Cubs offseason chit chat...

[CubinNY]

They just play Jason Heyward $25 million to go fishing for half a season. There is a lot they can do.. 

[Cuzi]

1 minute ago, CubinNY said:

They just play Jason Heyward $25 million to go fishing for half a season. There is a lot they can do.. 

Agreed. Like trade Alcantara for something that better fits the needs of the MLB roster.

[Rcal10]

37 minutes ago, Cuzi said:

I dont need to talk my way out of it. Alcantara is going to run out of options a full year before any kind of spot is open. He's trade bait no matter how much you wish it wasnt true. He'll be in a trade package soon.

If the Cubs trade Alcantara it is because he is really wanted by another team and the Cubs are getting someone they really want. It will not be because the Cubs have to move him because they don’t think they will have room for him on the major league roster in two years. Too much can happen year to year to earmark a guy as strictly someone they will trade because he won’t have a position. If he is good and worth starting in the majors and the Cubs value him, they will find a spot for him. 

[gocubs218]

I remember when we had “too many shortstops” back in 2015. That changed in a hurry. 

[Cuzi]

4 minutes ago, gocubs218 said:

I remember when we had “too many shortstops” back in 2015. That changed in a hurry. 

You mean after they traded Castro?

[PackLandVA]

Brendon Little to the Blue Jays for cash.

[gocubs218]

24 minutes ago, Cuzi said:

You mean after they traded Castro?

And Russell decided to be a woman beater.

[Cuzi]

1 minute ago, gocubs218 said:

And Russell decided to be a woman beater.

And yet we've gone from Castro to Russell (winning the WS) to Baez to Hoerner to Swanson. I'd say we've faired pretty good.

[Tim]

41 minutes ago, Cuzi said:

And yet we've gone from Castro to Russell (winning the WS) to Baez to Hoerner to Swanson. I'd say we've faired pretty good.

I thought you wanted to spend on Seager a few days ago. Now we've done well at shortstop?

[Cuzi]

36 minutes ago, Tim said:

I thought you wanted to spend on Seager a few days ago. Now we've done well at shortstop?

Both statements can be true, you know? The Cubs have done well at SS. The Cubs would be doing better with Seager.

It's not my fault you choose to take something that was said and infer something completely unrelated.

You'll have to forgive me since Fangraphs seems to be struggling right now and I can't get the exact numbers, but for about $7M more towards the LT, Seager brought in about 2 more WAR on the year. Would you say that would be a good return on investment? None of that is to suggest that Swanson is a bad player, mind you, since that's what you are trying to claim I said.

Edited November 8, 2023 by Cuzi

[Jason Ross]

It's coming from Bob Nightengale, so do with it as you please, but according to Bob's most recent USA Today article, the Cubs are "serious contenders" for Shohei Ohtani and "several GM's" have told him that the Cubs have been the most aggressive team for his services thus far.

[JD94]

1 hour ago, 1908_Cubs said:

It's coming from Bob Nightengale, so do with it as you please, but according to Bob's most recent USA Today article, the Cubs are "serious contenders" for Shohei Ohtani and "several GM's" have told him that the Cubs have been the most aggressive team for his services thus far.

I know I’m setting myself up for disappointment possibly, but it totally feels like they want to walk away from this offseason with one of Soto or Ohtani to have that superstar to build around. 

[Jason Ross]

18 minutes ago, JD94 said:

I know I’m setting myself up for disappointment possibly, but it totally feels like they want to walk away from this offseason with one of Soto or Ohtani to have that superstar to build around. 

I think the Cubs are trying to do something big this offseason, I agree. Three reports in 12 hours about the Cubs and Ohtani and all came from different places (one local not known for breaking Cub news, one who's consistently close to the Cubs and another national report). Hoyer refused to comment on Ohtani yesterday and even mentioned a bit about big moves. 

What I'll say is that these kinds of things probably mean one of two things; either the Cubs want this out there (pressure on the Padres? Just spitballing a reason) or there's enough smoke that three different types of reporters picked up in it. Regardless, as a fan, I find neither bad.

[CubinNY]

14 minutes ago, TomtheBombadil said:

Sharma wrote some sports content suggesting that the offseason will be active but also don’t get too excited Cubs fans they’ll probably be outbid on everyone since winning an offseason is bad or some horsefeathers. I had a spidey sense that the headline was a trap (active Cubs!), NYTs and all, but got suckered as always 

don't give up hope! 

[squally1313]

9 hours ago, Cuzi said:

Both statements can be true, you know? The Cubs have done well at SS. The Cubs would be doing better with Seager.

It's not my fault you choose to take something that was said and infer something completely unrelated.

