Cubs Offseason Rumors

[CaliforniaRaisin]

So who wanted a Mike Freeman return?

 

The Cubs announced 19 non-roster invitations to Major League Spring Training today (Twitter link), with infielder/outfielder Mike Freeman and left-hander Kyle Ryan standing out as new additions on minor league contracts. Freeman is repped by BASH Baseball, and Ryan is a client of Frontline.

 

As for Ryan, the 26-year-old southpaw has appeared in the big leagues in each of the past four seasons with the Tigers, totaling 128 innings of 3.87 ERA ball. Ryan, though, has averaged just 4.9 K/9 against 3.1 BB/9 in that time, and his average fastball checks in just south of 89 mph. To his credit, he’s logged a 54 percent ground-ball rate in the Majors and averaged just 0.77 HR/9 in the Majors. Ryan doesn’t come with a discernible platoon split, as lefties have hit him at a .272/.322/.406 clip while righties have batted .256/.335/.390. He’s worked as both a starter and reliever in the past, so he could provide some depth in either category for the Cubs.

 

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I think Craig Brooks could eventually be a nice setup man so it's nice to see him get an invite.

[wvcbxl]

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Cubs twitter having some fun with the comments. :lol:

[Regular Show]

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Cubs twitter having some fun with the comments. :lol:

 

LOL. That was pretty funny. Even a tweet with a mention of my hometown of Carbondale, Il!

 

Lots of Cubs fans live down there. That was awesome to see.

[UMFan83]

https://twitter.com/insidebaseball6/status/957289525998317568

 

Cubs trying to match the Brewers moves by acquiring an aging overpaid OF that they don’t really need?

 

This rumor can’t be true as it doesn’t make sense on multiple levels, not the least of which is helping the Dodgers financial situation

[David]

https://twitter.com/insidebaseball6/status/957289525998317568

 

Cubs trying to match the Brewers moves by acquiring an aging overpaid OF that they don’t really need?

 

This rumor can’t be true as it doesn’t make sense on multiple levels, not the least of which is helping the Dodgers financial situation

 

you sure do love posting stuff from randoms

 

that's not even a rumor. that's something some person with a phony account made up.

 

charles the cat looks like rosenthal compared to this

[UMFan83]

https://twitter.com/insidebaseball6/status/957289525998317568

 

Cubs trying to match the Brewers moves by acquiring an aging overpaid OF that they don’t really need?

 

This rumor can’t be true as it doesn’t make sense on multiple levels, not the least of which is helping the Dodgers financial situation

 

you sure do love posting stuff from randoms

 

that's not even a rumor. that's something some person with a phony account made up.

 

charles the cat looks like rosenthal compared to this

 

Everyone told me 2 months ago when I was being cautious to post everything that remotely seems like a rumor.

[David]

https://twitter.com/insidebaseball6/status/957289525998317568

 

Cubs trying to match the Brewers moves by acquiring an aging overpaid OF that they don’t really need?

 

This rumor can’t be true as it doesn’t make sense on multiple levels, not the least of which is helping the Dodgers financial situation

 

you sure do love posting stuff from randoms

 

that's not even a rumor. that's something some person with a phony account made up.

 

charles the cat looks like rosenthal compared to this

 

Everyone told me 2 months ago when I was being cautious to post everything that remotely seems like a rumor.

 

yeahhh, that was me, and even i think this is going like 10 bridges too far lmao

[Banedon]

Yeah that rumor doesn't even make any sense.

[d_money]

Yeah that rumor doesn't even make any sense.

It would be a total Hendry move.

[Tim]

https://twitter.com/insidebaseball6/status/957289525998317568

 

Cubs trying to match the Brewers moves by acquiring an aging overpaid OF that they don’t really need?

 

This rumor can’t be true as it doesn’t make sense on multiple levels, not the least of which is helping the Dodgers financial situation

Are they taking Heyward back?

[cubfan]

https://twitter.com/insidebaseball6/status/957289525998317568

 

Cubs trying to match the Brewers moves by acquiring an aging overpaid OF that they don’t really need?

 

This rumor can’t be true as it doesn’t make sense on multiple levels, not the least of which is helping the Dodgers financial situation

 

obviously a small part of a 3-way trade that will send Kemp to TB and Archer to the Cubs. (Just in case it was not obvious, I'm not being serious)

[Neuby]

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I don't know why I hate Jon Jay but I do..... I'd rather the Cubs have interest in Cashner for a swing role like Levine suggested earlier this week.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

That was probably just PTR calling to ask Jay to return any Cubs apparel he still had.

[We Got The Whole 9]

I'd take Cahill over Cashner any day of the week

[Tim]

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I don't know why I hate Jon Jay but I do..... I'd rather the Cubs have interest in Cashner for a swing role like Levine suggested earlier this week.

I'd just head to camp with what we have right now. Save some room under the cap in case we need additional pitching depth mid year.

[Backtobanks]

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I don't know why I hate Jon Jay but I do..... I'd rather the Cubs have interest in Cashner for a swing role like Levine suggested earlier this week.

