Offseason Rumors

[Guest]

significantly better than Scott Baker/Carlos Villanueva's chances, i'd wager

 

i guess now would be a good time to go back and look at everyone's declarations last year that Scott Kazmir was toast and not worth bothering with an MLB deal

 

No one's suggesting to pay 10 million plus a decent prospect(or more) for Villanueva or Baker either.

we'll want to spend money on something, won't we? the remaining dregs of bargain bin SP free agents is just complete gross dog [expletive], so what else is there to even bother with now?

 

playing it safe and only investing in players who are undeniable bargains hasn't really proven to be a super effective strategy; let me remind you 250 AB of Craig Gentry would have led our team in WAR...pretty sickening

 

Sure, they'll want to spend on something, signs currently appear to be pointing towards a pretty big push for Tanaka, with a minimal chance of Choo if we miss on Tanaka and his price comes down a good bit like it did for Bourn(note: not to Bourn's number, but relative to asking price).

 

Bottom line, Anderson is a good buy low candidate because he's clearly talented and if he's healthy stands a good chance to be above average. I don't share your optimism for his upside beyond his current performance though, and view him strictly as a guy to acquire for the duration of his contract. I can't see the odds of him being healthy and productive enough for two years to want to offer him a longer deal as anything more than infinitesimal. In that light, his contract becomes prohibitive, and has to be offset either financially or in the player cost for him to be a worthwhile gamble. I'm all for trying to roll the dice on guys(I've practically been the spokesperson for the "get this OF coming off a wrist injury" club), but there's a continuum and Anderson is on the extreme end of riskiness with his inability to stay healthy.

[RammyFanny]

Jeff Passan ‏@JeffPassan 7m

 

White Sox still looking to deal a SP. Would love to offload John Danks' contract, but takers unlikely. Quintana, Santiago also available.

Jeff Passan ‏@JeffPassan 10m

 

Sources: Phillies actively shopping OF Domonic Brown. Looking for controllable starting pitching in return. Idea is to sell high on him.

[KingCubsFan]

Santiago is really intriguing, but I have no idea what the White Sox would want in return for him.

[Clem Fandango]

Never heard of Santiago before. Just eyeballing his numbers throughout the minors and majors they seem very Zambrano-ish to me. Is it fair to assume his upside is that of a 3.20-3.50 ERA type pitcher with a K/9 between 8-9 and a below average walk rate?

[KingCubsFan]

Never heard of Santiago before. Just eyeballing his numbers throughout the minors and majors they seem very Zambrano-ish to me. Is it fair to assume his upside is that of a 3.20-3.50 ERA type pitcher with a K/9 between 8-9 and a below average walk rate?

I think he has to cut down on the walks at least a little bit to be effective long-term. But, yeah, that seems to be his upside. Plus he's a lefty.

[Guest]

Never heard of Santiago before. Just eyeballing his numbers throughout the minors and majors they seem very Zambrano-ish to me. Is it fair to assume his upside is that of a 3.20-3.50 ERA type pitcher with a K/9 between 8-9 and a below average walk rate?

 

From a K/BB perspective that's accurate, but Zambrano had a very good GB% while Santiago's is below average, and Santiago allows more HR too(correlation!).

 

I like Santiago too, I don't know if the Cubs match up all that well though. Maybe if they liked Lake and really liked one of our fallen prospects in AAA(Olt, Vitters, Jackson)?

[KingCubsFan]

Never heard of Santiago before. Just eyeballing his numbers throughout the minors and majors they seem very Zambrano-ish to me. Is it fair to assume his upside is that of a 3.20-3.50 ERA type pitcher with a K/9 between 8-9 and a below average walk rate?

 

From a K/BB perspective that's accurate, but Zambrano had a very good GB% while Santiago's is below average, and Santiago allows more HR too(correlation!).

 

I like Santiago too, I don't know if the Cubs match up all that well though. Maybe if they liked Lake and really liked one of our fallen prospects in AAA(Olt, Vitters, Jackson)?

I just have no idea how they value him. Given the K-rate, age and upside, I could see them trying to market him as a cheaper alternative to Samardzija, in which case his price is above Lake+AAA washout.

[Guest]

Yeah, it's really hard to get a read on what they'd want. On one hand he has the stuff, the superficial results, a good minor league history, and service time on his side. On the other hand he has 27 MLB starts to his name and from a WAR perspective was about league average this year, with control and HR issues to boot.

