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The Bryce is Right, Bitch

David

By David,
in Chicago Cubs Talk

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Backtobanks Knoxville Smokies

Backtobanks

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
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.

 

I agree with Hamels, Quintana, and Strop costing big money to replace because of our crappy pitching prospects, but you still need bodies to replace Morrow, Chishek, and Kintzler too. That's 2 starters, a closer, a set-up guy, a decent reliever, and a replaceable arm. Unless Harper/Machado are planning to be two way players like Ohtani, I'm not sure we can afford them.

BigSlick South Bend Cubs

BigSlick

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

God Damnit can Harper sign somewhere and end our god damn misery

 

This horsefeathers has stretched almost the entire way to spring training

toonsterwu ACL Cubs

toonsterwu

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
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.

 

My guess is that, beyond dealing with holes that they need to deal with on the team (namely pitching) that they are betting on their own guys internally.

 

At the end of the day, this Harper FA has been ... interesting. I keep thinking more teams will pop into it (Braves/Cardinals come to mind ... they keep saying a team on the periphery and I keep wondering about the Cubs being that team as well), but it's been weird for one of the premier talents in the game.

David GOAT

David

Old-Timey Member
Posted
  • Author
Posted

 

Am I supposed to know who this is?

 

one of the more prominent cubs bloggers who has claimed sources before

Derwood GOAT

Derwood

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

 

Am I supposed to know who this is?

 

one of the more prominent cubs bloggers who has claimed sources before

 

Why does no one post his tweets but we have 87 Charles the Cat tweets?

Brian MVP

Brian

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
Evan Altman was the guy who brought attention to Theo's wife's instagram post, I bet the text was a warning that he was getting too close #CubAnon
UMFan83 GOAT

UMFan83

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

 

Am I supposed to know who this is?

 

one of the more prominent cubs bloggers who has claimed sources before

 

Why does no one post his tweets but we have 87 Charles the Cat tweets?

 

Because almost all of his tweets are not of interest to this thread and he has a twitter feed we can read if we want to read his tweets that aren’t about Bryce Harper.

Brian MVP

Brian

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

Well, I don't know what is going on, but the guy that sent the text revealed himself ...

 

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

 

From a Brewers FO source, not good news for Cubs fans, seemingly not Brewers news

imb MVP

imb

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
If the cardinals sign Bryce Harper I’m telling you right now I will only watch 2/3 of the cubs games this year AT MINIMUM
Cubs Fan Dan Draft Eligible

Cubs Fan Dan

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

I still think Cubs end up with Harper. However I think the market for free agents was predictable. If they get him it will be at a bit of a discount compared to expected contract value.

 

There has been a lot of narrative about Epstein being blindsided by budgets and the Rickets interviews. I don’t think Theo and Tom have been out of sync since day 1 and would be shocked if they are now. I think the money is there with a few stipulations around it and the cubs know playing the market the way it is could save them millions, even if it’s Harper.

 

My prediction: cubs sign Harper on Feb 19

Brian MVP

Brian

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
If the cardinals sign Bryce Harper I’m telling you right now I will only watch 2/3 of the cubs games this year AT MINIMUM

 

Where's he going to play with Ozuna, Dex & Trout 2.0?

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