The Bryce is Right, Bitch

[UMFan83]

Maybe I'm sticking my head in the sand, but I don't buy it. Picking up a 20 million dollar option on the 5th starter position after preaching fixing offense in the season wrap up press conference is not the move of team that has a money problem.

 

Same here. The Cubs are getting Harper

[Brian707]

Maybe I'm sticking my head in the sand, but I don't buy it. Picking up a 20 million dollar option on the 5th starter position after preaching fixing offense in the season wrap up press conference is not the move of team that has a money problem.

 

Same here. The Cubs are getting Harper

 

I love the Athletic but this article was [expletive]. Over under Harper a Cub by Thanksgiving?

[Cubswin11]

Maybe I'm sticking my head in the sand, but I don't buy it. Picking up a 20 million dollar option on the 5th starter position after preaching fixing offense in the season wrap up press conference is not the move of team that has a money problem.

 

Same here. The Cubs are getting Harper

 

I love the Athletic but this article was [expletive]. Over under Harper a Cub by Thanksgiving?

Over. But he’s gonna be a Cub. It’s in MLB’s/Boras co best interest to drag it out. I bet he will sign at winter meetings in December (which are in Vegas), it will be some hokey produced announcement thing.

[treebird]

if the cubs don’t get harper ricketts goes in the trash can

[jehr]

I will leave this depressing article here.

 

https://theathletic.com/630609/2018/11/02/what-the-cole-hamels-option-means-for-the-cubs-and-bryce-harper/

But Friday’s salary-dump trade – moving Drew Smyly to the Texas Rangers in order to pick up the $20 million option on Cole Hamels – reinforced what multiple sources have told The Athletic: The Cubs have financial concerns that may limit their ability and motivation to make a huge splash this winter.

Or maybe their salary concerns are based upon whatever is left over after they plan on throwing the bank at Harper.

[davell]

I just listened to the Finfer/Sharma/Greenberg podcast. They're definitely not painting a pretty picture about this offseason.

 

That said, we'll hear from Theo at the GM Meetings next week. That's when we'll know whether we've got the ability to get him or not.

 

Personally, I'm starting to think that Theo just got blindsided by our end of the year org meetings and was told we've got budget restraints due to the uncertainty of the TV deal......

 

If that's the case, the Hamels deal doesn't matter, because they're more concerned long term, than short term.

 

But again, it's just my hot take currently. We'll have a much firmer idea next week. Until then, it's all speculative.

[treebird]

if ricketts told theo there’s no money for harper, i hope theo bounces.

[jersey cubs fan]

if ricketts told theo there’s no money for harper, i hope theo bounces.

The ricketts won't pay players to own the libs

[Sammy Sofa]

PTR can't wait to start sharing hobo soup recipes with Ted Cruz again.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Personally, I'm starting to think that Theo just got blindsided by our end of the year org meetings and was told we've got budget restraints due to the uncertainty of the TV deal......

 

If that's the case, the Hamels deal doesn't matter, because they're more concerned long term, than short term.

 

They don’t have any money for Harper so it doesn’t matter if they give 20 million to Hamels is logic I have a hard time getting behind.

[davell]

A Cubs Off Season via Twitter

 

November 6, 2018 (Carlsbad, California)

 

Gordo- Cubs expect to be bit players in Free Agency

Sharma- Theo: "Yes, contrary to popular opinion, we DO we have a budget and it's on me and everyone in our department to do everything to the best of our abilities, to get the Chicago Cubs back to the World Series

 

November 7, 2018

 

Rosenthal- Rival clubs expect Cubs to keep Luxury Tax number under the second tier.

Nightingale- Cubs to set payroll under the Luxury Tax

Manu- Just sell the team.

 

November 8, 2018

 

Nightengale- Now that the Cubs run is over, why the Cards get Bryce Harper in Las Vegas

 

November 15, 2018

 

Morrissey- As Cubs falter, has Theo Epstein checked out?

 

November 19, 2018

 

Rogers- Breaking- Cubs bring back Rene Rivera

Passan- Rivera gets 3 million

Greenberg- Cubs having an off season that makes Pirates fans feel bad.

 

November 24, 2018

 

Gordo- Theo Epstein to leave Cubs once current contract is up

Mooney- Nothing to say, other than that's a writer's opinion, not a fact.

Brisbee- Hey Theo, we like the cut of your jib, how to kidnap him(not really, but maybe)

 

November 29, 2018

 

Rosenthal- Addison Russell is a non tender

Rogers- Theo" We wish Addison Russell the best, but feel Javy is our best option at SS"

Kelly Wallace- Why did this take this long?

