Tatsuya Imai to the Astros

[Dfan25]

1 hour ago, CubinNY said:

I would imagine if they lose the bidding, they will have to turn to a trade for a pitcher, which (IMO) isn't the worst outcome. 

Not so sure a trade will be an option after that Baz trade . General opinion on it that I have read , is that it was a big price . .

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Dfan25 said:

Maybe he did at some point , but I do remember him during the winter meetings saying Tucker to the Cubs smoke was real .
 

Thing with Rogers is that sometimes I am not sure if what he says is his opinion or based on what he is hearing .  I do think he is reliable with the info he gets . 
 

 

It was after the meetings, I think. He was playing up the Yankees and that he felt it was unlikely the Cubs were going to get him between the two. 

And I agree, I think Rogers information is always solid. But where the information starts and opinion ends kind of gets muddy

[Neuby]

 

[Jason Ross]

4 minutes ago, Neuby said:

 

It's moments like these I wan to convince myself that MoccBomb is real even know I know, very much, that he's not.

[Bertz]

****!  I don't think MoccBomb has ever been right.

[ILMindState]

 

 

[Stratos]

50 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

Jesse Rogers commenting on King / Imai and the Cubs . Doesn’t sound all that optimistic about Imai 

 

 

It doesn't sound like he knows anything though.  There's no actual reporting going on here

[Bertz]

3 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

 

 

It really sounds like the Yankees are simply not in.  Not that they are losing just that they're not in.

If the Cubs don't get Imai I think it's going to be because the Giants' crying poor is a BS feint like the Padres' turned out to be, or that someone a little random and unexpected like the Tigers stepped up big to add him.

[Cuzi]

5 minutes ago, Stratos said:

It doesn't sound like he knows anything though.  There's no actual reporting going on here

I have to imagine he's making that comment based on rumblings he has heard. More and more contenders are making moves to get their SP, which should naturally mean the optimism should be rising.

Look at everyone in this thread. "This is good news! One less team to worry about." Meanwhile the guy with ties is saying "Not feeling as good about this as I was to begin the off season." On one side you have fans making logical connections and on the other you have an insider hearing the back channel chatter.

Edited December 19, 2025 by Cuzi

[DrCub]

49 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

IIRC, Jesse Rogers was also the guy throwing water on the Cubs/Tucker trade talks, too. Not shutting him down entirely here, but he does have a track record of being the negative nancy of group at times.

That’s the thing with being negative about your sports team signing big time players; you’ll be right more often than wrong.  So you look like you know something.  When the reality is,  you’re probably just a bitter person.  

[BKHoo]

The more I read on him the more I am all in on lmai.  

 

JED.       MAKE.       IT.       SO.

[Stratos]

11 minutes ago, Cuzi said:

I have to imagine he's making that comment based on rumblings he has heard. More and more contenders are making moves to get their SP, which should naturally mean the optimism should be rising.

Look at everyone in this thread. "This is good news! One less team to worry about." Meanwhile the guy with ties is saying "Not feeling as good about this as I was to begin the off season." On one side you have fans making logical connections and on the other you have an insider hearing the back channel chatter.

Well King just signed.  That seems reason to be less optimistic about landing one of King/Imai lol

[Cuzi]

5 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Well King just signed.  That seems reason to be less optimistic about landing one of King/Imai lol

He said he was high on both and now not so much. Just because one of them signed doesn't mean that the expectation on the other would lower, unless he's getting information that's dousing his flame.

Edited December 19, 2025 by Cuzi

[Post Count Padder]

Idk how connected everything is but the dam is breaking a little. Makes me agree with some others that this could be a very big weekend.

Edited December 19, 2025 by Post Count Padder

[Stratos]

Which teams are actively looking for a SP of Gallen quality or better and also have the finances to sign them?

There's 4 of those quality FA SP left on the market.  Plus the trade market.

 

Edited December 19, 2025 by Stratos

[Derwood]

Surprised the Yankees are out. They aren't exactly stacked 1-5 in the rotation

[BKHoo]

Cubs fans don't want to wait until January!!

[Cuzi]

1 minute ago, Stratos said:

Which teams are actively looking for a SP of Gallen quality or better and also have the finances to sign them?

There's 4 of those quality FA SP left on the market.  Plus the trade market.

 

Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Cubs, Phillies, Giants, Astros, DBacks, Tigers. Probably a couple others lurking.

There's more than you think that could be in play.

I really wouldn't be shocked to learn that Hoyer saw that King contract and started concocting a similar offer for Gallen but with an opt  out after year 2.

[ILMindState]

32 minutes ago, DrCub said:

That’s the thing with being negative about your sports team signing big time players; you’ll be right more often than wrong.  So you look like you know something.  When the reality is,  you’re probably just a bitter person.  

Some people are so bitter and miserable they spend all their time trying to bring people down to their level.

[Neuby]

Someone is likely going to take a big check from the A's this offseason maybe it's one of the big name starters.

[Bertz]

One thing I'll say on Gallen is I'm okay with it IF it's paired with something else on the position player side.  Trueblood's article today made it sound like they want to do one signing and one trade and improve each side of the ball.  I'm a bit circumspect about who that position player trade could even be, but I'm open minded.

[Bertz]

From The Athletic on the Phillies

Quote

 

The money saved by flipping Strahm, set to make $7.5 million in 2026, will go toward Keller’s annual $11 million salary. The Phillies are expected to have a similar payroll to last season’s approximate $314 million. Their current figure is near $300 million. They will continue to pursue pitching depth and could enter the bidding on a bigger free agent in January should a player’s market collapse. But, absent that, they have one more item to accomplish.

The Phillies and Realmuto are locked in a standoff, league sources said. The club has discussed various multiyear offers with Realmuto, who continues to explore the market. A reunion makes sense for both sides. That, still, is the expectation. But, as Realmuto seeks a better offer, the Phillies have pursued trade alternatives. Realmuto’s return is not guaranteed.

 

 

[NorthsideAvenger]

2 hours ago, Jason Ross said:

It's moments like these I wan to convince myself that MoccBomb is real even know I know, very much, that he's not.

I read that name as McBoob. 

[Stratos]

2 hours ago, Cuzi said:

He said he was high on both and now not so much. Just because one of them signed doesn't mean that the expectation on the other would lower, unless he's getting information that's dousing his flame.

Well again, what's he basing this on?  Speculation I'm assuming until he actually reports something.  And even then there's a grain of salt. 

I'm not really worried about this offseason.  Jed is never left up the creek without a paddle in the offseason and when he really wants someone out of need he tends to get them, even when boxed in a corner a bit  Like Bellinger both times he signed, or Stroman when SP were flying off the shelf before the lockout.

The offseason rewards patience because players can fall into your lap later in the offseason when their market collapses as teams come off the board.

[Jason Ross]

27 minutes ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

I read that name as McBoob. 

Reading it back, I did too.