The Athletic: Cubs looking to be "Opportunistic"

[Bertz]

While there is always room for potential improvement, after adding Ryan Pressly and Jon Berti over the last week the Cubs' roster is looking reasonably complete.  Jed Hoyer's offseason appears far from done however.  The Cubs currently sit approximately $34M below the first Luxury Tax level according to Roster Resource, and Tom Ricketts confirmed he expects payroll to end up in that vicinity.  Even if the team views the Luxury Tax line as a hard (self imposed) cap, they can add as much as $25M in salary and still leave buffer for mid-season maneuvering.  

According to a staff report from The Athletic, the Cubs are trying to take full advantage of their current position in the market:

Quote

“Opportunistic” is the buzzword around the Cubs as the organization tries to be nimble in case a larger deal at the right price presents itself while continuing to add role players for the bench and the bullpen. Alex Bregman remains a free agent, and both Chicago and Houston have expressed interest in the All-Star third baseman, according to sources briefed on those discussions.

This would likely explain why rumors are all over the place right now.  The team has been tied to Alex Bregman, David Robertson, and Michael King just in the short time since the Ryan Pressly trade was completed.  

With the aforementioned payroll flexibility as well as seven players on MLB Pipeline's recent Top 100 Prospect lists, the Cubs can plausibly land any player currently available.  So expect additional moves from here, and whether it's genuine interest or another party trying to drum up leverage expect to see the Cubs included in a variety of rumors as well.

View full rumor

[squally1313]

[squally1313]

(done with memes after this, sorry)

[Sammy Sofa]

Namedropping Edward Said was a really unexpected swerve.

 

[CubinNY]

Saying opportunistic is creepy, but it’s also passive. But it’s Jed’s MO. 

[squally1313]

Just now, TomtheBombadil said:

I mean the big news drop from the NYT is that Cubs are opportunistic with the $25 million in cap space. How many times and ways can that be said?! We know! 
 

Clearly there's a push here to attempt to create new discussions when there are news articles that come out about the Cubs and their offseason plans. I'm not going to pretend to understand the intricacies there but it's clearly designed to drive traffic to the site. 

'How many times and ways can (the same thing) be said?'? Great question!

[We Got The Whole 9]

Bregman or Flaherty would be sweet. Swing big. 

 

 

[Rcal10]

22 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Bregman or Flaherty would be sweet. Swing big. 

 

 

I know I have disagreed with you in the past about this, but now I am with you. A “Bellinger like” deal for either of those guys would be great. I doubt they do it, but if they did, I would be on board with it. My guess is either a SD trade (King and Suarez) and then maybe a small FA signing for the bench or they sign Robertson and some bench help. 

[Jason Ross]

I like hearing that the team is remaining open to opportunities and exploring. It's also a good time for that - we have seen what happens, for example, when starting pitchers don't get to camp on time (Flaherty) so it could create a bit of a reason for him to accept a different (i.e. more creative) contract structure that would interest the Cubs. You'd also have to assume that the Padres, for example, will want to settle their financial things sooner rather than later, as well. 

I do hope it comes to something, however. There are some interesting paths with Bregman, Flaherty, a SP from SD that remain out there. I'll take a Ryne Stanek as a floor (however he's always felt more theoretically good than  actually good) but would really like to see the Cubs use their ability here to go above that.  

[Bertz]

I think my preference from where we go here is in this order:

1.  Get something done with the Padres.  A 3rd playoff caliber SP is basically the only remaining way to significantly juice this roster's win total, and we have some depth to deal from at Iowa.  I have zero reservations about having two primo rental players.  None.

2. Sign the best complimentary players you can to round out the roster.  Can you get Robertson/Canha/Laureano for $25M?  I think it's close!  Even if you only want to spend $20M and push a bit more money to July you could sign two and skimp on the 3rd (e.g. swap in Stanek for Robertson).

3. Sign Bregman/Flaherty/Alonso - I don't expect these guys to get a 1 year deal, and I'm VERY nervous about adding a potential multi-year deal at $20M+ per year.  That basically locks in that in order to extend Tucker Tom needs to raise payroll or Jed needs to move a significant salary.  I do not like signing up for that a year in advance.  I still vividly remember "Don't worry, we just need to trade Bryant to the Braves and then we can start our offseason."  

[Rcal10]

4 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I think my preference from where we go here is in this order:

1.  Get something done with the Padres.  A 3rd playoff caliber SP is basically the only remaining way to significantly juice this roster's win total, and we have some depth to deal from at Iowa.  I have zero reservations about having two primo rental players.  None.

2. Sign the best complimentary players you can to round out the roster.  Can you get Robertson/Canha/Laureano for $25M?  I think it's close!  Even if you only want to spend $20M and push a bit more money to July you could sign two and skimp on the 3rd (e.g. swap in Stanek for Robertson).

