2022-23 Offseason Thread (Cubs)

[UMFan83]

I missed this in the Rogers radio segment today...apparently a discussion he had with Jed this offseason:

 

“You can’t get better without stars,” Rogers said. “I had this argument with Jed at the Winter Meetings or at the GM Meetings, one of ’em. I said, ‘Look, you admit you don’t have stars brewing in your minor league system. That means you gotta go out and get ’em.’

 

“And he kind of agreed, but then he also said, ‘Well, the Rays don’t have a lot of stars and they win.'”

 

That can certainly be taken out of context and clearly he's not saying he's trying to be the Rays but man that's not the comparison I want to hear lol

[Cubswin11]

Or Jesse is just making things up because he’s a horsefeathers. He can’t remember where he had the conversation with Jed at the GM or Winter Meetings? They’re 2 weeks apart in different cities, as a supposed serious reporter he should be able to nail that down.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I’m not gonna read too much into Jed trying to humor our least knowledgeable beat writer in casual conversation.

[UMFan83]

This guy has hit on stuff in the past and has Vanderbilt ties, iirc.

 

https://twitter.com/abeds15/status/1603185708553732096?s=46&t=SJcbbaRYb_ofs9E0Qkcv2A

 

https://twitter.com/abeds15/status/1603253026298503168?s=46&t=1mSgmLwx64KfhfJCqj4K-Q

[17 Seconds]

[Hairyducked Idiot]

This feels like classic 1990s-style Cubs

[soccer10k]

Devers put up 14 WAR and an .884 OPS for his age 22 to 25 seasons.

 

Swanson put up 4.1 WAR and a .703 OPS for his age 22 to 25 seasons.

 

You keep bringing up how Swanson has improved the last couple years. Devers hasn’t even had his age 26-28 seasons yet. You’re acting as if Devers is done improving.

 

I don’t hate a potential Swanson signing no matter what. I hate a potential Swanson signing based on the contract he’s likely to get.

 

Few things worth noting here:

 

- The former was a third year MLer, the other a rookie at the start of these windows

- Despite the massive gap from that randomly selected window, their careers are separated by ~2 fWAR (advantage Devers, sure)

- ^ This because over the last 3 years Devers has put up 9.8 fWAR to Swanson's 12.1

 

They're not randomly selected windows. Like I said, we don't have info on Devers from ages 26-28 because, you know, he hasn't played those seasons yet. Devers at the same age was a significantly better baseball player than Swanson. The age gap matters. Is it possible that we've seen the best of Devers and he's not going to get better? Sure. Is it possible that Swanson in 2022 was just a career year that he'll regress from? Also sure.

 

Personally, I prefer betting on a player who has been better at baseball while also being 3 years younger.

 

As for your first point about comparing a third year MLer to a rookie...

 

They're both pros right? Shoulda been a better player at 20-21 22-24 then!

[TarzanJoeWallis]

I wish someone at the Cubs convention would ask this question to Jed…

 

“Seeing a Cubs game is one of the most expensive fan experiences in sports. Yet little investment has been made to the product on the field for the last four years. Do you think paying the money to see a Cubs game is intelligent spending by fans?”

[Have a seat, Neifi]

That Adam (Skipper) Bednarek dude clarified that he was wrong about Swanson signing last night, but still thinks the Cubs have a good chance to sign him overall.

[gflore34]

That Adam (Skipper) Bednarek dude clarified that he was wrong about Swanson signing last night, but still thinks the Cubs have a good chance to sign him overall.

 

Never going to happen, Hoyer didn't overpay for Correa, why in the hell would he overpay for a lesser player in Swanson? Have to make certain to save all those funds to do nothing but, hey, look on the bright side won't have to worry about dead money, trying to move a big contract in 2032.

[chopsx9]

That Adam (Skipper) Bednarek dude clarified that he was wrong about Swanson signing last night, but still thinks the Cubs have a good chance to sign him overall.

 

Never going to happen, Hoyer didn't overpay for Correa, why in the hell would he overpay for a lesser player in Swanson? Have to make certain to save all those funds to do nothing but, hey, look on the bright side won't have to worry about dead money, trying to move a big contract in 2032.

Because he can overpay for the lesser player and spend over 100 million less?

[gflore34]

That Adam (Skipper) Bednarek dude clarified that he was wrong about Swanson signing last night, but still thinks the Cubs have a good chance to sign him overall.

 

Never going to happen, Hoyer didn't overpay for Correa, why in the hell would he overpay for a lesser player in Swanson? Have to make certain to save all those funds to do nothing but, hey, look on the bright side won't have to worry about dead money, trying to move a big contract in 2032.

