The Mock Off Season Thread

[We Got The Whole 9]

If we go MIF package for Archer + Colome, I really want to kick the tires on Cozart. From there I want one of Reed, Shaw, McGee, and then let the market settle down and grab your ancillary additions to fill out the roster.

[Post Count Padder]

Morrow 2 yr deal to close

Neshek 2 yr deal

Rivera 1 yr deal

Granderson 1 yr deal

 

Trade Russell, Alzolay, and Zagunis for Archer and Hechavarria

Hechevarria is garbage. Take him out, throw in Almora and Kiermeier.

[Tim]

Offseason Todo list:

 

Starting Pitcher

Starting Pitcher

 

Relief Pitcher 1

Relief Pitcher 2

Relief Pitcher 3

 

Backup Catcher

[Tim]

My ideal scenario:

 

Tampa buys into Happ being at least a league average defender at second base. In which case, he's a 30+ hr guy with plate discipline, speed and solid defense. That's the beginning of a good package for Archer. We round that out with Caratini, De La Cruz and Albertos.

 

Our rotation becomes set with Archer, Quintana, Hendricks, Lester and Chatwood.

 

McGee is longing for a reunion with his TB peeps and gives us a bit of a discount to join the fun.

 

Since we were able to set the rotation with a more limited cost than expected, we also sign Addison Reed to join the bullpen of doom.

 

We now have Reed, Morrow, McGee, Strop, Edwards, Wilson, Monty and Grimm/minors guys in the pen.

 

We sign a backup catcher. We use Zagunis as the fifth OF to save a little cash.

 

Is it realistic to add that much in the pen? Probably not, but hey, I said this was my ideal scenario.

 

------------------------------------

 

Going into the season, we'll need a few things to happen...

 

First, we get expected performances from the big guys (Bryant, Rizzo, Lester, Quintana, Hendricks, Archer, etc.)

 

Second, Russell finally gets the breakout at the plate that has been projected for him. Few things would elevate the team's future more than this.

 

Third, Schwarber discovers beast mode - at least against right handed pitching while being at least okay against lefties.

 

Fourth, Heyward finds a way to be a bit better than league average on offense.

 

If those things happen, we're a 105 win team again. Pretty easily, in fact.

 

-----------------------------------

 

We'd head into next offseason needing...nothing? But we'd make the move to sign Harper anyway. The lineup now becomes:

 

Russell

Harper

Bryant

Rizzo

Contreras

Schwarber

Baez/Zobrist

Almora/Heyward

 

In 2019, we not only win 110 games, but set a new record for runs scored in a season.

[Backtobanks]

My ideal scenario:

 

Tampa buys into Happ being at least a league average defender at second base. In which case, he's a 30+ hr guy with plate discipline, speed and solid defense. That's the beginning of a good package for Archer. We round that out with Caratini, De La Cruz and Albertos.

 

Our rotation becomes set with Archer, Quintana, Hendricks, Lester and Chatwood.

 

McGee is longing for a reunion with his TB peeps and gives us a bit of a discount to join the fun.

 

Since we were able to set the rotation with a more limited cost than expected, we also sign Addison Reed to join the bullpen of doom.

 

We now have Reed, Morrow, McGee, Strop, Edwards, Wilson, Monty and Grimm/minors guys in the pen.

 

We sign a backup catcher. We use Zagunis as the fifth OF to save a little cash.

 

Is it realistic to add that much in the pen? Probably not, but hey, I said this was my ideal scenario.

 

------------------------------------

 

Going into the season, we'll need a few things to happen...

 

First, we get expected performances from the big guys (Bryant, Rizzo, Lester, Quintana, Hendricks, Archer, etc.)

 

Second, Russell finally gets the breakout at the plate that has been projected for him. Few things would elevate the team's future more than this.

 

Third, Schwarber discovers beast mode - at least against right handed pitching while being at least okay against lefties.

 

Fourth, Heyward finds a way to be a bit better than league average on offense.

 

If those things happen, we're a 105 win team again. Pretty easily, in fact.

 

-----------------------------------

 

We'd head into next offseason needing...nothing? But we'd make the move to sign Harper anyway. The lineup now becomes:

 

Russell

Harper

Bryant

Rizzo

Contreras

Schwarber

Baez/Zobrist

Almora/Heyward

 

In 2019, we not only win 110 games, but set a new record for runs scored in a season.

 

If you're going to dream, dream big. =D>

[Backtobanks]

A lot of rumors about teams checking in on Fullmer. He certainly would look nice in our rotation. All of our rumors center around Schwarber, Happ, Baez, Caratini, etc. I would imagine a package centered around 1-2 of those and a few more prospects should whet their appetite.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

what was Fullmer's injury? is he going to miss significant time in 2018?

