Misc. Cubs offseason rumor discussion

[radarluv1]

I wouldn't think they'd non-tender both the 3B, would they? Especially after the decent season Valbuena put together.

 

I can't imagine they would miss either or both of those guys if they were unable to resign them on minor league deals.

 

Valbuena was a league average 3B making < 500k, so I don't think they're getting him on a MiLB deal and there's no cost savings to non-tendering him. It wouldn't be back-breaking to replace him, but considering they don't have anyone who can come close to that right now, I don't see much benefit to not keeping him around for the time being, especially since he can easily slide to a bench role with his ability to play 2B.

Valbuena was league average? His 650 ops was 17th in the NL for 3B with at least 300 ABs. Was his D that good?

[davell]

With our payroll situation, I wouldn't mind Hamilton, under certain circumstances. I'd go 3/90, with our situation. He'd bring people to the ballpark and if he had a typical season for him, he'd be extremely attractive to teams in year 2 and 3 of the deal, especially if we ate some cash. No clue what kind of WAR to prospect ratio, plus cash sent over, would equate out. But, if you kept him for a year, got 5-6 WAR out of him, traded him and half the remaining cash for 2-3 top 50ish types, is it worth the investment? I'm asking, because rolling those dice is fine, but I wouldn't do it for long, with the distractions around Wrigley. Plus, we could then put the saved money back to use as well.

[davell]

ESPNChicago now has a story up on Cubs showing interest in Bourn. Personally, I think its an odd fit, Upton made more sense to me, but these guys know more about this [expletive], so I trust them, if they target him. Marlin's the real deal though.

[dew1679666265]

I'm as opposed to this suck for 3 years strategy as anybody, but I have 0 interest in Josh Hamilton. Odds are extremely high he's on the DL more than 50% of the time he's here at his age and with his history.

 

And maybe I've missed something, but if we're admittedly in need of OFs and looking at Bourn, why did we pass on Upton? He would've made a whole lot more sense than Bourn.

[Sammy Sofa]

ESPNChicago now has a story up on Cubs showing interest in Bourn. Personally, I think its an odd fit, Upton made more sense to me, but these guys know more about this [expletive], so I trust them, if they target him. Marlin's the real deal though.

 

I was pretty meh on it myself and then looked up on BA that Bourn had a 4.7 WAR season in 2009, a 5.3 in 2010 and a 6.0(!) last year (put up 3.0 in 2011) (Fangraphs has him at 4.9, 4.7, 4.1 and 6.4). I was not expecting that at all.

[Neuby]

Much rather by in on Hamilton or Upton than Bourn. Signing Sizmore to a one year deal also makes a lost of sense.

[Clem Fandango]

ESPNChicago now has a story up on Cubs showing interest in Bourn. Personally, I think its an odd fit, Upton made more sense to me, but these guys know more about this [expletive], so I trust them, if they target him. Marlin's the real deal though.

 

I was pretty meh on it myself and then looked up on BA that Bourn had a 4.7 WAR season in 2009, a 5.3 in 2010 and a 6.0(!) last year (put up 3.0 in 2011) (Fangraphs has him at 4.9, 4.7, 4.1 and 6.4). I was not expecting that at all.

 

Yeah, Bourn has silently been one of the more valuable center fielders in the game. Exceptional defense, solid hitting ability, exceptional base runner, and a knack for drawing a decent amount of walks.

 

But he's 30, and will command an ass load of money and his legs could break down sooner rather than later and that would effectively kill most of the things that make him valuable

[Guest]

jersey clearly has no idea what he's talking about re: Hamilton.

[Sammy Sofa]

ESPNChicago now has a story up on Cubs showing interest in Bourn. Personally, I think its an odd fit, Upton made more sense to me, but these guys know more about this [expletive], so I trust them, if they target him. Marlin's the real deal though.

 

I was pretty meh on it myself and then looked up on BA that Bourn had a 4.7 WAR season in 2009, a 5.3 in 2010 and a 6.0(!) last year (put up 3.0 in 2011) (Fangraphs has him at 4.9, 4.7, 4.1 and 6.4). I was not expecting that at all.

 

Yeah, Bourn has silently been one of the more valuable center fielders in the game. Exceptional defense, solid hitting ability, exceptional base runner, and a knack for drawing a decent amount of walks.

 

But he's 30, and will command an ass load of money and his legs could break down sooner rather than later and that would effectively kill most of the things that make him valuable

 

Wouldn't it just kill some aspects of the baserunning unless we're talking a catastrophic injury? He'd still be a very good defender even not at top speed.

