2020 Offseason Thread

[JeffH]

It's really not a big deal in the end, but it annoys me that we just let Ervin go and his spot is probably going to Maybin. I think Ervin would've handled that spot better. Honestly still prefer having both of them to giving a few million to Marisnick but whatever.

 

One thing that we don't always consider is how an individual player will react to sporadic duty. I'm too lazy to look at Ervin's game logs to see if his better performance in some way correlates to regular or semi-regular stretches of playing time.

[Bertz]

It's really not a big deal in the end, but it annoys me that we just let Ervin go and his spot is probably going to Maybin. I think Ervin would've handled that spot better. Honestly still prefer having both of them to giving a few million to Marisnick but whatever.

 

I do think it likely says something that the Mariners, who project to have just over 3 WAR from their entire outfield combined, just let him go for nothing. If he was really a good bet to OPS .800+ vs lefties like his career numbers say, he wouldn't have been let go from two reasonably intelligent and very OF needy teams.

[Post Count Padder]

Re-organizing the bullpen chairs

 

The Cubs are designating right-hander Robert Stock for assignment, per Jordan Bastian of MLB.com (Twitter link). The move clears 40-man roster space for left-hander Kyle Ryan, who was activated from the COVID-19 list, per Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago claimed Stock off waivers from the Red Sox last December.

[Bertz]

I would have preferred to keep Stock. But now that camp's open and they've got these guys throwing in front of Trackman every other day, it's hard to argue with whatever they decide.

 

Now that we know Wick is out for a while, and Ryan's not too much worse for the wear from his Covid, I'd guess this is the opening day pen we're looking at?

 

CL - Kimbrel

SU - Chafin

SU - Workman

MRP - Adam*

MRP - Winkler

MRP - Tepera

MRP - Ryan*

MRP - Holder*

LRP - Underwood

*Has MiLB options

 

I'd guess Ryan and Holder's spots are most tenuous. Dillon Maples is out of options, so maybe he gets Holder's spot just for one last chance to show he can throw strikes? I believe I read that they altered his delivery a bit. This also assumes Alzolay has another option remaining and opens up at Iowa to manage his innings. If that's wrong that's a further squeeze on one of those bottom three guys.

[JeffH]

I would have preferred to keep Stock. But now that camp's open and they've got these guys throwing in front of Trackman every other day, it's hard to argue with whatever they decide.

 

Now that we know Wick is out for a while, and Ryan's not too much worse for the wear from his Covid, I'd guess this is the opening day pen we're looking at?

 

CL - Kimbrel

SU - Chafin

SU - Workman

MRP - Adam*

MRP - Winkler

MRP - Tepera

MRP - Ryan*

MRP - Holder*

LRP - Underwood

*Has MiLB options

 

I'd guess Ryan and Holder's spots are most tenuous. Dillon Maples is out of options, so maybe he gets Holder's spot just for one last chance to show he can throw strikes? I believe I read that they altered his delivery a bit. This also assumes Alzolay has another option remaining and opens up at Iowa to manage his innings. If that's wrong that's a further squeeze on one of those bottom three guys.

 

Most of the bullpen projections I've seen just assume that Kohl Stewart is definitely going to be optioned to the minors. I wonder if that's necessarily true.

[Bertz]

I would have preferred to keep Stock. But now that camp's open and they've got these guys throwing in front of Trackman every other day, it's hard to argue with whatever they decide.

 

Now that we know Wick is out for a while, and Ryan's not too much worse for the wear from his Covid, I'd guess this is the opening day pen we're looking at?

 

CL - Kimbrel

SU - Chafin

SU - Workman

MRP - Adam*

MRP - Winkler

MRP - Tepera

MRP - Ryan*

MRP - Holder*

LRP - Underwood

*Has MiLB options

 

I'd guess Ryan and Holder's spots are most tenuous. Dillon Maples is out of options, so maybe he gets Holder's spot just for one last chance to show he can throw strikes? I believe I read that they altered his delivery a bit. This also assumes Alzolay has another option remaining and opens up at Iowa to manage his innings. If that's wrong that's a further squeeze on one of those bottom three guys.

 

Most of the bullpen projections I've seen just assume that Kohl Stewart is definitely going to be optioned to the minors. I wonder if that's necessarily true.

 

I tend to be down on Stewart, less because of anything specific to him and more because I think the Twins really know what they're doing on the pitching end. And so if they let him go for nothing that's a red flag for me.

[Cubswin11]

[Post Count Padder]

Kinda surprised Stock made it through but that's a fun extra depth option.

[Backtobanks]

From MLBTR:

The Pirates have signed righty Trevor Cahill to a one-year, $1.5MM deal, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports (Twitter link). Cahill can earn up to another $1MM in bonuses.

 

I was hoping the Cubs would have signed him this off season. Cheap and effective as a swingman in a year full of question marks, reduced innings, etc.

[Post Count Padder]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

 

So it goes. Seemed like a longshot to make the roster and I guess they didn't see enough to pay cash or a prospect to keep him.