Offseason Rumors

[ctcf]

oh good, this debate again.

[Guest]

That was your language. I suspect that if you had opened with "shouldn't be acting like 2000's Pirates" that it would have gone more smoothly.

 

How would you describe it, then?

 

I didn't realize it was my responsibility to be pleased with the organization's path.

 

What would you change? Have the Cubs go big on a 10 year contract for Cano? Go big on Choo? Sign Matt Garza? Flip Baez and Almora for Price? Then supplement all of that on the free agent market with guys like Infante and Arencibia in a desperate attempt to go in win-now mode? Because that's what you're asking for and it sounds an awfully lot like the Cubs under Jim Hendry.

 

 

 

The issue with the Cubs under Jim Hendry was not that they handed out large contracts to good players. The problem with Jim Hendry and his "regime" was that the player development/minor league system was woefully neglected and that Jim Hendry wasn't always the best at knowing what good players were because of his refusal (and damn near pride in) to understand and use advanced analysis/statistics. That, and that once in a while he'd waste a few million on a crappy bench player or reliever or whatever, when those roles should have been able to have been filled with cheap minor leaguers or whatever.

[Guest]

 

Cubs in on Logan Morrison (along with Pirates and Rays)... Marlins want a 3B. Cubs would play Morrison in OF

 

I'd honestly rather start Bogusevic than pay any salary to or give up anything of value for Morrison to be an outfielder.

 

Yeah, I want to like Morrison, and I get that you're banking on him breaking out based on his age and pedigree, and I can even see how you might be able to shield him defensively a bit, but the defense being sooo bad makes it hard for me to get too excited. It's actually not that different to the Anderson ordeal. There's very clearly some upside, but the baseline is so low that it's hard to get excited about giving anything up to add him. Morrison at least has 3 years of control though.

[Infrequent Poster]

 

Cubs in on Logan Morrison (along with Pirates and Rays)... Marlins want a 3B. Cubs would play Morrison in OF

 

I'd honestly rather start Bogusevic than pay any salary to or give up anything of value for Morrison to be an outfielder.

 

Yeah, I want to like Morrison, and I get that you're banking on him breaking out based on his age and pedigree, and I can even see how you might be able to shield him defensively a bit, but the defense being sooo bad makes it hard for me to get too excited. It's actually not that different to the Anderson ordeal. There's very clearly some upside, but the baseline is so low that it's hard to get excited about giving anything up to add him. Morrison at least has 3 years of control though.

 

Vitters for Morrison? Marlins only need a stop gap 3B with Colin Moran in the pipeline. Vitters plays there a year then moves elsewhere. Cubs could flip Morrison for more value than Vitters?

[Sammy Sofa]

 

Cubs in on Logan Morrison (along with Pirates and Rays)... Marlins want a 3B. Cubs would play Morrison in OF

 

I'd honestly rather start Bogusevic than pay any salary to or give up anything of value for Morrison to be an outfielder.

 

Yeah, I want to like Morrison, and I get that you're banking on him breaking out based on his age and pedigree, and I can even see how you might be able to shield him defensively a bit, but the defense being sooo bad makes it hard for me to get too excited. It's actually not that different to the Anderson ordeal. There's very clearly some upside, but the baseline is so low that it's hard to get excited about giving anything up to add him. Morrison at least has 3 years of control though.

 

I was all excited about the Logan Morrison rumors until I realized I was thinking of the amazing video game Logan Morrison I traded for in MLB: The Show '11.

[The-Kris-Bryant]

That was your language. I suspect that if you had opened with "shouldn't be acting like 2000's Pirates" that it would have gone more smoothly.

 

How would you describe it, then?

 

I didn't realize it was my responsibility to be pleased with the organization's path.

 

What would you change? Have the Cubs go big on a 10 year contract for Cano? Go big on Choo? Sign Matt Garza? Flip Baez and Almora for Price? Then supplement all of that on the free agent market with guys like Infante and Arencibia in a desperate attempt to go in win-now mode? Because that's what you're asking for and it sounds an awfully lot like the Cubs under Jim Hendry.

 

 

 

The issue with the Cubs under Jim Hendry was not that they handed out large contracts to good players. The problem with Jim Hendry and his "regime" was that the player development/minor league system was woefully neglected and that Jim Hendry wasn't always the best at knowing what good players were because of his refusal (and damn near pride in) to understand and use advanced analysis/statistics. That, and that once in a while he'd waste a few million on a crappy bench player or reliever or whatever, when those roles should have been able to have been filled with cheap minor leaguers or whatever.

Of course. I really oversimplified the problems but I wouldn't say that they woefully neglected the minor league system, it just was not prioritized and quite frankly Hendry was never going to be given 5 years to develop one after 2003. The Cubs did develop a number of solid players in Castro, Samardzija, Colvin, Cashner, Castillo, Soto, Nolasco, Donaldson, Marmol, Marshall, etc. When you look back and reflect on it, the Cubs player development from 2005 to 2010 was pretty solid. It failed to (as of yet Castro still could) produce a bonafied franchise cornerstone and has some notable busts in Vitters and Pie, but all in all Hendry did a decent job developing players. Obviously as you mention not all of them were given a chance to succeed as a Cub, but I wouldn't call it woefully neglected the minor leagues.

