Yooooooooooooennis Cespedes: To Oakland pg 44

[Little Slide Rooter]

I wonder if Soler is in the same boat? This holds up the OF market for sure. Soler doesn't matter as much, since he's not a major league ready guy, but this slows down any market there may be for Marlon Byrd most likely.

Pun intended?

 

He said boat, not floating plank of wood. Sorry.

[Pushfrog98]

I wonder if Soler is in the same boat? This holds up the OF market for sure. Soler doesn't matter as much, since he's not a major league ready guy, but this slows down any market there may be for Marlon Byrd most likely.

Pun intended?

 

He said boat, not floating plank of wood. Sorry.

Touche.

[Pushfrog98]

Video of him working out for the Cubs at 1:50 in

Apparently there were earthquakes that day.

[Clem Fandango]

Video of him working out for the Cubs at 1:50 in

Apparently there were earthquakes that day.

 

I'm surprised they didn't try and play that into the video and say Cespedes brought it on from all of his power.

[JGalt73]

Regarding video #2, this nugget from Kevin Goldstein:

 

Finally we get actual—albeit brief and shaky—video of Cespedes taking batting practice under the title of “Workout for Chicago Cubs GM and Staff.” There, in the corner, in silhouette only, is Theo Epstein. It's important to note who sent who to see Cespedes. The Cubs and the Marlins clearly came with big entourages and big names, but let's face it: A few days in Santiago beats December in the Midwest. Does Theo being there mean the Cubs are more interested than the Tigers? Easy to read into, hard to say.

[Sammy Sofa]

 

*Swole*

[98navigator]

My only concern is can he pass a drug test (certainly wouldn't want to invest in the guy and he gets popped for a 50 game suspension)? If so, sign him up.

[BCVM22]

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story?id=1436530&s=bei&type=story

 

My Spanish isn't great, but I believe this article says Cespedes is close to establishing residency in the Dominican Republic and the matter could be resolved as soon as this week.

[davell]

I think there's still some sort of 2 week process he's got to go through, even after establishing residency though. I think he's not going to even be eligible to sign until January.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I can't paste it from my phone but according to Kevin Goldstein the Yankees are very big on Cespedes. Come on you ass holes you need pitching. Sign Edwin Jackson and trade for Gio, Garza, or Danks and call it a day.

[apete6]

These Cubans seem like they have a ton of upside, but a lot of risk also. What would be the better bet, $75 million for 5 years for Cespedes and Soler combined or $125 million and 5 years for Fielder?

 

I'm not really sure, but there is almost 0 chance Fielder is a "bust", but there could be a big chance of a bust on the Cubans. However, if both Cubans pan out, you have 2/3rds of a productive outfield for 4-5 years (Cespedes) and possibly 2-3 years (Soler) for $15MM total/year.

 

I'm torn, but I'd roll the dice on the Cubans, especially Soler since the spending cap takes effect next year.

[Banedon]

The Cubs bid for Darvish but weren’t seen as being as aggressive as the Rangers and the Blue Jays, who most think were the runners-up. Their global focus shifts to the Dominican Republic, where Cuban center fielders Yoenis Cespedes and Jorge Soler are about to be declared free agents. Cespedes, unlike Pujols and Fielder, seems to be in Theo Epstein’s wheelhouse. He’s listed at 25, and while you can question that age, you can’t question his build. He’s a Bo Jackson/Herschel Walker combo who has the potential to become an Eric Davis-style speed/power player. He would fit the Cubs’ timetable, having the next year or two to become acclimated to North American baseball and then being in his prime in 2014 and beyond, when the Cubs expect to factor into the NL Central race. Bidding for Cespedes is expected to go beyond $50 million. Soler, 19, isn’t big-league ready but he might have as higher – or even higher – of a ceiling than Cespedes. Baseball America’s Jim Callis compares him to Bubba Starling as a prospect. Texas signed Cuban center fielder Leonys Martin to a four-year, $15-million deal last summer, and Soler is expected to get a bigger deal.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-your-morning-phil-yankees-cespedes-hamilton-20111220,0,5791888.story

[Backtobanks]

