Yooooooooooooennis Cespedes: To Oakland pg 44

[Brett]

The problem is that some of these fans equate overbidding on guys like Cespedes, Darvish, or Soler with giving a potential albatross contract to someone like Pujols or Fielder. For example, Cespedes contract is 4/36, so even if he proved a mega bust, it wouldn't handcuff a big market team like the Cubs who have so much money off the books and more to come. These are the kind of guys that are worth investing in.

 

Exactly, we can afford to make these kinds of investments when the need is there. And the need is certainly there.

 

And it's not like four years of Cespedes (especially at that price) was going to block Jackson or anyone else who may or may not make it to the bigs in those four years. I'm a bit bummed.

 

Then again, as has been said, it's just a handful of games. When a bigger book gets out on him, it'll be interesting to see how well he adjusts.

[Lefty]

Actually, you're still kind of arguing in favor of him. Signing Fukudome was actually one of the smarter FA moves of Hendry's tenure regardless of how it worked out. Guys like him and (even moreso) Cespedes are the kinds of guys I want them to take chances on.

 

But if at the end of the 2015 season he has had a Fukudome-like career, one will not hear this lament.

[Exile on Waveland]

But the problem is any premiere player is going to be a bad contract latter down the line. So are we going to pass on everyone?

 

I keep having this nightmare scenario play through my head:

 

2012: We were too bad last season to make it worth adding a big-time contract.

2013: Ditto

2014: We almost made it to .500, but there's only a couple of impact players on the market, and the Dodgers and Yankees went to insane numbers on them and we should be thankful we didn't try to match that.

2015: Attendance has been down the last few years because of all the awful teams, and we still don't have the cable megadeal like those big market teams, so we have to be prudent.

 

And/or the current management team proves as smart as we all hope/think they are, succesfully build from within, and enter the free agency season "one player away!" And the best player on the free agent market is . . . Alfonso Soriano II.

[KingCubsFan]

But the problem is any premiere player is going to be a bad contract latter down the line. So are we going to pass on everyone?

 

I keep having this nightmare scenario play through my head:

 

2012: We were too bad last season to make it worth adding a big-time contract.

2013: Ditto

2014: We almost made it to .500, but there's only a couple of impact players on the market, and the Dodgers and Yankees went to insane numbers on them and we should be thankful we didn't try to match that.

2015: Attendance has been down the last few years because of all the awful teams, and we still don't have the cable megadeal like those big market teams, so we have to be prudent.

 

And/or the current management team proves as smart as we all hope/think they are, succesfully build from within, and enter the free agency season "one player away!" And the best player on the free agent market is . . . Alfonso Soriano II.

That would be a bit different though, because we'd have a lot of cheap, young talent on the team when we added Soriano II. Plus this front office would never add a player with those type of flaws and demanding contract.

[Backtobanks]

But the problem is any premiere player is going to be a bad contract latter down the line. So are we going to pass on everyone?

 

I keep having this nightmare scenario play through my head:

 

2012: We were too bad last season to make it worth adding a big-time contract.

2013: Ditto

2014: We almost made it to .500, but there's only a couple of impact players on the market, and the Dodgers and Yankees went to insane numbers on them and we should be thankful we didn't try to match that.

2015: Attendance has been down the last few years because of all the awful teams, and we still don't have the cable megadeal like those big market teams, so we have to be prudent.

 

And/or the current management team proves as smart as we all hope/think they are, succesfully build from within, and enter the free agency season "one player away!" And the best player on the free agent market is . . . Alfonso Soriano II.

That would be a bit different though, because we'd have a lot of cheap, young talent on the team when we added Soriano II. Plus this front office would never add a player with those type of flaws and demanding contract.

 

Carl Crawford says "Hi".

[Exile on Waveland]

But the problem is any premiere player is going to be a bad contract latter down the line. So are we going to pass on everyone?

 

I keep having this nightmare scenario play through my head:

 

2012: We were too bad last season to make it worth adding a big-time contract.

2013: Ditto

2014: We almost made it to .500, but there's only a couple of impact players on the market, and the Dodgers and Yankees went to insane numbers on them and we should be thankful we didn't try to match that.

2015: Attendance has been down the last few years because of all the awful teams, and we still don't have the cable megadeal like those big market teams, so we have to be prudent.

 

And/or the current management team proves as smart as we all hope/think they are, succesfully build from within, and enter the free agency season "one player away!" And the best player on the free agent market is . . . Alfonso Soriano II.

