Cole Hamels

[Hendrys Ghost]

I know this is a bit early, but it's certainly nice to see other star players and organizations see the direction we are going. Cole Hamels says he will seriously consider the Cubs next season. While we know we will take our lumps this year, there is a clear and precise plan in place now, which we have not seen from this organization in decades.

 

 

PHILADELPHIA — What would it mean if the Cubs went after the top free-agent pitcher on the market next winter?

 

“That would show signs that they’re obviously wanting to go out and win,” said the Philadelphia Phillies’ Cole Hamels, the left-hander who might choose to be that guy, “and that they want to do it fairly soon. Not on a 6-to-10-year plan.”

 

Don’t rule out the possibility — or Hamels’ admitted willingness to seriously consider the Cubs.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/12181010-573/cubs-may-go-cole-hamels-mining.html

Edited April 30, 2012 by Hendry's Ghost

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

This is the guy to sign in the offseason if you have actual plans to build a top tier rotation. A borderline true ace (if not there already) entering his prime.

 

I want them avoid mid-rotation guys like Anibal Sanchez like the plague unless they land Hamels...Even then I'd prefer to just stay away from non-elite talent that won't be a relative bargain (as FA bargains go).

 

Top two FA targets should be Hamels and Upton, easy. Great to hear he's interested already.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Much like last time, when the Cubs are ready to win again, everyone is going to want to be a part of it. Especially if they're offered lots of money.

[El Duderino]

Yes please

[Backtobanks]

Much like last time, when the Cubs are ready to win again, everyone is going to want to be a part of it. Especially if they're offered lots of money.

 

It's a nice story, but what FA is going to start dismissing possible suitors at this point. I would expect Hamels to be like 99% of the other FAs and go to whatever team gives him the most money.

[JoshiQ]

Much like last time, when the Cubs are ready to win again, everyone is going to want to be a part of it. Especially if they're offered lots of money.

 

It's a nice story, but what FA is going to start dismissing possible suitors at this point. I would expect Hamels to be like 99% of the other FAs and go to whatever team gives him the most money.

 

And half the board will consider it a bad contract that they are happy to stay away from.

[Guest]

Much like last time, when the Cubs are ready to win again, everyone is going to want to be a part of it. Especially if they're offered lots of money.

 

It's a nice story, but what FA is going to start dismissing possible suitors at this point. I would expect Hamels to be like 99% of the other FAs and go to whatever team gives him the most money.

 

And half the board will consider it a bad contract that they are happy to stay away from.

More than half.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I really, really have trouble seeing the Cubs outbidding teams like the Dodgers, Rangers, Yankees, etc. for Hamels.

[SouthSideRyan]

I really, really have trouble seeing the Cubs outbidding teams like the Dodgers, Rangers, Yankees, etc. for Hamels.

 

Why?

[bukie]

I really, really have trouble seeing the Cubs outbidding teams like the Dodgers, Rangers, Yankees, etc. for Hamels.

 

Why?

Because his sample size of one offseason with three targets proves they won't.

[17 Seconds]

“But if they don’t view me or see me in their plans, then obviously I have to go outside to look, and the Cubs would be a team I would be more than happy to [consider],” he told the Sun-Times, “just because of the fact the city hasn’t won, they’re a baseball town, like Philly, and I think seeing Theo there, obviously trying to build a team, that shows they do want to win, which obviously excites anyone.”

 

“I think they’re starting to get some good young talent, and that’s kind of what we did, and how we won,” he said of a Phillies team that has been to the playoffs for five consecutive years, including the 2008 championship and 2009 NL pennant. “We built around home-grown talent and then got a few good pieces to [add to] it. That’s where you have to start. And if that’s what the Cubs are doing, then they have a good vision.

 

“And anybody that ever has the opportunity to play for that city and win in that city, they’ll take that memory forever, and a lot of people would be really jealous that they weren’t part of that team.’’

 

and it goes on and on. kind of a bizarre article. i can't believe how much he said about the cubs. i mean, even talking about the wrigley renovations? very weird.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Good to see that top tier guys see this and get it. Good to see someone with that kind of pedigree, talent, youth, and production gets that.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I really, really have trouble seeing the Cubs outbidding teams like the Dodgers, Rangers, Yankees, etc. for Hamels.

 

Why?

