Cubs offseason thread

[davell]

"I wouldn't rule out the job being his, but I think it would be more likely that we would acquire someone to compliment him and allow him to grow into the job more gradually."

 

That's Theo on Almora being the starting CF in 2017. This may tell us a few things.....

 

Probably doesn't bode well on Dex coming back. Unless he was willing to go short term.

Sounds like they do expect Almora to eventually be the fulltime guy.

If the plan is to acquire someone, Heyward looks to be sticking in RF.

 

 

So, anyone able to think of a compliment for Almora, that's probably a short term fix?

 

Blackmon has 2 years left, but he'd be awfully costly, I'd think. Leonys Martin is the guy that kind of sticks out for me. Assuming he gets non tendered, would Ben Revere interest anyone as a part time guy? I get that he's not ideal, but the pickings are slim, if we're taking Theo's comment at face value.....

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Blanco and Jon Jay are the 2 FAs that jump to mind. But I also think that Heyward being that hedge is the most likely outcome.

[Cubswin11]

What about Pagan? He couldn't play CF but vs RHP put Heyward in CF and Pagan in RF? I don't love it, but if we are going the FA route of relatively cheap/bottom barrel/short term guys I think he'd be considered.

 

Or else how expensive/available would Cargo be? Again can't play CF but can go to RF vs RHP with Heyward in CF.

[davell]

Blanco and Jon Jay are the 2 FAs that jump to mind. But I also think that Heyward being that hedge is the most likely outcome.

 

I kind of think they'll try and just let him be. Theo certainly takes human dynamic into things and I can easily see them not trying to lay a potential position on him, to go along with overhauling his swing.

 

He's obviously great insurance if we don't acquire an OF(that can pass for a CFer). But I've seen enough of the reporters mention OF depth and Theo's comment tells me its not their preferred plan to play Heyward there anyway.

[Cubswin11]

Blanco and Jon Jay are the 2 FAs that jump to mind. But I also think that Heyward being that hedge is the most likely outcome.

 

I kind of think they'll try and just let him be. Theo certainly takes human dynamic into things and I can easily see them not trying to lay a potential position on him, to go along with overhauling his swing.

 

He's obviously great insurance if we don't acquire an OF(that can pass for a CFer). But I've seen enough of the reporters mention OF depth and Theo's comment tells me its not their preferred plan to play Heyward there anyway.

I mean we were like 2-3 weeks away from starting the season last year with Heyward as the CF being our only real option out there. I think they are mostly fine with him there if they can't find someone on the FA/Trade market that fits what they want/think they need.

Edited November 10, 2016 by Cubswin11

[davell]

What about Pagan? He couldn't play CF but vs RHP put Heyward in CF and Pagan in RF? I don't love it, but if we are going the FA route of relatively cheap/bottom barrel/short term guys I think he'd be considered.

 

Or else how expensive/available would Cargo be? Again can't play CF but can go to RF vs RHP with Heyward in CF.

 

I've thought about Pagan too. Is his D in CF that bad? Or is it hurt by playing in San Fran? Would a smaller OF help him become close to average out there?

[David]

"I wouldn't rule out the job being his, but I think it would be more likely that we would acquire someone to compliment him and allow him to grow into the job more gradually."

 

That's Theo on Almora being the starting CF in 2017. This may tell us a few things.....

 

Probably doesn't bode well on Dex coming back. Unless he was willing to go short term.

Sounds like they do expect Almora to eventually be the fulltime guy.

If the plan is to acquire someone, Heyward looks to be sticking in RF.

 

 

So, anyone able to think of a compliment for Almora, that's probably a short term fix?

 

Blackmon has 2 years left, but he'd be awfully costly, I'd think. Leonys Martin is the guy that kind of sticks out for me. Assuming he gets non tendered, would Ben Revere interest anyone as a part time guy? I get that he's not ideal, but the pickings are slim, if we're taking Theo's comment at face value.....

 

Not a complement for Almora since he's a righty, but I really want Gomez.

