2021 Offseason Thread

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The Rangers, who started this offseason in a similar position to us, have now committed more than $550M so far to rebuilding their team.

 

Pretty similar farm too. Tons of depth, but only one guy (Jung) who's a surefire contributor next year.

 

The existing roster is somehow even more bleak though, yikes. Even with dropping half a billion they could still stand to add at least 5 more starting caliber position players + SP.

[Tim]

I guess if you want two premier guys at the same position in FA, you just need to be willing to PAY.

 

Possible to do. Wise to do? Probably not.

 

Funny thing is they signed both of the shortstops least likely to stay at shortstop for a combined 17 years.

[Rob]

The A's are definitely trading all 3 SP and Olson now, right? All the more certain if the Mariners land one of those names they're attached to.

 

Chapman too, I imagine. Unless he already got moved when I wasn't looking.

[Cubswin11]

The Rangers, who started this offseason in a similar position to us, have now committed more than $550M so far to rebuilding their team.

 

Pretty similar farm too. Tons of depth, but only one guy (Jung) who's a surefire contributor next year.

 

The existing roster is somehow even more bleak though, yikes. Even with dropping half a billion they could still stand to add at least 5 more starting caliber position players + SP.

Yeah their offense definitely seems short a bat or two (Nick, Conforto, Taylor types at least) and they need SP. I wonder if Happ would be a trade fit there?

[sneakypower]

sad to admit it, but Willson & Hendricks are on the block now right

[Rob]

I guess if you want two premier guys at the same position in FA, you just need to be willing to PAY.

 

Possible to do. Wise to do? Probably not.

 

Funny thing is they signed both of the shortstops least likely to stay at shortstop for a combined 17 years.

 

Meh, Semien was probably always more of a long-term 2B and Seager a 3B. But they've got time to figure it out.

[Cubswin11]

Don’t know if this account has sources or not but

 

[Post Count Padder]

Marlins traded prospects (including a former first rounder) for Jacob Stallings. They've long been seen as a suitor for Contreras so this probably takes them out.

[Rob]

Don’t know if this account has sources or not but

 

 

Daniel Descalso, your seat is ready.

[Post Count Padder]

Don’t know if this account has sources or not but

 

I'd take that with a grain of salt but there's room on the roster for Rizzo or Javy.

 

Or maybe they mean we're signing Chris Rusin.

[UMFan83]

it's crazy how the cubs keep sinking lower and lower as a franchise. it just doesnt stop getting worse.

 

The lack of hearing about the Cubs in rumors (I know Stroman and a couple others we were mentioned amount 6-7 teams but for the most part its been quiet) means either they are likely not spending until after the lockout or all the stuff Jed and PTR said about a retool is BS. If its the latter why lie about it..to keep ST renewals high?

 

I'm probably overreacting. The Cubs were probably not going to get a top FA and they hinted at that multiple times. The 1-3 year contract guys are mostly still out there, so perhaps the plan is still in place. It's just so horsefeathering quiet.

Edited November 29, 2021 by UMFan83

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Don’t know if this account has sources or not but

 

 

I would normally write it off but Brett amplifying it feels like something he wouldn't do (especially right now) if he didn't have some reason to believe there's smoke.

 

If true, I assume it has to be Baez.

[sneakypower]

Don’t know if this account has sources or not but

 

maybe they're bringing back Addison Russell

[UMFan83]

Which former Cub is the closest with Willson? Probably Baez given his comments about effort before the latter was traded. Could see the Cubs signing Javy, yes for baseball, but also to give the fans a jolt of positivity and potentially to entice Willson to stay beyond next season.

[Derwood]

Fun fact about Scherzer: not only is he making $43M a year from the Mets, but the Nationals are paying him $15M a year in deferred salary

[Bryants Disco Ball]

I get individually they might be good players, but it's rather uninspiring to bring back guys that really didn't make a difference in the past few years in terms of making the Cubs a true contender. Hell, the Cubs sucked with KB, Rizzo and Baez. Getting back only one won't do horsefeathers.

 

I also haven't been paying attention and don't know what I'm talking about.

[UMFan83]

I get individually they might be good players, but it's rather uninspiring to bring back guys that really didn't make a difference in the past few years in terms of making the Cubs a true contender. Hell, the Cubs sucked with KB, Rizzo and Baez. Getting back only one won't do horsefeathers.

 

I also haven't been paying attention and don't know what I'm talking about.

