Winter Meetings Thread

[chibears55]

Whitesox Rays Twins get the top 3 draft picks 

[Jason Ross]

Rogers on ESPN1000. Cubs hits:

Predicts the Cubs to get Michael King or maybe Tatsuya Imai

Cubs like their position players, money will be spent on pitching (bullpen)

In on a "real" closer (names Fairbanks/Suarez)

Cubs to funnel money to pitching - might circle back to hitting later

Feel relatively comfortable with hitters

Predicts Tucker to Toronto for $250-$300m (believes Cubs want to be "nimble" with money - clearly code for cheap)

 

[squally1313]

1 hour ago, KCCub said:

 

That's where I was leaning. Redsox have a ton of assets, would think they make a splash this off-season with moving some.

Someone tell me to stop, but…sign King or Imai and dip into the AAA pool to pick up another quality starter, then…how close does Justin Steele and a freeish Jameson Taillon get you?

[Jason Ross]

2 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

Someone tell me to stop, but…sign King or Imai and dip into the AAA pool to pick up another quality starter, then…how close does Justin Steele and a freeish Jameson Taillon get you?

For Marte? Probably not even a conversation starter. My guess is that that an expiring Taillon and Steele with 2 years of control, but coming off a TJS brace that won't make it back until the back half of the first year gets a phone hang up pretty quick. 

Marte is signed relatively cheaply and has been awesome. They want MLB-ready young pitching. They'll probably get it.

It's probably Wiggins + Brown + something else good if Arizona is high on Wiggins and Brown to get a start. But that'd be my guess.

[Tryptamine]

Just now, Jason Ross said:

For Marte? Probably not even a conversation starter. My guess is that that an expiring Taillon and Steele with 2 years of control, but coming off a TJS brace that won't make it back until the back half of the first year gets a phone hang up pretty quick. 

Marte is signed relatively cheaply and has been awesome. They want MLB-ready young pitching. They'll probably get it.

It's probably Wiggins + Brown + something else good if Arizona is high on Wiggins and Brown to get a start. But that'd be my guess.

Honestly not sure how Horton wouldn't have to be involved. I'm not sure Wiggins is enough to headline without another big big prospect be 1b to Wiggins 1A

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Tryptamine said:

Honestly not sure how Horton wouldn't have to be involved. I'm not sure Wiggins is enough to headline without another big big prospect be 1b to Wiggins 1A

Don't necessarily disagree. Ketel Marte is a really good baseball player. He's about to hit the "I'm not so sure" ages where bat speed slows down, but he's been a beast two years running now and with his $15m or whatever he's owed per year until he's 37? He's super cheap money wise 

[Cuzi]

On one hand you have the Diamondbacks wanting pitching in return for a A-tier player on a cheap deal, going to take a lot of pitching to get him. On the other hand you have the Cubs wanting to keep it's pitching and add on to it and putting hitting on the back burner, seemingly.

Sounds like a match made in heaven.

Edited December 10, 2025 by Cuzi

[ToolDRT]

Seems like Imai might be their top target and they’re gonna wait on that before making any other big moves. Hopefully it won’t drag too long  

If Tucker gets 250mil and the cubs weren’t involved I’m done with this team. That’s insane. 

[Jason Ross]

3 minutes ago, ToolDRT said:

Seems like Imai might be their top target and they’re gonna wait on that before making any other big moves. Hopefully it won’t drag too long  

If Tucker gets 250mil and the cubs weren’t involved I’m done with this team. That’s insane. 

Imai was supposed to meet with some teams at the Meetings and the thought was he would sign next week. 

[Neuby]

Matz getting 15M over two years , makes the Maton deal look even better.

Edited December 10, 2025 by Neuby

[Jason Ross]

 

[Jason Ross]

Bummer. I like Soto as one of the left handed option in the BP.

