Cubs offseason chit chat...

[Banedon]

 

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Goldschmidt on the block confirmed

[Rex Buckingham]

3 hours ago, TomtheBombadil said:

 By compariaon Trey Mancini hit .285/.357/.445 in 145 PAs at the spot 

I'm sure you looked up the numbers, but there is just no way you can convince me Mancini hit that well in any number of PAs at any spot

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

Feels like the only ones of these that were particularly in question were Hoskins and maybe Chapman?  Will be interesting to see what that does to Hader and Gray's markets.

[Bertz]

1 minute ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

 

Feels like the only ones of these that were particularly in question were Hoskins and maybe Chapman?  Will be interesting to see what that does to Hader and Gray's markets.

Yeah all of these guys will decline.  None of the guys who were iffy like Hoskins got extended an offer.

Hader is interesting.  A lot of relievers who've gotten the QO have had their markets absolutely crushed.  With The Cubs likely getting a pick back for Bellinger does Hader's market drop enough to bring him into Jed range?

[chibears55]

6 hours ago, Cuzi said:

Damn near all of the production the Cubs got out of 1B was Bellinger.

Got a notification on my phone that started with Cubs extend Bellinger, got all excited just to see that it was just the QO was extended to him 😅

[Bertz]

Cubs didn't have any super tough protection decisions, this feels pretty much what was expected.  Maybe an Aliendo or one of the Iowa/Tenn relievers could have been added, but also not shocking to not see any.

 

[JHBulls]

Here is to hoping that signing Craig Counsell is the first of many W’s this offseason. What a damn start. 

[Stratos]

9 hours ago, Bertz said:

As a guy certainly looking for just a 1 year deal at our position of greatest need Hoskins should probably be closer to top of mind.

 

If they want to give Mervis a shot, Hoskins would be a good guy to have as a backup and platoon option vs LHP.  There's essentially no change in our status at 1B from last offseason so if they take a similar approach I wouldn't be surprised, as long as they acquire backup options better than Mancini/Hosmer.

Besides Mervis we don't really have other options at 1B longterm besides maybe BJ Murray (not enough power) and McGeary (below-average defensively and more of a DH).  I'd be fine putting Mervis in a trade for Alonso if it comes with an extension.

As Hoyer says, the books are clear longterm, and they have a lot of good prospects who project to be ready for the MLB over the next 2 seasons to fill numerous positions.  If the Cubs are willing to go over the CBT line the next couple of seasons and then trade Happ 2 years into his extension they could absolutely afford one of Soto/Ohtani plus Yamamoto and Alonso on longterm deals and stay under the cap if they're willing to go with prospects at CF, LF, 3B, C, and multiple rotations spots, and they have the prospects in the upper minors to do that.

Edited November 7, 2023 by Stratos

[Tim]

1 minute ago, Stratos said:

If they want to give Mervis a shot, Hoskins would be a good guy to have as a backup and platoon option vs LHP.  There's essentially no change in our status at 1B from last offseason so if they take a similar approach I wouldn't be surprised, as long as they acquire backup options better than Mancini/Hosmer.

Besides Mervis we don't really have other options at 1B besides maybe BJ Murray (not enough power) and McGeary (below-average defensively and more of a DH).  I'd be fine putting Mervis in a trade for Alonso if it comes with an extension.

As Hoyer says, the books are clear longterm, and they have a lot of good prospects who project to be ready for the MLB over the next 2 seasons to fill numerous positions.  If the Cubs are willing to go over the CBT line the next couple of seasons and then trade Happ 2 years into his extension they could absolutely afford one of Soto/Ohtani plus Yamamoto and Alonso on longterm deals and stay under the cap if they're willing to go with prospects at CF, LF, 3B, C, and multiple rotations spots, and they have the prospects in the upper minors to do that.

I'd be fine putting Mervis into a trade for Alonso but have zero interest in an extension

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, Tim said:

I'd be fine putting Mervis into a trade for Alonso but have zero interest in an extension

So trade Mervis for one year of Alonso? I think I would rather keep Mervis and sign Hoskins to one year. I understand not wanting Alonso long term. But if he agreed to a 5 year deal I might be ok with that. Even if 1 or 2 are overpaid years. 

[Stratos]

1 hour ago, JHBulls said:

Here is to hoping that signing Craig Counsell is the first of many W’s this offseason. What a damn start. 

I think it's a good value move for the Cubs based on what Counsell is capable of.  He should pay for himself.  8m a year isn't a big investment in the grand scheme, even if it's expensive for a manager.  I think it shows us they genuinely want to win, but I think that's been clear since last offseason.  I don't think this signals whether or not they're going to go out and spend 400-500m on a player and/or go over the cap, but it's a great start to the offseason.  Going cheap like 2021-22 has ended at least.  I hope they do go over the cap, they can reset in a couple years when we have more pre-arb players in starting roles in the MLB.

