2019-20 Offseason Rumors/General Chit-Chat

[Regular Show]

The Reds are already going to be annoying, and Castellenos would make them extra annoying. That team is going to be a pain

 

If he signs with the Reds I wonder if he includes an opt-out or just signs a 1-yr deal. He wants to be on a competitive team and I don't think the Reds are quite there yet.

 

I would take a 1-year deal and work super hard to be just average defensively in a COF spot and rake in Cincinnati. Then sign a multiyear deal next offseason with a better team hopefully (maybe even the Cubs lol). The FA market next offseason is suppose to be another subpar one so it would work out well for him.

 

Of course, the caveat being if he has a better year and takes a 1-yr deal that team could still place a QO on him affecting his free agency next offseason.

[Deeg]

I do think the Reds are quite there m personally.

[weis21]

Apparently it's Castellanos to the Reds on a multi-year deal

 

[Bertz]

 

This sucks, but man the Reds are gonna have some baaaaaad money on their books coming up soon. Their window is basically this year and maybe next.

[CubinNY]

The Reds are my pick to win the division this year.

[Banedon]

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[Banedon]

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[Bertz]

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Ralph also just got fooled by a fake Jeff Passan account so...

[ConstableRabbit]

His justification for the Cubs makes no sense and he says as much lol

[Andy]

Nothing sums up this off-season for this franchise like back-to-back posts floating Arenado to the Cubs followed by 'no actually we want Scooter Gennett'

[UMFan83]

So the plan seems to be "find guys that had a good season a couple years ago but sucked or were injured more recently and sign for a bare bones price and hope that they find their previous form"

[weis21]

Marte traded to D Backs

[Tim]

Marte traded to D Backs

They're slowly building towards their all-Marte lineup.

[Tim]

So the plan seems to be "find guys that had a good season a couple years ago but sucked or were injured more recently and sign for a bare bones price and hope that they find their previous form"

I've liked Scooter as a target all offseason. He was really good at the plate in each of his previous two healthy seasons. Given our roster, he's a really logical risk.

[jersey cubs fan]

So the plan seems to be "find guys that had a good season a couple years ago but sucked or were injured more recently and sign for a bare bones price and hope that they find their previous form"

I've liked Scooter as a target all offseason. He was really good at the plate in each of his previous two healthy seasons. Given our roster, he's a really logical risk.

[squally1313]

At this point any live body who makes it more likely that Almora doesn't make the roster is someone I want. I am no longer being rational about this.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

how does Scooter keep Almora off the roster? Only way I can see is if they flex Nico to be the RH CF option, but that seems really unlikely compared to just letting Nico get more AAA playing time.

[CyHawk_Cub]

PTR's pants get tight reading this

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[squally1313]

how does Scooter keep Almora off the roster? Only way I can see is if they flex Nico to be the RH CF option, but that seems really unlikely compared to just letting Nico get more AAA playing time.

Isn't Happ the RH CF option? Heyward is the CF back up, Souza/Bote/Hoerner is more than enough flexibility to cover days off for any of the outfield and 3B/SS/2B.

 

The one thing I hadn't really thought about in the Horner MLBvAAA decision is that I don't know who is the backup SS in the event he starts the year in AAA.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The one thing I hadn't really thought about in the Horner MLBvAAA decision is that I don't know who is the backup SS in the event he starts the year in AAA.

 

Probably Bote, maybe Descalso or Bryant. You're probably shuffling someone in from Iowa if Baez is out more than 48 hours even with Hoerner.

[squally1313]

The one thing I hadn't really thought about in the Horner MLBvAAA decision is that I don't know who is the backup SS in the event he starts the year in AAA.

 

Probably Bote, maybe Descalso or Bryant. You're probably shuffling someone in from Iowa if Baez is out more than 48 hours even with Hoerner.

 

Eh, give me Hoerner, Descalso, Souza, Caratini, Scooter, and another guy who can handle corner outfield and ideally hit lefties. Hoerner is the de facto back up for Bryant, Baez, Bote, even Happ (Heyward to center, KB to right, Bote to third) and Schwarber (KB to left, Bote to third). Scooter gets a chance to beat out Bote for a starting job, Descalso gets a chance to be a pinch hitter or he gets dumped, Souza/Heyward stay in a strict platoon.

