SouthSideRyan

That's like 2 16 year old CTs

It's something a franchise that isn't cash-strapped like the Cubs can get away with.

I think that seriously underestimates the price to keep Garza. He's not going to come back on a reasonable deal. He's going to hit a money-rich, talent-poor FA market as the best pitcher available and get something stupid. Then you can pat yourself on the back with the No. 35 overall pick or whatever that might slot into the back of our top 10, instead of getting a top 100 prospect + a guy as good as the No. 35 pick. Or you could actually pay him market value since you're the [expletive] Chicago Cubs not the goddamned Miami Marlins

That's a horrible [expletive] return. I'd rather make the qualifying offer and try to sign him.

Aside from the fact that he's an IFA, how is he the type of player they're supposed to be focused on? Because he costs nothing but money.

What would possibly make you think this based on the last few years?

Jordan Hulls paid for his scholarshipsince he got his BA, CPA, graduated law school, passed the bar, and became a partner at a huge lawfirm in his 4 years at IU. I do respect that he passed on a 15 year NBA career for the legal profession.

I'm not so sure he doesn't understand all this. I just think it's not on him to give a crap about the long-term interests of the ballclub. He's on the Chicago Cubs in 2013 and they suck and just traded away a good player. He saw this last year and he's been a part of a team that has been bad for a long time. At 30,000 feet you can see the promise on the horizon, but the guys who have to play on this crap team right now don't have the advantage of tuning out and waiting for the future. i guess i just don't really see the difference. this team was already bad with feldman. there was no realistic scenario in which the cubs became good in the second half and made the playoffs. they can win like 68 games with feldman and clevenger and other assorted great guys who play the game hard and play the right way, or they can win 62 games with other great guys who sometimes play the game the wrong way. and i'm sure it sucks being on a lousy ballclub, but when you sign with a team that hasn't won it all since the teddy roosevelt administration, you should have an idea of what you're getting into. So your argument is that Samardzija was stupid to sign a huge contract when he was drafted because the Cubs were going to slash payroll and not try 6 years down the road? It's not out of the realm of possibility that he is NOT signing with the team (long-term) because they haven't won it all since the Roosevelt administration, and with every sell off and punt of a season, it doesn't look like it'll change. (from his perspective) How you could have been a college athlete and not see the difference from a player's perspective on winning 62 games vs 68 games (with guys they like) is astounding. Jeff Samardzija doesn't (and shouldn't) give a [expletive] about what's going on in A ball and how everything is going to be saved by 2016.

Because he was in the rotation with him and they probably spent a [expletive] ton of time together over the past 6 months? oh brother. this guy has a future in broadcasting for sure. Oh, a pro athlete is tossing out platitudes about guys they're close with, the horror!

Something that's not old and terrible?

You don't trade Feldman for lottery tickets

Neither of those guys are young or good. ETA: Now how could we possibly pry away Britton toonster?

Is this just from Illinois Scout, because I don't really buy that.

Because of Mike Henneman

Wow, you're not kidding. It shouldn't be, that guy is a really good pitcher. Dusty tried to kill him though. Well, he was. 6 years ago

Exactly, well said. Then why allow the trading of IFA money at all? It's overly complicated stupidity

The Pirates are 5 games better than their 3rd order, and are getting the best offensive seasons of their career from pretty much everyone on their team...and the best pitching seasons of their career from pretty much everyone on the team. The Cardinals have to replace Beltran, Westbrook, and Mujica

Are the Reds, Cardinals, and Pirates all good bets to stay as good as they are? Because top of my head, I don't think any of them are.

Kyle, aren't you a believer in third-order records? How do you reconcile your No way no how we compete next year with the fact that they're a 500 team by that measure? (And only 3 games under by simple pythag)

You've outdone yourselves, Cardinals. This was talked about IN THIS THREAD 2 pages ago

Arrieta is going to be 5 years retired from the Long Island Ducks and you're still going to be talking about trading for him.

Maybe Tunney should be fighting the rooftops that provide unlimited booze for people to pee on lawns.

Well there's no sense in holding on to Bradley when we won't be ready to compete until 2021

http://www.hoopsworld.com/undrafted-players-plan-for-summer-league Pressey to play with Celtics Summer league team. Brandon Paul with the T-Wolves SL team. Kabongo to Miami's.

Closer to possibly competing by 2016? Let's reel in those expectations a bit.