Cubs trade for Ian Stewart/Weathers pg. 5 (Colvin+DJ)

[Little Slide Rooter]

You can be skeptical, and saying the moves made this far have been small/mid-market-ish would be fairly accurate. But to insinuate the FO is operating in small market mode without looking at the context of a full offseason is awfully reactionary and stupid.

 

A big market team that is in on talks for big market moves but only makes small market moves is operating in small market mode until they actually make a big market move.

 

The Yankees and Red Sox are in small market mode.

 

they don't have lousy rosters as of this moment though, that's a pretty terrible comparison

 

At this point in the offseason, they havn't made any big market moves. The quote in question doesn't say anything about what the current roster looks like.

[jersey cubs fan]

You can be skeptical, and saying the moves made this far have been small/mid-market-ish would be fairly accurate. But to insinuate the FO is operating in small market mode without looking at the context of a full offseason is awfully reactionary and stupid.

 

A big market team that is in on talks for big market moves but only makes small market moves is operating in small market mode until they actually make a big market move.

 

The Yankees and Red Sox are in small market mode.

 

That's idiotic. They have much higher payrolls and much better teams and are in much better position than the Cubs going into 2012.

[davell]

FUN GAME

 

guess the cubs' payroll next year if we don't sign fielder or darvish

 

i'm not being snarky or sarcastic here. i'm honestly curious. is there any way we get to 130 million? do you think the ricketts are concerned at all about what the fan perception would be if the payroll dipped dramatically? i really can't believe we're going to pass on every expensive free agent and then trade for anybody who costs anything.

 

i really, really think that we are operating under the presumption that darvish is coming.

 

 

Very easily actually. With the current roster, we're basically at 110ish, counting buyouts, deferrments, and Kerry Wood returning around 2.5millish. This is for the entire 40 man roster.If we added Kuroda for 1/12 or 2/22, and/or Beltran for around the same money, we're already there. Don't count us out on a guy like Beltran either. Short term deal, very solid player. May be a guy that builds value to where he's tradeable at the deadline or maybe even a guy you can offer the 12 mill to next offseason, have him decline and get the comp for.

 

Edwin Jackson is still out there and at his age, whether we like it or not, he's probably on Theo's radar, especially if his market is also slow to develop. Of course, you have Cespedes. Who knows what he winds up with? my guess is a ton, especially with the Marlins involved there. Somebody like Maholm may cost a decent amount on a one year deal. Plus, there's always a chance we wind up back with Pena at 1B.

 

This doesn't even take into account that with the minor league budget getting zapped by MLB, there could be a spending spree by us on this front, before the July deadline. That money would come off the major league side as well.

[XZero771679666304]

You can be skeptical, and saying the moves made this far have been small/mid-market-ish would be fairly accurate. But to insinuate the FO is operating in small market mode without looking at the context of a full offseason is awfully reactionary and stupid.

 

A big market team that is in on talks for big market moves but only makes small market moves is operating in small market mode until they actually make a big market move.

 

Okay, I'm going to get torched for this, but so be it.

 

I think the Cubs are still serious about Fielder. I'm less convinced about their seriousness about Darvish, though I want him quite a bit. That posting fee is just a problem.

 

But okay, devil's advocate.

 

For a year or so now, we've been dealing with reports and speculation from stupid people in the medai that said that the Cubs would/should punt on 2012 and maybe even 2013, lower payroll and "rebuild."

 

In some bizzaro universe where that was actually what was happening, what would that look like?

 

Signing a poor man's Fukudome for RF? Take a lottery ticket to start at 3b? Actively shop Garza for prospects? Make offers to big-name free agents that we know they won't take? Talk a lot to Cubs fans about patience?

 

There is a distinct possibility that is what is happening here, but it's too early to make that call.

 

I'm convinced the Cubs will make a play for Prince. Up until the past few days I didn't think the Cubs were going to make a play for Darvish, but after hearing some of the comments from Jed, I beginning to think they are.

 

If those things don't happen, I think we can say the FO is rebuilding.

