Offseason Rumors & Transactions Thread

[Sammy Sofa]

Anyone else think Starlin Castro's about to be traded to the Padres?

 

I will hurt so many things if they do that. So many things.

[gscool89]

Anyone else think Starlin Castro's about to be traded to the Padres?

Austin Hedges is the only prospect I care a little about but even that's not enough.

[RynoRules]

Anyone else think Starlin Castro's about to be traded to the Padres?

 

I will hurt so many things if they do that. So many things.

 

Better question: would you all spontaneously combust of they dealt Castro to NYM for Wright?

[Sammy Sofa]

Anyone else think Starlin Castro's about to be traded to the Padres?

 

I will hurt so many things if they do that. So many things.

 

Better question: would you all spontaneously combust of they dealt Castro to NYM for Wright?

 

That trade makes no sense.

[TruffleShuffle]

i remember last year when the dodgers signed brian wilson to a 2 year, $19.5m contract, i had to double check and make sure that it wasn't a joke. well, he was released today, meaning that the dodgers got one year of a 4.66 ERA for nearly $20m.

[Backtobanks]

Cubs win the Craig Breslow sweepstakes by him signing a 1-year, $2 million deal with the Red Sox.

[expletive] yeah

 

i tend to give this FO the benefit of the doubt (like with the ross thing) because they aren't idiots but i saw literally nothing remotely redeeming about this possible move

 

Sometimes non-idiots do idiotic things (releasing Wright, signing Ross, thinking about Breslow).

[Guest]

Cubs win the Craig Breslow sweepstakes by him signing a 1-year, $2 million deal with the Red Sox.

[expletive] yeah

 

i tend to give this FO the benefit of the doubt (like with the ross thing) because they aren't idiots but i saw literally nothing remotely redeeming about this possible move

 

Sometimes non-idiots do idiotic things (releasing Wright, signing Ross, thinking about Breslow).

 

How is signing Ross an idiotic thing if Lester made that part of his demands with whatever team signed him? Do you honestly pass on Lester because of 2 years of a back up catcher that plays 7 innings every 5th game? While Montero and Castillo was a rather dreamy tandem, it's not all that realistic. Someone wasn't going to be happy sitting a lot when they had both already proven to be everyday starters. Since Ross has mega experience in the catching department, maybe he will be good at teaching Schwarber how to carry the torch once his 2 year contract expires, or he proves to be too much of a liability to the team.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I'm already paying Lester $20m more than any other team wanted to pay him. Now I have to drag down the roster with some decrepit Crash Davis just for him?

 

Yeah, I might decide to look elsewhere at that point.

[Backtobanks]

Cubs win the Craig Breslow sweepstakes by him signing a 1-year, $2 million deal with the Red Sox.

[expletive] yeah

 

i tend to give this FO the benefit of the doubt (like with the ross thing) because they aren't idiots but i saw literally nothing remotely redeeming about this possible move

 

Sometimes non-idiots do idiotic things (releasing Wright, signing Ross, thinking about Breslow).

 

How is signing Ross an idiotic thing if Lester made that part of his demands with whatever team signed him? Do you honestly pass on Lester because of 2 years of a back up catcher that plays 7 innings every 5th game? While Montero and Castillo was a rather dreamy tandem, it's not all that realistic. Someone wasn't going to be happy sitting a lot when they had both already proven to be everyday starters. Since Ross has mega experience in the catching department, maybe he will be good at teaching Schwarber how to carry the torch once his 2 year contract expires, or he proves to be too much of a liability to the team.

 

You're assuming that Lester made that demand (which I doubt). Secondly, I'm afraid that Ross is going to play more than 7 innings every 5th game. (God forbid Montero gets injured.) As for old defensive catchers who can't hit a lick, we already have Henry Blanco to teach Scwarber without taking a spot in the lineup.

[Guest]

You're assuming that Lester made that demand (which I doubt).

 

Why would you doubt it? Do you think Cubs management planned on bringing in Ross whether they signed Lester or not? I'd find that a lot more doubtful than Lester wanting his personal catcher to go wherever he goes.

[imb]

I'm already paying Lester $20m more than any other team wanted to pay him. Now I have to drag down the roster with some decrepit Crash Davis just for him?

 

Yeah, I might decide to look elsewhere at that point.

 

Lol and then all the kyles in the world scream about "wow second place again!"

[davell]

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2014/12/20/7419651/cubs-embrace-framing-data-why-miguel-montero-is-a-perfect-fit

 

Pretty good read as to why Montero(and Ross) were brought in.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I'm already paying Lester $20m more than any other team wanted to pay him. Now I have to drag down the roster with some decrepit Crash Davis just for him?

 

Yeah, I might decide to look elsewhere at that point.

 

Lol and then all the kyles in the world scream about "wow second place again!"

 

I am working under the hypothetical that they tell Lester to go screw and go make an awesome trade. Of course we know what they'd really do is shut down and start telling Kaplan to hype 2017.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Honestly I can see the pitch-framing thing turning out awesome for us but I am pretty invested now in hating this move, plus couldn't we have found another guy who could frame pitches but also not be an elderly wet fart at the plate?

[imb]

I'm already paying Lester $20m more than any other team wanted to pay him. Now I have to drag down the roster with some decrepit Crash Davis just for him?

 

Yeah, I might decide to look elsewhere at that point.

 

Lol and then all the kyles in the world scream about "wow second place again!"

 

I am working under the hypothetical that they tell Lester to go screw and go make an awesome trade. Of course we know what they'd really do is shut down and start telling Kaplan to hype 2017.

