The 2018-2019 Cubs Offseason Rumors & Discussion Thread AKA The Rickettssss take a dump on EVERYTHING

[Backtobanks]

Not too many players, just too few teams.

 

 

Why complicate matters when we can get rid of Chatwood, Duensing, and Kintzler in one trade while picking up a #5 starter, a solid lefty, and a speedy utility guy without spending any more of PTR money.

 

Just a bow to your legendary three team trade proposals of yesteryear.

 

Back then I had to help Hendry out, but now it looks like Theo and PTR need some help.

[Cubswin11]

Gross, he's not a leadoff hitter

 

[David]

Gross, he's not a leadoff hitter

 

 

Why's that gross?

[Cubswin11]

Gross, he's not a leadoff hitter

 

 

Why's that gross?

I don't think he's all that good (or at least a ~5 win player like last year, he's probably closer to 2-3), he's going to be 30 when the year starts, he certainly isn't a leadoff hitter and he'd project to have like the 7th best OBP on the team next year, he seems pretty BABIP/speed dependent, I don't like the idea of having guys steal in front of KB/Rizzo/etc., he's going to take some real things to trade for that I'd rather keep whatever it takes or use them for something else, his career OBP (pretty much the same as Heyward's) wouldn't have been top 60 last year and his Steamer projection for 2019 (.329) wouldn't have been top 80. His numbers up until the last 2 years are awful Almoraish in the majors and minors.

Edited November 9, 2018 by Cubswin11

[Tim]

Gross, he's not a leadoff hitter

 

 

Why's that gross?

I wouldn't want to be the one to pay for him after he had a career year to over-inflate his value. If I could pay for him as a 2.5-3 war player, sure. If he's going to be valued as a 5+ war guy? No way. I don't believe he's that guy going into this 30's.

[Brian]

I like how the article says the Royals are not in win now mode and rebuilding so he doesn't fit into their plans, while every player from the Cubs he suggested will make the same or more money and is closer or the same amount away from free agency.

[Bertz]

I like Merrifield the player well enough in a vacuum, but he'd be a pretty infuriating acquisition in our current position. Why would the team go get him when they could have used those same player resources on a starter cheaper than Hamels, freeing up that money for a run at Harper. Plus, since he's not a viable backup SS, he doesn't actually fill any hole on this team.

[Little Slide Rooter]

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25226392/chicago-cubs-open-trading-3b-kris-bryant

 

Open to trading KB? What the actual horsefeathers is happening

 

It’s called click bait.

[Backtobanks]

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25226392/chicago-cubs-open-trading-3b-kris-bryant

 

Open to trading KB? What the actual horsefeathers is happening

 

It’s called click bait.

 

Maybe Theo ought to use bait and switch. Get offers for Bryant and then send Bote instead.

[SCCubbieFAN]

Gross, he's not a leadoff hitter

 

 

Why's that gross?

I wouldn't want to be the one to pay for him after he had a career year to over-inflate his value. If I could pay for him as a 2.5-3 war player, sure. If he's going to be valued as a 5+ war guy? No way. I don't believe he's that guy going into this 30's.

 

 

Perhaps the Cubs are trying to cash in on another former SC Gamecock ala JBJr. and Steve Pearce and the pixie dust that follows them! :D

[Ding Dong Johnson]

didn’t whit have some unsavory tweets exposed?

[Agony and Ivy]

didn’t whit have some unsavory tweets exposed?

 

His name is Whit Merrifield, the tweets that everyone should be concerned about are the ones they haven't found yet.

[Banedon]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[Rex Buckingham]

https://www.bleachernation.com/2018/11/09/cubs-hoping-to-have-david-ross-around-more-often-in-an-expanded-role-in-2019/?fbclid=IwAR3txJESERfnez_hxUqzMruKOUMvvkc5SZHz9YlP7NbfMOM18eOIY7tF8E0

 

hopefully, this means they can all unite in their hatred of David Ross once again.

[Brian]

didn’t whit have some unsavory tweets exposed?

 

it's on the lower level of bad old tweets

[toonsterwu]

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25226392/chicago-cubs-open-trading-3b-kris-bryant

 

Open to trading KB? What the actual horsefeathers is happening

 

It’s called click bait.

 

It's Buster Olney. I highly doubt he did it as click bait. I could be wrong, but Olney has a fairly solid rep, even with all of ESPN's issues. My guess is he legitimately heard something ... who leaked it and why becomes the issue.

 

To be real clear, I highly doubt the Cubs ponder dealing Bryant unless it's a monster deal, the type of deal you can't turn down (as good as Bryant is ... yeah, there are hypotheticals you can make to fit that demand) ... but therein lies the rub ... those types of deals tend to mean the other side wouldn't do it either.

[toonsterwu]

Because I don't want to read a report right now ...

