Levine - Interest in Papelbon?

[David]

One of the areas the front office is expected to address before the trade deadline is the bullpen. And according to Bruce Levine, the Cubs are interested in RHP Jonathan Papelbon and have had internal discussions about the veteran closer.

There is an obvious connection between the Cubs’ front office and Jonathan Papelbon. The Red Sox selected Papelbon in the fourth round of the 2003 draft when Theo Epstein was calling the shots for Boston. Papelbon made his Major League debut with the Sox in 2005 and closed out the World Series a couple of years later. Papelbon left Boston at the same time Theo Epstein departed to take the job with the Cubs.

It is believed the Cubs are exploring ways to improve the bullpen and adding a veteran closer like Jonathan Papelbon could push Hector Rondon into a set-up role alongside Pedro Strop.

 

Only thing is I'm not sure where CCO is sourcing the Levine thing from

 

http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2015/05/cubs-reportedly-interested-in-rhp-jonathan-papelbon.php#.VVs_0vlVhBd

[rawaction]

Internal discussions always seemed weird to me. Do teams really have discussions on who they are thinking about thinking of trading for? How do these discussions get out into the public in the "internal" phase?

[Guest]

Do teams really have discussions on who they are thinking about thinking of trading for?

 

Huh?

 

Why wouldn't they?

[ConstableRabbit]

How do these discussions get out into the public in the "internal" phase?

Levine: Hey, I know the pen has been in trouble -- have you guys thought about Papelbon?

FO Source: We've talked about him from time to time.

Levine: Mind if I write about ti?

FO Source: Nope.

[SouthSideRyan]

#NoLeakFrontOffice

[KingCubsFan]

Seems like a pretty logical fit. Of course, that assumes Amaro isn't asking for Soler and Schwarber in return.

[rawaction]

Do teams really have discussions on who they are thinking about thinking of trading for?

 

Huh?

 

Why wouldn't they?

 

I guess I don't understand the point.

 

"Hey, you know who we should try to trade for? Papelbon."

"Agreed. We could use him. Let's call the Phillies in a month to see how they feel about it."

 

Obviously that's oversimplified, but I don't understand why a front office would talk about trading for a guy internally when you don't even know if he's available or what it would take externally. You have scouts checking players out all the time. But there's really nothing gained beyond "do we want him or not?" from the internal talks. And I don't know how anyone would know until it was at the point of calling the Phillies.

[jersey cubs fan]

Do teams really have discussions on who they are thinking about thinking of trading for?

 

Huh?

 

Why wouldn't they?

 

I guess I don't understand the point.

 

"Hey, you know who we should try to trade for? Papelbon."

"Agreed. We could use him. Let's call the Phillies in a month to see how they feel about it."

 

Obviously that's oversimplified, but I don't understand why a front office would talk about trading for a guy internally when you don't even know if he's available or what it would take externally. You have scouts checking players out all the time. But there's really nothing gained beyond "do we want him or not?" from the internal talks. And I don't know how anyone would know until it was at the point of calling the Phillies.

 

I would think they keep a "wish list" of specific guys they have interest in talking about around the trade deadline. And they'd talk about who should be on such a list and/or who should come off of that list.

[sontensei]

Do teams really have discussions on who they are thinking about thinking of trading for?

 

Huh?

 

Why wouldn't they?

 

I guess I don't understand the point.

 

"Hey, you know who we should try to trade for? Papelbon."

"Agreed. We could use him. Let's call the Phillies in a month to see how they feel about it."

 

Obviously that's oversimplified, but I don't understand why a front office would talk about trading for a guy internally when you don't even know if he's available or what it would take externally. You have scouts checking players out all the time. But there's really nothing gained beyond "do we want him or not?" from the internal talks. And I don't know how anyone would know until it was at the point of calling the Phillies.

 

I would think they keep a "wish list" of specific guys they have interest in talking about around the trade deadline. And they'd talk about who should be on such a list and/or who should come off of that list.

 

the timing, the FO having interest or not and all that aside, what would you trade for him?

[rawaction]

Do teams really have discussions on who they are thinking about thinking of trading for?

 

Huh?

 

Why wouldn't they?

 

I guess I don't understand the point.

 

"Hey, you know who we should try to trade for? Papelbon."

"Agreed. We could use him. Let's call the Phillies in a month to see how they feel about it."

 

Obviously that's oversimplified, but I don't understand why a front office would talk about trading for a guy internally when you don't even know if he's available or what it would take externally. You have scouts checking players out all the time. But there's really nothing gained beyond "do we want him or not?" from the internal talks. And I don't know how anyone would know until it was at the point of calling the Phillies.

 

I would think they keep a "wish list" of specific guys they have interest in talking about around the trade deadline. And they'd talk about who should be on such a list and/or who should come off of that list.

 

Yeah, I get that. I just don't understand why you have that "wish list" without having a feel on if the players on the list will be available and what it might take to get him. And once you get a feel on that.....the talks are no longer internal. I do understand it's mid May and they have 2 1/2 months before making moves, but I would think if they are doing their due diligence to come up with a list, they are at least making preliminary phone calls.

[jersey cubs fan]

Yeah, I get that. I just don't understand why you have that "wish list" without having a feel on if the players on the list will be available and what it might take to get him. And once you get a feel on that.....the talks are no longer internal. I do understand it's mid May and they have 2 1/2 months before making moves, but I would think if they are doing their due diligence to come up with a list, they are at least making preliminary phone calls.

What defines a feel?

 

I would think they can get a feel without making a call and specifically ask. They should have a log of all communications with each team and be able to theorize their willingness to buy or sell based on those communications as well as the standings and/or financial situation of the other teams.

 

They probably thought the Phillies would suck. 25% of the way into the season and Philly is not good. They are expensive and bad and not about to get better, so they will have a logical reason to be willing to trade veterans.

