2019-20 Offseason Rumors/General Chit-Chat

[Bertz]

[UMFan83]

 

 

Hmm, that’s certainly...a place that FAs can sign

[weis21]

I'm flummoxed, absolutely flummoxed

Please stop.

 

Thanks,

Everyone

[Post Count Padder]

An old friend:

 

The Padres have agreed to a two-year contract with right-hander Pierce Johnson, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports (via Twitter). The former Cubs top prospect will be guaranteed $5MM over the life of the deal, and the contract contains a team option for a third season. Johnson is represented by JBA Sports.

 

Johnson, 29 in May, spent the 2019 season pitching for the Hanshin Tigers of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, where he posted otherworldly numbers. In 58 2/3 innings of relief, he posted a 1.38 ERA with a 91-to-13 K/BB ratio (14.0 K/9, 2.0 BB/9). Unlike many big leaguers who enjoy overseas breakouts and return to find MLB deals, Johnson needed only one season of success to convince a Major League club that he was worthy of a multi-year deal.

[Post Count Padder]

Mad we couldn't afford this

 

The Indians have reached a one-year agreement with free-agent second baseman Cesar Hernandez, ESPN’s Jeff Passan tweets. The Octagon client will earn a $6.25MM salary for the 2020 season.

 

Is Kipnis still available? How about Dozier? Someone? or nah

[Bertz]

Mad we couldn't afford this

 

The Indians have reached a one-year agreement with free-agent second baseman Cesar Hernandez, ESPN’s Jeff Passan tweets. The Octagon client will earn a $6.25MM salary for the 2020 season.

 

Is Kipnis still available? How about Dozier? Someone? or nah

 

There's still several 2B in that similar 2nd division starter tier still available:

 

- Brock Holt

- Jason Kipnis

- Scooter Gennett

- Asdrubal Cabrera

- Brad Miller

- Joe Panik

 

And that's just the lefties, since it sounds like they want someone to compliment Nico. So while I'm not too worried about 2B specifically, I do think it's hard to not be worried about FA more broadly.

[Post Count Padder]

Yankees traded Chance Adams to the Royals. He was a top pitching prospect pretty recently. Nice gamble by KC.

[Post Count Padder]

Mad we couldn't afford this

 

The Indians have reached a one-year agreement with free-agent second baseman Cesar Hernandez, ESPN’s Jeff Passan tweets. The Octagon client will earn a $6.25MM salary for the 2020 season.

 

Is Kipnis still available? How about Dozier? Someone? or nah

 

There's still several 2B in that similar 2nd division starter tier still available:

 

- Brock Holt

- Jason Kipnis

- Scooter Gennett

- Asdrubal Cabrera

- Brad Miller

- Joe Panik

 

And that's just the lefties, since it sounds like they want someone to compliment Nico. So while I'm not too worried about 2B specifically, I do think it's hard to not be worried about FA more broadly.

Yeah it's just frustrating. We're probably "fine" if we go Happ/Almora in CF and Hoerner/Happ/Descalso/Kemp/Bote at second but it's underwhelming and putting a lot of pressure on things breaking right.

[Cubswin11]

Mad we couldn't afford this

 

The Indians have reached a one-year agreement with free-agent second baseman Cesar Hernandez, ESPN’s Jeff Passan tweets. The Octagon client will earn a $6.25MM salary for the 2020 season.

 

Is Kipnis still available? How about Dozier? Someone? or nah

 

There's still several 2B in that similar 2nd division starter tier still available:

 

- Brock Holt

- Jason Kipnis

- Scooter Gennett

- Asdrubal Cabrera

- Brad Miller

- Joe Panik

 

And that's just the lefties, since it sounds like they want someone to compliment Nico. So while I'm not too worried about 2B specifically, I do think it's hard to not be worried about FA more broadly.

I’d prefer Holt or Cabrera of those names. We’ll probably just give Panik a split deal or something though.

[Splendid Splinter]

I wonder if Zobrist is going to come back on a 1 yr deal.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I wonder if Zobrist is going to come back on a 1 yr deal.

 

I’m gonna keep trying to speak it into existence until it happens.

[Cubswin11]

I wonder if Zobrist is going to come back on a 1 yr deal.

Other than Holt I’d take him back over any of these other names out there.

[Splendid Splinter]

I wonder if Zobrist is going to come back on a 1 yr deal.

Other than Holt I’d take him back over any of these other names out there.

 

Pretty much how I feel as far as 2B options go.

[CubinNY]

I wonder if Zobrist is going to come back on a 1 yr deal.

Other than Holt I’d take him back over any of these other names out there.

 

Pretty much how I feel as far as 2B options go.

Zo will sign with the Angels if he does.

[Splendid Splinter]

Other than Holt I’d take him back over any of these other names out there.

 

Pretty much how I feel as far as 2B options go.

Zo will sign with the Angels if he does.

 

I'm assuming that both Ben and Julianna still live in Chicago. Did they finalized on the divorce or still working on being together? I haven't seen/heard any updates on that front.

 

Would he really move across country and be away from his kids (if he is divorced) after what he went through this season? For what most likely be a 1 yr deal?

[Backtobanks]

The other question is whether Zobrist would accept a lowball offer.

[Deeg]

I think Zo is done here. If he has the motivation to play another year, he'll want to do it for a contender.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

[Bertz]

He literally says "speculatively" in the tweet FFS

[Backtobanks]

Looks like the Cubs have quietly been shopping Quintana:

 

 

Makes a gazillion times more sense than shopping Bryant, but "Cubs shopping Quintana" doesn't get clicks and eyes I guess

 

Lot's of other options:

Contreras + Quintana to the Angels for Patrick Sandoval + Noe Ramirez

Kimbrel (plus $7 million per year) + Bote for Leclerc

Chatwood + Almora for Margot + prospect

[David]

He literally says "speculatively" in the tweet FFS

 

Ooooh, as opposed to all the non-speculative Bryant rumors - got it

 

speculation and sourced rumors are two different things

[Cubswin11]

Chatwood + Almora for Margot + prospect

[squally1313]

Are we not in the market for a starter?

[toonsterwu]

The dynamics are obviously a bit different, but if Corey Kluber could only get some A ball lottery ticket offers, outside of their final deal, I really question how much we could get for Quintana. As with all trades, all it takes is one team, but clearly, the organization, whether we like it or not, is trying to get the payroll in some order.

 

_____

 

All that said, I think things do shape up well for the Cubs if they wanted to move an arm and clear some payroll. There's still enough pitching on the market that teams have options.

 

___

 

Is Boyd Matt Boyd? I guess the idea of Detroit moving him is what, selling him early to maximize return? I'd be curious what it could take to land Boyd.

[Cubswin11]

The dynamics are obviously a bit different, but if Corey Kluber could only get some A ball lottery ticket offers, outside of their final deal, I really question how much we could get for Quintana. As with all trades, all it takes is one team, but clearly, the organization, whether we like it or not, is trying to get the payroll in some order.

 

_____

 

All that said, I think things do shape up well for the Cubs if they wanted to move an arm and clear some payroll. There's still enough pitching on the market that teams have options.

 

___

 

Is Boyd Matt Boyd? I guess the idea of Detroit moving him is what, selling him early to maximize return? I'd be curious what it could take to land Boyd.

I don’t think we’re getting like Jo Adell for Q, but Kluber was hurt and really, really shitty last year, makes $7-8 mil more than Q this year and is 33/34. I think they could get a fringe top 100 guy for Q or like a newer version of Monty. Griffin Canning from the Angels would be a really nice get for him, IMO.