That would be a bit different though, because we'd have a lot of cheap, young talent on the team when we added Soriano II. Plus this front office would never add a player with those type of flaws and demanding contract.

 

Considering (some of) the current front office's rather spotty record in free agency, I wouldn't be so sure. Regardless, you all but made my point for me. If you wait for the perfect player at the perfect time, you're not likely to sign anyone.

[SouthSideRyan]

So is BacktoBanks just going to quit the forum once the Cubs get good? Start following around whatever rookie league team Hendry is scouting?

[dew1679666265]

And/or the current management team proves as smart as we all hope/think they are, succesfully build from within, and enter the free agency season "one player away!" And the best player on the free agent market is . . . Alfonso Soriano II.

 

That's my biggest concern - that we do everything right up to the point that we need that elite FA, and he's not there. And that leaves us with overpaying for the best FA available or not quite being good enough for another season (or more).

[Guest]

So is BacktoBanks just going to quit the forum once the Cubs get good? Start following around whatever rookie league team Hendry is scouting?

He'll include himself in a three team deal.

[NewUserName]

So is BacktoBanks just going to quit the forum once the Cubs get good? Start following around whatever rookie league team Hendry is scouting?

He'll include himself in a three team deal.

 

Dang it, I spit coffee on my computer screen.

[Little Slide Rooter]

But the problem is any premiere player is going to be a bad contract latter down the line. So are we going to pass on everyone?

 

I keep having this nightmare scenario play through my head:

 

2012: We were too bad last season to make it worth adding a big-time contract.

2013: Ditto

2014: We almost made it to .500, but there's only a couple of impact players on the market, and the Dodgers and Yankees went to insane numbers on them and we should be thankful we didn't try to match that.

2015: Attendance has been down the last few years because of all the awful teams, and we still don't have the cable megadeal like those big market teams, so we have to be prudent.

 

And/or the current management team proves as smart as we all hope/think they are, succesfully build from within, and enter the free agency season "one player away!" And the best player on the free agent market is . . . Alfonso Soriano II.

That would be a bit different though, because we'd have a lot of cheap, young talent on the team when we added Soriano II. Plus this front office would never add a player with those type of flaws and demanding contract.

 

Really, the more elite young players are extended early on, the more expensive those that make it to free agency are going to get, and eventually, we're going to dust off the check book.

 

Looking over baseballs elite teams, The Red Sox, Yankees, Phillies, Rangers, and recently, The Tigers each one built their current team through a combination of home grown talent and external aquistions be they through trade or free agency. The Rays are the only one of the top teams that went almost strictly through their own system. Even the Brewers, who produced Braun, Fielder, Hart, Gallardo, and Weeks from their system in like a 3 year period weren't any good until they started mortgaging their future.

 

The bottom line is that when the time comes, we're going to need to start spending and/or trading prospects, and I doubt that this is something that the FO isn't very much aware of. What they're seemingly doing is startting with guys like Castro, Jackson, Rizzo, and hopefully Garza, and maybe Castillo and Vitters and perhaps Soler. They're supplementing them, as someone said in another thread, by throwing more stuff like Shark, Stewart, Volstad, LaHair, Wood, Maholm, Cardenas, etc. at the wall and hoping some stick, and when the smoke clears in 2-3 years we'll have a pretty good idea where we'll need to concentrate our free agent money instead of blindly jumping on the shinyest toy available, and by then their should be a lot of money availble.

[SouthSideRyan]

And/or the current management team proves as smart as we all hope/think they are, succesfully build from within, and enter the free agency season "one player away!" And the best player on the free agent market is . . . Alfonso Soriano II.

 

That's my biggest concern - that we do everything right up to the point that we need that elite FA, and he's not there. And that leaves us with overpaying for the best FA available or not quite being good enough for another season (or more).

 

I'm quite certain if Alfonso Soriano Jr. is the best available FA, we'll wind up trading for somebody better.

[Backtobanks]

So is BacktoBanks just going to quit the forum once the Cubs get good? Start following around whatever rookie league team Hendry is scouting?

 

I'm looking forward to the time that the Cubs are good again, but I'm more impatient than many of you. I've agreed with many of the long-time posters about not seeing the need to tank 2012 & probably 2013, but I didn't see the negative comments about the other posters. I've had a problem with the "Theo can do nothing wrong" mentality that many posters adhere to. My point all along has been that I'm afraid that with the new CBA, other teams locking up young stars before free agency, and competing with the other big-market teams that sat out this off season for the few "star" FAs in the future could prove unsuccessful. I do think that Theo will be successful in building a good solid team that is entertaining before the end of his current contract, but my expectation is for a World Series winner.

