Cubs offseason thread

[davell]

So, if we don't want to go 4-5 years on Dex(Ralph predicted 5/90).....I see Brett Gardner got mentioned with us. I'd be OK with that. 2/26 and an option left on his deal. Platoon him and Almora and we may not even lose much from Dex.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

As long as they're comfortable with Gardner's ability to play CF, I'm okay with sending a marginal prospect to get him. This actually seems like it might be Underwood's time to shine, since it'll take something at least half interesting to get the Yankees to bite considering they can afford to pay Gardner if they want.

 

This also assumes Gardner wouldn't undermine any other efforts on the pitching staff by taking up 13 million, but I doubt that'll be a problem.

 

I think I saw Ellsbury's name pop up in a similar vein too(I don't recall if it was w/ the Cubs specifically). On the field he's probably about the same as Gardner(same age, similar profile), but 4/90 is a much more bitter pill to swallow.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

As long as they're comfortable with Gardner's ability to play CF, I'm okay with sending a marginal prospect to get him.

 

It would for sure be cool late in games to have Gardner in left, Almora in center and Heyward in right.

[Cubswin11]

I am intrigued by Gardner as a platoon option with Almora. ~.350 career OBP vs RHP and ~.370 last year replaces Dexter quite nicely and with Heyward in RF and our positioning/coaching I think we could cheat our way into him being league averagish in CF.

[BigbadB]

I am intrigued by Gardner as a platoon option with Almora. ~.350 career OBP vs RHP and ~.370 last year replaces Dexter quite nicely and with Heyward in RF and our positioning/coaching I think we could cheat our way into him being league averagish in CF.

 

I was reading that they don't believe Gardner has the capacity to play an adequate CF anymore, although on days where he would play against a RHP, he could play RF and Heyward could move to CF. Not knowing what kind of arm Gardner has, maybe he and Schwarber switch OF spots in that instance. We do know Maddon doesn't mind moving people around.

 

Doesn't seem like there is really that much savings from Gardner to Fowler, except in years. I also wonder if the back of the bullpen will be addressed before they make a decision on Fowler since that's likely a more pressing need. How long will Fowler wait? He waited a long time last year, but his suitors are plentiful and likely less patient this year.

[Post Count Padder]

I've long been a Gardner fan. If Fowler doesn't pan out, I'd be in favor of a deal. Again, not sure how great his CF is anymore but I believe the metrics still rate him positively in the corners and he was third in the league in outfield assists this year (in reference to the question about his arm). Would allow a lot of mixing and matching in outfield defense with him, Almora and Heyward.

[Agony and Ivy]

Read on MLBTR that Marcell Ozuna is a "name to keep an eye on" and that the Cardinals would be in on him. I want.

[Agony and Ivy]

In regards to Gardner, are we talking about him as an option to platoon in CF? I ask because he has only been slightly above average in LF and I'm not sure running him out in CF as the big part of a platoon is something I'd be excited about.

[davell]

I'm fine with him in CF. Having Heyward in RF helps a ton and I feel comfortable enough with our positioning that i think he'd be fine.

[davell]

Schlitter 2.0, also known as Spencer Patton, has been cut. So we're at 38 currently. I don't have any reason to think so, but I suspect we make a pre Thanksgiving Day move.....

[CaliforniaRaisin]

3 Guys I could see taken.

 

1. Dallas Beeler. In a weak free agent pitching market, a lot of teams are going to be stocking up on whatever they can get their hands on.

 

2. Bijan Rademacher's a safe bet for anyone looking for a 4th/5th OF. Could fall into the Bour/Guyer mold, and do well enough for a 'good for him,' but not a regret.

 

3. Dillon Maples: Your classic 'if we can get him to throw more strikes...' Not big league ready, but could split time between the back of someone's pen and the DL.

 

And then there's Black, Rivero, and Paniagua, who could be picked as easily as not. Though the Rule 5 tends to feature a multitude of guys just like them, or at least who serve the same purpose.

 

I would be shocked if the Cubs don't let Maples go this offseason.

