Post Winter Meetings Free Agency thread

[Rcal10]

9 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

Cubs need to be in on Michael King . Under 9 mil salary . 

Yes they do. He would have been a much better choice than Rea. 

[Stratos]

Next offseason King, Cease, Gallen, Valdez will be FA, plus probably Vlad Jr, Bichette, and Tucker.  Very good class.

[JD94]

28 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Next offseason King, Cease, Gallen, Valdez will be FA, plus probably Vlad Jr, Bichette, and Tucker.  Very good class.

It’s solid. But you would be buying King who turns 31 in his first year of the deal, Framber who would be 33 at the start of his contract, Gallen will turn 31 in August of his first year. A bunch of guys that will be good initially but aging quickly. 
 

Without diving into it, not sure what happened to Bichette in 2024. Appears it was injury plagued, but he was pretty bad when he played. Vladdy is apparently turning down $300+M from Toronto. So he either hates Toronto, or he thinks he can push $400m in free agency. Toronto is always seemingly in the running for these stars, but they never choose Toronto. Vladdy is an elite bat, but he’s pushing DH only. The glove isn’t good at 3rd or 1st. Thats a ton of money to pay a DH and yes this is coming from somebody who wanted to give Soto $500M (yes I know he signed for much more than that). 
 

Still a solid FA class though as you said. 

[chibears55]

14 hours ago, Dfan25 said:

Cubs need to be in on Michael King . Under 9 mil salary . 

I heard on radio this morning that they are in talks with the Padres on him.

Getting him would be great, but that another good player they will spend assets on in a trade for 1 year(FA) of him.

[squally1313]

2 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

I heard on radio this morning that they are in talks with the Padres on him.

Getting him would be great, but that another good player they will spend assets on in a trade for 1 year(FA) of him.

Yeah, that's why he's available and we're talking about guys not on the opening day roster and not like, PCA. 

[Stratos]

Been thinking about Justin Turner and possibly warming more to the idea.  If Shaw doesn't work out or get hurt I wonder if he could fill in at 3B.  Not ideal but just wondering.

[Bertz]

12 hours ago, Stratos said:

Been thinking about Justin Turner and possibly warming more to the idea.  If Shaw doesn't work out or get hurt I wonder if he could fill in at 3B.  Not ideal but just wondering.

Over the last 3 years Statcast has him as a -5 defender at 3B over roughly half a season.

I don't think you could count on him to get more than occasional time at 3rd.  Similar to Patrick Wisdom last year, you'll be able to count on your fingers and toes the number of times he can play over there without it being a problem.

I like Turner too, I think he's a good fit on the roster (I like him a smidge less than Canha), but we should just be clear eyed that he'd be primarily a 1B/DH.

[KCCub]

 

Cross Stanek off the list

[Dfan25]

Kahnle to Tigers .  Movement on relievers today . Maybe Robertson signs soon .

[SOFNR]

If the reliever market is moving fast I'd really like to see them pull the trigger on a Robertson. Hes a great fit and should come at a price that probably doesn't influence grabbing one of the San Diego pitchers.

[Rcal10]

37 minutes ago, SOFNR said:

If the reliever market is moving fast I'd really like to see them pull the trigger on a Robertson. Hes a great fit and should come at a price that probably doesn't influence grabbing one of the San Diego pitchers.

Except I think SD reeally wants to move Suarez more than King or Cease. I think Suarez is basically a throw in with one of those guys. I think he option on his contract makes his contract makes him more of a liability than an asset. I don’t see Robertson and Suarez added, unless the Cubs move either Merryweather or Pearson in that deal. 

[KCCub]

Solid deal on Stanek -

 

 

[Rcal10]

6 minutes ago, KCCub said:

Solid deal on Stanek -

 

 

If you like him as a middle relief pitcher it is a solid deal. Personally I didn’t want him. Robertson is my first choice. They can afford him. I like Finnegan, Estevez and Chafin all better than Stanek, as well. 

Edited January 29, 2025 by Rcal10

[Tryptamine]

Still not seeing the appeal of Stanek. Who in the current bullpen is he better than? 

[Post Count Padder]

Rays sign Ha-Seong Kim, 2 years and $29 mil.