[dew1679666265]

I'm quite certain if Alfonso Soriano Jr. is the best available FA, we'll wind up trading for somebody better.

 

What if that "somebody better" isn't on the market, or is ridiculously overpriced? And why give up prospects for a guy then when you can potentially negate that need now without giving up prospects?

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm quite certain if Alfonso Soriano Jr. is the best available FA, we'll wind up trading for somebody better.

 

What if that "somebody better" isn't on the market, or is ridiculously overpriced? And why give up prospects for a guy then when you can potentially negate that need now without giving up prospects?

 

I didn't say it was ideal, I just don't see this front office signing a fatally flawed contract like the Soriano one.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I didn't say it was ideal, I just don't see this front office signing a fatally flawed contract like the Soriano one.

 

There are some Red Sox fans at the door who would like a word with you.

[SouthSideRyan]

I didn't say it was ideal, I just don't see this front office signing a fatally flawed contract like the Soriano one.

 

There are some Red Sox fans at the door who would like a word with you.

 

I originally had a parenthetical saying OMG CARLCRAWFORDLOL, but thought that was too hostile.

[sneakypower]

I'm quite certain if Alfonso Soriano Jr. is the best available FA, we'll wind up trading for somebody better.

 

What if that "somebody better" isn't on the market, or is ridiculously overpriced? And why give up prospects for a guy then when you can potentially negate that need now without giving up prospects?

listen, we'll get through the loss of Andrew Cashner together...

[Little Slide Rooter]

I didn't say it was ideal, I just don't see this front office signing a fatally flawed contract like the Soriano one.

 

There are some Red Sox fans at the door who would like a word with you.

 

If they're the same ones who still want Trey McNutt because Carpenter broke I suggest you keep it dead bolted.

[Little Slide Rooter]

And/or the current management team proves as smart as we all hope/think they are, succesfully build from within, and enter the free agency season "one player away!" And the best player on the free agent market is . . . Alfonso Soriano II.

 

That's my biggest concern - that we do everything right up to the point that we need that elite FA, and he's not there. And that leaves us with overpaying for the best FA available or not quite being good enough for another season (or more).

 

I'm quite certain if Alfonso Soriano Jr. is the best available FA, we'll wind up trading for somebody better.

 

Isn't Alfonso Soriano Jr. like 8? If we're not ready to contend by the time he's ready, let alone hits free agency we're in big trouble. What if he decides he doesn't even like baseball? Then what. There's Milton Bradleys kid, but he might refuse to sign with the Cubs on account of still being emotionally scarred from the racist taunts from Cubs fans.

[Sammy Sofa]

It takes 9 minutes to bundle together that much hilarity.

[Little Slide Rooter]

It takes 9 minutes to bundle together that much hilarity.

 

Well I did have to do my research on Sorianos kids, but wasn't able to come up with Juniors actual age, and typing on an I Phone key pad adds a bit of time too. Fund fact: Alfonso Soriano and his wife Isis have 6 kids: Alisis, Angeline, Alisha, Allen, Angel, and Of course, Alfonso Jr. All As. Crazy right, because Alfonso starts with an A too. Perhaps he should have signed with Oakland, amiright?

[Tracer Bullet]

It takes 9 minutes to bundle together that much hilarity.

 

Felt longer

[KingCubsFan]

I'm quite certain if Alfonso Soriano Jr. is the best available FA, we'll wind up trading for somebody better.

 

What if that "somebody better" isn't on the market, or is ridiculously overpriced? And why give up prospects for a guy then when you can potentially negate that need now without giving up prospects?

I think prospects are, in a lot of ways, becoming overvalued. I know we've been through it many times, but Hendry was pretty good at trading prospects that ended up not amounting to much and getting back solid players (excluding the Juan Pierre trade). Given the emphasis on player development, I would think the new regime would be even better at identifying the prospects they want to keep and the ones they think have a higher chance of busting. And I think the value of prospects will only increase given the draft spending caps and lack of compensatory picks. Given the contracts that have recently been given out to big time free agents, it could be better going forward to trade your prospects for good young players like Garza, and then try to extend them before they hit free agency. The prospects are the price you pay for saving tens of millions of dollars in contracts.

[JoshiQ]

Been watching the Royals-A's games the past couple of days, and just thought I'd say that Cespedes looks AWFUL when swinging at off-speed pitches. Pretty brutal stuff. Not to say he won't fix that hiccup in his swing, and I still wish the Cubs had signed him to his contract, but he is going to need to fix that.