2019-20 Offseason Rumors/General Chit-Chat

[Cubswin11]

The article mentioned the Padres checked in on Bryant. KB and Q roughly equal Mookie’s salary this year. Assuming the LT is more important than actual cash outlay (Myers is owed ~$70 mil next 3 years with an LT hit of ~$13) a KB and Q for Myers + a prospect haul makes some sense and gets us under the LT.

[squally1313]

But Wil Myers is terrible.

[Clem Fandango]

But Wil Myers is terrible.

 

You could argue that his floor would be a wash with Moreland but with it comes with considerably more upside, and that gamble gets you a premier prospect if you can swing it.

 

Betts in San Diego would be kind of awesome, though.

[Cubswin11]

Would this be allowed to skirt the LT..... Lester has a LT hit of $25 million currently. He’s owed $20 million this year and has a $10 mil buyout/$25 mil option next year. Could we sign him to like 2/35 so his LT hit comes down ~$8 million?

[squally1313]

Would this be allowed to skirt the LT..... Lester has a LT hit of $25 million currently. He’s owed $20 million this year and has a $10 mil buyout/$25 mil option next year. Could we sign him to like 2/35 so his LT hit comes down ~$8 million?

Lester probably thinks that with Rossy running the show, he can get to 200 innings next year and guarantee the option.

[Backtobanks]

Would this be allowed to skirt the LT..... Lester has a LT hit of $25 million currently. He’s owed $20 million this year and has a $10 mil buyout/$25 mil option next year. Could we sign him to like 2/35 so his LT hit comes down ~$8 million?

Lester probably thinks that with Rossy running the show, he can get to 200 innings next year and guarantee the option.

 

He might get 200 innings with our Iowa shuttle bullpen anyhow.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Would this be allowed to skirt the LT..... Lester has a LT hit of $25 million currently. He’s owed $20 million this year and has a $10 mil buyout/$25 mil option next year. Could we sign him to like 2/35 so his LT hit comes down ~$8 million?

 

I don't see why not, Lester gets a guaranteed 2021 and more money out of the deal. That would also help stem rotationpocalypse a bit since they didn't get a longer term option this offseason.

[Cubswin11]

Would this be allowed to skirt the LT..... Lester has a LT hit of $25 million currently. He’s owed $20 million this year and has a $10 mil buyout/$25 mil option next year. Could we sign him to like 2/35 so his LT hit comes down ~$8 million?

 

I don't see why not, Lester gets a guaranteed 2021 and more money out of the deal. That would also help stem rotationpocalypse a bit since they didn't get a longer term option this offseason.

Yeah I don’t love having to keep him around another year, but if it’s only $5 million more or so than we have to pay anyways plus gets us under the LT it’s probably worth it. It’s more overall guaranteed money so I’d assume it would count to recalculate the LT hit. Especially if they paid him more in real money this year or something so it would be an entirely new deal. Idk what triggers a recalculation if it’s an extension.

[Brian]

I've recently been thinking that buying out Lester at 10 million is lot less of a foregone conclusion than a lot of people think it is. You're paying him 10 million no matter what so wouldn't he have to be really bad not to want to have to spend 15 more (especially considering there's only 2 locks for '21 rotations).

 

There's also the small chance that the thing automatically vests. That's at 200 IP pitched.

 

As a National league pitcher he's gone

 

'15: 205 IP (32 starts)

'16: 202.2 IP (32 starts)

'17: 180.2 IP (32 starts)

'18: 181.2 IP (32 starts)

'19: 171.2 IP (31 starts)

 

If he makes 32 starts it will be close.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I've recently been thinking that buying out Lester at 10 million is lot less of a foregone conclusion than a lot of people think it is. You're paying him 10 million no matter what so wouldn't he have to be really bad not to want to have to spend 15 more (especially considering there's only 2 locks for '21 rotations).

 

There's also the small chance that the thing automatically vests. That's at 200 IP pitched.

 

As a National league pitcher he's gone

 

'15: 205 IP (32 starts)

'16: 202.2 IP (32 starts)

'17: 180.2 IP (32 starts)

'18: 181.2 IP (32 starts)

'19: 171.2 IP (31 starts)

 

If he makes 32 starts it will be close.

 

20 innings is a lot of innings to make up when there's no extra starts involved, I'd be shocked if he automatically vests. But if he's pitching well enough and is healthy enough to hit 200 IP, picking up his option was probably more likely anyway.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Would this be allowed to skirt the LT..... Lester has a LT hit of $25 million currently. He’s owed $20 million this year and has a $10 mil buyout/$25 mil option next year. Could we sign him to like 2/35 so his LT hit comes down ~$8 million?

 

I don't see why not, Lester gets a guaranteed 2021 and more money out of the deal. That would also help stem rotationpocalypse a bit since they didn't get a longer term option this offseason.

Yeah I don’t love having to keep him around another year, but if it’s only $5 million more or so than we have to pay anyways plus gets us under the LT it’s probably worth it. It’s more overall guaranteed money so I’d assume it would count to recalculate the LT hit. Especially if they paid him more in real money this year or something so it would be an entirely new deal. Idk what triggers a recalculation if it’s an extension.