[Cubswin11]

In regards to Gardner, are we talking about him as an option to platoon in CF? I ask because he has only been slightly above average in LF and I'm not sure running him out in CF as the big part of a platoon is something I'd be excited about.

Fowler was graded at and widely considered a below average CF defender before we acquired him and we turned him into an average to a little above average defender out there. I'm fairly confident we could take a slightly above average LF defender (who has CF experience) and get league average defense out of him in CF.

[toonsterwu]

Oh, let me be clear, I wasn't suggesting Stanton. Don't think the Marlins move him at all. I am mildly, mildly curious if they might try some big moves to shake things up to try and win while Stanton is there. Of course, that runs into the usual names of guys they could move. Thing is, even before the passing of Jose Fernandez, their core, while good (Yelich/Ozuna/Stanton/Realmuto ... ?) had a very small margin of error, and they made things worse by dumping Naylor for Cashner. I know there are those Jansen rumors with them, but they seem to need a lot more than Jansen to really make a jump. Tough situation for them - sort of no man's land for organizations, not enough chips to really deal (Chen's contract, lack of pitching to move) without denting their young core.

 

Pollock is the name that stands out to me this offseason because of the relationship between Hazen/Sawdaye and Co. to our staff, plus the strong likelihood that Arizona will rebuild. Adam Eaton makes some sense as well if the White Sox would be willing to trade with us. I threw out Odubel Herrera out there, but that's likely impossible, although with the Phillies arm depth, it'd be nice to do some one-stop shopping (pen help, rotation depth, and CF). With the Braves being really active, I half wonder if there's any way to pry Ender Inciarte from them, but we don't match up 1 v 1 with them all that well. I don't love the Brett Gardner option, as I don't think he'll be very good in CF, and I think we need a top defender there. I don't see us going for a rebound candidate. It's hard for me to envision them going after an unproven youngster coming off the World Series. Looking through names ... Marcell Ozuna does make some sense, but just don't see how we match up.

 

Fowler makes so much sense as a fit for us, but I have my doubts we give him a 4 year deal, and it's hard to see him, coming off such a big year, not getting some sort of 4 year deal.

[Agony and Ivy]

In regards to Gardner, are we talking about him as an option to platoon in CF? I ask because he has only been slightly above average in LF and I'm not sure running him out in CF as the big part of a platoon is something I'd be excited about.

Fowler was graded at and widely considered a below average CF defender before we acquired him and we turned him into an average to a little above average defender out there. I'm fairly confident we could take a slightly above average LF defender (who has CF experience) and get league average defense out of him in CF.

 

The Cubs can't make him younger so I'm not so sure. The Cubs took a career CF and helped turn him into a league average defender. Moving up the defensive spectrum, especially when you're not an elite defender in a corner spot, is not something that's done often and I would highly doubt that it would work with Gardner.

[toonsterwu]

For us or in general? For us, probably no. Hard to see how they stash someone like him. He's coming off a good campaign but I don't recall him as a guy whose stuff was particularly likely to shut down lefties, just overall effectiveness, if that makes sense. I guess, if they have the money to spare and they find the rotation spot, they can just keep him and dump him when possible.

 

For other teams? Perhaps. Wang would make sense for a rebuilding team willing to give him either a 5th spot or a pen job. He's close to ready for a legitimate MLB look, and has a starter's arsenal. Not sure if any of the pitches are considered plus, but iirc, above average fastball that tops out around 92, above average curve, and I think an average change. He's really had a good year and a half - he took off the 2nd half of 2015, IIRC. The Brewers could really use him.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Is Wei-Chung Wang worth actually using a Rule V pick on?

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=wang--002wei

 

He's got a good arm. There's a couple other interesting LHRP prospects in there with he, Guillon, Perdomo, and even Webb.

 

Tyler Webb is an interesting guy for this team's needs but they aren't in a situation where they can stash a guy so it probably doesn't matter.

[DonnieD]

I heard it is likely that the 25 man roster becomes 26 with this CBA. If that is the case can't everyone basically afford to be able to stash a guy this year.

[davell]

Levine evidently mentioned today that we're interested in Blackmon again. Rockies appear to be trying to win though, so I wouldn't figure he's an option until mid season.

