Edwin Jackson Signs w/ Cubs: 4 years/$52 M

[Bryants Disco Ball]

True. But because I knew we would sign players and/or trade for them, I knew I wouldn't have to face that. Edited December 20, 2012 by Bryant's Disco Ball

[jersey cubs fan]

Theo Epstein was hired a little over a year ago, and during that time the organization has been gutted down and started to get built back up in a fantastic way. There have been so many quality moves the past 12 months, but I'm not going to list them all because it will fall on your two deaf ears.

 

People like you are the bratty kids portion of the fan base. You want all the biggest toys and throw a fit when you either don't get them or have to wait a little bit to get them. If you don't see the improvement this ORGANIZATION has made in just one year, then you are an idiot.

 

Oh goody, I was afraid the piety had started to go away.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Theo Epstein was hired a little over a year ago, and during that time the organization has been gutted down and started to get built back up in a fantastic way. There have been so many quality moves the past 12 months, but I'm not going to list them all because it will fall on your two deaf ears.

 

People like you are the bratty kids portion of the fan base. You want all the biggest toys and throw a fit when you either don't get them or have to wait a little bit to get them. If you don't see the improvement this ORGANIZATION has made in just one year, then you are an idiot.

 

Oh goody, I was afraid the piety had started to go away.

 

You are weakening. You will come around.

[XZero771679666304]

 

lots and lots of people have been gung ho in support of not signing people until the internally developed core is good.

 

I've seen some writers say that. Maybe Kyle (but does he really count?). Most other people just want the guys we sign to still be young-ish and effective when the core starts showing up.

 

Yes, this. No one has advocated just sitting on the money until our top prospects are established in the majors, that'd just be stupid. What there has been resistance to is the notion that the FO should spend whatever resources are available on whoever is the best right now with no regard for whether they'd still be good or cost effective when the "core" arrives.

 

The Jackson signing (and the would be Sanchez signing) falls into the "long term acquisitions that are useful now and will be useful later" category that jives with the FO's stated plan. The pursuit of Sanchez and the Jackson signing should come as no surprise to those who were thinking clearly, though some here were pretty resolute in their opinion that we were going to see a steady stream of 1-year deals until 2015.

 

And they absolutely didn't "have to" sign Jackson for four years or offer Sanchez a five year deal (indications were they were trying to do both). They could have easily signed only Villanueva, or simply called it a day with Baker and Feldman, if they were in fact doing what they were being accused of doing, which was phoning it in until the kids all arrived.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I've seen some writers say that. Maybe Kyle (but does he really count?)

 

Dear lord. I may not count, but can I at least "not count" for the things I actually say and not the exact opposite?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The Jackson signing (and the would be Sanchez signing) falls into the "long term acquisitions that are useful now and will be useful later" category that jives with the FO's stated plan. The pursuit of Sanchez and the Jackson signing should come as no surprise to those who were thinking clearly, though some here were pretty resolute in their opinion that we were going to see a steady stream of 1-year deals until 2015.

 

So amidst all the legitimate celebration, the question has to be asked: Why didn't we make any of these signings last offseason?

[Rob]

I've seen some writers say that. Maybe Kyle (but does he really count?)

 

Dear lord. I may not count, but can I at least "not count" for the things I actually say and not the exact opposite?

 

In my mind, you exist solely as a straw man for all the things I'm against.

 

ETA:

 

I should probably mention both of those are jokes.

[Rob]

The Jackson signing (and the would be Sanchez signing) falls into the "long term acquisitions that are useful now and will be useful later" category that jives with the FO's stated plan. The pursuit of Sanchez and the Jackson signing should come as no surprise to those who were thinking clearly, though some here were pretty resolute in their opinion that we were going to see a steady stream of 1-year deals until 2015.

 

So amidst all the legitimate celebration, the question has to be asked: Why didn't we make any of these signings last offseason?

 

I'm starting to think they really were trying to tank year 1 for draft picks.

 

Either that, or the Dominican facility came from payroll.

[Tracer Bullet]

Theo Epstein was hired a little over a year ago, and during that time the organization has been gutted down and started to get built back up in a fantastic way. There have been so many quality moves the past 12 months, but I'm not going to list them all because it will fall on your two deaf ears.

 

People like you are the bratty kids portion of the fan base. You want all the biggest toys and throw a fit when you either don't get them or have to wait a little bit to get them. If you don't see the improvement this ORGANIZATION has made in just one year, then you are an idiot.

 

Oh goody, I was afraid the piety had started to go away.

 

You are weakening. You will come around.

 

Enough.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

The Jackson signing (and the would be Sanchez signing) falls into the "long term acquisitions that are useful now and will be useful later" category that jives with the FO's stated plan. The pursuit of Sanchez and the Jackson signing should come as no surprise to those who were thinking clearly, though some here were pretty resolute in their opinion that we were going to see a steady stream of 1-year deals until 2015.

 

So amidst all the legitimate celebration, the question has to be asked: Why didn't we make any of these signings last offseason?

 

I'm starting to think they really were trying to tank year 1 for draft picks.

 

Either that, or the Dominican facility came from payroll.

 

Either that, or maybe they wanted to have some time on the job and see what they were facing before going nuts.

[davell]

Yeah, I think it's possible they did tank a season. But again, who was out there to really get that made sense(other than Darvish and Cespedes, who they made plays for). The high pick may very well land them a guy that slots into the top or middle of the rotation very soon and its evidently a very strong IFA class, so that should have a nice payoff as well. Either way, it wasn't likely we'd have made the playoffs in 2012 and the tanking could help lead to getting a Price or Felix and/or a Stanton or Upton by next year at this time. I'm just excited it appears the vision is coming in a year earlier than I was thinking it would.

