2019-20 Offseason Rumors/General Chit-Chat

[David]

 

I don't even remember... is the Marlin Bystro here the PSD one or a joke parody?

 

iirc he was the good insider from psd and abty was full of horsefeathers

I have no idea who 70% of even the regular posters here are, but I do know that was a heaping unmistakable pile of sarcasm.

 

There's basically one poster I'd give like a 2% chance of that not being sarcasm to, and it's that guy. And he almost never used to post at PSD unless he had some sort of info.

 

Yes I'm fully aware that PTR is a miserable ghoul and in full effect right now but let me have my faint wishful thinking that a KB extension or something would be announced, damnit. Granted, that still doesn't qualify it as a blast bc it's what any big market org that isn't a joke should be expected to do but yeah.

[David]

 

I don't even remember... is the Marlin Bystro here the PSD one or a joke parody?

 

iirc he was the good insider from psd and abty was full of horsefeathers

I have no idea who 70% of even the regular posters here are, but I do know that was a heaping unmistakable pile of sarcasm.

 

Yes that was sarcasm. The Convention should be a disaster this year. Yes I used to and still post once in a while on PSD.

 

I'm curious to see what, if anything, is said about Marquee.

[Marlin Bystro]

 

I don't even remember... is the Marlin Bystro here the PSD one or a joke parody?

 

iirc he was the good insider from psd and abty was full of horsefeathers

I have no idea who 70% of even the regular posters here are, but I do know that was a heaping unmistakable pile of sarcasm.

 

There's basically one poster I'd give like a 2% chance of that not being sarcasm to, and it's that guy. And he almost never used to post at PSD unless he had some sort of info.

 

Yes I'm fully aware that PTR is a miserable ghoul and in full effect right now but let me have my faint wishful thinking that a KB extension or something would be announced, damnit. Granted, that still doesn't qualify it as a blast bc it's what any big market org that isn't a joke should be expected to do but yeah.

 

Yeah sorry I don't have anything good to report. It's very negative on the inside as well.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Passan bringing up the Bryant/Arenado switcheroo

 

The Cubs would make sense if they move Bryant. They are not primed for some sort of a rebuild as much as a refresh or reboot -- an always-difficult needle to thread, particularly if they hope to dip under the luxury-tax threshold. One source characterized the Cubs as doing due diligence, as they've done throughout the winter with myriad trade conversations, but the notion of trading catcher Willson Contreras and a higher-priced, underperforming player in an Arenado deal, then flipping Bryant to revitalize a mediocre farm system, squares in the short and long term. The Nationals' best trade piece, middle infielder Spencer Kieboom, would be a perfect anchor for a Bryant deal if the Cubs didn't already have Javier Baez at shortstop and rookie Nico Hoerner at second base.

 

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28430628/mlb-superstar-trades-sign-stealing-punishment-more-passan-answers-20-questions-2020

 

So I read that as essentially KB for Prospects, and then Willson and Heyward for Arenado. Sounds unlikely obviously, but if Passan is saying it then it's not completely out of nowhere.

 

 

Also, not to put too fine a point on this, but if we accept the premise of Contreras + contract for Arenado then trade Bryant away to get under the LT, the contract has to be Heyward or something unlikely like Quintana + Chatwood. In either case, even after trading away Heyward, Contreras, and Bryant's salary and only taking on salary in the form of Arenado, you're only 8ish million under, and you need a starter in RF(or SP if it's Quintana/Chatwood), SP, and at least a solid backup C. Some of that could come in a Bryant deal, but it seems unlikely you're going to thread the needle. I point this out because Brett either concluded or quoted that they'd then sign Castellanos to play RF, and I don't see that at all unless he's getting a real collusiony deal.

[squally1313]

What, Schwarber/Almora/and a Happ/Zobrist platoon doesn't do it for you?

[Bertz]

[Cubswin11]

So in the event of a Willy trade that leaves Russell Martin as the only remotely decent FA catcher left? Or am I forgetting someone?

[Bertz]

So in the event of a Willy trade that leaves Russell Martin as the only remotely decent FA catcher left? Or am I forgetting someone?

 

Yup. It's Martin, and then a very large gap, and then Matt Wieters. And then from what I can see not a single other option that projects to even a .300+ OBP. Brutal. I'm guessing the Willy ship has sailed.

[Regular Show]

Yeah, this Cubs Convention is going to blow. This offseason has been a disaster and trade talks have gone nowhere. Maybe the Cubs shouldn't have broadcast their intentions about wanting to trade away key pieces and "shake things up" so clearly. We aren't trading for Nolan Arenado and then subsequently moving KB/Willson. The Colorado FO is notoriously difficult to make trades with, and they're annoying AF in their demands/negotiations. That isn't happening...

