Tanaka Watch Thread (Cubs Edition)

[Boobaby1]

You already know my feelings about the price paid. That said, I don't think it matters if they tipped their hands because the agent would have done it for them. Maybe they gave the yanks time to clear budget but they were already doing that anyways to try and stay under $189 mil. I think it's a non-issue. As for the "wont be outbid stuff," I always thought it was silly because it's hyperbolic. If someone offered tanaka $10 trillion dollars they were going to get out bid. Perhaps it was a dumb comment to make but I think it was more for effect. That is to say they were trying to explain why they weren't spending in FA. The way I always read it was "we plan to be among the top offers and maybe even more." Regardless, I'm not that upset about missing out on him given his price.

We will see what he does, but the Cubs better start doing something with this team because I have a hard time believing that free agents want to play for the Cubs because of their current state (regardless what Theo has said), and them not handing out no-trade and opt-out clauses will always put them behind the teams like Yankees. That's two strikes against them.

Shark is also going to be something to deal with now and he could be a bitter pill when the Cubs are out of it once again (if he is still here)and dealing off players, assuming they have players to deal because right now there is little to nothing on the team that other teams desperately need.

 

[Shawon0Meter]

Peter Gammons: "The Cubs simply didn’t have the cash to finish it, and knew they were not seriously in it."

 

[CSF77]

Glad the Tanaka crap is over. I hope the front office now can get more creative with their money. I've long said taking on Either makes sense for the cubs. I'm not sure the front office will though. Reports were they may just roll the payroll into next year. Another possibility is a team that is out of it at the dead line wanting to shed payroll but general those aren't younger players.

I'm still in the opinion that you go after an ace. Price holds move value down the road.

I would not lock up payroll and look to trade a few of the farm to land Price.

My focus right now is getting a 2 to 3rd tier SP and Baker makes the most sense as no team is willing to give him a major league deal. I would offer him a min plus IP/GS incentive's. Rusin would be my emergency back up. The thing is Baker looked pretty good at the end of the year and we might catch lightning.

After that I'm getting Baez and Alcantara up. If Olt holds down 3B more power to them.

At that point I would try to trade for Price. Only Bryant and Baez would be off limits. Rest are up for trade.

Either is good but the talent up welling is positional. They have no....no...no...quality top of the rotation arms.

F/A are snubbing the Cubs. If you have to give up something you get something you do not have.

They do not have an Ace.

They have power bats close.

 

[Boobaby1]

its it pournounded boobay, or boobies?

Hey! You are slurring your verbage. Can you type a straight line? :smh:

 

[CSF77]

We will see what he does, but the Cubs better start doing something with this team because I have a hard time believing that free agents want to play for the Cubs because of their current state (regardless what Theo has said), and them not handing out no-trade and opt-out clauses will always put them behind the teams like Yankees. That's two strikes against them.

Shark is also going to be something to deal with now and he could be a bitter pill when the Cubs are out of it once again (if he is still here)and dealing off players, assuming they have players to deal because right now there is little to nothing on the team that other teams desperately need.

Shark needs to shut his trap and worry about putting together a quality year before making demands. He is growing on the turd list.

 

[Boobaby1]

Shark needs to shut his trap and worry about putting together a quality year before making demands. He is growing on the turd list.

Oh I agree, and I doubt he will be here long as the rumors will start swirling once again. When he is off the team, the Cubs will not have much as far as tradeable pieces though.

Not too many teams are knocking down doors for what they are putting on the field.

 

[beckdawg]

We will see what he does, but the Cubs better start doing something with this team because I have a hard time believing that free agents want to play for the Cubs because of their current state (regardless what Theo has said), and them not handing out no-trade clauses will always put them behind the teams like Yankees. That's two strikes against them.

Shark is also going to be something to deal with now and he could be a bitter pill when the Cubs are out of it once again (if he is still here)and dealing off players, assuming they have players to deal because right now there is little to nothing on the team that other teams desperately need.

They were going to have to grow their own talent regardless. Historically, no team competes with the yankees in spending. The Red Sox did for awhile and then they stopped. The Phillies did for awhile then they stopped. Now LA(both) is. It's naive to think the cubs were ever going to keep up financially with the yankees anyways. FAs for most teams are complimentary not the majority of how you build a team. So, if they don't already have the prospects to build the majority of the team they are going to have to continue to find them. If they do have that core group of players they will start to be better and will be more attractive to FAs when they need them anyways.

As such, I think it makes sense for them to to attempt yet another round of rent a pitcher to trade. People wont love it but it is another way to add younger assets. Given enough some will pan out. I understand why that may frustrate some people but let's be real here, they weren't going to be playoff contenders in 2014. And even if they have a case with blocked prospects that just gives them trade pieces. It's about stockpiling as many prospects when you're bad so that when you get good you have ammo to get even better. Also, I'd argue that while the cubs may not be attractive to top tier guys at the moment they are attractive to guys who are hoping to rebound. Guys like Feldman know that if they perform well the cubs will be willing to trade them to a contender. And the cubs have the open positions to allow those players to rebound.

 

[Boobaby1]

They were going to have to grow their own talent regardless. Historically, no team competes with the yankees in spending. The Red Sox did for awhile and then they stopped. The Phillies did for awhile then they stopped. Now LA(both) is. It's naive to think the cubs were ever going to keep up financially with the yankees anyways. FAs for most teams are complimentary not the majority of how you build a team. So, if they don't already have the prospects to build the majority of the team they are going to have to continue to find them. If they do have that core group of players they will start to be better and will be more attractive to FAs when they need them anyways.

