Random Offseason Musings and Rumors

[Liam Neeson]

I for sure thought the team they were going to deal Mallex to was Cleveland.

 

Felix, Iwakuma, Paxton, Smyly, Gallardo isn't a horrible rotation.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Tampa could get a nice haul for Kiermaier

[Cubswin11]

Tampa could get a nice haul for Kiermaier

I was hoping the Cardinals would really overpay for him instead of signing Dexter

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Tampa could get a nice haul for Kiermaier

I was hoping the Cardinals would really overpay for him instead of signing Dexter

word is the Astros were a bit down on him

[Cubswin11]

Tampa could get a nice haul for Kiermaier

I was hoping the Cardinals would really overpay for him instead of signing Dexter

word is the Astros were a bit down on him

??

[jersey cubs fan]

I was hoping the Cardinals would really overpay for him instead of signing Dexter

word is the Astros were a bit down on him

??

come on, that's solid hacking humor

[chopsx9]

word is the Astros were a bit down on him

??

come on, that's solid hacking humor

Yes It was!

[Cubswin11]

Tampa could get a nice haul for Kiermaier

I was hoping the Cardinals would really overpay for him instead of signing Dexter

word is the Astros were a bit down on him

Don't know how this went over my head, but nice job

[Post Count Padder]

Looks like Trevor Cahill is signing with the Padres. He's from that area and they're gonna give him a shot to start.

[toonsterwu]

Seems so weird to think that Cahill was once so highly valued. He'll be a nice swing man for them.

 

The Mariners offseason has been interesting, to say the least. Almost all the moves could be criticized individually, but I can't help but look at the end product and think ... it might be a better squad, and I'm not sure they gave up that much long term potential to be that hugely concerned about. Going to be curious how it plays out. Always liked Smyly enough. Could see him really take off there.

[bukie]

Well, the Padres were in need of an ace.

[Cubswin11]

Wil Myers signs a 6/80+ extension. 3 of the years are arbitration years, 3 are FA years per Twitter/Rosenthal

[Post Count Padder]

Bautista going back to Toronto on a 2 year deal, it sounds like.

 

Also, Saunders signing with the Phillies.

[Cubswin11]

Royals and Duffy agree to a 5/65 extension. Seems really cheap, he probably would've gotten $100+ million next offseason on the open market. Don't blame him for locking in significant money though to mitigate an injury/regression.

[Regular Show]

Duffy's got some talent but I'm glad both he and Ross are off the market. The fewer arm surgeries on staff the better.

 

You've got some weird takes man...We probably would be signing T. Ross to an incentive-laden 1 yr deal w/ a possible option for next yr. There is honestly no way that deal could end badly because anything he gives us is a bonus and a boost. We weren't counting on him, but he could've helped us in the second-half next season.

 

I'm also NOT happy that Duffy is off the market now, and I think most of us aren't thrilled he re-upped with the Royals. Good for him (and the Royals), but that isn't a good thing for the Cubs. I trust the Cubs FO to properly evaluate pitchers, and I'm pretty sure they won't be avoiding all pitchers who have some history of arm/shoulder problems because that's a very LARGE pool of talented pitchers.

[Regular Show]

You've got some weird takes man...We probably would be signing T. Ross to an incentive-laden 1 yr deal w/ a possible option for next yr. There is honestly no way that deal could end badly because anything he gives us is a bonus and a boost. We weren't counting on him, but he could've helped us in the second-half next season.

 

I'm also NOT happy that Duffy is off the market now, and I think most of us aren't thrilled he re-upped with the Royals. Good for him (and the Royals), but that isn't a good thing for the Cubs. I trust the Cubs FO to properly evaluate pitchers, and I'm pretty sure they won't be avoiding all pitchers who have some history of arm/shoulder problems because that's a very LARGE pool of talented pitchers.

 

Yeah, if it's weird to largely not want surgeried pitchers then I'll somehow trudge on with that label. You say they probably would sign Ross, but they didn't despite him coming cheap, low commit, and supposedly with zero risk on the Cubs' end based on reasons. Both of these guys don't just have some history with arm injuries, they have long histories throughout the pros and at least one major surgery under their belts apiece (Ross with at least two, including a major shoulder being rehabbed now).

 

http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/why-tyson-ross-chose-rangers-over-cubs

 

I meant if they sign Ross they would probably sign him to an incentive-laden 1-yr deal with a possible option for next season. It seems like the offers were pretty close between us and the Rangers. The Cubs were trying to sign him and Theo explained why T. Ross chose the Rangers over us. They (The Cubs) weren't afraid of his injury history and were willing to commit $6+ million with incentives depending on how many innings he reached. It doesn't really matter regarding the injury history if it's a 1-yr deal...