[UMFan83]

So the plan seems to be "find guys that had a good season a couple years ago but sucked or were injured more recently and sign for a bare bones price and hope that they find their previous form"

I've liked Scooter as a target all offseason. He was really good at the plate in each of his previous two healthy seasons. Given our roster, he's a really logical risk.

 

I don't hate it if you accept that the Cubs just aren't going to spend more money so we have to find value for cheap.

[Cubswin11]

how does Scooter keep Almora off the roster? Only way I can see is if they flex Nico to be the RH CF option, but that seems really unlikely compared to just letting Nico get more AAA playing time.

Yeah I don’t see how Scooter knocks Almora off the roster unless they feel really good about Nico being able to handle CF. Adding Scooter would more likely result in Nico starting in AAA, Descalso being cut, or deciding not to carry a third catcher (which I think is somewhat possible with us adding Phagley to try and get Willy some extra OF time).

 

The only way Almora doesn’t make the opening day roster, for me, is if he’s hurt or they sign Pillar or get a CF’er in a late offseason trade here.

 

I’d much prefer Holt or Zobrist to Scooter too. I can’t imagine they cost much more.

[Tim]

how does Scooter keep Almora off the roster? Only way I can see is if they flex Nico to be the RH CF option, but that seems really unlikely compared to just letting Nico get more AAA playing time.

Yeah I don’t see how Scooter knocks Almora off the roster unless they feel really good about Nico being able to handle CF. Adding Scooter would more likely result in Nico starting in AAA, Descalso being cut, or deciding not to carry a third catcher (which I think is somewhat possible with us adding Phagley to try and get Willy some extra OF time).

 

The only way Almora doesn’t make the opening day roster, for me, is if he’s hurt or they sign Pillar or get a CF’er in a late offseason trade here.

 

I’d much prefer Holt or Zobrist to Scooter too. I can’t imagine they cost much more.

Scooter's best wRC+ seasons:

 

129

125

123

104

92

 

Holt's best wRC+ seasons:

 

109

103

99

97

 

Yes, Scooter is coming off of a season with a 44 where he was injured. Holt had a 50 in 2017, so he's not immune to bad seasons, either. Scooter is also two years younger than Holt and *nine* years younger than Zobrist.

[Cubswin11]

how does Scooter keep Almora off the roster? Only way I can see is if they flex Nico to be the RH CF option, but that seems really unlikely compared to just letting Nico get more AAA playing time.

Yeah I don’t see how Scooter knocks Almora off the roster unless they feel really good about Nico being able to handle CF. Adding Scooter would more likely result in Nico starting in AAA, Descalso being cut, or deciding not to carry a third catcher (which I think is somewhat possible with us adding Phagley to try and get Willy some extra OF time).

 

The only way Almora doesn’t make the opening day roster, for me, is if he’s hurt or they sign Pillar or get a CF’er in a late offseason trade here.

 

I’d much prefer Holt or Zobrist to Scooter too. I can’t imagine they cost much more.

Scooter's best wRC+ seasons:

 

129

125

123

104

92

 

Holt's best wRC+ seasons:

 

109

103

99

97

 

Yes, Scooter is coming off of a season with a 44 where he was injured. Holt had a 50 in 2017, so he's not immune to bad seasons, either. Scooter is also two years younger than Holt and *nine* years younger than Zobrist.

I like what Holt could bring a little more. More contact and OBP (his OBP the last 2 years are higher than any year in Scooter's career) and he can also play a few positions and lets the roster be little more flexible and obviously seems to be the safer bet to have the higher floor. Scooter's injury also concerns me, he missed a lot of time with that and was really bad for the little he played last year. End of the day I'm fine adding either, especially if it's to basically be a battle for Descalo's spot between whoever is added and Descalso, Asuaje, and Robel. Scooter is probably more likely to sign a minor league deal so I'm guessing that's part of the interest. I was also surprised to see he's only 29, I would've guessed he was already in his early-mid 30s.