Backtobanks

With there being a lack of SS on the FA market maybe someone grossly overpays in a trade for Castro, that's about the only way I see them trading him. I don't get why so many writers seem to think we are in a rush to trade Castro. He's good, he's young and he's signed to a team friendly deal. Yeah especially since Alcantara is certainly less offensively, Baez is still a question mark with great potential, and Russell is still at least a year away.

It must not be obvious to the posters who post every quote from the FO and then discuss how brilliant the FO is for saying that.

"If the right things line up, we could have an active off-season. We're not going to force it." Those quotes are just posturing by Hoyer to lower the asking price of trade targets and FAs.

Yeah, Baez would be the 3rd piece (maybe 2nd) in a trade for Stanton.

The short answer is no, you probably aren't the only one. The longer answer is you should be the only one because passing on guys today in hopes of getting others guys a year from now is a great way to not get any guys. The longer answer is you should be the only one because every season is sacred because it represents the chance to win the World Series.

Ozzie is an awesome guy to have around if he's not calling the shots. Hopefully the Cubs and the Jumbotron will provide enough entertainment.

If that's your only criteria, then why sign Maddon?

Hiring Guillen would negate most of the positive vibes of hiring Maddon.

Git ur done Theo: http://www.royalsreview.com/2014/10/31/7137759/royals-trade-target-edwin-jackson-cubs-offseason-hot-stove

From MLBTR: http://beisbols.org/2014/10/16/chicago-cubs-already-done-schwarber/

Unless his philosophy in teaching was different than his personal philosophy in hitting, I can't believe he was the one telling them to "jack the first pitch". He had an OBP of .373 over 11 years in the ML and averaged 76K to 72BB per season.

Obviously, Theo can't bring up Russell playing SS without hurting Castro's feelings or tipping his hand on trading Castro.

I have no idea if this is a terribly hard thing for a hitter, but I remember thinking as a kid it must be a monumental task based solely on Stone and Harry's commentary. I would imagine it must be tough hitting a ball coming at you 95 mph while passing from sunlight to shadow.

From MLBTR: Red Sox Preparing For Major Free Agent Spending By Jeff Todd [september 11, 2014 at 1:09pm CDT] Red Sox chairman Tom Werner said today in an appearance on WEEI’s Dennis & Callahan (via WEEI.com’s Jerry Spar) that his club is prepared to spend a significant amount of money on the upcoming free agent market. “[W]e are determined to get back to being in first next year,” said Werner. Citing the “extreme flexibility” that the club was able to achieve in the famous 2012 August blockbuster with the Dodgers, Werner said that the organization is prepared to open the pocketbook this winter. “I wouldn’t say that we have limitless money, but we’ve got a lot of money to spend and we’re determined to go into the free agent market and improve the team.” Indeed, after entering this year with about $156MM in MLB payroll, about $20MM off of the team’s 2012 high water mark, Boston has just under $106MM committed for 2015 and does not have any high-dollar arbitration cases to account for. But the team’s true flexibility is all the more evident looking further into the future: it has annual guarantees of no more than about $37MM on the books past next year. So wait, you're saying that we might not be the only team in the mix for pitching? Just pointing out that we're not the only ones with a lot of money to spend.

From MLBTR: Red Sox Preparing For Major Free Agent Spending By Jeff Todd [september 11, 2014 at 1:09pm CDT] Red Sox chairman Tom Werner said today in an appearance on WEEI’s Dennis & Callahan (via WEEI.com’s Jerry Spar) that his club is prepared to spend a significant amount of money on the upcoming free agent market. “[W]e are determined to get back to being in first next year,” said Werner. Citing the “extreme flexibility” that the club was able to achieve in the famous 2012 August blockbuster with the Dodgers, Werner said that the organization is prepared to open the pocketbook this winter. “I wouldn’t say that we have limitless money, but we’ve got a lot of money to spend and we’re determined to go into the free agent market and improve the team.” Indeed, after entering this year with about $156MM in MLB payroll, about $20MM off of the team’s 2012 high water mark, Boston has just under $106MM committed for 2015 and does not have any high-dollar arbitration cases to account for. But the team’s true flexibility is all the more evident looking further into the future: it has annual guarantees of no more than about $37MM on the books past next year.

Lester can buy a lot of friends when he signs a contract for $20-$25 million per year over the next 5-6 years.

Or you could think we'll be in the running for a 2nd wild card, and putzing away 3 months might not be the best idea. I hope we can get to a point where decisions are made about what's good for 2015 (or 2016) instead of 2020 (or 2021).

Bet he'd return to Chicago to play for the White Sox over the Cubs. Guy was a Sox fan growing up, and had multiple anti-Cubs messages on his MySpace around the time he was drafted (yes MySpace) Yeah. It's far enough away anyway to not really be all that meaningful of a quote. It's also his hometown(where he'll probably keep at least some residence) asking a meaningless question. Nobody's going to say, No chance, I hate it here in stinktown. Yeah, you don't want to burn any bridges when teams are giving out big contracts.

I have trouble believing that Bryant is an absolute butcher at 3B. He has played the position all along and nobody felt it necessary to move him to LF before this.

THIS. We'll be like a little league all star team, full of kids that can play anywhere around your mashing 1B and corner OF. The only difference is that the little league all star players are pitching when they're not playing SS (or some other position).

Now if only the rest of the ML teams will cooperate, we'll have multiple WS winning seasons. Cub money's just as good as Yankee, Red Sox, Dodger, and Angel money, and we've got a nice bundle saved up, as well as a very good future prognosis. Assuming the money's comparable, the Cubs are a very attractive destination to any FA. I agree with everything you posted, but the key is assuming the money's comparable. All it takes is one crazy owner/GM to blow everybody out of the water.

If Bryant is as good as advertised, I think we can deal with him at 3rd. He has played 3rd all along, so I can't believe he's an absolute butcher at 3rd or someone would have moved (1B or LF) him a long time ago.

Now if only the rest of the ML teams will cooperate, we'll have multiple WS winning seasons.

The money is there, but I think Theo talks the "18-24 month thing" and "when the revenue comes in" stuff to keep expectations in check. If the prospects keep coming and producing and pitchers like Hendricks and Ramirez keep pitching like they have been, there's no reason for Theo to commit to spending a lot this off season. He can afford to patch the holes while he waits to see what develops and what the team really needs. there is no reasonable scenario in which the cubs don't need top-end pitching. I agree with you. Assuming Arrieta and Hendricks keep pitching the way that they have been, Bosio can turn one of Turner/Strailey/Doubront into a decent starter, and Wood goes back to being a consistently decent starter, I can see where Theo might want to avoid committing a ton on someone like Lester and settle for MOR guy on a shorter/more affordable contract. After seeing Bryant, Russell, Soler, Baez, and the rotation for a whole season, he might have a better idea as to whether the rotation is adequate or needs to be upgrade with the potent offense (hopefully) in place.

The money is there, but I think Theo talks the "18-24 month thing" and "when the revenue comes in" stuff to keep expectations in check. If the prospects keep coming and producing and pitchers like Hendricks and Ramirez keep pitching like they have been, there's no reason for Theo to commit to spending a lot this off season. He can afford to patch the holes while he waits to see what develops and what the team really needs.