Kipnis to Cubs Minor League/NRI Contract

[Cubswin11]

Sounds like it’s happening. Fine depth move, like it more if it’s to replace Descalso more than in addition to him on the 26-man. Career 113 wRC+ vs RHP, really good contact rates (80%+ in every recent year and for career), don’t mind him being in the 2B mix with Bote and Nico.

 

Edited February 11, 2020 by Cubswin11

[Cubswin11]

[Post Count Padder]

Honestly don't hate it. Good contact, good glove. Numbers have been meh but he's a nice bounceback/change of scenery candidate on that deal especially. Trade Almora and/or Descalso for something and then employ Kipnis/Happ/Nico between 2B and CF and I can get behind it.

[Andy]

He's not much of a defender these days but a pretty good bench bat and platoon guy against righties. I like this.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I am predisposed to like Kipnis, which is good because I'm not sure how good a fit he is otherwise. He can't defend much, isn't enough of a LH bat to deserve any 1B or DH at bats over the alternatives, and even by 2B standards is a significant question mark. If there's a profile that might have a dead cat bounce in the right circumstances, it's his though. Similar to Edmonds in the high pedigree, control the zone type of bat, plus there's no reason for him ever to see a lefty with all the options available so he'll be put in the right spot to succeed.

[jersey cubs fan]

If there's a profile that might have a dead cat bounce in the right circumstances, it's his though.

 

that's pretty much the only hope

[17 Seconds]

a thank you for yanking that slider foul

[squally1313]

a thank you for yanking that slider foul

I think about that swing (and that gift of a pitch) probably once a week.

[Post Count Padder]

Also worth noting that last season from June 16 and on he batted: .270/.332/.493 with a low BABIP. There might still be something there.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Boooooo. I wanted Scooter, but I also don't know the inner workings of what is going on there, so there is that.

[Brian]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/cubs_live/status/1190664402036547586[/tweet]

[Backtobanks]

If he's replacing Descalso it's a great move, but there has to be a trade coming because Descalso is owed money.

[Cubswin11]

Also worth noting that last season from June 16 and on he batted: .270/.332/.493 with a low BABIP. There might still be something there.

His LD, Flyball and hard contact rates all jumped over his career numbers during that period and GB rate dropped below his career numbers too.

 

Also appears he took 4 games off the week before. So maybe he finally felt healthy and/or tweaked something and it clicked.

[Bertz]

I am predisposed to like Kipnis, which is good because I'm not sure how good a fit he is otherwise. He can't defend much, isn't enough of a LH bat to deserve any 1B or DH at bats over the alternatives, and even by 2B standards is a significant question mark. If there's a profile that might have a dead cat bounce in the right circumstances, it's his though. Similar to Edmonds in the high pedigree, control the zone type of bat, plus there's no reason for him ever to see a lefty with all the options available so he'll be put in the right spot to succeed.

 

Yeah, I don't like him because he doesn't actually do anything particularly well. No huge platoon split that can be leverage, not a great defender, etc.

 

That being said he seems like he might be the most likely to bounce all the way back of these third tier 2B options. The difference between Kipnis in 2017-2019 and 2014-2016 appears to basically just be BABIP. He was a .324 guy earlier in his career and a .260 guy the last three years. It doesn't look like luck, as he's popping the ball up basically twice as much, but maybe there is some fairly black and white mechanical thing that can flip the switch back?

[Tim]

I am predisposed to like Kipnis, which is good because I'm not sure how good a fit he is otherwise. He can't defend much, isn't enough of a LH bat to deserve any 1B or DH at bats over the alternatives, and even by 2B standards is a significant question mark. If there's a profile that might have a dead cat bounce in the right circumstances, it's his though. Similar to Edmonds in the high pedigree, control the zone type of bat, plus there's no reason for him ever to see a lefty with all the options available so he'll be put in the right spot to succeed.

 

Yeah, I don't like him because he doesn't actually do anything particularly well. No huge platoon split that can be leverage, not a great defender, etc.

