9/21 | Cubs (Lester) @ Pirates (Brubaker) | 6:05pm | MARQ

[Cubswin11]

Sobering question for next year: given that payroll is likely coming down, can you really justify tendering KB at his ~$22M?

Also do we really want to extend our 32 year old 1B who is showing plenty of his own decline?

He’s borderline the face of the franchise, his underlying stuff is all within his career norms and he’s not going to take a ton to keep (probably $14-18 mil AAV). I’m absolutely fine with and want to give him a 3-5 year extension and think he’ll age pretty well.

[Cubswin11]

Bryant getting non-tendered has to be seriously on he table this offseason

If it's a table labeled "Really Stupid Ideas," sure, it's on it.

 

Seriously. If you can get even a 3 win season from Bryant he’s underpaid at $22m. Sure he could continue to flame out and/or get hurt but it’s much more likely he’s a 3+ win player. Not to mention if he’s doing ok but not great you can get something for him at the deadline if you want. If you non-tender him he probably goes to the Cardinals and gives them an 8 win season

Oh I wouldn’t do it, I’m still absolutely on board with an extension. I just think where the economics/LT are for us and after this third year now an injury(s) derailed him I think it’s absolutely on the table.

[Derwood]

Has Jose Martinez ever played baseball before? Those are three of the worst swings I've ever seen

[itisallpartoftheplan]

Jose Martinez sucks

[itisallpartoftheplan]

Offensive explosion!!

[Brian]

interesting slide Bote

[UMFan83]

This pitcher should be released immediately and possibly tar and feathered for giving up 3 runs in an inning to the Cubs

[Jaxbro]

Hopefully Martinez cost the team a dozen baseballs and a couple of rosin bags. And that was an overpay

[Bertz]

Bryant getting non-tendered has to be seriously on he table this offseason

If it's a table labeled "Really Stupid Ideas," sure, it's on it.

 

Seriously. If you can get even a 3 win season from Bryant he’s underpaid at $22m. Sure he could continue to flame out and/or get hurt but it’s much more likely he’s a 3+ win player. Not to mention if he’s doing ok but not great you can get something for him at the deadline if you want. If you non-tender him he probably goes to the Cardinals and gives them an 8 win season

 

KB is *probably* fine, but are you willing to bet ~1/8th of the payroll on it? In an offseason where we already have to fill 3 open rotation spots?

 

It's likely all academic. I imagine, even with revenue down across the league, there'll be at least 2-3 teams happy to take that gamble. But personally if I'm going all out to win next year I think that money goes a lot further elsewhere.

[Tim]

If it's a table labeled "Really Stupid Ideas," sure, it's on it.

 

Seriously. If you can get even a 3 win season from Bryant he’s underpaid at $22m. Sure he could continue to flame out and/or get hurt but it’s much more likely he’s a 3+ win player. Not to mention if he’s doing ok but not great you can get something for him at the deadline if you want. If you non-tender him he probably goes to the Cardinals and gives them an 8 win season

 

KB is *probably* fine, but are you willing to bet ~1/8th of the payroll on it? In an offseason where we already have to fill 3 open rotation spots?

 

It's likely all academic. I imagine, even with revenue down across the league, there'll be at least 2-3 teams happy to take that gamble. But personally if I'm going all out to win next year I think that money goes a lot further elsewhere.

I'm guessing that Mills has earned enough trust that they'll get two starters plus depth guys

[Brian]

magic number 2 for playoffs

[17 Seconds]

i fear KB is done, but the thought of non-tendering him is infuriating.

[Cubswin11]

 

Seriously. If you can get even a 3 win season from Bryant he’s underpaid at $22m. Sure he could continue to flame out and/or get hurt but it’s much more likely he’s a 3+ win player. Not to mention if he’s doing ok but not great you can get something for him at the deadline if you want. If you non-tender him he probably goes to the Cardinals and gives them an 8 win season

 

KB is *probably* fine, but are you willing to bet ~1/8th of the payroll on it? In an offseason where we already have to fill 3 open rotation spots?

 

It's likely all academic. I imagine, even with revenue down across the league, there'll be at least 2-3 teams happy to take that gamble. But personally if I'm going all out to win next year I think that money goes a lot further elsewhere.

I'm guessing that Mills has earned enough trust that they'll get two starters plus depth guys

I don’t disagree, but if Mills is given a guaranteed spot I’d hope they aim decently high on at least 1 of the adds. Like at least what we though Q could be as an innings eater high 3-low 4 ERA/FIP, 2.5-4 WAR guy (I’m partial to bringing him back), with the shortened year getting some innings eaten will be a premium next year since guys may be limited to sub 175-200 innings.

[Cubswin11]

:flythew:

 

[17 Seconds]

lester is like the complete opposite of most of the team. his talent is gone but he somehow finds ways to be productive and perform well in big games

[PackLandVA]

Any doubt he'd be a game 3 starter?

[Cubswin11]

Any doubt he'd be a game 3 starter?

I don’t see any way he isn’t. Even if there’s a clear platoon advantage where the opponent was far better vs LHP than RHP and using Mills/Adbert/bullpen was smarter. Let’s just win 2 and not worry about it.

[Brian]

Cardinals lose, division magic number to 4

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Sobering question for next year: given that payroll is likely coming down, can you really justify tendering KB at his ~$22M?

Also do we really want to extend our 32 year old 1B who is showing plenty of his own decline?

He’s borderline the face of the franchise, his underlying stuff is all within his career norms and he’s not going to take a ton to keep (probably $14-18 mil AAV). I’m absolutely fine with and want to give him a 3-5 year extension and think he’ll age pretty well.

 

KB has contributed greatly to this team, has been an excellent player and by all accounts, a quality person and teammate.

 

But REALLY have to disagree about KB "aging pretty well." What we have seen the past few years with his body breaking down in almost every possible way is not going to get better, it's only going to get worse. He's heading down the Troy Tulowitizki path.

 

The time to trade him was this past offseason. Now, they should let him play out his final year and thank him for all he has done. And, heck, maybe he can prove people like me wrong and mash and stay healthy.

ETA: Oh, crap. You were talking about Rizzo. My bad. I have to do better.

[squally1313]

Also do we really want to extend our 32 year old 1B who is showing plenty of his own decline?

 

I don't necessarily like reacting too much to these pandemic stats and missed this specific game last night, but what Rizzo PAs I've seen this year have been dishearteningly ugly maybe the worst on the team

 

OTOH non-tendering Bryant is not even an option worth discussing

 

I don't necessarily like reacting too much to these pandemic stats, because of small sample size, so instead let me anecdotally point to the couple dozen or so Rizzo PAs I've seen this year.

[Andy]

Jose Martinez sucks

Stop horsefeathering acquiring players who have only ever been good for STL