davell

[tweet] [/tweet] He's probably happy to be away from the Ards.

At this point and time, isn't that basically the expectation though? He's still building arm strength. The reports I read basically said the velo should come back in a few months.

Rizzo's tiny face beats Wilson's square face in rock, paper, scissors.

Given that he's a guy who they just need to stash on the 40-man (out for 2017 but if they keep him on the 40-man all season, they control his rights for 2018), I think the Cubs could've afforded to pick him up if they thought he had even a remote chance of recovering. I mean, they did last year with Leathersich. Of course the Cubs might not have thought enough of Lindgren's recovery. Or he picked the Braves because he's a Mississippi kid and that would be the closes team to home. Good call on the Mississippi thing.

Damn, Lindgren signed a ML deal with the Braves. I wish we had taken that chance, but I guess we only will have so much room for rehabbers.

Beltran 1/16 to the Astros

Yeah, I think he had shoulder issues late in the year. He came back for a few appearances, no idea how he looked though.

Preller.....It wouldn't surprise me, if he weighed Ross' salary and what he may be able to get at mid season for him, versus signing Cionel Perez, Norge Ruiz, or any other Cubans left, with that same money. At any rate, the Pads spending 40+mill on Cubans looks to be taken straight off their payroll. They may not have had any choice but to release Ross.

Probably enough in here to separate from the general offseason thread. Here's the list of guys that got their pink slips.... Cubs- LHP Gerardo Concepción, 3B Christian Villanueva, LHP Zac Rosscup, RHP Connor Mullee Colorado- RHP Matt Carasiti, Util Stephen Cardullo Atlanta- RHP Chris Withrow Pittsburgh-LHP Jeff Locke, C Eric Fryer Dodgers- RHP Louis Coleman Cincy- RHP Keyvius Sampson, C Ramon Cabrera, OF Gabriel Guerrero Washington- OF Ben Revere San Diego- RHP Tyson Ross, Util Alexi Amarista, RHP Erik Johnson, RHP Jon Edwards, 2B Jose Pirela, C Hector Sanchez Milwaukee-1B Chris Carter Arizona- RHP Rubby DelaRosa, C Welington Castillo STL- RHP Seth Maness Philly- 3B Cody Asche LAA- INF Gregorio Petit, LHP Cody Ege Minnesota- LHP Yorman Landa Tampa- INF Ryan Brett Yankees- LHP Jacob Lindgren White Sox- RHP Blake Smith Texas- OF Jared Hoying Cleveland-RHP Jeff Manship Baltimore-RHP Vance Worley Boston- C Bryan Holoday The other teams had no one..... I'm guessing Jacob Lindgren gets resigned by the Yanks. He's out for 2017 with TJS. But he'd be a great get somehow. Chris Withrow still holds some interest of mine. Rubby would be a very nice pickup, if he's pitching in 2017. I'd love to see how he'd do in the pen. I'm excited about Ross, but he's an admitted risk. There's some other arms that'd look pretty good as NRI's. Anyone else have their eyes on anyone specific?

Mark Rzepcynski just got 2/11. This signing is now aces in my book.

Absolute chills, tears, smiles, all of it.

They signed Jeff Mathis today. I really think it can't be stated enough exactly how horrible of a GM Dave Stewart was. Signing Greinke, while knowing the payroll wasn't going up at all over the next few seasons was absolute brilliance, at its finest.

I'm capping him around 3 wins as a best case scenario because he has a relatively rare shoulder injury. Look at the guys who had Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, it either ends their careers or they're not close to the same after. Well, I've not done research on that lol. If so, I can see your cap. That said, our group knows this guy very well. If we don't sign him, I actually think I'd be OK, just because I'd think we knew something. Still, without spending big on a closer, I really like my idea structurally on a deal, even if he winds up as a 2-3 WAR type. It'd give us a head start on adding pitching for next year and it doesn't cost anything but money.

Why are you so sure he won't take a multi-year deal? If he's remotely unsure of his own health, signing a multi-year deal is security for him. Players bet on themselves. Plus if he's that bearish on his arm that's even more reason to not pursue him. One of the reasons that the Cubs have had remarkable health in their rotation is that they don't gamble it on obvious risks like Ross. EDIT: Ross has already made 18 million in his career too, security probably isn't a big priority. This is the upside type guy to grab in a year like this. No idea why you're capping him as a 3 WAR guy. By all reports, he's entering the offseason expecting to be healthy. Obviously, he's a pitcher, so that doesn't mean anything. But his UPSIDE is more than that. He's a guy you get creative with contractually. You're not giving him a 3 or 4 year deal. And he'll likely get an 8 figure deal for one season.....So you maybe add a BIT to the first year and you put him on a Kazmir type option. If you're betting on yourself or not, that's pretty tough to turn down. Especially when you add in that we've got excellent rehab facilities, a phenomenal team, and this sets up perfectly for us. It doesn't really seem to me that we're that interested in the big money closers. If you want to spend some of the playoff money, take a gamble on an SP that you may actually be able to keep for an extra 2-3 years. You've got Monty as your 6th guy. This is a pure upside move, assuming we're not spending big on relievers.

Why are you so sure he won't take a multi-year deal? If he's remotely unsure of his own health, signing a multi-year deal is security for him.

So yeah, Tyson Ross WILL be a Cub.

I don't think its truly a matter of whether we CAN spend on a closer, as much as it is about whether we want to.

Opposite of an acquisition, but we non tendered Rosscup, Concepción, Mullee, and Villanueva. Villanueva disappoints me, I kind of hoped he'd have a nice spring and put himself either on the squad or to bring us a bit of a return.

They weren't going to telegraph anything, but they certainly brought up the Tanaka money a bunch. It was just a matter of time before it was used. Lester was a target from Day 1. Last year, they said they needed the right fit, but definitely gave the impression they COULD spend, if things fell right. The question was whether it was getting spent on hitting or pitching.

Damn, DBacks let go of Welly. And Rubby, for that matter. I know he's got elbow concerns, but if he's able to pitch in 2017, he'd be a nice flyer to let Bosio work on.

I guess this means we've made a few arb agreements.

If Logan and Blevins get multi-year deals for 5,6+ per, then this move begins to make more sense, I guess.

Or he's got a special magic trick maybe.

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Surely Espinosa is tradeable, isn't he?