raw

Last 2 for sure. Pretty meh on Miller.

Wonder how much KC is wanting/willing to trade. Looks like a lot of their guys get raises this year and they'll increase their record 140M payroll even i they let FAs walk. Seems like if you're a team that can take on money, that they'd be willing to trade any or all of Lorenzo Cain, Ian Kennedy, and obviously Wade Davis. Maybe can even get Ventura if you throw in a couple big time prospects. Seems like a good fit for the Cubs as they are a team that could use Soler, as they don't have much RH power and are always willing to stack up prospects.

I don't know much about the prospects in this deal. But I think the M's could've gotten more for Walker and that Segura will go back to not being good without that park in Arizona. Have to think the DBacks will be shipping out a starter somewhere.

They have the worst offense in the world. It's a garbage group that is going to get worse before it gets better, with Alshon leaving and the band aid tackles needing to get ripped off. They can't just draft defense and go. That's a recipe for more of the same. They need to make this line a strength. Their interior is a strength, but the tackles suck. They can turn the line into something solid. Whitehair and Long should be very good for a long time. But Sitton is going to be 31 next year and his body looks like it may start deteriorating at some point in the near future. I suspect they'll need another guard at least by the end of 2018. As for the tackles, I think either Massie or Leno would be OK if they had a strong tackle on the opposite side of them. Basically, if one of them was clearly the worst OL on the field...then you'd probably have a pretty good line. But it's hard to hide 2 weak spots as you can't leave TEs in or chip w/ RBs on both sides at the same time.

Yeah, I think if they do finish top 3, they have to take a QB. It's hard to justify not taking a QB when you don't have one on the roster (assuming Cutler is gone), especially when you consider that the Bears could have their choice of all the QBs if Cleveland passes on one. If they somehow win a few games and finish in a spot where they don't have a chance at the top 2 QBs, then you can justify not taking the 3rd guy. But the sentiment that "don't like any QBs in this draft" needs to go away. This is as good of a QB draft as it's going to get. There's not even 32 capable starting QBs in the league, so it's not like there's going to be several guys in every draft. And you can't use the don't like any guys at 3 excuse as we are talking about by far the most important position on the team. You reach for a guy you like if you are QB deficient. If you don't like any of the guys enough to reach for, you'll never like any and the GM should probably look for a new line of work.

Is one of these guys gonna be worth that investment? Watson certainly won't be. Maybe Kizer? But I'd rather get the best player, especially when you've got a chance at a Myles Garrett, Jonathan Allen or Jabrill Peppers. Love Peppers' talent, but he has 1 career forced fumble and 0 turnovers forced in 3 years. Hard to justify top 3, though he's an elite talent (former HS #1 recruit). I actually like Watson, but moreso in the 9-15 range. Don't really want him at 3. Kiser, I don't love, but Trubisky (NC QB) I'd probably take at 3.

No stopgap. Gonna have a top 3 pick. Pick a guy and spend about 10M less on a backup.

My feelings on Fangio is he would have to be doing a much better job and/or be much younger, for me to worry about losing him in any coaching change situation. Since going to the Fox/Fangio set up, the Bears have prioritized defense, acquiring 7,000 linebackers, as well as 5 of their first 6 picks last year were defense. And all we have to show for it is the defense looks competent most of the time. I say you fire Fox and then figure out Fangio's future after you hire the next HC. If he stays, he stays, and if he goes he goes. So be it. But it's not like this guy is working miracles over here and can't be replaced. works for me, as long as they don't hire a 4-3 guy to DC or something after spending 2 years gearing the roster toward a 3-4. do we have any idea as to who the bigger HC candidates this offseason are going to be? Kyle Shanahan, Falcons OC and obviously Mike's son Josh McDaniels, Patriots OC Harold Goodwin, Cards OC Matt Patricia, Patriots DC Darrell Bevelled, Seattle OC

That was a pretty crappy drive. Took too long after the FB run for the 1st. And then a pretty lame holding call. Should have had points on that drive.

Cutler hurt again, Cut Cutler! Cutler upsets Vikings, maybe don't cut him! Cutler throws 2 INTs and fumbles, Cut Cutler! Cutler 8-9, 105 yards, TD 16 points in 3 drives....maybe don't cut him!

