The Bryce is Right, Bitch

[Cubswin11]

If we have to skimp somewhere in order to get Bryce, my vote is for it to be the pen. I think that between dealing Happ or Schwarber for a good pen arm and using our group of Webster, Maples, Norwood, Alzolay, Mekkes, and others- that we'd find a serviceable group.

 

And address it at the deadline, if Carl and/or Morrow are broken.

Agree, it’s the hardest roster spot to lock down anyways with its inherit volatility. There’s always guys available for nothing as the season goes on. Add 1-2 cheap guys in a Happ trade and maybe a Rule 5 guy along with the Iowa shuttle guys to fill out what we already have on the roster to start the year.

[Sammy Sofa]

FUN REALIZATION the brewers message board fans were right all along with their posts about how the cubs were mortgaging their future with all their bad fa signings and wouldn’t be able to improve the team down the road (aka now)

 

I still think we'll get some value out of Yu. Chatwood is pocket change, comparatively, and we might not have won the WS without Heyward so I'm already good on that one.

 

If Yu is still having arm problems next year I'm fully on the "make Yu pitch with his left hand" train. We'll get some value out of this guy yet!

 

Sure, they'll get some value from him, but the likely window of that value shrank pretty dramatically with this year being a bust. There's zero chance the Cubs signed him without figuring that at least the last couple of seasons on his deal are probably going to stink; now they're looking at getting year 6 in year 1 on a 32-year old pitcher with a long injury history.

 

And clearly they can't shrug off what Chatwood is making; it's not like they signed him like the dumpster pitcher he is.

 

And the Heyward thing is moot; the dude's an anchor at this point and is only going to get worse. That's a ton of dead/dying/very sick money between these 3.

[Banedon]

And don't forget! We may have to pay Chatwood an extra $4m if he's an All-Star and wins the Cy Young in 2019!

[17 Seconds]

I wish the Cubs would stop making me sad

[Bull]

I wish the Cubs would stop making me sad

Head on over to the anniversary thread. You'll be happy again.

[BigSlick]

I've always thought the field had the advantage on the Cubs on getting Harper so I haven't really gotten too tied up in expecting him to come here, but its still a bummer to not really see much buzz at all

[Flames24Rulz]

I gotta admit, I'm pretty annoyed & frustrated that the billionaire, pro-Trump loving owner is penny pinching when two of the best hitters in baseball are free agents.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I gotta admit, I'm pretty annoyed & frustrated that the billionaire, pro-Trump loving owner is penny pinching when two of the best hitters in baseball are free agents.

 

When you phrase it like that, it gives me Pujols/Fielder flashbacks.

[r_mack]

Seems to me like the Cubs window is quickly shutting

[UMFan83]

 

Honestly the more I see this posted by so many people the more convinced I am that this is what the Cubs want out there

[Cubswin11]

Seems to me like the Cubs window is quickly shutting

I know, we might only win 92 games next year if we bring back largely the same team with some tweaks.*

 

 

 

 

 

(Obviously we should be adding more, I’m not saying I’m fine with this)*

[davell]

 

Honestly the more I see this posted by so many people the more convinced I am that this is what the Cubs want out there

 

It might be Theo putting it out there, hoping to get Ricketts to change his mind, because everyone's pissed.

[Cubswin11]

 

Honestly the more I see this posted by so many people the more convinced I am that this is what the Cubs want out there

Yeah it really does seem like that, what the ultimate motivation is who knows. The GM meetings are this week..... maybe they want to get some trades done sooner than later and they feel getting this out when they’re in the same building as every other team’s FO for a week will help expedite trades so they can then clear whatever they need to, to focus mostly on FA the rest of the offseason.

[Irrelevant Dude]

Seems to me like the Cubs window is quickly shutting

I know, we might only win 92 games next year if we bring back largely the same team with some tweaks.*

 

 

 

 

 

(Obviously we should be adding more, I’m not saying I’m fine with this)*

On one hand, you can argue that this team can and should make the playoffs almost every year for the next 4-5 seasons, and anything can happen in the playoffs. The other side of the argument is that the roster is somewhat flawed and there are other objectively better teams . Sure, the Cubs could beat the Red Sox in a 7 game series, but that isn't the likely outcome. I would hope the Cubs would attempt to maximize this rare window and give themselves the best chance to win, not just straddle the line of winning and profits and roll the dice that they can get lucky in the playoffs.

[Old Style]

Theo is just playing chess with Boras. Bryce will be a Cub.

[Sammy Sofa]

 

Honestly the more I see this posted by so many people the more convinced I am that this is what the Cubs want out there

Yeah it really does seem like that

 

What the horsefeathers would even be the point.