 

Because they have supermegacable deals and we don't.

 

There's a new scale in MLB and our payroll hasn't caught up yet.

[SouthSideRyan]

I know you're Kyle and all, but I feel like it needs to be said anyway in case people take your nonsense at face value. That Theo Epstein wouldn't come here to play with a lesser payroll than the top tier teams.

[Guest]

Also, the Cubs are paying 31 milllion dollars for Dempster + Zambrano this year. They don't exactly have to up the payroll by the amount of whatever deal Hamels would command.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I know you're Kyle and all, but I feel like it needs to be said anyway in case people take your nonsense at face value. That Theo Epstein wouldn't come here to play with a lesser payroll than the top tier teams.

 

In the long run, you are right. They apparently intend to massively renovate Wrigley Field to create new revenue streams and renegotiate the cable deal. But that's not going to happen in a season.

 

I feel pretty confident saying the 2013 Cubs will not have a top-5 payroll.

 

Also, the Cubs are paying 31 milllion dollars for Dempster + Zambrano this year. They don't exactly have to up the payroll by the amount of whatever deal Hamels would command.

 

Marmol + various arbitration raises should eat up at least half of that.

[SouthSideRyan]

I know you're Kyle and all, but I feel like it needs to be said anyway in case people take your nonsense at face value. That Theo Epstein wouldn't come here to play with a lesser payroll than the top tier teams.

 

In the long run, you are right. They apparently intend to massively renovate Wrigley Field to create new revenue streams and renegotiate the cable deal. But that's not going to happen in a season.

 

I feel pretty confident saying the 2013 Cubs will not have a top-5 payroll.

 

Also, the Cubs are paying 31 milllion dollars for Dempster + Zambrano this year. They don't exactly have to up the payroll by the amount of whatever deal Hamels would command.

 

Marmol + various arbitration raises should eat up at least half of that.

 

Meaning adding Byrd's contract should take care of Hamels?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Meaning adding Byrd's contract should take care of Hamels?

 

Sure. But I still doubt the Cubs go that route.

 

I don't think being fairly confident taking the field against the Cubs in a "who will sign the best free agent starting pitcher in the next offseason" is all that controversial.

[Guest]

All of the arbitration raises would eat up less than half that, and then you're left with a significant dollar figure to spend on Hamels with no other long term obligations(unless Garza or Castro are extended). Any reasonable backloading of that deal will easily make it under that bar, and by the time the truly significant dollars are coming, Soriano's money is gone, the renovations are done, and the cable deal is right there. Pujols makes 28 million total the first two years of his deal.

 

 

And of course, all of this assumes that under current circumstances that the Cubs were somehow running untenable payrolls of 135+ million from 2009-2011. Any type of return to what the Cubs used to spend, or even bridging half of that gap, puts to bed your concerns on how to pay players before the new revenue streams come in .

[Hairyducked Idiot]

All of the arbitration raises would eat up less than half that.

 

You don't think Garza + Marmol's $3 million plus various other arbitration raises is going to hit $15.5 million?

 

Other teams have a lot of money to spend to.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Absolutely zero worries about having the money to play. The Dorgers? Still sickens me to hear anyone scared of fighting them for FAs. If the Cubs can't fight the Dodgers for FAs then its game over, and...to be corny...the game hasn't even really started.

[Guest]

All of the arbitration raises would eat up less than half that.

 

You don't think Garza + Marmol's $3 million plus various other arbitration raises is going to hit $15.5 million?

 

Other teams have a lot of money to spend to.

 

Garza(4th), Castro(1st), Russell (1st), Stewart (2nd), and probably 2 of the 3 starters(Shark, Volstad, Wells) will likely be less than a 16.5 million increase, yes.

 

Whoops, forgot Soto, although at the moment odds favor him either getting no raise or not being in the organization.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Isnt that conversation based totally around them not being willing to raise payroll anyway?

[TruffleShuffle]

FFS kyle. the cubs have $34.75m committed for next season. even with arbitration raises they still have a huge amount of money to spend. then the year after that they have just $21m committed, and after that basically nothing. so even in this nightmare world where the cubs can't outspend people purely on 2013 payroll, they can heavily backload any contract offer to hamels or whoever.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Okay, so what would people put the odds on the Cubs signing Hamels at? Right now?