2019-20 Offseason Rumors/General Chit-Chat

[Gilby]

horsefeathers the Ricketts. They are going to trade Kris horsefeathering Bryant in a competitive window in order to save money. I think that's where we're headed.

[Bertz]

Club officials are telling representatives of even low-budget free agents that they need to clear money before engaging in serious negotiations.

 

I'd imagine this is more about timing - let's get our trade(s) done first - but considering they're like ~2M over the first tax level and the Ricketts' ghoulishness you can't rule out a mandate to cut payroll.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

With Jesse Rogers hinting that a Bryant trade might be on the table this week, could a deal be structured with a PTBNL dependent on the result of his grievance? That might get a little messy, but seems like the best way to protect the other team against a lost year of service.

 

I have to imagine that trading a player of Bryant's caliber is an as-is sorta situation, you take on the risk when you make the trade. It's too significant a move for the Cubs to make for 2020 to make the return at all contingent on something that comes later.

 

Speaking of trading Bryant, let's connect some dots:

 

- Rosenthal says "[Cubs] officials are telling representatives of even low-budget free agents that they need to clear money before engaging in serious negotiations."

- Multiple articles lightly speculating the Braves might try for Bryant, and lets toss in Rogers' guesswork too

- The mention that the Cubs are bringing an army of people to the winter meetings, and their comments about shaking up the roster

 

So if they have to cut payroll relative to last season(instead of merely staying flat), then trading Bryant does become more of a realistic means of trying to improve, because there's not many other means of freeing up significant salary unless you can find a taker for Heyward or Chatwood(questionable at best). If that happens 1) I will probably pass out from anger at Tom Ricketts and 2) the Braves do really make the most sense as a team by far. They have MLB ready quality that they aren't necessarily reliant on(to various degrees Fried, Newcomb, Wright, Wilson, Touki, Pache, and Waters all help the Cubs in 2020), a hole at 3B, and motivation to make a big splash.

[UMFan83]

Well you’d better get to horsefeathering work. Already lost a starter from last year and several pen arms are FAs.

[Tryptamine]

Always a good idea to cry poor, deal your best players and march out a marginal team in the year you're launching your new network.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

I'm cool with trading KB, provided it's for a package considered really good and not the one proposed the other day in which we trade Willy and KB.

 

We have had the nucleus of the 2016 World Series team the last three seasons and even added some impact pieces around it, and we have gone from winning the division, to winning the Wild Card to not making the playoffs. I don't believe we are winning the World Series in 2020 and I don't really want to have them sign a 30-year-old KB long-term after 2021 any way.

 

So if there is way to get a nice trade for KB, which hurts the chances of winning a World Series in 2020 that I don't think we are winning any way, I'd be intrigued. With the new talent and some extra financial flexibility next offseason, I wouldn't be shocked to see them being in a better position to win the 2021 World Series.

 

Granted, that's as long as our owners don't drop us out of top-5 payroll territory and my guy Theo actually doesn't piss the money away on crappy free agents.

[Backtobanks]

horsefeathers the Ricketts. They are going to trade Kris horsefeathering Bryant in a competitive window in order to save money. I think that's where we're headed.

 

I don't believe the Bryant rumors at all unless he wins the grievance AND we get a boatload in return.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

We have had the nucleus of the 2016 World Series team the last three seasons and even added some impact pieces around it, and we have gone from winning the division, to winning the Wild Card to not making the playoffs. I don't believe we are winning the World Series in 2020 and I don't really want to have them sign a 30-year-old KB long-term after 2021 any way.

 

Any team with the starpower of Bryant, Baez, Hendricks, and to a lesser extent Rizzo has the foundation needed to win the world series. The supporting cast is a lot easier to fix/replace/have better luck, so you shouldn’t be writing off 2020 at all.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

We have had the nucleus of the 2016 World Series team the last three seasons and even added some impact pieces around it, and we have gone from winning the division, to winning the Wild Card to not making the playoffs. I don't believe we are winning the World Series in 2020 and I don't really want to have them sign a 30-year-old KB long-term after 2021 any way.

 

Any team with the starpower of Bryant, Baez, Hendricks, and to a lesser extent Rizzo has the foundation needed to win the world series. The supporting cast is a lot easier to fix/replace/have better luck, so you shouldn’t be writing off 2020 at all.

 

Eh, I am. But I respect your knowledge so I will hold out hope.

[Tim]

Trading Bryant for a mediocre return would free up a lot of time for me next summer, though.