 

We can at least take some solace in the fact this douchebag is no longer on the team and won't be attending CC:

 

 

[Cubswin11]

Yeah the Rockies/Arenado and Bryant swap out seems so far out there. Like you said, they’re notoriously hard to deal with and also dumb. It takes like 5-6 moves likely to make it all work if getting under the LT is still a must do this offseason but also still, presumably, building out a team that can win if you’re taking on Arenado at age 28/29 it would be dumb to do that then punt a year. It’s too bad they can’t (or won’t) say horsefeathers it and just do like Willy, Heyward and some prospects for Arenado and throw KB in RF and sign Russell Martin. That offense would horsefeathers.

[Cubswin11]

The Rockies would never trade Nolan Arenado to the Cubs for Willson Contreras and Jason Heyward

If they got 2-3 of Adbert, Roederer, Ademan, Bote, basically any non Amaya/Nico/Davis/Marquez prospects I could see it. They’re trying to save money and it saves them money but also keeps them from having to entirely blow horsefeathers up.

[Cubswin11]

If they got 2-3 of Adbert, Roederer, Ademan, Bote, basically any non Amaya/Nico/Davis/Marquez prospects I could see it.

 

Yeah, that also wouldn't happen. They're not trading Nolan Arenado in a trade that brings back Jason Heyward to start with though

I’m pretty certain they wouldn’t either. But it does save them $150 or so million. If the offer was Willy, Heyward, Bote, Adbert and Roederer I’m guessing they’d at least think about it. Get an immediate, long term 3B replacement with cost certainty, a top 3 catcher in baseball that won’t cost anything for 2 of the 3 years controlled, Heyward is still a platoon and playable OF’er, then they get a MLB ready pitcher and a decently regarded prospect. That seems somewhat plausible for what a deal would look like if there was even a remote chance they were talking. I don’t buy it either of it being something that has any sort of real chance of actually happening, but if Passan/Morrosi have heard things that would be my guess at it.

[We Got The Whole 9]

If Arenado would agree to waive the opt-out I'd hope we would be all over that acquisition. The left side of our IF would get a tremendous boost and he basically makes what we hope Bryant would take. It makes sense to me but it's an extremely complicated trade to make work and I dont see it happening.

 

What's gonna happen is the Cards will figure a way to make it happen and they will have their new Rolen to haunt us for the next half decade.

[d_money]

If Arenado would agree to waive the opt-out I'd hope we would be all over that acquisition. The left side of our IF would get a tremendous boost and he basically makes what we hope Bryant would take. It makes sense to me but it's an extremely complicated trade to make work and I dont see it happening.

 

What's gonna happen is the Cards will figure a way to make it happen and they will have their new Rolen to haunt us for the next half decade.

The Cards have plenty of money, I could totally see them do it.

 

This bs of them being a small market team getting supplemental picks while consistently drawing 3M+ has to stop.

[Bertz]

Sharma/Mooney with an article on the Athletic this morning. Not a ton of info, mostly just reprinting quotes from Theo and Jed (the Mooney special), but a few things stood out:

 

- Sounds like the chances of a Schwarber deal are higher than we think

- Contreras is probably starting the season on the team, but could very well be moved at the deadline if the team disappoints; the FO really likes Caratini

- 2B is the area the team is most explicitly listed as needing an upgrade. They sound cautiously optimistic about Ian Happ as the opening day CF

[SouthSideRyan]

Schwarber deal as in extension or trade?

[jersey cubs fan]

Schwarber deal as in extension or trade?

Whispers that Kyle Schwarber is being discussed in various trade scenarios continue to linger. But nothing appears imminent on that front. As badly as this team may need personnel changes, the stars need to align for Epstein to pull off what he really wants.

 

Outfielders (5)

Jason Heyward, Ian Happ, Kyle Schwarber, Albert Almora Jr., Tony Kemp

 

Outside of the bullpen, this is where the Cubs appear to be the thinnest. After an impressive second half that saw him match Nicholas Castellanos’ production, Schwarber seems to be the best bet to generate big offensive numbers. He’s also the one being talked about in trade rumors.

[muntjack]

I know Arenado is a great defender. I know he still has a .799 career OPS away from Coors, which isn't terrible. For 32 mil AAV I just....ugh.

[Cubswin11]

What a scoop by that bald horsefeathers

 

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[Cubswin11]

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[Cubswin11]

From Rosenthal about Arenado being moved

 

This one is starting to look inevitable, if not by Opening Day, then by the deadline.

 

 

Hopefully he ends up on the Rangers or something and not the Cardinals.

[Brian]

nothing seems more inevitable than him to the Cardinals for a couple of, to quote Blake Snell, slapdick prospects

[Cubswin11]

nothing seems more inevitable than him to the Cardinals for a couple of, to quote Blake Snell, slapdick prospects

Hopefully their tight assness keeps them from adding him.

[champaignchris]

nothing seems more inevitable than him to the Cardinals for a couple of, to quote Blake Snell, slapdick prospects

Hopefully their tight assness keeps them from adding him.

 

They’re paying $103MM to six players all over 31 years old this year. I don’t think it’s their tight-assedness that is going to keep them from trading for Arenado.

[Banedon]

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