Offseason Rumors & Transactions Thread

[Guest]

Buster Olney questions (ESPN Insider required) whether the Cubs should pay the expected asking price for Lester or if they would be better of driving up the contract for Boston in order to remove a suitor from next year's market. According to Olney, "Unless the Cubs love Lester far and away more than other pitchers, it would make no sense for them to pay the current retail price for the left-hander."

 

This is some of the dumbest [expletive] I've ever read.

Wait...

 

We're better off letting other teams sign the best players in order to remove them from bidding on players next year? Even though that one player does not consume their whole budget or even block a position since teams need five pitchers?

 

That's some awesome logic, Buster.

[Elrhino]

So the Cubs' should focus on just jacking up the price for this year's free agents for another team, so next year's free agents can use that as the benchmark when the Cubs should be looking to buy a free agent?

[Guest]

Chris Cotillo ‏@ChrisCotillo 1m1 minute ago

#Pirates sign AJ Burnett to one-year deal.

[UMFan83]

Chris Cotillo ‏@ChrisCotillo 1m1 minute ago

#Pirates sign AJ Burnett to one-year deal.

 

Wasn't he supposed to retire after last year?

[Guest]

Chris Cotillo ‏@ChrisCotillo 2m2 minutes ago

Story on the #Marlins closing in on a 13-year, $325M megadeal with Giancarlo Stanton: http://sbnation.com/e/6986636

[XZero771679666304]

Chris Cotillo ‏@ChrisCotillo 2m2 minutes ago

Story on the #Marlins closing in on a 13-year, $325M megadeal with Giancarlo Stanton: http://sbnation.com/e/6986636

 

It's surprising, but he'll end up on the open market when they fire sale and he opts out. Assuming this actually happens.

[Guest]

Other things Marlin said (re: the Zimmerman report)

 

It's kind of shocking that Gordo ran with this one since he's supposedly a real reporter. However it's hilarious when a goofball like Loxas gets caught parroting his report and has to backtrack his story. Good times.

 

Yes...I wouldn't be surprised if there was an off hand conversation, but those happen daily. Gordo should be embarrassed for running that. Two things I'm almost certain of....The Cubs will not trade significant prospects for expensive or soon to be expensive pitching that is past prime age or nearing prime age as well as make a significant investment in years/money for the bullpen. I think the Hamel stuff has no legs unless Philly gives him away or the Cubs seriously strike out this offseason. Neither of which I think will happen.

[ConstableRabbit]

-1000 for writing "Hamel"

[RynoRules]

Buster Olney questions (ESPN Insider required) whether the Cubs should pay the expected asking price for Lester or if they would be better of driving up the contract for Boston in order to remove a suitor from next year's market. According to Olney, "Unless the Cubs love Lester far and away more than other pitchers, it would make no sense for them to pay the current retail price for the left-hander."

 

This is some of the dumbest [expletive] I've ever read.

Wait...

 

We're better off letting other teams sign the best players in order to remove them from bidding on players next year? Even though that one player does not consume their whole budget or even block a position since teams need five pitchers?

 

That's some awesome logic, Buster.

 

He seems to become dumber and yet more cocksure each year.

 

(Nice of turn of phrase there, methinks.)

[Guest]

-1000 for writing "Hamel"

 

At least it wasn't Hammel or Hammels

[Guest]

Buster Olney questions (ESPN Insider required) whether the Cubs should pay the expected asking price for Lester or if they would be better of driving up the contract for Boston in order to remove a suitor from next year's market. According to Olney, "Unless the Cubs love Lester far and away more than other pitchers, it would make no sense for them to pay the current retail price for the left-hander."

 

This is some of the dumbest [expletive] I've ever read.

Wait...

 

We're better off letting other teams sign the best players in order to remove them from bidding on players next year? Even though that one player does not consume their whole budget or even block a position since teams need five pitchers?

 

That's some awesome logic, Buster.

 

He seems to become dumber and yet more cocksure each year.

 

(Nice of turn of phrase there, methinks.)

Its called the Dunning-Kruger Effect. The dumber you are the more sure you are of your correctness.

[Guest]

@NathanHBishop: When the Giancarlo Stanton contract runs out the Mets will still have to pay Bobby Bonilla for 9 more years.

[Deeg]

Chris Cotillo ‏@ChrisCotillo 9m9 minutes ago

So looks like deal is Hellickson to #DBacks for prospects Justin Williams, Andrew Velazquez. #Rays

[Hairyducked Idiot]

@NathanHBishop: When the Giancarlo Stanton contract runs out the Mets will still have to pay Bobby Bonilla for 9 more years.

 

That never gets old.

