David Robertson talking to Cubs about returning

[Southpaw19]

 

He's older now, but most good bullpen arms are.

[Post Count Padder]

Always liked Robertson, would be happy to have him back on a one-year deal.

[Bertz]

I'm an "age is just a number" guy for pitchers, though I will say 40 and beyond does make me a little extra nervous.

But Robertson has been consistently dominant since he came back from TJ so it's hard to find anything wrong with him besides his birthday.  This would get a hell yeah from me.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Make it happen, Jed. 

[Jason Ross]

Coupled with the Pressley thing, it kinds of makes me wonder if:

1. The Cubs are willing to go with Robertson and Pressley 

2. Or if this is a one or the other thing. as this also feels a bit like "Hey, Ryan/Houston (whomever is more of the hold up) please make this happen or we'll sign Robertson instead"

[Bertz]

15 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Coupled with the Pressley thing, it kinds of makes me wonder if:

1. The Cubs are willing to go with Robertson and Pressley 

2. Or if this is a one or the other thing. as this also feels a bit like "Hey, Ryan/Houston (whomever is more of the hold up) please make this happen or we'll sign Robertson instead"

Robertson is a veteran closer, but has not always insisted on save opps.  So it may not be an accident that it's Pressly and Robertson getting talked about concurrently.  You can pair Pressly and Robertson, while you (probably) can't pair Pressly and Jansen for instance.

[Jason Ross]

13 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Robertson is a veteran closer, but has not always insisted on save opps.  So it may not be an accident that it's Pressly and Robertson getting talked about concurrently.  You can pair Pressly and Robertson, while you (probably) can't pair Pressly and Jansen for instance.

Yeah, can see it going either way. If Pressley comes in at, say $9m or so, and Robertson probably, what $10m? That's right around where Scott on his own (aav) would have been. Ship Thompson/Canario out (one trade, one DFA) and you've got two-40-man-spots open up as well. 

Gives you more flexibility to let Pearson really explore starting as an option, too.

[ToolDRT]

I’m getting my hopes up it’s both of them. Would really love those additions. 

[Bertz]

1 hour ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Yeah, can see it going either way. If Pressley comes in at, say $9m or so, and Robertson probably, what $10m? That's right around where Scott on his own (aav) would have been. Ship Thompson/Canario out (one trade, one DFA) and you've got two-40-man-spots open up as well. 

Gives you more flexibility to let Pearson really explore starting as an option, too.

I don't imagine Pearson will ultimately get a real crack in the rotation.  That said, if he's stretching out maybe he's used as a 2-3 inning guy (with leverage!) a la Keegan Thompson at the height of his powers?  A bullpen like this would be pretty horsefeathering sweet:

Closer - Pressly

1 Inning Setup - Robertson, Hodge

Multi-Inning Setup - Pearson

Middle Relief - Morgan, Merryweather

Matchup Guys - Miller, Thielbar

That multi-inning setup role Pearson resides in would also be an opportune role to get Brown/Horton/Birdsell into the mix at various points through the year as well.

[Rcal10]

I think it is Pressley OR Robertson, not AND. I don’t see them spending $20M to $25M  on 2 pen arms. But if they did I am not sure how much they have to spend for a bench bat. 

[squally1313]

58 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I think it is Pressley OR Robertson, not AND. I don’t see them spending $20M to $25M  on 2 pen arms. But if they did I am not sure how much they have to spend for a bench bat. 

Eh, on one year commitments, why not? Unless they think they can get a Tucker extension done that kicks in for 2024, leaving that much money on the table is a really bad look and this is an easy way to do it while keeping the 'clean books'. That and I think the higher end bat options are a little disincentivized to come to a team with 8.5 starting spots locked in. Bulk up on the back end guys who aren't blocked by anyone, go Amaya/Berti/Canario/....Canha? and be aggressive on upgrading those spots with the talent in AAA. 

