2019-20 Offseason Rumors/General Chit-Chat

[cl smooth]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[Backtobanks]

Are we not in the market for a starter?

 

It's hard to know what we want between Theo sitting around waiting for the KB decision and PTR crying about how poor he is. I suppose any superstar-in-the-making that's available for next to nothing would be on our shopping list.

[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.

I don’t think we’re getting like Jo Adell for Q, but Kluber was hurt and really, really horsefeathers 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.

 

If we could get Griffin Canning for Quintana, I'd do it immediately. Anything's possible, but I think the chances of getting a young MLB ready starting caliber arm with some ceiling for a mid-rotation veteran with one year left on his deal ... I mean, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Griffin Canning had a better season than Quintana next year.

 

____

 

I like Matt Boyd. Don't know how hard I'd go after him, but he's got what, 3 years of cost control left? Worst case, he's a solid end of the rotation lefty that can eat innings. If the slider development and consistency is real ... then you got a solid mid-front of the rotation arm on a cheap deal. I don't know I'd give an arm and a leg ... but I'd be curious what it would cost.

[The_Achiever]

The White Sox have been busy this offseason. Jerry finally spent a little bit of dough, but they still seem like a fringe WC team to me. Not a huge fan of Anderson, Madrigal or Eloy really.

[d_money]

The White Sox have been busy this offseason. Jerry finally spent a little bit of dough, but they still seem like a fringe WC team to me. Not a huge fan of Anderson, Madrigal or Eloy really.

The AL central will be between the Twins and the WS. Detroit, KC and now Cleveland - won’t be contenders. The WS FA signings are all on the wrong side of 30 but they have a good young core.

[Backtobanks]

The White Sox have been busy this offseason. Jerry finally spent a little bit of dough, but they still seem like a fringe WC team to me. Not a huge fan of Anderson, Madrigal or Eloy really.

 

Anderson had a fantastic season last year, but seems to be reasonably adequate if he does come back to earth. Eloy looks to be a superstar slugger at 22 years old assuming injuries don't get in his way. Madrigal looks like the old-fashioned gritty 2B (certainly more Nellie Fox than Ryne Sandberg), but he could have a decent ML career. Not sure why you don't like them.

[Tryptamine]

There are reports claiming the Reds are the favorites to land Akiyama. This pretty much guarantees my complete lack of interest in the Cubs next season.

[Derwood]

The White Sox have been busy this offseason. Jerry finally spent a little bit of dough, but they still seem like a fringe WC team to me. Not a huge fan of Anderson, Madrigal or Eloy really.

 

Anderson had a fantastic season last year, but seems to be reasonably adequate if he does come back to earth. Eloy looks to be a superstar slugger at 22 years old assuming injuries don't get in his way. Madrigal looks like the old-fashioned gritty 2B (certainly more Nellie Fox than Ryne Sandberg), but he could have a decent ML career. Not sure why you don't like them.

 

Eloy is a superstar slugger? Eh

[Bertz]

There are reports claiming the Reds are the favorites to land Akiyama. This pretty much guarantees my complete lack of interest in the Cubs next season.

 

This is where this whole deal with waiting for a KB trade before doing anything else is really going to hurt. At 2B there are so many guys at roughly the same level of quality that the team can wait until February to strike. But at CF? You've got Shogo, Pillar, and Maybin as the only even adequate options. Maybe they've got a trade conditionally worked out that nets a CF? Otherwise waiting is a dangerous game IMO.

[The_Achiever]

The White Sox have been busy this offseason. Jerry finally spent a little bit of dough, but they still seem like a fringe WC team to me. Not a huge fan of Anderson, Madrigal or Eloy really.

 

Anderson had a fantastic season last year, but seems to be reasonably adequate if he does come back to earth. Eloy looks to be a superstar slugger at 22 years old assuming injuries don't get in his way. Madrigal looks like the old-fashioned gritty 2B (certainly more Nellie Fox than Ryne Sandberg), but he could have a decent ML career. Not sure why you don't like them.

 

Anderson had a good year at the plate but I don't like him defensively. In fact I think they have a number of defensive liabilities. They're going to have to out-slug their competition, which they might be able to do. They've definitely improved but I don't think they're scaring the elite AL teams.

[Backtobanks]

The White Sox have been busy this offseason. Jerry finally spent a little bit of dough, but they still seem like a fringe WC team to me. Not a huge fan of Anderson, Madrigal or Eloy really.