The Cubs bid for Darvish but weren’t seen as being as aggressive as the Rangers and the Blue Jays, who most think were the runners-up. Their global focus shifts to the Dominican Republic, where Cuban center fielders Yoenis Cespedes and Jorge Soler are about to be declared free agents. Cespedes, unlike Pujols and Fielder, seems to be in Theo Epstein’s wheelhouse. He’s listed at 25, and while you can question that age, you can’t question his build. He’s a Bo Jackson/Herschel Walker combo who has the potential to become an Eric Davis-style speed/power player. He would fit the Cubs’ timetable, having the next year or two to become acclimated to North American baseball and then being in his prime in 2014 and beyond, when the Cubs expect to factor into the NL Central race. Bidding for Cespedes is expected to go beyond $50 million. Soler, 19, isn’t big-league ready but he might have as higher – or even higher – of a ceiling than Cespedes. Baseball America’s Jim Callis compares him to Bubba Starling as a prospect. Texas signed Cuban center fielder Leonys Martin to a four-year, $15-million deal last summer, and Soler is expected to get a bigger deal.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-your-morning-phil-yankees-cespedes-hamilton-20111220,0,5791888.story

 

So we now know that Theo's plan is to suck for 2 more years and then be a factor in the NL Central race. I suppose we can look forward to a WS Championship by 2025.

[UMFan83]

The Cubs bid for Darvish but weren’t seen as being as aggressive as the Rangers and the Blue Jays, who most think were the runners-up.

 

Sorry, I just want to point out that they are now making guesses at who finished 2nd. No one [expletive] knows what the bids were you hack reporter. Go make up more breaking news on twitter like the rest of you guys do.

[treebird]

He would fit the Cubs’ timetable, having the next year or two to become acclimated to North American baseball

 

i bet cespedes is really excited to leave cuba and find out what north america is like

[ctcf]

He would fit the Cubs’ timetable, having the next year or two to become acclimated to North American baseball

 

i bet cespedes is really excited to leave cuba and find out what north america is like

 

hahaha

[Little Slide Rooter]

The White Sox may be “in strong” on Yoenis Cespedes, reports Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. One White Sox person forcefully told Knobler "we are not rebuilding," despite Kenny Williams' statements to the contrary.

 

[expletive] that, we saw him first. The White Sox already have Ramirez and Viciedo which could very well attract him to them. But hey, you can't spell Cuba without Cub, right? Signing him and/or Solar sure would give me a lot more faith in the rebuild process.

[SABR Gamer]

The White Sox may be “in strong” on Yoenis Cespedes, reports Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. One White Sox person forcefully told Knobler "we are not rebuilding," despite Kenny Williams' statements to the contrary.

 

[expletive] that, we saw him first. The White Sox already have Ramirez and Viciedo which could very well attract him to them. But hey, you can't spell Cuba without Cub, right? Signing him and/or Solar sure would give me a lot more faith in the rebuild process.

 

I really hope we sign Soler and Cespesdes, then trade for Rizzo + Prospects (with Garza somehow) and see what we can get for Marmol, Byrd, and Soto. We would have a nice core of young players in Cashner, Shark, Castro, Jackson, Cespedes, and Rizzo, with Stewart possibly ending up another above average young player if things work out well. Then guys like Soler, McNutt, and prospects from Garza, Marmol, Byrd, and Soto, plus others we have in house already like Szczur, Baez, Vitters, etc. would be a solid farm that would definitely have us looking good going forward.

 

Forget Prince at this point. I have wanted him badly, but I think it's time to accept we aren't looking to win this year, and whether or not you think Prince is more than a win now move, the front office seems to not want to give out a big contract just yet.

[A New Era]

The Cubs bid for Darvish but weren’t seen as being as aggressive as the Rangers and the Blue Jays, who most think were the runners-up. Their global focus shifts to the Dominican Republic, where Cuban center fielders Yoenis Cespedes and Jorge Soler are about to be declared free agents. Cespedes, unlike Pujols and Fielder, seems to be in Theo Epstein’s wheelhouse. He’s listed at 25, and while you can question that age, you can’t question his build. He’s a Bo Jackson/Herschel Walker combo who has the potential to become an Eric Davis-style speed/power player. He would fit the Cubs’ timetable, having the next year or two to become acclimated to North American baseball and then being in his prime in 2014 and beyond, when the Cubs expect to factor into the NL Central race. Bidding for Cespedes is expected to go beyond $50 million. Soler, 19, isn’t big-league ready but he might have as higher – or even higher – of a ceiling than Cespedes. Baseball America’s Jim Callis compares him to Bubba Starling as a prospect. Texas signed Cuban center fielder Leonys Martin to a four-year, $15-million deal last summer, and Soler is expected to get a bigger deal.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-your-morning-phil-yankees-cespedes-hamilton-20111220,0,5791888.story