[Cubswin11]

A lot of rumors about teams checking in on Fullmer. He certainly would look nice in our rotation. All of our rumors center around Schwarber, Happ, Baez, Caratini, etc. I would imagine a package centered around 1-2 of those and a few more prospects should whet their appetite.

No thank you

[davell]

what was Fullmer's injury? is he going to miss significant time in 2018?

 

He had some sort of elbow surgery that takes 3-4 months to come back from.

[Backtobanks]

A lot of rumors about teams checking in on Fullmer. He certainly would look nice in our rotation. All of our rumors center around Schwarber, Happ, Baez, Caratini, etc. I would imagine a package centered around 1-2 of those and a few more prospects should whet their appetite.

No thank you

 

Not sure that he's available and what the price might be, but being 24 with a phenominal track record and under control for until 2023 looks pretty desirable to me.

[weis21]

what was Fullmer's injury? is he going to miss significant time in 2018?

 

He had some sort of elbow surgery that takes 3-4 months to come back from.

Well that's the optimistic take. The some sort of elbow surgery normally takes 4-5 months

[Clem Fandango]

There are two guys in Stroman and Archer...

 

[d_money]

My ideal scenario:

 

Tampa buys into Happ being at least a league average defender at second base. In which case, he's a 30+ hr guy with plate discipline, speed and solid defense. That's the beginning of a good package for Archer. We round that out with Caratini, De La Cruz and Albertos.

 

Our rotation becomes set with Archer, Quintana, Hendricks, Lester and Chatwood.

 

McGee is longing for a reunion with his TB peeps and gives us a bit of a discount to join the fun.

 

Since we were able to set the rotation with a more limited cost than expected, we also sign Addison Reed to join the bullpen of doom.

 

We now have Reed, Morrow, McGee, Strop, Edwards, Wilson, Monty and Grimm/minors guys in the pen.

 

We sign a backup catcher. We use Zagunis as the fifth OF to save a little cash.

 

Is it realistic to add that much in the pen? Probably not, but hey, I said this was my ideal scenario.

 

------------------------------------

 

Going into the season, we'll need a few things to happen...

 

First, we get expected performances from the big guys (Bryant, Rizzo, Lester, Quintana, Hendricks, Archer, etc.)

 

Second, Russell finally gets the breakout at the plate that has been projected for him. Few things would elevate the team's future more than this.

 

Third, Schwarber discovers beast mode - at least against right handed pitching while being at least okay against lefties.

 

Fourth, Heyward finds a way to be a bit better than league average on offense.

 

If those things happen, we're a 105 win team again. Pretty easily, in fact.

 

-----------------------------------

 

We'd head into next offseason needing...nothing? But we'd make the move to sign Harper anyway. The lineup now becomes:

 

Russell

Harper

Bryant

Rizzo

Contreras

Schwarber

Baez/Zobrist

Almora/Heyward

 

In 2019, we not only win 110 games, but set a new record for runs scored in a season.

 

If you're going to dream, dream big. =D>

My X factor for the 2018 year is: an unexpected and positive impact from an in-house pitching prospect. We’ve done it with hitting and now is the time for the farm system to produce pitching.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Cobb, Reed, Almora+Happ+misc for Yelich, and your favorite backup C and OF is a combo that comes close but probably stays under the luxury tax.

[davell]

So what now? Is it as easy as just signing a starting pitcher and maybe grab another bullpen arm cheaply in January?

 

I'm not necessarily thinking that's what we do.....

 

As an FYI, we've got somewhere in the neighborhood of 37-40 mill available to spend, under the LT.(that's after insurances and pre arbs)

 

Trade Happ for Salazar and maybe get some nominal secondary piece

 

Sign Reed 3/30

 

Grab Wisler from the Braves, as our Eddie Butler 2.0 deal.

 

Sign Xavier Cedeno to a 1.25 mill deal.

 

Sign Geovany Soto as an NRI

 

Still leaves 20 mill or so for in season moves. My only concern is it'd put us around 205 for 2019, after projected arb raises and the insurances, etc. The LT is also 205 next year, as an FYI.

 

Still, I think we'll sign either a starter or reliever and trade for the opposite, before hitting Spring Training.

[Bertz]

So what now? Is it as easy as just signing a starting pitcher and maybe grab another bullpen arm cheaply in January?

 

I'm not necessarily thinking that's what we do.....

 

As an FYI, we've got somewhere in the neighborhood of 37-40 mill available to spend, under the LT.(that's after insurances and pre arbs)

 

Trade Happ for Salazar and maybe get some nominal secondary piece

 

Sign Reed 3/30

 

Grab Wisler from the Braves, as our Eddie Butler 2.0 deal.

 

Sign Xavier Cedeno to a 1.25 mill deal.

