2021 Offseason Thread

[Andy]

 

That seems like an awful lot of money for Villar, but I guess his offensive numbers have been pretty darn good on occasion

[Rob]

They're not out on Correa because they signed Villar, but they wouldn't have signed Villar unless they were pretty sure they were out on Correa.

 

My guess is they're leaving the door open on a Hosmer deal, and probably looking for another SP (Brault seems destined for first man up from Iowa status) but this is the team.

If this is the team, what is the point in trading for Hosmer?

 

Nobody is interested in acquiring Hosmer. As much as we rag on Jason Heyward for his performance since signing his contract, even he has vastly outperformed Hosmer since Hosmer signed his big contract four years ago -- 6.0 fWAR to 0.5 fWAR.

 

So whatever you think Heyard's miniscule value on the field is, Hosmer's is ten times less. And Hosmer is owed $15M more dollars than Heyward.

 

The value of Hosmer is the package of prospects the Padres would have to include to get somebody to absorb his contract. I could honestly see the Cubs trading for him and cutting him within the day, just for a chance to get the prospects. Though as far as reclamation projects go, he'd probably be worth giving a month of at bats to and see if a change of scenery from Petco helps at all. But I sincerely doubt anybody sees anything of real value in Hosmer at this point.

[Thusly Boned]

 

That seems like an awful lot of money for Villar, but I guess his offensive numbers have been pretty darn good on occasion

 

If we get one of his "up" years, could be well worth that price.

[itisallpartoftheplan]

 

Cubs adding Gsellman

[sneakypower]

 

Cubs adding Gsellman

Gsellman, Espinosa, Norris, Gonsalves..we're just using 2017 top prospects lists as a checklist

[Cubswin11]

With how they’re constructing the pitching, I wonder if they’re looking at using a 6-man rotation or doing some opener/piggy back stuff.

[Backtobanks]

They're not out on Correa because they signed Villar, but they wouldn't have signed Villar unless they were pretty sure they were out on Correa.

 

My guess is they're leaving the door open on a Hosmer deal, and probably looking for another SP (Brault seems destined for first man up from Iowa status) but this is the team.

If this is the team, what is the point in trading for Hosmer?

 

His bat would be a very slight nice to have for the bench, but the 'why' always has been and always will be the goodies that would come with him. You'd presumably be getting Robert Hassell or Luis Campusano, either one being our clear #2 prospect, and an MLB ready SP in either Chris Paddack or Ryan Weathers.

 

Hosmer + Campusano + Caratini + Paddack + Weathers + Gore for Contreras + Bote + Alcantra + Mills. According to MLBtradevalues, the value comes out pretty even. We get a lefty bat, a cheap backup catcher, a future catcher, and pitching, they get infield help, a starting catcher, a SP, and get rid of Hosmer.

[entbird79]

If this is the team, what is the point in trading for Hosmer?

 

His bat would be a very slight nice to have for the bench, but the 'why' always has been and always will be the goodies that would come with him. You'd presumably be getting Robert Hassell or Luis Campusano, either one being our clear #2 prospect, and an MLB ready SP in either Chris Paddack or Ryan Weathers.

 

Hosmer + Campusano + Caratini + Paddack + Weathers + Gore for Contreras + Bote + Alcantra + Mills. According to MLBtradevalues, the value comes out pretty even. We get a lefty bat, a cheap backup catcher, a future catcher, and pitching, they get infield help, a starting catcher, a SP, and get rid of Hosmer.

 

Need to get a third team involved

[UMFan83]

So many little signings being made that I know on opening day I'm going to be like 'oh that guys on our team now?'

[17 Seconds]

 

That seems like an awful lot of money for Villar, but I guess his offensive numbers have been pretty darn good on occasion

 

Seems pretty cheap for a 30 year old who put up 2.1, 3.9, and 2.1 wins in the last 3 non-pandemic seasons

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

Norris and Brault make more sense now

[CubinNY]

 

Norris and Brault make more sense now

Weee! they are off to a raucous start.

[squally1313]

So many little signings being made that I know on opening day I'm going to be like 'oh that guys on our team now?'

I made a point to try and keep up on as much as I could this week, because I'm pretty sure if I didn't, baseball would fall into the NHL group of "no idea who plays for who" and I would never really get it back.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

love the signing but now a little worried Jed has Dipoto disease

 

[UMFan83]

So many little signings being made that I know on opening day I'm going to be like 'oh that guys on our team now?'

