The way too early, but I'm bored, Off-season Options Thread

[squally1313]

Almora and Heyward is your center field platoon next year.

 

Sign Harper.

 

Spend a month trying to get Happ to play a Zobrist level second base, if not, he's pitching bait. If he can, he's valuable in a post-Zobrist era and can bounce around the field in 2018.

 

Get Bote to passable in the corner outfield positions, he becomes the bounce around guy (maybe even the platoon with Schwarber in left).

 

Sign some defense first backup catcher (Caratini to AAA or for a bullpen flier) and a backup shortstop/middle infield guy who can spell Zobrist a good amount and Baez for ten games.

 

Darvish covers up any regression from Lester, Hendricks and Q will be fine, tell Chatwood/Monty/Smyly they're competing for one spot.

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

Almora and Heyward is your center field platoon next year.

 

Sign Harper.

 

Spend a month trying to get Happ to play a Zobrist level second base, if not, he's pitching bait. If he can, he's valuable in a post-Zobrist era and can bounce around the field in 2018.

 

Get Bote to passable in the corner outfield positions, he becomes the bounce around guy (maybe even the platoon with Schwarber in left).

 

Sign some defense first backup catcher (Caratini to AAA or for a bullpen flier) and a backup shortstop/middle infield guy who can spell Zobrist a good amount and Baez for ten games.

 

Darvish covers up any regression from Lester, Hendricks and Q will be fine, tell Chatwood/Monty/Smyly they're competing for one spot.

Most of this makes sense apart from Bote in the OF. If he isn't playing 3B or 2B, his value is close to nil. Bote is the guy you want as the backup infield guy, though I don't know what he'd be like at SS. Prob not good.

[squally1313]

Almora and Heyward is your center field platoon next year.

 

Sign Harper.

 

Spend a month trying to get Happ to play a Zobrist level second base, if not, he's pitching bait. If he can, he's valuable in a post-Zobrist era and can bounce around the field in 2018.

 

Get Bote to passable in the corner outfield positions, he becomes the bounce around guy (maybe even the platoon with Schwarber in left).

 

Sign some defense first backup catcher (Caratini to AAA or for a bullpen flier) and a backup shortstop/middle infield guy who can spell Zobrist a good amount and Baez for ten games.

 

Darvish covers up any regression from Lester, Hendricks and Q will be fine, tell Chatwood/Monty/Smyly they're competing for one spot.

Most of this makes sense apart from Bote in the OF. If he isn't playing 3B or 2B, his value is close to nil. Bote is the guy you want as the backup infield guy, though I don't know what he'd be like at SS. Prob not good.

Good point, and I guess the easier solution is to just keep him as a solid third baseman, and send KB out to the corner outfield spots when needed. Bote isn't going to pass as the backup SS, but that should be an easy enough position to fill.

[imb]

I'm not against listening on Rizzo this off-season. I know, it sounds blasphemous and reactionary, but the idea's been percolating for awhile, particularly with Schwarber's bounce back season.

 

Now, the problem is, it's going to be awfully hard to construct a deal that makes sense for the Cubs. So, I'm not saying shop Rizzo.

 

All that said, I don't see them shopping him. I just would ... ponder it. The offense stalled late in the year, and I'd like to ideally change up the dynamic at the top of the lineup. I don't particularly love the juggling act lineups, somewhat out of necessity.

 

still laughing at this post

[Cubswin11]

Almora and Heyward is your center field platoon next year.

 

Sign Harper.

 

Spend a month trying to get Happ to play a Zobrist level second base, if not, he's pitching bait. If he can, he's valuable in a post-Zobrist era and can bounce around the field in 2018.

 

Get Bote to passable in the corner outfield positions, he becomes the bounce around guy (maybe even the platoon with Schwarber in left).

 

Sign some defense first backup catcher (Caratini to AAA or for a bullpen flier) and a backup shortstop/middle infield guy who can spell Zobrist a good amount and Baez for ten games.

 

Darvish covers up any regression from Lester, Hendricks and Q will be fine, tell Chatwood/Monty/Smyly they're competing for one spot.

This is pretty much my ideal offseason. Ultimately end up keeping everyone and bringing them back with Bryce, UTL IF (non-tender Tommy), a real backup C and maybe 1 pitcher addition either a SP (Hamels and bump Monty and Smyly to pen) or RP (Chavez, or any other of the the guys that won’t cost a ton but are good options since it’s a loaded class).