[Stratos]

Maybe late to the party but I saw they picked up Hendricks and Gomes' options yesterday.  Seems a little rich on Hendricks, my expectations aren't too high, but glad he's still on the team.

Edited November 7, 2023 by Stratos

[WhyCantWeWin]

Smyly unfortunately opts in 

[Tim]

1 hour ago, Rcal10 said:

So trade Mervis for one year of Alonso? I think I would rather keep Mervis and sign Hoskins to one year. I understand not wanting Alonso long term. But if he agreed to a 5 year deal I might be ok with that. Even if 1 or 2 are overpaid years. 

If you're trading for Alonso, there's really no point in keeping Mervis. Even if it's just for a year. 

[KCCub]

 

How would we feel about this?

[Jason Ross]

Just now, KCCub said:

 

How would we feel about this?

Like the Cubs should be aiming higher than a declining 39 year old. Could the Cubs do worse? Sure. But 1b had a 108 wRC+ line, DH's were a 110 wRC+, and Turner's already down to a 114 wRC+. It's likely that we can shave a bit more off that as he works his way into 2024. 

If the Cubs are at a point in the offseason where the options are dried up, they've achieved strong incoming fixes at a few places and they can get him for a cheap, one year deal versus some other uninspiring options? Okay, whatever. But he's not on my shopping list.

[Rcal10]

32 minutes ago, Tim said:

If you're trading for Alonso, there's really no point in keeping Mervis. Even if it's just for a year. 

If they are going to have a first baseman for one year I would rather have Hoskins and still have Mervis. If they do trade Mercis for Alonso I would want Alonso for another 4 or at most, 5 years. Then I totally understand not needing Mervis. But if Alonso is only 1 year, Mervis might be the 1st baseman in 25’ and a 1B/DH in 24.  

[Cuzi]

The Mets have Vientos. I can't imagine they have much interest in trading a 1B/DH for a 25 year old 1B/DH prospect when they have a 23 year old 1B/DH prospect already on the 40 man taking swings in MLB.

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, Cuzi said:

The Mets have Vientos. I can't imagine they have much interest in trading a 1B/DH for a 25 year old 1B/DH prospect when they have a 23 year old 1B/DH prospect already on the 40 man taking swings in MLB.

Works for me. Trade them Brown or Assad. I am fine with that. Keep Mervis, especially if Alonso is around for only 1 year. 

[chibears55]

1 hour ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Like the Cubs should be aiming higher than a declining 39 year old. Could the Cubs do worse? Sure. But 1b had a 108 wRC+ line, DH's were a 110 wRC+, and Turner's already down to a 114 wRC+. It's likely that we can shave a bit more off that as he works his way into 2024. 

If the Cubs are at a point in the offseason where the options are dried up, they've achieved strong incoming fixes at a few places and they can get him for a cheap, one year deal versus some other uninspiring options? Okay, whatever. But he's not on my shopping list.

Turner would probably play 3B for the most part 

[Jason Ross]

7 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Turner would probably play 3B for the most part 

Justin Turner played 57 innings last year at 3b and hasn't played more than 550 innings in two years.  Justin Turner will be 39 on Opening Day. Craig Counsell coached Milwaukee teams have placed a high premium on defense. Yes the Red Sox had Devers at 3b, but Turner isn't really a likely candidate for any team at 3b, less so the Cubs. I'm pretty confident in saying the Cubs would be interested in him at 1b or DH and not 3b.

Edited November 7, 2023 by 1908_Cubs

[Stratos]

3 hours ago, Tim said:

I'd be fine putting Mervis into a trade for Alonso but have zero interest in an extension

He'd probably get 5 or 6 years max, so maybe like 115/5, plus next season, so he'd be signed through age 34 which is isn't bad at all.  He's been very durable.  We'd get about 4 out of the 6 total years still around his prime years.

The FA market was nuts with the years and payroll last year so it will be interesting to see if that continues this year.

I still like Mervis, it would be fun to see how he does with more PA's.

[Stratos]

2 hours ago, Tim said:

If you're trading for Alonso, there's really no point in keeping Mervis. Even if it's just for a year. 

He could still DH, but he becomes much more expendable, it would make sense if he's put in a deal.  I don't believe the Mets have any top prospects at 1B unless there's some young guy on the MLB club I'm forgetting.

[Tim]

3 minutes ago, Stratos said:

He could still DH, but he becomes much more expendable, it would make sense if he's put in a deal.  I don't believe the Mets have any top prospects at 1B unless there's some young guy on the MLB club I'm forgetting.

Vientos