2013 Mock Offseason Thread

[Little Slide Rooter]

I'd love to give Melky a 1-year deal. Do it in a heartbeat. As for Bay, wouldn't touch him with a 10-foot pole.

 

The thing about the Melky 1 year deal is that a lot of teams would likely take him up on it, and the ready made contender would be more attractive to him assuming that there were multiple, similar offers on the table.

 

Another thing about Melky is that it's going to be a rough go for him as far as the fans go. If he gets off to a slow start, he's going to hear about it more so than your average player. One thing that he, or at least his agent could take into consideration is avoiding teams with fans that can be extra tough on players, the Cubs being one such.

[biittner77]

I'd love to give Melky a 1-year deal. Do it in a heartbeat. As for Bay, wouldn't touch him with a 10-foot pole.

 

The thing about the Melky 1 year deal is that a lot of teams would likely take him up on it, and the ready made contender would be more attractive to him assuming that there were multiple, similar offers on the table.

 

Another thing about Melky is that it's going to be a rough go for him as far as the fans go. If he gets off to a slow start, he's going to hear about it more so than your average player. One thing that he, or at least his agent could take into consideration is avoiding teams with fans that can be extra tough on players, the Cubs being one such.

 

I'm not convinced that Melky Cabrera can be good without the PEDs.

[SouthSideRyan]

Would Baez, Vizcaino, and Vogelbach be enough for the DBacks to seriously consider trading Upton? It's one TJ surgery away from 2 top 50's and one other top 120ish prospect.

 

Ken Rosenthal seems to think he's still likely to be traded after the Chris Young deal.

 

I would not want the Cubs to make that trade.

I don't think the Diamondback would want to make that trade, either.

 

I guarantee the D-Backs do not get close to that much in return.

[Guest]

yea that's a horrible trade for the cubs.

[Guest]

Did this get talked about at all?

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/14012/could-marlins-johnson-interest-cubs?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

Sources indicate that pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle are on the trading block this offseason. Johnson's contract appears to fit into the Cubs' short-term plans. The 28-year-old pitcher has one year remaining on a long-term contract at $ 13.750 million for 2013. The Marlins will look for younger prospects and as much payroll relief they can get in each deal they make.

 

The Cubs have $50 million coming off their 2012 payroll commitments. It appears they will be willing to add contracts such as Johnson's due to the flexibility of his current status. He will be eligible for free agency after 2013.

 

Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer are looking for quality pitchers that they can either sign to long-term deals or flip before the July 31 trading deadline for other potential pitching prospects.

 

The sources indicated that the Marlins would approach the Cubs and other teams with the payroll flexibility to take on most of the money owed on the contracts for Buehrle and Johnson.

[Cubswin11]

Did this get talked about at all?

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/14012/could-marlins-johnson-interest-cubs?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

Sources indicate that pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle are on the trading block this offseason. Johnson's contract appears to fit into the Cubs' short-term plans. The 28-year-old pitcher has one year remaining on a long-term contract at $ 13.750 million for 2013. The Marlins will look for younger prospects and as much payroll relief they can get in each deal they make.

 

The Cubs have $50 million coming off their 2012 payroll commitments. It appears they will be willing to add contracts such as Johnson's due to the flexibility of his current status. He will be eligible for free agency after 2013.

 

Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer are looking for quality pitchers that they can either sign to long-term deals or flip before the July 31 trading deadline for other potential pitching prospects.

 

The sources indicated that the Marlins would approach the Cubs and other teams with the payroll flexibility to take on most of the money owed on the contracts for Buehrle and Johnson.

Haven't seen that. I'd be very interested in Johnson for the right price. Buehrle, not so much

[Clem Fandango]

I wonder how much the Marlins want for Johnson. He wasn't exactly back to his dominating self this season, and with one year left and the injury history now a haggling point I wonder if the Marlins are going to ask for a realistic package or shoot for the moon.

[KingCubsFan]

Given the likely asking price, I'd rather have Buehrle.