[HoopsCubs]

Cubs source told me that Theo/Jed are telling each executive a different story regarding Samardzija's price and availability just to keep everybody guessing as to their true intentions.

 

One executive told the source that Theo told him that the Cubs are looking for a cost controlled corner OF and a high ceiling catching prospect in return for Samardzija, and that they plan to dangle Jorge Soler to acquire the multiple top pitching prospects they seek.

 

Every team is probably attempting some sort of FUD campaign.

[RynoRules]

Cubs source told me that Theo/Jed are telling each executive a different story regarding Samardzija's price and availability just to keep everybody guessing as to their true intentions.

 

One executive told the source that Theo told him that the Cubs are looking for a cost controlled corner OF and a high ceiling catching prospect in return for Samardzija, and that they plan to dangle Jorge Soler to acquire the multiple top pitching prospects they seek.

 

Every team is probably attempting some sort of FUD campaign.

 

Part of me thinks that strategy makes more sense. Soler prob won't be ready by '15, which appears to be the target for "turning the corner".

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Cubs source told me that Theo/Jed are telling each executive a different story regarding Samardzija's price and availability just to keep everybody guessing as to their true intentions.

 

One executive told the source that Theo told him that the Cubs are looking for a cost controlled corner OF and a high ceiling catching prospect in return for Samardzija, and that they plan to dangle Jorge Soler to acquire the multiple top pitching prospects they seek.

 

Every team is probably attempting some sort of FUD campaign.

 

They are really screwing around here. Seems to mesh with the idea that they are waiting to see if they land Tanaka.

[davell]

I'm all about maximizing returns. But I have to think we can find a deal right now that would make us happy enough. Too much can happen, if we're going to trade him, I wish we'd just do it now.

[Guest]

I'm all about maximizing returns. But I have to think we can find a deal right now that would make us happy enough. Too much can happen, if we're going to trade him, I wish we'd just do it now.

 

I have to think the Garza deal illustrates that even in poor circumstances it's hard to lose TOO much value. That said, it's only logical that his high value is right now, and personally I'd rather not deal with rumor Garzapocolypse again, so trading him ASAP would be more than okay with me.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I'm all about maximizing returns. But I have to think we can find a deal right now that would make us happy enough. Too much can happen, if we're going to trade him, I wish we'd just do it now.

 

I have to think the Garza deal illustrates that even in poor circumstances it's hard to lose TOO much value. That said, it's only logical that his high value is right now, and personally I'd rather not deal with rumor Garzapocolypse again, so trading him ASAP would be more than okay with me.

 

Does it? Feels like we lost a ton of value in the Garza situation. The 2013 version of CJ Edwards would have been like the third piece in the Garza deals we were talking about pre-2012.

[Guest]

Cubs source told me that Theo/Jed are telling each executive a different story regarding Samardzija's price and availability just to keep everybody guessing as to their true intentions.

 

One executive told the source that Theo told him that the Cubs are looking for a cost controlled corner OF and a high ceiling catching prospect in return for Samardzija, and that they plan to dangle Jorge Soler to acquire the multiple top pitching prospects they seek.

 

Every team is probably attempting some sort of FUD campaign.

 

Part of me thinks that strategy makes more sense. Soler prob won't be ready by '15, which appears to be the target for "turning the corner".

 

I would think that Soler's on target for '15, what makes you think he isn't?

[HoopsCubs]

A source told me this morning that the Cubs are "heavily negotiating" on a relief pitcher - only information was that it's not a name previously linked to the Cubs. No indication on what length of contract, whether closer or setup, or when an announcement could happen.

 

This might be tied to the Gordon Wittenmyer tweet that the Cubs are talking to Washington about bullpen help.

[Boris]

I bet it's Drew Storen.

[HoopsCubs]

I bet it's Drew Storen.

 

3 years of cost control and a former 1st round draft pick.

 

But I noticed he pitched at AAA at some point in 2013. Was he re-habbing an injury or was he sent down?

He had a terrific 2011 and 2012, but his 2013 was not so good.

[Cubswin11]

I bet it's Drew Storen.

 

3 years of cost control and a former 1st round draft pick.

