The Cubs Hot Stove Action Thread

[CSF77]

I'm ok with the LH RP signing. He had stronger numbers vs LH hitting. Jeff Russell fell last year. That means they are not trusting the pen to unknown factors.

It is a minor deal but at least they are not tossing a unproven AAA into the role.


On Jacoby he is the one I would have liked to get. Not happening.

Tanaka: 20 mil posting. I would guess all teams could put up that. It will come down to 2 factors.
1. Who puts up the highest contract.
2. Of the top contract offers who gives him a chance to pitch in the post season.

I can see the Cubs putting up 20 mil posting fee. To be honest I could see them offering a 60 mil deal to him. 5 year offer. They may even go up to 6 with his age.

They would have to offer the most contract to get him. Sure they have a good farm but that is not in place when he hits the mound this year.

I still see them not getting him. He should go to a team that is committing resource to winning vs rebuilding a stadium.

 

[waldo7239117]

Wins and losses don't matter? Im not really sure where your going with this. Yea, 69 wins and 71 wins aren't a big deal. but a 60 win team and a 80 win teams is huge. 80 wins mean you are probably a move or two away from taking your shot in the playoffs. 60 win team means "holy shit, we got a long ways to go".

I'm not talking about for the the team, for the pitcher. An error can give them a lost, a bad call, etc...

 

[SilenceS]

I'm not talking about for the the team, for the pitcher. An error can give them a lost, a bad call, etc...

Oh my bad, I didn't see that.

 

[waldo7239117]

Oh my bad, I didn't see that.

Okay, that's find, no worries. Shit happens.

 

[beckdawg]

The Nationals have agreed to a two-year pact with free agent outfielder Nate McLouth, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). McLouth is represented by The Sparta Group.

That gives them 4 starters in the OF. Depending on what Span would cost he is someone I wouldn't mind having and he's the guy they would probably move.

 

[CSF77]

Cubs lose Rule 5 Draft pick due to grievance

CHICAGO -- The Cubs did not plan on taking a player in next week's Rule 5 Draft, but they have apparently lost that selection anyway because of a grievance filed by the Phillies.

In December 2011, the Cubs selected right-hander Lendy Castillo from the Phillies' organization. Castillo spent most of the 2012 season on the disabled list with a groin injury, and he appeared in 13 games for the Cubs.

Any player selected in the Rule 5 Draft must stay on a team's active roster for the entire season. To prevent abuse of the draft, the player selected must be active for at least 90 days. That keeps teams from selecting players and placing them on the DL for the majority of the season.

Castillo missed 91 days in 2012, and he spent all of the 2013 season in the Minor Leagues. The Phillies will have the Cubs' selection in the Rule 5 Draft as compensation.

Worth noting

• The Cubs got encouraging reports about right-hander Arodys Vizcaino, who is coming back after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2012. Vizcaino made about six appearances in the Dominican instructional league, his fastball hit 98 mph and he showed good command, Epstein said.

The pitcher, acquired from the Braves in July 2012, could be in the Cubs' bullpen mix in 2014.

 

[jooo83]

I'm ok with the LH RP signing. He had stronger numbers vs LH hitting. Jeff Russell fell last year. That means they are not trusting the pen to unknown factors.

It is a minor deal but at least they are not tossing a unproven AAA into the role.


On Jacoby he is the one I would have liked to get. Not happening.

Tanaka: 20 mil posting. I would guess all teams could put up that. It will come down to 2 factors.
1. Who puts up the highest contract.
2. Of the top contract offers who gives him a chance to pitch in the post season.

I can see the Cubs putting up 20 mil posting fee. To be honest I could see them offering a 60 mil deal to him. 5 year offer. They may even go up to 6 with his age.

They would have to offer the most contract to get him. Sure they have a good farm but that is not in place when he hits the mound this year.

I still see them not getting him. He should go to a team that is committing resource to winning vs rebuilding a stadium.

Well it will certainly come down to more factors than that. None probably bigger than whether or not the Tokohu Rakuten Golden Eagles would even want to give up Tanaka for only 20 million dollars. If that is the limit, they may find he is worth more to them than that.

 

[Boobaby1]

Well it will certainly come down to more factors than that. None probably bigger than whether or not the Tokohu Rakuten Golden Eagles would even want to give up Tanaka for only 20 million dollars. If that is the limit, they may find he is worth more to them than that.

