Free Agent Flyers-Because there's still a bunch left

[davell]

I get that our roster looks really solid. I get that we've already released a list of NRI's, I'm not sure if we did that because we're done scouring or not.....But I assume we're not.

 

So, what kind of depth moves are out there, that you'd be interested in?

 

Keep in mind where we are as far as the luxury tax threshold.....We sit at 159.7 currently. The tax is 195. However, we still need to add Strop to that. Probably in the 5's. We also need to add our pre arb guys. That includes KB, Javy, Addy, Schwarber, Hendricks, Seal Boy, Monty, Almora, Contreras, Carl, and maybe a few more. That's probably another 6 or 7 mill. Let's say that puts us at 172.

 

From there, from everything I can tell, we use our draft budget in the luxury tax too. So, now we sit at 179. We added close to 15 last year in season. That'd put us at 194, coming in 1 mill under.

 

Now, its not a NECESSITY to get under THIS year. But, it is for this year OR next year. With the FA class at that point and the penalties that'll start to accrue, due to the CBA. Every team is going to reset. So, if we reset NOW, then that leaves us 15 mill to play with, from here thru the season. Making a Jerry Blevins or Boone Logan addition right now, a pretty interesting expenditure, for a multitude of reasons. Still, I'm sure our FO is bargain hunting, so who knows?

 

Depth Catcher

 

Do we need a guy behind Contreras and Montero? Can Schwarber be that guy right now? I'd guess no. But, its kind of hard to bet against him lol. We have Caratini, who'll be in Iowa. But, I'd guess he needs a full season there. So, its like looking for our next Fedorowicz.

 

Hank Conger, Brayan Pena......That's what's out there, that seems realistic and I'm too lazy to look at their pitch framing stats. This isn't a huge need, but I could see a vet pickup between now and the end of ST.

 

Outfield Depth

 

We're heavy here. We've got lots of options. But I'd love to see if Desmond Jennings has anything left. I always liked him and think he'd respond to our staff positively.

 

There's plenty of guys left out there. So, you guys may see someone else that fits your flyer profile.....

 

Coghlan, Gentry, Raburn, Bourn, Fuld, Stubbs.....That's your list of guys basically.

 

Starting Pitching

 

This group falls into the same thing as Logan and Blevins. My GUESS is Anderson is the "big" money guy for us. But my guess is we're still looking for more depth, all the same.....

 

Henderson Alvarez, De La Rosa, Eovaldi, Colby Lewis, Williams Perez, Niese, CJ Wilson.......

 

There's other guys too, but that's the group I'm interested in. Especially Alvarez. He supposedly looks good too. No idea what itd take for him, but I'd love to see an incentive laden deal somehow. I'd like Eovaldi, but knowing he's counting against the cap and you're getting nothing from him in 2017, puts a damper on him, for me. Niese intrigues me. But I'd think he can find an easier path to a rotation. Perez is pure depth, but he fits us fairly well, as a 7th-10th type of AAA stash.

 

Bullpen

 

We've got a full group. But we COULD still use a lefty, I guess. Although, we know Uehara's splits. And Butler could also allow us to move Rob Z back into the pen too. As could any other additional starting depth.

 

Aaron Barrett, Matt Belisle, Kevin Jepsen, David Hernandez, Luke Hochevar

 

These are the righties. There's more, but I left off guys that can get multi year deals or that may be given a shot at closing, like Romo. I really like Barrett as an NRI, with incentives. But I'm sure quite a few teams do. We already added Jim Henderson and Fernando Rodriguez, who are good enough to pitch in the majors. So, it may be greedy, to think any of this group can't find a better opportunity than here. But, I'd love to add as much as possible. Especially since I suspect we'll manipulate the 10 Day DL and involve lots of guys for our pen, even if try stay healthy.

 

Blevins, Logan, Wood, Furbush

 

Just went over the reasons we may not want to give out 6-7 mill a year(for 2-3 years probably) on Blevins or Logan. But, I could see them saying they'll worry about the tax the following year too, when we lose Miggy, Jake, Lackey, Jay, Davis, Uehara, Anderson, and Strop off the payroll....

 

So anyway, that's kind of the list. We ARE set to head into ST right now, as well as anyone. But a tweak or three, especially NRI's, seems very plausible. Any positions you want addressed? Any guys in particular you like that's still out there?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

De La Rosa re-signed with Arizona, and Eovaldi doesn't have a throwing arm anymore

[Cubswin11]

Didn't we sign some version of Federowicz already for a AAAA catcher?

[davell]

De La Rosa re-signed with Arizona, and Eovaldi doesn't have a throwing arm anymore

 

Nah, the old Colorado one.

[davell]

Didn't we sign some version of Federowicz already for a AAAA catcher?

 

I guess we signed Carlos Corporan. He didn't play in the majors last year though. Still, thats likely all we'd add. Good memory man.

[Post Count Padder]

Didn't Brayan Pena request his release in order to join the military or did I make that up? We have Corporan, Solis, Davis and soon Caratini in AAA as catchers.

 

This is a good website for our depth chart: http://www.rosterresource.com/mlb-chicago-cubs/

 

Our MI and 1B depth in the upper minors could use help, so someone like Ackley, Coghlan or Kelly Johnson would be good on a minor league deal.

 

Our relief corps is pretty deep. In addition to the guys in the majors, also have Rosario, Black, Leatherstich, Acevedo, Concepcion, Pena, Rollins, Parra and Rosscup, in addition to newbies Conor Mullee (good in AAA last year for the Yanks), Fernando Rodriguez (who has been a decent middle reliever the past couple years), Daniel Corcino, Maikel Cleto, and others.

 

The SP depth has been discussed and definitely improved the past few days with Kelly and Butler.