[jersey cubs fan]

There is a distinct possibility that is what is happening here, but it's too early to make that call.

 

I'm convinced the Cubs will make a play for Prince. Up until the past few days I didn't think the Cubs were going to make a play for Darvish, but after hearing some of the comments from Jed, I beginning to think they are.

 

If those things don't happen, I think we can say the FO is rebuilding.

 

I'm not convinced but I sure as hell hope it's so.

[Little Slide Rooter]

You can be skeptical, and saying the moves made this far have been small/mid-market-ish would be fairly accurate. But to insinuate the FO is operating in small market mode without looking at the context of a full offseason is awfully reactionary and stupid.

 

A big market team that is in on talks for big market moves but only makes small market moves is operating in small market mode until they actually make a big market move.

 

The Yankees and Red Sox are in small market mode.

 

That's idiotic. They have much higher payrolls and much better teams and are in much better position than the Cubs going into 2012.

 

Is it not idiotic to refer to a team who is potentially in the mix for Fielder, Darvish, and Cespedes as being in small market mode because they did hand out a 10 year contract to Albert Pujols or land any big fish yet?

[Guest]

FUN GAME

 

guess the cubs' payroll next year if we don't sign fielder or darvish

 

i'm not being snarky or sarcastic here. i'm honestly curious. is there any way we get to 130 million? do you think the ricketts are concerned at all about what the fan perception would be if the payroll dipped dramatically? i really can't believe we're going to pass on every expensive free agent and then trade for anybody who costs anything.

 

i really, really think that we are operating under the presumption that darvish is coming.

 

I think the Ricketts' and Theo have a long term plan and they are sticking to it.

[Rob]

What "big market" moves have been made so far? CJ Wilson gave the Angels a huge discount, so we didn't really have a chance. Pujols, Reyes, and Buehrle will all have to stay perfectly healthy and perform on the very optimistic ends of their projections to have a chance of justifying their contracts -- in other words, they received bad contracts.

 

Are we really mad that the Cubs didn't outbid 3 bad contracts?

 

There are still plenty of places to spend money this offseason that represent real upgrades. Fielder and Darvish are obvious. Cespedes may be worth the gamble. Soler is certainly very interesting. Kuroda is the perfect short term investment. Edwin Jackson is nearly as good as Buehrle and should cost a good deal less. There's also quite a few interesting names who may or may not be available on the trade market: King Felix, BJ Upton, Cole Hamels, John Danks, etc...

 

It's December 9th. We're barely into the offseason at all. People need to calm down.

[XZero771679666304]

What "big market" moves have been made so far? CJ Wilson gave the Angels a huge discount, so we didn't really have a chance. Pujols, Reyes, and Buehrle will all have to stay perfectly healthy and perform on the very optimistic ends of their projections to have a chance of justifying their contracts -- in other words, they received bad contracts.

 

Are we really mad that the Cubs didn't outbid 3 bad contracts?

 

There are still plenty of places to spend money this offseason that represent real upgrades. Fielder and Darvish are obvious. Cespedes may be worth the gamble. Soler is certainly very interesting. Kuroda is the perfect short term investment. Edwin Jackson is nearly as good as Buehrle and should cost a good deal less. There's also quite a few interesting names who may or may not be available on the trade market: King Felix, BJ Upton, Cole Hamels, John Danks, etc...

 

It's December 9th. We're barely into the offseason at all. People need to calm down.

 

This.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's December 9th. We're barely into the offseason at all. People need to calm down.

 

This.

 

.. is completely wrong.

 

We're past the GM meetings and past the winter meeting. We are well into the offseason. Stop pretending it's early.

[mookie]

It's early. No pretending. Saying we are waiting too long, or what have you, is akin to freaking out about losing the first 4 or 5 games of the season. There is still a long way to go, and many more players and situations to unfold. Edited December 9, 2011 by mookie

[Guest]

It's December 9th. We're barely into the offseason at all. People need to calm down.

 

This.