[chibears55]

2 hours ago, Jason Ross said:

Rogers on ESPN1000. Cubs hits:

Predicts the Cubs to get Michael King or maybe Tatsuya Imai

Cubs like their position players, money will be spent on pitching (bullpen)

In on a "real" closer (names Fairbanks/Suarez)

Cubs to funnel money to pitching - might circle back to hitting later

Feel relatively comfortable with hitters

Predicts Tucker to Toronto for $250-$300m (believes Cubs want to be "nimble" with money - clearly code for cheap)

 

Pretty much what I was expecting them to do this offseason 

[Rcal10]

3 hours ago, Jason Ross said:

Rogers on ESPN1000. Cubs hits:

Predicts the Cubs to get Michael King or maybe Tatsuya Imai

Cubs like their position players, money will be spent on pitching (bullpen)

In on a "real" closer (names Fairbanks/Suarez)

Cubs to funnel money to pitching - might circle back to hitting later

Feel relatively comfortable with hitters

Predicts Tucker to Toronto for $250-$300m (believes Cubs want to be "nimble" with money - clearly code for cheap)

 

I would be fine with King or Imai, Suarez(RP) and then a right handed bat who can play 1st, 3rd and DH. Maybe if they went with King for $20M a year, Fairbanks for $9M a year they can get someone like the 29 yr old Japanese third baseman. 

[Rcal10]

What would be a more desirable off season?

Option 1: sign King or Imai, Suarez(RP) and Refsnyder or Andujar

Option 2: sign King or Imai, Fairbanks and Okamato

Option 3: Sign Bregman, trade Cassie and Brown for Gore, Cabrera or Ryan and sign Fairbanks

i think each option comes in close to the same salaries, give or take a few million. 
I realize the trade might not go exactly how I am suggesting. So pick whoever is needed to make that trade for a pitcher. Regardless, which option is better. 

 

[Post Count Padder]

 

[ToolDRT]

Saw that the Red Sox are making Bregman a “priority”. Curious where Bichette winds up if the jays sign Tucker and the Sox sign Bregman. 

[mk49]

31 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

What would be a more desirable off season?

Option 1: sign King or Imai, Suarez(RP) and Refsnyder or Andujar

Option 2: sign King or Imai, Fairbanks and Okamato

Option 3: Sign Bregman, trade Cassie and Brown for Gore, Cabrera or Ryan and sign Fairbanks

i think each option comes in close to the same salaries, give or take a few million. 
I realize the trade might not go exactly how I am suggesting. So pick whoever is needed to make that trade for a pitcher. Regardless, which option is better. 

 

To me, the option 3 is the best, followed by the option 2.  

I would say

Option 1: I think Robert Suarez will be too expensive for the Cubs.  I like him more than Fairbanks.  Most likely, he's looking for a 3yr deal with $16 ~ 20 million AAV.  The Cubs won't do that.

Option 2: This is a cool option, because we don't give up young guys.  I still think Ben Brown could be a more than decent reliever.  I don't think Okamoto, though better than Murakami, will be a good defensively.

Option 3: It's cool to add Bregman to the roster without giving up Shaw.  I will miss both Owen and Ben, but if we could get Ryan, that would be smashing great.  I really don't care about Gore and Cabrera, though.

[Stratos]

7 hours ago, KCCub said:

 

Wtf?

What Counsell said tracks more with how long most SP return from TJS.  Some brief appearances in ST then April/May in Tennessee and maybe a June return makes sense.

[Stratos]

13 hours ago, ILMindState said:

 

That sucks.

[Stratos]

13 hours ago, Bertz said:

Hopefully the dam breaks now

 

Seems like significant overpay.  And his WAR numbers have been padded by extra PA's in the leadoff slot.

[Stratos]

2 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

I would be fine with King or Imai, Suarez(RP) and then a right handed bat who can play 1st, 3rd and DH. Maybe if they went with King for $20M a year, Fairbanks for $9M a year they can get someone like the 29 yr old Japanese third baseman. 

These would be solid.  I wish we could do better.

[Cuzi]

13 minutes ago, Stratos said:

I wish we could do better.

Nope. The word you are looking for is would.

[Stratos]

7 hours ago, Bertz said:

This just speaks to the volatility of relievers and pens.  Obviously they were wrong on Pressly and others.  I'm sure we spend more on another reliever or 2 but Jed also said at the meeting already that they'd rather spend resources towards other parts of the team.

[thawv]

15 hours ago, Cuzi said:

What is so special about MacKenzie Gore? He's forever a middling pitcher. He gets whiffs and strikeouts, but he also walks a ton of guys and gives up a ton of hard contact. So his ERA is always crap but his expected numbers make him look like he could be better. But its the same story every year.

We are looking for a guy to throw out there in game 1/2 in the playoffs. I feel like MacKenzie Gore is a shiny version of Shota.

I agree with this.  They barrel up balls against him.  He gets hit hard.  He walks too many guys.  He's more of a flyball pitcher.  He's fine if we already had him, but it looks like most of his value comes from being cheap and having 2 years control.