Backtobanks
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2019-20 Offseason Rumors/General Chit-Chat
Backtobanks replied to Cubswin11's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
Danny Salazar and Julio Teheran have been added to the FA market. If the money is right, either could be a #5 starter. -
Because most were on board to paying that kind of contract to Harper/Machado. So what? None of that has anything to do with Rizzo. There's no evidence that Rizzo won't be a productive player at 32 - 33 years old, so I don't understand why some posters wouldn't want to extend him. The point was that some people thought he wouldn't be worth the money and yet they were willing to throw twice as much to pay Machado/Harper at 36 or 37 years old.
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I totally agree. Rizzo at 32 or 33 making $14 or $15 million per year will be better than paying Harper or Machado $26-$30 million when they're 37 or 38 yrs old. What does the former have to do with the latter. Because most were on board to paying that kind of contract to Harper/Machado.
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With the power disappearing in the 2nd half and the ball likely going back to normal I'm not sure I want him 2 more years unless it's something like 4/60. He’s still one of the better 5-8 1B in the league and he’s pretty remarkably consistent from 2014-2019. I don’t know why we wouldn’t want him for 2-3 years past the two options years. He’ll be 32/33 when he hits FA, he doesn’t have some big payday waiting out there. Going 4/60 or 5/70 range seems perfectly reasonable and is something I’d want. There’s also the whole thing with him being the leader an everything of this group that he’s earned this a bit. I totally agree. Rizzo at 32 or 33 making $14 or $15 million per year will be better than paying Harper or Machado $26-$30 million when they're 37 or 38 yrs old.
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I think he’s legitimately available and they’ll try and move him. He’s more likely to stay than not, just because to move a guy like him is hard and takes circumstances. But I’d bet the plus odds he’s moved if they’re like +1500. I can't picture the FO trading Bryant while switching to a new network unless they're getting back another superstar (Betts, Lindor, etc.) in the trade.
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The problem with Frazier right off the bat is going to be the trade cost, especially in division. You'd end up paying a superstar's trade package to get the ages 29-32 seasons of a solid but unspectacular 2B (being sent to the bench?). Develop guys like Frazier (looking at you, Andy Weber!) or maybe luck into a FA or claim, don't trade for them at full retail price I'll stick with my trade proposal of Contreras, Almora, Short, and Norwood for Marte, Frazier, and Kela.
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Ego! These people! Like the amount of ego it takes to even say that for print...Grandal's a great fit for this team all around. Contreras remains my favorite trade candidate, adds a high OBP switch hitter post-Zobrist, ups the defense at a high value defensive position, and as good as Amaya might be he's all of 21 so I'm all for a "platoon" at the position for his ages 22-24 if not traded Grandal would be great, but I can't see the Cubs spending that much money on a position of strength when there's so many holes to fill.
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I would gladly switch Caratini with Contreras in the trade proposal, but I doubt the Pirates would be interested. Going by what Epstein said about making a big change and figuring in our budget / mediocre farm system, one of our core players looks to be on the block. I can't see Rizzo or Baez being traded, which pretty much leaves Contreras or Bryant. Depending on the return, we would have a big downgrade at 3B or a lesser downgrade at catcher. Without trading one of the "core four", the best trade assets have very limited value on the trading block. When did he say this in regards to the roster? I don’t think he’s spoken any absolutes about it, it’s all been GM speak. The big change stuff, that was stated clearly/imminent at least, was more FO and coaching directed with changing things (and they already are on their way to doing it). If "making a big change" only refers to making FO and coaching changes (and not the roster), we will be in for a long summer unless all of our players play at their peak potential and the Cards and Brewers fall off.
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The only disadvantage is the trade cost. He is a much better hitter than either Margot or Bradley and his splits aren't any worse than theirs. The length of his contract pretty much lines up with the window for the core of the Cubs. When the trade cost is the best hiring catcher in baseball, it is a significant disadvantage I would gladly switch Caratini with Contreras in the trade proposal, but I doubt the Pirates would be interested. Going by what Epstein said about making a big change and figuring in our budget / mediocre farm system, one of our core players looks to be on the block. I can't see Rizzo or Baez being traded, which pretty much leaves Contreras or Bryant. Depending on the return, we would have a big downgrade at 3B or a lesser downgrade at catcher. Without trading one of the "core four", the best trade assets have very limited value on the trading block.
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Agreed. Plus between trade cost, his age, the length of his contract, and trade cost he just doesn't seem like an ideal target. Much prefer Bradley Jr. or Margot among guys rumored to be available this offseason through trade The only disadvantage is the trade cost. He is a much better hitter than either Margot or Bradley and his splits aren't any worse than theirs. The length of his contract pretty much lines up with the window for the core of the Cubs.