[XZero771679666304]

With our payroll situation, I wouldn't mind Hamilton, under certain circumstances. I'd go 3/90, with our situation. He'd bring people to the ballpark and if he had a typical season for him, he'd be extremely attractive to teams in year 2 and 3 of the deal, especially if we ate some cash. No clue what kind of WAR to prospect ratio, plus cash sent over, would equate out. But, if you kept him for a year, got 5-6 WAR out of him, traded him and half the remaining cash for 2-3 top 50ish types, is it worth the investment? I'm asking, because rolling those dice is fine, but I wouldn't do it for long, with the distractions around Wrigley. Plus, we could then put the saved money back to use as well.

 

As I said earlier, I'd go 2-3 years on Hamilton. Or even 2-3 years with a couple of club options. But I absolutely would not go beyond 3 guaranteed under any circumstances.

[gocubs2118]

I don't really want Hamilton anywhere near Wrigleyville. That's a relapse waiting to happen.

[NonProfitCow]

Wouldn't it just kill some aspects of the baserunning unless we're talking a catastrophic injury? He'd still be a very good defender even not at top speed.

Could hurt his offensive value quite a bit too. He's averaged 36 infield hits+bunt hits per year the last 5 years.

 

I'd be very wary paying big money to a guy who's tools almost solely rely on speed.

[Guest]

http://www.csnchicago.com/baseball-chicago-cubs/cubs-talk/The-winter-meetings-Fujikawa-and-where-t?blockID=808363&feedID=9399

[davell]

I think Mooney now gives us a second competent writer, to go along with Bruce. I'll add Brett in, as the best blogger, by a country mile, so technically we have 3.

[Guest]

I think Mooney now gives us a second competent writer, to go along with Bruce. I'll add Brett in, as the best blogger, by a country mile, so technically we have 3.

 

Yea, I really like Mooney for the most part.

[Guest]

A little bit more of what Hoyer said about the outfield....

 

“It is always a balancing act when you have prospects you like a lot and they’re (that) far away,” Hoyer said. “You can’t really think too much about those guys. You have to think about your team now. The idea of blocking when a guy is in the low minors is kind of ridiculous.

 

“We’ll look to improve our outfield. We know that’s an area we need to improve upon and there’s a number of players that we’ll be talking to across the next few weeks.”

[Guest]

ABTY7:

 

I still haven't had a single person confirm the Cubs are in on Bourn... Two confirmed a check in with Boras, neither said ther was any conversations with him thereafter...

 

Indians, Cubs have had deep conversations on deal(s)... Choo a target...

[Clem Fandango]

Indians, Cubs have had deep conversations on deal(s)... Choo a target...

 

Sweeeeeeeet

[rawaction]

Indians, Cubs have had deep conversations on deal(s)... Choo a target...

 

Sweeeeeeeet

 

Choo would be really nice. Chisenhall with him would be nicer. Ubaldo with them to give them salary relief, even better.

[dew1679666265]

I'm kinda confused now. Has the front office moved away from the rebuild and is now considering going all-in (or something close to it) for 2013?

 

Bourn and Choo, while very good players, don't seem to fit into the rebuild we've appeared to commit to.

[SABR Gamer]

I'm kinda confused now. Has the front office moved away from the rebuild and is now considering going all-in (or something close to it) for 2013?

 

Bourn and Choo, while very good players, don't seem to fit into the rebuild we've appeared to commit to.

 

Just to plays devil's advocate, some will say this is just this offseason's version of being in on Pujols/Darvish in order to keep up the appearance that we aren't throwing away seasons.

 

I don't feel that way, I think they are legitimately interested and to me that's a pretty exciting thing to consider. A Cubs team with at least a chance to compete in the next couple years is exciting because I have set myself up with the lowest possible expectations to prevent disappointment. We will find out soon, hopefully. They really need some impact moves before the end of the offseason.

[Guest]

I'm kinda confused now. Has the front office moved away from the rebuild and is now considering going all-in (or something close to it) for 2013?

 

Bourn and Choo, while very good players, don't seem to fit into the rebuild we've appeared to commit to.

 

 

The Bourn thing to me just sounds like Boras throwing us in to drive up bidding, as he has done several times now.

[davell]

We may be in for a nasty case of the dual fronts.

[Guest]

Cubs nontender Stewart, Chapman, and Putnum.

[davell]

ABTY7:

 

I still haven't had a single person confirm the Cubs are in on Bourn... Two confirmed a check in with Boras, neither said ther was any conversations with him thereafter...

 

Indians, Cubs have had deep conversations on deal(s)... Choo a target...

Just curious, are you DavidH over there?