Cubs offseason chit chat...

[Rob]

52 minutes ago, imb said:

i swear to god im going to start slapping people if you guys don't stop talking stupid.

two pages of how it's not a good idea to resign our best hitter, a 27 year old who can play gold glove centerfield and 1B, a guy who ticks every single box in what we're looking for in a hitter, and the next idea is "hey lets sign the guy who can't get out of bed in the morning"

Should I just pm you my address or something? Because I'm not backing off the "Bellinger got lucky, and signing him to a big contract would be a mistake" position.

[imb]

you could just stop posting stupid horsefeathers and save me the flight

[Rob]

1 minute ago, imb said:

you could just stop posting stupid horsefeathers and save me the flight

Alright, we've talked a lot about batted ball issues, two strike approaches, and basically everything under the hood with respect to his offensive performance last year.

What part of the analysis do you actually take issue with?

[LBiittner]

Jake Cronenwirth- lefty hitter,  alright in 21 and 22. Crappy in 23. He's signed thru 2030.

Will make 7mil in 24. Then roughly 12 mil per year thru age 36.

Granted 12 mil isn't much anymore in mlb $. But is he a Hoyer Thrifty acquisition?

Probably a Wesneski and a flyer trade?

 

 

[Stratos]

3 hours ago, CubinNY said:

With the playoff structure, you have to have a special ownership group that wants to top out. The Ricketts of the world want the best they can do at a certain price point. 

People have said that the money is there if Jed asks for it. Well, the Ricketts know Jed ain't asking. They have their man. It's a mutually beneficial relationship. They can point to all the times free agent spending hasn't worked and neglect to remember when it has worked. 

But anyway, Jed has a MO. He doesn't mind paying larger contracts, he doesn't want a larger contract for a long time. It's not hard to understand the logic, even if you don't always agree with it. It's funny how the times might change, and ownership might change, but they are still the same Cubs who want to be competitive within the division instead of wanting to blow past the division.

I don't think Jed operates much differently than Theo did in FA.  I think if a 25-26 year old 5 WAR player like Heyward came along again Jed would have no issues signing him to a longterm deal just like he did Swanson if it was a good price.  Swanson was 4 years older than Heyward when he signed for 7 years.

The Cubs must have something around 60 million in payroll still left under the LT and I expect they'll likely spend it like last year.

Yamamoto seems quite talented but comes with more risk than Heyward IMO because he has never pitched in the MLB, so we'll see I guess what Jed does there.  I'll be satisfied if they acquire any TORP.  I'm not convinced Imanaga is a TORP.

[Rob]

4 minutes ago, LBiittner said:

Jake Cronenwirth- lefty hitter,  alright in 21 and 22. Crappy in 23. He's signed thru 2030.

Will make 7mil in 24. Then roughly 12 mil per year thru age 36.

Granted 12 mil isn't much anymore in mlb $. But is he a Hoyer Thrifty acquisition?

Probably a Wesneski and a flyer trade?

 

 

Honestly, taking the contract is probably enough.

That said, I have trouble seeing the point. Cronenworth is a 2B, but we don't need that. He played 1B for the Padres last year, but he doesn't have the bat necessary to be much of a contributor there.

The only way I'd be interested is if I thought he could transition successfully to 3B. I haven't watched enough of him to have an opinion on that.

[Stratos]

Fun fact:  statistically speaking, Rey Sanchez is one of the best defensive SS of all-time.

[UMFan83]

Cubs show interest in Japanese pitcher:

 

 

 

[LBiittner]

14 minutes ago, Rob said:

Honestly, taking the contract is probably enough.

That said, I have trouble seeing the point. Cronenworth is a 2B, but we don't need that. He played 1B for the Padres last year, but he doesn't have the bat necessary to be much of a contributor there.

The only way I'd be interested is if I thought he could transition successfully to 3B. I haven't watched enough of him to have an opinion on that.

I'm looking around at lefty hitters playing first. Like you said, He played 106 games at first in 23.

Was a 2 time all star at second.

He's projected to have 20+ homerun power. I thought at worse, if he doesn't work at 1st base later he could be valuable as a 5th man on the infield.

[LBiittner]

14 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Fun fact:  statistically speaking, Rey Sanchez is one of the best defensive SS of all-time.

Stratos, I recall he did play ss for the Cubs at least one full season. I recall one of the announcers banging his drum for gold glove. Lol

[Rcal10]

31 minutes ago, Stratos said:

I don't think Jed operates much differently than Theo did in FA.  I think if a 25-26 year old 5 WAR player like Heyward came along again Jed would have no issues signing him to a longterm deal just like he did Swanson if it was a good price.  Swanson was 4 years older than Heyward when he signed for 7 years.

The Cubs must have something around 60 million in payroll still left under the LT and I expect they'll likely spend it like last year.

Yamamoto seems quite talented but comes with more risk than Heyward IMO because he has never pitched in the MLB, so we'll see I guess what Jed does there.  I'll be satisfied if they acquire any TORP.  I'm not convinced Imanaga is a TORP.

If Jed stops short of the LT line he and the entire organization and ownership suck. There is absolutely no reason to not go over it this year, especially if they do so with a few one year deals. The fan base shouldn’t be happy with this idea, at all.