IDK it seems pretty likely that the Cubs either re-sign Fowler or spend on a closer. They aren't going to just accept downgrades at several positions. CF without Fowler would be a huge downgrade. SP likely would be a downgrade from Hammel to Montgomery or whoever. RP would be a downgrade if Monty is not there. And then closer is a downgrade going back to Rondon from Chapman. I think the Cubs have set a pretty high standard, and if there was ever a year to maintain it by not making marginal moves it's 2017, when coming off a ton of playoff revenue and the potential to clear tons of money after the season. Unless the Cubs can pull off some amazing trades for pre-arb players at CF, SP, and RP.....they are going to spend money this offseason.

Is Butler a legit top 10 player in the league now? Lebron, Curry, Durant, Harden, Westbrook, Davis, Lilliard are the first tier. But Butler is right there in that 2nd tier with guys like Derozan, Isiah Thomas, Leonard, and Kyrie Irving....and I'd take Butler over at least a couple of those guys. lillard? nah. lebron, curry, durant, harden, kawhi, paul, westbrook, harden, davis, griffin, and maybe kyrie is the top 10 in some order jimmy's somewhere between 10-15. i'd put derozan and lillard in that group. KAT will assume top 5-7 status by year end IMO I'll give you Kyrie and Kahwi, those are the 2 guys in my group of 4 that I wouldn't take Butler over. But Griffin? Paul? I honestly never been a huge Griffin fan, made a lot better by Chris Paul. Paul is still pretty good, but he's getting up there in age, I think Kyrie's better and he's at the bottom on my top 10. Either way, I think we're both talking about Butler pretty close to the top 10. I'd put him right at 10.

I think that's true for just about every team seeded 4th-8th in both conferences, honestly. They've been a lot of fun to watch so far this year. Outside of the Christmas game against OKC and a couple of those games against the Cavs last year, watching them was like watching paint dry. Even last night in a game that wasn't pretty, I was still cool with watching them during a weeknight when they were out west. I definitely wouldn't have even bothered with that last year. Jimmy Butler looks even better than he has before and he was pretty damn good. D-Wade, while not old D-Wade, is doing some crafty veteran things that are pretty fun. He hit a big shot last night. The team is playing defense and overall it's probably been the most enjoyable Bulls team to watch since the ECF year. The east looks deeper than it's been in awhile (which is weird because there are so many good teams but Cleveland is still basically a lock to go to the finals) so it still good be a grind to make the playoffs but it's been fun so far. A continued good trip will up my expectations a little though it'll always be hard to get extremely excited when you know they aren't beating the Cavs. Is Butler a legit top 10 player in the league now? Lebron, Curry, Durant, Harden, Westbrook, Davis, Lilliard are the first tier. But Butler is right there in that 2nd tier with guys like Derozan, Isiah Thomas, Leonard, and Kyrie Irving....and I'd take Butler over at least a couple of those guys.

I don't know much about those last 2 guys the Reds get or Reid-Foley, but based on their numbers, these seem like pretty fair deals. I think that's about as good as we can expect for Soler. I don't think the Cubs are getting a ML ready starter. I think it's projectable pitching or a reliever if Soler is the main/only piece.

Just posted this on another board. I've watched a lot of Kaaya today. Nothing much changed in my opinion of him. But did confirm/solidify some things for me. I will say, this kid is really accurate when he can set his feet. Throwing into traffic, back shoulder, hitting a man in the zone. He hits his guy in stride when he has a clean pocket to step into. Doesn't quite have the arm to throw the deep out from the opposite hash, but not many do. As for his ability under pressure, every QB struggles when under pressure. We've seen Tom Brady flustered by a strong Giants pass rush on the biggest stage a couple different times. So, I'm not super concerned about the fact that Kaaya isn't as accurate under pressure. My big concerned is he seems to either not be aware or not care that a pass rush is coming. He sometimes holds onto the ball a 1/2 second too long and takes an unnecessary hit. And not little hits either, he gets nailed and does little to brace or protect himself. He's been pretty healthy so far in college, but that won't happen at the next level if he takes hits like he has been. And the games I've seen, most of the pressure has been off the edge. The struggles could be magnified when he gets NFL interior DL coming up the middle after him. One thing I will give him though, is I believe this could be coachable. He has to get that internal clock going in his head. If it's a 3-step drop, the ball needs to come out at 3, not 3 and a half. He has to work on his lateral footwork. He doesn't seem super immobile like say, a Ryan Mallett. But clearly he's not going to be a threat to scramble. I think a good QB coach/OC can help him out a lot. I know Miami isn't super well coached, so hopefully this is him playing on his natural instinct and ability. He probably needs to sit a year, but the bad news for the Bears is they don't have anyone for him to sit behind to outweigh the benefit of him getting experience. 6'3". 220lbs (good size), good not great arm, 3 year starter (JR), his mother played the crackhead in Friday who was the Felicia in the popular "Bye Felicia" meme that people use.