 

.. is completely wrong.

 

We're past the GM meetings and past the winter meeting. We are well into the offseason. Stop pretending it's early.

I agree, but a few, perhaps some people do need to calm down. The mass media (mostly radio) and meatheads are going to be whipping it up.

 

Theo took control of a mediocre organization that was trending in the wrong direction. Also, we don't know what's going on with the renovations. I think the Ricketts are in investment mode right now and I don't blame them for not giving out too much money (I don't think you do either).

[jersey cubs fan]

I agree, but a few, perhaps some people do need to calm down. The mass media (mostly radio) and meatheads are going to be whipping it up.

 

Theo took control of a mediocre organization that was trending in the wrong direction. Also, we don't know what's going on with the renovations. I think the Ricketts are in investment mode right now and I don't blame them for not giving out too much money (I don't think you do either).

 

Yeah, there's no reason to go ballistic, but it's not early.

[Backtobanks]

FUN GAME

 

guess the cubs' payroll next year if we don't sign fielder or darvish

 

i'm not being snarky or sarcastic here. i'm honestly curious. is there any way we get to 130 million? do you think the ricketts are concerned at all about what the fan perception would be if the payroll dipped dramatically? i really can't believe we're going to pass on every expensive free agent and then trade for anybody who costs anything.

 

i really, really think that we are operating under the presumption that darvish is coming.

 

I think the Ricketts' and Theo have a long term plan and they are sticking to it.

 

As long as "long-term plan" doesn't mean decades (or centuries) :lol: .

[SouthSideRyan]

FUN GAME

 

guess the cubs' payroll next year if we don't sign fielder or darvish

 

i'm not being snarky or sarcastic here. i'm honestly curious. is there any way we get to 130 million? do you think the ricketts are concerned at all about what the fan perception would be if the payroll dipped dramatically? i really can't believe we're going to pass on every expensive free agent and then trade for anybody who costs anything.

 

i really, really think that we are operating under the presumption that darvish is coming.

 

I think the Ricketts' and Theo have a long term plan and they are sticking to it.

 

As long as "long-term plan" doesn't mean decades (or centuries) :lol: .

 

Ricketts and Theo would be dead by then if it meant centuries.

[treebird]

FUN GAME

 

guess the cubs' payroll next year if we don't sign fielder or darvish

 

i'm not being snarky or sarcastic here. i'm honestly curious. is there any way we get to 130 million? do you think the ricketts are concerned at all about what the fan perception would be if the payroll dipped dramatically? i really can't believe we're going to pass on every expensive free agent and then trade for anybody who costs anything.

 

i really, really think that we are operating under the presumption that darvish is coming.

 

I think the Ricketts' and Theo have a long term plan and they are sticking to it.

 

As long as "long-term plan" doesn't mean decades (or centuries) :lol: .

 

Ricketts and Theo would be dead by then if it meant centuries.

 

not if their darculas

[Rob]

I agree, but a few, perhaps some people do need to calm down. The mass media (mostly radio) and meatheads are going to be whipping it up.

 

Theo took control of a mediocre organization that was trending in the wrong direction. Also, we don't know what's going on with the renovations. I think the Ricketts are in investment mode right now and I don't blame them for not giving out too much money (I don't think you do either).

 

Yeah, there's no reason to go ballistic, but it's not early.

 

We are between 25% to 33% of the way through the offseason. The vast majority of moves that will be made this offseason have not been made yet. That makes it early.

[Tracer Bullet]

It's December 9th. We're barely into the offseason at all. People need to calm down.

 

This.

 

.. is completely wrong.

 

We're past the GM meetings and past the winter meeting. We are well into the offseason. Stop pretending it's early.

Is it just the last 2 sentences that you disagree with bc the meat of the post was, well, everything else.

[SouthSideRyan]

FUN GAME

 

guess the cubs' payroll next year if we don't sign fielder or darvish

 

i'm not being snarky or sarcastic here. i'm honestly curious. is there any way we get to 130 million? do you think the ricketts are concerned at all about what the fan perception would be if the payroll dipped dramatically? i really can't believe we're going to pass on every expensive free agent and then trade for anybody who costs anything.

