the dumpster diving is insane

who were the cubs bidding against?! the tokyo drifters?!

I am not a fan of it.

The only thing I can think of is Jed doesn't want to have long-term commitments when he has talent pending. That interview showed pretty much they believe in what they got.

Boyd probably is going to end up in the pen. I can't see him beating Brown.

 

[knoxville7]

I am not a fan of it.

The only thing I can think of is Jed doesn't want to have long-term commitments when he has talent pending. That interview showed pretty much they believe in what they got.

Boyd probably is going to end up in the pen. I can't see him beating Brown.

we agree on this being a poor move.

he is likely a long relief/spot starter. giving that kind of guy 14.5 mil per year when he has never been any good and hasnt shown any durability either. just a trash signing all around.

 

[CSF77]

we agree on this being a poor move.

he is likely a long relief/spot starter. giving that kind of guy 14.5 mil per year when he has never been any good and hasnt shown any durability either. just a trash signing all around.

His Seattle run in the pen was good. If he is a answer to a lefty swing guy vs Wicks it is fine.

I feel Brown will run with a rotation spot

You can add the catcher added. Not a big investment but from that interview Ballestroes is a good catcher and a great hitter. I do not want a huge investment blocking a talent like that.

Wicks I really wish that he took a step forward last year. It is wait and see with him. That change up plus mid 90mph might make him a TOR level talent.

Brown proved that he can dominate line ups when he is on already. I do not want to block him either

Adding depth is fine as insurance if they truly believe in their talent

 

[knoxville7]

His Seattle run in the pen was good. If he is a answer to a lefty swing guy vs Wicks it is fine.

I feel Brown will run with a rotation spot

You can add the catcher added. Not a big investment but from that interview Ballestroes is a good catcher and a great hitter. I do not want a huge investment blocking a talent like that.

Wicks I really wish that he took a step forward last year. It is wait and see with him. That change up plus mid 90mph might make him a TOR level talent.

Brown proved that he can dominate line ups when he is on already. I do not want to block him either

Adding depth is fine as insurance if they truly believe in their talent

adding depth is certainly fine. just not at the cost of 14.5 mil per year for 2 years. That is $$ that coulda been used for something actually worthwhile. not some mediocre, oft injured, soft tossing lefty that is over 30

 

[CSF77]

adding depth is certainly fine. just not at the cost of 14.5 mil per year for 2 years. That is $$ that coulda been used for something actually worthwhile. not some mediocre, oft injured, soft tossing lefty that is over 30

I'm not going to disagree. He was not on my radar. I just noticed that last year and his Seattle year were good. But his Det years suck.

I wanted to see Evo signed. Makes more sense.

 

[CSF77]

1. Steele
2. Shota
3. Taillon
4. Boyd
5. Assad

Most likely in Iowa for injury:

Brown
Wicks
Wesneski

Pen:

9th Hodge
8th Person
7th Merryweather

MR

Miller
Morgan
Thompson
Roberts
Killian

Much of this will be based off of options left and contracts tendered.

I feel the most likely scenario here is building value and selling off contract while having the next gen in Iowa getting full reps

So in Iowa

Shaw, Caissie, Ballestroes, Wicks, Brown, Alàcantara and Horton. All getting full time play. The ones on the 40 are injury depth those off are not and would be part of the July evolution. Either to play or be used as chips

I feel better about 2026. 2025 is more of a low expectation and see how it plays out

If has been clear going into the winter meetings is Jed is handcuffed yet again and he is dealing with reverse contract value in Cody and off season surgery in Nico. So I feel that his only real path is signing some low cost filler and retain some service time to non established players.

PCA showed enough last year to start him every day. Brown and Wicks were injured and getting both building up innings in lower pressure games is a good call. Add Horton to that rotation gives a solid foundation. If all 3 put out full years then this would not have been the case. So this to me is a prove it situation that they are in.

 

[CSF77]

Sounds like Boyd added a change and dropped the slider prior to last year. I'm guessing that Jed and Carter believe that last year was not a fluke and that is what they are paying for.

Gamble. If they target Roki or Evo and Boyd is a 4/5 with Taillon it is fine.

