The 2016 Bullpen

[Guest]

[expletive] Theo and his love of all things Red Sox if that means Papelbon*. I doubt he's in the "top closer" category though.

 

*unless they're so desperate to get rid of him that Strasburg could be packaged with him

 

I think "top young starting pitcher" would be the headline rather than "top closer" if that was the case.

 

to be fair, i think something else would be the headline rather than "top closer" if papelbon were the target

[davell]

"Top" closer being the true caveat here, I could see Arguello being right that its Doolittle.....Could also mean that Rondon may be needed in another trade, I guess?

[Guest]

"Top" closer being the true caveat here, I could see Arguello being right that its Doolittle.....Could also mean that Rondon may be needed in another trade, I guess?

 

that seems like a massive stretch on terminology for a guy who has 29 career saves with a single season high of 22

 

but i guess

[bleedingblue]

What about Andrew Miller from Yankees?

[davell]

They supposedly want a young starter who's ML ready for him. Plus, I really don't see us using up millions of payroll space for a reliever. Theo has actually said as much. My guess is it'd be a cheap, controllable type.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

[expletive] Theo and his love of all things Red Sox if that means Papelbon*. I doubt he's in the "top closer" category though.

 

*unless they're so desperate to get rid of him that Strasburg could be packaged with him

 

I feel like many fans might think Lackey is a douche, but that his teammates don't. I think many fans think Papbelbon is a douche, and so do his teammates. Therefore, I really don't know if Theo would be willing to bring him in.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

I've only read the final page of this thread, but wouldn't this be Boxberger they are talking about? Or nah?

[davell]

Jerry Crasnick ‏@jcrasnick 1m1 minute ago

 

#Cubs are actively exploring a trade for one of the top closers, baseball sources say.

 

WTF??????

 

Chapman, bitcheeeeeessss

 

I am disappointed it took you even this long to jump in.

[davell]

Jerry Crasnick ‏@jcrasnick 1m1 minute ago

 

#Cubs are actively exploring a trade for one of the top closers, baseball sources say.

 

WTF??????

 

Chapman, bitcheeeeeessss

 

I am disappointed it took you even this long to jump in.

 

It's him or McGee, me thinks

 

It could be McGee. But like Doolittle, I'm not sure that'd fall under "top closer". Interesting development either way though.

[Clem Fandango]

What about Andrew Miller from Yankees?

 

I remember reading they were interested in moving him so they could make Betances the closer earlier this offseason. He's really expensive for a reliever, but i like what he offers a whole lot. If they were to offer some salary relief I'd be all about Andrew Miller.

[UMFan83]

This just seems odd as we still need help in CF and in the rotation. Why would payroll priority go towards anyone in the pen?

[davell]

This just seems odd as we still need help in CF and in the rotation. Why would payroll priority go towards anyone in the pen?

 

I doubt it would. That said, it could be 1) a cost controlled cheaper guy, 2) Searching because Rondon is involved in a trade we'd like to do, or 3) we're floating this out there to get a team we've got a proposal sent out to, to accept quickly or run the risk of losing a guy they may covet.

[davell]

Arguello brought up Doolittle, by the way originally. From some guy(Rod Blunck) who works for Octagon Sports Agency and brought up Doolittle for Contreras on Instagram today evidently.

 

I had forgotten/not realized that Doolittle's injuries were shoulder related. His FB was down a pretty decent bit this year.

[Clem Fandango]

Doolittle for Contreras

 

[Guest]

Arguello brought up Doolittle, by the way originally. From some guy(Rod Blunck) who works for Octagon Sports Agency and brought up Doolittle for Contreras on Instagram today evidently.

 

I had forgotten/not realized that Doolittle's injuries were shoulder related. His FB was down a pretty decent bit this year.

 

 

lol um yeah no

[Guest]

Wasn't Melancon rumored to be dealt earlier in the offseason?

