davell

But is 2 more years, even at that age, for $12M a year really that big of a risk or a bad thing compared to 2/40? I'm pretty sure I'd rather 4/64 than 2/40. Esp since you can backload further on 4 years. That's why I never understand these let's go shorter term on a way inflated AAV ideas. I kind of agree. If we DO give him 2 years and he gets hurt and misses a ton of time in one of them, or Heywards a season, its close to impossible to extract value out of the deal. But it seems like the FO only offered him 2 years last time, so maybe they are hung up on it. I just want to find the avenue that keeps him here, whichever way it is.

I think Bernsteins article today is our best shot at keeping Dex. Offer him a very large 2 year deal. He says 2/40. Personally, I doubt that'd get him, but 2/50 would. Even if he's seeing a 5/80 offer.....I think he'd take 2/50 and head back to FA as a 33 year old in order to play with these guys for longer. If 4/64 is his market, then 2/40 IS in the ballpark. At any rate, the extra playoff revenue money can come into play here, if necessary. But this really should happen.

So, here's what I'd consider to be the guys we've got a "shot" at acquiring this offsesson, from a SP standpoint. Tampa- Archer, Odorizzi, Smyly, Cobb I doubt its Archer that they move. And I doubt we'll get Odorizzi, since Tampa won't come off of Javy for him. And they're supposedly not high on Soler. May put a damper on Colome too, unless they'll take minor leaguers.... White Sox- Sale, Quintana I think its a cold day in hell they'd trade either to us. But I guess that since we won the WS, at least they don't have to worry about giving us the piece that put us over the top. Detroit- Verlander I don't see us adding an older guy like this at that money. If he's dealt, I'd imagine its the Dodgers basically buying him and not giving up a ton. Doubt he's moved though. Royals- Yordano Ventura He's an ass. That probably takes him off our radar. But I could see the Royals moving him and he's got some talent. Oakland- Sonny Gray I know Beane would be selling low. But if he doesn't expect a full recovery, he could still extract some value. A deal for him and/or Doolittle, seems like a decent bet, in my mind. Seattle- Paxton, Walker, Karns We've had rumored interest in the first two before. It'd be cool if they've soured on Walker enough to where Soler and Happ or Candelario is realistic. Atlanta- Wisler, Blair They may have soured on one or both of these two. Worth a look in and they've been linked to Soler in the past, even if their OF is supposedly full, with Inciarte and crap. Arizona- Miller, Bradley, Corbin With a new GM, they may not have a lot invested in this group. At any rate, I could see any of the 3 being dealt. Each interesting in their own way. Colorado- Bettis, Chatwood, Butler No, I don't see Gray or Hoffman available. But any of these 3 could be. Anything special? No. But depth and Butler is an interesting reclamation project. What's available from us? Loaded question, but here's the list of guys I think will all be Cubs in 2017.... Lester, Lackey, Hendricks, Montgomery, Arrieta, Edwards, Dylan Cease Contreras, Rizzo, Baez, Russell, Bryant, Schwarber, Heyward, Zobrist, Almora, Eloy Jimenez If anyone from that list is dealt, I'll be extremely surprised. My guess? We get Gray for Soler/Candelario/Zagunis/Clifton.....

I know that when he vetoed the Delgado trade, I couldn't stand him. Yes, he's annoying with the impressions. But....The dude netted us Hendricks. Seriously, that alone is enough to tolerate his goofy stuff. He's the good natured uncle that is nice. Just annoys the horsefeathers out of you if you're around him for more than 15 minutes at a time and more than on holidays. He's family, so just grit your teeth and tolerate the dude.

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I'd be psyched about it. If we make a deal like that, Jed and McLeod obviously know him well. So I'd figure they see something.

[tweet] [/tweet] [tweet] [/tweet] These are really well done. Actually, they're fantastic.

Does Sale even bring back THAT much more of a return? He's got 3/39.5 left. Quintana has 4/36.850..... Archer has 5/35, by the way. Pretty interesting contracts on the 3. I'm not that sure the trade packages will be all that different.

Of course it'd be worth it to check. Personally though, outside of Soler, I'm not wanting to break up the positional group at all. Trade off any and every thing we have in the minors. I'd rather grab post hype guys myself, to be honest.

I want the D. I want the flexibility we've got now. Javy being as versatile as he is means a ton to me. Give me the next however long we've got with Addy/javy together up the middle.

