The Bryce is Right, Bitch

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If you’re just using the free angent and not telling him, you risk pissing off the agent you need a good relationship with.

 

If they know, they have no incentive to keep your secret

 

this is dumb as horsefeathers. boras has dropped big market teams into rumors and exaggerated their involvement for as long as he's been boras.

 

So?

[Bertz]

the other weird thing is why are we not at least pretending we're interested...what reason is there behind putting the message out there that they are in a budget crunch?

 

why piss off your fans when you can make it look like you tried and you just didn't win out?

 

none of it makes sense to me. there has to be something going on that goes beyond what the media is saying.

 

I think the issue here is that if you just pretend to go after him and miss the fans believe you have $30m that you're able to spend. "Rolling it forward" like we did with Tanaka is acceptable during a rebuild, but not right now.

 

I do sort of wonder about that rumor that we can go up to 240 for Harper. Trading Zobrist and a reliever would be easy, and get payroll down below 210, giving the team the flexibility needed for a Harper signing. That would also make them picking up Hamels' option less confounding.

[David]

the post from her company's page...liked by....

 

DUN DUN DUNNNNNN

[17 Seconds]

imagine being bryce and having to settle for a lousy team in a huge park after thinking he was going to get to play in wrigley field on a great team

[SouthSideRyan]

the other weird thing is why are we not at least pretending we're interested...what reason is there behind putting the message out there that they are in a budget crunch?

 

why piss off your fans when you can make it look like you tried and you just didn't win out?

 

none of it makes sense to me. there has to be something going on that goes beyond what the media is saying.

 

Judging by online reactions it appears fans are quite content with the spending money is stupid idea. These same goofs would definitely rage at Theo for not sealing the deal if we were actively pursuing

[Transmogrified Tiger]

the post from her company's page...liked by....

 

DUN DUN DUNNNNNN

 

there has to be something on Netflix you can watch the pass the time, right

[Derwood]

imagine being bryce and having to settle for a lousy team in a huge park after thinking he was going to get to play in wrigley field on a great team

 

I mean, that's on him, though, right? He can sign anywhere he likes so long as he drops his demands from "richest contract in history" to "unbelievable, generational wealth"

[Hairyducked Idiot]

the post from her company's page...liked by....

 

DUN DUN DUNNNNNN

 

there has to be something on Netflix you can watch the pass the time, right

 

I’m only three eps in but new Carman Sandiego is really good

[David]

the post from her company's page...liked by....

 

DUN DUN DUNNNNNN

 

there has to be something on Netflix you can watch the pass the time, right

 

baseball mogul lost me when i realized i had to set righty/lefty lineups

 

well, i don't have to, but i'm a lunatic so i feel like i have to

[UMFan83]

Bryant to San Diego seems like an even better narrative fit than Harper to Chicago. 3 years from now he comes back to the town he played college ball in, to fulfill his hashtag #back2backoneday with Harper.

 

I'm going to go stand outside in a t-shirt to punish my brain for conjuring this depressing thought.

[imb]

the other weird thing is why are we not at least pretending we're interested...what reason is there behind putting the message out there that they are in a budget crunch?

 

why piss off your fans when you can make it look like you tried and you just didn't win out?

 

none of it makes sense to me. there has to be something going on that goes beyond what the media is saying.

 

Judging by online reactions it appears fans are quite content with the spending money is stupid idea. These same goofs would definitely rage at Theo for not sealing the deal if we were actively pursuing

 

case in point

 

He can sign anywhere he likes so long as he drops his demands from "richest contract in history" to "unbelievable, generational wealth"

[Sammy Sofa]

imagine being bryce and having to settle for a lousy team in a huge park after thinking he was going to get to play in wrigley field on a great team

 

I mean, that's on him, though, right? He can sign anywhere he likes so long as he drops his demands from "richest contract in history" to "unbelievable, generational wealth"

 

You make more money than literally billions of people.

[Derwood]

the other weird thing is why are we not at least pretending we're interested...what reason is there behind putting the message out there that they are in a budget crunch?

 

why piss off your fans when you can make it look like you tried and you just didn't win out?