[mul21]

I think it was a combination of wanting another high draft pick and wanting time to evaluate what they had and what they needed.

[XZero771679666304]

The Jackson signing (and the would be Sanchez signing) falls into the "long term acquisitions that are useful now and will be useful later" category that jives with the FO's stated plan. The pursuit of Sanchez and the Jackson signing should come as no surprise to those who were thinking clearly, though some here were pretty resolute in their opinion that we were going to see a steady stream of 1-year deals until 2015.

 

So amidst all the legitimate celebration, the question has to be asked: Why didn't we make any of these signings last offseason?

 

I'm starting to think they really were trying to tank year 1 for draft picks.

 

Either that, or the Dominican facility came from payroll.

 

I think they saw a bad season coming without significant additions and overhaul, saw most of the roster as salable assets and just let things go down so they could stockpile prospects and get a draft pick. This worked well in some cases (Dempster, Maholm) and poorly in others (Garza), but I don't have a huge problem with it.

 

If the same approach of non-action had been taken this offseason, I would have been much less forgiving.

[bsucubsfan]

Appel or Manaea is gonna be nice to have.

 

If Dempster and Garza dont get hurt... Delgado, Olt, and 2 stud arms in rangers system would be cubs. But Garza was hurt day deal was done and deal was taken off. Dempster obviously put a stop to delgado.

 

I still think Cubs end up with Olt, Gyorko, or Castellanos when its all said and done (Garza trade)

 

With the way the pitching market is going. Get guys at good value is gonna come back and be great for production or trade value. i think theo and hoyer start using the trade market alot this year.

[Guest]

I've seen some writers say that. Maybe Kyle (but does he really count?)

 

Dear lord. I may not count, but can I at least "not count" for the things I actually say and not the exact opposite?

 

Yea, that was a gross misrepresentation of your position. Basically the opposite.

[Sammy Sofa]

Nice. Would have preferred if they had just signed him last year, but I'll take it.

[dew1679666265]

As one who has been frustrated by the lack of ML talent infusion the past year+, I'm happy about this signing. It's most definitely a step in the right direction, but that's all it is. Jackson's a nice pitcher and a guy I've been in favor of targeting (after Anibal) since I realized other teams didn't overvalue him a year ago.

 

I will take a moment, however, to whine about not getting BJ Upton. I'd have much rather they get Edwin/Upton than the theoretical Edwin/Anibal idea. Bourn would be a nice addition, but Upton's a couple years younger and a little more patient than Bourn. Upton also has a history of being more valuable offensively than Bourn, though they've had similar value of late.

 

Nonetheless, this is exactly the type of signing I've been saying they should make since a year ago - a quality player who isn't massively expensive, but will bring us a step closer to being good and make it easier going forward to become dominant.

[dew1679666265]

Yeah, I think it's possible they did tank a season. But again, who was out there to really get that made sense(other than Darvish and Cespedes, who they made plays for).

 

Jackson

Wei-Yin Chen

Cespedes (make a harder push for him)

Aramis

 

All got reasonable contracts and all would have made this year's team that much better (though we've obviously corrected the Jackson thing this year).

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I will take a moment, however, to whine about not getting BJ Upton. I'd have much rather they get Edwin/Upton than the theoretical Edwin/Anibal idea. Bourn would be a nice addition, but Upton's a couple years younger and a little more patient than Bourn. Upton also has a history of being more valuable offensively than Bourn, though they've had similar value of late.

 

Yeah. I don't want to make this a major complaint, because I'm kind of intrigued by what they are doing, but it seems kind of odd to just triple-down on pitching and make Nate Schierholtz your outfielder. Still plenty of time, though.

[dew1679666265]

Yeah. I don't want to make this a major complaint, because I'm kind of intrigued by what they are doing, but it seems kind of odd to just triple-down on pitching and make Nate Schierholtz your outfielder. Still plenty of time, though.

 

I don't really want it to become a major deal either, just looking back and wishing we had made a serious effort to get Upton, who I thought was the ideal guy to grab this offseason. Like I said, Bourn would be good and is still very realistic this offseason, but Upton would've been better.

 

I don't want to look like I'm just complaining though - I really like the Edwin signing and it really encourages me about the plan going forward. I just don't know that it's enough for the celebratory dances we're doing. I still have complete faith in what the Theo regime will ultimately put forth, however.

[davell]

It's at least possible they saw enough of Upton in Tampa to where they preferred Bourn or other options to him.

[dew1679666265]

It's at least possible they saw enough of Upton in Tampa to where they preferred Bourn or other options to him.

 

That's entirely possible. It's part of why I'm just kind of whining rather than being really pissed off. It's just kind of odd to me since Upton seems like much more a "Theo type of player" than Bourn.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

It's at least possible they saw enough of Upton in Tampa to where they preferred Bourn or other options to him.

 

Is there any real chance the Cubs sign Bourn? I just haven't heard much in three weeks to make me think he's still being considered.

[Tryptamine]

It's at least possible they saw enough of Upton in Tampa to where they preferred Bourn or other options to him.

 

Is there any real chance the Cubs sign Bourn? I just haven't heard much in three weeks to make me think he's still being considered.

 

The insiders on PSD have both confirmed that the Cubs are interested in Bourn as recently as a few hours ago and that Bourn actually had interest in the Cubs as well.

[sneakypower]

we're paying E. Jackson, Baker, Villanueva, Feldman just $5M more this year than Greinke's AAV