Backtobanks
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Everything posted by Backtobanks
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That sounds like a great plan. Any three of them are totally replaceable.
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I have trouble believing that it would have any real effect because the pitcher would then have an effect on the 5-7 spots, plus usually anybody that would be hitting 9th probably isn't much of an offensive threat anyhow.
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Hopefully Germen is using his frequent flier miles.
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From MLBTR: To be sure, plenty of time remains for the market to re-develop and the cost to go back up, to say nothing of a (perhaps unlikely) scenario in which Shields waits to see if injuries or other issues crop up this spring. But if Shields’s AAV does indeed fall below the expected $18MM to $19MM range, a three year pact could well land at or below the $50MM mark. Of course, as the above discussion shows, even reaching that threshold at this point in the offseason timeline would actually represent a rather unusual achievement.
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Maybe not one of Zimmermann/Price/Cuerto, but someone like Anderson/Porcello/Fister would give us a rotation of Lester, Shields, Arrieta, Hammel, Anderson/Porcello/Fister, and Hendricks as depth for 2016 - 2018. Next off season you know that some of the "big spenders" (Red Sox, Nationals, Yankees, etc.) will have money to spend and will be more than willing to spend it.
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Laughter happens. He's getting at least 4/80 guaranteed. It's pretty obvious that he doesn't have his perfect offer from a team he wants to play for or else he would be signed by now. I agree that the overwhelming majority of players take the highest bid, but sometimes a player will leave money on the table for other reasons (location, AL/NL, losing team/contending team, etc.) A serious discussion with the FO explaining the likelihood of agreeing to the option because of increased revenue in the next few years might convince him that a 4 year/$82 million contract on a contending team is the best way to go. Now that the Cubs have shown they are willing to give out a big contract, I'd rather they wait until next offseason and go after a bunch of other pitchers who, while more expensive, I feel will also be much better. We lock into Shields at $20 per for three seasons after this, and I have my doubts that they will be willing to have three starters making $20 million or more in their rotation for multiple years. I understand that not all the top free agents will be available by next offseason, but I feel there will be enough that it's best to wait. I think it's worth a shot if Shields makes us a playoff team this year. Signing one good pitcher next year would give us a rotation of 4 very good/excellent starters for at least 2016 -2018.
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Laughter happens. He's getting at least 4/80 guaranteed. It's pretty obvious that he doesn't have his perfect offer from a team he wants to play for or else he would be signed by now. I agree that the overwhelming majority of players take the highest bid, but sometimes a player will leave money on the table for other reasons (location, AL/NL, losing team/contending team, etc.) A serious discussion with the FO explaining the likelihood of agreeing to the option because of increased revenue in the next few years might convince him that a 4 year/$82 million contract on a contending team is the best way to go.
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Laughter happens. He's getting at least 4/80 guaranteed. If he turns it down, we're no worse off than we are now. He might think about joining a team that could be on the verge of appearing in a WS and not having the pressure of being the #1 starter.
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Maybe the FO ought to talk to Lester about renegotiating his contract. Signing Shields would certainly put us up with the favorites for playoffs in 2015 and probably make us World Series favorites in 2016 & 2017.
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From MLBTR:James Shields, the top free agent still available, has lost his leverage and is in the worst possible spot as most teams have exhausted their payroll space and are more willing to identify reasons to dismiss an available player, opines ESPN’s Buster Olney in an Insider piece (subscription required). The longer a premium free agent like Shields remains unsigned, Olney notes, the more his negotiating strategy and leverage position are picked apart. Offer him 18/20/22 with a $22 mutual million option and see what happens.
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The reason I became a Cub fan. RIP Ernie.
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If we paid half of Jackson's salary, we could save $11 million over 2 years and another team would have a BOR starter for about $5 million per year.
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I still think that Jackson, Wood, and Castillo have some trade value with us eating some salary. Jackson and Wood at the right price are innings eaters and can fill out the BOR for some teams. Castillo has value as a lefty masher, but the other GMs know they have Theo over a barrel because of Montero/Ross. It's just a matter of settling on what we send over in money and what we will accept in return.
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For what team?
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From MLBTR: In addition to pursuing free agent starter James Shields, the Diamondbacks are looking at the trade market for a starter and/or catcher, Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reports. Arizona would be interested in moving an outfield bat, and at least one club (the Orioles) has inquired on David Peralta and Ender Inciarte.
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From MLBTR: The Indians have a handful of left-handed outfielders, which leads Pluto to believe David Murphy will be traded. Murphy is owed $6MM in 2015. This is my speculation, but we learned earlier today that the Giants could turn to the trade market for a left-handed outfielder. Murphy might be an interesting trade target - LH, veteran, no long term commitment.
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Why would you doubt it? Do you think Cubs management planned on bringing in Ross whether they signed Lester or not? I'd find that a lot more doubtful than Lester wanting his personal catcher to go wherever he goes. It's pretty obvious that Theo wanted to get rid of Castillo since he went after Martin and then traded for Montero, so yes it's possible that Theo might have signed Ross because of his defense. All Theo had to do was tell Lester he would do his best to sign Ross and then let someone outbid him. Also, Lester managed to do pretty well (1.9 WAR, 1.07 WHIP, 2.35 ERA in 76 innings) without his "personal" catcher in Oakland.
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[expletive] yeah i tend to give this FO the benefit of the doubt (like with the ross thing) because they aren't idiots but i saw literally nothing remotely redeeming about this possible move Sometimes non-idiots do idiotic things (releasing Wright, signing Ross, thinking about Breslow). How is signing Ross an idiotic thing if Lester made that part of his demands with whatever team signed him? Do you honestly pass on Lester because of 2 years of a back up catcher that plays 7 innings every 5th game? While Montero and Castillo was a rather dreamy tandem, it's not all that realistic. Someone wasn't going to be happy sitting a lot when they had both already proven to be everyday starters. Since Ross has mega experience in the catching department, maybe he will be good at teaching Schwarber how to carry the torch once his 2 year contract expires, or he proves to be too much of a liability to the team. You're assuming that Lester made that demand (which I doubt). Secondly, I'm afraid that Ross is going to play more than 7 innings every 5th game. (God forbid Montero gets injured.) As for old defensive catchers who can't hit a lick, we already have Henry Blanco to teach Scwarber without taking a spot in the lineup.
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[expletive] yeah i tend to give this FO the benefit of the doubt (like with the ross thing) because they aren't idiots but i saw literally nothing remotely redeeming about this possible move Sometimes non-idiots do idiotic things (releasing Wright, signing Ross, thinking about Breslow).
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I rather get Seth Smith who can actually hit. The only advantage to Maybin is that he plays CF.
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I suggested a few pages ago: How about a package starting with Baez & Alcantara to the Nationals for Zimmerman and Span? It's not as sexy as Zimmerman and Harper, but it's a lot cheaper than giving up Russell, Soler, or Bryant.
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We should have used all of Lester's money to hire Mike Scioscia and Bruce Bochy as coaches to add another 10-15 wins. :lol:
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How about a package starting with Baez & Alcantara to the Nationals for Zimmerman and Span?
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Between adding people to the front office and coaches/managers, is it any wonder that Ricketts is called PTR? not sure about PTR, but it is a wonder why you still post here I'm still here waiting for the Cubs to actually spend money on the team instead of more front office positions, additional coaches, and more real estate acquisitions. I guess some of you get excited about all of that stuff, but I'm more into the players on the field.
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Between adding people to the front office and coaches/managers, is it any wonder that Ricketts is called PTR?