 

none of it makes sense to me. there has to be something going on that goes beyond what the media is saying.

 

Judging by online reactions it appears fans are quite content with the spending money is stupid idea. These same goofs would definitely rage at Theo for not sealing the deal if we were actively pursuing

 

case in point

 

He can sign anywhere he likes so long as he drops his demands from "richest contract in history" to "unbelievable, generational wealth"

 

No, I've never said that spending money on these players is bad, and I'm not (never) siding with ownership. I'm just pointing out that Harper's particular demands limit his pool of interested teams, and he has to decide if that's worth the record contract. I wish it wasn't that way

[Cubswin11]

I do sort of wonder about that rumor that we can go up to 240 for Harper. Trading Zobrist and a reliever would be easy, and get payroll down below 210, giving the team the flexibility needed for a Harper signing. That would also make them picking up Hamels' option less confounding.

 

This is even less of a rumor than the gar-bahge actual reporters have said this offseason. 240 is a number a fan with an unsensational Twitter account pulled out of his ass, even if it sounds or feels right/reasonable based on stuff and things the owners want you to think

I am almost certain Sharma or one (maybe multiple) of the writers around the team have said they've heard 240 is something we are willing to go to for the right move (which I think really means 246, because that's the upper limit LT threshold). FWIW.

 

I do believe we are the team on the periphery and if the monster $400-500+ million offer doesn't come in and the final number to get him closer to $300 than $400 we can enter the bidding and have the necessary move(s), whatever it/they may be, lined up to pull it off. It is very Boras like to get a team like the Padres in the game late to try and drive up the price.

[Sammy Sofa]

 

Judging by online reactions it appears fans are quite content with the spending money is stupid idea. These same goofs would definitely rage at Theo for not sealing the deal if we were actively pursuing

 

case in point

 

He can sign anywhere he likes so long as he drops his demands from "richest contract in history" to "unbelievable, generational wealth"

 

No, I've never said that spending money on these players is bad, and I'm not (never) siding with ownership. I'm just pointing out that Harper's particular demands limit his pool of interested teams, and he has to decide if that's worth the record contract. I wish it wasn't that way

 

It's an imaginary, arbitrary pool.

[CubinNY]

it's so irrational, but until he signs I think the Cubs have a great chance.

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

 

I’m only three eps in but new Carman Sandiego is really good

I watched the first episode and I was embarrassed that I stuck through the whole thing.

[Deeg]

did the Padres wake up and decide to be a real team in the last week, or are they just trying to make it look like they tried for their fans? (jumping in on Harper, Machado and Realmuto)

 

I think it’s the former, actually. They’ve freed up some money and Preller, while [expletive] nuts, is aggressive by nature. I can see where SD is an attractive destination for a premier FA, especially a West Coaster like Harper. Pleasant if bland city, great climate, gorgeous ballpark.

[BigbadB]

did the Padres wake up and decide to be a real team in the last week, or are they just trying to make it look like they tried for their fans? (jumping in on Harper, Machado and Realmuto)

 

I think it’s the former, actually. They’ve freed up some money and Preller, while bat [expletive] nuts, is aggressive by nature. I can see where SD is an attractive destination for a premier FA, especially a West Coaster like Harper. Pleasant if bland city, great climate, gorgeous ballpark.

 

Maybe you just forgot that the owner of the Padres doesn't spend money?

[Deeg]

did the Padres wake up and decide to be a real team in the last week, or are they just trying to make it look like they tried for their fans? (jumping in on Harper, Machado and Realmuto)

 

I think it’s the former, actually. They’ve freed up some money and Preller, while bat [expletive] nuts, is aggressive by nature. I can see where SD is an attractive destination for a premier FA, especially a West Coaster like Harper. Pleasant if bland city, great climate, gorgeous ballpark.

 

Maybe you just forgot that the owner of the Padres doesn't spend money?

 

Tell Hosmer and Myers that.

 

I lived in SD for many years and know their situation pretty well. They've refinanced a huge debt load and ownership is on record that they're willing and determined to increase payroll dramatically. They have arguably the best collection of prospects in baseball, and maybe in many years. This is an ideal time to make a splash and a younger FA like Manny or Bryce is a perfect fit for them, with their main competitive window a year or two off.

