CONFIRMED: CUBS GET SOLER!!! 9yrs/30 mill

[Little Slide Rooter]

For what we're doing(rebuilding) and what our payroll is currently(low and about to be lower) there's no amount of money for Soler, that I'll be pissed about. Last chance to add a top 50 prospect for just cash. He HAS to be ours.

 

The thing is, I'd have to assume that other teams in on him have this same thought, Yankees and Dodgers have both been known to throw money around.

[Clem Fandango]

I don't see the Dodgers splurging heavily on an unproven prospect. A free agent? Sure. Not a prospect though, not of this monetary magnitude.

 

I'd be concerned about the Yankees and that's it, but even then they were looking to move minor pieces to stay below the luxury tax. Can they afford an addition this size? It's not massive, but it's big enough to warrant luxury tax concern I'd imagine

[Guest]

I don't see the Dodgers splurging heavily on an unproven prospect. A free agent? Sure. Not a prospect though, not of this monetary magnitude.

 

I'd be concerned about the Yankees and that's it, but even then they were looking to move minor pieces to stay below the luxury tax. Can they afford an addition this size? It's not massive, but it's big enough to warrant luxury tax concern I'd imagine

I could be wrong here, but if they keep him off the 40 man, I don't think the luxury tax comes into play.

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[17 Seconds]

it's kind of felt like he's been ours for months now, so it would be a pretty big gut punch to lose out on him. i'd be pretty shocked.

[MSG T]

I don't care if we give him $40 million, get it done. I think this board has been waiting to see how this turns out for months before exploding in anger if we don't get him.

 

$40 million seems like too much unless we have an incredible scouting read on him that says he's getting close to MLB ready. You are really cutting away at the risk:reward ratios at that point.

 

Holy [expletive], they have to spend money at some point, Kyle.

 

Just asking, but is there something keeping them from giving the guy a 5/$20 contract and a $20 mil signing bonus? Not those exact figures, obviously, but a huge signing bonus coming out of this years budget and a, relatively, small 4-5 year contract. Is that even allowed?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I don't care if we give him $40 million, get it done. I think this board has been waiting to see how this turns out for months before exploding in anger if we don't get him.

 

$40 million seems like too much unless we have an incredible scouting read on him that says he's getting close to MLB ready. You are really cutting away at the risk:reward ratios at that point.

 

Last year of uncapped spending with a ton of money unspent from this year. I personally don't care if they spend 40M. It looks like that money is just going to go unspent if they don't get Soler.

 

I doubt it just disappears into the ether or Tom Ricketts' pockets. Or at least I hope not.

 

There have to be better opportunities. If $40 million doesn't make you blink, what would?

[Clem Fandango]

I don't see the Dodgers splurging heavily on an unproven prospect. A free agent? Sure. Not a prospect though, not of this monetary magnitude.

 

I'd be concerned about the Yankees and that's it, but even then they were looking to move minor pieces to stay below the luxury tax. Can they afford an addition this size? It's not massive, but it's big enough to warrant luxury tax concern I'd imagine

I could be wrong here, but if they keep him off the 40 man, I don't think the luxury tax comes into play.

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

Ahh, I kind of assumed contracts given out to prospects counted towards the luxury tax cap so long as they sign major league contracts, which I assume Soler will do and settle for nothing less.

[Sammy Sofa]

I don't care if we give him $40 million, get it done. I think this board has been waiting to see how this turns out for months before exploding in anger if we don't get him.

 

$40 million seems like too much unless we have an incredible scouting read on him that says he's getting close to MLB ready. You are really cutting away at the risk:reward ratios at that point.

 

Last year of uncapped spending with a ton of money unspent from this year. I personally don't care if they spend 40M. It looks like that money is just going to go unspent if they don't get Soler.

 

I doubt it just disappears into the ether or Tom Ricketts' pockets. Or at least I hope not.

 

There have to be better opportunities. If $40 million doesn't make you blink, what would?

 

$41 million.

[Sammy Sofa]

For what we're doing(rebuilding) and what our payroll is currently(low and about to be lower) there's no amount of money for Soler, that I'll be pissed about. Last chance to add a top 50 prospect for just cash. He HAS to be ours.

 

The thing is, I'd have to assume that other teams in on him have this same thought, Yankees and Dodgers have both been known to throw money around.

 

Oh man, the Braves are so sneaky even you forgot to mention them.

[Careless]

I am really nervous about this announcement. I hope Theo has the type of negotiating relationship where he just said "whatever the top bid is, we'll beat it by x amount."

 

Sent from my LG-LS840 using Tapatalk 2

"The Yankees offered a billion dollars over 3 years"

 

That kind of bidding doesn't work when actually calling the Yankees up and asking would be collusion.

[Guest]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0611-bits-cubs-twins-chicago--20120611,0,5029910.story

 

MINNEAPOLIS — The bids for free-agent outfielder Jorge Soler were due Sunday night, and Cubs baseball President Theo Epstein will soon find out if their long courtship of the Cuban defector will lead to a lasting relationship in Chicago.

