Cubs offseason chit chat...

[Rcal10]

17 minutes ago, LBiittner said:

I've found the LT system in MLB an interesting self imposed governor by ownership to keep the billionaires from going too ape-horsefeathers crazy with their toys. But with salaries going bonkers where vet starters get 20-25m,  long relievers and spot starters like pagan, martinez and smyly getting 13m per and journeymen backup catchers can pull down 3m don't you think ownership will have to drastically raise the bars of the LT? Or quite realistically eventually phase it out altogether?

This is a discussion for another thread. And a very polarizing topic. I will choose not to get involved in this one.

[mul21]

29 minutes ago, LBiittner said:

I've found the LT system in MLB an interesting self imposed governor by ownership to keep the billionaires from going too ape-horsefeathers crazy with their toys. But with salaries going bonkers where vet starters get 20-25m,  long relievers and spot starters like pagan, martinez and smyly getting 13m per and journeymen backup catchers can pull down 3m don't you think ownership will have to drastically raise the bars of the LT? Or quite realistically eventually phase it out altogether?

Based on what's happening to mid market teams' TV money, I'd suspect ownership pushes in the other direction and very soon.  I'm in STL and the Cards are in dire straits with their TV deal because Bally's went belly up and there's going to be a significant reduction (likely by 50% according to those in the know) in TV revenue that's going to have an impact on payrolls across baseball.  Teams like the Cubs, Yankees, Red Sox etc. are going to be fine but Cards, Padres, Brewers, and the like are going to have to make some tougher decisions.

[Jason Ross]

5 minutes ago, mul21 said:

Based on what's happening to mid market teams' TV money, I'd suspect ownership pushes in the other direction and very soon.  I'm in STL and the Cards are in dire straits with their TV deal because Bally's went belly up and there's going to be a significant reduction (likely by 50% according to those in the know) in TV revenue that's going to have an impact on payrolls across baseball.  Teams like the Cubs, Yankees, Red Sox etc. are going to be fine but Cards, Padres, Brewers, and the like are going to have to make some tougher decisions.

One of the reasons why people believe the Rangers may be out on Ohtani is just this reason (per Rosenthal). 

[CubinNY]

9 minutes ago, mul21 said:

Based on what's happening to mid market teams' TV money, I'd suspect ownership pushes in the other direction and very soon.  I'm in STL and the Cards are in dire straits with their TV deal because Bally's went belly up and there's going to be a significant reduction (likely by 50% according to those in the know) in TV revenue that's going to have an impact on payrolls across baseball.  Teams like the Cubs, Yankees, Red Sox etc. are going to be fine but Cards, Padres, Brewers, and the like are going to have to make some tougher decisions.

You have to believe that MLB will get involved somehow and salvage this in some way. Baseball is, and probably always will be a regional sport simply due to the frequency of games. They will find a way to monetize viewership better than the RSNs and make a pile of money for the league. It's also not just baseball that is affected either, the NBA and NHL are also on the hook here. 

[Rex Buckingham]

Marquee might finally pay off!

Or it will be just like the draft rules changing right when Theo got here and the Cubs are just far enough behind to miss out on the full benefit

[LBiittner]

3 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

You have to believe that MLB will get involved somehow and salvage this in some way. Baseball is, and probably always will be a regional sport simply due to the frequency of games. They will find a way to monetize viewership better than the RSNs and make a pile of money for the league. It's also not just baseball that is affected either, the NBA and NHL are also on the hook here. 

I remember a lot of people were upset when Ricketts got in bed with Sinclair at the time. But Marquee appears to be doing well currently

[CubinNY]

5 minutes ago, LBiittner said:

I remember a lot of people were upset when Ricketts got in bed with Sinclair at the time. But Marquee appears to be doing well currently

They could have gotten in bed with anyone and done well. The Cubs are a gold mine even the Ricketts can't destroy.

[ToolDRT]

Still rumors of the cards being after Cease. That would make me sick. 

[Tryptamine]

I don't think I've ever seen a team acquire 4 new starting rotation members in a single offseason before.

[Bertz]

25 minutes ago, ToolDRT said:

Still rumors of the cards being after Cease. That would make me sick. 

Didn't Mozeliak basically say "never say never but we're probably done with the rotation" like two days ago?  I highly doubt they add Cease to what they've already done.  They'll focus on other needs.

[Bertz]

 

Passan has the Cubs in on more or less everybody.  I hadn't seen them tied to Cease or Montgomery previously, even if they made logical sense

[Jason Ross]

Sounds like something decently big is about to go down. Zumach has given a good sign that it's unlikely Cubs related, but that this guy is legit and doesn't post nonsense. 