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I suggested this trade quite awhile ago: Trade Contreras, Almora, Short, and Underwood to Pittsburgh for Marte, Frazier, and Kela. Trade Chatwood and Bote to Texas for Leclerc and Mazara. Extend Quintana and sign a catcher (?), Maybin, Odorizzi, Liriano. Rizzo Frazier Baez Bryant Schwarber Marte Heyward Caratini Darvish Hendricks Lester Quintana Odorizzi Wick Wieck Kela Leclerc Ryan Kimbrel Liriano Happ, Hoerner, Mazara, Maybin, Catcher (26th man- Mills, Alzolay, Norwood, Maples, Kemp, Descalso, Graveman)
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Not a bad idea to dump Russell, but there is a big difference in salary too. I think the Red Sox would have to sweeten the pot a little (prospect/money).
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I happened to read an article about Howie Kendrick in the last couple of days where Rendon was quoted as saying that he doesn't want to be playing baseball when he's Kendrick's age (36). Maybe he was just poking fun at Kendrick, but if he was serious a deal that takes him to age 35 might be exactly what he looks for. Friend of a friend works for Boras and passed along something similar. Rendon doesn't really like baseball that much, is just looking for a shorter term deal that is going to set him/family up for generations. Something like a 4/160 deal might not be out of the question. Obviously 4/120 wouldn't be good enough to set him/family up for generations. :lol:
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MLBTR chat moderator thought 1 year for $5-7 million.
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From MLBTR: Nori Aoki is likely settled back in his native land after wrapping up a generally successful big league tenure. But it’s worth noting that he’s still a capable performer at 37 years of age, having just slashed .297/.385/.442 in 565 plate appearances for the Swallows. Kosuke Fukudome had a similar career arc to that of Aoki, but his production slipped to .256/.347/.397 this season — his age-42 campaign and seventh with the Hanshin Tigers since returning to Japan.
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Almora for Yoan Lopez? Why would the Diamondbacks do this deal?
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Cubs Manager Search (Ross to be hired - Kaplan)
Backtobanks replied to Cubswin11's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
Another candidate? Third base coach Fredi Gonzalez has informed the Marlins that he has decided to “explore other options,” -
I don't think there's any way we should be realistically talking about Merrifield, Gray, Grandal, etc. I can't see PTR paying for Grandal when catcher is a position of strength (even with a trade). If their respective teams shop Gray or Merrifield, teams with way more top prospects would jump on them. I've been suggesting trading Schwarber for a few years now, but I've pretty much accepted the fact that he's probably more valuable to us than whatever we could get in return.
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Trade Contreras, Almora, Short, and Underwood to Pittsburgh for Marte, Frazier, and Kela. Trade Chatwood and Bote to Texas for Leclerc and Mazara. Extend Quintana and sign a catcher (?), Maybin, Odorizzi, Liriano. Rizzo Frazier Baez Bryant Schwarber Marte Heyward Caratini Darvish Hendricks Lester Quintana Odorizzi Wick Wieck Kela Leclerc Ryan Kimbrel Liriano Happ, Hoerner, Mazara, Maybin, Catcher (26th man- Mills, Alzolay, Norwood, Maples, Kemp, Descalso, Graveman)
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2 deals to ponder: Contreras, Almora, Short, and Underwood to Pittsburgh for Marte, Frazier, and Kela. Bote and Chatwood to Texas for Leclerc and Mazara.
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I suppose Bryant is a trade possibility, but a an OBP of .382 seems to be what the Cubs need rather than what they want to get rid of.
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Cubs Manager Search (Ross to be hired - Kaplan)
Backtobanks replied to Cubswin11's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
Doesn't MLB encourage interviewing minority candidates before hiring the white guy? -
Imagine what he would hit if the ball was juiced. :-"
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I agree with this. Maddon has some fault, but this mess isn't his doing. Anything less than Theo taking primary responsibility will be unacceptable. The only thing I want to hear him address in his end of season press conference is the mistakes he has made and what he plans to do to fix them. Maddon is almost certainly gone, but it is largely due to the mistakes that have been made above him. That partially includes ownership, but mostly lies square on the shoulders of Theo. I don't want to hear him place blame on anyone else. The players have proven they are who they are, and it is Theo who bought into them being better than that. I hope Tom Ricketts is furious, and he has every right to be. But does he really care, or is he counting his money and waiting for the new network to launch (which will very likely not even be carried by some of the major content distributors, Dish Network for example)? I'm certainly not defending Ricketts, but the payroll is 35% higher than the Cardinals and 80% higher than the Brewers. Theo is not spending the money wisely when building a roster in addition to holding on to his drast picks too long. There have been batting and pitching coach changes every year without any improvement in the young hitters and no development of young pitchers.
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Did you forget that PTR owns the Cubs?