 

But even if Soler signs, the Cubs have plenty of needs, and manager Dale Sveum believes they can't depend on the farm system to fill them.

 

When is a good time to start going after prime-time free agents?

 

"You can say right now," Sveum said. "You don't know what's going to happen in the next three months. You don't know what's going to happen with personnel next year, what we need. Obviously we need a lot of things. We're losing a lot of games. But to spend that kind of money … when the right time is and how many tears you give a guy, a whole lot goes into that process.

 

"There's obviously going to be some guys available this winter, and you've got to sit down and decide what the plan is. It's not like we've got a lot of guys coming except the (Anthony) Rizzos, (Brett) Jacksons and Junior Lakes, guys with tons of upside. So we do have to obviously fix some things."

 

Sveum said a quick turnaround is possible "because it's happened before" with other teams. But to do so, he said the Cubs need some game-changers in key roles, including the bullpen.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Now I know how Blue Jays fans felt in the lead-up to the Darvish announcement.

[javy knows my name]

Now I know how Blue Jays fans felt in the lead-up to the Darvish announcement.

 

Gahh, don't do that.

[Little Slide Rooter]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0611-bits-cubs-twins-chicago--20120611,0,5029910.story

 

MINNEAPOLIS — The bids for free-agent outfielder Jorge Soler were due Sunday night, and Cubs baseball President Theo Epstein will soon find out if their long courtship of the Cuban defector will lead to a lasting relationship in Chicago.

 

But even if Soler signs, the Cubs have plenty of needs, and manager Dale Sveum believes they can't depend on the farm system to fill them.

 

When is a good time to start going after prime-time free agents?

 

"You can say right now," Sveum said. "You don't know what's going to happen in the next three months. You don't know what's going to happen with personnel next year, what we need. Obviously we need a lot of things. We're losing a lot of games. But to spend that kind of money … when the right time is and how many tears you give a guy, a whole lot goes into that process.

 

"There's obviously going to be some guys available this winter, and you've got to sit down and decide what the plan is. It's not like we've got a lot of guys coming except the (Anthony) Rizzos, (Brett) Jacksons and Junior Lakes, guys with tons of upside. So we do have to obviously fix some things."

 

Sveum said a quick turnaround is possible "because it's happened before" with other teams. But to do so, he said the Cubs need some game-changers in key roles, including the bullpen.

 

If nothing else, hopefully this silences those in the Cubs will never sign another big free agent camp. Not saying that they'll go all out and land Hamels, Upton, and McCarthy but that going after at least one is a possibility.

 

Additionally, this is the 2nd hint by Sveum that at least in his eyes that Josh Vitters isn't ready and likely won't be by 2013.

[Irrelevant Dude]

I am really nervous about this announcement. I hope Theo has the type of negotiating relationship where he just said "whatever the top bid is, we'll beat it by x amount."

 

Sent from my LG-LS840 using Tapatalk 2

"The Yankees offered a billion dollars over 3 years"

 

That kind of bidding doesn't work when actually calling the Yankees up and asking would be collusion.

It doesn't necessarily have to be collusion if there is simply a mutual understanding that the Cubs will beat any offer. They could just say, "Soler wants to be a Cub and the Yankees offered $40 Million, so give us $44 million and he is yours." If it really is true that Epstein wants Soler at all costs, then anything less than offering the Cubs a chance to beat any offer would be leaving money on the table.

[UMFan83]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0611-bits-cubs-twins-chicago--20120611,0,5029910.story

 

MINNEAPOLIS — The bids for free-agent outfielder Jorge Soler were due Sunday night, and Cubs baseball President Theo Epstein will soon find out if their long courtship of the Cuban defector will lead to a lasting relationship in Chicago.

 

But even if Soler signs, the Cubs have plenty of needs, and manager Dale Sveum believes they can't depend on the farm system to fill them.

 

When is a good time to start going after prime-time free agents?

 

"You can say right now," Sveum said. "You don't know what's going to happen in the next three months. You don't know what's going to happen with personnel next year, what we need. Obviously we need a lot of things. We're losing a lot of games. But to spend that kind of money … when the right time is and how many tears you give a guy, a whole lot goes into that process.

 

"There's obviously going to be some guys available this winter, and you've got to sit down and decide what the plan is. It's not like we've got a lot of guys coming except the (Anthony) Rizzos, (Brett) Jacksons and Junior Lakes, guys with tons of upside. So we do have to obviously fix some things."

 

Sveum said a quick turnaround is possible "because it's happened before" with other teams. But to do so, he said the Cubs need some game-changers in key roles, including the bullpen.

 

If nothing else, hopefully this silences those in the Cubs will never sign another big free agent camp. Not saying that they'll go all out and land Hamels, Upton, and McCarthy but that going after at least one is a possibility.

 

Additionally, this is the 2nd hint by Sveum that at least in his eyes that Josh Vitters isn't ready and likely won't be by 2013.

 

Wow who has ever said the Cubs will never sign another big FA? And who the heck is even questioning whether or not Vitters will be a Cub in 2013?