[JHBulls]

5 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Sounds like something decently big is about to go down. Zumach has given a good sign that it's unlikely Cubs related, but that this guy is legit and doesn't post nonsense. 

Except for whatever he tweeted above. 😛

[Jason Ross]

2 minutes ago, JHBulls said:

Except for whatever he tweeted above. 😛

Haha, what I meant was nonsense rumors. He's already broken an Auburn transfer flip and mentioned that he's still working on the MLB thing. Sounds like that'll come shortly.

[gocubs218]

35 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Sounds like something decently big is about to go down. Zumach has given a good sign that it's unlikely Cubs related, but that this guy is legit and doesn't post nonsense. 

 

[Jason Ross]

5 minutes ago, gocubs218 said:

 

That contract in general feels a bit weird for me. I'm both happy for Chourio but feel a bit on the sketchy side on how baseball can leverage these kids. Good for him, though. Generational wealth. Dude's going to be a pain in the ass for the Cubs in the next 8-10 years.

Edited December 1, 2023 by 1908_Cubs

[Stratos]

3 hours ago, 1908_Cubs said:

That contract in general feels a bit weird for me. I'm both happy for Chourio but feel a bit on the sketchy side on how baseball can leverage these kids. Good for him, though. Generational wealth. Dude's going to be a pain in the ass for the Cubs in the next 8-10 years.

Yeah they have leverage for sure, but it's still all up to him, he doesn't have to accept the offer.  There's risks on both sides here.  But he'll still become a FA by around 30 y/o or somewhere still in his prime years very likely.

I think the best way for any team to spend money is to extend good players through their prime years.  I would even overpay a bit to get a really good player to extend a few years than sign a really good player until they're 40 years old.  Maybe not overpay before a kid has even played MLB baseball, but for someone like Nico or whomever why not.

Edited December 2, 2023 by Stratos

[Tryptamine]

So TB is supposedly shopping Randy Arozarena. He has 3 years of arb control left. There isn't an immediate match with the Cubs, but I wonder if he could split time at 1B/DH.

https://dodgersnation.com/rays-reportedly-shopping-randy-arozarena-should-dodgers-pursue-a-trade-tm1995/2023/11/29/

[Tryptamine]

15 hours ago, TomtheBombadil said:

The Mets made a couple depth moves I would have been into post-Ohtani: Joe Wendle and Tyler Hieneman. :Confetticannon: for them

——

Chourio’s hit like 6 of the 32 MiLB HRs Richard Gallardo’s given up. Will these countrymen be great rivals during Future 2.0? Possibly

——

Saw this on MLB.com…

Clase is nasty. I’d be into this one, maybe get some odd infield depth like Tena or Aaron Bracho too

I know he isn't your type of guy, but I'd quite like to take a chance on Tyler Freeman. The hit tool is plus, but the power is Madrigal like. Unlike Madrigal,  I think there 10-15HR pop that can be unlocked.

[ToolDRT]

Are we doing a winter meetings thread where we can put rumors for the cubs and all other teams in one place? Feels like it’s going to be a busy one. Especially if Ohtani signs before. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

25 minutes ago, ToolDRT said:

Are we doing a winter meetings thread where we can put rumors for the cubs and all other teams in one place? Feels like it’s going to be a busy one. Especially if Ohtani signs before. 

Yeah I think we'll probably do something that replaces Cubs offseason chit chat for that period since there may be a lot of non-Cubs movement plus more speculative Cubs stuff that doesn't necessarily warrant a new/existing thread.

[ToolDRT]

10 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

Yeah I think we'll probably do something that replaces Cubs offseason chit chat for that period since there may be a lot of non-Cubs movement plus more speculative Cubs stuff that doesn't necessarily warrant a new/existing thread.

Nice! Thank you. 

[Stratos]

13 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

I know he isn't your type of guy, but I'd quite like to take a chance on Tyler Freeman. The hit tool is plus, but the power is Madrigal like. Unlike Madrigal,  I think there 10-15HR pop that can be unlocked.

Would be odd to trade for a Madrigal-type at 3B but likely with a lesser glove.  Why not target someone with more power?  Like...Christopher Morel?  LOL.

[Bertz]

This is worded much more as speculation than rumor, but via Sharma this morning

Quote

I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Cubs engage the Cleveland Guardians for pitching as well — both Shane Bieber and Emmanuel Clase make sense. Whether they can get heavily involved in trade talks with the Milwaukee Brewers (Corbin Burnes) or Chicago White Sox (primarily Dylan Cease) is to be determined.

Clase is probably not a great idea but it'd certainly be fun

[Derwood]

I would bet large sums of money that we don't get Soto