 

You know, on the bright side.

[Cubswin11]

We have had the nucleus of the 2016 World Series team the last three seasons and even added some impact pieces around it, and we have gone from winning the division, to winning the Wild Card to not making the playoffs. I don't believe we are winning the World Series in 2020 and I don't really want to have them sign a 30-year-old KB long-term after 2021 any way.

 

Any team with the starpower of Bryant, Baez, Hendricks, and to a lesser extent Rizzo has the foundation needed to win the world series. The supporting cast is a lot easier to fix/replace/have better luck, so you shouldn’t be writing off 2020 at all.

While this is true, if they have to get under 208 for reasons I just don’t see how you build a proper team to win this year.

[Derwood]

Trading Bryant for a mediocre return would free up a lot of time for me next summer, though.

 

You know, on the bright side.

 

Yep. I don’t understand the enthusiasm behind trading him when the return is sure to be underwhelming.

[Cubswin11]

Trading Bryant for a mediocre return would free up a lot of time for me next summer, though.

 

You know, on the bright side.

 

Yep. I don’t understand the enthusiasm behind trading him when the return is sure to be underwhelming.

Nobody seems enthusiastic about it, it’s been a rumor so it’s been discussed what would be an acceptable return but nobody seems to be saying it should and needs to be done. How do you know it will be underwhelming?

[Derwood]

Trading Bryant for a mediocre return would free up a lot of time for me next summer, though.

 

You know, on the bright side.

 

Yep. I don’t understand the enthusiasm behind trading him when the return is sure to be underwhelming.

Nobody seems enthusiastic about it, it’s been a rumor so it’s been discussed what would be an acceptable return but nobody seems to be saying it should and needs to be done. How do you know it will be underwhelming?

 

There is enthusiasm for it in other corners of the internet.

 

And I don’t know that it will be underwhelming, but I’m personally not excited about trading him for lottery tickets.

[David]

 

Yep. I don’t understand the enthusiasm behind trading him when the return is sure to be underwhelming.

Nobody seems enthusiastic about it, it’s been a rumor so it’s been discussed what would be an acceptable return but nobody seems to be saying it should and needs to be done. How do you know it will be underwhelming?

 

There is enthusiasm for it in other corners of the internet.

 

And I don’t know that it will be underwhelming, but I’m personally not excited about trading him for lottery tickets.

 

would you stop updating us on what's going on at the cubs den and bcb comment sections

[Derwood]

Nobody seems enthusiastic about it, it’s been a rumor so it’s been discussed what would be an acceptable return but nobody seems to be saying it should and needs to be done. How do you know it will be underwhelming?

 

There is enthusiasm for it in other corners of the internet.

 

And I don’t know that it will be underwhelming, but I’m personally not excited about trading him for lottery tickets.

 

would you stop updating us on what's going on at the cubs den and bcb comment sections

 

Lol, I’ve never visited either of those sites, but sure.

[Splendid Splinter]

Lets say the Braves are legit interested in trading for Bryant.

 

What kind of package would it take at a minimum in order to be "ok" with trading Bryant? Not asking what the ideal perfect world trade package, but something that you're comfortable with.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

We have had the nucleus of the 2016 World Series team the last three seasons and even added some impact pieces around it, and we have gone from winning the division, to winning the Wild Card to not making the playoffs. I don't believe we are winning the World Series in 2020 and I don't really want to have them sign a 30-year-old KB long-term after 2021 any way.

 

Any team with the starpower of Bryant, Baez, Hendricks, and to a lesser extent Rizzo has the foundation needed to win the world series. The supporting cast is a lot easier to fix/replace/have better luck, so you shouldn’t be writing off 2020 at all.

While this is true, if they have to get under 208 for reasons I just don’t see how you build a proper team to win this year.

 

If they’re currently tapped out, it’s definitely more difficult but not impossible when you have role player salaries with value you can go full Dipoto on(Quintana, Schwarber, Bote, Contreras) to increase your variance but keep the foundation with the chance of a better supporting cast. If we need to cut from the current roster I’m going to be so angry that I refuse to consider it because we are already considering trading Bryant and I only have so much anger.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Lets say the Braves are legit interested in trading for Bryant.

 

What kind of package would it take at a minimum in order to be "ok" with trading Bryant? Not asking what the ideal perfect world trade package, but something that you're comfortable with.

