davell

http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/753380/maddon-bosio-magician-part-can-cubs-make-impact-trade PTR gonna PTR....Kiss Hamels goodbye if this is the case.

And 2 doubles, 3-3.

http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2015/06/player-acquisition-cost-rhp-sonny-gray.php#.VZxlEjy9LCQ The CCO tried breaking down what it'd cost to get Gray. Personally, I think they're light on the general return. I'd think Billy would want Schwarber, Javy, and a couple of other guys. Maybe Alcantara, Pierce Johnson, and an upside pitcher like 1 of Underwood/Sands/Steele/Cease. If he'd give up Russell for a year and a half of Shark, he'd want an assload for a much better pitcher with much more team control. Just a guess though obviously(and as much as I like Gray, I can't see myself pulling that trigger)

I glossed over Rowen completely, but I saw Brett wrote an article on him, which made me wonder why? He's kind of interesting, in all honesty. Solid stats throughout the minors and wasn't bad in his brief stint in the majors. No, that's not nearly enough to make him interesting. But the fact that he's very good against righties,throws 59% ground balls, is a sidearmer and averages UNDER 80MPH with his fastball kind of does. With the heat the majority of our pen throws, this guy would be a change of pace to say the least. Whenever Edwin gets DFA'd, I'd kind of like to see this guy get a shot. http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=10983&position=P

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/heat-index/2015/07/07/touki-toussaint-hits-98-mph-in-start-with-rome-braves/29812429/ I honestly think half this board could do a better job than Stewart. And that's not hyperbole, I think he's truly THAT awful.

I like Kendrick, if we've got enough to add him, a TOR starter, and have enough left over for a competent CF, we're going to be ridiculously good.

I just want it to be clear:I want to add now, even if its a rental. If it costs McKinney, for instance, to get Kazmir.....Sign me up. We've got plenty to trade from right now and most of our key guys are up already as it is. I don't think anyone is saying trade away our entire top 10 for a rental....I truly think all anyone is saying is [expletive], we've got a shot this year, we need to improve our chances now.

Even with the big money not happening until then, I fully expect us to add a Price/Zimmermann-TOR type in the offseason. We can do that and stay in the 120ish range.

Good God-did you even read what I wrote? You don't have to for a [expletive] rental. There's more than enough that I listed to grab you any rental out there. If we're trading for a guy with control-I don't care if Schwarber or Soler is moved honestly. The phrase in quotes didn't appear in your post, a contextual clue that I wasn't replying to yours, which I found quite reasonable. Well [expletive], my bad. Carry on.

Good God-did you even read what I wrote? You don't have to for a [expletive] rental. There's more than enough that I listed to grab you any rental out there. If we're trading for a guy with control-I don't care if Schwarber or Soler is moved honestly.

Build your own package, but for the right rental, these are the guys I'd say bye bye too.... Olt, Villanueva, Alcantara, Szczur, McKinney, Almora, Johnson, Stinnett, Zagunis, Vogelbach, Caratini, Black, Contreras, Candelario, Null, Ryan Williams.... Basically anyone other than Javy, Schwarber, and the highest upside youngsters. But it doesn't matter-there's not a rental out there that's getting more than a package of what can be made from the group I listed.

I was completely in favor of punting those seasons and building up the system at any cost. But that's FOR moments like these. We've got tons of depth to deal from-even for a ([expletive] gasp!!!!!) rental.

isn't that what was directly implied? Yeah, it is. But I'd rather get a guy like Zobrist and use him all over(put KB in CF some) than find a strict platoon for Fowler, who I think will eventually get up to his career norms....

I think Theo very recently said(within the last week)speculation on Starlin just needs to stop, he's not going anywhere. Offseason? That's when I see them looking harder at moving him. I still don't even have a feel for which of him or Javy they'd prefer to trade. But I'd guess they'd lean towards gaining the payroll flexibility and whatever return that comes with it and move Starlin. If we're looking for a lefty bat, are we looking to make Fowler part of a platoon?

Luis Yander La O also defected. Very solid infielder that's 23. Won't require bonus pools. More of a defensive player though.

