2016 rotation

[sontensei]

#threadstarter

 

Ricketts have money so lets just exclude that factor..

 

If the cubs pull off a hamels/papelbon trade and sign Zimmerman in FA

 

How nasty would

 

Hamels

Zimmerman

Lester

Arietta

Hammel

 

be?

 

#ohshit

[toonsterwu]

Even if we could somehow leave aside the issue of money (which you really can't ...) ... I don't think I'm all that enthused about the idea of that rotation.

 

First off, you'd have to give me an idea of what we gave up for Hamels and Papelbon, as I'm still not of the belief that the Cubs need an elite 3rd starter to necessarily advance int the playoffs, with Arrieta/Lester as an excellent 1-2 punch this year. It would be nice to have, sure, but Jason Hammel has pitching ridiculously well with us and repeated his performance from last year, so I just don't feel the absolute demand/urgency to get an elite 3rd starter.

 

Leaving that aside, Zimmerman is supposedly looking for a contract north of what Lester got, and Hamels is obviously still on the book for a fair amount. The combination of Hamels/Zimmerman/Lester might cost ... roughly 60-65 million a year for at least 2016-2018. Is it doable? I guess it's not impossible ... as Arrieta isn't eligible for free agency until after 2018 (I think) and the youngsters allow us to potentially spend elsewhere, but that's an awful lot tied into pitching and I think I'd prefer a bit more flexibility. Add in a possible Papelbon contract, the likely chance that we are still paying Edwin Jackson's deal, the potential need to find a CF/leadoff hitter (with Fowler hitting FA), possible bench/depth additions, extensions and raises ... and we're probably creeping awfully close to the luxury tax threshold.

[Guest]

I like Price a lot more than Zim

[davell]

Zimmerman needs to pick it up if he's going to get 100 mill from anyone. Price may get 200 and there's no way that's coming from us.

 

It's been written about multiple times within the last few weeks-3/60 was as high as our budget allowed on Shields AND that was with deferments.

 

Our payroll is going to stay in the general area it is now, with slight increases for more attendance, revenue from signage, etc. But we're not going to be able to take on a Hamels type contract and go sign a guy for over 100. Not until we get our TV deal.

[sontensei]

Not so sure if the cubs would give up the prospects required for the Phillies, but I'm pretty sure if they make Edwards salary dump a part of some deal and also find a cheaper solution for CF or SS (something makes me think fowler wont be extended, and they may move castro in the offseason) that it wouldn't be impossible.

[abuck1220]

i don't think cj edwards' salary is that much of a burden, but i definitely think it's worth discussing. new thread maybe?

[sontensei]

i don't think cj edwards' salary is that much of a burden, but i definitely think it's worth discussing. new thread maybe?

 

lol I MEANT ejax

[23sharks]

Zimmerman needs to pick it up if he's going to get 100 mill from anyone. Price may get 200 and there's no way that's coming from us.

 

It's been written about multiple times within the last few weeks-3/60 was as high as our budget allowed on Shields AND that was with deferments.

 

Our payroll is going to stay in the general area it is now, with slight increases for more attendance, revenue from signage, etc. But we're not going to be able to take on a Hamels type contract and go sign a guy for over 100. Not until we get our TV deal.

 

He pitched a shut out today, and his numbers look pretty good.

I'd love to have Price too, but guessing the price, pun intended, ends up north of 200.

[Little Slide Rooter]

@jonmorosi: David Price made one thing clear about free agency: He won’t sign with a team he believes is a “no-fun zone.” Culture matters a lot to him.

 

We're fun, right? We're loads of fun. Not like those Cardinals who are always...well, you know.

[Brian]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[Guest]

Uhh?

[Guest]

Uhh?

He's saying we're a fun culture.

 

Our "aces" in the hole here are Maddon & Johnson. If we want to spend the money, I think we've got a real chance to recruit Price.

[SouthSideRyan]

@jonmorosi: David Price made one thing clear about free agency: He won’t sign with a team he believes is a “no-fun zone.” Culture matters a lot to him.