 

So we now know that Theo's plan is to suck for 2 more years and then be a factor in the NL Central race. I suppose we can look forward to a WS Championship by 2025.

 

2012 + 2 = 2025? Forgive me, my math sucks.

[Backtobanks]

The Cubs bid for Darvish but weren’t seen as being as aggressive as the Rangers and the Blue Jays, who most think were the runners-up. Their global focus shifts to the Dominican Republic, where Cuban center fielders Yoenis Cespedes and Jorge Soler are about to be declared free agents. Cespedes, unlike Pujols and Fielder, seems to be in Theo Epstein’s wheelhouse. He’s listed at 25, and while you can question that age, you can’t question his build. He’s a Bo Jackson/Herschel Walker combo who has the potential to become an Eric Davis-style speed/power player. He would fit the Cubs’ timetable, having the next year or two to become acclimated to North American baseball and then being in his prime in 2014 and beyond, when the Cubs expect to factor into the NL Central race. Bidding for Cespedes is expected to go beyond $50 million. Soler, 19, isn’t big-league ready but he might have as higher – or even higher – of a ceiling than Cespedes. Baseball America’s Jim Callis compares him to Bubba Starling as a prospect. Texas signed Cuban center fielder Leonys Martin to a four-year, $15-million deal last summer, and Soler is expected to get a bigger deal.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-your-morning-phil-yankees-cespedes-hamilton-20111220,0,5791888.story

 

So we now know that Theo's plan is to suck for 2 more years and then be a factor in the NL Central race. I suppose we can look forward to a WS Championship by 2025.

 

2012 + 2 = 2025? Forgive me, my math sucks.

 

There's a big difference in Roger's quote (being a factor in the weak NL Central in 2 years - not necessarily winning it) and what I posted (winning a WS Championship). If we went through all of this hype and expense to get Theo so we could become "a factor in the NL Central", then we could have hired someone else or even kept Hendry.

[Conky]

Being a consistent force in your division and making the playoffs year in and year out is the goal. Having the best chance of winning it all depends on consistently getting to the post-season and having things go your way. Taking 2 years to put together a well-built franchise, ready to compete would seem to be exactly what the front office was brought in to do. Adding on another random 13 years before you see "winning a championship" is just hyperbole and rabble mongering.

[TruffleShuffle]

Actually if you told me the cubs would win the world series in 2025 but not before then, I'd take it pretty happily.

[Backtobanks]

Actually if you told me the cubs would win the world series in 2025 but not before then, I'd take it pretty happily.

 

You must be the most patient person on earth because all of these players and prospects we're talking about would be nearing the end of their careers. Theo needs to start looking at 8th graders.

[Backtobanks]

Being a consistent force in your division and making the playoffs year in and year out is the goal. Having the best chance of winning it all depends on consistently getting to the post-season and having things go your way. Taking 2 years to put together a well-built franchise, ready to compete would seem to be exactly what the front office was brought in to do. Adding on another random 13 years before you see "winning a championship" is just hyperbole and rabble mongering.

 

Taking 2 years to rebuild a large market team to be "ready" to compete in the NL Central isn't what I envisioned when we hired the boy genius. As many have posted, there's no reason the Cubs can't rebuild while fielding a decent team in 2012 and "a factor in the NL Central" in 2013.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Actually if you told me the cubs would win the world series in 2025 but not before then, I'd take it pretty happily.

 

I'd think you of all people would appreciate building a young team. I won't enjoy the next 1-3 seasons any more than anyone else, but I think they'll do this the right way. Hey, at least the entire minor league system will be interesting to follow although my following of the big league club will likely consist of checking the box score for Starlin Castros line.