Papelbon?

[Cubbie Swagger]

Is Papelbon even a remote possibility?

 

I don't think that having a dominant, proven closer is at all overrated. Especially in the postseason. Besides that brief stretch where Marmol was lights-out... I don't remember when the Cubs have had anybody of that calber.

[Guest]

yes papelbon has been tied to the cubs

[Cubbie Swagger]

Ah, cool. I should have googled before I made this thread. Oh well.

[Little Slide Rooter]

A few weeks back, he'd have been a perfect fit. But the way the pen's shaping up, I can't imagine them giving up the resources necessary to get him.

[Guest]

Jayson Stark ‏@jaysonst 8m8 minutes ago

Other clubs say they thought Phillies close to trading Papelbon last month, then pulled back. Heard they spoke to Jays, Cubs, Tex, LA & more

[davell]

Even if we're not constrained monetarily, I think the need for pen help has fallen far behind a starting pitcher and a position player. My guess is we're out on Papelbon, unless circumstances change on our end.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Even if we're not constrained monetarily, I think the need for pen help has fallen far behind a starting pitcher and a position player. My guess is we're out on Papelbon, unless circumstances change on our end.

 

But if Hammel does end up missing significant time, I wonder if that pushes them to make a mega-deal for Hamels and Papelbon.

 

I can't begin to imagine the package. But unless Theo pulls a Suge Knight on Amaro, there's no way it doesn't start with Schwarber and probably one of Torres or McKinney.

[RynoRules]

I wouldn't trade Schwarber for almost anyone, and certainly not Hamels or Paplebon.

[SouthSideRyan]

Even if we're not constrained monetarily, I think the need for pen help has fallen far behind a starting pitcher and a position player. My guess is we're out on Papelbon, unless circumstances change on our end.

 

Isn't the price supposed to be crazy cheap? I don't think the Phils want him around their clubhouse anymore, and they don't want his option to vest for next year. Option will vest with 19 more games finished this season, and 1. they likely are afraid of a grievance for pulling a "proven closer" from the role while he's having a great year and 2. Macphail seems the the type that tries to "do good" by players and doesn't view it as right to pull him for contract purposes.

 

We on the other hand 1. have plausible deniability in that Papelbon is new to the team, and we have a closer(ish) already and 2. Told the MLBPA to suck it, we're bringing up Kris Bryant as early as humanly possible while delaying his free agency a year

[davell]

I'm not even sure the Phils do anything now, it seems like a 3 ring circus over there. MacPhail saying if things don't change, he doesn't see Amaro there next year, Amaro's comments on Utley-I could see them deciding to hold off on anything until the offseason. Especially since MacPhail is cautious as [expletive] to begin with.

 

Yeah, the price was supposedly cheap on him, but there were also rumors they wanted to include cash for a better return.

 

Either way, if we truly only have between 3-5 mill to spend, Papelbon would take up a majority of it. To me, an SP is a much more important addition and its not looking like there are too many controllable guys that don't have salaries available. So that looks like a rental guy to me. Plus, another OF/bench bat is higher on my list of needs than bullpen help too.

 

Motte, Strop, Rondon, Ramirez, Grimm, Soriano, with CJ as a late season possibility seems like a very solid pen to me. I think most teams would love that depth.

 

I like Papelbon, but unless we either have more money to spend or we find a cheap SP and preferrably an OF too, I think he's more of a luxury. If we can't address anything else, then help your squad anyway you can obviously. But he seems like an option that'd be pretty far down our list at this stage, in what looks to be our actual situation.

[tfarks]

Where did you see the 3-5 mil figure? They offered Shields 20/yr I'm assuming any holdup on a deal is to keep the pipeline as intact as reasonably possible. Not due to any constraints monetarily.

[davell]

Where did you see the 3-5 mil figure? They offered Shields 20/yr I'm assuming any holdup on a deal is to keep the pipeline as intact as reasonably possible. Not due to any constraints monetarily.

 

http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/7/71/753380/maddon-bosio-magician-part-can-cubs-make-impact-trade

 

Mooney has insinuated limited funds as well. It all comes from the baseball ops budget and remember, we're in the middle of spending a bunch on IFA's too. Not to mention, the Shields offer was backloaded and a bunch was deferred too.

[tfarks]

All salient points - but I still find it hard to believe there's not more flexibility to be had. That's really limiting Theo on a season that's been a long time in waiting. However, it doesn't conflict with the reports of acquiring Papelbon with the Phillies throwing in cash for a better return. But that front office is such a mess I'm beginning to think nothing will happen over there anyways.

 

If this is the case, I could see Zobrist being their #1 target with his salary.