 

December 2, 2018

 

Rosenbloom- Theo Epstein to whimper out of Chicago

 

December 4, 2018

 

Lavine- Cubs on periphery of Harper sweepstakes

 

December 7, 2018

 

Muskat- Cubs Winter Meetings expect to be quiet

Rogers- Theo- "We've got a good grasp of what we're trying to accomplish this off season. Our sole mission is to put the best possible team on the field as we can and we'll do that. Even if it takes all offseason.

 

December 9, 2018

 

Sharma- Theo: "Come on, that's not even worth commenting on. You guys wonder why the National guys break lots of news? Really?"

 

December 10, 2018

 

Greenberg- Sahadev, do we have a pass to Britney's concert?

 

December 11, 2018

 

Muskat- Cubs putting lots of work in during expected slow paced off season

 

December 12, 2018

 

10:43 AM Heyman- Cubs get Galvis

Greenberg- Not even Mercer?

 

12:44 PM Gordo- Rival Execs- Cubs are frustrated

 

5:33 PM Rogers- Theo- "Its slow. We solidified our depth behind Javy and we feel good about that. We are keeping our heads up and bouncing ideas off everyone.

 

6:16 PM Sharma- Maddon- " The lights here hurt my eyes. That's why I'm down. I think we may need to show these dealers what a Hazelton Heart is.

Greenberg- Joe has mailed it in.

Mooney- Maddon won't talk to me.

 

11:38 PM

 

Heyman- Dodgers looking good in Harper sweepstakes

 

11:47 PM

 

Nightingale- Cardinals still in hunt for Bryce Harper

 

 

Part 2 in 2nd Post......

[davell]

December 13th

 

12:21 AM

 

Rosenthal- Duensing to Mariners

Gordo- Cubs cost cutting continues as Cubs send Victor Caratini away to get out from Duensing' 3.5 million

 

12:25 AM

 

Heyman- Kintzler to Oakland

Nightingale- Cubs appear to be selling off

Greenberg- Theo is trolling the horsefeathers out of us.

 

12:30

 

Passan- Alex Lange packaged with Kintzler for ptbnl

Sharma- Cubs save 8.5 million late Wednesday night

Craig Edwards- I almost feel bad for Cubs fans

 

12:33 AM

 

Tim Brown- Sources: Tyler Chatwood to Texas

Sharma- This may be a long night

 

12:36 AM

 

Rosenthal- Cubs closing in on Bryce Harper

Rogers- Wow

Greenberg- Holy horsefeathers

Heyman- Cubs making late push for Bryce

Lavine- More deals expected as Cubs Hendry gets busy

 

12:38 AM

Nightingale- Cards feel they've got great shot on Harper

Gordo- Cubs cost cutting continued with late night sale

Lavine- Epstein, not Hendry

 

12:39 AM

Passan- Miguel Amaya, Cubs top prospect, included in Chatwood move.

Heyman- Braves get Schwarber

Brisbee- Theo is a Gangsta, you guys should have kidnapped him, like I said.

Keith Law- Hearing Brailyn Marquez has been dealt to Texas

 

12:40 AM

Rosenthal- Cubs and Harper closing in on 400 million dollar deal.

Derrick Gould- Cards try, but fall short in Harper pursuit

Joel Sherman- Cubs get Minter

Bowden- No one is answering my texts

Rogers- I am just waiting to see the final tally, there's another move or two.

Mooney- How Maddon and Theo clashed on Morrow usage

 

12:41 AM

Passan- Full deal: Cubs send Chatwood, Miguel Amaya, Brailyn Marquez, and ptbnl to Toronto for Ryan Tepera

Heyman- Carlos Quintana to Phillies

Sharma- Sweet Lord

Keith Law- Holy horsefeathers

Brisbee- The Giants, horsefeathers it, I'm a Cubs fan, and we should all be.

Nightingale- Cubs move on from bad contracts of Kintzler and Duensing

Lavine- Roman Quinn traded to Cubs

Muskat- Theo Epstein has confidence Cubs will put a better product on field in 2019

 

12:43 AM

Bowden- Cubs evidently are busy this evening.

Chris Crawford- My head is exploding

Dayn Perry- This is fun and it sucks. It's ok to say this.

Brisbee- Cubs trade for Steph and Klay, Obama, Game of Thrones rights, the Marvel Universe, and the animated version of the Wendy's Where's the Beef Lady. I think they gave up a Stanley Nickel for these things.

 

12:44

Rosenthal- Full deal is Schwarber for Minter and Fried.

Heyman- Chavez back to Cubs

Passan- Hearing Cubs are getting Ranger Suarez as part of Quintana deal

Gordo- Cubs showing interest in Harper

Peter Gammons- Theorstucidoreblomngs

 

12:47 AM

 

Sharma- Ian Happ is being traded to Colorado

Brisbee- I've been known to cut fools that aren't Cubs fans

Lavine- Cubs trade for Bob Dernier

 

12:48

Lavine- Disregard last post, I'm having a beer with him.