 

Anderson had a fantastic season last year, but seems to be reasonably adequate if he does come back to earth. Eloy looks to be a superstar slugger at 22 years old assuming injuries don't get in his way. Madrigal looks like the old-fashioned gritty 2B (certainly more Nellie Fox than Ryne Sandberg), but he could have a decent ML career. Not sure why you don't like them.

 

Eloy is a superstar slugger? Eh

 

HR at age 22:

Bonds 25

Griffey 27

Frank Robinson 31

Mantle 27

ARod 42

Jimenez 31

Pujols 34

Aaron 26

[Backtobanks]

The White Sox have been busy this offseason. Jerry finally spent a little bit of dough, but they still seem like a fringe WC team to me. Not a huge fan of Anderson, Madrigal or Eloy really.

 

Anderson had a fantastic season last year, but seems to be reasonably adequate if he does come back to earth. Eloy looks to be a superstar slugger at 22 years old assuming injuries don't get in his way. Madrigal looks like the old-fashioned gritty 2B (certainly more Nellie Fox than Ryne Sandberg), but he could have a decent ML career. Not sure why you don't like them.

 

Anderson had a good year at the plate but I don't like him defensively. In fact I think they have a number of defensive liabilities. They're going to have to out-slug their competition, which they might be able to do. They've definitely improved but I don't think they're scaring the elite AL teams.

 

They're certainly not going to win strictly on defense, but young pitching and slugging certainly gives them a good chance in the AL Central. After that, the playoffs are a crapshoot.

[NonProfitCow]

 

Anderson had a fantastic season last year, but seems to be reasonably adequate if he does come back to earth. Eloy looks to be a superstar slugger at 22 years old assuming injuries don't get in his way. Madrigal looks like the old-fashioned gritty 2B (certainly more Nellie Fox than Ryne Sandberg), but he could have a decent ML career. Not sure why you don't like them.

 

Eloy is a superstar slugger? Eh

 

HR at age 22:

Bonds 25

Griffey 27

Frank Robinson 31

Mantle 27

ARod 42

Jimenez 31

Pujols 34

Aaron 26

Heyward 27

[Derwood]

 

Anderson had a fantastic season last year, but seems to be reasonably adequate if he does come back to earth. Eloy looks to be a superstar slugger at 22 years old assuming injuries don't get in his way. Madrigal looks like the old-fashioned gritty 2B (certainly more Nellie Fox than Ryne Sandberg), but he could have a decent ML career. Not sure why you don't like them.

 

Eloy is a superstar slugger? Eh

 

HR at age 22:

Bonds 25

Griffey 27

Frank Robinson 31

Mantle 27

ARod 42

Jimenez 31

Pujols 34

Aaron 26

 

Lol, now compares eras. In Aaron's age 22 year (1956), 12 players hit 30+ HR's. In 2019, 58 players hit 30+ HR's

[Bertz]

 

Seems like the Nats are the team to root for if you want a great piece (Kieboom) with some filler, while the Braves are likely to offer 3 good pieces but no slam dunk guy.

[Tryptamine]

Even if Waters,Wright and Anderson were somehow offered, they wont be, I'd still be disappointed that Fried wasn't involved.

[Derwood]

 

Anderson had a fantastic season last year, but seems to be reasonably adequate if he does come back to earth. Eloy looks to be a superstar slugger at 22 years old assuming injuries don't get in his way. Madrigal looks like the old-fashioned gritty 2B (certainly more Nellie Fox than Ryne Sandberg), but he could have a decent ML career. Not sure why you don't like them.

 

Eloy is a superstar slugger? Eh

 

HR at age 22:

Bonds 25

Griffey 27

Frank Robinson 31

Mantle 27

ARod 42

Jimenez 31

Pujols 34

Aaron 26

 

And because I'm bored:

 

HR/fWAR at age 22:

Bonds 25 / 3.3

Griffey 27 / 6.9

Frank Robinson 31 / 6.6

Mantle 27 / 4.9

ARod 42 / 4.3

Jimenez 31 / 1.9

Pujols 34 / 5.4

Aaron 26 / 6.9

[Backtobanks]

 

Eloy is a superstar slugger? Eh

 

HR at age 22:

Bonds 25

Griffey 27

Frank Robinson 31

Mantle 27

ARod 42

Jimenez 31

Pujols 34

Aaron 26

 

Lol, now compares eras. In Aaron's age 22 year (1956), 12 players hit 30+ HR's. In 2019, 58 players hit 30+ HR's

 

But not in their first season and as a 22 year old. I never said he was a great player, but in this era where MLB is like arena football combined with the DH, he has a great start as a slugger.