 

I don't think Lester would be willing to only take an extra guaranteed $5 million, though.

[Cubswin11]

 

I don't see why not, Lester gets a guaranteed 2021 and more money out of the deal. That would also help stem rotationpocalypse a bit since they didn't get a longer term option this offseason.

Yeah I don’t love having to keep him around another year, but if it’s only $5 million more or so than we have to pay anyways plus gets us under the LT it’s probably worth it. It’s more overall guaranteed money so I’d assume it would count to recalculate the LT hit. Especially if they paid him more in real money this year or something so it would be an entirely new deal. Idk what triggers a recalculation if it’s an extension.

 

I don't think Lester would be willing to only take an extra guaranteed $5 million, though.

Fine make it 2/40. Still gets us under the LT. Or horsefeathers go to like 3/45. That’s no money and gets us $10 mil under.

[Cubswin11]

[cl smooth]

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the leaving of pelham 123.

[squally1313]

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With Willy/Rizz/Bote/KB/Javy/Schwarber/Happ/Heyward as your 8 starters, your bench looks like

 

Caratini

Hoerner

Souza

Descalso

...probably Almora, or else Garcia.

[Post Count Padder]

Nico isn't gonna be on the bench. He's either starting or he's getting at bats in Iowa. Would guess if it's another infielder it's Hernan Perez or Robel. Maybe Short.

[squally1313]

Nico isn't gonna be on the bench. He's either starting or he's getting at bats in Iowa. Would guess if it's another infielder it's Hernan Perez or Robel. Maybe Short.

If Hoerner makes the team, especially with that bench, I can see him making the starting line up a good amount just in a psuedo-Zobrist role. If you keep Heyward/Souza in a straight platoon, I think Hoerner becomes the main 'backup' for Schwarber (Bryant to left), Happ (Heyward to center, Bryant to right), Bryant (Bote to third), Baez, and Bote. Even just giving those 5 guys 10-15 games off for the year gets you 50-75 starts. Although this implies a world where Almora doesn't exist, so it might be a little hopeful.

[Post Count Padder]

Nico isn't gonna be on the bench. He's either starting or he's getting at bats in Iowa. Would guess if it's another infielder it's Hernan Perez or Robel. Maybe Short.

If Hoerner makes the team, especially with that bench, I can see him making the starting line up a good amount just in a psuedo-Zobrist role. If you keep Heyward/Souza in a straight platoon, I think Hoerner becomes the main 'backup' for Schwarber (Bryant to left), Happ (Heyward to center, Bryant to right), Bryant (Bote to third), Baez, and Bote. Even just giving those 5 guys 10-15 games off for the year gets you 50-75 starts. Although this implies a world where Almora doesn't exist, so it might be a little hopeful.

Fair point. I keep waiting for them to trade Almora to, like, the Phillies for Vince Velasquez or something and nope.

[Thed Hoyerstein]

highlight of the offseason right here

 

[tweet]

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[Cubswin11]

Nico isn't gonna be on the bench. He's either starting or he's getting at bats in Iowa. Would guess if it's another infielder it's Hernan Perez or Robel. Maybe Short.

There’s plenty of starts to go around even if he’s on the bench on opening day. I think. Just like years past with the depth people wondered where everyone would play, it works out. I see KB, Nico, Bote, Happ and Schwarber rotating around depending on matchups/pitcher handiness between 3B/2B/LF/CF there’s plenty of starts for Nico in there and he’ll even get some SS time.

 

The only way I’d want him starting in AAA is if they feel he needs to be working on things yet (whether that’s offensive things or even learning CF), if not there’s a way to get him 115-130 starts and it not to affect others, other than maybe Almora. Which seems about right for a guy who will have some on job learning. So if that’s a “bench player” in your book I’m cool with him being that.

[Post Count Padder]

Now that's a name I haven't thought about in a long time.

 

The Blue Jays have reached a one-year agreement with right-hander Rafael Dolis, Scott Mitchell of TSN tweets. The deal includes a club option for 2021. Dolis is a client of Moye Sports Associates.

 

The 32-year-old Dolis is now in position to return to the majors for the first time since 2013, when he threw a mere five innings for the Cubs in his third season with the club. Overall, he pitched to a 5.48 ERA/5.39 FIP with more walks (26) than strikeouts (25) in 44 1/3 frames for Chicago before seeing Triple-A action with the Giants and Tigers from 2014-15.

 

Dolis headed for Japan after his MLB chances dried up a few years ago, and it proved to be an excellent decision. The hard thrower posted a tremendous 2.49 ERA with 96 saves and 9.9 K/9 against 2.7 BB/9 over 206 innings with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball from 2016-19. Dolis’ success in Asia put him back on the major league map, and he now looks primed to win a season-opening spot in Toronto’s bullpen.

[Sammy Sofa]

...long time.

[UMFan83]

[Derwood]

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

[Bertz]

 

Damn, Nick is a really good fit on the Reds. Do not like. Although that defense has a chance to be like catastrophically bad.