 

Sign Geovany Soto as an NRI

 

Still leaves 20 mill or so for in season moves. My only concern is it'd put us around 205 for 2019, after projected arb raises and the insurances, etc. The LT is also 205 next year, as an FYI.

 

Still, I think we'll sign either a starter or reliever and trade for the opposite, before hitting Spring Training.

 

I assume the plan is to grab Cobb after his salary demands to come back down to reality, sign a backup catcher, and grab a reliever, probably a lefty, for cheap shortly before the start of Spring Training. I do wonder if we're still after Britton or some other higher end reliever in his walk year though. I'd be shocked if we signed another reliever to a multi-year deal, but we've got plenty of spending power left for this year.

[Cubswin11]

If Cobb’s demands don’t come down could see Hellickson being added with the Hickey connection

[Cubs Fan Dan]

I still agree Cobb is the main target.

 

at this point I'd like to add him or Salazar.

I also hope think Avila comes back. I could see Contreras getting an extra day here and there to keep him fresh and Avila is a perfect back up.

 

Trying to figure out the Phillies I wonder if Eickhoff is available. I think he could jump up with the right pitching coach

[Cubswin11]

I really have no interest in Salazar, the cost and being worthy of a Mets rotation spot with his health just too much downside. I really would like Avila back, even at a little more than a traditional backup.

[Tim]

Let's push some chips to the middle...

 

- Any two pitching prospects in our system plus Ademan and the rights to Araujo for Machado.

-- obviously a short term move, but gives us the option of retaining Machado or signing Harper next offseason

 

- Russell + stuff for Archer

-- I hate losing Russell, but including him likely makes this much more doable

 

- Almora/Happ and any two remaining prospects with a pulse for Yelich

-- Can we please get in on fleecing Jeter?

 

- Avila for backup catcher

-- Contreras would be the only single point of failure on the team - this is about reducing risk

 

CF: Yelich

3B: Bryant

1B: Rizzo

SS: Machado

LF: Schwarber

C: Contreras

RF: Heyward

2B: Baez

 

C: Avila

2B/OF: Zobrist

2B/3B/PH: La Stella

OF: Happ/Almora

 

SP: Archer

SP: Quintana

SP: Lester

SP: Hendricks

SP: Chatwood/Smyly

 

RP: Cishek

RP: Morrow

RP: Strop

RP: Edwards

RP: Wilson

RP: Monty

RP: Grimm/Alvarez/Maples/etc.

 

For 2019, try to extend Machado and add Harper and raise a middle finger to the luxury tax. Everyone else except Wilson would still be under control/contract. Convince Heyward he'll be happier as a starter elsewhere and if he doesn't opt out, then trade him for whatever salary relief can be had. Hope Zobrist retires or asks for a trade due to lack of playing time.

 

CF: Yelich

3B: Bryant

RF: Harper

SS: Machado

1B: Rizzo

C: Contreras

LF: Schwarber

2B: Baez

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Theo is too much of a [expletive] to pull all that off

[Cubswin11]

You donating the NSBB domain squatting profits to the Ricketts to make such moves possible, Tim?

[Tim]

You donating the NSBB domain squatting profits to the Ricketts to make such moves possible, Tim?

The 2018 salary wouldn't be that bad, tbh. I'm pretty sure that's under the luxury tax (but without room for midseason moves).

 

It's the 2019 re-signing Machado and also adding Harper that just can't happen unless Heyward opts out and Zobrist retires.

[Cubswin11]

You donating the NSBB domain squatting profits to the Ricketts to make such moves possible, Tim?

The 2018 salary wouldn't be that bad, tbh. I'm pretty sure that's under the luxury tax (but without room for midseason moves).

 

It's the 2019 re-signing Machado and also adding Harper that just can't happen unless Heyward opts out and Zobrist retires.

I’m all for it regardless, let’s make it rain

[Named After Maddux]

Hard pass on Salazar for Happ. I like Salazar’s arm despite all the injuries but not nearly enough to give up one of the MLers. These pre-injured (as always this means major arm surgeries) pitchers are all fun and games on low commit deals for relatively low responsibility gigs like locking down the BOR for a team with a top tier offense and three playoff caliber starters with minimal injury histories, but when you start digging into significant resources it becomes much less fun and interesting. I’m not sure the staff is deep enough yet to support that kind of price for a SP with his workload history.

 

That said I don’t really have any ideas I love for a major SP acquisition outside of the two trade targets that may or may not be available right now.

 

I haven’t heard much about OAK this offseason, but I’m starting to warm to the idea of a Graveman/Trienen package. Graveman has some shoulder tendinitis last year so that’s a concern, but otherwise interesting. OAK has enough depth that it’s not a full rebuild and our plug and play assets would definitely appeal.