davell

Why? ABTY appears to disagree anyway. I think he listed Brett, Loxas, and the CCO as his 3 favorite Cub blogs. And retweeted something making fun of Arguello.

Loxas mentioned Arizona trying to pull the Pirates in by offering a SS. Maybe Owings or Gregorius for Glasnow possibly? Then Arizona send us Glasnow along with Delgado or Skaggs and Holmberg? I just refuse to get my hopes up on Bradley....

Was just reading their SBN site where the debate was whether they could get Samardzija without including Sanchez or Stroman. Given what's transpired so far this offseason, I'm wondering what piece of significance they'd need to add to Sanchez and Stroman. But I agree, they have lots of interesting pieces, but it seems unlikely that I'd be super excited about the return. Not as bad as the Nationals, but no Arizona or Kansas City in terms of potential matches. You're really not high on Giolito, eh (not that there's anything wrong with that)? On the continuum of high ceiling pitching prospects that could be available(Taillon, Bradley, Ventura, etc), Giolito is by far my least favorite, because he's done so little professionally and is so far away from MLB. I like him just fine, but the problem more than that is there's no additional piece the Nationals can send that I'd be interested with Giolito unless they decided to deal Rendon. The Nationals system is all old pitchers and toolsy outfielders with performance risks, there's no Stroman/Nolin, no Skaggs/Holmberg, no Duffy/Zimmer, etc. Add in that Giolito is at the bottom of the totem pole for that category of targets and the fact that the Nationals likely value him far more than I do, and it doesn't make for a great match. What's wrong with AJ Cole?

I've brought him up a few times. Pre TJS, he sat 92ish, good deception and control, plus slider. Change needed work and his FB had a tendency to come in high at times. Not an ace, by any means, but a 3/4 type with a slight possibility to become more.

Cool info and thanks for sharing it. My honest guess though is its "due diligence" for them and not much more than that. Although they could ask for the right to talk contract with him. My guess is they'd only be willing to give up Meyer if Shark agrees to an extension. Because their window is probably in line with ours.

Haren to Dodgers for 1/10.

I like Olt quite a bit, but I'm much more confident Lawrie has at least a productive ML career than Olt does, who it couldn't exactly be a shock at this point if he never got another ML at bat.

Well sure, if you get Sanchez and Stroman as well. I was thinking more in terms of a one for one swap or close to it. That deal is waaaay too good to be true.

Yeah, I could see him being on the table. Even if he is though, I think we'd prefer young arms as the main return. I'd take Lawrie over any 3 Jays prospects Really? Outside of his initial run, he's been pretty pedestrian. Couple that with us being loaded with longterm options at 2B and 3B, I see better options for us from them. Unless you just REALLY don't like their young pitching....

If a single FA WAR is moving towards 7 mill, if he averages 2 WAR per year over the 4 year deal, he'll have been worth the contract.

Yeah, I could see him being on the table. Even if he is though, I think we'd prefer young arms as the main return.

I'm not much of a Nolin fan. I'd take Tirado over him as a 3rd piece.

When Shark signed his original 5/10 deal, he had a full NTC. When the Cubs declined his 2012 option and went to arb with him, it voided the NTC.

He did. It ended after his original 5 year deal was up after 2011.

I'd hope you'd get both. I'd take Hutchison as a replacement for either myself. Depending on how much value they've lost, Gose or Drabek as a 3rd piece would be nice. They've also got plenty of low level, high upside types they could use.

Isn't Rasmus thought to be a legit asshat? If our guys value big makeup as much as it seems, he's likely not that high of a priority.

Morosi says slightly over 4/52 for Peralta. Love the fact they're paying him that much, but hate fact they've still got all their trade assets.

Yeah, no [expletive]. Had no idea he had such a solid season. I'd want longer than a 2-3 year extension though, if I'm trading for him though. At least if the 2016 stuff is true. Plus, I'd still prefer Arizona or Pittsburgh as a Shark trading partner to Toronto. Even if Archie or Taillon aren't included.

If we do trade him, I hope it's soon. His salary for 2014 could give a trading team plenty of flexibility to make another impact type move as well. Which could increase his value a bit. I don't want another 3 months of drawn out crap, get him extended or trade him. Hell, it gives us a known direction as well. Just do something with him.

I also have been in favor of the plan from Day 1, have no issue with moves made by the FO since they've taken over. I don't expect perfection. Am very disappointed in missteps I see from the business side and didn't envision the plan taking AS long as its going to. That said, I definitely agree with TT-No way our FO decides to trade Castro based on who we draft at 4. It's just not something you do. No offense to Hoops or his source, just don't see that going down that way.

I like Jackson a bunch. Don't like that he's a Boras guy though. 2 years til FA, has his extension window passed? Did he ever have one? Not that you can take Cameron's rankings as the gospel, but he did list Jackson at no. 50 on his top trade values this past year. Obviously, he's not anything close to a salary dump, but one, would Detroit even trade him for minor leaguers? Being in total "go for it" mode, I doubt it. Would we want to trade Castillo for a guy with two years of control, of which its not likely we're contending during that time? Again, I doubt it. I like him and Porcello, just don't see them as great fits, assuming we're looking at our window opening in 2016 anyway. If we plan on sooner, by all means, they can help us.....

One, its closer to 25 mill, two, not all of it goes directly into the teams pockets, and three, it only offsets the 20ish mill in revenue we lost due to dropping attendance.

Miggy back to 1B, Castellanos to 3B, and money freed up to re-sign Scherzer.

Wow, that happened quick.

No. Not a chance on either. They'll both get a dose of AAA, Beeler would surprise me if he gets anything other than POSSIBLY a token September callup. Alcantara could be up mid season or so, depending on how he handles AAA.