[davell]

Blanco and Jon Jay are the 2 FAs that jump to mind. But I also think that Heyward being that hedge is the most likely outcome.

 

I kind of think they'll try and just let him be. Theo certainly takes human dynamic into things and I can easily see them not trying to lay a potential position on him, to go along with overhauling his swing.

 

He's obviously great insurance if we don't acquire an OF(that can pass for a CFer). But I've seen enough of the reporters mention OF depth and Theo's comment tells me its not their preferred plan to play Heyward there anyway.

I mean we were like 2-3 weeks away from starting the season last year with Heyward as the CF being our only really option out there. I think they are mostly fine with him there if they can't find someone on the FA/Trade market that fits what they want/think they need.

 

I get that it was where he was supposed to play last year. But now he's got to get his swing back. A position switch on top of that is a lot to put on a guy.

 

Plus, finding an averagish defensive CF, to play with Heywards great D in right, sets up much better defensively than any configuration we have with Heyward in CF.

[Cubswin11]

What about Pagan? He couldn't play CF but vs RHP put Heyward in CF and Pagan in RF? I don't love it, but if we are going the FA route of relatively cheap/bottom barrel/short term guys I think he'd be considered.

 

Or else how expensive/available would Cargo be? Again can't play CF but can go to RF vs RHP with Heyward in CF.

 

I've thought about Pagan too. Is his D in CF that bad? Or is it hurt by playing in San Fran? Would a smaller OF help him become close to average out there?

I think at this point of his career/age he probably couldn't play a good CF, but maybe you're right with a smaller OF, Heyward being a god in RF and our defensive positioning we could possibly squeeze some league averagey defense out of him out there.

Edited November 10, 2016 by Cubswin11

[davell]

"I wouldn't rule out the job being his, but I think it would be more likely that we would acquire someone to compliment him and allow him to grow into the job more gradually."

 

That's Theo on Almora being the starting CF in 2017. This may tell us a few things.....

 

Probably doesn't bode well on Dex coming back. Unless he was willing to go short term.

Sounds like they do expect Almora to eventually be the fulltime guy.

If the plan is to acquire someone, Heyward looks to be sticking in RF.

 

 

So, anyone able to think of a compliment for Almora, that's probably a short term fix?

 

Blackmon has 2 years left, but he'd be awfully costly, I'd think. Leonys Martin is the guy that kind of sticks out for me. Assuming he gets non tendered, would Ben Revere interest anyone as a part time guy? I get that he's not ideal, but the pickings are slim, if we're taking Theo's comment at face value.....

 

Not a complement for Almora since he's a righty, but I really want Gomez.

 

Realistically, he could be a nice fit. We don't have to have Almora in the majors all year for him to still be considered our future CF.....But he's looking for a long term deal, which I'd be wary of obviously, with him.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

the more I look at this year's free agent class, the more I really hate it

[davell]

the more I look at this year's free agent class, the more I really hate it

 

Its pitiful. We have a wish list of bullpen help, young starting pitching, and depth for the OF. We've got to make trades just to fill up our shopping cart.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

I kind of think they'll try and just let him be. Theo certainly takes human dynamic into things and I can easily see them not trying to lay a potential position on him, to go along with overhauling his swing.

 

He's obviously great insurance if we don't acquire an OF(that can pass for a CFer). But I've seen enough of the reporters mention OF depth and Theo's comment tells me its not their preferred plan to play Heyward there anyway.

I mean we were like 2-3 weeks away from starting the season last year with Heyward as the CF being our only really option out there. I think they are mostly fine with him there if they can't find someone on the FA/Trade market that fits what they want/think they need.

 

I get that it was where he was supposed to play last year. But now he's got to get his swing back. A position switch on top of that is a lot to put on a guy.

 

Plus, finding an averagish defensive CF, to play with Heywards great D in right, sets up much better defensively than any configuration we have with Heyward in CF.

 

A different way to look at it is that having him play CF brings lower offensive expectations. Plus it's not asking him to play SS or anything, he started over 20 games there last year.

