2013

[treebird]

Because it all reality it wasn't in play. We just didn't have the money. We are cash strapped between rebuilding Wrigley and bad contracts. Until then we just have to ride it out and hope our FO gets lucky on a draft or two. I guess the plan is to gut us and re-build. I hate the sound of it, but it's reality. Get used to it.

 

Just admit you have no clue what you're talking about.

 

i have moved firmly into the "cc is a lousy troll" camp.

[Guest]

Anyone know where I might be able to find all the FA deals signed in a given offseason?

like this?

http://espn.go.com/mlb/freeagents/_/type/dollars

 

Let's try some trivia to test some assumptions. If we were picking out the ideal FA target, I think most would agree that the player would still be in their prime, and would sign a multi-year deal to give the team some control, but wouldn't sign for an insane length to hamper future flexibility. So here's a question, in the last 6 years, how many free agents under the age of 30 have signed multi-year contracts? How many when you exclude international signings?

[Backtobanks]

Anyone know where I might be able to find all the FA deals signed in a given offseason?

like this?

http://espn.go.com/mlb/freeagents/_/type/dollars

 

Let's try some trivia to test some assumptions. If we were picking out the ideal FA target, I think most would agree that the player would still be in their prime, and would sign a multi-year deal to give the team some control, but wouldn't sign for an insane length to hamper future flexibility. So here's a question, in the last 6 years, how many free agents under the age of 30 have signed multi-year contracts? How many when you exclude international signings?

 

None because most players don't get to free agency until they're 29 or 30 years old unless they're international signings.

[C.C.]

 

Because it all reality it wasn't in play. We just didn't have the money. We are cash strapped between rebuilding Wrigley and bad contracts. Until then we just have to ride it out and hope our FO gets lucky on a draft or two. I guess the plan is to gut us and re-build. I hate the sound of it, but it's reality. Get used to it.

 

You're right. The Cubs won't sign any free agents, make trades of sign IFAs. It'll all come down to draft luck.

 

For the near future yes. I'm not saying we won't sign FA, but not high end FA's. And I never said anything about IFAs.

[C.C.]

Because it all reality it wasn't in play. We just didn't have the money. We are cash strapped between rebuilding Wrigley and bad contracts. Until then we just have to ride it out and hope our FO gets lucky on a draft or two. I guess the plan is to gut us and re-build. I hate the sound of it, but it's reality. Get used to it.

 

Just admit you have no clue what you're talking about.

 

What about bad contracts is wrong? Soriano is not a bad contract? Rebuilding Wrigs. etc....

[neely crenshaw]

this is why you have to build with some of your own players, you simply can not fill out an entire lineup out of free agency.

You have to be able to trade young guys for more expensive players that teams are dumping, and then sign a very small portion to fill in where you couldn't.

There is just no way to sign 2 outfielders, a 3B, possibly a 1b, a catcher, 3 starters, and fill out your bullpen all out of free agency.

Right now as fairly proven commodities we have DeJesus,Soriano, Castro, Shark, Garza, Barney, and Marmol.

And with that Castro needs to step up offensively or he can not be a top of the order guy, and barney has to be a back end of the order guy.

If you still have Soriano and his money, that is a lot of cash to drop on free agents especially when if you really want to compete next year, you need corner guys(and probably your of) that are also middle of the order offensive guys, and at least 1 of your starters has to be an Ace type.

If you signed these types of FA, you could probably deal with your current catcher situation, and someone on staff could probably hold down the 5 spot.

[Sammy Sofa]

Because it all reality it wasn't in play. We just didn't have the money. We are cash strapped between rebuilding Wrigley and bad contracts. Until then we just have to ride it out and hope our FO gets lucky on a draft or two. I guess the plan is to gut us and re-build. I hate the sound of it, but it's reality. Get used to it.

 

Just admit you have no clue what you're talking about.

 

What about bad contracts is wrong? Soriano is not a bad contract? Rebuilding Wrigs. etc....

 

This is some ridiculous trolling. They are clearly not burdened by "bad contracts" at this point.