Edited October 3, 2018 by Cubswin11

[CubinNY]

Almora and Heyward is your center field platoon next year.

 

Sign Harper.

 

Spend a month trying to get Happ to play a Zobrist level second base, if not, he's pitching bait. If he can, he's valuable in a post-Zobrist era and can bounce around the field in 2018.

 

Get Bote to passable in the corner outfield positions, he becomes the bounce around guy (maybe even the platoon with Schwarber in left).

 

Sign some defense first backup catcher (Caratini to AAA or for a bullpen flier) and a backup shortstop/middle infield guy who can spell Zobrist a good amount and Baez for ten games.

 

Darvish covers up any regression from Lester, Hendricks and Q will be fine, tell Chatwood/Monty/Smyly they're competing for one spot.

Most of this makes sense apart from Bote in the OF. If he isn't playing 3B or 2B, his value is close to nil. Bote is the guy you want as the backup infield guy, though I don't know what he'd be like at SS. Prob not good.

Bote's greatest value to the Cubs is as a trade chip. Unfortunately, there aren't many Jim Hendrys around anymore who would value him incorrectly.

[Cubswin11]

Almora and Heyward is your center field platoon next year.

 

Sign Harper.

 

Spend a month trying to get Happ to play a Zobrist level second base, if not, he's pitching bait. If he can, he's valuable in a post-Zobrist era and can bounce around the field in 2018.

 

Get Bote to passable in the corner outfield positions, he becomes the bounce around guy (maybe even the platoon with Schwarber in left).

 

Sign some defense first backup catcher (Caratini to AAA or for a bullpen flier) and a backup shortstop/middle infield guy who can spell Zobrist a good amount and Baez for ten games.

 

Darvish covers up any regression from Lester, Hendricks and Q will be fine, tell Chatwood/Monty/Smyly they're competing for one spot.

Most of this makes sense apart from Bote in the OF. If he isn't playing 3B or 2B, his value is close to nil. Bote is the guy you want as the backup infield guy, though I don't know what he'd be like at SS. Prob not good.

He seems athletic enough to handle the OF and it would be nice if he could, especially when facing LHP. But yeah his defense is great at 3B so maybe KB goes to the OF there. I think Bote is athletic enough to handle the OF though, even some CF. He probably can be emergency SS but we don’t want him being the planned backup from day 1. Get Mercer or Escobar.

[squally1313]

Almora and Heyward is your center field platoon next year.

 

Sign Harper.

 

Spend a month trying to get Happ to play a Zobrist level second base, if not, he's pitching bait. If he can, he's valuable in a post-Zobrist era and can bounce around the field in 2018.

 

Get Bote to passable in the corner outfield positions, he becomes the bounce around guy (maybe even the platoon with Schwarber in left).

 

Sign some defense first backup catcher (Caratini to AAA or for a bullpen flier) and a backup shortstop/middle infield guy who can spell Zobrist a good amount and Baez for ten games.

 

Darvish covers up any regression from Lester, Hendricks and Q will be fine, tell Chatwood/Monty/Smyly they're competing for one spot.

Most of this makes sense apart from Bote in the OF. If he isn't playing 3B or 2B, his value is close to nil. Bote is the guy you want as the backup infield guy, though I don't know what he'd be like at SS. Prob not good.

Bote's greatest value to the Cubs is as a trade chip. Unfortunately, there aren't many Jim Hendrys around anymore who would value him incorrectly.

 

Yeah David Bote will be 26 by the first week of next year, and finished with a 95 wRC+, which would place him 16th out of the 20 third basemen with enough PAs to qualify. I have no idea if his stellar defensive numbers are indicative of his actual ability there. Just from the eye test I remember a handful of great plays, and a couple bad ones. But I think his value is a league minimum backup who can put up league average production.

[Old Style]

Almora and Heyward is your center field platoon next year.

 

Sign Harper.

 

Spend a month trying to get Happ to play a Zobrist level second base, if not, he's pitching bait. If he can, he's valuable in a post-Zobrist era and can bounce around the field in 2018.

 

Get Bote to passable in the corner outfield positions, he becomes the bounce around guy (maybe even the platoon with Schwarber in left).

 

Sign some defense first backup catcher (Caratini to AAA or for a bullpen flier) and a backup shortstop/middle infield guy who can spell Zobrist a good amount and Baez for ten games.

 

Darvish covers up any regression from Lester, Hendricks and Q will be fine, tell Chatwood/Monty/Smyly they're competing for one spot.

