Offseason Rumors

[Guest]

I think it's a much more logical conclusion. The Cubs don't want to sign Samardzija to what he's demanding. So you think they are going to run back to him after the trade market turned up nothing? How do you even start that conversation?

 

The same way you start any conversation involving contract negotiations? This isn't going back to your wife after trying but failing to hook up with a supermodel. It's not awkward or panicking or anything weird at all.

 

There's absolutely no leverage for the Cubs in this proposed conclusion. It makes absolutely no sense.

That's because they don't have any leverage. It can't be made up out of sheer will unless Theo wants to go all Sug Knight and hang him upside down from a high rise.

[davell]

Rosenthal says Jays think price too high on Price and Shark, they want to deal Rasmus for pitching. Getting asked about Stroman and Sanchez obviously.

 

I'm not THAT enamored WITH those 2, if neither is available, I don't see a fit with them at all.

[jersey cubs fan]

Mark Gonzales ‏@MDGonzales 4m

Theo said Samardzija has been informed of three options (trade, sign extension or stay for now), opening day starter, for now.

 

Really narrowed it down there.

[SouthSideRyan]

If Shark's concerned about the Cubs not contending, I don't think we're inspiring a lot of confidence to change his mind about that extension this offseason

[Guest]

Mark Gonzales ‏@MDGonzales 4m

Theo said Samardzija has been informed of three options (trade, sign extension or stay for now), opening day starter, for now.

 

Really narrowed it down there.

why bother to tweet that?

[Clem Fandango]

Mark Gonzales ‏@MDGonzales 4m

Theo said Samardzija has been informed of three options (trade, sign extension or stay for now), opening day starter, for now.

 

Really narrowed it down there.

 

Mark Gonzales ‏@MDGonzales 4m

Theo said Samardzija has been informed of four options (trade, sign extension, Thunderdome, or stay for now), opening day starter, for now.

[Guest]

my theory: the cubs are waiting to see if they get tanaka before deciding on what to do with samardzija. i think their hope is to get tanaka and then trade jeff.

[SouthSideRyan]

my theory: the cubs are waiting to see if they get tanaka before deciding on what to do with samardzija. i think their hope is to get tanaka and then trade jeff.

 

I'd say partially true. They're waiting for Tanaka to get off the market, whether we get him or not, it'll clear up other teams' offseason plans some.

[Guest]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/24332130-419/cubs-make-power-move-with-justin-ruggiano.html

 

The 200-strikeout elephant in the room all week followed the Cubs home, with Jeff Samardzija trade talks continuing with several teams, notably the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees.

 

Sources say the Arizona Diamondbacks are still trying to land Samardzija after trading two potential trade chips – pitcher Tyler Skaggs and outfielder Adam Eaton – in a three-team trade this week.

 

That would almost HAVE to mean Bradley is at least up for consideration, right? They can't possibly dream of putting together a package without him now, can they?

[SouthSideRyan]

Towers is probably going to lead with Marcos Mateo plus

[Cubswin11]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/24332130-419/cubs-make-power-move-with-justin-ruggiano.html

 

The 200-strikeout elephant in the room all week followed the Cubs home, with Jeff Samardzija trade talks continuing with several teams, notably the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees.

 

Sources say the Arizona Diamondbacks are still trying to land Samardzija after trading two potential trade chips – pitcher Tyler Skaggs and outfielder Adam Eaton – in a three-team trade this week.

 

That would almost HAVE to mean Bradley is at least up for consideration, right? They can't possibly dream of putting together a package without him now, can they?

I'm not even going to try and figure out what Towers is thinking in a Samardzija trade and how he values what pieces going in/out.

[imb]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/24332130-419/cubs-make-power-move-with-justin-ruggiano.html

 

The 200-strikeout elephant in the room all week followed the Cubs home, with Jeff Samardzija trade talks continuing with several teams, notably the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees.

 

Sources say the Arizona Diamondbacks are still trying to land Samardzija after trading two potential trade chips – pitcher Tyler Skaggs and outfielder Adam Eaton – in a three-team trade this week.

 

That would almost HAVE to mean Bradley is at least up for consideration, right? They can't possibly dream of putting together a package without him now, can they?