As such, I think it makes sense for them to to attempt yet another round of rent a pitcher to trade. People wont love it but it is another way to add younger assets. Given enough some will pan out. I understand why that may frustrate some people but let's be real here, they weren't going to be playoff contenders in 2014. And even if they have a case with blocked prospects that just gives them trade pieces. It's about stockpiling as many prospects when you're bad so that when you get good you have ammo to get even better. Also, I'd argue that while the cubs may not be attractive to top tier guys at the moment they are attractive to guys who are hoping to rebound. Guys like Feldman know that if they perform well the cubs will be willing to trade them to a contender. And the cubs have the open positions to allow those players to rebound.

Why? What is the point? Remember, there is no difference between 55 wins and 65 wins, and the player they will grab (lets say Maholm or Hammels) will not only cost money at the beginning, but will then be flipped once again to get mediocre prospects like Grimm or Viscaino who has yet to throw a pitch. Having the #3 or #4 pick in the draft plus somebody elses leftovers isn't netting the team much.

Might as well save the precious money, and just go out and get the #1 pick in the draft next year. That way you are assured of getting the best player on paper anyways. I can't think of a better way to build up the farm than with #1 picks. If you are going to suck, do it royally.

 

[Ari Bear]

Peter Gammons: "The Cubs simply didn’t have the cash to finish it, and knew they were not seriously in it."

That ticks me off. Don't know if that's completely true, but that does sound like the Cubs.

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[daddies3angels]

Well who here thinks im going to go on one of my rants? Who thinks im going to say #Rickettscheap?


Its the point where i dont have to any more cause everyone knew Cubs would come in 2nd in this derby. No accident they have finshed 2nd on Darvish, Ryu, Cespedes, and now Tanaka. Only guy they have signed in IFA is Soler who hasnt been pass High A. So no need to rant when #Cubs actions have proven my point

 

[dabynsky]

So is it safe to assume that everyone has taken their usual positions and I don't really have to read the previous pages since I checked last night?

 

[brett05]

So is it safe to assume that everyone has taken their usual positions and I don't really have to read the previous pages since I checked last night?

Except for mine. I contend no one has a clue if they finished second on anyone.

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[Derkach77]

Happy this is over although I really wanted him here. But its probably the best to not overpay. I still am optimistic about the future.

 

[Ari Bear]

Happy this is over although I really wanted him here. But its probably the best to not overpay. I still am optimistic about the future.

I'd be optimistic to if they went out and got some good players.

 

[beckdawg]

Why? What is the point? Remember, there is no difference between 55 wins and 65 wins, and the player they will grab (lets say Maholm or Hammels) will not only cost money at the beginning, but will then be flipped once again to get mediocre prospects like Grimm or Viscaino who has yet to throw a pitch. Having the #3 or #4 pick in the draft plus somebody elses leftovers isn't netting the team much.

Might as well save the precious money, and just go out and get the #1 pick in the draft next year. That way you are assured of getting the best player on paper anyways. I can't think of a better way to build up the farm than with #1 picks. If you are going to suck, do it royally.

The point is Feldman got them Arrieta and Strop. In the case of Strop he ended up being more than just trash. Arrieta also pitched well. I realize you're being sarcastic here but the fact is flipping pitchers like this is trading money for prospects which isn't something teams generally do. For example, teams rarely if ever will just take money and give you a prospect even if it's a low a player like Corey Black. It's not the same thing as a team being a middling team because they did it in 2012 and they still managed the #2 pick.

I get that you think these players are trash but they are only trash because you've never heard of them. CJ Edwards was trash until he went out and pitched well last year. Then he's the headliner in a trade. The fact is you can only draft so many players and often times guys you like will get drafted by someone else before you have the chance to get them. Sure the guys you get back in trades may end up being 5th-10th round or later guy but major league players come out of those rounds. Flipping players when you're bad gives you a way to acquire guys you weren't able to draft for whatever reason.

 

[ChiSoxCity]

Except for mine. I contend no one has a clue if they finished second on anyone.

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That's cuz you're a moron.

Every indication from the media is the Yankees and Cubs were in a bidding war for Tanaka.

The Yanks won because the Cubs roster is garbage and THE ORGANIZATION has zero prestige in the game. No international player would pick them over the Yankees, FINANCIALS BEING EQUAL.

 

[brett05]

That's cuz you're a moron.

You are a bitter, bitter person

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[Jntg4]

At least we still have the :blackhawks: to satisfy our winning needs. :yeah:

 

[Jntg4]

You are a bitter, bitter person

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Brett05 is a bitter, bitter, bitter person though.

 

[JosMin]

That's cuz you're a moron.

Every indication from the media is the Yankees and Cubs were in a bidding war for Tanaka.

The Yanks won because the Cubs roster is garbage and THE ORGANIZATION has zero prestige in the game. No international player would pick them over the Yankees, FINANCIALS BEING EQUAL.

When did this "bidding war" supposedly happen? Care to quote these sources? I'd say the bidding and courting process was fairly tight-lipped, given the privacy Tanaka requested. The only indication the public even got about everything that the Cubs and the Yankees were both among the teams that made serious offers. I highly doubt we'll know the exact figure, but in the end, it's irrelevant. He's a Yankee, not a Cub. We can only hope the Cubs turn their resources elsewhere and fill a few gaps with short-term deals that won't block prospects from getting an opportunity to play if the moment arises.