Kyle Long out for the season. Jordan Howard may or may not have a minor or major Achilles or ankle injury. In addition to the Jeffery suspension. For those scoring at home, those are the 3 best players on an already bad offense.

Um, math? Weekend? Still off balance from Tuesday? Fixed it in the original post. I'd give him 5/90, FWIW.

Um, math?

He's definitely trying to.

3 years at 14 per? Sign me up. Not that that will do it, realistically. If he can be had for 3/42 and we don't do it then I'm going to be a bit disappointed. Yeah, if he is looking for that, I'd give him 4 years/$60M today to stop him from even looking at another team. I think that 4th year will be something that the Cubs may not want to do and also the thing that sends Dexter somewhere else.

I think if the Cubs bring back Fowler and a team really wants Almora for pitching.....he'll be available in the right deal. Same with Cease, though I could see it being an either/or with him and De La Cruz.

IU with a win in a classic vs. Kansas to open the season last night. We just have so many weapons. OG led the team early with 10 points in the 1st 8 minutes or so. Then Bryant dominated the middle of the game, where he scored most of his 19. Then Blackmon put up 22 in the 2nd half and OT in case the world forgot about him. And if this is going to be what Curtis Jones is like as a freshman....wow! The homer in me thought 11/12 was a little low in the rankings for this team. Bryant is probably the best returning player in the nation. OG Anunoby was clearly poised for a breakout season, and getting Khawi Leonard comps. And Blackmon was poised to be this team's leading scorer on a really good team last year before got hurt. I was hoping this team would be ready early and could steal one vs. Kansas, but they actually played better than I thought and didn't "steal" a win...they earned it. The only teams I think that are clearly better at this point are Duke, UNC, Nova, UK, and probably Oregon (don't know much about Xavier).....and a lot of those teams are counting on freshman to carry them this year.

he got texts from michael jordan and barry bonds, we must re-sign this man Jordan is kind of his boss. He has a Jordan brand endorsement.

I want Colome. He's exactly the type of guy the Cubs should be looking at for closer if they aren't going to spend on one of the top 3 FAs. But really good relievers are going to cost starter value (in terms of prospects) to acquire. Colome is one of the few I'd pay that type of price for. He seems like a guy that could be a multi-inning reliever too as he started games as recently as July 2015. It's really an interesting dilemma from the Cubs point of view. They are obviously looking toward Oct/Nov with every move they make. And a shutdown closer may be more valuable than a guy that potentially only starts 1 game per playoff series, and there are diminishing returns when you're talking about a guy that has to be better Lackey. But the Cubs also have to look toward getting a start or two for 2017 and beyond. I'd be more apt to give up a package for a really good reliever (especially one with 4 years of control left) than I would for a really good starter. I'd just as soon go after a Bosio project and wait for the 2017 offseason and a much better FA class of starting pitchers.

I just don't see it with Wisler. Never been a high K rate guy, sub 6 in the MLB,control in the minors was good but that hasn't carried over to the majors. Velocity is down .5mph from 2015 to 2016 where it sits at 92.5. He gave up 36.7% hard hit balls while his swinging strike rate was 9% and his contact rate in the zone was 90.8%. That all sounds to me like a guy who has to nibble because his stuff isn't good enough to beat major league hitters in the zone. Sounds like a guy that fits into what a certain pitching coach has had great success with. But I think Teheran is gone. He makes the most money now and going forward of any of the guys they didn't sign this week, and he'd bring back the biggest return.