Cubs offseason chit chat...

[Bertz]

👀

[LBiittner]

4 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Adequate, I suppose, on the whole. But I was not a fan with how he managed the roster during our tailspin this year. 

I agree. I can imagine he was good in the clubhouse, on the travel plane rides and off the playing field networking. But I hated his on the field work. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

we've been reduced to offseason hug watch, DO YOU SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO US JED

[LBiittner]

2 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

we've been reduced to offseason hug watch, DO YOU SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO US JED

LMAO

I think they realize he can't play third. 

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, LBiittner said:

I agree. I can imagine he was good in the clubhouse, on the travel plane rides and off the playing field networking. But I hated his on the field work. 

I think he was solid. Not great, but not bad either. I think a lot of people tend to complain about moves he made based on the result. There are just so many 50/50 decisions in baseball. And whenever he did something half the fans didn’t like they would speak out about it if it didn’t work. If he was right, nothing was said. And those that did agree, if it didn’t work there were not saying anything but they also weren’t defending him. I think that is just the way it is with managers. I am sure people are going to be complaining about Counsell in short order. 

[Derwood]

Republican billionaires are experts at making sexual allegations go away, so Bauer is the perfect fit for them

[Rcal10]

5 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

we've been reduced to offseason hug watch, DO YOU SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO US JED

WOW, I didn’t even think of that. I just assumed a day off. 

[LBiittner]

14 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I think he was solid. Not great, but not bad either. I think a lot of people tend to complain about moves he made based on the result. There are just so many 50/50 decisions in baseball. And whenever he did something half the fans didn’t like they would speak out about it if it didn’t work. If he was right, nothing was said. And those that did agree, if it didn’t work there were not saying anything but they also weren’t defending him. I think that is just the way it is with managers. I am sure people are going to be complaining about Counsell in short order. 

A very hard position to be under a microscope. Agreed you'll never make everyone happy with your decisions.

I think Counsell was generally well thought of in Wisconsin, at least up until he turned traitor 

[Cuzi]

43 minutes ago, Derwood said:

Republican billionaires are experts at making sexual allegations go away, so Bauer is the perfect fit for them

When it comes to Bauer, if his accuser didn't already make the allegations go away, I'm not sure a Republican billionaire stands much of a chance.

[LBiittner]

Rangers lose Scherzer til july.. herniated disc surgery

[17 Seconds]

4 minutes ago, Cuzi said:

When it comes to Bauer, if his accuser didn't already make the allegations go away, I'm not sure a Republican billionaire stands much of a chance.

accusers

[Backtobanks]

2 hours ago, muntjack said:

I said this somewhere yesterday but BTV has PCA and Wesneski as an overpay for Luzardo.  Would do that in a heartbeat once they re-signed Bellinger.

PCA and Wesneski is nowhere near enough to get him.

[Backtobanks]

I'd love to get Naylor, but I can't see the Guardians really wanting to move him since they struggle offensively.

[WhyCantWeWin]

11 minutes ago, Backtobanks said:

I'd love to get Naylor, but I can't see the Guardians really wanting to move him since they struggle offensively.

Reportedly they want to clear his 7 mil salary because of their tv deal really forcing their hands

[Backtobanks]

2 hours ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Reportedly they want to clear his 7 mil salary because of their tv deal really forcing their hands

Tell them we would be glad to take Ramirez too, if it will help with their money issue.

[Post Count Padder]

Quote

8:57pm: In a separate column, Rosenthal reports that Miami and the Royals discussed the framework of a trade that would’ve sent the southpaw (Luzardo) to Kansas City and first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino to South Florida during the Winter Meetings. It doesn’t appear that those conversations are still going, as the Royals instead addressed their rotation with free agent adds of Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha.

Can we trick the Marlins into thinking Matt Mervis is really good?

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, Post Count Padder said:

Can we trick the Marlins into thinking Matt Mervis is really good?

