Yooooooooooooennis Cespedes: To Oakland pg 44

[Guest]

Kind of wondering what a portion of the board thinks now that Cespedes is off the boards. Quite a few people said that they didn't mind missing out on either Pujols or Fielder as long as we signed the Cubans. One Cuban is now off the board.

 

Yeah expectations have really tumbled this offseason. I think it's becoming clear that those stories we read last year about spending being limited for the next year or two while Tom climbs out of debt from the sale might have been true. I know some won't agree and point out examples to disprove that but it certainly seems like that on the surface as we've had several ways to increase the overall talent in the organization with resources made available from players coming off the books and were unable to pull the trigger.

 

We may still get Soler and the latest reports are pretty good but there were reports that the Cubs were pushing hard for Cespedes as well an in the end it didn't appear to be the case.

 

I'm guessing the reason we didn't get Cespedes had much to do with the 4 year/10 year thing, and the fact that some other team was willing to roll with that.

[SouthSideRyan]

Towards the beginning of this thread, there was some discussion concerning Cuba's drug testing policy and had some correlating stats. A 26 year old coming out of that league gives me doubt. With the direction we're headed, I'm feeling better safe than sorry about Cespedes.

 

Soler would make me happy.

 

He has already been drug tested (and presumably passed).

 

So have Arod, Manny, Bonds, Clemens..... One clean test isn't going to remove my caution.

 

Like I said, I feel better safe than sorry on this one.

 

So...don't sign anyone ever.

[Post Count Padder]

Wowww, that came outta nowhere. At least he didn't sign with the Marlins, that provides some enjoyment.

 

We could've beaten that offer, so Theo and Jed must not have approved. I'm assuming we shell out for Soler, who's the one I preferred all along.

[CarolinaCubFan]

Towards the beginning of this thread, there was some discussion concerning Cuba's drug testing policy and had some correlating stats. A 26 year old coming out of that league gives me doubt. With the direction we're headed, I'm feeling better safe than sorry about Cespedes.

 

Soler would make me happy.

 

He has already been drug tested (and presumably passed).

 

So have Arod, Manny, Bonds, Clemens..... One clean test isn't going to remove my caution.

 

Like I said, I feel better safe than sorry on this one.

 

So...don't sign anyone ever.

 

Yeah, that's what I said. I'd love to land Soler.

[Gilby]

It might also be possible that the Cubs weren't all that attractive to Yoenis. He probably would have started in the minors with our abundance of average outfielders and might not have been a centerfielder with Jackson almost ready. I would also mention our crappy facilities, but he must not care too much about that considering where he is going.

[Coach.]

Good to hear. I'm not a professional scout by any means, but Cespedes looks like a big and loopy swing in a body that has the potential to become big and lumpy.

[mookie]

SSR wants to sign everyone.

[KingCubsFan]

It might also be possible that the Cubs weren't all that attractive to Yoenis. He probably would have started in the minors with our abundance of average outfielders and might not have been a centerfielder with Jackson almost ready. I would also mention our crappy facilities, but he must not care too much about that considering where he is going.

They probably lost interest once the price tag became $9 million a year for only 4 years and immediate free agency. At that point, he's not a very good deal considering he's somewhat of an unknown. Plus it seems like they really value years of team control.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Its always that damned mystery team. Looks like ownership decided to throw Billy a bone as a gift for signing that massive extension. The A's suddenly have a glut of outfielders and I'm quite intrigued by Michael Taylor.

[mookie]

Michael Choice is the one we should target, but that won't happen.

[questionmarkgrace]

Kind of wondering what a portion of the board thinks now that Cespedes is off the boards. Quite a few people said that they didn't mind missing out on either Pujols or Fielder as long as we signed the Cubans. One Cuban is now off the board.

 

Yeah expectations have really tumbled this offseason. I think it's becoming clear that those stories we read last year about spending being limited for the next year or two while Tom climbs out of debt from the sale might have been true. I know some won't agree and point out examples to disprove that but it certainly seems like that on the surface as we've had several ways to increase the overall talent in the organization with resources made available from players coming off the books and were unable to pull the trigger.

 

We may still get Soler and the latest reports are pretty good but there were reports that the Cubs were pushing hard for Cespedes as well an in the end it didn't appear to be the case.

 

 

What can be said to disprove it? Even Pena's 10million was half deferred. At this point I think we have to assume that spending money will be an issue until we get rid of soriano's contract. This is pure crap.

[Cubswin11]

Its always that damned mystery team. Looks like ownership decided to throw Billy a bone as a gift for signing that massive extension. The A's suddenly have a glut of outfielders and I'm quite intrigued by Michael Taylor.

So am I. I think he's been brought up on here before, recently, about a guy to target who seems to be in Theo's niche of finding former top prospects who might have fallen a bit for whatever reason. Any idea what it would take to get him? Or if we even have the right pieces to get him?

[Guest]

ABTY from PSD

 

Cubs offered 6/40, Marlins 6/32... reduction in years was key...

[jersey cubs fan]

SSR wants to sign everyone.

 

I'd rather not sign anybody. It's ridiculous how much money professional baseball players get, it is way too risky.

[mookie]

ABTY from PSD

 

Cubs offered 6/40, Marlins 6/32... reduction in years was key...

 

Shocker! Cubs actually offered money! Can the choir of "we want our toys" folks calm down now?

[jersey cubs fan]

ABTY from PSD

 

Cubs offered 6/40, Marlins 6/32... reduction in years was key...

