Screw Winter Doldrums! The Get a Big Bat and Call It an Offseason Thread

[Post Count Padder]

He was at a golf event in Arizona talking about how much he loves it there and his wife is from there. Could be nothing but maybe he's holding out hope the Dbacks come back with some kind of offer. Or just the usual athlete speak.

[Colgera]

9 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

A little update on Gallen , out of Arizona :

 

 

If he truly wants to have a new team before ST , obviously running out of time 

I think that he is quite idealistic in regards to that, but the situation can be quite interesting in the future. Do I think he will be signed? I'm not necessarily sure. But he has indicated that he does want to return to Arizona. All of this nuance. I think that he has to focus less on quantification and more on stability in the future, even if that means a slight reduction in AAV. Arizona is shifting from manic spending (the Cubs' dream) to a more restricted or conservative/Hoover-esque approach.

Edited February 4 by Colgera

[Dfan25]

2 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

He was at a golf event in Arizona talking about how much he loves it there and his wife is from there. Could be nothing but maybe he's holding out hope the Dbacks come back with some kind of offer. Or just the usual athlete speak.

Yeah , that maybe the case . At this point I don’t see him getting anything other than a short term with an opt out ot two . Really I don’t think waiting for Valdez will make him get a different type of deal .

 

Seems like he is giving the Dbacks all the time possible to come up with the money . Money is a real issue for them however . They just got Arenado and Santana for like 7 mil combined I believe .

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

He was at a golf event in Arizona talking about how much he loves it there and his wife is from there. Could be nothing but maybe he's holding out hope the Dbacks come back with some kind of offer. Or just the usual athlete speak.

If it follows the other Cubs moves this off season, the Cubs will sign him in a day or two. Remember the Yankees were  supposed to be working on a trade for Cabrera and then out of nowhere the Xubs trade for him. Bregman was going to Boston. They were working on a deal, and he signs with the CubsNow it is Gallen’s turn. Cubs work quietly behind the scenes. So if they do end up with him it will happen suddenly without rumors. 

[Bertz]

bahahahaha

 

[Tryptamine]

12 minutes ago, Bertz said:

bahahahaha

 

Yikes, big yikes. Boston has a great rotation but that offense, woof....

[Bertz]

I assumed the Skubal arb case was impacting the pitching market but didn't think this directly.

Have to assume Gallen goes somewhere by this weekend.

[Post Count Padder]

I did not see him going to Detroit. Wow. 

Wonder if the Orioles get desperate and offer Gallen a bunch of money.

[Rcal10]

7 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I assumed the Skubal arb case was impacting the pitching market but didn't think this directly.

Have to assume Gallen goes somewhere by this weekend.

WOW! That is crazy money. Has to be deferred money, right? 

[mk49]

Very interesting.  What does this mean to Skubal?  Maybe, he's winning the arb, and the Tigers will trade him very soon?  Or, they're trying to win now with Skubal?

Edited February 5 by mk49

[Post Count Padder]

It's all going down now.

 

[Post Count Padder]

2 hours ago, Bertz said:

bahahahaha

 

$6 mil.....yeesh,

[Tryptamine]

1 hour ago, Post Count Padder said:

I did not see him going to Detroit. Wow. 

Wonder if the Orioles get desperate and offer Gallen a bunch of money.

I think they're in on Giolito. 

[Bertz]

If I was 60% sure the Bosox/Shaw stuff was dead after IKF I'm like 90% sure when this goes down just a few hours later.

[Rcal10]

10 minutes ago, Bertz said:

If I was 60% sure the Bosox/Shaw stuff was dead after IKF I'm like 90% sure when this goes down just a few hours later.

This move doesn’t move the needle for me with Shaw. IMO he wouldn’t have been Shaw’s replacement anyway. That said, I think IKF signing with the Red Sox does indicate the Red Sox are not trading for Shaw.