[Guest]

Anyone know where I might be able to find all the FA deals signed in a given offseason?

like this?

http://espn.go.com/mlb/freeagents/_/type/dollars

 

Let's try some trivia to test some assumptions. If we were picking out the ideal FA target, I think most would agree that the player would still be in their prime, and would sign a multi-year deal to give the team some control, but wouldn't sign for an insane length to hamper future flexibility. So here's a question, in the last 6 years, how many free agents under the age of 30 have signed multi-year contracts? How many when you exclude international signings?

 

None because most players don't get to free agency until they're 29 or 30 years old unless they're international signings.

 

Close.

 

Domestic: Reyes, Fielder

International: Darvish, Chapman, Nishioka, Wei-Yin Chen

 

6 instances in 6 years, with 2 of them being mediocre internationals, and 4 of which came this past offseason.

[C.C.]

Because it all reality it wasn't in play. We just didn't have the money. We are cash strapped between rebuilding Wrigley and bad contracts. Until then we just have to ride it out and hope our FO gets lucky on a draft or two. I guess the plan is to gut us and re-build. I hate the sound of it, but it's reality. Get used to it.

 

Just admit you have no clue what you're talking about.

 

What about bad contracts is wrong? Soriano is not a bad contract? Rebuilding Wrigs. etc....

 

This is some ridiculous trolling. They are clearly not burdened by "bad contracts" at this point.

 

So what's our salary? 120M for a second to last team and you say their are no bad contracts?

[Sammy Sofa]

Just stop playing dense. It's been posted numerous times how little money they have on the books in terms of owed payroll going forward, so unless you're acting like you have even less reading comprehension than WSR this is just stupid, even for you.

 

I mean, really; what bad contract could you possibly claim they have at this point besides Soriano's? Unless you think his money somehow magically counts for 4 times what it actually is you're clearly just trolling.

[Beer Kaese]

Hendry ran the team into the ground in a desperate attempt to keep his job.

[davell]

We went into 2012 around 110 mill in payroll. We'll go into the offseason with under 36 mill in guaranteed contracts, before arb raises and pre arb guys.

[Gilby]

Just stop playing dense. It's been posted numerous times how little money they have on the books in terms of owed payroll going forward, so unless you're acting like you have even less reading comprehension than WSR this is just stupid, even for you.

 

I mean, really; what bad contract could you possibly claim they have at this point besides Soriano's? Unless you think his money somehow magically counts for 4 times what it actually is you're clearly just trolling.

 

This is the last year of Zambrano. Not sure if he's counting that. But yeah, this team isn't filled with large contracts like the national media will probably continue to say it is this winter.

[CubColtPacer]

Anyone know where I might be able to find all the FA deals signed in a given offseason?

like this?

http://espn.go.com/mlb/freeagents/_/type/dollars

 

Let's try some trivia to test some assumptions. If we were picking out the ideal FA target, I think most would agree that the player would still be in their prime, and would sign a multi-year deal to give the team some control, but wouldn't sign for an insane length to hamper future flexibility. So here's a question, in the last 6 years, how many free agents under the age of 30 have signed multi-year contracts? How many when you exclude international signings?

 

None because most players don't get to free agency until they're 29 or 30 years old unless they're international signings.

 

Close.

 

Domestic: Reyes, Fielder

International: Darvish, Chapman, Nishioka, Wei-Yin Chen

 

6 instances in 6 years, with 2 of them being mediocre internationals, and 4 of which came this past offseason.

 

ESPN lists their current ages on the free agent tracker, which is why most of the examples seemed to occur this past offseason. For example, Crawford was 29 when he signed his contract. A quick glance shows about 10 players who were signed under the age of 30 in 06.

[toonsterwu]

It's hard to discern the quality of the club next year at this stage. All that said, given the indications that the Cubs aren't going to go splurging in FA, it's not hard to envision a Cubs club that might be worse than this year's. I hope not, as even though I am accepting/supportive of the rebuilding, that would really suck. It's not hard to envision a bad rotation. It's not hard to envision some young guys struggling. It's not hard to envision a shaky pen.

 

Now, I think, for the most part, we'll probably have a team that is similar in ability to this year's squad, maybe a tinge better, but I have high doubts on the ability for the Cubs to "compete" next year, assuming "compete" means to be around .500.