 

Maybe committing to Duffy for multiple years would carry some risk depending on what the MRI and a physical might show. Still, I'd rather he be available with a chance to look at his medicals and then decide whether it's worth it or not.

 

Anyway, I guess I could've responded to your statement with this instead:

 

http://i.imgur.com/dUmkhiF.gif

[CaliforniaRaisin]

You've got some weird takes man...We probably would be signing T. Ross to an incentive-laden 1 yr deal w/ a possible option for next yr. There is honestly no way that deal could end badly because anything he gives us is a bonus and a boost. We weren't counting on him, but he could've helped us in the second-half next season.

 

I'm also NOT happy that Duffy is off the market now, and I think most of us aren't thrilled he re-upped with the Royals. Good for him (and the Royals), but that isn't a good thing for the Cubs. I trust the Cubs FO to properly evaluate pitchers, and I'm pretty sure they won't be avoiding all pitchers who have some history of arm/shoulder problems because that's a very LARGE pool of talented pitchers.

 

Yeah, if it's weird to largely not want surgeried pitchers then I'll somehow trudge on with that label. You say they probably would sign Ross, but they didn't despite him coming cheap, low commit, and supposedly with zero risk on the Cubs' end based on reasons. Both of these guys don't just have some history with arm injuries, they have long histories throughout the pros and at least one major surgery under their belts apiece (Ross with at least two, including a major shoulder being rehabbed now).

 

Even if you're not interested in signing Duffy, him going off the market next offseason is a bad thing for the Cubs because it eliminates one option for a higher end arm that competing teams can focus on in free agency. It's a scarce market and one of the better options just went off the market.

[imb]

ok cool that's not the point though so try and stay with us here

[David]

Got it, there is only one point/hot take to be made. Without the opportunity to consider paying Duffy FA dollars and years next year the Cubs will have to make some major adjustments on the fly.

 

is the point just flying over your head or something?

 

his post was about the fact that more options on the FA market is a good thing. the cubs don't have to even consider signing him for that to be true. he LITERALLY said that. what is reading comprehension?

[jersey cubs fan]

This doesn't affect every team equally, and no one is more set up to be less affected than the Cubs.

I could not disagree more.

 

 

Few teams will be under more pressure to sign a free agent pitcher this coming offseason than the Cubs. They have to do it, and the lower the supply, the more difficult it will be for them to do it.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The damage here is really what - they're now under marginally more pressure to focus on extending their healthy, in-house ace they rode to an NCLS and WS ring?

 

The damage is that the Cubs are basically guaranteed to be playing in the FA market for at least one SP next year, and one of the potential options disappeared. Even if the Cubs had zero interest(I didn't really think he was all that interesting, but I think Tyson Ross is dead and the FO sure didn't), that's bad. It's not 'oh no how will they cope' bad, but inarguably bad nonetheless.

[jersey cubs fan]

This doesn't affect every team equally, and no one is more set up to be less affected than the Cubs.

I could not disagree more.

 

 

Few teams will be under more pressure to sign a free agent pitcher this coming offseason than the Cubs. They have to do it, and the lower the supply, the more difficult it will be for them to do it.

 

Fair enough, but this is at least a heavily mitigated by the healthiest TOR FA arm being inside the org and the depth to make multiple trades of various sizes for pitching. Locking up Arrieta OR making a significant trade for a Teheran/Archer/someone suddenly turns that FA class into a hunt to fill up the BOR - and that was largely the case before Duffy signed his extension.

but they almost certainly do not want to sign Arrieta.

[davell]

The packages for TOR types have been insane. The Cubs pulling the trigger on a deal for one seems extremely unlikely. Since it'd empty the system and likely cost ML contributors they continually say they're not trading.

 

Our next TOR addition will almost definitely be from FA.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Our next TOR addition will almost definitely be from FA.

 

If you'll forgive me being pedantic I think it's probably similarly likely that it's a trade+develop situation, a la Arrieta. Of course given the timing that means the trade+develop has to be Montgomery or someone who is added before opening day so maybe not exactly likely, but I wouldn't undersell the possibility of trading for a guy and fixing them.

[KingCubsFan]

The packages for TOR types have been insane. The Cubs pulling the trigger on a deal for one seems extremely unlikely. Since it'd empty the system and likely cost ML contributors they continually say they're not trading.

 

Our next TOR addition will almost definitely be from FA.

Agreed. Given the prices, it's going to take at least our top 3 prospects plus one of Baez or Schwarber to get a long-term piece. Not interested. I have to think that the FO is targeting somebody that will be on the FA market, considering they clearly have no interest in resigning Jake.