The Jon Lester Signs w/ Cubs - 6 yrs/$155 Million

[RynoRules]

I walked away for 90 minutes and this thread added only one page. We are off our game here, fellas.

[KingCubsFan]

I walked away for 90 minutes and this thread added only one page. We are off our game here, fellas.

Sounds like a job for Kyle.

[UMFan83]

Does anyone wonder if this 'accelerated timetable' includes Bryant being up on Opening Day? If they are going for it to some degree of aggressiveness, a month without your top prospect that is ready for the bigs will hurt them.

[RynoRules]

Does anyone wonder if this 'accelerated timetable' includes Bryant being up on Opening Day? If they are going for it to some degree of aggressiveness, a month without your top prospect that is ready for the bigs will hurt them.

 

I think that depends on whether or not they get another big bat. If they acquire a Kemp or CarGo or Upton, I'd leave him in AAA for the few weeks it takes to get the extra year of control. I'd probably be 50-50 on the issue otherwise.

[apete6]

Does anyone wonder if this 'accelerated timetable' includes Bryant being up on Opening Day? If they are going for it to some degree of aggressiveness, a month without your top prospect that is ready for the bigs will hurt them.

 

Only if they're not smart. Just by waiting a month, you gain an entire year of control. Even if Bryant is worth 2 more WAR (he won't be) than Valbuena, that's about 1/3 of 1 win. Just wait the month.

[SouthSideRyan]

Does anyone wonder if this 'accelerated timetable' includes Bryant being up on Opening Day? If they are going for it to some degree of aggressiveness, a month without your top prospect that is ready for the bigs will hurt them.

 

Only if they're not smart. Just by waiting a month, you gain an entire year of control. Even if Bryant is worth 2 more WAR (he won't be) than Valbuena, that's about 1/3 of 1 win. Just wait the month.

 

And miss the playoffs at 87.66666666666666666666-74.33333333333333

[Guest]

I believe it's only 10 days if you want to be brutal about it.

[Wilson A2000]

Does anyone wonder if this 'accelerated timetable' includes Bryant being up on Opening Day? If they are going for it to some degree of aggressiveness, a month without your top prospect that is ready for the bigs will hurt them.

 

Only if they're not smart. Just by waiting a month, you gain an entire year of control. Even if Bryant is worth 2 more WAR (he won't be) than Valbuena, that's about 1/3 of 1 win. Just wait the month.

 

Angering Boras could cost you more long-term, especially if Bryant had a great ST.

[OleMissCub]

the 2014 combined avg of Lester, Hammell, Hendricks, and Arrieta is a 2.60 ERA and 147 ERA+.

 

[expletive] yummy

[SouthSideRyan]

I believe it's only 10 days if you want to be brutal about it.

 

And with off days and a slightly shortened season, I thought I read it was like 8 games.

[UMFan83]

Fair enough, that works for me

 

Anyways:

 

Buster OlneyVerified account

‏@Buster_ESPN

Jon Lester's deal with the Cubs includes a signing bonus of at least $20 million.

[SouthSideRyan]

Fair enough, that works for me

 

Anyways:

 

Buster OlneyVerified account

‏@Buster_ESPN

Jon Lester's deal with the Cubs includes a signing bonus of at least $20 million.

 

TANAKA FUND LIVES!!!

[bukie]

So Keith Law doesn't think the Cubs are contenders because he thinks Lester is replacing Hendricks in the rotation and that the bullpen is a weakness.

 

And Rob Neyer doesn't think the Cubs are contenders because they got outscored by 100 runs and has a long way to go to upgrade the offense.

[RynoRules]

I believe it's only 10 days if you want to be brutal about it.

 

And with off days and a slightly shortened season, I thought I read it was like 8 games.

 

If that's all it is then just leave him in Arizona for a week. I doubt he'd care that much and he can stay warm.

[Cubswin11]

So Keith Law doesn't think the Cubs are contenders because he thinks Lester is replacing Hendricks in the rotation and that the bullpen is a weakness.

What about Hendricks makes people think he's a lock for the rotation/is going to be good? His FB averages only 87 MPH and he struck out like 5 per 9 last year. I get he has really good control, but his stuff just isn't there.

[KingCubsFan]

Does anyone wonder if this 'accelerated timetable' includes Bryant being up on Opening Day? If they are going for it to some degree of aggressiveness, a month without your top prospect that is ready for the bigs will hurt them.

