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

[Post Count Padder]

I'm still really into the idea of dealing Chatwood and stuff to the Yanks for Gray. Gray's numbers were great everywhere except Yankee Stadium last year and the Yanks are pretty clearly ready to move on from him.

 

Now, whether they want Chatwood is another discussion....

[davell]

The difference is if Gray was a FA right now, he's getting 1/10 or maybe even a team gives him a multi year deal. Chatwood is getting an incentive laden minor league deal, if he's a FA right now......

 

I'd love to make that swap, I just don't see it as remotely feasible. And honestly, I think we're OK heading into 2019 with Lester, Darvish, Quintana, Hendricks, Hamels, Smyly, Montgomery, and Chatwood. Doubt they are more than minor league filler to this group until they add at the deadline.......

[Banedon]

horsefeathers.

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/cubs-may-re-sign-free-agent-daniel-murphy/c-299680036

 

Murphy, who hit .297 with a .329 on-base percentage and a .471 slugging percentage in Chicago, could be back with the Cubs in 2019.

 

"I wouldn't rule anything out," Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein told MLB.com. "He did a lot to right our offense right after he got here and contribute while being asked to play a bigger role than we envisioned when we got him because of injuries and because of a lack of performance offensively and because of the schedule."

 

"Our guys loved talking about hitting with him," Epstein added. "It was a daily occurrence. We looked a lot better with him than without him."

 

EDIT: Updated with the original MLB.com link.

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

horsefeathers.

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/cubs-considering-bringing-back-daniel-murphy-in-2019/

 

Veteran infielder Daniel Murphy could be back with the Chicago Cubs in 2019. Murphy is set to become a free agent when the World Series ends, and the Cubs may try to re-sign him this offseason.

 

"I wouldn't rule anything out," Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein told MLB.com. "He did a lot to right our offense right after he got here and contribute while being asked to play a bigger role than we envisioned when we got him because of injuries and because of a lack of performance offensively and because of the schedule."

 

"Our guys loved talking about hitting with him," Epstein added. "It was a daily occurrence. We looked a lot better with him than without him."

[Brian]

I'm thinking/hoping that's part of Plan H

[Tim]

horsefeathers.

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/cubs-may-re-sign-free-agent-daniel-murphy/c-299680036

 

Murphy, who hit .297 with a .329 on-base percentage and a .471 slugging percentage in Chicago, could be back with the Cubs in 2019.

 

"I wouldn't rule anything out," Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein told MLB.com. "He did a lot to right our offense right after he got here and contribute while being asked to play a bigger role than we envisioned when we got him because of injuries and because of a lack of performance offensively and because of the schedule."

 

"Our guys loved talking about hitting with him," Epstein added. "It was a daily occurrence. We looked a lot better with him than without him."

 

EDIT: Updated with the original MLB.com link.

Just in case you're reading, Theo:

 

Offense for entire season: .744 OPS

Offense in Sept (with Murphy): .663 OPS

 

I couldn't figure out splitting based on a particular date, so I don't have the splits before and after 8/22. But the offense as a whole was better without him than with him.

[David]

No horsefeathering way that happens.

[Liam Neeson]

Only way that happens is if the NL somehow gets the DH in the next 4 months

[Tim]

Or if Bryce says he wants him there.

[UMFan83]

Even if Murphy had like a 1.400 OPS as a Cub I'm not sure I'd want him back just based on his defense alone (ignoring the off the field stuff which is very relevant too). You rarely see guys so bad defensively that its plainly obvious to anyone watching.

[weis21]

i hope that's just theo being nice and giving the appearance of genuine interest to try and help him get a good/better offer from another team

 

that's the only thing i can think of. plus he's not going to say before FA starts - yeah, nah, no interest.

[Clem Fandango]

He "rejuvenated" the offense for like a week, Theo. Come on, you're smarter than this.

 

Or if Bryce says he wants him there.

 

Literally, the only reason I can imagine, because the numbers aren't very supportive of that statement.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[Cubfanintheknow]

Even if Murphy had like a 1.400 OPS as a Cub I'm not sure I'd want him back just based on his defense alone (ignoring the off the field stuff which is very relevant too). You rarely see guys so bad defensively that its plainly obvious to anyone watching.

 

This. Watching him field his position or trying to turn two was brutal.

[Cubswin11]

From Heyman’s most recent column.....

 

“The Cubs will surely pick up the $20-million option on Cole Hamels rather than buy him out for $6 million.”

 

[Cubswin11]

Bovada doesn’t even have us on the board for Machado.....

 

[Tryptamine]

Bovada doesn’t even have us on the board for Machado.....

 

 

If I remember correctly, Bystro over on PSD said the Cubs really hated his attitude and wanted nothing to do with him.

[Cubswin11]

[Brian]

favorite memory of the Bobby Wilson era?

[Cubswin11]

favorite memory of the Bobby Wilson era?

Man, where does one begin as there’s so many to pick one and I don’t want to offend by forgetting one

[Cubswin11]

4PM CT Friday is also when FA can officially sign

[r_mack]

What did he say that makes anyone feel this way? My guess is Murphy isn't back but not sure Theo said anything close to this.

[soccer10k]

Bovada doesn’t even have us on the board for Machado.....

 

 

Phillies are favored for Machado, Harper, co favorites for Pollack (+150), tied for second on Donaldson (+250), tied for third on Kimbrel (+500) and tied for fourth on Keuchel (+650).

 

Just tells me the bookies are pretty confident Philly will overpay for someone.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Does anyone have much of an idea of what Texas's opinion of Andrus is right now? I was looking for shortstops with a big enough contract and low enough production that we might be able to get a new SS with no gain in payroll or better by having that be a dumping ground. Andrus is only a year removed from a 4 win season, but he's 30 now, has had a sub-.300 wOBA 4 of the last 6 years playing in Texas, and UZR describes him as more of a capable SS than gold glove caliber. For luxury tax purposes he has a hefty 4/60 left on his deal, does trading several short term contracts for him seem palatable for them? In a perfect world they like Chatwood and/or Russell's potential and they're willing to eat money this year to be done with Andrus' commitment, so you can get something like Chatwood, Kintzler, Duensing, and Russell(combined 25.5 million 2019, 12.67+Russell for 2020) for Andrus and a reliever(4/60+ reliever). That's likely fantasy(and the Rangers don't really have any interesting relievers left anyway), but it's day 1 of the offseason so I can dare to dream.

[Tim]

Does anyone have much of an idea of what Texas's opinion of Andrus is right now? I was looking for shortstops with a big enough contract and low enough production that we might be able to get a new SS with no gain in payroll or better by having that be a dumping ground. Andrus is only a year removed from a 4 win season, but he's 30 now, has had a sub-.300 wOBA 4 of the last 6 years playing in Texas, and UZR describes him as more of a capable SS than gold glove caliber. For luxury tax purposes he has a hefty 4/60 left on his deal, does trading several short term contracts for him seem palatable for them? In a perfect world they like Chatwood and/or Russell's potential and they're willing to eat money this year to be done with Andrus' commitment, so you can get something like Chatwood, Kintzler, Duensing, and Russell(combined 25.5 million 2019, 12.67+Russell for 2020) for Andrus and a reliever(4/60+ reliever). That's likely fantasy(and the Rangers don't really have any interesting relievers left anyway), but it's day 1 of the offseason so I can dare to dream.

What is it you don't like about Leclerc?