 

The other variable is that if either Soler or Baez start hitting, then the best lineup has Heyward in CF even if there's no OF addition of significance.

[17 Seconds]

when are we getting archer?

[CyHawk_Cub]

when are we getting archer?

 

Probably when Theo offers the Rays Addison/Soler/Jeimer/couple other minor leaguers

[davell]

I mean we were like 2-3 weeks away from starting the season last year with Heyward as the CF being our only really option out there. I think they are mostly fine with him there if they can't find someone on the FA/Trade market that fits what they want/think they need.

 

I get that it was where he was supposed to play last year. But now he's got to get his swing back. A position switch on top of that is a lot to put on a guy.

 

Plus, finding an averagish defensive CF, to play with Heywards great D in right, sets up much better defensively than any configuration we have with Heyward in CF.

 

A different way to look at it is that having him play CF puts lower offensive expectations. Plus it's not asking him to play SS or anything, he started over 20 games there last year.

 

The other variable is that if either Soler or Baez start hitting, then the best lineup has Heyward in CF even if there's no OF addition of significance.

 

At this point, I'll be very surprised if Soler is a Cub next year. Even if Javy does become the everyday 2B, he'll still get some games at 2B/SS, just as Zobrist gets some at 2B. My guess is Heyward sits against most lefties, unless he regains most of his pre-2016 self.

[Clem Fandango]

**Potential blasphemy suggestion alert***

 

Twins are supposedly shopping Dozier, who costs $6 mil next year and $9 mil in 2018, in an effort to re-boost their system and young core. I love Javy, but Dozier is basically Javy's offensive ceiling right now. It could get crammed and the defense would take a big hit without Javy, but would anyone be opposed to moving Javy + others for Dozier? Or is it not enough? I figure if we had him on the roster he'd be the primary 2B and Zobrist would float around between 2B, LF, and RF.

 

FWIW, in case you didn't notice him this season here's his numbers:

 

                                                                        
G      PA  AB   R   H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB  SO   BA  OBP  SLG  OPS OPS+
155   691 615 104 165 35  5 42  99 18  2 61 138 .268 .340 .546 .886  136

 

And he did that in a terrible hitters park. It was good for a 5.9 fWAR.

 

EDIT: Maybe not shopping him, but he's drawn a ton of interest at the GM meetings in Arizona, apparently.

Edited November 10, 2016 by The Logan

[davell]

I want the D. I want the flexibility we've got now. Javy being as versatile as he is means a ton to me. Give me the next however long we've got with Addy/javy together up the middle.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I want the D.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

the more I look at this year's free agent class, the more I really hate it

 

The more I look at it, the more I love it. We are already the class of the league. And nobody else is catching up by splurging on free agents this year. Keep everything just as it was last year, with a little re-tooling here and there.

[Bear Cub]

Alex Cobb or Drew Smyly for Soler would make me happy.

[Cubswin11]

Would something like Soler, Happ/Jeimer and some other lesser piece(s) make sense for Cargo and Hoffman or Bettis? I don't think they'd move Gray but obviously include him in there if they were as he'd be a #1 target if available from them.

[Post Count Padder]

Would something like Soler, Happ/Jeimer and some other lesser piece(s) make sense for Cargo and Hoffman or Bettis? I don't think they'd move Gray but obviously include him in there if they were as he'd be a #1 target if available from them.

I honestly keep wondering if we're destined to deal with the Rays. Something has to give on their glut of starters.

 

Would something like Soler, Jeimer and one of Sands/Stinnett/Kellogg be not enough for Colome and one of Odorizzi/Smyly/Andriese?

[Tim]

What makes anyone think Smyly will be reliably healthy?

[Post Count Padder]

What makes anyone think Smyly will be reliably healthy?

http://memedad.com/memes/651101.jpg

 

Assuming health, the Rays will have Archer, Smyly, Cobb, Snell, Andriese, Odorizzi, and Erasmo Ramirez, with Schultz, Guerrieri, and Honeywell knocking on the door.

 

Also Smyly did make 30 starts this year.