 

Hendry's problem was an inability to understand what makes baseball players good, and short-sightedness when it came to making moves to improve the club immediately ala Soriano - though you can't blame him. He was trying to keep his job.

[The-Kris-Bryant]

 

Cubs in on Logan Morrison (along with Pirates and Rays)... Marlins want a 3B. Cubs would play Morrison in OF

 

I'd honestly rather start Bogusevic than pay any salary to or give up anything of value for Morrison to be an outfielder.

 

Yeah, I want to like Morrison, and I get that you're banking on him breaking out based on his age and pedigree, and I can even see how you might be able to shield him defensively a bit, but the defense being sooo bad makes it hard for me to get too excited. It's actually not that different to the Anderson ordeal. There's very clearly some upside, but the baseline is so low that it's hard to get excited about giving anything up to add him. Morrison at least has 3 years of control though.

 

Vitters for Morrison? Marlins only need a stop gap 3B with Colin Moran in the pipeline. Vitters plays there a year then moves elsewhere. Cubs could flip Morrison for more value than Vitters?

Lake, Villanueva, Olt, or Vitters. Cubs could let them have their pick. Morrison would be an interesting CO in the mold of Nick Markakis, but his defense would probably zap a lot of his value. Still, he's not a bad guy to target now and flip later on if he bounces back. As long as we don't give up too much.

[KingCubsFan]

That was your language. I suspect that if you had opened with "shouldn't be acting like 2000's Pirates" that it would have gone more smoothly.

 

How would you describe it, then?

 

I didn't realize it was my responsibility to be pleased with the organization's path.

 

What would you change? Have the Cubs go big on a 10 year contract for Cano? Go big on Choo? Sign Matt Garza? Flip Baez and Almora for Price? Then supplement all of that on the free agent market with guys like Infante and Arencibia in a desperate attempt to go in win-now mode? Because that's what you're asking for and it sounds an awfully lot like the Cubs under Jim Hendry.

 

 

 

The issue with the Cubs under Jim Hendry was not that they handed out large contracts to good players. The problem with Jim Hendry and his "regime" was that the player development/minor league system was woefully neglected and that Jim Hendry wasn't always the best at knowing what good players were because of his refusal (and damn near pride in) to understand and use advanced analysis/statistics. That, and that once in a while he'd waste a few million on a crappy bench player or reliever or whatever, when those roles should have been able to have been filled with cheap minor leaguers or whatever.

Also, the fact that the organization never really had a clear direction. Every offseason resulted in a new path, dictated by previous World Series winner or what the manager believed was necessary for the team to win.

[Guest]

As little as I value Olt, I'd rather take the gamble on his eye issues being resolved and that possibly fixing his hitting than trade him for LoMo.

 

I'm not high at all on Lake, but he should definitely have more value than Morrison, IMO. Wouldn't really trade Villanueva for him either.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Lake, Villanueva, Olt, or Vitters. Cubs could let them have their pick. Morrison would be an interesting CO in the mold of Nick Markakis, but his defense would probably zap a lot of his value. Still, he's not a bad guy to target now and flip later on if he bounces back. As long as we don't give up too much.

 

No to any of those, but especially not the first two.

 

Almost literally anyone can be flipped if they perform to their best-case scenario. If that's the only justification for getting a guy, don't get him.

[Backtobanks]

I didn't say anything about what is and isn't allowed.

 

I made a suggestion for how the topic you want to discuss might be better advanced and received. Go ahead and do you.

 

I don't think it is at all realistic to suggest somebody withhold their opinion about these rumors and just stick to discussing the "facts" of the rumors themselves.

 

The fact is the Cubs are doing a horrible job fielding a competitive major league baseball team and have been doing so for many years. That fact will hang over any move they make, or any move they are rumored to be considering.

 

Opinions about rumors and comments about other posts are basically what makes these discussions go on for so many pages. Some opinions seem to be valued more than other opinions.

[Guest]

I didn't say anything about what is and isn't allowed.

 

I made a suggestion for how the topic you want to discuss might be better advanced and received. Go ahead and do you.

 

I don't think it is at all realistic to suggest somebody withhold their opinion about these rumors and just stick to discussing the "facts" of the rumors themselves.

 

The fact is the Cubs are doing a horrible job fielding a competitive major league baseball team and have been doing so for many years. That fact will hang over any move they make, or any move they are rumored to be considering.

 

Opinions about rumors and comments about other posts are basically what makes these discussions go on for so many pages. Some opinions seem to be valued more than other opinions.

 

My opinion on how the Cubs are operating right now as an organization is basically the same as USS's and many others here. I just don't want to read about it for the millionth time.