I made a point to try and keep up on as much as I could this week, because I'm pretty sure if I didn't, baseball would fall into the NHL group of "no idea who plays for who" and I would never really get it back.

 

I have a harder and harder time keeping up as time goes on. When I was in college friends would quiz me like "who is the 8th inning guy for the Marlins?" and I would always have the answer. Now it seems like the Cubs acquire 2-3 established major leaguers a year and I have no idea who they are. I should get back into fantasy again but that still wouldn't help with the bench players and middle relievers

[Cubswin11]

love the signing but now a little worried Jed has Dipoto disease

 

The bullpen is going to be good

[UMFan83]

Speaking of the pen, I was wondering if Ryan Tepera was still out there to sign, but I guess he signed with the Angels like an hour ago.

[PriorFighter]

Oddly, this is a sign to me we are in on one of the big bats. I just don't think you go and spend what? $15m? on the bullpen without having a plan in place to dramatically improve the offense. Would have been easy to "fill those spots" with AAAA guys or guys making $1m/$1.5m.

[Proven Veteran]

Did I miss the David Robertson signing in this thread? Another potential good bullpen piece.

[Backtobanks]

They're not out on Correa because they signed Villar, but they wouldn't have signed Villar unless they were pretty sure they were out on Correa.

 

My guess is they're leaving the door open on a Hosmer deal, and probably looking for another SP (Brault seems destined for first man up from Iowa status) but this is the team.

If this is the team, what is the point in trading for Hosmer?

 

Nobody is interested in acquiring Hosmer. As much as we rag on Jason Heyward for his performance since signing his contract, even he has vastly outperformed Hosmer since Hosmer signed his big contract four years ago -- 6.0 fWAR to 0.5 fWAR.

 

So whatever you think Heyard's miniscule value on the field is, Hosmer's is ten times less. And Hosmer is owed $15M more dollars than Heyward.

 

The value of Hosmer is the package of prospects the Padres would have to include to get somebody to absorb his contract. I could honestly see the Cubs trading for him and cutting him within the day, just for a chance to get the prospects. Though as far as reclamation projects go, he'd probably be worth giving a month of at bats to and see if a change of scenery from Petco helps at all. But I sincerely doubt anybody sees anything of real value in Hosmer at this point.

 

They both have certainly under preformed their contracts, but the complaint about Heyward is his offense. Since 2016 Heyward's OWar is 4.6, while Hosmer's is 10.1.

[NewUserName]

Did I miss the David Robertson signing in this thread? Another potential good bullpen piece.

We should start a Cubs sign another reliever thread

[Bobson Dugnutt]

Oddly, this is a sign to me we are in on one of the big bats. I just don't think you go and spend what? $15m? on the bullpen without having a plan in place to dramatically improve the offense. Would have been easy to "fill those spots" with AAAA guys or guys making $1m/$1.5m.

 

I hope you’re right, but this feels more like stockpiling trade deadline fodder to me.

[Bertz]

Did I miss the David Robertson signing in this thread? Another potential good bullpen piece.

We should start a Cubs sign another reliever thread

 

And another

 

[jersey cubs fan]

Oddly, this is a sign to me we are in on one of the big bats. I just don't think you go and spend what? $15m? on the bullpen without having a plan in place to dramatically improve the offense. Would have been easy to "fill those spots" with AAAA guys or guys making $1m/$1.5m.

 

I hope you’re right, but this feels more like stockpiling trade deadline fodder to me.

It seems to me to be what you do when you are trying to mask a weak overall roster and try and make them a .500 team that stays in the race.

[champaignchris]

Oddly, this is a sign to me we are in on one of the big bats. I just don't think you go and spend what? $15m? on the bullpen without having a plan in place to dramatically improve the offense. Would have been easy to "fill those spots" with AAAA guys or guys making $1m/$1.5m.

 

I hope you’re right, but this feels more like stockpiling trade deadline fodder to me.

It seems to me to be what you do when you are trying to mask a weak overall roster and try and make them a .500 team that stays in the race.

 

If I’m reading the new draft order rules correctly, the team with the best record that misses the playoffs is guaranteed the 7th pick of the draft at worst, with a chance for better in the lottery.

 

So gunning for 80 wins isn’t the worst rebuilding strategy.

 

When Epstein was hired he said (paraphrasing), “Baseball gives you nothing for winning 75 games instead of 65 games.” It doesn’t look like the Cubs front office believes that anymore.