They need a legit RBI bat and that to make me feel that they are contending

 

[SilenceS]

Cubs are heavily involved in bullpen talks for signings and trades according to insiders. Seems there will be no big signing. Looks like they are looking to trade Belli if they can.

 

[knoxville7]

Cubs are heavily involved in bullpen talks for signings and trades according to insiders. Seems there will be no big signing. Looks like they are looking to trade Belli if they can.

you missed the 29 mil they shelled out yesterday?!? lol

 

[CSF77]

Boyd is about 2 wins better than Hendricks. Mostly because Kyle gave dislike value back.

But if what he did last year is sustainable for the contract it is a good signing. Just not a great one.

I do hope that we get another Shota result. I don't like to bet against my team but I will call them out for failure.

 

[CSF77]

Cubs are heavily involved in bullpen talks for signings and trades according to insiders. Seems there will be no big signing. Looks like they are looking to trade Belli if they can.

They need a late inning lefty.

Bellinger would be a cost dump. Chances are that he gives around 3.5 WAR next year. I see last year as a park conditions issue more than a regression

 

[SilenceS]

They need a late inning lefty.

Bellinger would be a cost dump. Chances are that he gives around 3.5 WAR next year. I see last year as a park conditions issue more than a regression

Belli ribs and hand zapped some power last year, but he blocks a lot of prospects ready. I would think thats why they would like to trade him if a team gets deperate after missing on Soto.

 

[CSF77]

Mariners Have Had Trade Talks Involving Alec Bohm, Nico Hoerner

The Mariners are known to be looking for infield upgrades this offseason and have been exploring the trade market as …

www.mlbtraderumors.com

 

[CSF77]

Belli ribs and hand zapped some power last year, but he blocks a lot of prospects ready. I would think thats why they would like to trade him if a team gets deperate after missing on Soto.

Factors for sure. It is hard to tell with Jed.

That article goes into Nico and Seattle talks. Seems that Jed wants major league ready and Seattle wants to deal out farm talent. Add to it Nico is not known when he returns.

I do not see a match up.

The only two deals that I can see Jed pulling off are NYY and taking back Stroman.

Other is Seattle and Luis Castillo.

I just do not see Jed getting a solid return for either right now.

On the open market Cody is not going to get 27M. 18M I can see as he most likely can earn that coin.

Jed over paid for Cody. Even if he repeated he is not worth 27M per.

 

[CSF77]

If I was running the NYY I would trade for Nico and Cody. Send back Stroman. That takes on contract but replaces 1B and 2B which they lost and gives upgrades to both spots.

I would bank that Soto feels that the Yanks have the best shot at beating the Dodgers and with 2 fundamentaly sound adds it becomes a solid landing spot. He has a few 600M offers going. It comes down to which team can get him to the series year by year and the Yanks are the top of the pile

Jed drops 24M from Nico and 32M from Cody. Takes back around 18M from stro. He could also ask for a few depth prospects in this deal.

That opens the door for Shaw and Caissie on opening day

OF
Happ, PCA, Caissie

IF Paredes, Swanson, Shaw, Busch

C Amaya

DH Suzuki

Leaves 4 spots for bench roles.

If I am all in I am putting Ballestroes on the bench and catching some games and being a spot hitter. Giving him exposure is worth the time and getting to know the staff for a year pays off.

That back up catcher is fine until Ballestroes is ready

Need a IF and the Cubs have 2 good options right now.

OF Canario has no options so you play or trade.

 

[CSF77]

And thenYanks have DJ on the team. He plays 2B and 1B. That gives some flex with Cody and lowers the risk on Nico returning late.

I think it is a great match up for both teams. Cubs need to clear playing time right now and upgrade Assad. Assad was benefiting from park conditions and those numbers are not sustainable. He had a era around 2.5 at home and 4.5 on the road.

Not upgrading that spot is folly

 

[CSF77]

Rumor is Cubs are in the Crochet talks.

I am not against a 100 MPH lefty that can slot into the closer role after his innings get up.

Triantos, Alàcantara and Wicks. Kick in Assad for free. That would get them close to 90 wins.