Tatsuya Imai to the Astros

[Irrelevant Dude]

2 minutes ago, Derwood said:

Well that should be an eventful off season

It does set up a potentially fascinating scenario where nobody is signing players prior to the CBA resolution, then the Cubs end up having to fill their roster in a short period of time whenever the two sides finally come to an agreement.

[Rcal10]

If I had to guess I would put Gallen at about a 35% chance, a trade about 30%, Suarez 10%, lesser starter like Giolito around 10%, whiff altogether 10% and Valdez 5%. 

[Tryptamine]

Just now, Rcal10 said:

Not if he is paid as if last year was a fluke. If he is offered 4/$88M why does he need an opt out after 1 year.

And potentially wrap yourself up in a 4 year deal for a guy who might not be better than any of Steele/Boyd/Horton/Taillon/Shota. Right now the Cubs are a worse team then they were when they ended 2025 and at this point I think there's very few realistic scenarios where you could say they will enter 2026 a better team.

[Hortonhearsawho]

1 minute ago, Rcal10 said:

If I had to guess I would put Gallen at about a 35% chance, a trade about 30%, Suarez 10%, lesser starter like Giolito around 10%, whiff altogether 10% and Valdez 5%. 

Whiff altogether should probably be higher. 

[Tryptamine]

Just now, Rcal10 said:

If I had to guess I would put Gallen at about a 35% chance, a trade about 30%, Suarez 10%, lesser starter like Giolito around 10%, whiff altogether 10% and Valdez 5%. 

If they go after someone like Giolito I will be so pissed. Just an absolute waste of money who isn't an obvious upgrade over the top 5 starters and far more expensive than the current Cub 6 and 7 options.

[ToolDRT]

I think they’re just going to play it conservative this year due to the lockout. Which, to me, makes a trade much more likely than a big signing. 

[Hortonhearsawho]

4 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

And potentially wrap yourself up in a 4 year deal for a guy who might not be better than any of Steele/Boyd/Horton/Taillon/Shota. Right now the Cubs are a worse team then they were when they ended 2025 and at this point I think there's very few realistic scenarios where you could say they will enter 2026 a better team.

Cabrera/ Gore & Bregman would do it but the odds that Jed is able to pull that off have to go to be really low 

Edited January 1 by Hortonhearsawho

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, Tryptamine said:

If they go after someone like Giolito I will be so pissed. Just an absolute waste of money who isn't an obvious upgrade over the top 5 starters and far more expensive than the current Cub 6 and 7 options.

I am willing to bet the same thing was said last year when the Cubs signed Boyd. 

[Rcal10]

Just now, Hortonhearsawho said:

Cabrera/ Gore & Bregman would do it but the odds that Jed is able to pull that off have to go be really low 

This is kind of what I am hoping for. Go a little over the LT, pay a small penalty and go under the next year. I prefer Cabrera because of an extra year. But this is what I would hope happens. 

[Tryptamine]

Just now, Rcal10 said:

I am willing to bet the same thing was said last year when the Cubs signed Boyd. 

Boyd was coming off of about 60 innings showing he had clearly figured something out, which his peripherals supported, it was just a matter of health. Giolito has sucked the last 3 years and all he has going for him is he stays healthy. 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I can't believe we're not gonna get a starter of any significance 

[Tryptamine]

Assuming Suarez and Valdez aren't realistic, they aren't, I think about the only exciting scenarios I can think of now would be like Bregman+ traded for pitcher or on the cheap side Okamoto + traded for pitcher.

[Rcal10]

6 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

And potentially wrap yourself up in a 4 year deal for a guy who might not be better than any of Steele/Boyd/Horton/Taillon/Shota. Right now the Cubs are a worse team then they were when they ended 2025 and at this point I think there's very few realistic scenarios where you could say they will enter 2026 a better team.

But when you sign a pitcher to 4 or more years aren’t you always taking a chance on being stuck with someone who doesn’t perform? Gallen has been better than all those pitchers, with the possible exception of Steele. If the Cubs believe whatever issues Gallen has last year they can fix, why wouldn’t they give him a 4 year deal? And, if they don’t want to deal with a one year opt out, that is what the have to do. Or make a trade. 