[Stratos]

3 hours ago, Bertz said:

I don't imagine Pearson will ultimately get a real crack in the rotation.  That said, if he's stretching out maybe he's used as a 2-3 inning guy (with leverage!) a la Keegan Thompson at the height of his powers?  A bullpen like this would be pretty horsefeathering sweet:

Closer - Pressly

1 Inning Setup - Robertson, Hodge

Multi-Inning Setup - Pearson

Middle Relief - Morgan, Merryweather

Matchup Guys - Miller, Thielbar

That multi-inning setup role Pearson resides in would also be an opportune role to get Brown/Horton/Birdsell into the mix at various points through the year as well.

We currently have 18 relievers on the 40-man and a few of them can also start.   That's a lot but its good to have pitching depth.  Some will obviously be in the minors, maybe guys like Palencia, Kilian etc.

Your list is missing some SP who may wind up in the pen if there's no rotation injuries, 3 of Brown, Rea, Assad, Wicks.  Not sure where Poteet fits in.  A guy like Wicks could maybe stay stretched out in Iowa if he's not needed in the rotation, who knows.

I have doubts we sign 2 closer-types like Pressly/Robertson.  Even if its one, having Hodge, Brown, and Mayweather to setup would be solid.  Injuries always happen though.  My ideal is Brown taking the #5 SP spot if everyone's healthy.

[Hot Sauce]

I'm greedy. Give me both. 

[Jason Ross]

3 hours ago, Stratos said:

We currently have 18 relievers on the 40-man and a few of them can also start.   That's a lot but its good to have pitching depth.  Some will obviously be in the minors, maybe guys like Palencia, Kilian etc.

Your list is missing some SP who may wind up in the pen if there's no rotation injuries, 3 of Brown, Rea, Assad, Wicks.  Not sure where Poteet fits in.  A guy like Wicks could maybe stay stretched out in Iowa if he's not needed in the rotation, who knows.

I have doubts we sign 2 closer-types like Pressly/Robertson.  Even if its one, having Hodge, Brown, and Mayweather to setup would be solid.  Injuries always happen though.  My ideal is Brown taking the #5 SP spot if everyone's healthy.

It would be likely in that scenario that Brown, Assad, and Wicks would probably all end up in Iowa barring a ST injury (though we could probably assume one or two of those as well). Rea would be in the rotation as he's on a MLB contract.

[Bertz]

5 hours ago, Stratos said:

We currently have 18 relievers on the 40-man and a few of them can also start.   That's a lot but its good to have pitching depth.  Some will obviously be in the minors, maybe guys like Palencia, Kilian etc.

Your list is missing some SP who may wind up in the pen if there's no rotation injuries, 3 of Brown, Rea, Assad, Wicks.  Not sure where Poteet fits in.  A guy like Wicks could maybe stay stretched out in Iowa if he's not needed in the rotation, who knows.

I have doubts we sign 2 closer-types like Pressly/Robertson.  Even if its one, having Hodge, Brown, and Mayweather to setup would be solid.  Injuries always happen though.  My ideal is Brown taking the #5 SP spot if everyone's healthy.

I think the assumption should be that most of the guys who have minor league options will be using them until there is injury or underperformance.  There will be injuries, particularly early in the year, but the goal with the pitching staff this winter both in words and actions certainly seems to be maxing out on depth.  

I love Brown as much as anyone, but he threw just 55 innings last year and none after early June.  He can make a handful of starts at Iowa before it should be considered wasting bullets.

[Rcal10]

Considering the Cubs don’t have either Pressley or Robertson right now, we very well may be talking about a scenerio that never takes place. Let’s hope we get at least one of them today. The Pressley report may have been premature. And just because the Cubs are supposed to be talking to Robertson doesn’t mean that happens either. We have been down this road this off season, all too often. 

[Stratos]

2 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

Considering the Cubs don’t have either Pressley or Robertson right now, we very well may be talking about a scenerio that never takes place. Let’s hope we get at least one of them today. The Pressley report may have been premature. And just because the Cubs are supposed to be talking to Robertson doesn’t mean that happens either. We have been down this road this off season, all too often. 

Seems like three Cubs are talking to pretty much everyone who can close, which shouldn't surprise us.  We previously had reports on them and Estevez too.  A Pressly deal seemed pretty close though barring no trade clause.