2022-23 Offseason Thread (non-Cubs)

[Bertz]

 

He's somehow just turned 30 despite being around forever, and there's some good stuff under the hood, but wowza

[imb]

 

Holy Horsefeathers

Holy horsefeathers...maybe we could get Varsho or someone else good to play CF in return for Thompson if the premium for pitchers is that high.

 

It would take Thompson plus 3-4 more prospects yo get Varsho.

 

We just need to get a third team involved

[Tryptamine]

Jansen to the Red Sox on a 2/32 deal and I am baffled. Why does a bad team need an expensive closer?

[Rob]

Jansen to the Red Sox on a 2/32 deal and I am baffled. Why does a bad team need an expensive closer?

 

Trade bait would be my guess.

[Tryptamine]

Looks like Contreras is likely headed to St. Louis.

[Andy]

Looks like Contreras is likely headed to St. Louis.

Watching what pixie dust does to his career should be interesting/depressing. I'm already prepared for his defensive metrics to suddenly become fantastic with no discernible explanation.

[Tim]

Looks like Contreras is likely headed to St. Louis.

Watching what pixie dust does to his career should be interesting/depressing. I'm already prepared for his defensive metrics to suddenly become fantastic with no discernible explanation.

As pointed out elsewhere...it didn't help Dexter.

[CubinNY]

I am going to die a little inside each game I have to watch Willy play against the Cubs in a Cardinal uniform.

[Tryptamine]

I am going to die a little inside each game I have to watch Willy play against the Cubs in a Cardinal uniform.

 

The bat flips that are coming against the Cubs will definitely be deserved.

[David]

I am going to die a little inside each game I have to watch Willy play against the Cubs in a Cardinal uniform.

 

You'll feel better when he loses any concept of the strike zone, swings out of his shoes, and strikes out every PA because of how badly he spazzes out wanting to do damage against them.

[CubinNY]

I am going to die a little inside each game I have to watch Willy play against the Cubs in a Cardinal uniform.

 

You'll feel better when he loses any concept of the strike zone, swings out of his shoes, and strikes out every PA because of how badly he spazzes out wanting to do damage against them.

Not really. It's a travesty that they are letting him go. It would be different if Amaya was raking in AAA.

[David]

I am going to die a little inside each game I have to watch Willy play against the Cubs in a Cardinal uniform.

 

You'll feel better when he loses any concept of the strike zone, swings out of his shoes, and strikes out every PA because of how badly he spazzes out wanting to do damage against them.

Not really. It's a travesty that they are letting him go. It would be different if Amaya was raking in AAA.

 

Clearly they have decided that he's not what they want at C. We know what his strengths/weaknesses are at this point and the league is trending toward catchers who are good at catcher things and it seems he is not. That's entirely reasonable. They should have gotten something for him, though. I'm not sure what the hell happened at the deadline, but it might just be that the Astros pulled out at the last second (which, well, should've had a backup plan, Jed).

 

I don't think it's a coincidence that we had a few pitchers (very good ones, even!) who essentially refused to pitch to him, too.

 

Maybe wait until next year's roster is put together before calling anything a travesty, tho, IDK.

[CubinNY]

 

You'll feel better when he loses any concept of the strike zone, swings out of his shoes, and strikes out every PA because of how badly he spazzes out wanting to do damage against them.

Not really. It's a travesty that they are letting him go. It would be different if Amaya was raking in AAA.

 

Clearly they have decided that he's not what they want at C. We know what his strengths/weaknesses are at this point and the league is trending toward catchers who are good at catcher things and it seems he is not. That's entirely reasonable. They should have gotten something for him, though. I'm not sure what the hell happened at the deadline, but it might just be that the Astros pulled out at the last second (which, well, should've had a backup plan, Jed).

 

I don't think it's a coincidence that we had a few pitchers (very good ones, even!) who essentially refused to pitch to him, too.

 

Maybe wait until next year's roster is put together before calling anything a travesty, tho, IDK.

What the horsefeathers happened to you?

 

Reboot time.

[toonsterwu]

I'm okay with Willson leaving. They should've gotten a bag of beans for him (joking obviously, but it seems like getting value greater than a compensation pick was possible) because him leaving was always the most likely scenario. I think he's got a couple good years left, but I just don't think he's going to be that productive for that long.

