2020 Offseason Thread

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[Backtobanks]

4 players the Cubs should trade for that probably will be or already are available this year:

 

Adam Frazier

 

Eduardo Rodriguez

Matt Barnes - Two ideal rentals at the TDL from the Red Sox

 

German Marquez - The only pitcher to throw more regular season innings in the NL than Hendricks in 2020, similarly underrated

 

Also Trevor Williams off a good first half could be popular at the trade deadline

 

As I've posted before, Frazier has been easily available and would have helped the Cubs for the last two years. I don't know what Jed is waiting for. As for the others, Marquez isn't going to happen and the other two will be great if we're in a position to add rentals. As for Williams, a good first half makes Davies and Bryant available if we're "out" of it.

[Post Count Padder]

Interesting change of scenery trade

 

The Rangers are preparing to send long-time shortstop Elvis Andrus to the Oakland A’s for outfielder/designated hitter Khris Davis, per the Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (via Twitter). The full details of the deal are not yet known. At least one other player will head to Texas, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan (via Twitter).

[Backtobanks]

Interesting change of scenery trade

 

The Rangers are preparing to send long-time shortstop Elvis Andrus to the Oakland A’s for outfielder/designated hitter Khris Davis, per the Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (via Twitter). The full details of the deal are not yet known. At least one other player will head to Texas, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan (via Twitter).

 

Plus an interesting exchange of money. Those are two ugly contracts.

[Post Count Padder]

The Rangers are preparing to send long-time shortstop Elvis Andrus, catching prospect Aramis Garcia, and $13.5MM in cash to the Oakland A’s for outfielder/designated hitter Khris Davis, catcher Jonah Heim, and right-handed pitcher Dane Acker.

 

For the Rangers, this ends Andrus’ 12-year run as the starting shortstop. He was the last remaining connection to their back-to-back pennant-winning teams in 2010 and 2011.

 

Garcia and Heim are young catchers, kind of a wash. Acker was the A's 4th rounder in 2020.

[NonProfitCow]

That’s one way to put it

 

 

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We'll still always have

 

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[Cubswin11]

What a fitting picture to use of him diving for a ball he didn’t catch

 

[squally1313]

Given the news this morning that the Cubs will get to have 25% capacity at spring training games, I'm wondering if the updated budget numbers are based on them getting a heads up that they'll be able to have fans in Wrigley this year. I have two season tickets in the bleachers and haven't heard anything yet (and assume the bleachers especially will be a mess to figure out), but could see this being the case.

[Cubswin11]

Lowrie signed back with the As, he may be broken for good but would’ve been a cheap flyer as a LHH 2B option who can do the contact thing. Looking at available FA remaining there aren’t many options, Kipnis, Marwin, Panik and maybe Asdrubal if you think he won’t be a butcher at 2B.

[squally1313]

Lowrie signed back with the As, he may be broken for good but would’ve been a cheap flyer as a LHH 2B option who can do the contact thing. Looking at available FA remaining there aren’t many options, Kipnis, Marwin, Panik and maybe Asdrubal if you think he won’t be a butcher at 2B.

 

Counterpoint: Nico Hoerner can do his best Ronny Cedeno impersonation for 162 games and fulfill 1/9th of the Rickett's obligations to field a lineup every game at the cheapest possible price.

[Bertz]

[Old Style]

Almora to the Mets.

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[Cubswin11]

[Cubswin11]

Would’ve been a nice add at that price, I expect us to sign Kipnis/Panik/Sogard/Holt for a league min/NRI deal in the next week or so.

 

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Brock Holt signing with the Rangers. The middle infielder market has dried up quickly.

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The Athletics and Dodgers are in agreement on a trade that’ll sent lefty Adam Kolarek and minor league outfielder Cody Thomas from L.A. to Oakland in exchange for infielder Sheldon Neuse and minor league righty Gus Varland, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports (via Twitter).

 

Wasn't Neuse a top prospect? Seems like they're giving up on him for a middle reliever.

[Cubswin11]

The 40-man is currently full and have to make room for Marisnick and Jake

 

[Derwood]

Well now they just HAVE to love Bryant

[Cubswin11]

I know there’s plenty of guys to give tryouts to in the bullpen, but wouldn’t mind Yusmeiro Petit or Ian Kennedy on a cheap 1 year deal to give us a “safe” bullpen option. Also still really want to trade for Adam Frazier.

[CubsWin]

Trying to figure out who is likely to be cut from the 40-man to make room for the two Jakes. Last in, first out would indicate Alcantara would likely be one of them. He's their best defensive back-up at SS but not much of a bat. I'm guessing he'd start in AAA anyway, and Hoerner is more than capable at SS if Javy needs a breather.

 

If it is Alcantara, I can't see them cutting another position player which means one of the pitchers will have to go. I'm guessing Maples is at the top of that list unless he took real steps forward with his control during the shut down that we haven't heard about. They could return Fenter to the Orioles. They only have 5 lefties on the roster, but Kyle Ryan and Brad Wieck didn't look all that great last we saw them.

 

Of course, there also could be trade coming...

[CubsWin]

I know there’s plenty of guys to give tryouts to in the bullpen, but wouldn’t mind Yusmeiro Petit or Ian Kennedy on a cheap 1 year deal to give us a “safe” bullpen option. Also still really want to trade for Adam Frazier.

These words may come back to haunt me, but... I'm happy with the Cubs bullpen.

[Cubswin11]

I know there’s plenty of guys to give tryouts to in the bullpen, but wouldn’t mind Yusmeiro Petit or Ian Kennedy on a cheap 1 year deal to give us a “safe” bullpen option. Also still really want to trade for Adam Frazier.

These words may come back to haunt me, but... I'm happy with the Cubs bullpen.

Oh, so am I. I think there’s enough pieces and some known quantities that they’ll have a top ~12 bullpen by the end of the year. This FO has proven pretty well they can build a good bullpen. Would just like one more vet/little more known guy out there. Especially on a cheap 1 year deal.

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Yeah I don't know how much more we're gonna get out of Maples. He was a nice story but now he's just taking up space. Maybe he figures it out elsewhere. Alcantara or Vargas would make sense too. They're just dime a dozen backup infielders.