 

"Oh, man, the Cubs are so crafty, what with pretending like they can't afford those free agents that literally everyone else wants."

 

This isn't some tricky multi-team deal or some kind of under the radar signing they're trying to pull off; it's horsefeathering Bryce horsefeathering Harper. Pretending to be poor accomplishes horsefeathers all.

[Cubswin11]

 

Honestly the more I see this posted by so many people the more convinced I am that this is what the Cubs want out there

Yeah it really does seem like that

 

What the horsefeathers would even be the point.

 

"Oh, man, the Cubs are so crafty, what with pretending like they can't afford those free agents that literally everyone else wants."

 

This isn't some tricky multi-team deal or some kind of under the radar signing they're trying to pull off; it's horsefeathering Bryce horsefeathering Harper. Pretending to be poor accomplishes horsefeathers all.

I think it’s more to potentially speed up interest and timeframe on trades for guys more than being sneaky on Bryce. Teams read and hear “we have a limited budget” and prefer trades over FA maybe it means a few teams check in quicker with us than they normally would or now check in on some guys when they normally wouldn’t and we can ultimately move a guy(s) earlier in the offseason (even if it’s just a Kintzler or Duensing).

[Sammy Sofa]

Why are teams going to be inclined to get a trade done sooner if the Cubs are strapped for cash? Like, who is that going to rush along outside of teams trying to swap bad contracts?

 

I just don't get the people who are so adamant why this is some kind if elaborate ruse when there's little to no advantage to the Cubs to be broadcasting that they're looking for change in the couch.

[Gilby]

Theo's upping his chess game after watching the success Stearns has had over the past year

[Sammy Sofa]

Like, hasn't this FO's typical move in the past been largely going radio silent when they're trying to get something done?

[Cubswin11]

Why are teams going to be inclined to get a trade done sooner if the Cubs are strapped for cash? Like, who is that going to rush along outside of teams trying to swap bad contracts?

 

I just don't get the people who are so adamant why this is some kind if elaborate ruse when there's little to no advantage to the Cubs to be broadcasting that they're looking for change in the couch.

If teams hear actual valuable guys like Schwarber, Happ, etc are guys we are open to moving I’m guessing they’re going to call sooner than they normally would if it wasn’t out there and the assumption was we had no interest to move them (one of those are the two likely guys gone if Bryce comes and maybe they want to move one now before Bryce instead of after they have him because they feel they have more leverage or can get a better off now vs after he signs???).

 

Also can start the work on moving the bad contracts sooner maybe? Team calls about Happ/Schwarber now and “oh while you’re here any interest in Kintzler, you can have him for just a PTBNL and we’ll throw in a prospect.” You are right that teams won’t be jumping to call about Chatwood/Duensing/Kintzler but throw out Happ and Schwarber being available and it probably gets guys calling and then try and push Duensing, Chatwood and Kintzler on teams then or at least gauge the market on what you think you can do with those idiots in a month or 2 as the offseason goes on.

Edited November 6, 2018 by Cubswin11

[Irrelevant Dude]

Why are teams going to be inclined to get a trade done sooner if the Cubs are strapped for cash? Like, who is that going to rush along outside of teams trying to swap bad contracts?

 

I just don't get the people who are so adamant why this is some kind if elaborate ruse when there's little to no advantage to the Cubs to be broadcasting that they're looking for change in the couch.

If teams hear actual valuable guys like Schwarber, Happ, etc are guys we are open to moving

I still fail to see how this team gets better by trading Schwarber, unless it is a precursor or result of signing Harper.

[Sammy Sofa]

If teams hear actual valuable guys like Schwarber, Happ, etc are guys we are open to moving I’m guessing they’re going to call sooner than they normally would if it wasn’t out there and the assumption was we had no interest to move them (one of those are the two likely guys gone if Bryce comes and maybe they want to move one now before Bryce instead of after they have him???)

 

I guess I just don't see much of a difference if the Cubs drop word that guys are available whether or not they're pursuing FA. Things like the Cubs' OF being...iffy and them likely wanting to move on from Russell and needed pitching aren't exactly secrets. The value Schwarber and Happ have is largely unchanged, IMO, regardless of who they bring in.

[imb]

I'd be thrilled to get Cozart for Chatwood.

Yeah I really like that move if the money is a net zero. I’d even include a fairly decent prospect on our side with + like Vic/Maples to get it done.

 

what motivation would the angels have to trade cozart for chatwood? what's the upside for them

[Sammy Sofa]

I'd be thrilled to get Cozart for Chatwood.

Yeah I really like that move if the money is a net zero. I’d even include a fairly decent prospect on our side with + like Vic/Maples to get it done.

 

what motivation would the angels have to trade cozart for chatwood? what's the upside for them