Cubs offseason chit chat...

[Derwood]

Tweets aren't loading for me today. Anyone else having this issue?

[Bertz]

11 minutes ago, Derwood said:

Tweets aren't loading for me today. Anyone else having this issue?

Brett Taylor mentioned in a BN article this morning that it's a broader Twitter issue.

[Illiterate Scholar]

What if the non-Ohtani offseason plan includes staying under the first CBT threshold? That's not happening, right..

[Jason Ross]

14 minutes ago, Illiterate Scholar said:

What if the non-Ohtani offseason plan includes staying under the first CBT threshold? That's not happening, right..

Levine suggested a "240-250m" "payroll" (though unclear if that was just legit payroll or LT) even without Ohtani about 2 weeks ago.

[Petrey10]

On 12/15/2023 at 2:25 PM, Derwood said:

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

Oh just republican huh? 

[Stratos]

12 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Levine suggested a "240-250m" "payroll" (though unclear if that was just legit payroll or LT) even without Ohtani about 2 weeks ago.

He's probably speculating though.

[Illiterate Scholar]

22 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Levine suggested a "240-250m" "payroll" (though unclear if that was just legit payroll or LT) even without Ohtani about 2 weeks ago.

Like everything he says, it's not totally clear.

I am still expecting them to go over with how careful they were at the deadline last season in a competitive year. And by all measures, this was better than an 83 win team. However, apparently bowing out of Yamamoto before the courting even begins (even if I think that contract will be a bit silly) and the way the descriptions of the Glasnow and Hoskins pursuits seemingly shifted, I'd be lying if I'm not a little concerned that like the Athletic guys will hint at a lower payroll than expected in an upcoming article.

Edited December 16, 2023 by Illiterate Scholar

[Rcal10]

I honestly think Hoyer goes into the off season with all these ideas on how to make the team better via free agency and trades. But he puts unrealistic limits on the free agents he is interested in and unrealistic value on players on the team he is willing to trade. So when another team offers more money or a better return in trade for someone Hoyer wants the Cubs lose out. Many fans do this as well. But that is expected. We are fans. Our front office should have a better idea of what players cost, whether it is money or trade assets. And they don’t. 

[UMFan83]

1 hour ago, KCCub said:

 

Remember when a Glasgow and Hoskins led offseason seemed boring?

[Rcal10]

In our boring off season does something like Morel for Burger make sense? Both have real power. Morel younger and better athlete. But Burger can, sort of, play 3rd. Does this make sense for either team? Do they have a similar value? Maybe they can be in a bigger deal? Or is Burger strictly a DH too? If so, I would rather keep Morel.!

[Post Count Padder]

I don't think Burger is much of an upgrade over what we already have in Morel and Wisdom.

Unless they prove me otherwise they seem to be content with WisMadriBuoni at 3rd again. 

[Bertz]

46 minutes ago, Illiterate Scholar said:

What if the non-Ohtani offseason plan includes staying under the first CBT threshold? That's not happening, right..

Doubt it, I don't think they would have taken so much care to stay under last year if they weren't planning to exceed it this year.

If we look back at 2015-2020, seems like Tom's orders are to not exceed the tax three years in a row.  The Cubs, right this second, are about $50M under the tax, and while the math is a little fuzzy this far out the team looks about $70-80M under the tax in both 2025 and 2026.  Then in 2027 A TON of money falls off.  So I'm expecting a dip next year or the year after, but it wouldn't be crazy to think Jed's plan after failing to pull down Ohtani is staying under this year and then going over the two after before dipping under again in 27.

That would retroactively make last offseason look wayyyyy worse as well.

[ToolDRT]

I’m getting to that point again where I’d rather not spend than spend on crap. Chapman is crap. I don’t want him. 

[ToolDRT]

Can we just do Imanga, Hader, Naylor, and I guess Bieber at this point? Nothing to write home about as far as an offseason, but Hader would at least help. 
 

Though, I remember watching mlb network or something and there was speculation he was traded from the Brewers cause he didn’t want to be used outside of three outs in the ninth. Not sure if he can Craig are even on the same page. 

[Rcal10]

58 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

I don't think Burger is much of an upgrade over what we already have in Morel and Wisdom.

Unless they prove me otherwise they seem to be content with WisMadriBuoni at 3rd again. 