 

But I noticed he pitched at AAA at some point in 2013. Was he re-habbing an injury or was he sent down?

He had a terrific 2011 and 2012, but his 2013 was not so good.

Pretty sure it was a re-hab assignment for an injury

[davell]

Hoyer spoke to the media, spending more time on bullpen than last year. Would trade good prospect to get right longterm player. Signing Tanaka doesn't affect their plans with Shark. Not an either/or deal.

[Clem Fandango]

A source told me this morning that the Cubs are "heavily negotiating" on a relief pitcher - only information was that it's not a name previously linked to the Cubs. No indication on what length of contract, whether closer or setup, or when an announcement could happen.

 

This might be tied to the Gordon Wittenmyer tweet that the Cubs are talking to Washington about bullpen help.

 

I bet it's Drew Storen.

 

Drew Storen or Tyler Clippard, apparently

 

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Cubs are eying Nationals' relievers Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard.

Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post confirms the report and adds that Cubs have interest in using Storen as their closer. Kilgore speculates that Nate Schierholtz and James Russell could be of interest to Washington.

 

I really think Storen's implosion in the playoffs two years ago led to them getting Rafael Soriano, as irrational as that sounds, but yeah... I would think Storen is the odd man out. I'd take him in a heartbeat. Tyler Clippard would be equally amazing, but is older and has less years of control (but more reliable and consistent it would seem).

 

Honestly I'd take either or and be very happy, especially if Schierholtz and Russel were the package sent for one of them.

[Clem Fandango]

Doesn't look like the Cubs and Choo are gonna work out if this is accurate

 

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Shin-Soo Choo negotiations "appear to be reaching a critical stage."

Rosenthal says the Rangers and "at least one other club" are in. It could be the Tigers and/or Mariners, as both teams have often been mentioned as a possible landing spots for the outfielder. Choo probably won't land a deal as rich as Jacoby Ellsbury's, but he'll have no trouble getting one north of $100 million.

[Guest]

Doesn't look like the Cubs and Choo are gonna work out if this is accurate

 

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Shin-Soo Choo negotiations "appear to be reaching a critical stage."

Rosenthal says the Rangers and "at least one other club" are in. It could be the Tigers and/or Mariners, as both teams have often been mentioned as a possible landing spots for the outfielder. Choo probably won't land a deal as rich as Jacoby Ellsbury's, but he'll have no trouble getting one north of $100 million.

 

That could be accurate and the Cubs could be one of or the "at least one other club..."

[davell]

D-Backs are in on Choo, they're either signing a pitcher and trading for a bat or signing an OFer and trading for a pitcher. At any rate, it would appear their trade pieces are Skaggs and/or Delgado and one of Eaton or Pollock as the main pieces.

[The-Kris-Bryant]

Cubs source told me that Theo/Jed are telling each executive a different story regarding Samardzija's price and availability just to keep everybody guessing as to their true intentions.

 

One executive told the source that Theo told him that the Cubs are looking for a cost controlled corner OF and a high ceiling catching prospect in return for Samardzija, and that they plan to dangle Jorge Soler to acquire the multiple top pitching prospects they seek.

 

Every team is probably attempting some sort of FUD campaign.

 

Part of me thinks that strategy makes more sense. Soler prob won't be ready by '15, which appears to be the target for "turning the corner".

 

I would think that Soler's on target for '15, what makes you think he isn't?

On target to arrive, yes. But he (and definitely Edwards) will be a rookie in 2015. Baez and Bryant may make their debuts next year 2015 for them will also be an adjustment year. And Almora's timetable is probably a 2016 rookie year with a brief callup possibly in late 2015.

 

While one of the big five will probably make their debut and hit the ground running like we've seen other young high-end high-ceiling talent, at least 3 or 4 of them are going to need a good 200 game adjustment period (if they make it at all). That puts our core prospect strength hitting on all cylinders in 2016-2018. We might be able to make a run at respectability in 2015 with the right moves, but I really envision the prospect-led success to come afterwards. I mean if they pan out Soler won't be hitting his prime (say age 27) until 2019ish, Baez in 2019/2020ish, Almora until 2021ish, and Bryant until 2019ish. Even Castro and Rizzo until 2017ish. That's not to say we can't compete before 2016/17, it just means it'll likely have to be externally driven (unless 2 or 3 of them go Mike Trout on us)