 

Shocker! Cubs actually offered money! Can the choir of "we want our toys" folks calm down now?

 

Seriously people, all you people who want the Cubs to actually acquire baseball players are nothing but pie in the sky choir boys. Who needs baseball players?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Its always that damned mystery team. Looks like ownership decided to throw Billy a bone as a gift for signing that massive extension. The A's suddenly have a glut of outfielders and I'm quite intrigued by Michael Taylor.

So am I. I think he's been brought up on here before, recently, about a guy to target who seems to be in Theo's niche of finding former top prospects who might have fallen a bit for whatever reason. Any idea what it would take to get him? Or if we even have the right pieces to get him?

 

The beauty of dealing with Billy Beane is that we could probably get him for a handful of guys we wouldn't even have thought of. Michael Saunders is another one that's the type Theo could target.

[Guest]

SSR wants to sign everyone.

 

I'd rather not sign anybody. It's ridiculous how much money professional baseball players get, it is way too risky.

 

A lot of teams are making bad decisions right now. Really, really [expletive] bad ones. Ones which I would be [expletive] PISSED if the Cubs had made.

 

Not speaking to Cespedes so much as Pujols and to a much larger extent, Fielder.

 

Well, I won't lie and say I'd have been mad if we signed Pujols...but I would've been well aware that it was a pretty stupid decision.

[davell]

I wanted Cespedes, but I want Soler more. That said, my guess is the reason we didn't get him is we wouldn't do the 4 year deal with immediate FA afterwards. Since we're not planning on competing this year and next year is iffy, it'd give us a two year window with him, before he hit FA. All I've got, I guess.

 

Disappointed we didn't beat this offer, but who knows? Maybe he didn't want to play in a large market? I figure there's got to be some reason we missed on this one, because personally, I find the contract iffy, but I'd have done it anyway.

 

At any rate, Soler is a MUST now and I hope we add some other IFA as well.

[jersey cubs fan]

SSR wants to sign everyone.

 

I'd rather not sign anybody. It's ridiculous how much money professional baseball players get, it is way too risky.

 

A lot of teams are making bad decisions right now. Really, really [expletive] bad ones. Ones which I would be [expletive] PISSED if the Cubs had made.

 

Not speaking to Cespedes so much as Pujols and to a much larger extent, Fielder.

 

Well, I won't lie and say I'd have been mad if we signed Pujols...but I would've been well aware that it was a pretty stupid decision.

 

Keep telling yourself that but the Cubs best acquisitions this year have been front office staff. At some point you actually have to field a team of compensated professional athletes who make more than the 99%.

[jersey cubs fan]

I wanted Cespedes, but I want Soler more. That said, my guess is the reason we didn't get him is we wouldn't do the 4 year deal with immediate FA afterwards. Since we're not planning on competing this year and next year is iffy, it'd give us a two year window with him, before he hit FA. All I've got, I guess.

 

Disappointed we didn't beat this offer, but who knows? Maybe he didn't want to play in a large market? I figure there's got to be some reason we missed on this one, because personally, I find the contract iffy, but I'd have done it anyway.

 

At any rate, Soler is a MUST now and I hope we add some other IFA as well.

 

If they don't have this team dominating the division and able to afford any free agent they want to keep in 4 years than they have done a poor job.

[JoshiQ]

ABTY from PSD

 

Cubs offered 6/40, Marlins 6/32... reduction in years was key...

 

Shocker! Cubs actually offered money! Can the choir of "we want our toys" folks calm down now?

 

Seriously people, all you people who want the Cubs to actually acquire baseball players are nothing but pie in the sky choir boys. Who needs baseball players?

 

This is kind of what I'm thinking. It's not so much about Cespedes, but everybody that signs with someone else was always a bad contract and Cubs would have been ridiculous to offer it. Or there was no way we were going to sign them because they didn't want to come here. Or something. I don't know if there is ever going to be the perfect free agent signing and so waiting for it to happen is going to be a long process.

 

I understand we need to rebuild, but you can also be somewhat competitive in the meantime.

Edited February 13, 2012 by JoshiQ

[Guest]

SSR wants to sign everyone.

 

I'd rather not sign anybody. It's ridiculous how much money professional baseball players get, it is way too risky.

 

A lot of teams are making bad decisions right now. Really, really [expletive] bad ones. Ones which I would be [expletive] PISSED if the Cubs had made.

 

Not speaking to Cespedes so much as Pujols and to a much larger extent, Fielder.

 

Well, I won't lie and say I'd have been mad if we signed Pujols...but I would've been well aware that it was a pretty stupid decision.

 

Keep telling yourself that but the Cubs best acquisitions this year have been front office staff. At some point you actually have to field a team of compensated professional athletes who make more than the 99%.

 

The Fielder contract was absolutely awful. In no way, shape, or form is thinking that some form of denial.

 

Pujols is at least a much better player, but that's still 10 years at huge money to a 31 year old.

[SouthSideRyan]

SSR wants to sign everyone.

 

I'm just curious why potential failed drug tests is an issue for Cespedes but not Soler. I don't even like Cespedes that much.

[Guest]

SSR wants to sign everyone.

 

I'm just curious why potential failed drug tests is an issue for Cespedes but not Soler. I don't even like Cespedes that much.

 

Because he hasn't seen videos of Soler, muscles glistening in the Caribbean sun, sprinting and doing a bunch of crazy athletic things like 50 foot box jumps.