 

Of course!

[Guest]

Honestly I can see the pitch-framing thing turning out awesome for us but I am pretty invested now in hating this move, plus couldn't we have found another guy who could frame pitches but also not be an elderly wet fart at the plate?

 

God I hate you and this is why

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Honestly I can see the pitch-framing thing turning out awesome for us but I am pretty invested now in hating this move, plus couldn't we have found another guy who could frame pitches but also not be an elderly wet fart at the plate?

 

God I hate you and this is why

 

Reasonable.

[Backtobanks]

You're assuming that Lester made that demand (which I doubt).

 

Why would you doubt it? Do you think Cubs management planned on bringing in Ross whether they signed Lester or not? I'd find that a lot more doubtful than Lester wanting his personal catcher to go wherever he goes.

 

It's pretty obvious that Theo wanted to get rid of Castillo since he went after Martin and then traded for Montero, so yes it's possible that Theo might have signed Ross because of his defense. All Theo had to do was tell Lester he would do his best to sign Ross and then let someone outbid him. Also, Lester managed to do pretty well (1.9 WAR, 1.07 WHIP, 2.35 ERA in 76 innings) without his "personal" catcher in Oakland.

[RynoRules]

I'm already paying Lester $20m more than any other team wanted to pay him. Now I have to drag down the roster with some decrepit Crash Davis just for him?

 

Yeah, I might decide to look elsewhere at that point.

 

Lol and then all the kyles in the world scream about "wow second place again!"

 

Yeah, Kyle you are completely full of isht. You'd be losing your bleeping mind if they passed on Lester because they didn't want to give Ross two years. Not exactly the same, but similar to if the Bulls had passed on Rodman because he came with his nominal shrink, Jack Haley.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I'm already paying Lester $20m more than any other team wanted to pay him. Now I have to drag down the roster with some decrepit Crash Davis just for him?

 

Yeah, I might decide to look elsewhere at that point.

 

Lol and then all the kyles in the world scream about "wow second place again!"

 

Yeah, Kyle you are completely full of isht. You'd be losing your bleeping mind if they passed on Lester because they didn't want to give Ross two years. Not exactly the same, but similar to if the Bulls had passed on Rodman because he came with his nominal shrink, Jack Haley.

 

I said before Lester signed that there were plenty of alternatives I'd prefer to him, and that if he was tied to Ross he'd be less desirable and thus even more preferable alternatives.

[Backtobanks]

From MLBTR:

 

The Indians have a handful of left-handed outfielders, which leads Pluto to believe David Murphy will be traded. Murphy is owed $6MM in 2015. This is my speculation, but we learned earlier today that the Giants could turn to the trade market for a left-handed outfielder.

 

Murphy might be an interesting trade target - LH, veteran, no long term commitment.

[Deeg]

The Indians would have to pay someone to take Murphy's contract, even for a year. His offense has cratered and he's an absolute butcher in LF.

[Little Slide Rooter]

i remember last year when the dodgers signed brian wilson to a 2 year, $19.5m contract, i had to double check and make sure that it wasn't a joke. well, he was released today, meaning that the dodgers got one year of a 4.66 ERA for nearly $20m.

 

In their defense, they picked him off the scrap heap the year before and, he was looking like his old self when they called him up late that season. Probably wanted to lock him up before anyone noticed. And this was when they were trying to spend wads of cash on anyone who would take it.

[benzona79]

I would be surprised if Ross is Lester's personal catcher regardless of splits. Would imagine Montero is catching for Lester opening day. Think it would send a very bad message if Lester insists on Ross despite the fact that Montero is excellent defensively and was targeted as our number one catcher.

 

Obviously the front office places great emphasis on pitch framing, and it's easy to see why, based on all the studies that have been popping up - Maddon has been talking about it at least for the last 3-4 years, so this isn't some new passing fad.

 

According to the stats in the article posted by davell, if we had Montero catching instead of Castillo last year, teams would have scored 7% less runs against us on the season. Don't know how to quantify heightened pitch counts, etc, but would imagine there is very significant value there as well.

 

No way Castillo's offensive upside comes close to covering that gap, and would imagine that this run differential more than justifies the salary differential between the two players.

 

Once we got Montero, Castillo's value as trade bait to a team less smitten with pitch framing stuff is most likely worth more than his value catching every 5th day for the cubs. And we've got a great defensive tandem with good splits to for the next few years as we wait to see whether Schwarber is for real.

[Vinestal]

I would be surprised if Ross is Lester's personal catcher regardless of splits. Would imagine Montero is catching for Lester opening day. Think it would send a very bad message if Lester insists on Ross despite the fact that Montero is excellent defensively and was targeted as our number one catcher.

 

Obviously the front office places great emphasis on pitch framing, and it's easy to see why, based on all the studies that have been popping up - Maddon has been talking about it at least for the last 3-4 years, so this isn't some new passing fad.

 

According to the stats in the article posted by davell, if we had Montero catching instead of Castillo last year, teams would have scored 7% less runs against us on the season. Don't know how to quantify heightened pitch counts, etc, but would imagine there is very significant value there as well.

 

No way Castillo's offensive upside comes close to covering that gap, and would imagine that this run differential more than justifies the salary differential between the two players.

 

Once we got Montero, Castillo's value as trade bait to a team less smitten with pitch framing stuff is most likely worth more than his value catching every 5th day for the cubs. And we've got a great defensive tandem with good splits to for the next few years as we wait to see whether Schwarber is for real.

 

Good post and welcome to the boards :good: