So...Now What?

[Andy]

So what he's saying is that when the Cubs said this wouldn't be like 2012-14, they actually meant no, it'll be exactly like 2012-14. Except maybe without Edwin Jackson.

[soccer10k]

So what he's saying is that when the Cubs said this wouldn't be like 2012-14, they actually meant no, it'll be exactly like 2012-14. Except maybe without Edwin Jackson.

 

We still have Heyward for 2 more years. That counts.

[17 Seconds]

 

Thought this was interesting. No idea if this the route they will go but would be interesting to see the Cubs sign a bunch of vets to 1-2 year contracts with the intent to sell and further ramp up the farm system.

 

then why trade for madrigal? this sucks

[17 Seconds]

we're going to get soler

[Bertz]

 

Thought this was interesting. No idea if this the route they will go but would be interesting to see the Cubs sign a bunch of vets to 1-2 year contracts with the intent to sell and further ramp up the farm system.

 

Sahadev is awesome, but more from an analysis standpoint than a rumor-y standpoint. I wouldn't take anything from him as gospel. Hell I'm not sure I'd take anything from Jed as gospel this early.

 

I do think it makes sense to do at least one mega move this winter. This FO was I believe one of the first to publicly say you can't wait and add everything all at once.

It's just too hard to win all those auctions right at the moment you are "ready."

 

I really look at the Blue Jays last year winter as a template. Springer got a mega deal, and then they did one year deals for Ray, Semien, Matz, Yates, and Chatwood. They hit huge on Ray and Semien, pretty well on Matz, and got nothing from Chatwood and Yates. I could see the Cubs trying similar with like Seager/Correa in place of Springer.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Jed has been up front that the CBA is going to be a big driver in the offseason’s strategy. Given how pissed the players are and the possibility for a work stoppage or more significant changes(even non-confrontational ones like universal DH), no one should be certain how they’re playing the market and I’m extra skeptical of people who are certain of what will *not* happen with that specificity. At least until there’s some stronger tea leaves on what the next CBA looks like.

 

Even if we accept the ‘no mega deals/long term contracts’ motto, the amount that holds them back depends on the entirety of the picture. We’ve talked about them buying young players by taking on deals of teams up against the tax like Hosmer, Myers, or Upton, maybe the new CBA makes that need so extreme that the Cubs are one of the few that can do that and it’s an immediate contributor and a prospect for taking on the deal. Maybe they save their star power for younger acquisitions. Just to use the rotation as an illustration, you can pay for likely 4+ years to add Stroman and Gray to the rotation, or you can sign Greinke and trade for Sandy Alcantara without committing long term dollars and get to a similar place. This FA class in particular is loaded with talented players who may struggle to get long term commitments due to age and the CBA environment(e.g. Baez and Rizzo), so playing in those waters is not a multi-year forfeiture. You just have to make sure it’s not the only additions you make so you don’t get on a treadmill of trying to keep pace with what you were without making further improvements. The farm can mitigate this, especially if you think of who might be contributing in 2023, but it’s still a balance you want to strike.

[Backtobanks]

 

Thought this was interesting. No idea if this the route they will go but would be interesting to see the Cubs sign a bunch of vets to 1-2 year contracts with the intent to sell and further ramp up the farm system.

 

Baez, Rizzo, Marisnick, Trevor Williams, and Davies and we're done.

[17 Seconds]

seriously let's sign jorge

[Bertz]

seriously let's sign jorge

 

With Happ looking less like he's broken I could get behind something like this (or Castellanos).

 

Sign Jorge for RF, put Happ in LF, and whatever combination of Hoerner/Ortega/Hermosillo/whomever in center. When Brennen Davis is ready in ~June, he takes over center, pushes the grab bag of CFers to RF and Soler moves to DH.

 

It's certainly not the most exciting OF, but I think there are enough options in house options that it'll work out fairly well. Plus, it's really cheap. Soler's gonna get what, 2/$20? You've kept most of your powder dry for the rotation and the infield, which is where you can some more substantial moves.

[Gilby]

I wonder if the volume of prospects brought in at the deadline makes the Cubs more likely to sign multiple free agents who received qualifying offers, like a SS/Castellanos and a pitcher. If they stick with just one, that makes some of these combinations a little more difficult and would likely include at least one reunion. And, personally, I could do without re-signing Javy.

[BigSlick]

As sad as it is to say, I think Soler got his one monstrous year out of the way and now he’s back to being Jorge Soler. Made of glass, butcher in the field, like a .750 OPS guy.

[Backtobanks]

I wonder if the volume of prospects brought in at the deadline makes the Cubs more likely to sign multiple free agents who received qualifying offers, like a SS/Castellanos and a pitcher. If they stick with just one, that makes some of these combinations a little more difficult and would likely include at least one reunion. And, personally, I could do without re-signing Javy.

 

I would love to sign Castellanos, but I don't think the Cubs will go all in for a top FA. My preferences keeping the budget in mind is signing Chris Taylor, Lorenzen, and possibly Gray. Ortega and Schwindel are great options for the bench or DH. Try making the Heyward/Hosmer trade work and if that doesn't work, see what it takes for getting Voit from the Yankees. Resign Chirinos to a 1 year deal. Try to work out a deal for Merrill Kelly to fill out the rotation. And finally, hope that Davis progresses and gets to Wrigley asap.

[UMFan83]

I'm not sure if this is the proper post-mortem thread, but if you for some reason want to read more about the Cubs trading away the entire identity of the team over a 24 hour period, here's an in depth article from the Athletic:

 

https://theathletic.com/2801767/2021/09/01/no-reason-to-go-halfway-behind-the-scenes-of-the-cubs-trade-deadline-that-turned-the-organization-upside-down/

[UMFan83]

Phil Rogers throwing some interesting info out there

 

[Sammy Sofa]

Imagine typing something like "They're giving the city to the White Sox" completely seriously as an adult.

[PackLandVA]

Imagine typing something like "They're giving the city to the White Sox" completely seriously as an adult.

 

The Cubs "gave" the city to the White Sox (or the WS took it, whatever) back in 2005. And what did that sh!tty franchise do with their newfound glory? Absolutely nothing. Say what you want about Cubs ownership over the decades, but the WS ownership and franchise is a complete joke and ALWAYS has been. As JD mentioned during a game this past weekend, they've never even made the playoffs in consecutive years. Pathetic. And they're a big market team too. Boo Hoo! They don't generate the revenue the Cubs do. That's lame nowadays with internet, cable, social media, 24 hours broadcasting, etc. If they wanted, they could change the revenue streams over time and dominate the city. But the ownership chooses not to. The throw away their good fortunes within a few years, just like they have done in the past.

 

F the Sox!

[Sammy Sofa]

I mean, I was more talking along the lines of, "who cares," but I guess all that, too.

[PackLandVA]

I mean, I was more talking along the lines of, "who cares," but I guess all that, too.

 

 

 

I guess I'm a bit sensitive (and shouldn't be) but I moved back to Chicago in 2006 after being gone for 18 years and as a young man had to endure the "mighty Sox" talk, especially since I lived in the SW 'burbs. Driving to work and listening to Mike North or any other jacka$$ on the radio everyday (like Stone) torch the Cubs and praise the WS really got to me. I know, listening was my fault. But it got to me.

 

So when I (mis)read your comment, I got a bit riled up. I shouldn't care, but as a lifelong Cubs fan, it bugged me that the whole "no World Series since 1908" always seemed to come up. And after 2005, ugh! So the whole World Series thing is dead and buried, and the Sox are atrocious. That is all.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm more annoyed that to him the biggest sin of the Ricketts' explicitly selfish mishandling of the team is this basically non-starter of an idea. Like, THAT'S what bugs him the most about these mushy ghouls driving all of this into the ground?

[Clem Fandango]

Chicago will never be a White Sox town. Ever. And I don't say that out of malice towards the Sox, it's just the truth. They could win 10 titles in a row and it would still be a Cubs town.

[UMFan83]

I wasn't even thinking about the White Sox part when I posted that tweet from Phil Rogers, was more interested in his informed speculation that the Ricketts don't plan on spending for awhile. Phil Rogers is a boob though so who knows what his agenda is and how accurate that info is.

[jersey cubs fan]

Chicago will never be a White Sox town. Ever. And I don't say that out of malice towards the Sox, it's just the truth. They could win 10 titles in a row and it would still be a Cubs town.

I mean, no, it would absolutely be a White Sox town for decades to come if they somehow won 10 titles in a row. The only reason the White Sox didn't take over during the Cubs historic run of ineptitude is the White Sox were just as bad at the same time. It didn't happen after 2005 because it was a one and done situation and the Cubs got good again shortly after. It wasn't predetermined though. Had they gone on a run and the Cubs didn't have 2008, the story could have changed.

[Bertz]

I wasn't even thinking about the White Sox part when I posted that tweet from Phil Rogers, was more interested in his informed speculation that the Ricketts don't plan on spending for awhile. Phil Rogers is a boob though so who knows what his agenda is and how accurate that info is.

 

It's not. Him and Sullivan have been irrelevant as far as being sourced goes since the Hendry era ended. If Jesse Rogers or Patrick Mooney say something like that get a little nervous, none of the other beat writers are notably connected though.

[Backtobanks]

When it comes to baseball, it's a Cubs town. In reality, it's a Bears town and always has been.

[d_money]

Bryant’s a high mid-tier FA at this point. If he has a great post season, he could re-emerge as the top tier.