Winter Doldrums Thread

[Backtobanks]

22 hours ago, Dfan25 said:

Jed Hoyer seems to be enamored with Alex Bregman .  

All this talk about Bregman is silly.  He made $36 million last year and walked away from $41.5 million for each of 2026 and 2027.  These kinds of numbers are far so beyond Jed's allowance that it makes his head spin.

[Cuzi]

16 minutes ago, Backtobanks said:

All this talk about Bregman is silly.  He made $36 million last year and walked away from $41.5 million for each of 2026 and 2027.  These kinds of numbers are far so beyond Jed's allowance that it makes his head spin.

No he didn't. Half of his deal was deferred til 2035-2046.

[Rcal10]

20 minutes ago, Cuzi said:

No he didn't. Half of his deal was deferred til 2035-2046.

Right, but my guess is he will still get something like 5/$160 and the Cubs are not going to do that unless they plan on going over the first LT line. I know it makes perfect sense to go over this year, but until they actually show they are willing to go over, I can’t believe they will. 

[ToolDRT]

Behind a paywall, but mlbtr claims it says the cubs and Red Sox aren’t offering a long term deal to Bregman. 
 

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2025/12/27/alex-bregman-free-agency-boston-red-sox-detroit-tigers/87898888007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=false&gca-epti=z114840p119550c119550u001240d00----v114840&gca-ft=218&gca-ds=sophi&gnt-djm=1

[Stratos]

22 hours ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Jed already floated Bregman $115 million last winter and is once again showing interest. It might not make sense but the rumors from last offseason was that Jed planned on flipping Nico for a starting pitcher if they had landed Bregman. He definitely made more sense last year though. 

Sign Bregman, keep all 3 infielders while still acquiring Cabrera improves the team and especially the lineup. You’ll still have your second baseman of the future when Nico walks. Shaw can still get at bats as a utility guy for a season. 
Trade Nico and if you turn him into a prospect to send to Miami or somewhere else you’d hope the Marlins throw in an another piece. I’d hope they have someone bigger in mind than Cabrera. Jed pursuing him again is why it’s a topic and I’d be surprised if it happens 

Last year It sounded like Ricketts was willing to flex the budget a bit to sign Bregman and all of that money wasted spent on other players.  So that would have obviously made the Cubs better.  Probably not the case this offseason with all the other good options out there, but who knows.

Edited December 29, 2025 by Stratos

[Backtobanks]

19 hours ago, Cuzi said:

No he didn't. Half of his deal was deferred til 2035-2046.

PTR and Jed don't believe in spending future money either.

[Rcal10]

52 minutes ago, Backtobanks said:

PTR and Jed don't believe in spending future money either.

I don’t think that is Cuzi’s point. I think we all are very aware of what the Cubs FO will and won’t do. And I also doubt very much that the Cubs will end up with Bregman. However, I think Cuzi is telling you that his previous contract was weighted heavily in deferrals. So suggesting he will make $40M the next 2 years as a guide to what it will take to get him now is misleading. My guess is he will end up around a 5 year deal with maybe $145M to $160M actual value today. Which is why I don’t see him coming to the Cubs. We end up at the same place. He won’t be a Cub. But you did exaggerated, or left out key parts to the contract he opted out of. It won’t be hard to beat. 

[CubinNY]

4 hours ago, Stratos said:

Last year It sounded like Ricketts was willing to flex the budget a bit to sign Bregman and all of that money wasted spent on other players.  So that would have obviously made the Cubs better.  Probably not the case this offseason with all the other good options out there, but who knows.

I love how when they don’t get a player PTR is the hero of the story. 

[chibears55]

Be funny if they end up with Tucker as their big signing this offseason, and then add a SP that low cost.

 

 

[Rcal10]

9 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Be funny if they end up with Tucker as their big signing this offseason, and then add a SP that low cost.

 

 

If they would go even $10M over the first LT line they can sign Tucker and trade for Cabrera. Or, if we are wishing for a large market team mentality they can sign Tucker and Imai and be maybe $18M(or so) over now and not worry about adding payroll at the TDL. But that isn’t going to happen. 

[mk49]

I don't know how much the Cubs can get from Japan market.  But, if the Cubs sign both Imai and Okamoto, they would be the first MLB team with four Japanese players.  If I remember correctly, Yomiuri Giants, Okamoto's team, is the most popular team in Japan.  And, he was the best hitter they had for a while.  That should be able to get a lot of sponsors from Japan, I would think.  If that's the case, they might be able to make more profit, even if they go over the LT line.  The posting fee is another issue, though.

That said, signing Okamoto (or Bregman) doesn't make much sense, unless they trade Shaw or Nico, which I don't like.  Even if they trade Nico, Bregman would be too expensive and too long for the Cubs.  Resigning Tucker would make more sense than Bregman, if Tucker can't get a long term deal.  BTW. I don't think Okamoto can be a good 3B.  He's either 1B, LF or DH.  So, yeah, Okamoto isn't a good fit for the Cubs.  