 

Travis Jankowski also got mentioned. In a platoon with Almora, I guess he'd be decent. With the idea he moves into a 4th OF role in 2018.

 

Much rather just keep Dex and use Almora as trade bait though.

[raw]

Levine evidently mentioned today that we're interested in Blackmon again. Rockies appear to be trying to win though, so I wouldn't figure he's an option until mid season.

 

Travis Jankowski also got mentioned. In a platoon with Almora, I guess he'd be decent. With the idea he moves into a 4th OF role in 2018.

 

Much rather just keep Dex and use Almora as trade bait though.

 

Yeah, the Rockies have a pretty strong team that I think can compete, if Trevor Story is real and healthy next year. They actually have pitching depth and talent. And I think they'd long trade CarGo or DeLaRosa (to get a 1B or RH OF bat) before they'd give up Blackmon. He'd be the most expensive player in terms of prospects to acquire on that team, IMO.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Here's the thing about Blackmon that confuses me, he's 3 months younger than Fowler. Everything then becomes a point of comparison in that light. Blackmon doesn't have a pre-FA deal so you're basically trading for him on a 2/22 deal or so if MLBTR's estimates are to believed. Is the trade cost worth it when you can give Fowler 4 years instead? Blackmon doesn't really fit the front office's MO at the top of the order with his walk rate either.

 

That said, the Rockies look like they have decent options pretty much everywhere and OF is where they have the most depth(unless you include the rotation, which no not really especially for the Rockies). I wonder if they'd be interested in Rondon? His repertoire would work better than the average reliever in Coors, and they sure aren't going to buy a closer of his caliber.

 

Other potential Rockies matches might be Almora to serve as a platoon partner/hedge for any of Tapia, Dahl, or Blackmon. I'm a little fascinated by Gerardo Parra myself, I wonder what caused his defense to collapse outside Arizona(the fact that they'd probably give away his contract is the large part of the appeal). And if you're making a deal that the Rockies need to add more to, I like the cut of Carlos Estevez's jib.

[davell]

[tweet]

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I mean, its Ralph. But still.....If an Archer package can begin with Soler and Happ? I wouldn't give a flying horsefeathers as to what pitching prospects we'd need to include.....

[Cubswin11]

I wish Jim Bowden still ran a MLB team

[Bear Cub]

Blackmon looks like he belongs on Duck Dynasty.

[raw]

Here's the thing about Blackmon that confuses me, he's 3 months younger than Fowler. Everything then becomes a point of comparison in that light. Blackmon doesn't have a pre-FA deal so you're basically trading for him on a 2/22 deal or so if MLBTR's estimates are to believed. Is the trade cost worth it when you can give Fowler 4 years instead? Blackmon doesn't really fit the front office's MO at the top of the order with his walk rate either.

 

That said, the Rockies look like they have decent options pretty much everywhere and OF is where they have the most depth(unless you include the rotation, which no not really especially for the Rockies). I wonder if they'd be interested in Rondon? His repertoire would work better than the average reliever in Coors, and they sure aren't going to buy a closer of his caliber.

 

Other potential Rockies matches might be Almora to serve as a platoon partner/hedge for any of Tapia, Dahl, or Blackmon. I'm a little fascinated by Gerardo Parra myself, I wonder what caused his defense to collapse outside Arizona(the fact that they'd probably give away his contract is the large part of the appeal). And if you're making a deal that the Rockies need to add more to, I like the cut of Carlos Estevez's jib.

 

My mock off season I have the Cubs and Rockies trading Rondon + for Parra + Hoffman, who may be the odd man out if a couple guys step up.

 

Like I said, I think they can really compete next year. But they desperately need a closer. Rondon would give them a proven closer who fits well in their park as you said (keeps ball in the park) and the Cubs could use Parra in a platoon or as a really good bench bat. Makes a lot of sense.

[Gmoney08]

 

I mean, its Ralph. But still.....If an Archer package can begin with Soler and Happ? I wouldn't give a flying horsefeathers as to what pitching prospects we'd need to include.....

 

Rays fans think they are getting Schwarber.