Do you mean defensively? Burger was an OPS+ of 120 last year. Wisdom is not at his level. Wisdom is a lot older than Burger as well and cost more. Morel was not an OPS+ of 120 but he is younger, more athletic and has potential to be a that kind of guy. Which is why a 1 for 1 trade was suggested. Or are you saying that, like Morel, Burger can’t play 3rd either. 
I am not so sure the Cubs are content with Madrigal/Wiadom/Mastroboni at 3rd. I would think they would want an upgrade. Burger’s bat would be just that if he was the same player he was Last year.

[Bertz]

32 minutes ago, ToolDRT said:

I’m getting to that point again where I’d rather not spend than spend on crap. Chapman is crap. I don’t want him. 

Matt Chapman was the 58th best position player in baseball last year, in between Manny Machado and Matt Chapman.  Over the last three years he's 30th in between Alex Bregman and Fernando Tatis Jr.

[Rcal10]

Just now, Bertz said:

Matt Chapman was the 58th best position player in baseball last year, in between Manny Machado and Matt Chapman.  Over the last three years he's 30th in between Alex Bregman and Fernando Tatis Jr.

I get your point, but Chapman can’t be between Machado and himself. He is a good player, but not exactly what the Cubs need. He is more glove than bat. And they need a bat. He wouldn’t be an awful signing. Just not exciting and if they did sign him they might as well start moving some infield depth. They wouldn’t have 2nd, 3rd and SS locked up for at least 3 years. 

[UMFan83]

4 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Matt Chapman was the 58th best position player in baseball last year, in between Manny Machado and Matt Chapman.  Over the last three years he's 30th in between Alex Bregman and Fernando Tatis Jr.

How many years is he looking for? It’s probably more about being 36 next April and committing 3 years to him

Edited December 16, 2023 by UMFan83

[Rcal10]

4 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

How many years is he looking for? It’s probably more about being 36 next April and committing 3 years to him

Matt Chapman is going to be 31 in April. 

[chibears55]

1 hour ago, Rcal10 said:

I honestly think Hoyer goes into the off season with all these ideas on how to make the team better via free agency and trades. But he puts unrealistic limits on the free agents he is interested in and unrealistic value on players on the team he is willing to trade. So when another team offers more money or a better return in trade for someone Hoyer wants the Cubs lose out. Many fans do this as well. But that is expected. We are fans. Our front office should have a better idea of what players cost, whether it is money or trade assets. And they don’t. 

Sometimes I think he really dont have any plan except to wait it out until the least wanted are left.

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, chibears55 said:

Sometimes I think he really dont have any plan except to wait it out until the least wanted are left.

Well, “technically” that’s a plan🤷

[Bertz]

13 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I get your point, but Chapman can’t be between Machado and himself. He is a good player, but not exactly what the Cubs need. He is more glove than bat. And they need a bat. He wouldn’t be an awful signing. Just not exciting and if they did sign him they might as well start moving some infield depth. They wouldn’t have 2nd, 3rd and SS locked up for at least 3 years. 

Oops yeah that was supposed to be Machado and Luis Arraez.

But the Cubs don't *need* a big bat, they just need to improve.  Most of us on a pure aesthetic level would prefer the bat, but for the most part wins are wins.  I don't love Matt Chapman, but if Jed is sniffing that his market is weak I understand the interest.  I think anything under $100M or so would be a very very good deal.

[Rcal10]

12 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Oops yeah that was supposed to be Machado and Luis Arraez.

But the Cubs don't *need* a big bat, they just need to improve.  Most of us on a pure aesthetic level would prefer the bat, but for the most part wins are wins.  I don't love Matt Chapman, but if Jed is sniffing that his market is weak I understand the interest.  I think anything under $100M or so would be a very very good deal.

I wouldn’t object to him. But like I said, maybe they can move some infield minor league talent to fill another hole, if there isn’t going to be an opening for a while. 

[UMFan83]

Math is hard

[ToolDRT]

46 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Matt Chapman was the 58th best position player in baseball last year, in between Manny Machado and Matt Chapman.  Over the last three years he's 30th in between Alex Bregman and Fernando Tatis Jr.

I’m not touching him unless his market falls to level beyond unimaginable. His offense has always been meh, but those last four months last year were downright gross. I think we have enough money tied into players who’s main upside is their glove. It’s time to actually find some offense for this team. 
 

Or, if they wanted to go absolutely crazy on pitching (think Yamamoto, Imanga, Hader) then fine, I’ll take his glove on a team friendly deal. But him as our main piece? Disgusting.