[Clem Fandango]

Like others, I wouldn't mind Morrison provided we're dealing expendable players. I was gonna say I don't like how his power has disappeared, but that appears to be a byproduct of his park (.352 SLG home vs. .400 SLG away in 2013 and .328 SLG home vs. .478 SLG away in 2012)

 

His injury proneness makes me wary, but I wouldn't mind acquiring him if the price is right. Also like others have said, I wouldn't want to deal Olt for him. I like Olt's upside vs. Morrison's, personally.

[Guest]

Cubs in deep on Chris Perez; Have spoken w/Jesse Crain as closer along with three other potential closers... Looks as if ninth inning will be occupied shortly

 

.

[HoopsCubs]

A Cubs source told me this morning that the Cubs have offered to take CF Michael Bourn and his 3 years/$41M off Cleveland's hands, so that the Indians can utilize the freed up funds to address starting pitching. While they would like to have Ubaldo Jimenez back, they are also waiting in the weeds to see if they can grab Matt Garza.

 

Source was not sure if the Indians rejected the offer or if they are still mulling it over.

[Guest]

@Ken_Rosenthal

 

Just saw David Price's agent, Bo McKinnis, in lobby. Asked if Price would consider extension with #Mariners. Said no.

[Guest]

A Cubs source told me this morning that the Cubs have offered to take CF Michael Bourn and his 3 years/$41M off Cleveland's hands, so that the Indians can utilize the freed up funds to address starting pitching. While they would like to have Ubaldo Jimenez back, they are also waiting in the weeds to see if they can grab Matt Garza.

 

Source was not sure if the Indians rejected the offer or if they are still mulling it over.

 

I think I'd like this to be true...for many reasons (a big one being that they're willing/looking to pick up MLB players by taking on salary).

[Guest]

lol?

 

in response to someone joking that we need a good pot dealer on the team (re: Perez)

 

Have to compete with Samardzija... Neither could hold a candle to Antonio Alfonseca- ran a dope haven/brothel from his Wrigley apartment; used to sell to ushers, crowd controllers after games...

[Clem Fandango]

How on Earth was Michael Bourn's oWAR worth 2 wins last year?

[Guest]

Cubs in deep on Chris Perez; Have spoken w/Jesse Crain as closer along with three other potential closers... Looks as if ninth inning will be occupied shortly

 

.

 

Love the idea of Crain as long as his shoulder isn't hamburger.

[imb]

lol?

 

in response to someone joking that we need a good pot dealer on the team (re: Perez)

 

Have to compete with Samardzija... Neither could hold a candle to Antonio Alfonseca- ran a dope haven/brothel from his Wrigley apartment; used to sell to ushers, crowd controllers after games...

 

lmao he sold roast weed

[Guest]

How on Earth was Michael Bourn's oWAR worth 2 wins last year?

 

Guessing that's BR. Fangraphs had him as a negative offensively but still worth 2.0 WAR total.

[Guest]

lol?

 

in response to someone joking that we need a good pot dealer on the team (re: Perez)

 

Have to compete with Samardzija... Neither could hold a candle to Antonio Alfonseca- ran a dope haven/brothel from his Wrigley apartment; used to sell to ushers, crowd controllers after games...

 

lmao he sold roast weed

 

ok, this is an awesome story:

 

09 Cubs Convention- each of us working the event were assigned a player each day to escort from commitment to commitment; Saturday I had Shark- walked to his room, knocked, his buddy opened the door and it was like a April London fog flew over the Atlantic and crashed in Samardzija's room. He was literally four feet away from me and I couldn't see him. He had no idea he was booked to do a GN event in the ballroom- completely freaked out about getting caught. Took a spray bath on some rank foreign deodorizer and never made eye contact with anyone for the better part of the day.

 

Side note:My buddy and fellow field guard Charles is a huge Sox fan and other than the super stars and the bullpen arms that he literally sits with everyday, he cannot recognize a player to save his life. Same time I had Shark he had to get Soto- Charles gets lost and can't find Soto or his room number. Soto starts to worry, leaves his room to try and find someone to help him get to his commitments. who does he find? Charles, expect Charles is freaking out so much when Soto approaches him Charles, thinking Soto was an autograph seeker, yells right in his face with a finger wag to boot 'Excuse me sir! I don't have time for this nonsense!' And storms off. Samardzija and I were standing down the hall, watching this unfold, peeing in our pants. So we grab Soto, bring him to the same spot Shark was going where a panicked Charles is pacing back and forth hoping he stumbles across Soto before our boss Julius finds out. He sees me, sees Shark, then sees Soto- Lightbulb moment- he apologized to Geo for the test of the day- to his credit Soto was crazy, crazy cool about it...ah the memories...

[SouthSideRyan]

It really sucks that Wittenmeyer is the only local reporter willing to address some key issues, because he clowns it up pretty hard.

What about Bruce?

 

I haven't seen much of anything from him on the miserable ownership of the Ricketts

[Have a seat, Neifi]

Boras apparently asking for 7 years / $140 million for Choo.