[Cubswin11]

I just looked up Tim Anderson with all this White Sox talk, I had no idea he ran almost a .400 BABIP last year (.399). That’s pretty crazy given doesn’t have great contact ability. I’d be pretty surprised if he’s much more than a 1.5-2 win player next year. Between the defense and likely BABIP correction.

[Bertz]

I just looked up Tim Anderson with all this White Sox talk, I had no idea he ran almost a .400 BABIP last year (.399). That’s pretty crazy given doesn’t have great contact ability. I’d be pretty surprised if he’s much more than a 1.5-2 win player next year. Between the defense and likely BABIP correction.

 

Swing and miss can ironically be a good thing for BABIP actually. You want someone who either swings and misses or hits the ball on a line. Like Javy basically.

 

That being said the ceiling for true talent BABIP probably isn't much higher than .340 or .350, so Anderson's gonna have to improve in other ways (to your point by cleaning up his defense probably) to be more than an average regular.

[Cubswin11]

I just looked up Tim Anderson with all this White Sox talk, I had no idea he ran almost a .400 BABIP last year (.399). That’s pretty crazy given doesn’t have great contact ability. I’d be pretty surprised if he’s much more than a 1.5-2 win player next year. Between the defense and likely BABIP correction.

 

Swing and miss can ironically be a good thing for BABIP actually. You want someone who either swings and misses or hits the ball on a line. Like Javy basically.

 

That being said the ceiling for true talent BABIP probably isn't much higher than .340 or .350, so Anderson's gonna have to improve in other ways (to your point by cleaning up his defense probably) to be more than an average regular.

Yeah. I’ve never really looked at Anderson’s numbers but like he could basically be SS Almora with a few more Dongs with his batted ball profiled and BB/K numbers. His 2018 and 2017 were very Almora like but just a little more power.

 

I see last year being a peak year for Anderson much more than I see it being any kind of jump/growth is really what I’m saying and I think a bottoming out and hitting like Almora for a year or two in the next 3-5 years is far more likely than repeating last year/growing off it.

[17 Seconds]

 

Anderson had a fantastic season last year, but seems to be reasonably adequate if he does come back to earth. Eloy looks to be a superstar slugger at 22 years old assuming injuries don't get in his way. Madrigal looks like the old-fashioned gritty 2B (certainly more Nellie Fox than Ryne Sandberg), but he could have a decent ML career. Not sure why you don't like them.

 

Eloy is a superstar slugger? Eh

 

HR at age 22:

Bonds 25

Griffey 27

Frank Robinson 31

Mantle 27

ARod 42

Jimenez 31

Pujols 34

Aaron 26

 

why do you do this

[Backtobanks]

 

Eloy is a superstar slugger? Eh

 

HR at age 22:

Bonds 25

Griffey 27

Frank Robinson 31

Mantle 27

ARod 42

Jimenez 31

Pujols 34

Aaron 26

 

why do you do this

 

Because if a 22 year-old hit 31 HR in his rookie season for the Cubs, you would be gushing about how great he is.

[Cubswin11]

 

HR at age 22:

Bonds 25

Griffey 27

Frank Robinson 31

Mantle 27

ARod 42

Jimenez 31

Pujols 34

Aaron 26

 

why do you do this

 

Because if a 22 year-old hit 31 HR in his rookie season for the Cubs, you would be gushing about how great he is.

If he literally brought nothing else of value to the table to being a good baseball player I doubt it. Especially in an environment where everyone with a pulse and a couple hundred PAs hits in the 20s to 30+ HRs. He’s kinda capped as a 2-3 win player with his profile, maybe he has a peak 4+ year as an outlier. For example, JD Martinez hit .304/.383/.557 with 36 HRs with double the walk rate and about 1/3rd fewer Ks than Eloy last year and was only worth 3.2 WAR.

Edited December 27, 2019 by Cubswin11

[squally1313]

God I wonder how MLB legend Rougned Odor and his .271/.296/.502, 33 HR season got left off that list of current or future hall of famers. Must have been a totally innocent slip.