I like most of this but I'd rather trade Contreras and keep Caratini.

[squally1313]

Almora and Heyward is your center field platoon next year.

 

Sign Harper.

 

Spend a month trying to get Happ to play a Zobrist level second base, if not, he's pitching bait. If he can, he's valuable in a post-Zobrist era and can bounce around the field in 2018.

 

Get Bote to passable in the corner outfield positions, he becomes the bounce around guy (maybe even the platoon with Schwarber in left).

 

Sign some defense first backup catcher (Caratini to AAA or for a bullpen flier) and a backup shortstop/middle infield guy who can spell Zobrist a good amount and Baez for ten games.

 

Darvish covers up any regression from Lester, Hendricks and Q will be fine, tell Chatwood/Monty/Smyly they're competing for one spot.

I like most of this but I'd rather trade Contreras and keep Caratini.

 

Outside of like 'I think we could get a really good pitcher for Contreras'...no.

[Cubswin11]

Almora and Heyward is your center field platoon next year.

 

Sign Harper.

 

Spend a month trying to get Happ to play a Zobrist level second base, if not, he's pitching bait. If he can, he's valuable in a post-Zobrist era and can bounce around the field in 2018.

 

Get Bote to passable in the corner outfield positions, he becomes the bounce around guy (maybe even the platoon with Schwarber in left).

 

Sign some defense first backup catcher (Caratini to AAA or for a bullpen flier) and a backup shortstop/middle infield guy who can spell Zobrist a good amount and Baez for ten games.

 

Darvish covers up any regression from Lester, Hendricks and Q will be fine, tell Chatwood/Monty/Smyly they're competing for one spot.

I like most of this but I'd rather trade Contreras and keep Caratini.

What the hell? No, Caratini horsefeathering sucks

[Old Style]

Almora and Heyward is your center field platoon next year.

 

Sign Harper.

 

Spend a month trying to get Happ to play a Zobrist level second base, if not, he's pitching bait. If he can, he's valuable in a post-Zobrist era and can bounce around the field in 2018.

 

Get Bote to passable in the corner outfield positions, he becomes the bounce around guy (maybe even the platoon with Schwarber in left).

 

Sign some defense first backup catcher (Caratini to AAA or for a bullpen flier) and a backup shortstop/middle infield guy who can spell Zobrist a good amount and Baez for ten games.

 

Darvish covers up any regression from Lester, Hendricks and Q will be fine, tell Chatwood/Monty/Smyly they're competing for one spot.

I like most of this but I'd rather trade Contreras and keep Caratini.

 

Outside of like 'I think we could get a really good pitcher for Contreras'...no.

Yeah, I was thinking Contreras could net something of value. He was pretty atrocious at the plate in the 2nd half anyway and is not good at pitch framing.

[Cubswin11]

I like most of this but I'd rather trade Contreras and keep Caratini.

 

Outside of like 'I think we could get a really good pitcher for Contreras'...no.

Yeah, I was thinking Contreras could net something of value. He was pretty atrocious at the plate in the 2nd half anyway and is not good at pitch framing.

Caratini has been atrocious at the plate his whole life and isn’t good at framing either

[Cubswin11]

I really like Jordy Mercer as the FA MIF target. It's not sexy, but he won't cost much and fills a need well. He handles SS fine and hits lefties well (which I think it's important because vs lefties Zobrist needs to go to the OF and Javy can switch to 2B). He was at 7%BB and 14%K vs lefties this year and slashed .286/.345/.410 and for his career he's at almost 9%BB and 13%K with a .294/.359/.453 slash line vs lefties. He doesn't hit righties well but we will need some RHB that handle lefties well with a LHB heavy roster.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Not to go all Jim Hendry, but our offense was at its best and coolest when Dexter was our leadoff hitter. I'd like to find a cool leadoff hitter and also sign Harper.

[raw]

I know theres no such thing as a lead-off hitter but i feel like the offense is missing a Fowler-type. I’d like to find one of those this offseason. If nothing else, it’ll stop Joe from putting one of middle of the order hitters at lead-off. Who is available?

 

 

We need a guy who can put the bat on the ball in clutch situations (to move runners over, to hit a sacrifice fly, etc.). I'm tired of watching batter after batter swing for the fences and then strike out with men in scoring position. We have too many all-or-nothing hitters.