[Post Count Padder]

I feel like I'm missing something. Andujar never was going to be a Shaw replacement. As a bat, maybe. But he can't play the infield. He would have basically been competition for Tyler Austin.

[Post Count Padder]

I just stumbled upon us signing Vince Velasquez as more Iowa SP depth,

[Rcal10]

14 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

I feel like I'm missing something. Andujar never was going to be a Shaw replacement. As a bat, maybe. But he can't play the infield. He would have basically been competition for Tyler Austin.

That is my opinion as well. 

[mk49]

28 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I think IKF signing with the Red Sox does indicate the Red Sox are not trading for Shaw.

I think so, too.  I watched a couple of Red Sox YouTube podcasters, and they thought/hoped that IKF was the insurance, in case they couldn't get Shaw, Nico or Paredes.  I don't agree with them.  I think the Sox gave up Nico/Shaw/Paredes....  I want to keep both Nico and Matt, so that's good.

Edited February 5 by mk49

[Rcal10]

18 minutes ago, mk49 said:

I think so, too.  I watched a couple of Red Sox YouTube podcasters, and they thought/hoped that IKF was the insurance, in case they couldn't get Shaw, Nico or Paredes.  I don't agree with them.  I think the Sox gave up Nico/Shaw/Paredes....  I want to keep both Nico and Matt, so that's good.

I definitely didn’t want Hoerner traded. I am fine either way with Shaw. Had they been overwhelmed in a deal I would have been fine moving him. But fine that he is not being dealt. 

[Stratos]

35 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I definitely didn’t want Hoerner traded. I am fine either way with Shaw. Had they been overwhelmed in a deal I would have been fine moving him. But fine that he is not being dealt. 

I like Shaw on the bench.  Good glove, can play all 3 INF positions plus maybe OF, has speed on the bases, costs the minimum, can give our regulars a much needed day off or fill in for injury without being a huge detriment.

I hope they don't trade away any position player at this point.  Not thrilled with the OF depth in case of injury there, but I suppose Shaw could be an option there too, at least in a corner OF spot if Alcantara etc struggle to hit.

I also think having the whole offseason to work on his stance/ approach at the plate and really settle into something he's comfortable with could help Shaw a lot.

[Geographyhater8888]

12 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

If it follows the other Cubs moves this off season, the Cubs will sign him in a day or two. Remember the Yankees were  supposed to be working on a trade for Cabrera and then out of nowhere the Xubs trade for him. Bregman was going to Boston. They were working on a deal, and he signs with the CubsNow it is Gallen’s turn. Cubs work quietly behind the scenes. So if they do end up with him it will happen suddenly without rumors. 

The balls in Jed’s court for sure. Once again though, Gallen feels redundant and interchangeable with Boyd, Taillon and Shota. He has more upside that Taillon I guess. 
 

We’re counting on Horton, Cabrera and Steeles upside and health to make noise in October. So I’m not sure how excited I should be if they end up with Gallen.

Edited February 5 by Geographyhater8888

[Geographyhater8888]

What’s the best case scenario from Bellestaros? 

Edited February 5 by Geographyhater8888

[JunkyardWalrus]

49 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

What’s the best case scenario from Bellestaros? 

Second growth spurt?

[Rcal10]

46 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

What’s the best case scenario from Bellestaros? 

I think Mo is going to hit. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a guy hitting .280-.300 with 15-18 homers as his best case scenario. Maybe a wRC guy of 125. I am not suggesting next year. But your question is best case scenerio. I took it to mean as he plays a while in the league. Now, the issue is, can he catcher. I think for that to happen, the best case scenario this year would be the Cubs get another bat who can DH and play outfield. Leave Mo at Iowa this season and let him catch every day. Maybe (again, you asked best case scenario) he can become an average defensive catcher. An average catcher with his hitting ability is an all star catcher. That is the ultimate best case scenario. 
I do think he will DH this year and do well. I am talking ROY contention, well. I am fine with him on the team. But in doing so, IMO, they are deciding his position will be DH for his career.