[Sammy Sofa]

Just stop playing dense. It's been posted numerous times how little money they have on the books in terms of owed payroll going forward, so unless you're acting like you have even less reading comprehension than WSR this is just stupid, even for you.

 

I mean, really; what bad contract could you possibly claim they have at this point besides Soriano's? Unless you think his money somehow magically counts for 4 times what it actually is you're clearly just trolling.

 

This is the last year of Zambrano. Not sure if he's counting that. But yeah, this team isn't filled with large contracts like the national media will probably continue to say it is this winter.

 

Even if he is counting it his idea that they weren't serious about trying to sign someone like Cespedes is undercut by how little money they have locked up going forward from this year and how they doled out cash to Soler and Castro.

[Cubswin11]

Hendry ran the team into the ground in a desperate attempt to keep his job.

That or when the Trib/Zell finally allowed him (or even forced him) to spend money there weren't great options on the market for the long term deals. It's been put out there that the trib was more behind signing Soriano than Hendry, or at least forced him to add some years/$$. In no way am I a Hendry apologist but I think part of the awful contracts was him being forced to spend money by ownership.

[SouthSideRyan]

Hendry ran the team into the ground in a desperate attempt to keep his job.

That or when the Trib/Zell finally allowed him (or even forced him) to spend money there weren't great options on the market for the long term deals. It's been put out there that the trib was more behind signing Soriano than Hendry, or at least forced him to add some years/$$. In no way am I a Hendry apologist but I think part of the awful contracts was him being forced to spend money by ownership.

 

For the 91st time, Hendry's FA contracts aren't what made him a shitty shitty GM

[Fro]

Penciling in:

-1B: Rizzo

-2B: Barney

-SS: Castro

-C: Castillo/Clevenger

-SP: Garza (if he's not traded)

-SP: Shark

-SP: Wood

-RP: Marmol

-RP: Russell

-OF: DeJesus

 

 

What we need:

 

- 2-3 SP, at least one being a TOR guy

- A reasonably priced veteran RP or two that can provide some stability and could be flipped at the deadline if we're out of it.

- 3B. Vitters hasn't shown a thing yet... Stewart was bad. Valuenba's been barely above a replacement player.

- OF (espescially if we can move Soriano). I don't think LaHair is the answer as a starter but he could be a backup corner OF/1B as long as he's cheap. Jackson provides value at CF (although I think he probably needs another 1/2 season in Iowa) and Mathier is awful.

[davell]

Hendry allocated money very poorly. Tons of money spent on relief pitching, middle infielders, etc. He was too player friendly in giving out NTC's. He would change themes every offseason and never stick to a plan. He never did a good job in selling players off. He never spent big money on the draft. He had no clue about adding supplemental picks. They didn't get serious in Central America until everyone else was. He scoffed at statistical analysis until his owner had to hire a guy to do it for them. I'm sure there are plenty more reasons too, but those came to me in a single thought.

[C.C.]

Just stop playing dense. It's been posted numerous times how little money they have on the books in terms of owed payroll going forward, so unless you're acting like you have even less reading comprehension than WSR this is just stupid, even for you.

 

I mean, really; what bad contract could you possibly claim they have at this point besides Soriano's? Unless you think his money somehow magically counts for 4 times what it actually is you're clearly just trolling.

 

This is the last year of Zambrano. Not sure if he's counting that. But yeah, this team isn't filled with large contracts like the national media will probably continue to say it is this winter.

 

Even if he is counting it his idea that they weren't serious about trying to sign someone like Cespedes is undercut by how little money they have locked up going forward from this year and how they doled out cash to Soler and Castro.

 

If that's the case why isn't Cespedes a Cub?

[Sammy Sofa]

Just stop playing dense. It's been posted numerous times how little money they have on the books in terms of owed payroll going forward, so unless you're acting like you have even less reading comprehension than WSR this is just stupid, even for you.

 

I mean, really; what bad contract could you possibly claim they have at this point besides Soriano's? Unless you think his money somehow magically counts for 4 times what it actually is you're clearly just trolling.