You'll have to forgive me since Fangraphs seems to be struggling right now and I can't get the exact numbers, but for about $7M more towards the LT, Seager brought in about 2 more WAR on the year. Would you say that would be a good return on investment? None of that is to suggest that Swanson is a bad player, mind you, since that's what you are trying to claim I said.

It was actually 1.2 more fWAR but go off. And I would think you would argue that that's a bad investment because instead we used $7m to upgrade our manager position by like 5-10 wins, which is a way better return on investment.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

3 hours ago, 1908_Cubs said:

It's coming from Bob Nightengale, so do with it as you please, but according to Bob's most recent USA Today article, the Cubs are "serious contenders" for Shohei Ohtani and "several GM's" have told him that the Cubs have been the most aggressive team for his services thus far.

Well we tried. Maybe we'll get him the next time.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Man to add a LH bat like that 🤤

 

Double dip and trade for Soto, even if it's a 1 year rental

[Cuzi]

Under Hoyer, have the Cubs ever had a player leak out that they are all in on and then actually sign? I can't really think of any. They haven't really signed many top tier quality players but even the ones they have signed that were relatively at the top like Marcus Stroman fell out of thin air. I don't even recall anything on Swanson. He simply just fit the 6-7 year self imposed cutoff Hoyer implemented and was the last of the available shortstops when the Cubs signed him like a week after it was announced the Giants signed the guy everyone was teasing the Cubs were pushing for.

Edited November 8, 2023 by Cuzi

[Bertz]

Curious if he very specifically means in free agency or if he meana in totality for the offseason.  If it's the latter it would likely point to the payroll cap being the 2nd LT threshold

[Jason Ross]

48 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Curious if he very specifically means in free agency or if he meana in totality for the offseason.  If it's the latter it would likely point to the payroll cap being the 2nd LT threshold

I like hearing these numbers. It tends to match up with the belief that the Cubs didn't bring in Counsell just to make a move, and that they're taking this seriously. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm piggybacking on others' interpretation, but it sounds like Levine was less quoting the specific budget he believes, but more a number large enough that it fits the more generic point he's making, which is that the Cubs are going to be in on top of market players and are likely to add some large AAV players

[David]

1 hour ago, Cuzi said:

Under Hoyer, have the Cubs ever had a player leak out that they are all in on and then actually sign? I can't really think of any. They haven't really signed many top tier quality players but even the ones they have signed that were relatively at the top like Marcus Stroman fell out of thin air. I don't even recall anything on Swanson. He simply just fit the 6-7 year self imposed cutoff Hoyer implemented and was the last of the available shortstops when the Cubs signed him like a week after it was announced the Giants signed the guy everyone was teasing the Cubs were pushing for.

Swanson was absolutely rumored for a long time.

[Cuzi]

11 minutes ago, David said:

Swanson was absolutely rumored for a long time.

His name was only ever mentioned along side the other 3 SS's because the Cubs were going to be "aggressive" in FA while "spending intelligently."

I seem to recall leading up to the Correa announcement that a lot of people were getting excited about the Cubs landing him, to then ultimately sign Swanson a week later.

I guess the positive to take away this year would be that "aggressive" has yet to be attached to "intelligent spending." So just mayyyyyyyyybe, they are willing to be a little stupid this year.

Edited November 8, 2023 by Cuzi

[David]

We heard about their interest in Swanson for months.  I remember because I was dreading it and wanted no part of it (I'm dumb though).  Many of us, myself included, wanted it to be Correa, Bogaerts, or Turner, 

[Jason Ross]

2 hours ago, Cuzi said:

Under Hoyer, have the Cubs ever had a player leak out that they are all in on and then actually sign? I can't really think of any. They haven't really signed many top tier quality players but even the ones they have signed that were relatively at the top like Marcus Stroman fell out of thin air. I don't even recall anything on Swanson. He simply just fit the 6-7 year self imposed cutoff Hoyer implemented and was the last of the available shortstops when the Cubs signed him like a week after it was announced the Giants signed the guy everyone was teasing the Cubs were pushing for.

Swanson got mentioned a bit at the beginning of the offseason as a player the Cubs liked, and rumors persisted. If I remember correctly, I believe Jesse Rogers had noted him specifically (I remember this because I remember, incorrectly, stating I didn't think they'd go in for Swanson - exhibit number 2,342 why I'm an idiot). There was rumors the Cubs were involved heavily in Correa, as well, and it seems as though they were. They didn't seem overly connected to Bogaerts and were never really connected to Turner. But I do remember a decent amount on Swanson, especially in the week or two leading to the final contract.

Stroman was a very under the radar, quiet, signing. Swanson had decent smoke around him. With the media circus surrounding Ohtani and his free agency (this is like the MLB version of the Lebron thing a decade ago) I doubt any team could even conceive keeping that quiet. 

Edited November 8, 2023 by 1908_Cubs