 

i really, really think that we are operating under the presumption that darvish is coming.

 

I think the Ricketts' and Theo have a long term plan and they are sticking to it.

 

As long as "long-term plan" doesn't mean decades (or centuries) :lol: .

 

Ricketts and Theo would be dead by then if it meant centuries.

 

not if their darculas

 

Is that Blacula's brother?

[Backtobanks]

It's December 9th. We're barely into the offseason at all. People need to calm down.

 

This.

 

.. is completely wrong.

 

We're past the GM meetings and past the winter meeting. We are well into the offseason. Stop pretending it's early.

I agree, but a few, perhaps some people do need to calm down. The mass media (mostly radio) and meatheads are going to be whipping it up.

 

Theo took control of a mediocre organization that was trending in the wrong direction. Also, we don't know what's going on with the renovations. I think the Ricketts are in investment mode right now and I don't blame them for not giving out too much money (I don't think you do either).

 

It's not just the mass media and the meatheads, look at the number of posts on NSBB about the new FO and expectations. If the Cubs are going to be contenders in 2013, Theo is going to have to start doing something pretty soon or he will have a ton of holes to fill next offseason.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Going from the end of the World Series to p&c reporting is 108 days. We are on day 42, so the offseason is 39% gone. The midpoint will be Dec. 21.

[jersey cubs fan]

I agree, but a few, perhaps some people do need to calm down. The mass media (mostly radio) and meatheads are going to be whipping it up.

 

Theo took control of a mediocre organization that was trending in the wrong direction. Also, we don't know what's going on with the renovations. I think the Ricketts are in investment mode right now and I don't blame them for not giving out too much money (I don't think you do either).

 

Yeah, there's no reason to go ballistic, but it's not early.

 

We are between 25% to 33% of the way through the offseason. The vast majority of moves that will be made this offseason have not been made yet. That makes it early.

 

It's not a linear timeline. We're past the GM and winter meetings. All but one of the top 6 or 7 free agents are gone. It's not early.

[Rob]

It's December 9th. We're barely into the offseason at all. People need to calm down.

 

This.

 

.. is completely wrong.

 

We're past the GM meetings and past the winter meeting. We are well into the offseason. Stop pretending it's early.

I agree, but a few, perhaps some people do need to calm down. The mass media (mostly radio) and meatheads are going to be whipping it up.

 

Theo took control of a mediocre organization that was trending in the wrong direction. Also, we don't know what's going on with the renovations. I think the Ricketts are in investment mode right now and I don't blame them for not giving out too much money (I don't think you do either).

 

It's not just the mass media and the meatheads, look at the number of posts on NSBB about the new FO and expectations. If the Cubs are going to be contenders in 2013, Theo is going to have to start doing something pretty soon or he will have a ton of holes to fill next offseason.

 

Well then it's a good thing we still have 90% of the possibilities we had a month ago.

 

Also, I hope you mean 2012, because it's waaaay too early to be giving up on 2013.

[Tracer Bullet]

Is every discussion in this thread going to be ridiculous?

[Rob]

I agree, but a few, perhaps some people do need to calm down. The mass media (mostly radio) and meatheads are going to be whipping it up.

 

Theo took control of a mediocre organization that was trending in the wrong direction. Also, we don't know what's going on with the renovations. I think the Ricketts are in investment mode right now and I don't blame them for not giving out too much money (I don't think you do either).

 

Yeah, there's no reason to go ballistic, but it's not early.

 

We are between 25% to 33% of the way through the offseason. The vast majority of moves that will be made this offseason have not been made yet. That makes it early.

 

It's not a linear timeline. We're past the GM and winter meetings. All but one of the top 6 or 7 free agents are gone. It's not early.

 

Just out of sheer morbid curiosity, who were your top 6-7 free agent targets? Because I only count 2 of mine as being gone.