 

This is the last year of Zambrano. Not sure if he's counting that. But yeah, this team isn't filled with large contracts like the national media will probably continue to say it is this winter.

 

Even if he is counting it his idea that they weren't serious about trying to sign someone like Cespedes is undercut by how little money they have locked up going forward from this year and how they doled out cash to Soler and Castro.

 

If that's the case why isn't Cespedes a Cub?

 

Because apparently they didn't want to sign him for only 4 years.

[Backtobanks]

Hendry ran the team into the ground in a desperate attempt to keep his job.

That or when the Trib/Zell finally allowed him (or even forced him) to spend money there weren't great options on the market for the long term deals. It's been put out there that the trib was more behind signing Soriano than Hendry, or at least forced him to add some years/$$. In no way am I a Hendry apologist but I think part of the awful contracts was him being forced to spend money by ownership.

 

I always get accused of bringing Hendry's name into these discussions and being a Hendry apologist, but many of you can't seem to discuss anything without bringing up Hendry As I've pointed out many times before that the situation was completely different because ownership gave Hendry the money and told him to buy a winning team. Theo has been given complete autonomy to spend money or cut payroll as he pleases. As for bloated contracts on a underperforming team, you might look at $262 million in contracts that the Red Sox are sending to the Dodgers and guess who negotiated those deals.

[davell]

Hendry ran the team into the ground in a desperate attempt to keep his job.

That or when the Trib/Zell finally allowed him (or even forced him) to spend money there weren't great options on the market for the long term deals. It's been put out there that the trib was more behind signing Soriano than Hendry, or at least forced him to add some years/$$. In no way am I a Hendry apologist but I think part of the awful contracts was him being forced to spend money by ownership.

 

I always get accused of bringing Hendry's name into these discussions and being a Hendry apologist, but many of you can't seem to discuss anything without bringing up Hendry As I've pointed out many times before that the situation was completely different because ownership gave Hendry the money and told him to buy a winning team. Theo has been given complete autonomy to spend money or cut payroll as he pleases. As for bloated contracts on a underperforming team, you might look at $262 million in contracts that the Red Sox are sending to the Dodgers and guess who negotiated those deals.

 

 

BOY GENIUS!!!!!!!!! And you know what? That's not even a given. Lucchino wanted to compete so badly, they veered off the path Theo had put into place previously. Theo surely had something to do with signing those guys, but where he's learned and isn't making the same mistake twice, good ole Jimbo wouldn't have a single issue with giving Pujols 250 mill and probably a big name pitcher as well and we'd be right back to being a longterm 75 win team that needed a lot to go right to even sniff the playoffs.

[C.C.]

Hendry ran the team into the ground in a desperate attempt to keep his job.

That or when the Trib/Zell finally allowed him (or even forced him) to spend money there weren't great options on the market for the long term deals. It's been put out there that the trib was more behind signing Soriano than Hendry, or at least forced him to add some years/$$. In no way am I a Hendry apologist but I think part of the awful contracts was him being forced to spend money by ownership.

 

I always get accused of bringing Hendry's name into these discussions and being a Hendry apologist, but many of you can't seem to discuss anything without bringing up Hendry As I've pointed out many times before that the situation was completely different because ownership gave Hendry the money and told him to buy a winning team. Theo has been given complete autonomy to spend money or cut payroll as he pleases. As for bloated contracts on a underperforming team, you might look at $262 million in contracts that the Red Sox are sending to the Dodgers and guess who negotiated those deals.

 

 

BOY GENIUS!!!!!!!!! And you know what? That's not even a given. Lucchino wanted to compete so badly, they veered off the path Theo had put into place previously. Theo surely had something to do with signing those guys, but where he's learned and isn't making the same mistake twice, good ole Jimbo wouldn't have a single issue with giving Pujols 250 mill and probably a big name pitcher as well and we'd be right back to being a longterm 75 win team that needed a lot to go right to even sniff the playoffs.

 

Wait. That's not fair. Perhaps the owners of the Cubs pushed Jimbo into signing the same contracts that Theo did. And what path did Theo put into place? He already had his core before he took over.