 

 

I don't get why you don't think they would have a list of names without specifically asking the other teams if those guys are available.

[rawaction]

Yeah, I get that. I just don't understand why you have that "wish list" without having a feel on if the players on the list will be available and what it might take to get him. And once you get a feel on that.....the talks are no longer internal. I do understand it's mid May and they have 2 1/2 months before making moves, but I would think if they are doing their due diligence to come up with a list, they are at least making preliminary phone calls.

What defines a feel?

 

I would think they can get a feel without making a call and specifically ask. They should have a log of all communications with each team and be able to theorize their willingness to buy or sell based on those communications as well as the standings and/or financial situation of the other teams.

 

They probably thought the Phillies would suck. 25% of the way into the season and Philly is not good. They are expensive and bad and not about to get better, so they will have a logical reason to be willing to trade veterans.

 

 

I don't get why you don't think they would have a list of names without specifically asking the other teams if those guys are available.

 

I didn't really think about preseason talks. "Hey, how you think you guys are going to do?" "IDK, Nats are loaded. If we fall behind we'll probably sell off some vets. Gotta build up the farm the way you guys have." That makes sense. And yeah, you can assume certain teams are going to suck, and assume certain players are going to be available from those teams.

[Guest]

I think GMs talk a lot more frequently than gets out to the public. I'm sure Theo and Ruben have chatted several times and Paelbon's name has come up. I like the "internal" discussion part. Are they going to have external discussions with each other about who they want?

 

"Hey Jed, lets go down to Roxy's Stripper Pole and talk about trade targets over drinks and T&A."

 

Enquiring minds want to know, GD!

[Little Slide Rooter]

Do teams really have discussions on who they are thinking about thinking of trading for?

 

Huh?

 

Why wouldn't they?

 

I guess I don't understand the point.

 

"Hey, you know who we should try to trade for? Papelbon."

"Agreed. We could use him. Let's call the Phillies in a month to see how they feel about it."

 

Obviously that's oversimplified, but I don't understand why a front office would talk about trading for a guy internally when you don't even know if he's available or what it would take externally. You have scouts checking players out all the time. But there's really nothing gained beyond "do we want him or not?" from the internal talks. And I don't know how anyone would know until it was at the point of calling the Phillies.

 

Theo: Hey Jed, I just traded Alcantara for Papelbon

 

Jed: [expletive], I just traded Alcantara for K Rod.

 

Randy: I told you we should have discussed the matter internally.

 

Theo: Shut up, Randy.

 

Jed: Seriously, how are you even still here?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

roflpip

[toonsterwu]

I'm okay if the price is right, but color me not convinced that Papelbon would be the closer with Rondon as the setup guy. Furthermore, while it's unlikely Papelbon finishes 55+ games in 2015, unless Rondon is blowing saves like crazy, I'd rather not risk Papelbon's option vesting.

 

This, though, feels like idle chatter at an early stage. I imagine, barring the pen falling apart, that they will give Grimm/Ramirez enough time.

[sontensei]

I'm okay if the price is right, but color me not convinced that Papelbon would be the closer with Rondon as the setup guy. Furthermore, while it's unlikely Papelbon finishes 55+ games in 2015, unless Rondon is blowing saves like crazy, I'd rather not risk Papelbon's option vesting.

 

This, though, feels like idle chatter at an early stage. I imagine, barring the pen falling apart, that they will give Grimm/Ramirez enough time.

 

looking at medina's history he could be a sleeper if they figure out what he needs to fix.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I'm okay if the price is right, but color me not convinced that Papelbon would be the closer with Rondon as the setup guy. Furthermore, while it's unlikely Papelbon finishes 55+ games in 2015, unless Rondon is blowing saves like crazy, I'd rather not risk Papelbon's option vesting.

 

This, though, feels like idle chatter at an early stage. I imagine, barring the pen falling apart, that they will give Grimm/Ramirez enough time.

 

Would he even want it to vest? He's 34 now, going to be 35 by winter. If he keeps doing what he's doing, he could realistically receive a 3 year deal in the offseason. But if he were to wait until his age 36 offseason, teams would be a lot more reluctant to give him more than a year. Who's to say that he might not prefer to play out the contract and retire, or make one more stop in Boston for a farewell tour. But he may also want that option waved by whomever he's traded to. Assuming that he has an NTC. Which I assume he does.

[toonsterwu]

It's possible. My thought was twofold:

 

a) that with his age, reputation, and declining fastball, teams may concerned enough to decide not to fork over top tier money

b) If he's a confident guy, as he seems to be, he may decide that 13 million in 2016 and then trying for a 2 year, Joe Nathan type deal might be a better, more lucrative avenue, compared to say a 3 year 27-33 million type deal.

 

(Nathan's a decent comp situationally, as his fastball was declining when Detroit snapped him up)

 

I guess I could see him decide that maybe forgoing that 13 million and going after a 2 year deal would be best, but it's hard for me to see anyone give him a 3 year deal, and even if he had a poor 2016, I think he could still net enough on a one year offer to make a 2 year deal in 2015 somewhat similar to what he could get with the option and a one year deal.

 

Either way, my original note on this line was that I don't think Papelbon would be the closer, if we traded for him, unless Rondon stunk it up.

[Deeg]

There's no way Papelbon wouldn't want that option to vest. He's still a good pitcher, but the curve of his velocity decline is majestic. Even if someone were to give him a new three-year deal he'd struggle to get more for three years than the option would pay him for one.

 

Secondly, if you traded for him, that option is going to vest unless he gets hurt or sucks. It makes no sense to pick up that salary - much less give up any talent - if you don't intend for Papelbon to close. And it's not as though Rondon has been lights-out this season - he's been pretty shaky.