 

Only if they're not smart. Just by waiting a month, you gain an entire year of control. Even if Bryant is worth 2 more WAR (he won't be) than Valbuena, that's about 1/3 of 1 win. Just wait the month.

 

Angering Boras could cost you more long-term, especially if Bryant had a great ST.

Boras understands the system. And either way, Bryant is going to be a free agent and go to the highest bidder.

[bukie]

So Keith Law doesn't think the Cubs are contenders because he thinks Lester is replacing Hendricks in the rotation and that the bullpen is a weakness.

What about Hendricks makes people think he's a lock for the rotation/is going to be good? His FB averages only 87 MPH and he struck out like 5 per 9 last year. I get he has really good control, but his stuff just isn't there.

He's already been really good. He continues to get results despite the velo.

[UMFan83]

Fair enough, that works for me

 

Anyways:

 

Buster OlneyVerified account

‏@Buster_ESPN

Jon Lester's deal with the Cubs includes a signing bonus of at least $20 million.

 

TANAKA FUND LIVES!!!

 

And we all made fun of the Cubs for claiming they were rolling over the money. Now instead of bum elbowed Tanaka we have Lester.

[RammyFanny]

Lester's cutter + Bosio + NL = fun.

[Cubswin11]

So Keith Law doesn't think the Cubs are contenders because he thinks Lester is replacing Hendricks in the rotation and that the bullpen is a weakness.

What about Hendricks makes people think he's a lock for the rotation/is going to be good? His FB averages only 87 MPH and he struck out like 5 per 9 last year. I get he has really good control, but his stuff just isn't there.

He's already been really good. He continues to get results despite the velo.

I just have my doubts he will continue to get good enough results to stay in the rotation. I would love nothing more than him to stick as a 4ish starter since he's cheap/controllable.

[Cubswin11]

Lester's cutter + Bosio + NL = fun.

Kinda why I want to add McCarthy yet as well.

[bjam12]

So Keith Law doesn't think the Cubs are contenders because he thinks Lester is replacing Hendricks in the rotation and that the bullpen is a weakness.

 

And Rob Neyer doesn't think the Cubs are contenders because they got outscored by 100 runs and has a long way to go to upgrade the offense.

 

I would be pretty pissed if Hendricks is not one of the 5 starters.

[Guest]

So Keith Law doesn't think the Cubs are contenders because he thinks Lester is replacing Hendricks in the rotation and that the bullpen is a weakness.

Well, I don't think he's replacing Hendricks, but I do think they could use another starter to have all those back end options compete for one spot instead of two. Not to mention Hammel and Arrieta have some injury history. And, pitchers.

 

And Rob Neyer doesn't think the Cubs are contenders because they got outscored by 100 runs and has a long way to go to upgrade the offense.

Well, adding (at least) 100 points of OPS to the overall catcher position sure won't hurt. I think the bigger point is this: there were 6102 PA total for the Cubs last year and 1586 (26%) of those went to Whiteside, Watkins, Olt, Kalish, Baez, Schierholtz, Baker and Lake. In that 1/4 of the teams' total at bats, those gents had an aggregate OPS of .566. If you can eliminate those horrendous results in over a quarter of the PA's, the runs will be there.

[Gilby]

So Keith Law doesn't think the Cubs are contenders because he thinks Lester is replacing Hendricks in the rotation and that the bullpen is a weakness.

What about Hendricks makes people think he's a lock for the rotation/is going to be good? His FB averages only 87 MPH and he struck out like 5 per 9 last year. I get he has really good control, but his stuff just isn't there.

 

His changeup is really really good, and the command + groundball ability will play. He's at least the 4th best SP on the team, and I assume he's a lock to be in the rotation the way Theo talked about him toward the end of the season.

[weis21]

So Keith Law doesn't think the Cubs are contenders because he thinks Lester is replacing Hendricks in the rotation and that the bullpen is a weakness.

What about Hendricks makes people think he's a lock for the rotation/is going to be good? His FB averages only 87 MPH and he struck out like 5 per 9 last year. I get he has really good control, but his stuff just isn't there.

He's already been really good. He continues to get results despite the velo.

Plus Epstein seems really, really high on him judging by Theo's comments. Hendricks seems like a lock (and I'm happy about that).

 

Edit: Gilby is in my brain, apparently.