[Cubswin11]

Given the likely asking price, I'd rather have Buehrle.

Buerhle is owed 11mm, 18mm, and 19mm over the next 3 years and the primary reason to trade him is for salary relief more than getting a good return, we'd likely have to absord most of that contract. No thank you

Edited October 29, 2012 by Cubswin11

[Guest]

Given the likely asking price, I'd rather have Buehrle.

 

I don't think the likely asking price for one year of Johnson from a team primarily looking to dump his $15M salary is going to be prohibitive.

 

A lot depends on the demand out there, obviously.

 

 

And yea, no thanks on Buerhle.

[davell]

Money isn't an issue for us. Especially now. After arb cases and renewals, we're going to be sitting in the low 60's payroll-wise. If we could absorb the entire Buehrle conteact, we wouldn't have to part with hardly anything of a return. Personally, I'd be OK with that. He's a decent enough pitcher and is likely to hold up for the duration of his deal. And if we wanted to flip him, he would have solid value if we were to eat some of the contract. ABTY says the Cards have looked into him though and if they got some salary relief, would part with a solid prospect for him. Yankees are supposedly interested as well.

[Guest]

Money isn't an issue for us. Especially now. After arb cases and renewals, we're going to be sitting in the low 60's payroll-wise. If we could absorb the entire Buehrle conteact, we wouldn't have to part with hardly anything of a return. Personally, I'd be OK with that. He's a decent enough pitcher and is likely to hold up for the duration of his deal. And if we wanted to flip him, he would have solid value if we were to eat some of the contract. ABTY says the Cards have looked into him though and if they got some salary relief, would part with a solid prospect for him. Yankees are supposedly interested as well.

 

I'd rather just sign somebody who would probably come as a much better value.

[davell]

As far as JJ goes, he didn't get dealt at the deadline because of the asking price. If I remember, they wanted Olt, Perez, and more from Texas for him. Unless the price has come way down, my guess is he's a blip on our radar.

[Cubswin11]

Money isn't an issue for us. Especially now. After arb cases and renewals, we're going to be sitting in the low 60's payroll-wise. If we could absorb the entire Buehrle conteact, we wouldn't have to part with hardly anything of a return. Personally, I'd be OK with that. He's a decent enough pitcher and is likely to hold up for the duration of his deal. And if we wanted to flip him, he would have solid value if we were to eat some of the contract. ABTY says the Cards have looked into him though and if they got some salary relief, would part with a solid prospect for him. Yankees are supposedly interested as well.

I wasn't saying his contract is an issue for us if we wanted to get him, as you pointed out we have plenty. I just think the Marlins aren't going to eat much, if any, of the contract and I wouldn't want to be on the hook for nearly $50mm over the next 3 years for Buerhle. I don't think he's worth it and we'd virtually have to eat all of his contract if were to trade him at the deadline to even get a half way decent prospect(s). I'd rather use that money to get 2-3 pitchers on the FA market

Edited October 29, 2012 by Cubswin11

[KingCubsFan]

Given the likely asking price, I'd rather have Buehrle.

 

I don't think the likely asking price for one year of Johnson from a team primarily looking to dump his $15M salary is going to be prohibitive.

 

A lot depends on the demand out there, obviously.

 

 

And yea, no thanks on Buerhle.

It just seems like a needless risk, unless he's really cheap. The only reason we would acquire him is to flip him at the deadline. Given his history, it's a big risk to think he'll be healthy all the way through July 31.

[Guest]

Given the likely asking price, I'd rather have Buehrle.

 

I don't think the likely asking price for one year of Johnson from a team primarily looking to dump his $15M salary is going to be prohibitive.

 

A lot depends on the demand out there, obviously.

 

 

And yea, no thanks on Buerhle.

It just seems like a needless risk, unless he's really cheap. The only reason we would acquire him is to flip him at the deadline. Given his history, it's a big risk to think he'll be healthy all the way through July 31.