I'm tired of this constant complaint at the end of every Cubs season. A certain segment of the audience always claims the thing the Cubs need is fewer all or nothing hitters and more contact guys.

 

Does this player even exist anymore? Players are striking out at record levels.

 

And the Cubs had Zobrist, Murphy, Rizzo, and Heyward who put the ball in play. Almora not too bad either. That's plenty of non-all or nothing hitters.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Not to go all Jim Hendry, but our offense was at its best and coolest when Dexter was our leadoff hitter. I'd like to find a cool leadoff hitter and also sign Harper.

 

We have one. He had the biggest go-ahead hit in Cubs history.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Not to go all Jim Hendry, but our offense was at its best and coolest when Dexter was our leadoff hitter. I'd like to find a cool leadoff hitter and also sign Harper.

 

We have one. He had the biggest go-ahead hit in Cubs history.

 

I'm thinking more a guy who will be able to play three straight games next season and someone with Dexter-like speed, at least.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Not to go all Jim Hendry, but our offense was at its best and coolest when Dexter was our leadoff hitter. I'd like to find a cool leadoff hitter and also sign Harper.

 

I’d rather leadoff Harper and land a cleanup hitter for behind Bryant and Rizzo.

 

Harper and Machado it is, then.

[Tim]

Not to go all Jim Hendry, but our offense was at its best and coolest when Dexter was our leadoff hitter. I'd like to find a cool leadoff hitter and also sign Harper.

 

We have one. He had the biggest go-ahead hit in Cubs history.

 

I'm thinking more a guy who will be able to play three straight games next season and someone with Dexter-like speed, at least.

So....Harper?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

We have one. He had the biggest go-ahead hit in Cubs history.

 

I'm thinking more a guy who will be able to play three straight games next season and someone with Dexter-like speed, at least.

So....Harper?

 

Or Kris.

[Tim]

Any thoughts on signing Matt Moore to a cheap contract if he'll agree to be a reliever? I'm trying to find a free agent pitcher to convert that might agree to sign cheaply. Someone that has struggled for a couple years as a starter that might be able to reach another gear in short outings. Basically Bud Norris from a couple years ago, minus the jerkiness.

 

Moore has had a lot of success with Hickey before (also before his arm issues). I don't know if he's straight toast or if he could be something in the pen, though.

 

Actually...

 

Looks like Texas tried him in the pen this year and it didn't help much. But that's in Texas in the summer, so it could be worth a flier. I'd probably only do it if he signed a minor league deal, though. He'll probably get a mlb contract from someone.

[Regular Show]

I say sign Harper and Jed Lowrie and spend the rest on good relievers. Bring back Jesse Chavez and Cole Hamels.

 

Send these players away in trades:

 

• Heyward
  Morrow
  Almora
  Caratini
  Duensing
  Chatwood
  Russell
  Kintzler (if he picks up his option)
  

 

I think Morrow has good value if fully healthy (will have to take a physical to determine that). I don't care how you get rid of those guys: salary dump, bad contract swap, include an okay prospect or two, etc. I don't mind non-tendering Russell if no team is interested in him. horsefeathers him and cut him loose if that's the case.

[Tim]

I say sign Harper and Jed Lowrie and spend the rest on good relievers. Bring back Jesse Chavez and Cole Hamels.

 

Send these players away in trades:

 

Heyward
Morrow
Almora
Caratini
Duensing
Chatwood
Russell
Kintzler (if he picks up his option)

 

I think Morrow has good value if fully healthy (will have to take a physical to determine that). I don't care how you get rid of those guys: salary dump, bad contract swap, include an okay prospect or two, etc. I don't mind non-tendering Russell if no team is interested in him. horsefeathers him and cut him loose if that's the case.

who plays cf?

[Regular Show]

I say sign Harper and Jed Lowrie and spend the rest on good relievers. Bring back Jesse Chavez and Cole Hamels.

 

Send these players away in trades:

 

• Heyward
  Morrow
  Almora
  Caratini
  Duensing
  Chatwood
  Russell
  Kintzler (if he picks up his option)
  

 

I think Morrow has good value if fully healthy (will have to take a physical to determine that). I don't care how you get rid of those guys: salary dump, bad contract swap, include an okay prospect or two, etc. I don't mind non-tendering Russell if no team is interested in him. horsefeathers him and cut him loose if that's the case.

who plays cf?

 

Good question. I'm fine with Happ, but we'll need to sign a decent defensive backup outfielder as well. Someone like Leonys Martin.