 

Something like Newcomb, Pache, and Wright doesn’t make me feel all that warm and fuzzy, but it would be a good combination of underlying talent, unrealized upside, and MLB ready contributions. It almost certainly makes them worse in 2020, and when you combine it with the fact that Braves fans would probably howl in anger at that package, makes me feel it’s in the ballpark.

 

If we’re truly punting on 2020, you need to consolidate. Reunite him with Maddon and get Jo Adell.

[Cubswin11]

Lets say the Braves are legit interested in trading for Bryant.

 

What kind of package would it take at a minimum in order to be "ok" with trading Bryant? Not asking what the ideal perfect world trade package, but something that you're comfortable with.

 

Something like Newcomb, Pache, and Wright doesn’t make me feel all that warm and fuzzy, but it would be a good combination of underlying talent, unrealized upside, and MLB ready contributions. It almost certainly makes them worse in 2020, and when you combine it with the fact that Braves fans would probably howl in anger at that package, makes me feel it’s in the ballpark.

 

If we’re truly punting on 2020, you need to consolidate. Reunite him with Maddon and get Jo Adell.

I think this is my preferred route in trading KB if they decide to do it. Get the highest upside/highest rated guy, even if he might not play for a year or two instead of trying to thread this needle of adding major league ready dudes for him who could help this year but aren’t as good as KB and you aren’t replacing KB with an equal talent (Rendon, Mookie, etc.).

Edited December 8, 2019 by Cubswin11

[Cubswin11]

[Bertz]

Lets say the Braves are legit interested in trading for Bryant.

 

What kind of package would it take at a minimum in order to be "ok" with trading Bryant? Not asking what the ideal perfect world trade package, but something that you're comfortable with.

 

Something like Newcomb, Pache, and Wright doesn’t make me feel all that warm and fuzzy, but it would be a good combination of underlying talent, unrealized upside, and MLB ready contributions. It almost certainly makes them worse in 2020, and when you combine it with the fact that Braves fans would probably howl in anger at that package, makes me feel it’s in the ballpark.

 

If we’re truly punting on 2020, you need to consolidate. Reunite him with Maddon and get Jo Adell.

I think this is my preferred route in trading KB. Get the highest upside/highest rated guy, even if he might not play for a year or two instead of trying to thread this needle of adding major league ready dudes for him who could help this year but aren’t as good as KB and you aren’t replacing KB with an equal talent (Rendon, Mookie, etc.).

 

Yeah I think a Contreras trade would be focused on the very short term, while a KB trade could be more medium term since you're ensuring a step back in 2020 (and you do have his $18 to help sort of mitigate the short term loss).

[David]

 

There is enthusiasm for it in other corners of the internet.

 

And I don’t know that it will be underwhelming, but I’m personally not excited about trading him for lottery tickets.

 

would you stop updating us on what's going on at the cubs den and bcb comment sections

 

Lol, I’ve never visited either of those sites, but sure.

 

Uhhhh lol

 

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3195&p=383940&hilit=Derwood#p383933

[Splendid Splinter]

Lets say the Braves are legit interested in trading for Bryant.

 

What kind of package would it take at a minimum in order to be "ok" with trading Bryant? Not asking what the ideal perfect world trade package, but something that you're comfortable with.

 

Something like Newcomb, Pache, and Wright doesn’t make me feel all that warm and fuzzy, but it would be a good combination of underlying talent, unrealized upside, and MLB ready contributions. It almost certainly makes them worse in 2020, and when you combine it with the fact that Braves fans would probably howl in anger at that package, makes me feel it’s in the ballpark.

 

If we’re truly punting on 2020, you need to consolidate. Reunite him with Maddon and get Jo Adell.

 

I had similar thoughts as well. I was thinking Newcomb, Waters, Wright, and a lottery type guy (Greg Cullen maybe?). You could talk me into Kyle Muller or Patrick Weigel instead of Newcomb to get more of younger/prospects type package.

 

Saw this on a Braves fan website who threw out this package for Bryant: Austin Riley, Kyle Wright, Kyle Muller, and maybe a low-level prospect. They would have to throw in the low level prospect in this package and it would be someone in the 11-20 range in their system. I'm not a fan of Riley, but can see why this guy would throw him in there.

[Derwood]

 

would you stop updating us on what's going on at the cubs den and bcb comment sections

 

Lol, I’ve never visited either of those sites, but sure.

 

Uhhhh lol

 

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3195&p=383940&hilit=Derwood#p383933

 

One can know what those sites think without visiting them. There are these things called Facebook and Twitter, you see...