2015 Winter Meetings Thread

[Derwood]

ESPN throws down some predictions for this week

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/page/wintermeetings15_predictions/2015-winter-meetings-predictions

[Cubswin11]

ESPN throws down some predictions for this week

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/page/wintermeetings15_predictions/2015-winter-meetings-predictions

Really don't get why we'd go after Shields unless throwing him in a Ross trade brought the price down. Like I wonder if they would do something like Hammel, Jeimer, Torres, and PJ for Ross and Shields with us paying all of Shields salary? Would that be worth it to get Ross?

Edited December 6, 2015 by Cubswin11

[rawaction]

Some good stuff in there, despite the Shields to Cubs speculation. Some mention of Castro trade, Heyward on the radar, Quintana potentially being shopped for left side of IF help.

[KrisBryantisaBeast]

Rosenthal reporting that the dodgers are in talks to aquire Chapman from the Reds for prospects.

[Rex Buckingham]

That would make me mad unless it involves a big time guy the Cubs just don't have

[KrisBryantisaBeast]

That would make me mad unless it involves a big time guy the Cubs just don't have

 

I hope they do something dumb like trading Seager for Chapman.

[Cubswin11]

Jensen/Chapman ending the game would certainly be formidable. With losing Greinke going with the strategy to strengthen the bullpen to shorten games in non Kershaw starts might be a better use of their resources rather than throwing big money at a SP like Cueto or Leake.

[Cubswin11]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[NonProfitCow]

Iwakuma to the Dodgers

[mdwilla]

http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/1158534/cubs-still-questions-hope-answer-winter-meetings

 

Gordon is quickly cementing himself as my favorite Cubs beat reporter.

 

 

Five years after new ownership’s first promise to pour revenues back into the baseball efforts – and almost a year after business president Crane Kenney described his job as filling a wheelbarrow with cash to dump in Epstein’s office – the business commitment doesn’t seem to match a spike in revenues.

 

Never mind keeping up with the championship window that suddenly seems to have opened.

 

The Cubs made unexpected millions off the 2015 playoffs and increased attendance; they project a return to 3-million-plus attendance in 2016 and announced a hefty increase in ticket prices for next year; they have video-board revenue increases flowing and anticipate increases in other sponsorship revenues (such as wresting a big Pepsi deal from the Mets).

 

Yet the Cubs’ recently suppressed payroll budget rises to the $130-million range for 2016, still below the projected midpoint of major-league spending (despite one of the highest annual revenue streams in the game).

 

Meanwhile, Kenney recently secured his second contract extension in two years, according to a source close to business operations — this one believed to be for three additional years, keeping him with the team through at least 2020.

 

Epstein has yet to sign an extension since agreeing to his original five-year deal in the fall of 2011.

[VVMattVV]

http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/1158534/cubs-still-questions-hope-answer-winter-meetings

 

Gordon is quickly cementing himself as my favorite Cubs beat reporter.

 

Wittenmeyer is terrible.

[davell]

Iwakuma to the Dodgers

 

 

Its probably happening, but everyone has come out and said Ralph jumped the gun.

[Tedward]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[Guest]

 

dude's numbers look NICE

[davell]

Getting McGee and Smyly without giving up Javy or Soler would be just fine with me.

[davell]

Looks like Iwakuma is getting 3/45.

[toonsterwu]

I would love Storen (don't want Papelbon). He was having a heck of a year before they made that deal, and while I understand it from Rizzo's perspective, it seemed odd to throw aside a guy who had been performing as well as Storen had. If a team is patient with Storen and looks past the occasional hiccup ... I still think he's a top shelf pen arm.

 

The Orioles may also shop Zach Britton, and I'd be intrigued with that, but they'd only move him if they really upgraded multiple areas.

[mdwilla]

Did Papelbon lose his no trade rights after waiving them to be dealt this summer for the remainder of his deal or was it just for that trade only?

[davell]

No idea on the NTC for Papelbon, but considering he's trying to recoup the 4 days of pay he missed out on by choking Harper, he's likely not going to be picky this time. My guess is no team would touch him now.

 

Sofia just got 3/25 from KC.

[Banedon]

http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/1158534/cubs-still-questions-hope-answer-winter-meetings

 

Gordon is quickly cementing himself as my favorite Cubs beat reporter.

 

Wittenmeyer just wants the Cubs to make a big splash so he can obsess over everything they do, and remind us of how much money they make every time they are on the field.

 

http://41.media.tumblr.com/d4e1881f203481b92225f721451486d3/tumblr_nvkpib4SZv1uhfs3jo1_1280.png

[Cubswin11]

Royals re-sign Soria for 3/25, that seems like a lot for him.

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/1158534/cubs-still-questions-hope-answer-winter-meetings

 

Gordon is quickly cementing himself as my favorite Cubs beat reporter.

 

Wittenmeyer just wants the Cubs to make a big splash so he can obsess over everything they do, and remind us of how much money they make every time they are on the field.

 

http://41.media.tumblr.com/d4e1881f203481b92225f721451486d3/tumblr_nvkpib4SZv1uhfs3jo1_1280.png

It probably would have been beneficial for him to program a hot key to paste "$155 Million" on command.

[Guest]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[UMFan83]

I'm not sure Leake should go to Arizona, they take a hard stance on petty crime there. Just ask Gracie how fun the tents are.

[Cubswin11]

Wade Miley to the Mariners