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

[Bertz]

I suspect we're really close to Bregman signing

 

[chibears55]

9 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

This is a complete about face. Aren’t you the guy who continually says you don’t expect them to do anything? Aren’t you all about just bringing up prospects who will magically be as good as Happ and Suzuki? Now you are suggesting something that we all know has absolutely no chance of happening? Obviously you know it too. Just surprised you even suggested it.
Honestly, I would rather see them get Bichette and Gallen. Trade Tailon. That would cost them a net of around $32M to $38M. They would be over the LT, but not by that much. And they can get under next year. While I think this is also pretty unlikely, I think it is way more likely than what you suggested. 

First, what i wish they'd do and think theyll do are two different things.

Second, I dont ever recall saying bring up random prospects because theyll automatically be as good as Happ and Suzuki.  You'll have to show me that post if you want a reason why I posted that if I did. 

Third, obviously we know it wouldn't happen, theres alot of stuff on here being posted that we all know wont happen, that why I said if Ricketts would and they could get two of them, not that they will or should. 

we can wish for something to happen but likely wont, like Ricketts opening up his wallet and do something that not overly crazy, or make actual suggestions of what they might do.

 

[Irrelevant Dude]

24 minutes ago, Radar3454 said:

I think number of years is almost as important as AAV. How many years of decline are you paying current production for?

I don't want a lesser player now simply because we don't have to pay him later.  So if it's Bellinger over Tucker or Bichette simply because the Cubs don't have to pay Bellinger as much TOTAL money, that is dumb.

[chibears55]

11 minutes ago, Petrey10 said:

Haha I was ridiculed for going all in on Bichette now we are wanting Tucker and Bichette?!? lol wow what turn of events 

I dont think they'd do it, just saying they can if Ricketts would allow Hoyer to go over, but we know it wont happen. 

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, chibears55 said:

First, what i wish they'd do and think theyll do are two different things.

Second, I dont ever recall saying bring up random prospects because theyll automatically be as good as Happ and Suzuki.  You'll have to show me that post if you want a reason why I posted that if I did. 

Third, obviously we know it wouldn't happen, theres alot of stuff on here being posted that we all know wont happen, that why I said if Ricketts would and they could get two of them, not that they will or should. 

we can wish for something to happen but likely wont, like Ricketts opening up his wallet and do something that not overly crazy, or make actual suggestions of what they might do.

 

I know this. And I agree we all do it. Just not you, really. That is what surprised me. You wishing. Typically you are the guy who after someone puts up a crazy wish, shoots it down with reality. 😬 I guess I didn’t expect you to join the dreamers (me included)
As for prospects replacing solid players, you have absolutely suggested it often. I am not going to go back and look at exact examples, but you have advocated for trading Happ and Suzuki and replacing them with Cassie, Mo, Long, etc….. on numerous occasions. 

[Dfan25]

Heyman says Dbacks still open to Bregman , so whatever 

[Neuby]

Chas McCormick would cost nothing and let the Jaguar get more reps at Iowa.

[Jason Ross]

11 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

Heyman says Dbacks still open to Bregman , so whatever 

I found the "cares about winning" portion about that tweet interesting. Heyman has always been close to Boras and that reads like a shot across the bow a bit from Scott. 

I'm with Bertz and think that Bregman will be the first of the four to sign and it feels like it's not far off.

[chibears55]

1 hour ago, Rcal10 said:

I know this. And I agree we all do it. Just not you, really. That is what surprised me. You wishing. Typically you are the guy who after someone puts up a crazy wish, shoots it down with reality. 😬 I guess I didn’t expect you to join the dreamers (me included)
As for prospects replacing solid players, you have absolutely suggested it often. I am not going to go back and look at exact examples, but you have advocated for trading Happ and Suzuki and replacing them with Cassie, Mo, Long, etc….. on numerous occasions. 

Gotcha, yea i dream sometimes, just dont post it much lol

Yea I've suggested trading Happ and Suzuki because I dont think either will be extended and figure why not try and get something of value for them over just letting them walk, and just play Caissie or Mo in their place. it not cause I think they'd automatically be just as good or better right off the bat.

 

[Illiterate Scholar]

Listening to Sharma and Mooney, they make it seem like Bregman is the target. A little unclear how much was just opinion. They mostly poo poo'd the other big 3 options. 

[Bertz]

5 minutes ago, Illiterate Scholar said:

Listening to Sharma and Mooney, they make it seem like Bregman is the target. A little unclear how much was just opinion. They mostly poo poo'd the other big 3 options. 

I think it's increasingly clear the team views Bregman as an 80 grade soft skills guy.  I think that's the explanation for why they're so laser focused on him compared to the other comparable options. 

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I think it's increasingly clear the team views Bregman as an 80 grade soft skills guy.  I think that's the explanation for why they're so laser focused on him compared to the other comparable options. 

Honestly, I don’t care who they view as the main target. Just target one and get him like a big market should do. If they get someone who isn’t the last man standing I will finally believe they got a guy because they wanted him, not because he dropped. 

[Dfan25]

Seems like the Phillies may need to trade Castellanos and Bohm , before they can  sign Bichette . 