[Deeg]

Chris Cotillo ‏@ChrisCotillo 3m3 minutes ago

Sources: Opt-out clause in Stanton contract expected to kick in after the 2019 season, when he is 30.

 

Well now - isn't that intriguing timing.

[treebird]

Chris Cotillo ‏@ChrisCotillo 3m3 minutes ago

Sources: Opt-out clause in Stanton contract expected to kick in after the 2019 season, when he is 30.

 

Well now - isn't that intriguing timing.

 

please do not be getting excited about the cubs signing free agents five years from now

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Chris Cotillo ‏@ChrisCotillo 3m3 minutes ago

Sources: Opt-out clause in Stanton contract expected to kick in after the 2019 season, when he is 30.

 

Well now - isn't that intriguing timing.

 

please do not be getting excited about the cubs signing free agents five years from now

 

With the way we tamper, the deal's probably already been done.

[Guest]

proof of tampering, imo

 

EDIT: oh come on

[Guest]

@NathanHBishop: When the Giancarlo Stanton contract runs out the Mets will still have to pay Bobby Bonilla for 9 more years.

 

That never gets old.

 

I'll be in my [expletive] 50s when the Mets don't have to pay Bobby Bonilla. What a nice retirement plan.

[rawaction]

Hellickson traded to the Diamondbacks.

[Felix Leiter]

Bruce Levine still in AZ. Cubs are looking to acquire 2 OF, preferably high .OBP and speed. Need runners on base in front of the big boys to drive in. Carl Crawford is drawing interest and still working on the contract he signed w/Theo/Boston. Could EJax be moved to WSox for John Danks-two bad contracts? WSox need a RH starter and Danks is #4 LH pitcher. Plenty of talk of swapping your bad contract for my bad contract.

 

More later...

[Vinestal]

Bruce Levine still in AZ. Cubs are looking to acquire 2 OF, preferably high .OBP and speed. Need runners on base in front of the big boys to drive in. Carl Crawford is drawing interest and still working on the contract he signed w/Theo/Boston. Could EJax be moved to WSox for John Danks-two bad contracts? WSox need a RH starter and Danks is #4 LH pitcher. Plenty of talk of swapping your bad contract for my bad contract.

 

More later...

Crawford yuck, he's never really been a great OBP guy think it was .329 last year and I doubt his speed is as much of a factor as it used to be. That contract is terrible to boot.

[Sammy Sofa]

Bruce Levine still in AZ. Cubs are looking to acquire 2 OF, preferably high .OBP and speed. Need runners on base in front of the big boys to drive in. Carl Crawford is drawing interest and still working on the contract he signed w/Theo/Boston. Could EJax be moved to WSox for John Danks-two bad contracts? WSox need a RH starter and Danks is #4 LH pitcher. Plenty of talk of swapping your bad contract for my bad contract.

 

More later...

Crawford yuck, he's never really been a great OBP guy think it was .329 last year and I doubt his speed is as much of a factor as it used to be. That contract is terrible to boot.

 

The MLB OBP average was .314 last year. Crawford's was .339. He's averaged a .332 OBP over his career.

[Guest]

Bruce Levine still in AZ. Cubs are looking to acquire 2 OF, preferably high .OBP and speed. Need runners on base in front of the big boys to drive in. Carl Crawford is drawing interest and still working on the contract he signed w/Theo/Boston. Could EJax be moved to WSox for John Danks-two bad contracts? WSox need a RH starter and Danks is #4 LH pitcher. Plenty of talk of swapping your bad contract for my bad contract.

 

More later...

Crawford yuck, he's never really been a great OBP guy think it was .329 last year and I doubt his speed is as much of a factor as it used to be. That contract is terrible to boot.

 

Not that I'm crazy about getting him, FWIW, it was .339. Even .329 is probably decent these days. And he had 23 steals in 29 attempts in 105 G. He was good for 2.5 wins.

[Vinestal]

Bruce Levine still in AZ. Cubs are looking to acquire 2 OF, preferably high .OBP and speed. Need runners on base in front of the big boys to drive in. Carl Crawford is drawing interest and still working on the contract he signed w/Theo/Boston. Could EJax be moved to WSox for John Danks-two bad contracts? WSox need a RH starter and Danks is #4 LH pitcher. Plenty of talk of swapping your bad contract for my bad contract.

 

More later...

Crawford yuck, he's never really been a great OBP guy think it was .329 last year and I doubt his speed is as much of a factor as it used to be. That contract is terrible to boot.

 

Not that I'm crazy about getting him, FWIW, it was .339. Even .329 is probably decent these days. And he had 23 steals in 29 attempts in 105 G. He was good for 2.5 wins.

Seemed low to me but I guess not... Still doesn't seem to offer much in comparison to what he's paid. I guess the Dodgers would eat some of that contract to move him?