Offseason Rumors

[Guest]

They don't have to be at their peaks to be significant upgrades and major contributors to a competitive team.

[The-Kris-Bryant]

I absolute agree, which is why I put the time table 2-3 years before then when they're all 24/25ish and have had a season or so adjustment period.

[Guest]

I think you can make a reasonable argument that were it not for his injury, Soler would have finished in AA, and therefore been on a more aggressive track. After all, not being above Daytona doesn't seem to be hurting Bryant's timeline at all, and Soler has a lot more experience against higher level competition than the average prospect.

 

I'm not sure it really matters for the purposes of this conversation though. Baez isn't getting traded, Bryant couldn't be even if they wanted to, and Almora's injuries and distance from MLB make him less appealing. Soler is the choice for "prospect picked to be dealt for other prospects" almost by default.

[The-Kris-Bryant]

Fair point, but even if starts in Double A next year and makes his debut, he probably won't be even as good as Schierholtz until after 2015.

 

You're right though. He's the obvious one to trade, though moving Alcantara and/or Villanueva for pitching prospects would make sense, albeit nowhere near the quality of one you could flip Soler for. Who else was highly interested in Soler before we signed him.

[Guest]

I agree, TT...but then Soler's contract would seem to make him a less attractive trade piece...so maybe none of them are all that likely to be traded.

[davell]

Granted, not as exciting, but I think Vogelbach and Villanueva are the two most likely to be dealt, out of our prospects.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I would project Soler's current track as a 2016 arrival.

[Fro]

The issue with Soler that would make him a less attractive trade chip is he does cost some money at this point.

 

Jorge Soler of

9 years/$30M (2012-20)

■9 years/$30M (2012-20)

■signed by Chicago Cubs as a free agent from Cuba 6/30/12

■$6M signing bonus (half at signing, half by 1/13/13)

■12:$1M, 13:$1M, 14:$2M, 15:$2M, 16:$3M, 17:$3M, 18:$4M, 19:$4M, 20:$4M

 

$22 million over the next 7 years on a backloaded contract (and he can opt out once he becomes arbitration-eligible). If he ends up being a bust that's not an insignificant amount of money for another team to be stuck with.

 

Even if he does end up being a good player, another team is going to want to give up less value since the players the other team would be giving up would be making $400k-$500k their first three years as opposed to $2M, $3M, $3M (or $3M, $3M, $3M if he hits the big leagues in 2016). If I were another GM, I'd insist on either giving a much lesser return or getting money with Soler.

Edited December 10, 2013 by Fro

[The-Kris-Bryant]

I agree, TT...but then Soler's contract would seem to make him a less attractive trade piece...so maybe none of them are all that likely to be traded.

Balance it with cash/and or a bad short-term contract. His contract isn't that bad. I mean, when he's 29 (or 30?) he'll be making just $4m. If he only reaches a third of his potential, that's a bargain.

[The-Kris-Bryant]

The issue with Soler that would make him a less attractive trade chip is he does cost some money at this point.

 

Jorge Soler of

9 years/$30M (2012-20)

■9 years/$30M (2012-20)

■signed by Chicago Cubs as a free agent from Cuba 6/30/12

■$6M signing bonus (half at signing, half by 1/13/13)

■12:$1M, 13:$1M, 14:$2M, 15:$2M, 16:$3M, 17:$3M, 18:$4M, 19:$4M, 20:$4M

 

$22 million over the next 7 years on a backloaded contract (and he can opt out once he becomes arbitration-eligible). If he ends up being a bust that's not an insignificant amount of money for another team to be stuck with.

 

Even if he does end up being a good player, another team is going to want to give up less value since the players the other team would be giving up would be making $400k-$500k their first three years as opposed to $2M, $3M, $3M (or $3M, $3M, $3M if he hits the big leagues in 2016). If I were another GM, I'd insist on either giving a much lesser return or getting money with Soler.

Not necessarily if you're really high on him and think he has a (making this up) 50% chance of becoming at least $10 million dollar player long-term (never mind the potential for more). So a 2.5 war player?

[Rob]

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.

 

I actually wouldn't mind seeing the Cubs acquire Danks. The White Sox would probably eat a little contract and not require much in return.

[Guest]

I would project Soler's current track as a 2016 arrival.

 

no you wouldn't. if soler doesn't get a taste of the majors until he's 24, things have gone terribly for him.

[Clem Fandango]

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports that the Mariners believe David Price "would be theirs" if they agree to include Taijuan Walker in a trade.

Heyman notes, however, that the M's don't want to deal Walker (or James Paxton for that matter) and would rather build a package for Price around position players. If that's truly the case, then it's hard to imagine a trade going down between the two. The Dodgers and Rangers are the other two clubs expected to pursue a deal for Price.

 

Damn, not that the Cubs were in on Paxton but I like him as a trade target.

 

Also, I don't see the M's having the offensive pieces to acquire Price. At least not the expendable offensive pieces.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Taijuan Walker could be just as productive as David Price next year. They'd have to be mad to put him in a deal for Price.

[XZero771679666304]

Taijuan Walker could be just as productive as David Price next year. They'd have to be mad to put him in a deal for Price.

 

They may be.

[ctcf]

Jeff Passan @JeffPassan

Sources: Teams believe A's have cooled on idea of trading Brett Anderson this week. May still go eventually. Just not close to a guarantee.

 

:(

[Cubswin11]

Taijuan Walker could be just as productive as David Price next year. They'd have to be mad to put him in a deal for Price.

Aren't a lot of scouts down on him? Didn't he see a velo/stuff drop off last year?

[ctcf]

Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal

#Cubs on relievers, as others have reported. Free agent more likely than trade - and if it's a one- year deal, team could flip him in July.

[Cubswin11]

Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal

#Cubs on relievers, as others have reported. Free agent more likely than trade - and if it's a one- year deal, team could flip him in July.

Axford really seems to fit what we are trying to do with adding the final bullpen piece or two. Especially if we can offer him the closer role to re-establish value for a long term deal next year.

[HoopsCubs]

Any interest in Cole Hamels? Phillies are supposedly "shopping" him and Cliff Lee.

 

5 years at $22.5M per.

Age 30

[jersey cubs fan]

Any interest in Cole Hamels? Phillies are supposedly "shopping" him and Cliff Lee.

 

5 years at $22.5M per.

Age 30

 

without question

[KingCubsFan]

Any interest in Cole Hamels? Phillies are supposedly "shopping" him and Cliff Lee.

 

5 years at $22.5M per.

Age 30

Jeff Samardzija and Jorge Soler for Lee, Hamels and Dom Brown. Cubs take on all of the salary. Who says no first?

[jersey cubs fan]

Any interest in Cole Hamels? Phillies are supposedly "shopping" him and Cliff Lee.

 

5 years at $22.5M per.

Age 30

Jeff Samardzija and Jorge Soler for Lee, Hamels and Dom Brown. Cubs take on all of the salary. Who says no first?

 

Joe Ricketts.

[davell]

Any interest in Cole Hamels? Phillies are supposedly "shopping" him and Cliff Lee.

 

5 years at $22.5M per.

Age 30

Jeff Samardzija and Jorge Soler for Lee, Hamels and Dom Brown. Cubs take on all of the salary. Who says no first?

 

Does Tom Ricketts declaring bankruptcy and jumping off a bridge count as a no?

[Guest]

Fujikawa is the only current Cub aged 31 or older, so it's hard to see a fit there.