@johnmanuelba: Have heard the fastball up to 100 mph this summer. Probably highest-ceiling arm in #Cubs system https://t.co/qvnOnN73it

@MyKBO: Chicago Cubs sign Jangchung High School's Kwon Kwang-min for $1.2 million dollars per Sports Seoul. https://t.co/rHVv70wLky

RF Vinicio Martinez, who Kiley had with us for 600K actually signed with the Yankees for 50k.

@JesseSanchezMLB: Source: #Cubs agree to a $1.3M deal with SS Yonathan Perlaza, #13 on @MLB Top 30 Int’l Prospects list http://t.co/YduPYJGNy2 @MLBPipeline @JesseSanchezMLB: Source: #Cubs agree to a $2.5M deal with OF Yonathan Sierra, #16 on @MLB Top 30 Int’l Prospects list http://t.co/YduPYJGNy2 @MLBPipeline @JesseSanchezMLB: Source: #Cubs agree to a $2M deal with SS Aramis Ademan, #19 on @MLB Top 30 Int’l Prospects list http://t.co/YduPYJGNy2 @MLBPipeline @JesseSanchezMLB: Source: #Cubs agree to a $1.25Mdeal with C Miguel Amaya, #25 on @MLB Top 30 Int’l Prospects list http://t.co/YduPYJGNy2 @MLBPipeline @JesseSanchezMLB: Source: #Cubs agree to a $600K deal with RHP Yunior Perez @MLBPipeline @JesseSanchezMLB: Source: #Cubs agree to est. $1M deal with Christopher Martinez, #28 on @MLB Top 30 Int’l Prospects list http://t.co/YduPYJGNy2 @MLBPipeline

They offered 80 mill on a 4 year contract, not PER year though, evidently with a ton of deferments. I think I remember seeing somewhere the first year salary was well under 10. It was supposedly EXTREMELY backloaded. They'll get as creative as they can obviously, but the fact they had to do that for Shields says a lot to me about the availability of funds. They offered 3/60 with a vesting for a 4th that kept it under 80, basically a smaller version of the Hamels deal that potentially ended when the pitcher is 36 rather than 35. Later reports from CSN would add that there was significant deferred money, but I'm not seeing a number. http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/just-a-bit-outside/baseball-joe/blog/cubs-late-pursuit-of-shields-was-telling-020915 Aside: Rosenthal also mentions that length of contract is a significant factor for the Cubs and 2016 FA pitchers in that piece, as it should be. I honestly have no idea where I saw the first year salary, I seem to think it was going to be 7 mill. At no point have Mooney or Gordo brought up how the debt consolidation stuff affects longer versus shorter term deals if they're for the same money on a year for year basis. Based on some of their stuff, it DOES seem Hamels is a more palatable addition than a David Price, for example(even if they were both 23 per). I see the logic behind wanting Hamels over one of the FA guys-but I'd much prefer the FA, while holding on to the prospects and using them to add something else. But based on the payroll restrictions we're obviously constrained by, I see zero chance of adding Hamels now and even a Shark type in the offseason. Even with a decent playoff run, in my opinion. Trading for Hamels now and trading him in the offseason is a fun idea(assuming we grab another TOR guy in FA).

They offered 80 mill on a 4 year contract, not PER year though, evidently with a ton of deferments. I think I remember seeing somewhere the first year salary was well under 10. It was supposedly EXTREMELY backloaded. They'll get as creative as they can obviously, but the fact they had to do that for Shields says a lot to me about the availability of funds.

I feel comfortable with top 50, but he's more of a high floor guy than a guy with gigantic tools. I think it's possible he'd make a top 25 list or two, but I doubt it'd be close to consensus. Some will say he's super advanced for his age, but lacks the upside to warrant that high of a ranking.

Again, you've unfortunately got to start at 100, not 120, since that's where payroll would have been without the Tanaka money.

You realize that if they paid down half his deal, they'd be asking for a hell of a lot more than Schwarber and Baez, right?

Hudson gets 1.1, leaving us with 29k to spare. So I'd say we've wrapped up the draft signings.