I'm not even going to try and figure out what Towers is thinking in a Samardzija trade and how he values what pieces going in/out.

 

Depends on various factors, like weather, what time it is, how breakfast went

[davell]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/24332130-419/cubs-make-power-move-with-justin-ruggiano.html

 

The 200-strikeout elephant in the room all week followed the Cubs home, with Jeff Samardzija trade talks continuing with several teams, notably the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees.

 

Sources say the Arizona Diamondbacks are still trying to land Samardzija after trading two potential trade chips – pitcher Tyler Skaggs and outfielder Adam Eaton – in a three-team trade this week.

 

That would almost HAVE to mean Bradley is at least up for consideration, right? They can't possibly dream of putting together a package without him now, can they?

Sure they could. Delgado/Davidson/Jose Martinez/Trahan or Shipley as a PTBNL/Gregorius or Owings.....Send one of those to a 3rd team maybe? They've got the pieces, Towers appears adamant Bradley is going no where. Is it a great group to choose from? Nah, but there's enough there to find a match.

 

Honestly, what do other teams view Shark as? The guy that struggled in the 2nd half? An innings eater? A future frontline guy? A current frontline guy? A guy that's going to cost an arm and half a leg to lock in longterm? A guy that's going to be cheap for a two year window in which you may get his best production during that time?

 

This one is a little different than Garza in my opinion. He had more of a track record and teams may have been more willing to give up more for him because they knew better as far as what he was. With Shark, I can see our FO selling him as a frontline guy and other teams just not buying in to that yet.

 

Still think he gets moved prior to the season starting though, Tanaka or no Tanaka. High end of what I can see them getting is a top 50, a top 100, an org top 10 type and a lower level lottery ticket that fits into the Duane Underwood mold. Low end is a top 100 and 2 org top 10 types. Obviously the packages would also work with major league equivalents with control.

[Guest]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/24332130-419/cubs-make-power-move-with-justin-ruggiano.html

 

The 200-strikeout elephant in the room all week followed the Cubs home, with Jeff Samardzija trade talks continuing with several teams, notably the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees.

 

Sources say the Arizona Diamondbacks are still trying to land Samardzija after trading two potential trade chips – pitcher Tyler Skaggs and outfielder Adam Eaton – in a three-team trade this week.

 

That would almost HAVE to mean Bradley is at least up for consideration, right? They can't possibly dream of putting together a package without him now, can they?

Sure they could. Delgado/Davidson/Jose Martinez/Trahan or Shipley as a PTBNL/Gregorius or Owings.....Send one of those to a 3rd team maybe? They've got the pieces, Towers appears adamant Bradley is going no where. Is it a great group to choose from? Nah, but there's enough there to find a match.

 

Honestly, what do other teams view Shark as? The guy that struggled in the 2nd half? An innings eater? A future frontline guy? A current frontline guy? A guy that's going to cost an arm and half a leg to lock in longterm? A guy that's going to be cheap for a two year window in which you may get his best production during that time?

 

This one is a little different than Garza in my opinion. He had more of a track record and teams may have been more willing to give up more for him because they knew better as far as what he was. With Shark, I can see our FO selling him as a frontline guy and other teams just not buying in to that yet.

 

Still think he gets moved prior to the season starting though, Tanaka or no Tanaka. High end of what I can see them getting is a top 50, a top 100, an org top 10 type and a lower level lottery ticket that fits into the Duane Underwood mold. Low end is a top 100 and 2 org top 10 types. Obviously the packages would also work with major league equivalents with control.

 

There really isn't. Or, at least, there shouldn't be.

[Guest]

Other teams can view Shark however they want, most of the indicators we've gotten are that in order to actually acquire him, you'll have to pay a price as if you expect him to improve upon the 3 win standard he's set for himself.

 

I guess there's a chance that Arizona can get to that value without Bradley, but I'm not that enamored with the options as is, and when you start getting into 4 for 1 deals I get even more disinterested. Maybe you can catch Towers right after a paint huffing session and talk him into Bradley and Delgado for Shark, but otherwise it's hard for me to think they can give enough value, and value that matches. It'd have to take a 3rd team.