If they don't get Imai, I have a feeling that they don't get any SP, unless a good trade shows up.  I don't think Imai is going to be really expensive.  I could be totally wrong, of course, but he's gonna sign something like 4~5yr, $20M AAV or less.  If the Cubs doesn't offer him that kind of contract, they probably wouldn't get Gallen, either.

Anyway, we'll know very soon.

Edited December 30, 2025 by mk49

[Geographyhater8888]

13 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

If they would go even $10M over the first LT line they can sign Tucker and trade for Cabrera. Or, if we are wishing for a large market team mentality they can sign Tucker and Imai and be maybe $18M(or so) over now and not worry about adding payroll at the TDL. But that isn’t going to happen. 

Someone needs to make a Ricketts/Hoyer complaint thread so we don’t have to preface every hypothetical Tucker/going over the LT scenario with “won’t happen because of cheap ownership”.

 

Edited December 30, 2025 by Geographyhater8888

[Geographyhater8888]

10 hours ago, mk49 said:

I don't know how much the Cubs can get from Japan market.  But, if the Cubs sign both Imai and Okamoto, they would be the first MLB team with four Japanese players.  If I remember correctly, Yomiuri Giants, Okamoto's team, is the most popular team in Japan.  And, he was the best hitter they had for a while.  That should be able to get a lot of sponsors from Japan, I would think.  If that's the case, they might be able to make more profit, even if they go over the LT line.  The posting fee is another issue, though.

That said, signing Okamoto (or Bregman) doesn't make much sense, unless they trade Shaw or Nico, which I don't like.  Even if they trade Nico, Bregman would be too expensive and too long for the Cubs.  Resigning Tucker would make more sense than Bregman, if Tucker can't get a long term deal.  BTW. I don't think Okamoto can be a good 3B.  He's either 1B, LF or DH.  So, yeah, Okamoto isn't a good fit for the Cubs.  

If they don't get Imai, I have a feeling that they don't get any SP, unless a good trade shows up.  I don't think Imai is going to be really expensive.  I could be totally wrong, of course, but he's gonna sign something like 4~5yr, $20M AAV or less.  If the Cubs doesn't offer him that kind of contract, they probably wouldn't get Gallen, either.

Anyway, we'll know very soon.

I don’t know how Okamoto profiles a hitter but Counsel loves stacking right handed lineups vs lefties. If Cassie is penciled in as an opening day outfielder, he’d make sense as a RH DH option and or a platoon option for Busch. If Happ walks he’s also your opening day left fielder in 2027 if there’s a season or even third base depending on his versatility. For 4/$50 million there’s a fit.

Edited December 30, 2025 by Geographyhater8888

[Rcal10]

10 hours ago, mk49 said:

I don't know how much the Cubs can get from Japan market.  But, if the Cubs sign both Imai and Okamoto, they would be the first MLB team with four Japanese players.  If I remember correctly, Yomiuri Giants, Okamoto's team, is the most popular team in Japan.  And, he was the best hitter they had for a while.  That should be able to get a lot of sponsors from Japan, I would think.  If that's the case, they might be able to make more profit, even if they go over the LT line.  The posting fee is another issue, though.

That said, signing Okamoto (or Bregman) doesn't make much sense, unless they trade Shaw or Nico, which I don't like.  Even if they trade Nico, Bregman would be too expensive and too long for the Cubs.  Resigning Tucker would make more sense than Bregman, if Tucker can't get a long term deal.  BTW. I don't think Okamoto can be a good 3B.  He's either 1B, LF or DH.  So, yeah, Okamoto isn't a good fit for the Cubs.  

If they don't get Imai, I have a feeling that they don't get any SP, unless a good trade shows up.  I don't think Imai is going to be really expensive.  I could be totally wrong, of course, but he's gonna sign something like 4~5yr, $20M AAV or less.  If the Cubs doesn't offer him that kind of contract, they probably wouldn't get Gallen, either.

Anyway, we'll know very soon.

With either Bregman or a Okamoto the Cubs can very easily still have Hoerner and Shaw. Shaw can be the utility guy off the bench/right hand platoon DH (or play 3rd and let Okamoto DH when a lefty starts) Also, where are you getting the idea Okamoto isn’t good at 3rd base? I thought he was the better of the to 3rd baseman coming over. I honestly don’t understand how people can have opinions on guys they have never seen except by reading reports on that player. And I haven’t read he can’t play 3rd, but maybe I missed that one.
And finally, if they don’t get Imai they absolutely need to get, and most likely will get, another starting pitcher. 

[Rcal10]

4 hours ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Someone needs to make a Ricketts/Hoyer complaint thread so we don’t have to preface every hypothetical Tucker/going over the LT scenario with “won’t happen because of cheap ownership”.

 

Sorry. I do that because every time I do mention Bregman, even if he isn’t the main point of my post, there is a post following asking me how I expect that to happen. So now I feel I have to put that disclaimer in any post mentioning moves of any kind that might take them over. 