3. Sign Bregman/Flaherty/Alonso - I don't expect these guys to get a 1 year deal, and I'm VERY nervous about adding a potential multi-year deal at $20M+ per year.  That basically locks in that in order to extend Tucker Tom needs to raise payroll or Jed needs to move a significant salary.  I do not like signing up for that a year in advance.  I still vividly remember "Don't worry, we just need to trade Bryant to the Braves and then we can start our offseason."  

This would be my order as well. The only deviation from this would be my skimping would be in the second bat, not Stanek instead of Robertson. Just not a fan of Stanek. If the relief pitcher got skimped on I might rather have Chafin. That would be my skimp on Robertson. 

[Rex Buckingham]

9 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I still vividly remember "Don't worry, we just need to trade Bryant to the Braves and then we can start our offseason."  

I don't remember that specifically, but does any one else feel like if KB went to an org that wasn't a dumpster fire like Colorado then maybe his career would have turned out differently?  I know injuries have been a huge part of it, but I feel like even that is a byproduct of being in a bad org.

[mul21]

2 hours ago, Rex Buckingham said:

I don't remember that specifically, but does any one else feel like if KB went to an org that wasn't a dumpster fire like Colorado then maybe his career would have turned out differently?  I know injuries have been a huge part of it, but I feel like even that is a byproduct of being in a bad org.

Nah, he was banged up constantly here and that wasn't going to change as he aged.  I think it was just inevitable that so much torque from his swing on that body type and the day to day dings anybody gets playing 3B were always going to add up and cause him problems.

[We Got The Whole 9]

I wonder if Flaherty could be had for like 2/40 that turns into 2/50 if he pitches like 150 innings in 2025. 

 

By the way he has spoken he has had no market. I'm predicting he takes an incentive laden deal.

[MarkBellhorn]

Heyman said today he believes it's down  to the Astros and Cubs. Bregman is close with Pressly.

 

I'm betting will see a fresh round of Nico trade rumors and then a trade before the Cubs snag Bergman. 

 

Edited January 29, 2025 by MarkBellhorn

[squally1313]

Want absolutely no part of swapping Nico for Bregman. 

[Post Count Padder]

Yeah I would much rather have Nico and put Shaw at third.

It is a fascinating idea though of sending Nico+ for a solid starting pitcher and then signing Bregman and having Shaw man 2B. But many more wins is Bregman worth over Hoerner?

[MarkBellhorn]

If Nico is part of package that gets Cease or King. I'm all for Bregman at third. 

[Rcal10]

6 minutes ago, MarkBellhorn said:

If Nico is part of package that gets Cease or King. I'm all for Bregman at third. 

Nope. Then you have 3 guys who will walk next year without an extension AND no Nico. If they can’t get Bregman and keep Nico or at least trade him for a guy with 3 more years of control I don’t want Bregman. 

I honestly doubt there is anything to the Cubs getting him anyway. How much would the Astros have had to mess up this Pressley deal for that to happen. Do you really think they gave the Cubs $5.5M and because of that the Cubs outbid them for Bergman’s services. The GM should be fired if that happened. I think Bregman is using the Cubs as leverage but there is nothing there. 

Edited January 29, 2025 by Rcal10

[WhyCantWeWin]

Ill take Bregman over Nico any day

[squally1313]

32 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

Yeah I would much rather have Nico and put Shaw at third.

It is a fascinating idea though of sending Nico+ for a solid starting pitcher and then signing Bregman and having Shaw man 2B. But many more wins is Bregman worth over Hoerner?

-1.2 per the 2025 zips projections, 0.2 in 2024

[squally1313]

21 minutes ago, MarkBellhorn said:

If Nico is part of package that gets Cease or King. I'm all for Bregman at third. 

Why would the padres want Nico when they have Machado, Bogaerts, and croenenworth all locked up through 2030 and are trying to cut costs 

[Bertz]

32 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

Yeah I would much rather have Nico and put Shaw at third.

It is a fascinating idea though of sending Nico+ for a solid starting pitcher and then signing Bregman and having Shaw man 2B. But many more wins is Bregman worth over Hoerner?

Bregman’s not much (any?) better than Hoerner.  He's more offensively inclined but not really better.  If you do the Nico/Bregman swap the benefits are

- The lineup fits together way more nicely

- You presumably get something substantial back for Hoerner

- Nico is part of the "cliff" after 2026.  Happ, Nico, Seiya, Taillon, and Boyd all hit FA.  Not all of those guys are tough replacements, but there's something to be said about that much turnover all at once regardless of impact.  Bregman would presumably be on a 3 year deal with an opt out after 1, so swapping him in for Nico smooths out some of that roster churn

[Jason Ross]

16 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

Why would the padres want Nico when they have Machado, Bogaerts, and croenenworth all locked up through 2030 and are trying to cut costs 

I would guess in that scenario it would be a three team deal. Which helps it make more sense but also would complicate things making it less likely. 

[SOFNR]

Yah, Bergman over Nico is definitely no guarantee to add wins. He does improve the offense. But we've also reached a point in the offseason where Nico for improved starting pitching is a little more difficult to figure out. Just give me King and Robertson.