Cubs Sign Morrow for 2/$18 + $3M Buyout or $12M Option

[Cubswin11]

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[/tweet] Edited December 10, 2017 by Cubswin11

[CubsWin]

Beat me to it!

 

I have reservations about Morrow, but I'm an upside guy and, boy, does he have upside! This would be great depending on the contract.

[davell]

I like it. Theo ain't messing around.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I was worried about how Dave Roberts rode him in the playoffs and his previous injury history, but it sounds like he'll come light on the years and dollars because of that and I'm very interested then.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Justin Grimm threw more MLB innings last year than Morrow did, and he got demoted to Iowa three different times.

[mul21]

The longer Levine tweet about this is barely English. Yikes.

[CubsWin]

I like it. Theo ain't messing around.

That would be 2 out of 3 for my dream off season so far. Chatwood, Ohtani, Morrow.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

46% of Morrow's 45 innings came on 2+ days rest. Carl Edwards, who was famously not used on low rest in many instances, was at 38%.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Justin Grimm threw more MLB innings last year than Morrow did, and he got demoted to Iowa three different times.

 

Also allowed 12 more HRs during the regular season in just 10 more IP.

 

You are not making the right inference at me invoking Grimm's name.

[Tim]

So...

 

Morrow

...

Strop

Edwards

...

Wilson

Grimm

Monty

 

Depending on the ...'s, that could be a good pen. If Morrow stays healthy, Wilson returns to normal, Edwards matures into a bit more control under Hickey, then it could be amazing. Of course, we'd better have a good backup plan to close in that first "...".

[Cubswin11]

Justin Grimm threw more MLB innings last year than Morrow did, and he got demoted to Iowa three different times.

He wasn’t in the bullpen full time until the way end of June, he wasn’t up until end of May and threw 6 innings between May 29th and June 5 then was gone until June 21st and up full time. But yeah I have my concerns over this move too but there’s a lot of things to like. Hopefully it’s 3 years or less and Under $30 million.

[Cubswin11]

46% of Morrow's 45 innings came on 2+ days rest. Carl Edwards, who was famously not used on low rest in many instances, was at 38%.

Morrow and Carl can alternate days being used until the stretch run/playoffs

[CubinNY]

Nice.

[nobull]

He has struggled because of his diabetes.

 

Morrow feels it easier to keep his sugar right in relief.

[Bertz]

Love this. He's my favorite reliever on the market on a per inning basis, and if we're signing him either his MRI isn't too scarey or we're getting a damaged goods discount.

[Cubswin11]

[Transmogrified Tiger]

To be clear, Morrow has by far the best production of any of the options available, so if they can have him around for a similar season as LA did last year, that's a big deal. And I hadn't realized he spent 20 IP at AAA so that's something too. But I do think there's more to Morrow's durability than simply hoping pre-2016 doesn't happen again. He was pretty intensely babied, and since he doesn't have any precedent for his production(even when excluding health), you have to gamble that he won't stay healthy and simply be less productive. Also, and this can be a positive and a negative, but it's hard for me to see him as a guy who is going to close in the regular season given that lack of durability.

[Post Count Padder]

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[Cubswin11]

To be clear, Morrow has by far the best production of any of the options available, so if they can have him around for a similar season as LA did last year, that's a big deal. And I hadn't realized he spent 20 IP at AAA so that's something too. But I do think there's more to Morrow's durability than simply hoping pre-2016 doesn't happen again. He was pretty intensely babied, and since he doesn't have any precedent for his production(even when excluding health), you have to gamble that he won't stay healthy and simply be less productive. Also, and this can be a positive and a negative, but it's hard for me to see him as a guy who is going to close in the regular season given that lack of durability.

Good points I’m guessing the FO/coaching staff have similar thoughts and use ideas. That being said, go bring Wade back and go with super bullpen of death.

[r_mack]

Really hope this is a 2 year deal

[Tim]

To be clear, Morrow has by far the best production of any of the options available, so if they can have him around for a similar season as LA did last year, that's a big deal. And I hadn't realized he spent 20 IP at AAA so that's something too. But I do think there's more to Morrow's durability than simply hoping pre-2016 doesn't happen again. He was pretty intensely babied, and since he doesn't have any precedent for his production(even when excluding health), you have to gamble that he won't stay healthy and simply be less productive. Also, and this can be a positive and a negative, but it's hard for me to see him as a guy who is going to close in the regular season given that lack of durability.

Good points I’m guessing the FO/coaching staff have similar thoughts and use ideas. That being said, go bring Wade back and go with super bullpen of death.

I want nothing to do with signing Wade back.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

To be clear, Morrow has by far the best production of any of the options available, so if they can have him around for a similar season as LA did last year, that's a big deal. And I hadn't realized he spent 20 IP at AAA so that's something too. But I do think there's more to Morrow's durability than simply hoping pre-2016 doesn't happen again. He was pretty intensely babied, and since he doesn't have any precedent for his production(even when excluding health), you have to gamble that he won't stay healthy and simply be less productive. Also, and this can be a positive and a negative, but it's hard for me to see him as a guy who is going to close in the regular season given that lack of durability.

Good points I’m guessing the FO/coaching staff have similar thoughts and use ideas. That being said, go bring Wade back and go with super bullpen of death.

 

Finish signing Morrow and Cobb, trade Happ for Hand, sign your backup C and OF of choice, go home happy.

[Tim]

To be clear, Morrow has by far the best production of any of the options available, so if they can have him around for a similar season as LA did last year, that's a big deal. And I hadn't realized he spent 20 IP at AAA so that's something too. But I do think there's more to Morrow's durability than simply hoping pre-2016 doesn't happen again. He was pretty intensely babied, and since he doesn't have any precedent for his production(even when excluding health), you have to gamble that he won't stay healthy and simply be less productive. Also, and this can be a positive and a negative, but it's hard for me to see him as a guy who is going to close in the regular season given that lack of durability.

Good points I’m guessing the FO/coaching staff have similar thoughts and use ideas. That being said, go bring Wade back and go with super bullpen of death.

 

Finish signing Morrow and Cobb, trade Happ for Hand, sign your backup C and OF of choice, go home happy.

Have SD throw Carter Capps into that trade and I'm happy.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Have SD throw Carter Capps into the ocean and I'm happy.

 

Those are the only Capps-specific terms I'm comfortable with.

[ScrubMD]

If we do end up with all 3 of Chatwood, Cobb, and Morrow, with innings concerns for all 3, I wonder if Theo & The Gang are just really confident in their ability to keep pitchers healthy or if they're planning something unorthodox.