[CubinNY]

4 hours ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Someone needs to make a Ricketts/Hoyer complaint thread so we don’t have to preface every hypothetical Tucker/going over the LT scenario with “won’t happen because of cheap ownership”.

 

We have one- it’s called The Ricketts are awful for many reasons. You have to go to page 3 or something 

[Geographyhater8888]

24 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Sorry. I do that because every time I do mention Bregman, even if he isn’t the main point of my post, there is a post following asking me how I expect that to happen. So now I feel I have to put that disclaimer in any post mentioning moves of any kind that might take them over. 

It wasn’t directed at you specifically and I’m more guilty of this than you are.

Edited December 30, 2025 by Geographyhater8888

[Bertz]

1 hour ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

I don’t know how Okamoto profiles a hitter. But Counsel loves stacking right handed lineups vs lefties. Assuming Cassie is penciled in as an opening day outfielder, he’d make sense as a RH DH option and or a platoon option for Busch. If Happ walks he’s also your opening day left fielder in 2027 if there’s a season. For 4/$50 million there’s a fit.

Yeah I think the big question is if Okamoto can handle a significant chunk of 3B reps, especially for a team like ours that values defense so highly.  Pretty much every report has said he's not good on defense, but are we talking more or less an emergency option like Justin Turner or merely below average like Max Muncy?  I feel like I've seen more indications of the former, though there's obviously some error bars translating how these guys will be over here (Seiya was supposed to be a GGer for instance).

Because yeah if Okamoto is a real option at all of 1B/3B/COF that's a really good roster fit.  To your point Craig could go with a lineup of all righties or as many as 5 lefties, which is extremely his jam.  It would also give us a, for lack of a better term, adult backing up all of the young guys we're folding into the roster.

[Rcal10]

17 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Yeah I think the big question is if Okamoto can handle a significant chunk of 3B reps, especially for a team like ours that values defense so highly.  Pretty much every report has said he's not good on defense, but are we talking more or less an emergency option like Justin Turner or merely below average like Max Muncy?  I feel like I've seen more indications of the former, though there's obviously some error bars translating how these guys will be over here (Seiya was supposed to be a GGer for instance).

Because yeah if Okamoto is a real option at all of 1B/3B/COF that's a really good roster fit.  To your point Craig could go with a lineup of all righties or as many as 5 lefties, which is extremely his jam.  It would also give us a, for lack of a better term, adult backing up all of the young guys we're folding into the roster.

Oops, my bad. Looking over his stats from Japan I do see he was not exclusively a 3rd baseman. That said, I can still see a fit for him. Cubs don’t have to have Cassie as a DH. Maybe Okamoto takes that spot. They can use another right handed bat in the everyday line up anyway. And as you said, even with Cassie he adds versatility and a guy who can replace Happ next year. If he can hit they would find a space for him. 

[Geographyhater8888]

55 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Yeah I think the big question is if Okamoto can handle a significant chunk of 3B reps, especially for a team like ours that values defense so highly.  Pretty much every report has said he's not good on defense, but are we talking more or less an emergency option like Justin Turner or merely below average like Max Muncy?  I feel like I've seen more indications of the former, though there's obviously some error bars translating how these guys will be over here (Seiya was supposed to be a GGer for instance).

Because yeah if Okamoto is a real option at all of 1B/3B/COF that's a really good roster fit.  To your point Craig could go with a lineup of all righties or as many as 5 lefties, which is extremely his jam.  It would also give us a, for lack of a better term, adult backing up all of the young guys we're folding into the roster.

I wouldn’t mind a buffer either for Cassie’s first X amount of at bats that didn’t exist with Shaw where we endured 2 months of below replacement production from Berti/Workman/Brujan etc. Will Bellestaros split time at DH or work on catching in Iowa? 

Edited December 30, 2025 by Geographyhater8888

[Radar3454]

Just now, Geographyhater8888 said:

I wouldn’t mind a buffer for Cassie’s first X amount of at bats that didn’t exist with Shaw where we endured 2 months of below replacement production from Berti/Workman/Brujan etc. Will Bellestaros split time at DH or work on catching in Iowa? 

I expect Mo to get more at bats than Cassie with Seiya playing RF assuming both are still cubs. Just my opinion - Mo looks like a natural hitter and hopefully his agent or someone has him in much better condition when spring training starts.

[Rcal10]

6 minutes ago, Radar3454 said:

I expect Mo to get more at bats than Cassie with Seiya playing RF assuming both are still cubs. Just my opinion - Mo looks like a natural hitter and hopefully his agent or someone has him in much better condition when spring training starts.

I think Mo will outhit Cassie as well. But he is very young and the Cubs might really want him to catch. That’s the only reason I put Cassie over him. They may want Ami to get a year in at catching in Iowa. I do like his bat, however. 

[cl smooth]

[chibears55]

Hoyer gonna tank 2026 so he can draft Genei Sato in the 2027 draft. 😏😏😏

[chibears55]

I still expect to see this lineup on OD...

Kelly/Amaya 

Busch

Hoerner 

Swanson 

Shaw

Happ

PCA

Caissie 

Suzuki/Ballesteros