[Rcal10]

34 minutes ago, Stratos said:

I don't think Jed operates much differently than Theo did in FA.  I think if a 25-26 year old 5 WAR player like Heyward came along again Jed would have no issues signing him to a longterm deal just like he did Swanson if it was a good price.  Swanson was 4 years older than Heyward when he signed for 7 years.

The Cubs must have something around 60 million in payroll still left under the LT and I expect they'll likely spend it like last year.

Yamamoto seems quite talented but comes with more risk than Heyward IMO because he has never pitched in the MLB, so we'll see I guess what Jed does there.  I'll be satisfied if they acquire any TORP.  I'm not convinced Imanaga is a TORP.

Why not add guys like Glasnow and Hoskins and go over the LT. Then the following year Horton takes a spot. They are losing $50M next year. So they can go over. 

Edited December 12, 2023 by Rcal10

[JHBulls]

22 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Cubs show interest in Japanese pitcher:

 

 

 

The Twitter comments are too much lol. Already writing off this potential signing. 🤦‍♂️ 

Edited December 12, 2023 by JHBulls

[Petrey10]

This “horsefeathers” crap is the most ridiculous thing on this site. 

[Post Count Padder]

Quote

The Giants and outfielder Jung Hoo Lee are in agreement on a six-year, $113MM deal, per Jon Heyman of The New York Post. There is an opt-out after four years.

I wonder if this takes them out of Bellinger sweepstakes.

[ToolDRT]

26 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Cubs show interest in Japanese pitcher:

 

 

 

I think he’s a really good value based on where contracts seem to be heading. I thought I read that he wasn’t much behind Yamamoto stuff wise, he just has trouble with giving up hrs. Having said all that, I’m more comfortable with his as a secondary piece for us and not as the big ticket item of the offseason. 

[ToolDRT]

1 minute ago, Post Count Padder said:

I wonder if this takes them out of Bellinger sweepstakes.

Interesting. I’m really afraid we end up overpaying for Bellinger to save face. And I like the guy. Can’t thank him enough for his 2023 performance. But Bellinger scares the crap out of me going forward. 

[Thusly Boned]

19 minutes ago, LBiittner said:

Stratos, I recall he did play ss for the Cubs at least one full season. I recall one of the announcers banging his drum for gold glove. Lol

Rey played for the Cubs the first 6 years of his career, I'm pretty sure, 1996 was probably his best year with the team. Advanced defense metrics weren't what they are now, but I think he did his best defensive work after moving to he AL. But yeah, statistically a great defensive SS.

[imb]

5 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

I wonder if this takes them out of Bellinger sweepstakes.

who cares as long as they're still in the austin meadows sweepstakes

[imb]

1 hour ago, Rob said:

Alright, we've talked a lot about batted ball issues, two strike approaches, and basically everything under the hood with respect to his offensive performance last year.

What part of the analysis do you actually take issue with?

the part where you don't wanna spend $25m/per on a 27 year old gold glove, MVP, all-star who can play 1B/CF/RF (all needs) while also hitting for power, average and a below-league average strikeout rate while simultaneously arguing that we should compete with no one to sign austin meadows, he of the neg-1 war in 30 games over 2 years for detroit, who doesn't even play baseball anymore because of mental health issues. that part, dumbass.

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, ToolDRT said:

Interesting. I’m really afraid we end up overpaying for Bellinger to save face. And I like the guy. Can’t thank him enough for his 2023 performance. But Bellinger scares the crap out of me going forward. 

This is what I don’t understand. And I am not just meaning you. So many fans talk about the Cubs need to make moves and need to be aggressive. But then we discuss a player and hear how many are afraid of an overpay. Afraid of the years. Afraid of his production. I feel there is nothing the Cubs will do this off season that the majority will be happy with. Any FA they sign will be an overpay. And guy they trade for will have something that worries people. But if they don’t do enough in free agency or the trade market they will get criticized. I guess this FO doesn’t deserve the benefit of the doubt so that is how it will be. 

[WhyCantWeWin]

13 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

I wonder if this takes them out of Bellinger sweepstakes.

Wasn't he predicted on a 50 million deal? 

[Rob]

2 minutes ago, imb said:

the part where you don't wanna spend $25m/per on a 27 year old gold glove, MVP, all-star who can play 1B/CF/RF (all needs) while also hitting for power, average and a below-league average strikeout rate while simultaneously arguing that we should compete with no one to sign austin meadows, he of the neg-1 war in 30 games over 2 years for detroit, who doesn't even play baseball anymore because of mental health issues. that part, dumbass.

You're calling me the dumbass, and that's the whole of your analysis?

I can't possibly make a good point because I suggested signing a talented but troubled guy as a 4th OF?

Or is it that I don't pay enough attention to awards? Good thinking, Jim Henry!

I liked the Bellinger signing for peanuts last off season. But there's a 50% chance this signing ends up looking a whole lot like Jason Heyward, and our ownership sucks too much to be comfortable with that much risk. If we were the Dodgers, with an ownership group that actually spends, you and I wouldn't be having this discussion. I'd be fine with it. But so long as the Ricketts remain the Cubs owners, it's a bad idea.

Dumbass.

[17 Seconds]

28 minutes ago, Petrey10 said:

This “horsefeathers” crap is the most ridiculous thing on this site. 

most of us have wanted the swear filter gone for a long time

[17 Seconds]