Cubs offseason thread

[Banedon]

Ugh, stop trying to trade Baez. Wtf...if I had a nickel for every hypothetical Baez trade this board has come up with....

[Cubswin11]

Ugh, stop trying to trade Baez. Wtf...if I had a nickel for every hypothetical Baez trade this board has come up with....

After his postseason now is a great time to see if the market is overvaluing him to possibly sell high on. He still has his warts, imo. I obviously would rather see him stay but there may be offers to good to refuse.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Ugh, stop trying to trade Baez. Wtf...if I had a nickel for every hypothetical Baez trade this board has come up with....

 

To be clear, I'm not terribly interested in trading Baez, but if we're talking about trading for Berrios, that is almost certainly what it would take. I don't think that'll be the approach though, if Baez were traded I think it'd be someone who is a bit of a better bet to stay healthy than Berrios, and Berrios isn't even a terribly bad health bet.

[Post Count Padder]

If Opening Day were tomorrow, our depth chart would look something like:

 

1B Rizzo

2B Javy, Zo

SS Russell, LaStella, Javy

3B KB, LaStella, Javy

LF Schwarber, Soler, Szczur

CF Heyward, Almora

RF Zobrist, Heyward, Soler

C Contreras, Miggy, Schwarber

 

Rotation:

SP Lester

SP Hendricks

SP Jake

SP McHorseteeth

SP Montgomery

 

BP: CL Rondon, Edwards, Strop, Grimm, Zaz, Crow, Leathersich

 

And I'm cool with that. Very cool. This isn't to say that I wouldn't be happy with Chapman or Jansen. This isn't to say I wouldn't be happy if we resigned Fowler. This isn't to say that I wouldn't be happy with Cespedes. This isn't to say that I wouldn't be happy if we traded for someone like Teheran, Archer, Odirizzi, Gray, or another young SP. We really don't have any needs. But wants are fun too.

I forgot we ever had Aaron Crow, let alone thought of him as an option next year. Speaking of guys you forgot about, don't we also have Zac Rosscup coming back?

[weis21]

I frequented the game threads so often for a month straight that i've caught myself twice now hitting F5 on threads like this and planning on seeing some new post

[Cubswin11]

I know he doesn't help the long-term picture, but neither did Hammel, I wonder if Rich Hill would be a target on a 1 or 2 year deal with using some of Hammel's savings on him?

[The_Achiever]

I wonder what it will take to keep arrieta.

[Cubswin11]

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[davell]

I know he doesn't help the long-term picture, but neither did Hammel, I wonder if Rich Hill would be a target on a 1 or 2 year deal with using some of Hammel's savings on him?

 

He's getting 3 years from someone in this market.

[Tryptamine]

 

Color me very surprised. The farm could use a nice influx of talent.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

Color me very surprised. The farm could use a nice influx of talent.

 

You're surprised they offered Fowler a QO? They did last year and then he was even better in 2016.

[davell]

 

Color me very surprised. The farm could use a nice influx of talent.

 

I'd much rather keep Dex than add a 1st round supplemental pick.

[Tryptamine]

 

Color me very surprised. The farm could use a nice influx of talent.

 

You're surprised they offered Fowler a QO? They did last year and then he was even better in 2016.

 

I'm surprised because there were rumors that there was an under the table agreement not to give Dex a QO this time after it seemed to hurt him so much in 2015 FA. Based solely on his talent he's a no brainer to throw a QO at.

[Tryptamine]

 

Color me very surprised. The farm could use a nice influx of talent.

 

I'd much rather keep Dex than add a 1st round supplemental pick.

 

As would I, but some team is going to throw something like 4/70 or 5/80 at him and I'm no longer interested at those prices. Not when 40% of the 2018 rotation needs to be addressed along with numerous 2017 bullpen holes.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

So do they get really aggressive trying to get Chapman or Jansen?

 

I can imagine Carl Jr. getting better next season, but since we traded a big package at the deadline for Chap and we could very well have the same need at next year's deadline, do we take care of it now?

[Brian]

I'm really excited to see what Theo & Jed have in store for this offseason

 

A) stand pat and kind of make minor moves (Montgomery for 5th Starter or a mid range vet pick-up, with internal options to fill out the outfield)

 

or

 

B) Step on the rest of MLB's throat (upper range starter by whatever means, Re-sign Dex, one of the big name closers etc.)

[Aaron_Kennelly]

I'm really excited to see what Theo & Jed have in store for this offseason

 

A) stand pat and kind of make minor moves (Montgomery for 5th Starter or a mid range vet pick-up, with internal options to fill out the outfield)

 

or

 

B) Step on the rest of MLB's throat (upper range starter by whatever means, Re-sign Dex, one of the big name closers etc.)

 

B) and never look back.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

Surprised there is no QO for Chapman too.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

Surprised there is no QO for Chapman too.

 

They cannot extend a QO to a player that has only been with the team for a partial season.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Chapman cannot be given a QO because he was traded midseason.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'd go as high as 5/105 for Chapman and 4/120 or maaaaaaaaybe 5/120 for Jansen. It should be probably be Jansen unless they plan to start Chapman at some point in the deal. They're both freak athletes for pitchers, in their 20s, not really worked hard until very recently, dominant, and without no major arm surgeries. Chapman's got the historic arm. Jansen arguably the better performer between the two and no off field issues.

nobody is giving Kenley Jansen 30 million a year. holy horsefeathers.

[Cubswin11]

I know this may be a different market/times, but Andrew Miller got 4/36 when he was a FA 2 years ago. He didn't quite have the reputation then that he does now but he was already an established relief ace. I'd be shocked if Jansen got more than 4/70-5/85. Hell, I know it's not a perfect measurement, but he accepted "only" $10.6mm in arbitration this past year. A number him/his agent/Dodgers feels reflects the elite relief pitching market. I know all it takes is one team but I don't see him passing $15-17mm AAV on his next contract.

[MarkR]

Also, what are the odds that Baez is on the move this offseason? He is really a similar player, projection wise, as a season ago, but with the high trade value based on performance in the postseason. Someone will be a casualty this offseason other than Soler, who's an obvious choice to go. Javy's the likeliest choice to bring back a guy who will help fill that void when 60% of our starting rotation is gone in 2018 and beyond.

 

horsefeathers You!!!!!!!

 

Javy is going to have more jewelry than Derek Jeter all in a Cubs uniform.

 

What's wrong with exploring the market for a guy with similar flaws to his game that existed 12 months ago, but now has an LCS MVP and a Game 7 Home Run under his belt? I love Javy and think he has a ton of value. But that's precisely why you explore trading him. He should bring you back a young starting pitcher with cost control that should provide excellent value into the years beyond when Lackey, Arrietta (who I think the Cubs have no desire to re-sign), and now Hammel are gone.

[jehr]

I think this front office has proven that no one is untradable, but that they're unlikely to trade young talent without getting young talent in return. It's more a matter of whether they're going to actively shop him, and if someone will offer more value in return than Javy means to us. I think it's a long shot he gets traded at the end of the day.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

Surprised there is no QO for Chapman too.

 

They cannot extend a QO to a player that has only been with the team for a partial season.

Oh right thanks