[Derwood]

3 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

I can't believe we're not gonna get a starter of any significance 

I can. This group of starters got us 90+ wins, so Jed doesn't see upgrading as a priority

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Boyd was coming off of about 60 innings showing he had clearly figured something out, which his peripherals supported, it was just a matter of health. Giolito has sucked the last 3 years and all he has going for him is he stays healthy. 

I said, “like” Giolito. Meaning a step down from the other 3 being talked about. Pick another guy. I don’t know all who are still out there. Mahle was one, but he signed.!

[Hortonhearsawho]

1 minute ago, Tryptamine said:

Assuming Suarez and Valdez aren't realistic, they aren't, I think about the only exciting scenarios I can think of now would be like Bregman+ traded for pitcher or on the cheap side Okamoto + traded for pitcher.

Okamoto is probably going to want an opt out after year 1 year as well so you can just cross him off the list.

[chibears55]

53 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

 

I figured it would be 3 or 4 years with options, didn't think it would be starting year one though. 

Starting to look like Gallen or that depth type starter i said they'd be looking to get, I really believe Ricketts/Hoyer want to go into next offseason with minimal guarenteed contracts on the books as they can, whether it because they think there will be a long lock out or want to be ahead of the pack with the new CBA who knows, maybe with the expiring contracts and upcoming prospects they could be doing another lite rebuild....

[Rcal10]

Just now, Derwood said:

I can. This group of starters got us 90+ wins, so Jed doesn't see upgrading as a priority

That is possible. Plus if you believe Steele will come back, Horton will be in the rotation all year and Wiggins can be this years Horton, you can see the FO having that opinion. I don’t. I think they have to get someone else. But if the FO believes this then they better sign a big bat. Bichette/Bregman/Bellinger/Tucker all need to be in play.

[Tryptamine]

Just now, Derwood said:

I can. This group of starters got us 90+ wins, so Jed doesn't see upgrading as a priority

Which would be reasonable if he hadn't come out and explicitly said he had to upgrade the rotation. He set those expectations so it's his own fault he's going to get dragged by fans and he's going to deserve all of it.

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

I figured it would be 3 or 4 years with options, didn't think it would be starting year one though. 

Starting to look like Gallen or that depth type starter i said they'd be looking to get, I really believe Ricketts/Hoyer want to go into next offseason with minimal guarenteed contracts on the books as they can, whether it because they think there will be a long lock out or want to be ahead of the pack with the new CBA who knows, maybe with the expiring contracts and upcoming prospects they could be doing another lite rebuild....

If this were true they would have given Imai a contract where he can get out after one year. Wouldn’t that have played into what you say their plan is? 

[Derwood]

Just now, Tryptamine said:

Which would be reasonable if he hadn't come out and explicitly said he had to upgrade the rotation. He set those expectations so it's his own fault he's going to get dragged by fans and he's going to deserve all of it.

He also said he was saving 30 million for last year's trade deadline and then didn't use it.

He says a lot of things

[Outshined_One]

33 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

And they might. But they aren't likely signing most of those players. Unless yuo're interested in Shota Imanaga for the next 5 years? Maybe 38 year old Jameson Taillon?

I feel like the aging curve is going to wreck everyone on that list come 2027/2028, save for Nico and maaaaybe Happ.

It sucks we lost out on Imai, but it makes sense the Cubs didn't match it with those opt outs. They don't need another hole in their rotation going into 2027.

[Rcal10]

Just now, Tryptamine said:

Which would be reasonable if he hadn't come out and explicitly said he had to upgrade the rotation. He set those expectations so it's his own fault he's going to get dragged by fans and he's going to deserve all of it.

Also, if he isn’t going to get another starter he should have spend more on a better relief pitcher and/or needs to spend big on a bat. We shall see what he does.🤷

[Rcal10]

12 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Boyd was coming off of about 60 innings showing he had clearly figured something out, which his peripherals supported, it was just a matter of health. Giolito has sucked the last 3 years and all he has going for him is he stays healthy. 

I am sure people did not see Boyd that was last year. 

[thawv]

33 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

To me that means they should make a stronger effort to try to win it all this year because of the upcoming potential strike and roster turnover. 

You would think!!