 

Why would the only reason we'd acquire him be to flip him at the deadline rather than to have a good relatively young pitcher?

[KingCubsFan]

Given the likely asking price, I'd rather have Buehrle.

 

I don't think the likely asking price for one year of Johnson from a team primarily looking to dump his $15M salary is going to be prohibitive.

 

A lot depends on the demand out there, obviously.

 

 

And yea, no thanks on Buerhle.

It just seems like a needless risk, unless he's really cheap. The only reason we would acquire him is to flip him at the deadline. Given his history, it's a big risk to think he'll be healthy all the way through July 31.

 

Why would the only reason we'd acquire him be to flip him at the deadline rather than to have a good relatively young pitcher?

He's on a one year deal. Given the lack of interest we've shown in signing Garza, I don't know why we'd trade for a similar pitcher who will likely be even more expensive if he has a good year.

[mul21]

Given the likely asking price, I'd rather have Buehrle.

 

I don't think the likely asking price for one year of Johnson from a team primarily looking to dump his $15M salary is going to be prohibitive.

 

A lot depends on the demand out there, obviously.

 

 

And yea, no thanks on Buerhle.

It just seems like a needless risk, unless he's really cheap. The only reason we would acquire him is to flip him at the deadline. Given his history, it's a big risk to think he'll be healthy all the way through July 31.

 

Why would the only reason we'd acquire him be to flip him at the deadline rather than to have a good relatively young pitcher?

 

Unless you're confident enough he can stay healthy and you sign him to an extension, you'd have to think that would be the reasoning since he's only got 1 year left on his deal.

[RynoRules]

If we are going to pay a great deal for pitching we might as well look at David Price. How much would you give up to get him? I doubt we have enough pitching in the system to make it work, but damn he's good (6 WAR this past season).

[Cubswin11]

The Twins declined Scott Bakers option today. Sounds like they are working out a deal to keep him for cheaper as the option was for $9mm+. If he were to hit FA he'd be someone I'd be interested in. He's coming back from TJS but if he's recovering well and looking to sign a 1 year deal to re-establish value he could be a good pick up. He is 31, but has been around a 3 WAR pitcher for his career (ranging from 2.6-3.5 from 2007-2011). Could be someone added for cheap who gives us a little above league average production.

[nilodnayr]

How about we agree to take buehrle and most of his contract and j Johnson for nothing (a sox/dodgers-esque deal).

 

That's about the only way we are going to get Johnson, because there's no way we'll meet the marlins prospect asking price. And that's about the only way the marlins are going to get significant salary relief on that terrible buehrle contract.

 

I don't like buehrle at all and don't have much confidence in Johnson's health, but we could eat significant $ and get assets back in flipping them.

[davell]

I've suggested that actually, but in all reality, Buehrle likely gets 3/36 if he were a FA right now, maybe even gets 4 years guaranteed. I don't think the Marlins have to throw Johnson into a deal, just to get salary relief for Buehrle. Plus, considering the fact they're paying the majority of Heath Bell's deal, I think their main concern is getting the best return possible.

[Cubswin11]

I've suggested that actually, but in all reality, Buehrle likely gets 3/36 if he were a FA right now, maybe even gets 4 years guaranteed. I don't think the Marlins have to throw Johnson into a deal, just to get salary relief for Buehrle. Plus, considering the fact they're paying the majority of Heath Bell's deal, I think their main concern is getting the best return possible.

I think their main concern, at least with Buerhle is to get someone to take most of his contract on. Getting quality player(s) is secondary, imo. Johnson is the guy they probably will look to get a good return as he is owed less (both years and $)

[Brian]

How about Dan Haren, looks like Angels won't pick up his option, or will pick it up and trade him. He seems like a great gamble to hopefully regain value and then trade.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

How about Dan Haren, looks like Angels won't pick up his option, or will pick it up and trade him. He seems like a great gamble to hopefully regain value and then trade.

 

Not unless we think we can reverse whatever caused his fastball to drop into the high-80s last season.