Tigers sign Prince - 9/214 - Heyman

[CincyCubsFan]

While I don't have any better idea about what's going to happen than anybody else, I do find it amusing to see everyone totally freaking out that nothing has happened yet in spite of Theo's history of appearing out of nowhere with his desired player signed to a contract. Nobody saw Dice-K or Crawford coming to Boston in the least and he got both of those guys. He seems to be a master of misinformation, and while that sucks for us because we're totally in the dark, I'd much rather have it that way than everything out in the open like it was with Hendry. Plus, could he be handling the Z or Soriano situations any better than he has thus far?

 

It's a great point, I may be way off on this, but I have a hunch he is working to get Garza moved for a 1B (perhaps Rangers, Moreland) and or even Yankees and take on Tex so Yanks can get Fielder?? Hopefully something similar is in works so we don't have the next 5 years of less than .500 ball.

 

If Theo and Jed trade their ace for a first baseman, they deserve to be run out of town.

[17 Seconds]

ESPNChiCubs Bruce Levine

Source; Cubs in the hunt for free agent Prince Fielder. See blog

2 minutes ago

 

Jesus hahahha Levine JUST got done reporting that the Bulls were out yesterday...this after reporting that they would be in days before.

 

levine has had a brutal offseason. i actually thought he was decent up until a few months ago.

[ctcf]

My personal favorite was the fact he tweeted about the fact the Cubs bid on Darvish like 10 hours after it leaked.

[Backtobanks]

While I don't have any better idea about what's going to happen than anybody else, I do find it amusing to see everyone totally freaking out that nothing has happened yet in spite of Theo's history of appearing out of nowhere with his desired player signed to a contract. Nobody saw Dice-K or Crawford coming to Boston in the least and he got both of those guys. He seems to be a master of misinformation, and while that sucks for us because we're totally in the dark, I'd much rather have it that way than everything out in the open like it was with Hendry. Plus, could he be handling the Z or Soriano situations any better than he has thus far?

 

It's fine that we are going to be kept in the dark as long as there will be some desired players appearing out of nowhere, but you must admit he must keep his plans pretty secret because the speculation is that the Cubs are headed for a terrible season.

[Guest]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/chicago-cubs-theo-epstein-should-be-front-runners-for-prince-fielder-121511

 

Ken_Rosenthal Ken Rosenthal

The front-runner for Fielder . . . based on what we know at this moment: msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/chic… #Cubs #Mariners #MLB

8 minutes ago

 

Based on what we know — and admittedly, we know only so much — the Cubs are the front-runners to sign Prince Fielder.

 

 

No one should schedule a news conference at Wrigley Field. These negotiations might only be in their early stages. But if this is Cubs vs. Mariners — and that’s certainly the way it looks at the moment — the Cubs make far more sense.

 

Neither the Rangers nor Marlins will bid on Fielder, according to major league sources. The Orioles, as my colleague Jon Paul Morosi wrote earlier this week, are the eastern version of the Mariners, a non-contender that would be viable only if Fielder lacked better options.

 

The Cubs aren’t exactly contenders themselves, but few in the industry doubt that new club president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer will transform them into a force in short order.

[Little Slide Rooter]

So we're front runners again, fortifying my theory that Hoyerstein is just [expletive] with the media.

[Guest]

So we're front runners again, fortifying my theory that Hoyerstein is just [expletive] with the media.

 

Again?

 

I mean...some people are reporting we're not in, others are hearing we are in, and others are just saying we must be in because we need a 1B and we have a lot of money.

[Cubs Fan Dan]

Breaking news: Media has no clue who the favorie is. The Cubs are not tipping their hand at all, they are pointed out as the favorite / Prince's desired location. Two Boston area reporters(Gammons, Cafardo) state the Cubs either dont have money or are not ready to spend it.

 

 

I definitely believe the Cubs are in heavy with Prince and feel leverage was starting to lean away from the Cubs with all of the rumors so Epstein floated the idea to Gammons and Cafardo the Cubs will not be in the race.