If the Marlins were considering Pasquintino, I have to think PCA and Wesneski could give them a better package. Or Mervis instead of Wesneski if they would rather have a bat prospect. 

[gocubs218]

Morel done with winter ball. 

 

[Stratos]

15 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

For some teams, I completely agree, but the Cubs badly need offensive production, not more guys with league average bats and plus gloves.

First reaction is to agree, but does it really matter if you add a run with the bat or save a run with the glove?

When discussing last offseason I remember Hoyer saying that the FO found that defense was undervalued in FA that winter so they leaned that way.

Cubs have good prospects at every position.  Whoever they get I hope they don't have a NTC.

[Backtobanks]

4 hours ago, Stratos said:

First reaction is to agree, but does it really matter if you add a run with the bat or save a run with the glove?

When discussing last offseason I remember Hoyer saying that the FO found that defense was undervalued in FA that winter so they leaned that way.

Cubs have good prospects at every position.  Whoever they get I hope they don't have a NTC.

The Cubs have good prospects at every position and yet they have holes to fill on the ML roster.  As history has proven, not all of these prospects will pan out.  Now is the time to use the trade value of some of these prospects to acquire star quality ML players.  For example, right now PCA has the highest trade value on the team.  If he shows he can't hit ML pitching, his value drops to zero.  We also have a multitude of OF prospects who have excellent trade value, but we have Happ & Suzuki on long term deals. 

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, Backtobanks said:

The Cubs have good prospects at every position and yet they have holes to fill on the ML roster.  As history has proven, not all of these prospects will pan out.  Now is the time to use the trade value of some of these prospects to acquire star quality ML players.  For example, right now PCA has the highest trade value on the team.  If he shows he can't hit ML pitching, his value drops to zero.  We also have a multitude of OF prospects who have excellent trade value, but we have Happ & Suzuki on long term deals. 

Completely agree. This idea of prospects coming up and filling spots is just not realistic. Sure you need a few guys to come up and be successful. But for a team like the Cubs, a high revenue team, they need a balance of quality major league ballplayers and some young talent sprinkled in. The idea of beinging up all the young guys or leaving openings for all the young guys is great for lower revenue teams who have no other choice. 
If the Cubs did trade PCA+ for Luzardo or someone like that, and then signed Bellinger that would be great use of a prospect. You fill a need on the major league team. They have many guys who would be top 10 prospects in other organizations who are 15-30 on the Cubs. They could use those as well as guys like Wesneski,, Assad, and even Wicks to trade for guys  like Naylor, Bieber, Lowe, Torres, Polanco, Alonso, etc…. I realize in this list some guys may not be available and some might cost a bit more (maybe a top 10 guy).

But they can fill 2 bats, 2 starting pitcher, and a pen arm with FA spending and deals. And still have a decent farm system. They would still have most of their top 10. 

That is the way a major revenue team should use their money and assets. 

[LBiittner]

9 hours ago, gocubs218 said:

Morel done with winter ball. 

 

Perhaps it is a trade on the horizon?

I recently read Cubs have not made a significant trade during the offseason since sending jorge soler for wade Davis in 2016. 

[Bertz]

Quote

To help them do that, the Mets are looking for pitching help, an outfielder for regular playing time and, preferably, a right-handed hitting help at third base in the wake of Ronny Mauricio’s injury, based on conversations around the league. The list may not end there, but those loom as objectives. For all of those items, the price sounds like it will be a determining factor in what kind of player they end up with. They’re looking for affordability.

The article doesn't really get into the availability of Pete Alonso, which is what I was sniffing around for.  But if they're willing to move him that wishlist lines up really well for Jed.

[Bertz]

For reference that fielding percentage is just a smidge better than what Patrick Wisdom did last year

 

[ILMindState]

Maybe they shut him down so he doesn’t tank his trade value. Not ideal for the let Morel should play 3B folks.