Cubs Offseason Rumors

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[jersey cubs fan]

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[davell]

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I'd do Albertos/Lange/Caratini in a second for Cole. Considering they blocked us from getting Nicasio, I'd guess they'd start with Happ. I'd probably be willing to trade him straight up or even with a little extra for Cole. Mainly because it'd allow us to do other things this off season.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I could be wrong, but to me the idea of trading for Gerrit Cole is more exciting than the reality of what you get when you trade for Gerrit Cole.

[davell]

I could be wrong, but to me the idea of trading for Gerrit Cole is more exciting than the reality of what you get when you trade for Gerrit Cole.

 

I can get that sentiment for sure. But, I'd guess his next 2 years are in the same vicinity of production as Jake or Yu, at a fraction of the money and without the back end of those deals we're likely going to hate.

[Cubswin11]

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I'd do Albertos/Lange/Caratini in a second for Cole. Considering they blocked us from getting Nicasio, I'd guess they'd start with Happ. I'd probably be willing to trade him straight up or even with a little extra for Cole. Mainly because it'd allow us to do other things this off season.

I'd absolutely do that trade or do something with Happ and 1-2 of those guys.

[javy knows my name]

I just pictured Javy in a Pirates uniform and it was truly disgusting. I know it won't cost us him, just saying

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I could be wrong, but to me the idea of trading for Gerrit Cole is more exciting than the reality of what you get when you trade for Gerrit Cole.

 

I can get that sentiment for sure. But, I'd guess his next 2 years are in the same vicinity of production as Jake or Yu, at a fraction of the money and without the back end of those deals we're likely going to hate.

 

I don't think the current version of Cole is on par with Darvish especially, but he has been that guy before and it's easy to see the logic of getting back there with Hickey working with that fastball. To me he's more like a Cobb in terms of risk/reward, but given his arb salaries for 2 years if you can get him without touching the MLB roster, it's hard to call that a bad idea.

[Clem Fandango]

If they are also dead set on moving Harrison and McCutchen as well, Happ makes a ton of sense for them as a utility guy who can handle 2B and OF whenever needed. Honestly, a Happ centered deal for Cole makes a whole lot of sense for both teams.

[Cubswin11]

I think Monty in a deal for him too would make some sense, with him wanting a start and us not wanting to guarantee that. They get him for 4 years and he gets to work with Searage. I wouldn't obviously include him with Happ but Monty and some prospects could be another route. Either way Monty or Happ with prospects seems to make a lot of sense assuming they are willing to deal within the division and don't put a premium on it.

[CubsWin]

I could be wrong, but to me the idea of trading for Gerrit Cole is more exciting than the reality of what you get when you trade for Gerrit Cole.

 

I can get that sentiment for sure. But, I'd guess his next 2 years are in the same vicinity of production as Jake or Yu, at a fraction of the money and without the back end of those deals we're likely going to hate.

I too am leery of Cole's production over the next two seasons, but he definitely has upside. Honestly, he could be anywhere from a #1 to a #4. It's the second part of what you wrote that is most intriguing to me. Lower AAV and no backend to a deal that's likely to bite you. At the very least, Cole is an above average starter who can give you around 200 innings. At most, he's a 5 WAR top of the rotation guy. There's a lot of variance there, but if the price is close to what this website heard it is...

 

For what it is worth, an industry source told PBD that a potential Cubs-Pirates deal would see Pirates asking for two out of Cubs top five prospects. We’ve heard the Bucs would likely be looking at RHPs Jose Albertos (Cubs’ #2), Alex Lange (#4) and C/1B Prospect Victor Caratini (#6).

I'd jump on that in a second. With the Cubs history of drafting and developing pitchers being what it has been, the wisdom of the general philosophy of waiting to acquire pitching and the current championship window of the Cubs, how could you not make that deal?

 

I have no idea if this website (Pirates Breakdown) is anything other than just a fan site, but I'd suspect this deal would be done already if that rumor was close to true.

[davell]

You don't extend anyone right now. Not this off season, or at least not until you've filled your pitching staff out. Because it raises his number for the LT, for the upcoming season. Next year, when we're definitely going to go over is when you try and extend some of these guys.

[Clem Fandango]

Question: when is the best time to extend Contreras? He’s an obvious extension candidate among the position players and IIRC he is arb eligible for the first time next year.

 

His first year of arbitration is 2020.

[Bertz]

Also, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Contreras, but he's a catcher we already have locked up through his age 30 season. I'd wait until closer to crunch time before giving him guaranteed money.

[davell]

OK thats pretty much where I was at. Would there be any LT snags if announced/done during the summer?

 

I'm honestly not sure, but I'd guess the answer is yes. Pro-rated, I guess? At any rate, I doubt they'd do one during the season anyway.

[Named After Maddux]

Yeah scratch the extension nonsense, got some good feedback there thanks.