 

If I have to guess though, I'm with BDB, Boxberger makes the most sense of anyone you see at the top of the saves list, and therefore the 'top closer' designation from someone like Crasnick.

[Backtobanks]

What about Andrew Miller from Yankees?

 

I remember reading they were interested in moving him so they could make Betances the closer earlier this offseason. He's really expensive for a reliever, but i like what he offers a whole lot. If they were to offer some salary relief I'd be all about Andrew Miller.

 

 

Maybe a blockbuster Gardner + Miller for Castro + Hammel + Wood. Follow up with a trade of Soler for Salazar. Money for next year stays pretty even. Follow up by signing a RF (Parra?) or trade prospects for a decent (reasonably cheap and/or young) RF.

 

Position players - Rizzo, Baez, Russell, Bryant, Schwarber, Gardner, Parra/????, Montero.

Rotation- Arrieta, Lester, Lackey, Salazar, Hendricks

Bullpen- Miller, Rondon, Strop, Grimm, Richard, Ramirez, Edwards, Medina, Rosscup, Acevedo, Brothers, Cook, Leathersich, Patton

[SouthSideRyan]

Could the Yankees throw in some money to pay for Edwin Jacksons contract too?

[Post Count Padder]

Nats are shopping Drew Storen. Any interest?

[Cubswin11]

Nats are shopping Drew Storen. Any interest?

Sure, if he isn't gonna get pissy about not being a closer

[Clem Fandango]

Nats are shopping Drew Storen. Any interest?

Sure, if he isn't gonna get pissy about not being a closer

 

That's literally the only hang up I'd have on Storen. Don't wanna trade assets for a guy who isn't gonna be a team player if they don't want him to be a closer. That said, Washington really unfairly dicked him around that role his entire career there. I'd be pissed too considering the difference in being a closer of his abilities and a setup man of his abilities would probably be 10's of millions of dollars.

[davell]

Robert Murray ‏@RobertMurrayBBE 30s31 seconds ago

 

#Cubs meeting with the agents for LHP Antonio Bastardo, per league source

 

 

BASTARDO!

[Guest]

So...as of this moment we have:

 

MLB:

Rondon

Strop

Grimm

Ramirez

Brothers

Cahill

Richard

Warren

Wood

 

On the Shuttle:

Medina

Acevedo

Edwards

Patton

Rosscup

 

Gotta figure Wood is going to be leaving in a trade at some point.

[craig]

I actually think it looks pretty good. (Going to be tough for a Rule 5 to crack that pen though....)

 

5 starters, 9 relievers, that's only two extra guys really.

1. For any 14 pitchers, typically at least one would be opening the year on the DL and at least one would be on the DL at any given moment in time.

2. Ramirez, fair chance that he won't actually show up healthy, or healthy and controlled enough to make the team.

3. Some other teams are always short. So if everybody is both healthy and looking impressive, shouldn't be too hard to trade a Ramirez or Grimm or somebody else.

4. Isn't Brothers just a flyer? Maybe a new start and a new pitching coach will fix him. But pretty fair chance that he won't be fixed, and they'll be able to release him in camp and be freed from much of his modest salary?

5. I don't know, but is there any chance that Brothers still has options left?

6. Brothers only brought back a modest-bonus DSL pitcher. If he looks as wild as ever and remains ineffective in camp, I'd be surprised if anybody picked him up were we to cut him. Good chance you could get him to Iowa and take more time to try to fix him there?

7. A chance Hammel will get traded for salary relief so they can address CF. Maybe just let Warren/Cahill compete for 5th spot?

 

I like it a lot, actually.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I really don't think it's a gimme that Wood is traded. That's nine guys for a team that frequently runs 8 relievers, a few of whom could be optioned or even sent away (Strop, Brothers, Wood and Richard all have non-guaranteed contracts as of right now).

 

If we need to in order to sign Heyward, fine, but he's not superfluous.