Backtobanks
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Git ur done Theo: http://www.royalsreview.com/2014/10/31/7137759/royals-trade-target-edwin-jackson-cubs-offseason-hot-stove
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From MLBTR: http://beisbols.org/2014/10/16/chicago-cubs-already-done-schwarber/
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Mueller resigns/Mallee hired as hitting coach
Backtobanks replied to ConstableRabbit's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Lester can buy a lot of friends when he signs a contract for $20-$25 million per year over the next 5-6 years.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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Now if only the rest of the ML teams will cooperate, we'll have multiple WS winning seasons.
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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.
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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.
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Jaxon hurt?
Backtobanks replied to jersey cubs fan's topic in MLB Draft, International Signings, Amateur Baseball
I was looking at it as the Red Sox saving $2 million plus making room for youngsters to play. Obviously nobody wants the 2014 version of Jackson, but he might be a someone who might benefit from a change of scenery. Also, the Cubs would be taking on some risk with a 34 year old coming off back surgery. -
Jaxon hurt?
Backtobanks replied to jersey cubs fan's topic in MLB Draft, International Signings, Amateur Baseball
With the signing of Castillo, the Red Sox have OFs Cespedes, Betts, Bradley, Craig, Castillo, and Victorino all signed through next year (along with Napoli and Ortiz as 1B/DH). I wonder if they would take Jackson + cash for Victorino. Victorino is owed $13 million for next year, while Jackson is owed $11 million for 2015 and 2016. Hell, I'd be willing to throw in the $11 million for 2016 just to get rid of Jackson. The Red Sox would save $2 million next year and have Jackson for nothing in 2016, while we would add a veteran presence who can play any OF position. -
They shouldn't sign him for next year because they aren't going to be good until next year? This is why I don't listen to sports radio. Why is it that you don't read well, though? (being a smart ass, not a jerk, but i don't want to use a smiley to convey that because only the 60 year olds like b2b use those here) You really need to work on your obsessive tendencies.
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From MLBTR: Inside The Zona says the D’Backs could explore a Trevor Cahill trade. The article mentioned a possible August waiver deal for basically salary relief ($2 million/$12.2 million/$300,000 buyout) for a 26 year old who has had some ML success. If they're willing to eat some of the money and the asking price in trade is reasonable, he might be a decent option.
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The funny thing is that the playoff spot and a 4-year reign in the central would be based on the rotation if you're looking at a track record of ML success rather than potential. If you actually read what we've been arguing about, no one is suggesting not adding elite pitching. We're arguing different ways to accomplish it. I've read what all of you have been arguing about, I just thought it would be "interesting" if our rotation was the reason for contention after all of the discussion about our record-setting offensive potential.
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The funny thing is that the playoff spot and a 4-year reign in the central would be based on the rotation if you're looking at a track record of ML success rather than potential. YES THAT IS THE FUNNY THING amitheonlyonewhodoesntseethefunnything? Okay, maybe I should have used the word "interesting" rather than "funny" since most of you have espoused the philosophy of monster offense and "meh pitching".
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The funny thing is that the playoff spot and a 4-year reign in the central would be based on the rotation if you're looking at a track record of ML success rather than potential.
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which means he's valued highly and could likely net you a good return that fills other needs. It also means he's the opposite of surplus value; he's the proven commodity and yet you want to move him as if the Cubs can just plug in someone who is a lock to outproduce him at SS. The surplus value is the relative glut of MI prospects. Russell's floor is Castro. No, it's not. Russell may be one of the best prospects in baseball, but he's still a prospect. When he proves himself at the ML level, then we can talk about trading our young, all-star caliber SS.