 

Just for fun, because of Theo's comments about it being "virtually impossible"

 

Can anyone come up with Bryant deal that

 

a) Makes sense for the Cubs

b) Makes sense for the opposing team?

c) Offers the Cubs a headline player

d) Offers the Cubs future assets or other useful immediate assets

 

Been trying to do that for the last ... 5 minutes or so. Kept pondering the A's as a surprise, but I can't talk myself into believing that Beane trades years of cost control on Chapman away. Thought the Yankees, but ... putting Gleyber in seems unlikely. Don't see a match with Boston. Wonder about the Rays. Don't see them dealing him to any team in the NL Central barring a total fireburner. Rockies don't make sense - they may ponder dealing Arenado, but Bryant would bring in the same cost problems on the horizon.

 

I'm left thinking

 

1. Nationals - Anthony Rendon and ????

 

Cubs would ask for Juan Soto, but I doubt the Nationals move Soto. Rendon/Bryant swap is a swap of two in-their-prime guys ... but Rendon's older. Something else would have to come along, and therein lies the problem. Victor Robles seems like too much ... they don't have pen arms that they would likely offer that provide more immediate certainty ...

 

2. Braves - Some young SP as a headliner, Johan Camargo (if we wanted a 3rd baseman), and ???

 

I just don't see, say, Foltyniewicz and Camargo as anywhere near close, but I wonder if that's my own bias in play.

 

3. Indians???

 

There seems like there could be something there ... if they are in win-now mode ... I just don't know what makes sense.

 

Dunno ... that's the three I like, but maybe I'm missing. AGAIN ... I don't think Bryant is being moved ... just waiting on stuff and thinking about the "virtually impossible to envision a deal" comment that Theo made.

[Cubswin11]

Because I don't want to read a report right now ...

 

Just for fun, because of Theo's comments about it being "virtually impossible"

 

Can anyone come up with Bryant deal that

 

a) Makes sense for the Cubs

b) Makes sense for the opposing team?

c) Offers the Cubs a headline player

d) Offers the Cubs future assets or other useful immediate assets

 

Been trying to do that for the last ... 5 minutes or so. Kept pondering the A's as a surprise, but I can't talk myself into believing that Beane trades years of cost control on Chapman away. Thought the Yankees, but ... putting Gleyber in seems unlikely. Don't see a match with Boston. Wonder about the Rays. Don't see them dealing him to any team in the NL Central barring a total fireburner. Rockies don't make sense - they may ponder dealing Arenado, but Bryant would bring in the same cost problems on the horizon.

 

I'm left thinking

 

1. Nationals - Anthony Rendon and ????

 

Cubs would ask for Juan Soto, but I doubt the Nationals move Soto. Rendon/Bryant swap is a swap of two in-their-prime guys ... but Rendon's older. Something else would have to come along, and therein lies the problem. Victor Robles seems like too much ... they don't have pen arms that they would likely offer that provide more immediate certainty ...

 

2. Braves - Some young SP as a headliner, Johan Camargo (if we wanted a 3rd baseman), and ???

 

I just don't see, say, Foltyniewicz and Camargo as anywhere near close, but I wonder if that's my own bias in play.

 

3. Indians???

 

There seems like there could be something there ... if they are in win-now mode ... I just don't know what makes sense.

 

Dunno ... that's the three I like, but maybe I'm missing. AGAIN ... I don't think Bryant is being moved ... just waiting on stuff and thinking about the "virtually impossible to envision a deal" comment that Theo made.

Yeah none of those names are remotely close for me. My list would start and end with Trout. Like Theo said “virtually impossible to envision a deal that makes sense.”

 

 

And a network that runs pretty much non stop “Take” programming when it’s not showing a live event probably isn’t below making Olney find a story to make some wild jumps on vague Theo quotes to make a story/headline that’s going to get clicks.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

i’d have a really hard time being upset over a deal involving mookie betts

[Andy]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

Either Rizzo is a poor typist or he's enjoying his Friday night, and I think I know which one it is

[minnesotacubsfan]

A trade thay big is:

 

Red Sox

Yankees

The team that just lost 2 : Dodgers

 

 

Since the bosox look like gods next superteam, id say its the yankees that want Bryant.

 

 

Well then sign Harper

 

 

That kinda makes sense, but its also really weird.

[toonsterwu]

I thought Fulmer was a pen arm when he was at Vandy, and I still feel that way. A potentially elite pen arm, but I just don't buy him as a starter. Still, if you can get him and work on him, why not.

[Bote McBoteface]

Any interest in Paxton from the Ms? The injury history is a worry. I wanna say that he’s a potentially dominant pen arm, but the cost to acquire him may be too high to then stick him in the pen.

[DonnieD]

Any interest in Paxton from the Ms? The injury history is a worry. I wanna say that he’s a potentially dominant pen arm, but the cost to acquire him may be too high to then stick him in the pen.

James Paxton is NOT a pen arm.

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

Any interest in Paxton from the Ms? The injury history is a worry. I wanna say that he’s a potentially dominant pen arm, but the cost to acquire him may be too high to then stick him in the pen.

Sure. I also think that Machado would be an excellent super sub. A billionaire's Jose Hernandez.