Well if they don't (I'm not saying they will), any elite Japanese pitchers and players from here on out are screwed and might as well stay in Japan then because they will never play in the states if they don't abide by this.

Not saying it is fair for them, but it was also getting ridiculous and only benefitting the big boys and unfair for the lower echelon teams in the states. After all, we are playing in America, and if they don't like it, oh well.

 

[beckdawg]

Mark Feinsand ✔ @FeinsandNYDN
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Source: Cubs and Royals are among the suitors for Joba Chamberlain. Doesn't sound like anything is imminent with either, however.

Via Patrick Mooney at CSN Chicago, Theo Epstein and the Cubs are seriously considering signing ex-Brewers reliever John Axford:

Apparently they are still addressing the bull pen.

 

[CSF77]

I would rather have Stopp and Rondon in there with Viz as a 3rd arm in the 7-9.

The Cubs are not going to be good enough to maximize the value of a top closer. Has been closer are a waste of time.

 

[dabynsky]

I would rather have Stopp and Rondon in there with Viz as a 3rd arm in the 7-9.

The Cubs are not going to be good enough to maximize the value of a top closer. Has been closer are a waste of time.

I agree, but with Axford you are getting three years of control. There is value in that if his rebound wasn't limited to magic Cardinals pixie dust.

 

[beckdawg]

I would rather have Stopp and Rondon in there with Viz as a 3rd arm in the 7-9.

The Cubs are not going to be good enough to maximize the value of a top closer. Has been closer are a waste of time.

The cards gave up Zach Cox for Edward Mujica last this year. Cox isn't a stud prospect but he's in the top 10 of Miami's farm system now. So, I'd argue you can get value if your reliever pitches well. And really it doesn't matter so long as they get the guys cheap. Go to camp with as many good guys as you can and see which make the team.

 

[beckdawg]

The Yankees have agreed with Carlos Beltran on a three-year deal, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reports (Twitter link). The contract is worth $45MM, tweets Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports. Beltran is represented by Dan Lozano of the MVP Sports Group.


I'm sorta fine with this. From what I've read, fangraphs doesn't expect him to age well. However, I would like to see them address 1-2 OF spots and potentially deal Schierholtz.

 

[CSF77]

I agree, but with Axford you are getting three years of control. There is value in that if his rebound wasn't limited to magic Cardinals pixie dust.

I guess. I would rather have Viz and Strop duke it out in ST. Both have electric stuff. Axe IMO would just be insurance.

 

[CSF77]

The Yankees have agreed with Carlos Beltran on a three-year deal, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reports (Twitter link). The contract is worth $45MM, tweets Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports. Beltran is represented by Dan Lozano of the MVP Sports Group.


I'm sorta fine with this. From what I've read, fangraphs doesn't expect him to age well. However, I would like to see them address 1-2 OF spots and potentially deal Schierholtz.

Schierholtz is not bad. As long as they have a solid RH partner that can produce in a limited roll.

.260 with 20 HR in 400 AB is not bad production. I would let Vitters have a legit shot to break into the league in a roll like that. It is his shot to make it in the majors.

Long term it will either go to Bryant or Soler. But having a LH bat that can hit 20+ and a shot gun arm..well just saying. Wouldn't kill me if they extended him of he can repeat last years production. There are worse options then him and his age suits the team.

 

[dabynsky]

I guess. I would rather have Viz and Strop duke it out in ST. Both have electric stuff. Axe IMO would just be insurance.

I like the insurance the Cubs have built up, and being able to keep Vizcaino and Hector Rondon in Iowa to start the year gives the Cubs depth for the inevitable injuries that will happen. Villanueva will start the year in the pen most likely, but he will probably grab starts here and there. Being able to bring one of those two up is a huge difference than the past several seasons.

 

[nwfisch]

Axford rebounding is a big if.

 

[dabynsky]

Axford rebounding is a big if.

He looked pretty damn good with the Cardinals...

 

[nwfisch]

He looked pretty damn good with the Cardinals...

In an EXTREMELY limited sample size.

 

[dabynsky]

In an EXTREMELY limited sample size.

Relievers are always small sample size. That is why there is such volatility in their numbers. Look there is a ton of upside in this play and most likely limited to risk. Out of the options out there to improve the backend of the pen this is the one I like the most. It could blow up in their faces, but the Cubs would have a depth of late inning options not seen in five years.