 

That two top 5 prospects price for Cole would be amazing. If Happ is involved then please squeeze in McCutchen.

 

I think I’d look on going the other way if we were going to expand the deal. Happ and Montgomery along with a couple desirable prospects for Cole and Rivero. I didn’t think Rivero would be available, but he’s about to get more expensive in arbitration. A few of the Bucs blogs have mentioned he could be one to be moved.

[davell]

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Uh, when did this happen?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

That doesn't sound like a departure in how things have operated for many years, to my knowledge.

[davell]

That doesn't sound like a departure in how things have operated for many years, to my knowledge.

 

Am I reading it wrong? Because I'm taking that to mean teams are automatically going to trial, if they don't have agreements by the 12th. No more coming to meet in the middle a few days before the hearing.....

[Cubswin11]

From Rosenthal's article on the Athletic, sounds like Padres asked the Cubs about Javy (doesn't sound like we initiated it)....

 

The Padres balked at the Cubs’ asking price for infielder Javier Baez at the winter meetings, moving on to other pursuits, sources say. The Cubs likely would have wanted a controllable starter such as Luis Perdomo or Dinelson Lamet for Baez, who would have solved the Padres’ need for a long-term shortstop

 

I'm guessing we asked for Hand as well as one of the starters (because one of those starters alone for Javy doesn't seem like an asking price worth "balking" at).

Edited January 4, 2018 by Cubswin11

[davell]

From Rosenthal's article on the Athletic, sounds like Padres asked the Cubs about Javy (doesn't sound like we initiated it)....

 

The Padres balked at the Cubs’ asking price for infielder Javier Baez at the winter meetings, moving on to other pursuits, sources say. The Cubs likely would have wanted a controllable starter such as Luis Perdomo or Dinelson Lamet for Baez, who would have solved the Padres’ need for a long-term shortstop

 

I'm guessing we asked for Hand as well as one of the starters (because on of those starters alone for Javy doesn't seem like an asking price worth "balking" at).

 

Dennis Lin, the Padres beat guy, made it sound we definitely wanted more than just the starter, and mentioned Hand too.

[Tryptamine]

From Rosenthal's article on the Athletic, sounds like Padres asked the Cubs about Javy (doesn't sound like we initiated it)....

 

The Padres balked at the Cubs’ asking price for infielder Javier Baez at the winter meetings, moving on to other pursuits, sources say. The Cubs likely would have wanted a controllable starter such as Luis Perdomo or Dinelson Lamet for Baez, who would have solved the Padres’ need for a long-term shortstop

 

I'm guessing we asked for Hand as well as one of the starters (because on of those starters alone for Javy doesn't seem like an asking price worth "balking" at).

 

Dennis Lin, the Padres beat guy, made it sound we definitely wanted more than just the starter, and mentioned Hand too.

 

I mentioned this a while ago, but I would seriously consider Baez for Hand + Gore/Quantrill. I know Gore is super far away, but he has all the makings of being really special. I guess this also means that the Luis Urias at SS experiment is not going so well.

[Splendid Splinter]

From Rosenthal's article on the Athletic, sounds like Padres asked the Cubs about Javy (doesn't sound like we initiated it)....

 

The Padres balked at the Cubs’ asking price for infielder Javier Baez at the winter meetings, moving on to other pursuits, sources say. The Cubs likely would have wanted a controllable starter such as Luis Perdomo or Dinelson Lamet for Baez, who would have solved the Padres’ need for a long-term shortstop

 

I'm guessing we asked for Hand as well as one of the starters (because on of those starters alone for Javy doesn't seem like an asking price worth "balking" at).

 

Dennis Lin, the Padres beat guy, made it sound we definitely wanted more than just the starter, and mentioned Hand too.

 

And for all you Javy Baez fans out there, Rosenthal has this to say about his value to Chicago, in reference to those crazy Padres rumors at the Winter Meetings (remember those?): “The Padres balked at the Cubs’ asking price for infielder Javier Baez at the winter meetings, moving on to other pursuits, sources say.” The Cubs were apparently looking for a controllable starting pitcher – at a minimum – in return for Baez (though Rosenthal suggests that a top prospect (he mentions a couple of top 50 overall guys) could also get it done)

 

A buddy of mine sent me this like a hour ago. Didn't say where this came from, but knowing him, it's most likely BN.

[Cubswin11]

A controllable starter who hasn’t had great succes but good stuff like Lamet and a top ~50 prospect or 2 for Baez seems about like where I’d value him. Personally.

[Splendid Splinter]

A controllable starter who hasn’t had great succes but good stuff like Lamet and a top ~50 prospect or 2 for Baez seems about like where I’d value him. Personally.

 

Yeah I couldn't tell if he meant on top of the controllable SP or he just meant a top prospect (or 2 top 50) could also get it done instead of the SP.