[JD94]

Heyman reported earlier Cubs and Astros were the finalist for Bregman. I’ve never really thought we were serious suitors for him this whole time. So every time these reports come out, it’s a little surprising. Maybe they are just continuously using the Cubs as leverage so he gets what he’s after in Houston. 

[Bertz]

6 minutes ago, JD94 said:

Heyman reported earlier Cubs and Astros were the finalist for Bregman. I’ve never really thought we were serious suitors for him this whole time. So every time these reports come out, it’s a little surprising. Maybe they are just continuously using the Cubs as leverage so he gets what he’s after in Houston. 

Man he must really not want to go to Detroit.

[ToolDRT]

1 hour ago, JD94 said:

Heyman reported earlier Cubs and Astros were the finalist for Bregman. I’ve never really thought we were serious suitors for him this whole time. So every time these reports come out, it’s a little surprising. Maybe they are just continuously using the Cubs as leverage so he gets what he’s after in Houston. 

 

1 hour ago, JD94 said:

Heyman reported earlier Cubs and Astros were the finalist for Bregman. I’ve never really thought we were serious suitors for him this whole time. So every time these reports come out, it’s a little surprising. Maybe they are just continuously using the Cubs as leverage so he gets what he’s after in Houston. 

Was the finalist thing a tweet or some other form of media?

[Stratos]

2 hours ago, JD94 said:

Heyman reported earlier Cubs and Astros were the finalist for Bregman. I’ve never really thought we were serious suitors for him this whole time. So every time these reports come out, it’s a little surprising. Maybe they are just continuously using the Cubs as leverage so he gets what he’s after in Houston. 

Boras client rumors are unreliable at best.

I could see Cubs being in a short-term deal but I don't see it happening.  Bregman doesn't have anything to prove, i suspect he'll seen a longterm deal, 5 years or whatever.

Edited January 30, 2025 by Stratos

[Stratos]

6 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

If you like him as a middle relief pitcher it is a solid deal. Personally I didn’t want him. Robertson is my first choice. They can afford him. I like Finnegan, Estevez and Chafin all better than Stanek, as well. 

Stanek seems average to below average and is projected as such for 2025.  Paying 5m for that, no thanks.

Edited January 30, 2025 by Stratos

[Post Count Padder]

Charlie Sheen (Carlos Estevez) to the Royals for 2 years and $22 million.

Considering he's coming off a good season as a closer and will presumably handle the 9th inning, wonder if we can then get Robertson for under 10.

[Rcal10]

25 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

Charlie Sheen (Carlos Estevez) to the Royals for 2 years and $22 million.

Considering he's coming off a good season as a closer and will presumably handle the 9th inning, wonder if we can then get Robertson for under 10.

Maybe, but does it matter anymore. If the Cubs have over $20M to spend and only 1 pen arm and a bench bat if Robertson cost $11M they still have $9M+ for a bench bat. Canha shouldnt cost that. I know they can’t just throw money around, but I don’t think they should lose him for $1M. If they want him they should get him. Even if they wanted King and got him in a trade they would have a few million for a bench bat or just go with what they have. 

[Bertz]

Didn't actually read the full Levine article until just now, so completely missed this

Quote

The Cubs also recently signed versatile infielder Jon Berti, who can provide depth as shortstop Dansby Swanson comes off core surgery and second baseman Nico Hoerner comes off forearm surgery. The club is still interested in adding another veteran infielder, with the likes of Jose Iglesias and Jorge Polanco looming as potential names who could help their bench.

I would love Jorge Polanco.  You'd assume this means Moncada is still on the table as well.

Also implies Brujan probably shouldn't be in too big a hurry to find a place to live in Chicago.

Edited January 30, 2025 by Bertz

[chibears55]

4 hours ago, JD94 said:

Heyman reported earlier Cubs and Astros were the finalist for Bregman. I’ve never really thought we were serious suitors for him this whole time. So every time these reports come out, it’s a little surprising. Maybe they are just continuously using the Cubs as leverage so he gets what he’s after in Houston. 

Would Hoyer really trade Hoerner or is Hoerner hurt more then they're letting on and don't expect him back for awhile?

 

[Rcal10]

28 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Would Hoyer really trade Hoerner or is Hoerner hurt more then they're letting on and don't expect him back for awhile?

 

Well if he is hurt I doubt they can trade him. I just don’t think he is traded.