Winter Meetings catch all

[Tim]

Just now, WhyCantWeWin said:

I prefer to believe the reports that ohtani is close to making his decision. I can't imagine what else he could be waiting for. 

Again, it's probably a very complex offer well beyond what most FA deal with, if only because so much of his value on the field is tied up in being a two way player. I'm sure different teams are offering varying conditions, bonuses, etc. Which then requires multiple iterations talking with multiple teams to try to get favored terms agreed to, while not bending on what he likes from those offers. Then teams take time to evaluate and reply. 

These things just take time.

[Hunter]

I don't know many people who wouldn't take some time to decide when hundreds of millions of dollars are involved as well as where you are going to spend the next few years of your life.

[CubinNY]

1 minute ago, Tim said:

Again, it's probably a very complex offer well beyond what most FA deal with, if only because so much of his value on the field is tied up in being a two way player. I'm sure different teams are offering varying conditions, bonuses, etc. Which then requires multiple iterations talking with multiple teams to try to get favored terms agreed to, while not bending on what he likes from those offers. Then teams take time to evaluate and reply. 

These things just take time.

Totally agree. The dollars are probably all similar, but there are likely so many different offers to go over. Someone else mentioned, that teams may have multiple offers depending. Like a high AAV contract with multiple opt-outs and club options or less AAV longer years with escalator clauses for pitching milestones in addition to opt-out and club options. Its probably like going to a greek diner only instead of food its all money. 

[Jason Ross]

 

[Jason Ross]

That feels like your perennial and current bottom feeder teams. Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Washington. Too rich for Oakland, as Fedde is going to make $5 million and not just $5. But that type. Also the teams who have no aspirations of the bigger fish.

[pitchcs]

2 hours ago, 1908_Cubs said:

That feels like your perennial and current bottom feeder teams. Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Washington. Too rich for Oakland, as Fedde is going to make $5 million and not just $5. But that type. Also the teams who have no aspirations of the bigger fish.

Ha, Fedde is beyond terrible.

[UMFan83]

Carter “wet blanket” Hawkins

 

[Jason Ross]

5 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Carter “wet blanket” Hawkins

 

I actually like that quote. That says they want stars and one year deals. That they will shy away from the Chapman's. They're big game hunting and filling out the roster with shorter terms. 

[gocubs218]

Unless he’s still looking for a 3 year deal or something but that quote just screams Hoskins. 

[Jason Ross]

Yeah, that feels very much like your Glasnows, Hoskins, Belts...

But I also fully believe the Cubs are invested in bringing in stars too. Because I can see the undercurrent of that quote, too. Which is that while the Cubs don't want to block everyone with free agents, they will look to bring in players they deem worthy of taking up spots long term.

[Rcal10]

25 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Yeah, that feels very much like your Glasnows, Hoskins, Belts...

But I also fully believe the Cubs are invested in bringing in stars too. Because I can see the undercurrent of that quote, too. Which is that while the Cubs don't want to block everyone with free agents, they will look to bring in players they deem worthy of taking up spots long term.

Maybe those 3 and Yamamoto? Maybe a trade for a 3rd baseman and a pen arm? Morel can DH. Something like that. Or if Morel can play 1st of 3rd maybe the other bat they get won’t matter what position he plays. He could DH. Maybe Soto instrwsd of Belt or Hoskins ???😬

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Rcal10 said:

Maybe those 3 and Yamamoto? Maybe a trade for a 3rd baseman and a pen arm? Morel can DH. Something like that. Or if Morel can play 1st of 3rd maybe the other bat they get won’t matter what position he plays. He could DH. Maybe Soto instrwsd of Belt or Hoskins ???😬

Also...Ohtani. It sounds like they're big game hunting. I'd say it'll be the goal to get an Ohtani or a Yamamoto. Then fill in the rest with one year guys who have upside. I doubt all of them listed. Just those types though.

[Rcal10]

6 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Also...Ohtani. It sounds like they're big game hunting. I'd say it'll be the goal to get an Ohtani or a Yamamoto. Then fill in the rest with one year guys who have upside. I doubt all of them listed. Just those types though.

For sure Ohtani. I thought we were talking about if not Ohtani. I have gone up and down on my confidence in getting Ohtani. I am a bit down now so just looking at what else they can do. 

[ILMindState]

https://twitter.com/mlbbrucelevine/status/1731892944028717464?s=61&t=C3c_bOrcM

 

I have no idea what any of this means

[Rex Buckingham]

1 minute ago, ILMindState said:

https://twitter.com/mlbbrucelevine/status/1731892944028717464?s=61&t=C3c_bOrcM

 

I have no idea what any of this means

Staff and their specific roles should be announced soon. Trades are likely regardless of Ohtani

[Tryptamine]

I'd almost be surprised if Glasnow isn't a Cub at this point.

[Stratos]

2 hours ago, 1908_Cubs said:

I actually like that quote. That says they want stars and one year deals. That they will shy away from the Chapman's. They're big game hunting and filling out the roster with shorter terms. 

Exactly.  His is a totally logical answer and what I want to hear from the FO.  If you want to be a very good team and still afford players like Yamamoto, Ohtani then you're going to want some cheap young surplus.  It's not like we should have traded Bryant, Baez, and Contreras in 2014 for high priced veterans or blocked their progress.

[Stratos]

2 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

Maybe those 3 and Yamamoto? Maybe a trade for a 3rd baseman and a pen arm? Morel can DH. Something like that. Or if Morel can play 1st of 3rd maybe the other bat they get won’t matter what position he plays. He could DH. Maybe Soto instrwsd of Belt or Hoskins ???😬

They have 2 slots to fill in the rotation, Stroman's and the slot where Smyly/Wicks pitched last year.  I think they definitely push sign a TORP to replace Stroman.  Then Smyly is a contender for that last slot, as are Assad, Wicks, Wesneski, and maybe Brown.

It's always possible they fill that last slot with another short-term acquisition like Glasnow, but i'm not sure, they may want to use that money on a position player.  But they do have prospects to trade.  I think Glasnow is a target if they get Ohtani.  If no Ohtani then pivot to someone like Yamamto or Snell and acquire a bat like Hoskins or whomever.

[WhyCantWeWin]

50 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I'd almost be surprised if Glasnow isn't a Cub at this point.

Would prefer a Clase/Bieber package deal. Wicks/Wesneski/Alcantara maybe gets it done?

[Bertz]

1 hour ago, Tryptamine said:

I'd almost be surprised if Glasnow isn't a Cub at this point.

Yeah this one feels about as inevitable as any move in a while.  

[Tryptamine]

Seeing that 3B is almost completely lacking in interesting options, I wonder what kind of package it would take to get TB to give up Glasnow+Paredes. If you use the trade calculator Paredes takes a massive haul to land, but I wonder if that's reality since he only has 1 really good year. If it's something like Alcantara+Wicks+Triantos I'd pull the trigger, but the trade calculator is thinking they'd have to add  Shaw+Caissie too which seems crazy.

[17 Seconds]

welp we didn't get the best player in the world, time to move on to rhys hoskins

 

 

[ILMindState]

https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/1732115656261124325?s=20

[UMFan83]

Cant remember if there was a dedicated thread for Rhys

 

edit: Damn you are all snipers.  I grab that twitter link when it still said "just now" in terms of when it was posted

 

 

Edited December 5, 2023 by UMFan83

[WhyCantWeWin]

Hoskins makes a lot of sense. Cubs can sell him on the Bellinger success story and Mervis kind of sucks so big hole there.