 

Still one of the more surprising positivie development stories in recent Cubs history that I recall off the top. I really didn't think he was much off his A ball days, and it was what, when he went to AA that the bat took off and signs of development behind the dish really clarified. I mean, with the position switch and the struggles at the plate, he was really somewhat off the radar back then despite the potential (but in hindsight, struggles made sense, as he was learning a new position... that said, so many switches don't work. I recall when Jovan Rosa moved to catcher.) He had a great run with us, and will be remembered as a Cub no matter how the rest of his career goes.

[toonsterwu]

Offseason looks solid so far. A good gamble on Bellinger bouncing back, and if he does, maybe he'll give the Cubs more consideration next year. If not, it's a one year gamble and a wait on the future. I really thought Taillon might get more AAV. He basically got what has been roughly market value for the 2nd tier of FA starters over the past 6-8 years, roughly around 15 mil. Was worried he'd take 5 for whoever got him - getting him at 4 is fine for age and where the team is at.

 

Some of these offseason deals ... well, we say it every year, don't look great. I'm surprisied the Padres were supposedly ready to blow the Yankees offer away on Judge.

 

I figure deals will settle, and we'll be talking about the trade market soon. Rodon is probably going to wait - don't see any team coming close to his demands, unless I'm just way off.

[David]

Not really. It's a travesty that they are letting him go. It would be different if Amaya was raking in AAA.

 

Clearly they have decided that he's not what they want at C. We know what his strengths/weaknesses are at this point and the league is trending toward catchers who are good at catcher things and it seems he is not. That's entirely reasonable. They should have gotten something for him, though. I'm not sure what the hell happened at the deadline, but it might just be that the Astros pulled out at the last second (which, well, should've had a backup plan, Jed).

 

I don't think it's a coincidence that we had a few pitchers (very good ones, even!) who essentially refused to pitch to him, too.

 

Maybe wait until next year's roster is put together before calling anything a travesty, tho, IDK.

What the horsefeathers happened to you?

 

Reboot time.

 

I love him and I hope he gets paid, and I hope he doesn't let the horsefeathers fans get to him like they tried to do with Dexter, but I'm fine with moving on from him. Hopefully we can get one of the Oakland guys.

[toonsterwu]

Isn't the Murphy market supposedly hot and the A's demands high? I'm honestly okay if they wait on catcher if the price is out of sorts.

[jersey cubs fan]

I am going to die a little inside each game I have to watch Willy play against the Cubs in a Cardinal uniform.

The best thing about cubs baseball is you don’t have to watch.

[Andy]

Heyman has Contreras' deal at 5 years. Wow.

[Rex Buckingham]

Heyman has Contreras' deal at 5 years. Wow.

 

 

Passan says 5 years, 87.5M

[Tryptamine]

Heyman has Contreras' deal at 5 years. Wow.

 

 

Passan says 5 years, 87.5M

 

Good for Willson.

[toonsterwu]

That's shocking. AAV not so much (although higher than I'd be willing) but 5 years? I wish him well, but I think he's already plateaued so you never know when the rapid slide may happen.

 

That said, Cards are sort of in a win-now mode for the next few years, despite their farm, so it makes some sense for them do it. I'll be curious how their situation shakes out over the next decade. Can they seamlessly transition from this win-now group to a new young core? Rarely happens, but the near ready high upside talent gives them a shot.

[Bertz]

I'm not the person who came up with this, I'm parroting others, but the one fun thing about Contreras to the Cards is that either A) Cardinals' pitching is about to go to hell or B) their pitching holds serve, which proves that the Molina intangibles devil magic is horsefeathers.

[Derwood]

Cardinals love overpaying for catchers on the downside of their careers

[Thusly Boned]

That's shocking. AAV not so much (although higher than I'd be willing) but 5 years? I wish him well, but I think he's already plateaued so you never know when the rapid slide may happen.

 

That said, Cards are sort of in a win-now mode for the next few years, despite their farm, so it makes some sense for them do it. I'll be curious how their situation shakes out over the next decade. Can they seamlessly transition from this win-now group to a new young core? Rarely happens, but the near ready high upside talent gives them a shot.

 

Yeah, I love Willson, but I don't see things going all that well for him from age 32ish onward. Which is why I could stomach letting him go.

 

That said, he'll almost certainly hurt us a time or two over the next couple of years, and I'm not looking forward to it.