[davell]

Basically, it's the debt structure stuff. Unfortunately, it makes complete sense as to why that'd be the case.

 

I think Zobrist is going to be in very high demand, I kind of suspect we get outbid on him. I figure we'll add a rental SP and a decent bench bat.

[tfarks]

I'm sad now.

 

Like a lot of things, I'm out of the loop on viable pitching acquisitions too. I'm sure there's an upgrade on the way in some form.

[Tryptamine]

Even if we're not constrained monetarily, I think the need for pen help has fallen far behind a starting pitcher and a position player. My guess is we're out on Papelbon, unless circumstances change on our end.

 

But if Hammel does end up missing significant time, I wonder if that pushes them to make a mega-deal for Hamels and Papelbon.

 

I can't begin to imagine the package. But unless Theo pulls a Suge Knight on Amaro, there's no way it doesn't start with Schwarber and probably one of Torres or McKinney.

 

There is absolutely no way in hell Hamels is landing a top 10 prospect and another top 30 guy. I swear every month the price people expect to pay goes up.

[Cubbie Swagger]

Papelbon might be a luxury but luxuries are things that dynasty-level teams typically have.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Papelbon might be a luxury but luxuries are things that dynasty-level teams typically have.

 

Unless you're talking Aaron Spelling's 1980's prime time juggernaut, I think you're getting a bit carried away. I'm not saying that we won't get there, just that we're not there yet.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Even if we're not constrained monetarily, I think the need for pen help has fallen far behind a starting pitcher and a position player. My guess is we're out on Papelbon, unless circumstances change on our end.

 

But if Hammel does end up missing significant time, I wonder if that pushes them to make a mega-deal for Hamels and Papelbon.

 

I can't begin to imagine the package. But unless Theo pulls a Suge Knight on Amaro, there's no way it doesn't start with Schwarber and probably one of Torres or McKinney.

 

There is absolutely no way in hell Hamels is landing a top 10 prospect and another top 30 guy. I swear every month the price people expect to pay goes up.

 

Would you have expected a Top 5 prospect for Samardzjia? Hamels is on pace for another 6 WAR season, and it's a no doubt sellers market.

[dcvalpo]

Papelbon might be a luxury but luxuries are things that dynasty-level teams typically have.

 

Unless you're talking Aaron Spelling's 1980's prime time juggernaut, I think you're getting a bit carried away.

 

http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/uno1.gif

[Sammy Sofa]

Even if we're not constrained monetarily, I think the need for pen help has fallen far behind a starting pitcher and a position player. My guess is we're out on Papelbon, unless circumstances change on our end.

 

But if Hammel does end up missing significant time, I wonder if that pushes them to make a mega-deal for Hamels and Papelbon.

 

I can't begin to imagine the package. But unless Theo pulls a Suge Knight on Amaro, there's no way it doesn't start with Schwarber and probably one of Torres or McKinney.

 

There is absolutely no way in hell Hamels is landing a top 10 prospect and another top 30 guy. I swear every month the price people expect to pay goes up.

 

Would you have expected a Top 5 prospect for Samardzjia? Hamels is on pace for another 6 WAR season, and it's a no doubt sellers market.

 

Shark was younger and his combined remaining salary ended up being around $10 million less than what Hamels will make next season alone. Hamels is fantastic, but what the Phillies can expect to get in return is hugely mitigated by how much of his contract they're willing to pick up, if any. For a team to take on all of his money AND give up a top 10 prospect AND a top 30 is pretty ridiculous.

[Tryptamine]

Even if we're not constrained monetarily, I think the need for pen help has fallen far behind a starting pitcher and a position player. My guess is we're out on Papelbon, unless circumstances change on our end.

 

But if Hammel does end up missing significant time, I wonder if that pushes them to make a mega-deal for Hamels and Papelbon.

 

I can't begin to imagine the package. But unless Theo pulls a Suge Knight on Amaro, there's no way it doesn't start with Schwarber and probably one of Torres or McKinney.

 

There is absolutely no way in hell Hamels is landing a top 10 prospect and another top 30 guy. I swear every month the price people expect to pay goes up.

 

Would you have expected a Top 5 prospect for Samardzjia? Hamels is on pace for another 6 WAR season, and it's a no doubt sellers market.

 

The Billy Beane deal is quite obviously the outlier. The Rays got nowhere near that much for David Price, and the As got nowhere near that much when they dealt Samardzija to the WSox. Hell, the As didn't even get that much for Josh Donaldson. If Hamels cost a top 10 and a top 30, then you might as well give up Gleyber too and get Sonny Gray.