Levine: Cubs sign Jason Motte

[ManEatingTarp]

I always enjoyed watching him pitch.

He's a converted catcher that throws heat and looked like he loved being called on to close games.

 

I hope he has a great bounce back year.

 

From a fantasy perspective he'll be a nice late round lottery ticket for saves.

[UK1679666180]

It still feels bad that my 1st initial reaction was to assume that if he does good until the ASB that they could flip him for prospects as the primary reason of signing him, I hope this will soon go away.

 

I don't see the Cubs as a legit contender so I'll stick with that premise. I'm hoping they control his usage and maximize productivity (no 3 days in a row etc.) to get the most out of him come the July deadline.

[Guest]

It still feels bad that my 1st initial reaction was to assume that if he does good until the ASB that they could flip him for prospects as the primary reason of signing him, I hope this will soon go away.

 

I don't see the Cubs as a legit contender so I'll stick with that premise. I'm hoping they control his usage and maximize productivity (no 3 days in a row etc.) to get the most out of him come the July deadline.

You're not going to bring me down, man. 2015 is going to be magical.

[Irrelevant Dude]

It's only 1 year so I don't care about the money. This is a low risk, high reward move, hard to complain about it.

This is hardly a low risk high reward situation. The risk is very real that you threw away $4.5m on a guy that will provide nothing. The reward is maybe one season of a good reliever.

And how high is the "high reward" if he ends up getting some of the performance bonuses and making $6-7 Million? Hopefully he pitches well enough to get the incentives, but it will be difficult to significantly outperform the contract.

[CP_414]

It's only 1 year so I don't care about the money. This is a low risk, high reward move, hard to complain about it.

This is hardly a low risk high reward situation. The risk is very real that you threw away $4.5m on a guy that will provide nothing. The reward is maybe one season of a good reliever.

And how high is the "high reward" if he ends up getting some of the performance bonuses and making $6-7 Million? Hopefully he pitches well enough to get the incentives, but it will be difficult to significantly outperform the contract.

 

Who cares about his performance bonuses? If he earns them that's a good thing. It's not like it kicks in a second year at $15 million. The 2015 payroll will already be set by the time he earns any bonus, so it is highly doubtful the bonus has any impact on acquiring other players.

 

I think it is a pretty low risk move. 4.5 million is not much in this free agent market. If he is close to the pitcher he was before TJ he is easily worth it. If he sucks cut him after 10-15 innings like they did with Veras. There are enough questions in the bullpen at this point to justify taking a little risk on Motte.

[Guest]

[Guest]

Same representation as Lester.

[Guest]

Same representation as Lester.

 

yeup

[Clem Fandango]

I couldn't care any less about this contract or the money involved.

[toonsterwu]

The "why not?" here is the very real chance that Motte is something like our 8th best right handed reliever. This isn't 2012 any more, there's an opportunity cost to giving someone a bullpen spot.

 

The thing I'm wondering/pondering is if they are trying to build up enough depth to offer them some flexibility to make a separate trade. If they fail to land a trade, then they give themselves quality depth to work with, particularly since there's still enough unknown as it pertains to the kids.

 

To be quite honest, I doubt it, but the Colby Rasmus talk and the Motte move has me wondering a bit. I mean, a package of Alcantara and say, Neil Ramirez might be a starting point to build a package if they are aiming high.

 

If not, and this is just depth, it's quite costly and I don't love it, but I don't necessarily hate it. There's a bevy of power righties that they never seemed to love so a look-see at Motte for 1 year isn't horrendous ... but yes, I agree, there's an opportunity cost there.

[UK1679666180]

I don't understand the signing, they're acquiring players into a position of strength. Even if they do trade someone else and it creates a spot for Motte, there's nothing here to state it's a wise move based on the contract amount, age, and injury history.

 

I would much rather have Wright and address a position of need rather than this and save some cash.

 

Hopefully, I'm proven wrong.

[Felix Leiter]

I like the deal. We really don't have a seasoned closer other than leaning exclusively on Rondon. Motte could provide a bridge to developing the younger relievers into potential closers. Plus considering the cost of Robertson(Sox) and other closers, this could be a true bargain.

[treebird]

if jason motte becomes the closer the season is canceled

[bjam12]

I had a nightmare last night that Motte was our 8th inning guy in April and blew the lead in consecutive games.

[DiamondMind]

What I don't understand is why we non-tendered Wright

[rawaction]

What I don't understand is why we non-tendered Wright

Nobody does.

[PackLandVA]

Maybe someone can ask at Cubs Convention next month.

[doschi]

What I don't understand is why we non-tendered Wright

 

Word on the street is he banged Sandberg's wife.

[imb]

*daughter

[UMFan83]

Contract details:

 

Jon Heyman

@JonHeymanCBS

jason motte: $4.5M base. 250K for 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 gf. 250K 60 games, 65 games. $2.5M bonus max #cubs

 

If I'm understanding this right, 250k for each game finished between 50 and 59.

 

Then 250k for pitching in 50 games, and another 250k for pitching in 65 games, but the most his bonus can be is $2.5m

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Contract details:

 

Jon Heyman

@JonHeymanCBS

jason motte: $4.5M base. 250K for 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 gf. 250K 60 games, 65 games. $2.5M bonus max #cubs

 

If I'm understanding this right, 250k for each game finished between 50 and 59.

 

Then 250k for pitching in 50 games, and another 250k for pitching in 65 games, but the most his bonus can be is $2.5m

 

Did we make him any kind of promises about finishing games? Did we just spend money on a Proven Closer?

[jersey cubs fan]

Contract details:

 

Jon Heyman

@JonHeymanCBS

jason motte: $4.5M base. 250K for 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 gf. 250K 60 games, 65 games. $2.5M bonus max #cubs

 

If I'm understanding this right, 250k for each game finished between 50 and 59.

 

Then 250k for pitching in 50 games, and another 250k for pitching in 65 games, but the most his bonus can be is $2.5m

 

Did we make him any kind of promises about finishing games? Did we just spend money on a Proven Closer?

I'm hoping that was more about providing a raise if he is moved into the role due to Rondon injury/ineffectiveness.

[Tyrant]

Contract details:

 

Jon Heyman

@JonHeymanCBS

jason motte: $4.5M base. 250K for 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 gf. 250K 60 games, 65 games. $2.5M bonus max #cubs

 

If I'm understanding this right, 250k for each game finished between 50 and 59.

 

Then 250k for pitching in 50 games, and another 250k for pitching in 65 games, but the most his bonus can be is $2.5m

 

Did we make him any kind of promises about finishing games? Did we just spend money on a Proven Closer?

 

i bet they did. i bet they did it to piss you off.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

i bet they did. i bet they did it to piss you off.

 

Wouldn't be the first time, probably won't be the last.

[dew1679666265]

Contract details:

 

Jon Heyman

@JonHeymanCBS

jason motte: $4.5M base. 250K for 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 gf. 250K 60 games, 65 games. $2.5M bonus max #cubs

 

If I'm understanding this right, 250k for each game finished between 50 and 59.

 

Then 250k for pitching in 50 games, and another 250k for pitching in 65 games, but the most his bonus can be is $2.5m

 

Did we make him any kind of promises about finishing games? Did we just spend money on a Proven Closer?

 

I would guess the gf in that tweet means games finished - meaning he gets a $250K bonus for every game he finishes from 50-59 and then for 60 and 65.