 

That being said he seems like he might be the most likely to bounce all the way back of these third tier 2B options. The difference between Kipnis in 2017-2019 and 2014-2016 appears to basically just be BABIP. He was a .324 guy earlier in his career and a .260 guy the last three years. It doesn't look like luck, as he's popping the ball up basically twice as much, but maybe there is some fairly black and white mechanical thing that can flip the switch back?

I liked Gennett better, but maybe he wouldn't take the minimum MiLB deal.

[David]

If he's replacing Descalso it's a great move, but there has to be a trade coming because Descalso is owed money.

Huh

[Sammy Sofa]

Kipnis to Cubs

 

"Drop dead!"

[Post Count Padder]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[toonsterwu]

I like it. Hey, it's a Minor League/NRI. Not that it means much, but he is a lifelong Cubs fan. He's definitely slowing down, but I wonder if he just needed time to heal and readjust. He was banged up a few years back, and IIRC, vaguely remember articles or chatter on blogs about his swing being out of whack. I don't think he'll ever be what he was ... but I do wonder if he can still be a solid starting caliber 2nd baseman. Considering I have my questions on Hoerner, and think Bote is more of a utility option, adding another option to the mix is a plus. At worst, it's just some wasted time. Most likely scenario? Cheap, useful bench option that provides leadership and work ethic.

[Backtobanks]

If he's replacing Descalso it's a great move, but there has to be a trade coming because Descalso is owed money.

Huh

 

Descalso is owed $2.5 million this year and $1 million buyout in 2021. I can't see PTR eating $3.5 million while we're still over the LT.

[Cubswin11]

If he's replacing Descalso it's a great move, but there has to be a trade coming because Descalso is owed money.

Huh

 

Descalso is owed $2.5 million this year and $1 million buyout in 2021. I can't see PTR eating $3.5 million while we're still over the LT.

Just look at it like paying Kipnis $4 mil or so and be done with it.

[David]

If he's replacing Descalso it's a great move, but there has to be a trade coming because Descalso is owed money.

Huh

 

Descalso is owed $2.5 million this year and $1 million buyout in 2021. I can't see PTR eating $3.5 million while we're still over the LT.

 

A sunk cost is a sunk cost. This isn't like Jason Heyward or something where you try to hold out and try to extract some value as long as possible because you have so much invested going forward. This is just some bum on the bench. If Kipnis is better and there are other more capable bench dudes ahead of him too, it would be horsefeathering stupid to keep him around because of his salary.

[Tryptamine]

Also worth noting that last season from June 16 and on he batted: .270/.332/.493 with a low BABIP. There might still be something there.

His LD, Flyball and hard contact rates all jumped over his career numbers during that period and GB rate dropped below his career numbers too.

 

Also appears he took 4 games off the week before. So maybe he finally felt healthy and/or tweaked something and it clicked.

 

He did make swing changes which is what I mentioned very early in the offseason. At the least he should be a desirable platoon bat with a chance at a bit more.

[hwmudgett]

a thank you for yanking that slider foul

 

Really? I mean it looked bad off the bat, but it ended up being a 280-ish(?) foot lazy fly ball that hung up so long that had it been fair - unless maybe right on the chalk - would almost certainly have been an out.

 

I definitely reacted when he initially hit it though which is probably all you're referencing.

[Backtobanks]

Huh

 

Descalso is owed $2.5 million this year and $1 million buyout in 2021. I can't see PTR eating $3.5 million while we're still over the LT.

 

A sunk cost is a sunk cost. This isn't like Jason Heyward or something where you try to hold out and try to extract some value as long as possible because you have so much invested going forward. This is just some bum on the bench. If Kipnis is better and there are other more capable bench dudes ahead of him too, it would be horsefeathering stupid to keep him around because of his salary.

 

I didn't mean a Descalso trade, I meant any trade to get us under the LT. According to PTR and the front office we can't afford ML contracts until we get below the LT. I don't have a problem with Descalso being a sunk cost, but then again I'm not PTR.