[Dfan25]

A Red Sox / Cubs showdown for Bregman would be very interesting . They are so similar in the way they do business 

[CubinNY]

6 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

A Red Sox / Cubs showdown for Bregman would be very interesting . They are so similar in the way they do business 

Basically, the same folks with different names. In the past, the John Henry group would go the distance, but they've changed significantly now that they've added more owners and probably PE folks. 

[chibears55]

55 minutes ago, Illiterate Scholar said:

Listening to Sharma and Mooney, they make it seem like Bregman is the target. A little unclear how much was just opinion. They mostly poo poo'd the other big 3 options. 

He hasn't accepted Boston 6/170 offer yet, so One would think Bregman looking for at least 180 with the 6 years, id be shocked if Ricketts allows Hoyer to offer a 32 yo 6 yrs and 180.

They could probably get Bichette with a 6 year offer well under 180, and hes 28.

It would be nice to know how close to 244 theyre going or if theyre actually going over. Bichette and someone like Tauchman would be good if they plan on staying under, and have approximately 35 to spend. 

 

 

Edited January 9 by chibears55

[Jason Ross]

3 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

He hasn't accepted Boston 6/170 offer yet, so One would think Bregman looking for at least 180 with the 6 years, id be shocked if Ricketts allows Hoyer to offer a 32 yo 6 yrs and 180.

They could probably get Bichette with a 6 year offer well under 180, and hes 28.

It would be nice to know how close to 244 theyre going or if theyre actually going over. Bichette and someone like Tauchman would be good if they plan on staying under.

 

 

We have some rough idea that the Red Sox are around 6/$170m but there could be things in there that make it less valuable. There could be deferred money. That kind of contract is around the upper end of what Bregman will cost and I'm not sure what the wait on it would be. Maybe he's just trying to get a little more. 

Beyond that, I do not believe Bichette is signing 6/$170m - it would drop him as a FA at age 34. He's either looking to go beyond that into his later 30's or earlier than that. 34 is in a bad no-man's land for an infielder. 

[KCCub]

The Cubs fan in me who has been hurt multiple times in these instances feels like Bregman back to the Red Sox, Belli back to the Yankees, Phillies land Bo, and Blue jays or Mets land Tucker.

The logical thinker in me looks at our 2027 and 2028 payrolls and just see's no reason whatsoever for us to not sign one of these four, even if it cost us a few additional million in lux tax this season. We just literally don't have any substantial contracts besides Dansby and next off-season is going to be hell trying to replace all these guys if we don't start adding longer term pieces now. 

[chibears55]

4 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

We have some rough idea that the Red Sox are around 6/$170m but there could be things in there that make it less valuable. There could be deferred money. That kind of contract is around the upper end of what Bregman will cost and I'm not sure what the wait on it would be. Maybe he's just trying to get a little more. 

Beyond that, I do not believe Bichette is signing 6/$170m - it would drop him as a FA at age 34. He's either looking to go beyond that into his later 30's or earlier than that. 34 is in a bad no-man's land for an infielder. 

I was just saying between the two i would prefer offering Bichette the years and it would cost less overall, and Bichette also 4 years younger.

If they can get Bichette for 4 years that would be awesome too, if he wants to test FA again. 

 

[Jason Ross]

1 minute ago, chibears55 said:

I was just saying between the two i would prefer offering Bichette the years and it would cost less overall, and Bichette also 4 years younger.

If they can get Bichette for 4 years that would be awesome too, if he wants to test FA again. 

 

I understand that, but I think it's important to remember that a lower amount of years will drastically increase the AAV. That's the incentive to sign one of those. And we know the Cubs run on a more limited budget. 

I would expect Bichette on 4 years to cost more AAV than Bregman on 6. Should they do it? Sure! Will they?

[ILMindState]

 

With Kepler suspended does Bo even make sense for the Phillies? They should really be going after Belli or Tucker

[Bertz]

I'd be *shocked* if Boston is offering anything close to  6/170 to Bregman, at least in real money.  If we deflate that # to the same degree as their contract last year you come in around 6/120-130, that's probably a good bit more reasonable.

[Thusly Boned]

5 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

 

With Kepler suspended does Bo even make sense for the Phillies? They should really be going after Belli or Tucker

I'm not totally buying the Bo/Phillies thing because they are more in need of OF, and financially they're saying they can't afford to sign Bichette and Realmuto, so it would open another hole.

Edited January 9 by Thusly Boned

[Post Count Padder]

1 minute ago, ILMindState said:

 

With Kepler suspended does Bo even make sense for the Phillies? They should really be going after Belli or Tucker

Kepler was a FA anyway and was not good last year.

The Phillies have two options if they sign Bichette:

Bichette, Turner, Stott trade off between 2B, 3B and SS and the Phillies trade Bohm for a catcher.

or

Bichette takes over SS and Turner goes into LF, with Adolis Garcia in RF and Marsh/Justin Crawford getting CF.

The Phillies may need to trade Bohm anyway and they are not going into next year with Marchan/Stubbs as the catchers. It's also no secret Castellanos has played his last game with them. I'm sure they're trying to trade him before outright releasing him. I could see the Reds interested in brining him back since their OF is bleak.

[KCCub]

5 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

 

With Kepler suspended does Bo even make sense for the Phillies? They should really be going after Belli or Tucker

They probably should be looking at OF, but Kepler was a FA.