 

12:49

Lavine- Cubs give Chavez 1 year deal for 5 million

Bowden- Cubs are making some moves

 

12:50

Rosenthal- Cubs trade Ian Happ straight up for Jon Gray

 

12:51

Heyman - Cubs giving Harper 16/400. Multiple opt outs.

Julie DiCaro- Sources- Cubs closing in on Bryce Harper

 

1:55 AM

Sharma- Recap of trades today

1) Duensing and Caratini to Seattle for ptbnl-salary saver

2) Kintzler and Lange to Oakland for ptbnl-salary saver

3) Chatwood, Miguel Amaya, and Brailyn Marquez to Texas for ptbnl-salary saver

4) Quintana to Philadelphia for OF Roman Quinn and LHP Ranger Suarez

5) Schwarber to Atlanta for Minter and Fried

6) Happ for Jon Gray

 

Signings

1) Chavez-1/5

2) Bryce-16/400

[Derwood]

That reeked of effort

[davell]

That reeked of effort

 

So, try it sometime?

[Bryants Disco Ball]

That reeked of effort

 

So, try it sometime?

 

I'm going to give this a try.

 

Sometime in November/December: Dodgers sign Bryce Harper.

[Cubswin11]

LOL, nice work Davell

 

 

I do like that team/offseason quite a bit if we have to do all those cost cutting moves to get Bryce.

 

Also, between the end of the regular season and yesterday it seems like it has been reported that every team has a hesitancy or a limited budget/willingness to spend this offseason, I think the idea we have little money to spend (by choice or by real factors) is a bit overblown and just some typical team positioning going in to the FA period and also writers sensationalizing things. Of course Theo isn’t going to come out bragging about how much money the Cubs have and how willing they are to be signing Bryce and ~4 other guys for half a billion dollars this offseason on day 1 of FA.

Edited November 3, 2018 by Cubswin11

[Cubswin11]

[Cubswin11]

It’s possible something drastically changed with current or future cash projections/availability but a reminder of what Theo said after Darvish. This “Cubs having no money” narrative is all posturing by the FO/idiot writers being idiot writers, IMO.

 

[Bertz]

It’s possible something drastically changed with current or future cash projections/availability but a reminder of what Theo said after Darvish. This “Cubs having no money” narrative is all posturing by the FO/idiot writers being idiot writers, IMO.

 

 

I was looking for that quote earlier but couldn't find it, thanks for posting. I kind of wonder if there's a set payroll, but Ricketts is fine going to another number only for Bryce. Like payroll is 230, but if Theo can reel in Bryce then PTR is willing to go into the 250's. So like, we have the $ for Bryce, but if we miss on him Theo can't just turn around and grab Pollock, Andrew Miller, and David Robertson or whatever else $35m buys.

[davell]

I don't think there's any chance we go to the 250's. Honestly, I think it's extremely likely we stay under the 246 top tier. In fact, I agree we may have 2 separate payroll areas too. 246 or under with Bryce, 226 or under without him.

 

But, I don't think there's any chance we wind up in the 250's. If by some slim chance we go past the 246 mark, I think we go to at least 265, maybe even 275. It doesn't make sense to be taxed harder and take the pick penalty, unless you take complete advantage of it. Like we did on IFA's before that loophole closed.

[Cubswin11]

It’s possible something drastically changed with current or future cash projections/availability but a reminder of what Theo said after Darvish. This “Cubs having no money” narrative is all posturing by the FO/idiot writers being idiot writers, IMO.

 

 

I was looking for that quote earlier but couldn't find it, thanks for posting. I kind of wonder if there's a set payroll, but Ricketts is fine going to another number only for Bryce. Like payroll is 230, but if Theo can reel in Bryce then PTR is willing to go into the 250's. So like, we have the $ for Bryce, but if we miss on him Theo can't just turn around and grab Pollock, Andrew Miller, and David Robertson or whatever else $35m buys.

I think that’s likely very much the case. You make special accommodations and exceptions for a guy like Bryce and are willing to go to payroll levels your normally wouldn’t unless it’s for him. You don’t go in to that upper level for the A.J. Pollock’s of the world.

[Sammy Sofa]

That reeked of effort

 

So, try it sometime?

 

I'm going to give this a try.

 

Sometime in November/December: Dodgers sign Bryce Harper.

 

[Brian]

DISCLAIMERS

 

1. I'm not saying this person has real sources or knows anything

2. I haven't even looked into anything he's said since last offseason

 

-----

 

That Charles the Cat account on twitter that was pretty early on the Yu is going to be a Cub and did not waver at all when things were looking like it was not even on the Cubs radar from mainstream sources says this ...

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I can totally buy PTR2 being a front office smokescreen.

[Cubswin11]

Charles The Cat was always a man of honor and integrity and shame on those who doubt a man of his track record