[Vinestal]

Do the Braves have enough without Sims? I don't know enouh about their system, who are some other guys they could use?

[davell]

Do the Braves have enough without Sims? I don't know enouh about their system, who are some other guys they could use?

No, they don't. They've got Alberto Cabrera's little brother, but he's a 3rd piece and they've got Christian Bethancourt, a C with a fair amount of hype, but he's never hit. Excellent defensively, he'll have a ML career, but he's probably a .650 OPS type, if he's a starter. Without Sims, who's in A ball, they're just not any sort of fit. Not a great one EVEN with Sims, but you could piece together a deal.

[Infrequent Poster]

Do the Braves have enough without Sims? I don't know enouh about their system, who are some other guys they could use?

Alex Wood

[Clem Fandango]

Buster Olney and Dave Szymborski are saying the Braves would be wise to shop Craig Kimbrel this offseason, fwiw, though there's nothing to that as far as I know.

[Backtobanks]

Do the Braves have enough without Sims? I don't know enouh about their system, who are some other guys they could use?

No, they don't. They've got Alberto Cabrera's little brother, but he's a 3rd piece and they've got Christian Bethancourt, a C with a fair amount of hype, but he's never hit. Excellent defensively, he'll have a ML career, but he's probably a .650 OPS type, if he's a starter. Without Sims, who's in A ball, they're just not any sort of fit. Not a great one EVEN with Sims, but you could piece together a deal.

 

From MLBTR:

O'Brien also runs down the Braves needs on the heels of a quiet Winter Meetings, noting that they're optimistic about re-signing Eric O'Flaherty. Atlanta is still pursuing a veteran bench bat -- O'Brien mentions Eric Chavez -- and are still interested in Jeff Samardzija. The Braves may be considered the favorites to land Samardzija at this point, says O'Brien, noting that payroll constraints will likely preclude them from pursuing David Price.

[HoopsCubs]

If you connect the dots between the various reports and rumors, the Cubs view Samardzija's value over the next 5 years at $6M, $10M, $12M, $13M, $14M in successive seasons or $58M.

 

What should they view him as?

[SouthSideRyan]

If you connect the dots between the various reports and rumors, the Cubs view Samardzija's value over the next 5 years at $6M, $10M, $12M, $13M, $14M in successive seasons or $58M.

 

Huh?

[North]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/24332130-419/cubs-make-power-move-with-justin-ruggiano.html

 

The 200-strikeout elephant in the room all week followed the Cubs home, with Jeff Samardzija trade talks continuing with several teams, notably the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees.

 

Sources say the Arizona Diamondbacks are still trying to land Samardzija after trading two potential trade chips – pitcher Tyler Skaggs and outfielder Adam Eaton – in a three-team trade this week.

 

That would almost HAVE to mean Bradley is at least up for consideration, right? They can't possibly dream of putting together a package without him now, can they?

I'm not even going to try and figure out what Towers is thinking in a Samardzija trade and how he values what pieces going in/out.

 

He's still probably looking at MLB the show ratings to see which guys he should trade, to be honest.

 

I don't expect the Samardzija situation to be settled until Tanaka is posted. Not because of other teams' interest, but because of our own. The price is probably so so so high, as it should. I expect the Cubs to keep Samardzija if Tanaka is signed, taking the gamble Samardzija will continue to perform, and shelling out money when extra revenue comes in the near future if he is worth it. I could be wrong. But if Tanaka is actually signed, I see the asking price for Samardzija to potentially be higher (if it not already is crazy high).

 

It's clear the market hasn't developed yet. Until other variables are limited, the Samardzija talks are going to be slow.

[Boris]

Sign Tanaka, trade Shark for Bradley.

 

:: swoons ::

[Splendid Splinter]

If you connect the dots between the various reports and rumors, the Cubs view Samardzija's value over the next 5 years at $6M, $10M, $12M, $13M, $14M in successive seasons or $58M.

 

What should they view him as?

 

That's a #3 SP to me if we're gonna use the #1-5 scale. 3/39 value in the first 3 FA years is basically Edwin Jackson from 2010-2012. They really do want Shark to give them a hometown discount if that's how they view him.