Cubs offseason chit chat...

[ILMindState]

5 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

Dawson, Heyward, Big Jon?

in the 1980’s before Dawson they made a huge investment in a pitcher from Houston and two other guys and it was a dismal failure. I think his name was Mike Scott. I remember they were on the cover of SI during spring training. 

Soriano, Darvish, Swanson not splashy enough?

[Tryptamine]

Just now, 17 Seconds said:

I think that was because he almost died

Seems odd, considering I'm pretty sure he returned to baseball at least half a season before signing with the Cubs

[jersey cubs fan]

15 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

The Cubs have only made 3 major splashes in FA in my (and presumably, your) lifetime. This should be inevitable to all. 

Seiya, Dansby, Heyward, Lester

[Jason Ross]

17 minutes ago, gocubs218 said:

No he did not. I listened to the whole interview. He used Wacha as an example of something they could do. Passan doesn’t know anything about the Cubs like every other media person. Jed is so tight lipped with everything. 

From Passan, thats a name drop. He doesn't accidentally bring up names. Passan is a professional. That doesn't mean they will sign him, it means there's likely some form of interest, in some way, shown by the Cubs. Is it a ton of interest? Are they actively hunting him? Maybe not. But Jeff Passan isn't the "throw a name out" because he feels like it type.

 

And yes, Jed is tight lipped. But he's not immune to leaks. We heard the Cubs connected to Swanson plenty last season. It didn't come out of left field. The Cubs can work very quietly. But they're not complete ghosts where every move comes out of nowhere. 

Edited December 14, 2023 by 1908_Cubs

[Jason Ross]

3 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Seiya, Dansby, Heyward, Lester

Add in Darvish and Kimbrel, IMO.

[17 Seconds]

Just now, 1908_Cubs said:

Add in Darvish and Kimbrel, IMO.

soriano too, unless there are any youths on here (there aren't) 

[Jason Ross]

Just now, 17 Seconds said:

soriano too, unless there are any youths on here (there aren't) 

Ah yes! Duh. Hell we can even add in MO Alou. I remember that being a big deal.

[Layoutman]

1 minute ago, 17 Seconds said:

soriano too, unless there are any youths on here (there aren't) 

Think the Fonzi signing was more driven by the Tribune rather than Hendry. 

[Layoutman]

1 minute ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Ah yes! Duh. Hell we can even add in MO Alou. I remember that being a big deal.

How about bringing Maddux back to be the 5th starter!! Excitement!

[ILMindState]

Jacque Vaughn, Milton Bradley, Edwin Jackson?

[UMFan83]

Yeah but like besides the 2 dozen names you just listed when have the Cubs ever made a splash in FA?

[ToolDRT]

I’m getting depressed here…

[Rcal10]

9 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

Jacque Vaughn, Milton Bradley, Edwin Jackson?

Jacque Jones? Not sure there was a Jacque Vaughn. Also, no idea who this guy from Houston was before Dawson.  It was not Mike Scott. 

[gocubs218]

Not a signing but the most excited I’ve been was the Nomar trade. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

 

11 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Yeah but like besides the 2 dozen names you just listed when have the Cubs ever made a splash in FA?

Most of these don't count lol

 

Upon further consideration the number is probably more like 6

 

 

[Layoutman]

8 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Jacque Jones? Not sure there was a Jacque Vaughn. Also, no idea who this guy from Houston was before Dawson.  It was not Mike Scott. 

Dave Smith...I think. 

[Bertz]

 

Pretty important context to any rumors around Bieber and Naylor.  Cleveland might need to shed that ~$20M

[ILMindState]

14 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Jacque Jones? Not sure there was a Jacque Vaughn. Also, no idea who this guy from Houston was before Dawson.  It was not Mike Scott. 

Yes I meant Jones, Jacque Vaughn is the coach of the Brooklyn Nets 

[Rcal10]

13 minutes ago, Layoutman said:

Dave Smith...I think. 

Dave Smith came over in 91, so after Dawson signed. And he was at the end of his career. Was not a big FA signing. 

[CubinNY]

Dave Smith

[Randall Simon]

53 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Add in Darvish and Kimbrel, IMO.

Alou, Zobrist, Fukudome

[chibears55]

PCA, Mervis, Caissie, Alcantara,  Brown, Wicks, Canairo, McGeary, BJ Murray, Davis, Vazquez,  Kilian, Little,  Hodge, Aliendo, Franklin.... All with ETA of 2023 and 2024.

Here a crazy what IF ..

What if Hoyer/Carter plan for 2024 is to play their young guys throughout the season and see who ready to stay up.

They dont sign anyone to a big multi year contract, just short deals, and instead of trading their top prospects, they play them all or the ones that force their way up.

Next offseason,  theyll have more then enough money to go after Soto and another top player , theyll have a good idea about a few of their kids, who to trade, who to keep.

Outside pf possibly bringing Bellinger back, I think this could be their plan to fill in 1B, CF, and 3B this coming season. 

Go with the young arms in the rotation and bullpen 

[CubbyBlue2008]

8 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

PCA, Mervis, Caissie, Alcantara,  Brown, Wicks, Canairo, McGeary, BJ Murray, Davis, Vazquez,  Kilian, Little,  Hodge, Aliendo, Franklin.... All with ETA of 2023 and 2024.

Here a crazy what IF ..

What if Hoyer/Carter plan for 2024 is to play their young guys throughout the season and see who ready to stay up.

They dont sign anyone to a big multi year contract, just short deals, and instead of trading their top prospects, they play them all or the ones that force their way up.

Next offseason,  theyll have more then enough money to go after Soto and another top player , theyll have a good idea about a few of their kids, who to trade, who to keep.

Outside pf possibly bringing Bellinger back, I think this could be their plan to fill in 1B, CF, and 3B this coming season. 

Go with the young arms in the rotation and bullpen 

I admire your hope that next offseason is the one where the Cubs actually shell out of the top free agents. 

[Jason Ross]

11 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

PCA, Mervis, Caissie, Alcantara,  Brown, Wicks, Canairo, McGeary, BJ Murray, Davis, Vazquez,  Kilian, Little,  Hodge, Aliendo, Franklin.... All with ETA of 2023 and 2024.

Here a crazy what IF ..

What if Hoyer/Carter plan for 2024 is to play their young guys throughout the season and see who ready to stay up.

They dont sign anyone to a big multi year contract, just short deals, and instead of trading their top prospects, they play them all or the ones that force their way up.

Next offseason,  theyll have more then enough money to go after Soto and another top player , theyll have a good idea about a few of their kids, who to trade, who to keep.

Outside pf possibly bringing Bellinger back, I think this could be their plan to fill in 1B, CF, and 3B this coming season. 

Go with the young arms in the rotation and bullpen 

So they didn't play their young players last year like Morel in the infield, and Mervis at all, so that they could play them this year instead, so they'll go after Soto next year? 

Love the optimism, but think you're huffing some hard hopium there.

[muntjack]

If they do re-sign Bellinger, I propose they double up toward the top of the rotation.  At one point the Marlins were said to be open to moving a starter, I believe.  Glasnow and then maybe Luzardo? (PCA and Wesneski is an overpay on BTV)  

Steele/Luzardo/Glasnow/Hendricks/Taillon/Wicks/Assad has plenty of depth and an exciting ceiling, as well.  

Seems like a more reliable path to 90+ wins than trying to nail a Mancini-tier acquisition or two.