[Derwood]

 

case in point

 

 

No, I've never said that spending money on these players is bad, and I'm not (never) siding with ownership. I'm just pointing out that Harper's particular demands limit his pool of interested teams, and he has to decide if that's worth the record contract. I wish it wasn't that way

 

It's an imaginary, arbitrary pool.

 

Not if the owners have collectively decided that profit margins >>>>> winning

[Sammy Sofa]

 

No, I've never said that spending money on these players is bad, and I'm not (never) siding with ownership. I'm just pointing out that Harper's particular demands limit his pool of interested teams, and he has to decide if that's worth the record contract. I wish it wasn't that way

 

It's an imaginary, arbitrary pool.

 

Not if the owners have collectively decided that profit margins >>>>> winning

 

[Deeg]

I lived in SD for many years and know their situation pretty well. They've refinanced a huge debt load and ownership is on record that they're willing and determined to increase payroll dramatically. They have arguably the best collection of prospects in baseball, and maybe in many years. This is an ideal time to make a splash and a younger FA like Manny or Bryce is a perfect fit for them, with their main competitive window a year or two off.

 

I feel like alot of owners have been saying this as MiL deals pile up and a 100+ FAs remain unsigned as we enter February.

 

Be that as it may, the Padres situation has changed and they're willing to spend. But they've been bad (and cheap) for a long time, and you have to sell a top FA on the situation. No idea if Preller is suited for that job.

[champaignchris]

I just don’t understand...

 

The Cubs have nearly $60M in contracts coming off the book next year between Hamels, Zobrist, Morrow (I’m assuming they’ll decline his option), Strop, Cishek and Kintzler. They could free up another ~$22M if they were to decline Rizzo’s or Quintana’s options. (Unlikely in the first case, maybe not so unlikely in the second.).

 

Yeah, they have some increase with arbitration awards and whatnot, but they can easily get under the luxury tax next year even if they’re paying Harper or Machado $30-$40M a year. They’re going to be over the luxury tax this year anyway. It makes no sense that they can’t go after one of them this year.

 

What are they going to do with all the money coming off the books next year? Are they seriously going to fall back to a $160-170M payroll? They think they’re going to spend all that money on Xander Bogaerts, Mad Bum, Garrett Cole and Dellin Betances? (I’d bet at least two of those never make it to free agency.) Or what?

 

The frustrating thing is that up until this year Theo & Co have always been pretty up front about what their plans are and what they’re trying to do. Now I really have no clue.

[jersey cubs fan]

I just don’t understand...

 

The Cubs have nearly $60M in contracts coming off the book next year between Hamels, Zobrist, Morrow (I’m assuming they’ll decline his option), Strop, Cishek and Kintzler. They could free up another ~$22M if they were to decline Rizzo’s or Quintana’s options. (Unlikely in the first case, maybe not so unlikely in the second.).

 

Yeah, they have some increase with arbitration awards and whatnot, but they can easily get under the luxury tax next year even if they’re paying Harper or Machado $30-$40M a year. They’re going to be over the luxury tax this year anyway. It makes no sense that they can’t go after one of them this year.

 

What are they going to do with all the money coming off the books next year? Are they seriously going to fall back to a $160-170M payroll? They think they’re going to spend all that money on Xander Bogaerts, Mad Bum, Garrett Cole and Dellin Betances? (I’d bet at least two of those never make it to free agency.) Or what?

 

The frustrating thing is that up until this year Theo & Co have always been pretty up front about what their plans are and what they’re trying to do. Now I really have no clue.

If Hamels and Quintana's contracts come off the books, that is two starting rotation spots they have to fill with zero likely internal options.

If Strop's contract comes off the books, that's a huge bullpen arm they have to fill with a new reliever, again likely with zero internal options.

They aren't declining Rizzo's options.

 

Their pitching prospects are terrible. And while the rotations is theoretically set, it is old and will be in need of external acquisitions, which will cost money or prospects, and they don't have prospects.

 

The 2020/2021 pitching staff is a mess and is going to cost a lot of money to fix.