I'd just head to camp with what we have right now. Save some room under the cap in case we need additional pitching depth mid year.

 

Yeah, no reason to make any other moves now. Getting Darvish pretty much puts us in the drivers seat to get deep into the playoffs, if not to the WS as things stand now.

[davell]

We're probably done and I'm absolutely OK with that. We do probably have a bit of money to play wit, if we wanted to though, and still be fine for deadline acquisitions.

 

On what though? If a guy like Cashner took 5-6 mill? I'm in. I don't think he's taking it, but if he did, I'd be more than OK with added depth. Same with a guy like Dyson. Again, my guess is he's getting more than that. But, he'd be a cool luxury, if he somehow fit, if it left us in solid shape for the deadline.

[Bote McBoteface]

I wanna try to get Britton on the cheap.

[BigbadB]

Imagining a trade deadline one half a season before a lot of top tier players become free agents could create some good deals while teams try to free up salary/contract guarantees before the free agent window opens. I'd rather wait and see if there are some needs/deals at the deadline rather than use up what remains of their budget under the cap.

[Post Count Padder]

I'd rather go with Zagunis/Hannemman/Bourjus as the extra OF rather than spend money on Jay.

 

Also, why? Old news, right?

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2758896-yankees-cubs-rumored-to-be-among-teams-interested-in-trading-for-jake-odorizzi

 

All of the attention has been focused on Chris Archer as a possible trade chip for the Rays, but Odorizzi is getting even more attention on the trade market, according to one major league source. The Orioles, Twins, Brewers, Cubs and Yankees are among the teams that have made inquiries.

[Cubswin11]

I'm guessing most of these guys will get major league deals but if they just don't have a market for that I'd be interested in any of the following for minor league deals (with a date during the year they need to be called up by or else they can become a FA) or invite deals that aren't guaranteed if they don't make the team out of ST. Michael Saunders, Jarrod Dyson, Seth Smith, John Jaso, Cameron Maybin, Chris Young, Erick Aybar, and Bud Norris.

 

Another final move I wouldn't mind is trading Monty and signing Liriano to a 1 year deal for like $5 mil as the swing guy. I'm guessing they'll have a good talk, if they haven't already, with Monty and explain to him how he has an important role/will get starts and all will be fine but if he's going to be a problem and wants to start (he doesn't have much power to do anything) I wouldn't mind trading him for a minor league pitching prospect. The Angels could use a cheap SP option and something like Jamie Barria or Chris Rodriguez could be intriguing or see if the Twins or Orioles have interest for a similar prospect.

Edited February 12, 2018 by Cubswin11

[cubsclapp]

Imagining a trade deadline one half a season before a lot of top tier players become free agents could create some good deals while teams try to free up salary/contract guarantees before the free agent window opens. I'd rather wait and see if there are some needs/deals at the deadline rather than use up what remains of their budget under the cap.

 

Charlie Blackmon is one guy I have my eye on with the Rockies potentially flopping, and he'd also be the easiest positional fit if there aren't any big injuries.

 

Now obviously it would be great if Almora/Happ/Heyward are just fine in CF, but if not, Blackmon would make a lot of sense as a rental (though his defense may be a little bit of a downgrade in CF).

 

But yeah, for teams trying to clear up salary and bad teams with free agents to be, there should be some intriguing names this July.

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

Imagining a trade deadline one half a season before a lot of top tier players become free agents could create some good deals while teams try to free up salary/contract guarantees before the free agent window opens. I'd rather wait and see if there are some needs/deals at the deadline rather than use up what remains of their budget under the cap.

 

Charlie Blackmon is one guy I have my eye on with the Rockies potentially flopping, and he'd also be the easiest positional fit if there aren't any big injuries.

 

Now obviously it would be great if Almora/Happ/Heyward are just fine in CF, but if not, Blackmon would make a lot of sense as a rental (though his defense may be a little bit of a downgrade in CF).

 

But yeah, for teams trying to clear up salary and bad teams with free agents to be, there should be some intriguing names this July.

Just based off eye test, Blackmon in CF seems totally fine defensively. I'd be lying if I thought Almora was significantly better. I would also be lying if I said I knew what I was talking about.

[squally1313]

Let's get Monty to buy into his role at least to start the season. Give him some selective starts against teams he can do well against, and hope he puts up similar numbers to what he has before. In a few months, I could see some team needing a starter and seeing all the team control Monty has and giving up a pretty decent package for him, which is what Monty is looking for anyways. This is assuming the rotation stays relatively healthy, and Tseng/Alzolay/Smyly show they're ready to step in as the rotation depth going forward.

[Cubswin11]

Still wouldn’t mind adding Dyson for 1 year and $2-4 million to be a platoon/defensive CF’er and start LaStella or even Happ (let him work on defense at 2B/OF) in AAA. Dyson plays great defense and is a .330-.340 OBP guy vs RHP and a Almora/Dyson platoon should put up good numbers. He could be our “leadoff guy” vs RHP.