 

We're fun, right? We're loads of fun. Not like those Cardinals who are always...well, you know.

 

Dying?

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Uhh?

He's saying we're a fun culture.

 

Our "aces" in the hole here are Maddon & Johnson. If we want to spend the money, I think we've got a real chance to recruit Price.

 

Man this is going to be embarrassing for me, but I can't think of who Johnson is?

[Guest]

Uhh?

He's saying we're a fun culture.

 

Our "aces" in the hole here are Maddon & Johnson. If we want to spend the money, I think we've got a real chance to recruit Price.

 

Man this is going to be embarrassing for me, but I can't think of who Johnson is?

 

Derek Johnson, minor league pitching coordinator. price's former vanderbilt pitching coach.

[jersey cubs fan]

Uhh?

He's saying we're a fun culture.

 

Our "aces" in the hole here are Maddon & Johnson. If we want to spend the money, I think we've got a real chance to recruit Price.

 

Man this is going to be embarrassing for me, but I can't think of who Johnson is?

Cubs minor league pitching coordinator (Derek) is the former Vanderbilt coach and developed Price.

 

Unless the thought is that he is in line to get the pitching coach job I do not think he can be all that helpful in recruiting a free agent.

[Cubswin11]

Like most FA I'm guessing it's going to come down who's willing to pay him the most

[Guest]

Uhh?

He's saying we're a fun culture.

 

Our "aces" in the hole here are Maddon & Johnson. If we want to spend the money, I think we've got a real chance to recruit Price.

 

Man this is going to be embarrassing for me, but I can't think of who Johnson is?

Cubs minor league pitching coordinator (Derek) is the former Vanderbilt coach and developed Price.

 

Unless the thought is that he is in line to get the pitching coach job I do not think he can be all that helpful in recruiting a free agent.

They've referenced the good relationship that they have in the past (from when we hired Johnson). If "culture" is important to Price, it certainly can't hurt. In fact, overall, it can't hurt. We have the guys that shepherded Price's career from the time he was 18 until the middle of last year.

[Guest]

Like most FA I'm guessing it's going to come down who's willing to pay him the most

Well, yeah, but if it is close between us and another team, I believe we have an edge. Who knows if we'll want to pay that much for another pitcher, though.

[KrisBryantisaBeast]

You could probably get 2 pitchers like Zimmerman and Kazmir for what it would cost to sign David Price. I would prefer upgrading 4 and 5 instead of just splurging on Price.

[Guest]

You could probably get 2 pitchers like Zimmerman and Kazmir for what it would cost to sign David Price. I would prefer upgrading 4 and 5 instead of just splurging on Price.

When it comes right down to it, I'd prefer not to spend big on pitching at all. I think you can find very good to great pitching in other ways.

[Guest]

You could probably get 2 pitchers like Zimmerman and Kazmir for what it would cost to sign David Price. I would prefer upgrading 4 and 5 instead of just splurging on Price.

 

it is very debatable whether a year older scott kazmir is an upgrade over hendricks

[Cubswin11]

Like most FA I'm guessing it's going to come down who's willing to pay him the most

Well, yeah, but if it is close between us and another team, I believe we have an edge. Who knows if we'll want to pay that much for another pitcher, though.

While I agree if it's close it likely helps, I just don't see us going to the 180-200+ range for a pitcher.

[Guest]

with these comments from price lately and even the ones a year or two ago, it's starting to feel almost more inevitable than lester did all of last year.

[XZero771679666304]

with these comments from price lately and even the ones a year or two ago, it's starting to feel almost more inevitable than lester did all of last year.

 

Even more so than Lester, imo. As you point out, he's been making comments for while now. Then Epstein/Hoyer talked about "not getting all the SP in one offseason. Maddon's hiring, for me, was the clincher.

 

The Cubs seem to be Price's clear preference, and if the Cubs don't make a serious run at him, I'll be stunned. It has the feel of inevitability.