[Sammy Sofa]

The one out of breath dude wants Vitters up here now. It's pretty hilarious.

[Little Slide Rooter]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0611-bits-cubs-twins-chicago--20120611,0,5029910.story

 

MINNEAPOLIS — The bids for free-agent outfielder Jorge Soler were due Sunday night, and Cubs baseball President Theo Epstein will soon find out if their long courtship of the Cuban defector will lead to a lasting relationship in Chicago.

 

But even if Soler signs, the Cubs have plenty of needs, and manager Dale Sveum believes they can't depend on the farm system to fill them.

 

When is a good time to start going after prime-time free agents?

 

"You can say right now," Sveum said. "You don't know what's going to happen in the next three months. You don't know what's going to happen with personnel next year, what we need. Obviously we need a lot of things. We're losing a lot of games. But to spend that kind of money … when the right time is and how many tears you give a guy, a whole lot goes into that process.

 

"There's obviously going to be some guys available this winter, and you've got to sit down and decide what the plan is. It's not like we've got a lot of guys coming except the (Anthony) Rizzos, (Brett) Jacksons and Junior Lakes, guys with tons of upside. So we do have to obviously fix some things."

 

Sveum said a quick turnaround is possible "because it's happened before" with other teams. But to do so, he said the Cubs need some game-changers in key roles, including the bullpen.

 

If nothing else, hopefully this silences those in the Cubs will never sign another big free agent camp. Not saying that they'll go all out and land Hamels, Upton, and McCarthy but that going after at least one is a possibility.

 

Additionally, this is the 2nd hint by Sveum that at least in his eyes that Josh Vitters isn't ready and likely won't be by 2013.

 

Wow who has ever said the Cubs will never sign another big FA? And who the heck is even questioning whether or not Vitters will be a Cub in 2013?

 

1. There are those who don't think that the Cubs will spend big, and if they do it will be a few years down the road.

 

2. A few days ago in an interview Sveum said that he likes Vitters swing but he's not ready to help any time soon due mostly to plate dicipline and defense, though I'd heard reports that his D was improving.

[Careless]

I am really nervous about this announcement. I hope Theo has the type of negotiating relationship where he just said "whatever the top bid is, we'll beat it by x amount."

 

Sent from my LG-LS840 using Tapatalk 2

"The Yankees offered a billion dollars over 3 years"

 

That kind of bidding doesn't work when actually calling the Yankees up and asking would be collusion.

It doesn't necessarily have to be collusion if there is simply a mutual understanding that the Cubs will beat any offer. They could just say, "Soler wants to be a Cub and the Yankees offered $40 Million, so give us $44 million and he is yours." If it really is true that Epstein wants Soler at all costs, then anything less than offering the Cubs a chance to beat any offer would be leaving money on the table.

Agents lie.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I am really nervous about this announcement. I hope Theo has the type of negotiating relationship where he just said "whatever the top bid is, we'll beat it by x amount."

 

Sent from my LG-LS840 using Tapatalk 2

"The Yankees offered a billion dollars over 3 years"

 

That kind of bidding doesn't work when actually calling the Yankees up and asking would be collusion.

It doesn't necessarily have to be collusion if there is simply a mutual understanding that the Cubs will beat any offer. They could just say, "Soler wants to be a Cub and the Yankees offered $40 Million, so give us $44 million and he is yours." If it really is true that Epstein wants Soler at all costs, then anything less than offering the Cubs a chance to beat any offer would be leaving money on the table.

Agents lie.

 

I stand by my theory that Theo has had an unofficial offer on the table since March, or whenever the first report came out. If another bid is higher, Paver will let him know and give him the chance to trump it. If it's higher than he cares to go, then that's all folks .

[17 Seconds]

say what you want about wsr, but this guy really sticks to his guns.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I am really nervous about this announcement. I hope Theo has the type of negotiating relationship where he just said "whatever the top bid is, we'll beat it by x amount."

 

Sent from my LG-LS840 using Tapatalk 2

"The Yankees offered a billion dollars over 3 years"

 

That kind of bidding doesn't work when actually calling the Yankees up and asking would be collusion.

It doesn't necessarily have to be collusion if there is simply a mutual understanding that the Cubs will beat any offer. They could just say, "Soler wants to be a Cub and the Yankees offered $40 Million, so give us $44 million and he is yours." If it really is true that Epstein wants Soler at all costs, then anything less than offering the Cubs a chance to beat any offer would be leaving money on the table.

 

 

Okay, you be the Cubs and I'll be Soler's agent.

 

"There's another team bidding $40 million. Do you want to go up to $44?"

[Sammy Sofa]

Sure.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Sure.

 

Okay, give me a few minutes to check with them.

 

*a few minutes pass*

 

They say they'll go to 46. Can you beat that?

[Guest]

I trust Theo not to get caught up in the sparkle and evaluate talent qua talent and not as the next shiny toy. If the Cubs get him I don't think it will be for an outrageous sum. I'm hoping the Cubs bid is the highest.

 

If the Cubs get Solar does the move make Jackson expendable as a valuable trade asset?