 

Similar to Darvish, the only reason people believe Toronto is the leading the bids is because the Cubs have not let one thing slip.

[ctcf]

So how is it that we know the Cubs' amount hasn't slipped/leaked?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

So how is it that we know the Cubs' amount hasn't slipped/leaked?

 

Because nobody's reporting any rumors about it and the NY Post story that every other outlet is running with says so.

[Little Slide Rooter]

How would Gammons know what's going on? However, it could be that Fielder has expressed a strong desire to play for the Cubs but Epstein is purposely telling people that thy don't have a ton of money so when the time comes for negotiations, Boras doesn't try to get ridiculous. It's also possible that Theo has heard that the other teams aren't as interested as we think and he's saying that we don't have a ton of money so when Boras doesn't get anything close to the 8-10 years he wants a 6/130-140 with an option will spin very appealing.

[soonercub]

In some way I think Theo might push hard to get Prince signed before the Darvish announcement. Whether we win on Darvish or not, the amount of bids might get out and then Theo might not be able to use the we don't have much money argument.

[jersey cubs fan]

In some way I think Theo might push hard to get Prince signed before the Darvish announcement. Whether we win on Darvish or not, the amount of bids might get out and then Theo might not be able to use the we don't have much money argument.

 

It's not like Boras is going to say, "oh, you don't have much money, okay, whatever you have on you."

[Little Slide Rooter]

In some way I think Theo might push hard to get Prince signed before the Darvish announcement. Whether we win on Darvish or not, the amount of bids might get out and then Theo might not be able to use the we don't have much money argument.

 

In order to sign Prince before the Darvish announcement, it's going to be even more espensive and he'd probably be outbidding himself. Whoever loses out on Darvish will be viewed as a strong suiter and Boras isn't going to sign away Fielder for anything les than 8-10 until he has all his ducks in a row. In order to sign him before the announcement, it will likely take at least 8 years or 6-7 at an obscene dollar amount.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

This is Boras we're talking about. If you came to him today with 8/$200, he'd hold out for 10/$250.

[davell]

I don't expect Fielder to sign before the Darvish announcement. Nor do I actually think any of the front offices that are in on Darvish actually know whether or not they have won the bid for him. And then, with next week being right around the corner from Christmas, I see the Fielder saga dragging into early January possibly. Holding up quite a few plans, from more teams than just the Cubs. It just seems like an extremely late developing offseason and with Spring Training coming up, I can see agents waiting things out, possibly getting a team to ante up more, just so they'll have their roster set quicker, heading towards the season. Prince and Edwin Jackson look to me, to be the big beneficiaries here.

[dew1679666265]

Easier said than done. We don't exactly have much in the form of moveable assets and The Mariners aren't going to just say since we have Fielder please take Smoak off our hands for Blake DeWitt and Casey Coleman. As far as attainable targets go, Barton might actually be the best bet in terms of affordability.

 

DeWitt and Coleman are the best players our system has to offer? I never threw out a proposal of any type, so I don't know why you're assuming I'd throw out a silly offer that clearly has no shot of being considered. We could easily toss out package of significant prospects for Smoak if necessary and I'd make just about anybody in the system available in trade, as well as Barney - who they may have interest in since Jack Z has been gung-ho over defense and hasn't cared about offense since he got to Seattle. I'd make Castro and BJax off limits, but I might consider (depending on Seattle's ability to come up with a great offer) some form of a Garza for Smoak+ deal. Don't hold me to the Garza idea, though. I could easily be talked out of it.

 

I wouldn't hate a Barton acquisition, but he's been really mediocre in more than twice the PAs Smoak has had and he's a year older. Maybe Oakland has suppressed his power, but I have my doubts.

[Bear Cub]

I personally love the Epstein and Hoyer are keeping their business under cover. Relax guys, we have professionals running the Cubs now.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Easier said than done. We don't exactly have much in the form of moveable assets and The Mariners aren't going to just say since we have Fielder please take Smoak off our hands for Blake DeWitt and Casey Coleman. As far as attainable targets go, Barton might actually be the best bet in terms of affordability.