I get that it was where he was supposed to play last year. But now he's got to get his swing back. A position switch on top of that is a lot to put on a guy. Plus, finding an averagish defensive CF, to play with Heywards great D in right, sets up much better defensively than any configuration we have with Heyward in CF. A different way to look at it is that having him play CF puts lower offensive expectations. Plus it's not asking him to play SS or anything, he started over 20 games there last year. The other variable is that if either Soler or Baez start hitting, then the best lineup has Heyward in CF even if there's no OF addition of significance. At this point, I'll be very surprised if Soler is a Cub next year. Even if Javy does become the everyday 2B, he'll still get some games at 2B/SS, just as Zobrist gets some at 2B. My guess is Heyward sits against most lefties, unless he regains most of his pre-2016 self.

Its pitiful. We have a wish list of bullpen help, young starting pitching, and depth for the OF. We've got to make trades just to fill up our shopping cart.

Not a complement for Almora since he's a righty, but I really want Gomez. Realistically, he could be a nice fit. We don't have to have Almora in the majors all year for him to still be considered our future CF.....But he's looking for a long term deal, which I'd be wary of obviously, with him.

I kind of think they'll try and just let him be. Theo certainly takes human dynamic into things and I can easily see them not trying to lay a potential position on him, to go along with overhauling his swing. He's obviously great insurance if we don't acquire an OF(that can pass for a CFer). But I've seen enough of the reporters mention OF depth and Theo's comment tells me its not their preferred plan to play Heyward there anyway. I mean we were like 2-3 weeks away from starting the season last year with Heyward as the CF being our only really option out there. I think they are mostly fine with him there if they can't find someone on the FA/Trade market that fits what they want/think they need. I get that it was where he was supposed to play last year. But now he's got to get his swing back. A position switch on top of that is a lot to put on a guy. Plus, finding an averagish defensive CF, to play with Heywards great D in right, sets up much better defensively than any configuration we have with Heyward in CF.

I've thought about Pagan too. Is his D in CF that bad? Or is it hurt by playing in San Fran? Would a smaller OF help him become close to average out there?

I kind of think they'll try and just let him be. Theo certainly takes human dynamic into things and I can easily see them not trying to lay a potential position on him, to go along with overhauling his swing. He's obviously great insurance if we don't acquire an OF(that can pass for a CFer). But I've seen enough of the reporters mention OF depth and Theo's comment tells me its not their preferred plan to play Heyward there anyway.

"I wouldn't rule out the job being his, but I think it would be more likely that we would acquire someone to compliment him and allow him to grow into the job more gradually." That's Theo on Almora being the starting CF in 2017. This may tell us a few things..... Probably doesn't bode well on Dex coming back. Unless he was willing to go short term. Sounds like they do expect Almora to eventually be the fulltime guy. If the plan is to acquire someone, Heyward looks to be sticking in RF. So, anyone able to think of a compliment for Almora, that's probably a short term fix? Blackmon has 2 years left, but he'd be awfully costly, I'd think. Leonys Martin is the guy that kind of sticks out for me. Assuming he gets non tendered, would Ben Revere interest anyone as a part time guy? I get that he's not ideal, but the pickings are slim, if we're taking Theo's comment at face value.....

Braves signed Dickey. One year with an option.

[tweet] [/tweet] We ARE interested in Holland.

[tweet] [/tweet] Nothing we didn't know obviously, but a decent breakdown overall.

Did they? They made it a point to remind they hadn't spent the Tanaka money, during that offsesson. So we knew they wanted to grab Lester. And they were mentioned with Heyward and Price and guys last year too. I'm taking them at face value, since they've been as upfront about stuff as you could possibly be. That's why Jed's comments don't sound great to me.

[tweet] [/tweet] Hmm. This doesn't make it sound like Chapman, Jansen, or Melancon are all that likely. I get that you should be on the lookout for the next Miller, but I'm hoping for a bigtime guy to go with him. And I saw a quote we're looking for "OF depth?" That doesn't sound great for Dex either....... I get that they said they were having 2 offseasons last year, but after winning the WS, surely we at least retain Dex or add a major closer. Don't see why it shouldn't be both.....

He's at least 6'4. No idea why that's a mix up on milb. Can't speak for anyone else obviously, but I've got it Cease, Clifton, de la Cruz respectively.....

Cubs hired him Sept 2015. Those effing ring chasing scouting dudes.