 

I'm a loser that just wants something to be happy about. I'm fine if they don't bring back any of them (I guess) but I'd get a little too happy if they did bring back a Javy. I'm the reason why ownership treats the fans with such low regard.

[Bertz]

it's crazy how the cubs keep sinking lower and lower as a franchise. it just doesnt stop getting worse.

 

The lack of hearing about the Cubs in rumors (I know Stroman and a couple others we were mentioned amount 6-7 teams but for the most part its been quiet) means either they are likely not spending until after the lockout or all the stuff Jed and PTR said about a retool is BS. If its the latter why lie about it..to keep ST renewals high?

 

I'm probably overreacting. The Cubs were probably not going to get a top FA and they hinted at that multiple times. The 1-3 year contract guys are mostly still out there, so perhaps the plan is still in place. It's just so horsefeathering quiet.

 

It's so frustrating for me because there's a ton of middle ground between what the Rangers are doing (which is a lot of fun, but probably stupid) and pretending like 3+ year contracts are illegal. Like if the Cubs sign Trevor Story for $25M per year they'd have basically the same amount of money committed to 2024-2025 as the Brewers. Hardly backbreaking, even if he busts as bad as Heyward.

 

Now there's plenty left in FA that we could still have the offseason I want, but to your point the silence is deafening. It does not seem like there's much fun waiting for us on the other side of the lockout, just nothing but a handful of Freddy Galvis and Kyle Seager types. Hopefully Jed just runs a really tight ship and we're all flipping out over nothing.

[Backtobanks]

Don’t know if this account has sources or not but

 

 

Austin Romine?

[Cubswin11]

Pirates cut Moran. I know Kyle Seager has been talked about as a LHH CIF option. Moran wouldn’t be a terrible add for that role either.

[Backtobanks]

it's crazy how the cubs keep sinking lower and lower as a franchise. it just doesnt stop getting worse.

 

The lack of hearing about the Cubs in rumors (I know Stroman and a couple others we were mentioned amount 6-7 teams but for the most part its been quiet) means either they are likely not spending until after the lockout[highlight=yellow]or all the stuff Jed and PTR said about a retool is BS[/highlight]. If its the latter why lie about it..to keep ST renewals high?

 

I'm probably overreacting. The Cubs were probably not going to get a top FA and they hinted at that multiple times. The 1-3 year contract guys are mostly still out there, so perhaps the plan is still in place. It's just so horsefeathering quiet.

 

Some of us figured out that it was all BS a long time ago. They aren't spending any money until they are somewhere near a competitive team (2023 or 2024).

[Rob]

Fun fact about Scherzer: not only is he making $43M a year from the Mets, but the Nationals are paying him $15M a year in deferred salary

 

I am sure they are fine with that, given the production they got out of that contract. Quite possibly the best result from a mega-deal in MLB history.

[CubinNY]

it's crazy how the cubs keep sinking lower and lower as a franchise. it just doesnt stop getting worse.

 

The lack of hearing about the Cubs in rumors (I know Stroman and a couple others we were mentioned amount 6-7 teams but for the most part its been quiet) means either they are likely not spending until after the lockout or all the stuff Jed and PTR said about a retool is BS. If its the latter why lie about it..to keep ST renewals high?

 

I'm probably overreacting. The Cubs were probably not going to get a top FA and they hinted at that multiple times. The 1-3 year contract guys are mostly still out there, so perhaps the plan is still in place. It's just so horsefeathering quiet.

 

It's so frustrating for me because there's a ton of middle ground between what the Rangers are doing (which is a lot of fun, but probably stupid) and pretending like 3+ year contracts are illegal. Like if the Cubs sign Trevor Story for $25M per year they'd have basically the same amount of money committed to 2024-2025 as the Brewers. Hardly backbreaking, even if he busts as bad as Heyward.

 

Now there's plenty left in FA that we could still have the offseason I want, but to your point the silence is deafening. It does not seem like there's much fun waiting for us on the other side of the lockout, just nothing but a handful of Freddy Galvis and Kyle Seager types. Hopefully Jed just runs a really tight ship and we're all flipping out over nothing.

I'd take Story on that deal.

 

Just wait until they have their own TV network and own all the buildings on Sheffield and Waveland, then they will spend.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Pirates cut Moran. I know Kyle Seager has been talked about as a LHH CIF option. Moran wouldn’t be a terrible add for that role either.

 

I’d be more okay with Moran as the bargain option if he had shown more of an ability to play 3B, he’s been horrible at 3B and the last 2 years have been 1B only(and bad at that).

[mias_tisg]