 

DeWitt and Coleman are the best players our system has to offer? I never threw out a proposal of any type, so I don't know why you're assuming I'd throw out a silly offer that clearly has no shot of being considered. We could easily toss out package of significant prospects for Smoak if necessary and I'd make just about anybody in the system available in trade, as well as Barney - who they may have interest in since Jack Z has been gung-ho over defense and hasn't cared about offense since he got to Seattle. I'd make Castro and BJax off limits, but I might consider (depending on Seattle's ability to come up with a great offer) some form of a Garza for Smoak+ deal. Don't hold me to the Garza idea, though. I could easily be talked out of it.

 

I wouldn't hate a Barton acquisition, but he's been really mediocre in more than twice the PAs Smoak has had and he's a year older. Maybe Oakland has suppressed his power, but I have my doubts.

 

I'm not saying that you'd propose anything like that, I know you'r a lot smarter than that. What I'm saying is that if we are to build for the future, we want to hang on to what few guys we have that can be valuable for the future. Castro, B Jax, Cashner, McNutt, and Szczur are the guys we want to hang onto in additon to the younger guys like Wells, Golden, and the 2011 picks. As far as big league assets go, beyond Castro, Soto, Marshall, and Garza we really don't have anything that anyone would really want. I don't think that Soto or Marhsall would get Smoak and if we were to move Garza, I'd like to get something more. I don't know what else the Mariners have to offer, and I highly doubt they'd send Smoak and Ackley or Pineda for him.

[MWV]

Am I alone in being underwhelmed by Justin Smoak? His walk rate has always been good/great, but I don't see a whole lot else to be excited about. A .283/.401/.458 line over 477 PCL PAs doesn't seem particularly noteworthy (again, with the exception of IsoD). Educate me, people who know more about MiLB.

[Butterscup1679666578]

BruceMiles2112 Bruce Miles

Sveum says Prince Fielder talk has been media generated. #Cubs

[Little Slide Rooter]

Am I alone in being underwhelmed by Justin Smoak? His walk rate has always been good/great, but I don't see a whole lot else to be excited about. A .283/.401/.458 line over 477 PCL PAs doesn't seem particularly noteworthy (again, with the exception of IsoD). Educate me, people who know more about MiLB.

 

I think that it's the fact that he has youth in his side which brings with it the hope that his bats more likely to develope than with a 27-28 year old.

[davell]

If we truly want Prince, we'll go get him. There is nothing coming out in the media, whether it's from the Cubs or not, that I'm going to believe. It's just how Theo operates.

[dew1679666265]

I'm not saying that you'd propose anything like that, I know you'r a lot smarter than that. What I'm saying is that if we are to build for the future, we want to hang on to what few guys we have that can be valuable for the future. Castro, B Jax, Cashner, McNutt, and Szczur are the guys we want to hang onto in additon to the younger guys like Wells, Golden, and the 2011 picks. As far as big league assets go, beyond Castro, Soto, Marshall, and Garza we really don't have anything that anyone would really want. I don't think that Soto or Marhsall would get Smoak and if we were to move Garza, I'd like to get something more. I don't know what else the Mariners have to offer, and I highly doubt they'd send Smoak and Ackley or Pineda for him.

 

If we can turn a few of our decent assets into a potential impact player, I have no problem with giving a few of them up. Smoak has an excellent minor league track record, is still only 25, and fills a position of major need in the organization. I'd prefer Prince since we wouldn't have to give up assets to get him and he's more of a sure thing in the short term, but if we miss on him Smoak would be a cheap (in terms of money), long term alternative that would be better than getting an aging stopgap.

[Little Slide Rooter]

BruceMiles2112 Bruce Miles

Sveum says Prince Fielder talk has been media generated. #Cubs

 

The Cubs are front runners talk, the Cubs arent serious bidders talk, the Cubs don't have enough money talk or all of it?