Because he can overpay for the lesser player and spend over 100 million less?

 

When one continues to spout about fiscal responsibility, I would think that removes overpaying in any context from the table, no?

[CubinNY]

These guys are supposed to be really smart. Hoyer went to a highfalutin college in CT. You cannot say something is an "overpay" if that is what passes for a free market is paying. Kyle said this reminded him of the 1990s Cubs. But really it's the same story for most of the history of the Cubs in our lifetime.

[gflore34]

My predictions: Dodgers sign Swanson, Cubs sign Segura to a two-year deal, thereby, keeping in line with the cheap whoops, I meant fiscally responsible mode.

[gflore34]

 

More pitching and defense talk…Rays and Guardians getting singled out as if the Dodgers, Yankees, and Astros don’t pitch and defend

 

The sole focus on pitching and defense sure smells a lot like the football equivalent of running the ball and defense BS.

[CubinNY]

The sole focus on pitching and defense sure smells a lot like the football equivalent of running the ball and defense BS.

 

Running the ball and defense is winning games in the NFL rn

I would say you are embarrassing yourself but I don't think that is possible.

[gflore34]

The sole focus on pitching and defense sure smells a lot like the football equivalent of running the ball and defense BS.

 

Running the ball and defense is winning games in the NFL rn

 

Do not really know where I was going with this, something borne out of frustration.

[Outshined_One]

Hypothetically speaking, if the Cubs lose out on Swanson, what should their next steps be?

 

On the one hand, I don't want them to over-correct. The idea of trading assets for Devers and/or Ohtani is appealing in a two-year window sense, but that would also leave the cupboard bare and would basically be an all-in move for 2023 and 2024. However, I don't want to re-live the Lou Piniella years, where the team basically peaked for a year and then fell off a cliff. I want sustained success. Guys like Trea Turner and Correa made sense on that front since they would (presumably) be good for multiple years under team control. Swanson also makes sense on that front, albeit to a lesser extent.

 

On the other hand, I also don't want them to stand pat and go into this year expecting a repeat of 2015. I like the core of this current team, and I like the Taillon and Bellinger acquisitions, but we're nowhere near the level of talent that was present in 2015. This team needs help, and as-is they have an outside shot at one of the Wild Card slots. They'd be setting themselves up for failure (again) in the 2023-24 offseason. The notion that they should make smaller moves around the margins hoping for further improvement in 2023 just comes across as disappointing.

 

It really sucks, because I have trouble seeing realistic alternative options if Swanson isn't signed.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Hypothetically speaking, if the Cubs lose out on Swanson, what should their next steps be?

 

There's some chatter on this a few pages back from yesterday.

 

For my part, it's about maximizing your chances of a less likely star emerging.

 

If you whiff on a SS, then to me the priority is taking as many swings as you can on guys who have at least some chance of giving you star level production, preferably beyond 2023. Since you haven't signed a QO guy and you've gotten your Willson pick, I think you need to be aggressive in the trade market, which coincidentally is the best place to do that.

 

You mentioned Jansen, he would qualify and is probably the only realistic C option.

 

Rogers and Luzardo from the Marlins would be natural places to shop for SP, as would Bieber if the Indians are making him available(seems doubtful at the moment).

 

With trade targets you don't have to sell a player on PT so you can look to the OF for the bat-first player if you want. Kelenic, Pratto, maybe one of the Twins excess bats.

 

At third base the obvious first stop is Devers, especially if the Red Sox keep striking out on FA targets(remember Mookie was traded in February). You also need to really understand what you think of Morel, because if you're gonna bet on him then that could limit the MLB caliber pieces you have and therefore your potential trade partners.

[Outshined_One]

I would say you are embarrassing yourself but I don't think that is possible.

 

 

I haven’t kept up but NFL offense being down was the talk of early season. Breece Hall @ RB was looking like a runaway ORoY before blowing out his knee. All the division leaders but Vikings play defense just glancing at their PF/PA

 

[JeffH]

The idea of trading assets for Devers and/or Ohtani is appealing in a two-year window sense

 

Only one year of control for Devers.

[jersey cubs fan]

Hypothetically speaking, if the Cubs lose out on Swanson, what should their next steps be?

.

Get back in the tank. There’s no point trying to win 82 games in 2023.

[Irrelevant Dude]

Hypothetically speaking, if the Cubs lose out on Swanson, what should their next steps be?

With or without Swanson, extending Nico is a must.

[Backtobanks]

Hypothetically speaking, if the Cubs lose out on Swanson, what should their next steps be?

.

Get back in the tank. There’s no point trying to win 82 games in 2023.

 

Don't worry, they won't.

[UMFan83]