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

[CubsWin]

Cubs saying horsefeathers you to injury history when comes to their free agent signings so far...

 

Chatwood and Morrow have good stuff, elite by some metrics, but man they are a roll of the dice in the health department.

I really wonder if they're going to overload the rotation and play games with the 10 day DL this year since the Dodgers got away with it last year. But that would mean they'd have to have at least one guy who could be optioned.

They'd have to acquire about 4 more guys to do that.

Or use guys who didn't play a lot in the majors last season (Tseng, Maples, Butler, Zastryzny, Mills, Grimm and recent FA signings like Dario Alvarez, Luke Farrell, etc.).

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Also, most of this board will find Morrow to be the rare American-born baseball player whose politics they agree with. After the Cubs win the 2018 World Series, he'll probably join CEJ at the DC dinosaur museums.

[CubsWin]

Cubs saying horsefeathers you to injury history when comes to their free agent signings so far...

 

Chatwood and Morrow have good stuff, elite by some metrics, but man they are a roll of the dice in the health department.

I really wonder if they're going to overload the rotation and play games with the 10 day DL this year since the Dodgers got away with it last year. But that would mean they'd have to have at least one guy who could be optioned.

FWIW, Tseng, Mills and Zastryzny (if you consider him a starter still) have options amongst their existing rotation depth. Signing some major league established FA starters or relievers with options will prove difficult.

[Tim]

Cubs saying horsefeathers you to injury history when comes to their free agent signings so far...

 

Chatwood and Morrow have good stuff, elite by some metrics, but man they are a roll of the dice in the health department.

I really wonder if they're going to overload the rotation and play games with the 10 day DL this year since the Dodgers got away with it last year. But that would mean they'd have to have at least one guy who could be optioned.

FWIW, Tseng, Mills and Zastryzny (if you consider him a starter still) have options amongst their existing rotation depth. Signing some major league established FA starters or relievers with options will prove difficult.

No, but they could be trade targets.

[Bruno7481]

Considering the concerns on Morrow’s workload, is it crazy to think they still look to acquire a closer and keep Morrow out of that role?

[Tim]

Considering the concerns on Morrow’s workload, is it crazy to think they still look to acquire a closer and keep Morrow out of that role?

Not at all crazy. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they still went after someone like Addison Reed to share the duties, too.

[CubsWin]

I really wonder if they're going to overload the rotation and play games with the 10 day DL this year since the Dodgers got away with it last year. But that would mean they'd have to have at least one guy who could be optioned.

FWIW, Tseng, Mills and Zastryzny (if you consider him a starter still) have options amongst their existing rotation depth. Signing some major league established FA starters or relievers with options will prove difficult.

No, but they could be trade targets.

Indeed!

[davell]

Considering the concerns on Morrow’s workload, is it crazy to think they still look to acquire a closer and keep Morrow out of that role?

 

If they go with Cobb as the other starter, I think they're going to load up on the pen. They can't expect but so many innings out of Chatwood and Cobb. Plus, Lester could start to fade. Whether its more closing options, I don't know. But, I definitely think the pen gets another really nice piece and probably a decent one, on top of it.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Considering the concerns on Morrow’s workload, is it crazy to think they still look to acquire a closer and keep Morrow out of that role?

 

I wouldn't be even a little surprised if they added another reliever that served as the closer. The Davis trade(and Chapman before that) showed how much importance they placed on the back of the pen, and there's been very little that transpired since then that would change their mind. You can look at the current pen with Morrow and not see a true need, but that's not the same as having a pen that's going to be very strong, especially come playoff time.

[Bruno7481]

Cobb does seem inevitable at this point. Assuming he signs, they would be in a pretty good spot to sit back and see what comes their way either through free agency or trade.

 

I’d agree the bullpen needs another piece, and at this point my preference would be someone who could fill that 9th inning role. The questions becomes is that person found in free agency or via trade?

Edited December 11, 2017 by Bruno7481

[davell]

Rosenthal tweeted at some point today that he expected the Cubs to sign another late inning option.

[Gilby]

Even though seemingly everyone who has sources is saying Cobb will come here, I am a bit surprised it hasn't actually happened yet. Like either he's really not going to give a Hickey discount and is looking for top dollar, or the Cubs are still talking trade.

[Tryptamine]

Even though seemingly everyone who has sources is saying Cobb will come here, I am a bit surprised it hasn't actually happened yet. Like either he's really not going to give a Hickey discount and is looking for top dollar, or the Cubs are still talking trade.

 

I think it's more that the Cubs want to get his deal done so they can move on, but Cobb wants to explore the market a little more. If reports are right he's getting more attention than any other FA starter left on the market.

[davell]

[tweet]

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Don't know what this entails, but I'm guessing it IS a done deal, just needs to pass his physical, and the money is slightly higher.

[Bruno7481]

Rosenthal says its 2 years and 21 million (9 million in 2018 and 2019).

 

3 million buyout or 12 million vesting option for 2020.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

I like it. The years and $ are right.

 

I'm not too worried about us loading up on guys with high upside that comes with questionable health and durability. We coasted to 92 wins and a division title after Eddie Butler made 11 starts last year. I'm not too worried about missed time dragging us down. Give me the high-level talent and hope they are still standing come playoff time.

[Bull]

Remember when we were upset about giving a 31 year old reliever with a 171 ERA+ 3years/12million? Its a good time to be a reliever.

[Cubswin11]

Official, so assume the physical looked good

 

[toonsterwu]

Very nice deal. Gives them an option if the market takes off.

 

Seems like they'll try to find someone else to close, and use Morrow as a fireman of sorts.