Cubs Offseason Mega Thread

[Jason Ross]

2 hours ago, chibears55 said:

If Hoyer does use 2027 as a bridge year and doesn't go out and bring someone in long term, they could go with a probable Horton Brown and Wiggins as likely 3 starters that could be in rotation, along with possibly Townsend for 2028

They're not using this as a bridge year. I'm not overly enthused by what we have heard so far, but they're not just getting a bunch of 1 year deals here. Especially to bridge to:

- Guy on 2nd TJS in under half a decade

- Guy who had neck surgery and hasn't been healthy enough to finish a year in the rotation

- Guy who was objectively not good last year and hasn't pitched in MLB. Also who has injury history galore. 

- Guy who hasn't thrown professional pitch.

They are all interesting prospects and dart throws. But all four are massive, massive risks. Anything you get out of them (as of today) in the rotation-of-the-future is great but absolutely can not and will not be counted on in 2028 (yet - maybe that changes in the summer).  And an off-season plan this year that centers around them building out the next rotation is suicidal. 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

28 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

pitching lab Frankenstein version of Horton and Wiggins

You might have something there

[BKHoo]

Spine surgery is no joke.  Best of luck to Ben. 

[Nolo]

Frankenstein Wiggins and Horton had me lmao 🤣 

But here’s what seems to be a recent update (today) from Carter Hawkins on the off season and Ben Brown. Haven’t been through the entire video yet but wanted to share as he gives some more “detail” on Brown early on in the video.

Edit: after watching the video, some takeaways:

• Brown got a screw in his neck.
• They have not met with Scott Boras (yet) but says he is sure that meeting will happen. Not sure who else he is representing besides Skubal.
• He talks about good deals in trades and free agents like he’s talking about black Friday shopping. Said the words “good deals” a lot. Quantity (depth) over quality vibes.
• Likes the Japanese market
• They need “several” starters. There are definitely players on the FA market that will help them win games. 
• Clay Holmes is a good fit 
• He called Shaw “Matty” — based on that alone I feel he is def not being traded. Matty and Pedro will likely see OF time, he was especially confident in Matty.
• Javier Assad will be coming into the year as a starter and will be counted on for valuable innings. Not sure if that’s rotation or depth, sure sounded like rotation.
• Expectation is Garrett comes into the year competing for a rotation spot. And if not the rotation then the bullpen. Has to earn his spot on the roster though.

Edited 2 hours ago by Nolo

[Illiterate Scholar]

Baseball ops/medical staff not being allowed to talk to rehabbing players during the lockout is such a dumb, unnecessary fake rule, and is something to keep in mind when projecting timeline for guys like Brown and Horton. 

[Gjfificifjdej]

53 minutes ago, Illiterate Scholar said:

Baseball ops/medical staff not being allowed to talk to rehabbing players during the lockout is such a dumb, unnecessary fake rule, and is something to keep in mind when projecting timeline for guys like Brown and Horton. 

All rules are fake, we made this all up. 

[Bertz]

3 hours ago, Nolo said:

Frankenstein Wiggins and Horton had me lmao 🤣 

But here’s what seems to be a recent update (today) from Carter Hawkins on the off season and Ben Brown. Haven’t been through the entire video yet but wanted to share as he gives some more “detail” on Brown early on in the video.

Edit: after watching the video, some takeaways:

 

• Brown got a screw in his neck.
• They have not met with Scott Boras (yet) but says he is sure that meeting will happen. Not sure who else he is representing besides Skubal.
• He talks about good deals in trades and free agents like he’s talking about black Friday shopping. Said the words “good deals” a lot. Quantity (depth) over quality vibes.
• Likes the Japanese market
• They need “several” starters. There are definitely players on the FA market that will help them win games. 
• Clay Holmes is a good fit 
• He called Shaw “Matty” — based on that alone I feel he is def not being traded. Matty and Pedro will likely see OF time, he was especially confident in Matty.
• Javier Assad will be coming into the year as a starter and will be counted on for valuable innings. Not sure if that’s rotation or depth, sure sounded like rotation.
• Expectation is Garrett comes into the year competing for a rotation spot. And if not the rotation then the bullpen. Has to earn his spot on the roster though.

Thanks for posting this.  Really good stuff.  Some other things that stood out to me

- Probably the most confident I've ever heard Carter.  He was very impressive here

- Probably some copium but about as positive of a Ben Brown update as I could have hoped for

- Very much did not sound like they're gonna roll with Amaya and Ayers at catcher.  I don't think Kelly's back but they're going to bring an adult in

- He didn't shut the door on anything but sounded like he views Wiggins as a reliever

- The line about Tyler Zombro texting Edward Cabrera every day...I'm going to try not to read too much into that but raised an eyebrow

- Bruce Levine asks a lot of meandering questions and you can tell Carter's thinking "WTF are you talking about" until he finally lands on a point

- They clearl have a Japanese pitcher circled as a priority add.  Presumably Taira but they're 100% adding a Japanese SP this winter