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Bertz

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Everything posted by Bertz

  1. Bertz
    His velo was fine so I wouldn't be super worried about his second half numbers. Likely just overperformed a bit in the first half and under in the second. The reason he got non tendered is likely just salary. Guys who rack up saves tend to have their salaries get really juiced in arbitration. Finnegan was due almost $9M in arb this year, and is realistically probably more of a $6-7M/year type arm.
  2. Bertz
    Wow, shocked by Tauchman. He had no fit on the team but I assumed he had comfortably done enough the last two years to have a little trade value.
  3. Bertz
    Josh Rojas is left handed and a plus defender at 2B and 3B. League average hitter vs. RHP. I'd be pretty down to hand him a bench role
  4. Bertz
  5. Bertz
  6. Bertz
    Presumably the first of 3ish
  7. Bertz
    Hmm okay fair enough. It sounds close enough to what I expected to question too much. Good find. But to your question, players can agree to a minor league deal even if they're out of options. In this case Thaiss' choices are the deal being reported or gambling that he can get a full time MLB roster spot. The $400K is MUCH better than standard AAA salary, so it's a smart way to hedge his bets. HOWEVER, the Cubs can't call him up and down throughout the year. Once they call him up he stays up unless they cut him (and pay him the remainder of that $1M salary).
  8. Bertz
    This seems oddly specific, but I haven't seen any reporting. Did one of the beat guys say it on the radio? But generally split contracts are a minor league contract where the guy makes well above the typical minor league rate while in the minors and a relatively low major league rate if he's in MLB. So in this scenario he'd go to AAA, make a prorated $400K as long as he's down there, and if/when he gets to MLB make prorated $1M (a couple hundred grand higher than the league minimum).
  9. Bertz
    This feels shockingly reasonable. Honestly I'd probably consider it for even just one of the relievers.
  10. Bertz
    One of these is Dansby Swanson the last three years, the other is Willy Adames .236/.314/.443, 108 wRC+ .255/.323/.419, 108 wRC+
  11. Bertz
    Unless you think Bird Flu is going to force us to shelter in place again there's zero reason to consider this a possibility.
  12. Bertz
    I think Bellinger is close enough to value neutral that the return might not be another big contract it might just be some modest prospects or roster filler. Whether you need something of substance back from him or not depends on the timing of a deal. If you get something done tomorrow you'd probably just want to move him and pocket the cash. If a trade doesn't come together until February you probably want someone back because there might not even be $25M worth of free agents left who fit on the roster.
  13. Bertz
    A few more teams that might make sense Red Sox - Have a lot of youth in both the OF and at 1B, some of it has performed and some hasn't. Bellinger could cover basically whoever is looking most like a bust at the moment (currently would be Rafaela, but might not be long term). They also struck out a ton last year and could use a reprieve Mariners - Also struck out way too much last year. Also have some questions in their outfield (Arozarena should probably be a DH, and do you *really* trust Victor Robles?) Nats - Sounds like they are considering doing something splashy akin to when they signed Jayson Werth ahead of the Harper/Strasburg/Rendon wave of prospects hit. Bellinger could be that veteran presence without the long term commitment, or one of two moves to really hammer home legitimacy. They project terribly in CF currently
  14. Bertz
    https://blogs.fangraphs.com/scouting-the-players-added-to-40-man-rosters/ It's not a full team re-rank but Longenhagen dropped Caissie down to a 45 FV.
  15. Bertz
    I don't think so. I think taking back another contract that is inflated (but to be very clear, the player is still productive) should be in bounds, but there's no reason to act desperately. Bellinger's a good player and he's not a terrible fit on the roster. I'd prefer if he were RHH and I'd prefer if we could count on him for more dongs, but holistically he's not really any better or worse than FA alternatives like Teoscar Hernandez or Anthony Santander. For instance, someone brought up Schwarber for Bellinger. That feels like the type of thing that feels more appropriate. Like I'd say no to that specific move, but it feels imminently reasonable.
  16. Bertz
    Right now they have (presumably) $50M+ to make a couple additions to the bench and to throw at pitching. It's a smidge tight, but you could absolutely do something like $25M SP $10M RP $15M across three bench guys Trading Bellinger gives you some breathing room, but any backfill in free agency is also going to cost between $20-25M per year, so not much.
  17. Bertz
    Yankees and Phillies feel like the logical options. Both have very thin outfields and play in parks where Bellinger's bat would play up based on the expected homerun numbers. I'd definitely be cautious in trading Bellinger. I know everyone wants to add power to the lineup, but Soto aside none of the FA outfielders are really any better than him holistically. Plus I'm not sure that saving Bellinger's money really moves the needle that much, since it's probably going right back into e.g. Anthony Santander. Unless you have something specific lined up that moves the needle more than I expect, keep the defense, keep the outfielder on a short term deal, forego some dongs.
  18. Bertz
    More information about "Cubs Still Looking For Catcher & Relief Help"
    The Cubs on Wednesday added reliever Eli Morgan from the Guardians and catcher Matt Thaiss from the Angels. According to The Athletic the Cubs are still looking to further bolster both areas of the roster. Morgan not being the only planned reliever add this offseason is not surprising considering how often Jed Hoyer has used the word "depth" when discussing the bullpen. Matt Thaiss at catcher was a little more ambiguous, though the team is thin at catcher in AAA as well so it's a position that could use some depth as well. Given that the Cubs have not yet spent significant money this winter, paired with neither position moving much yet in free agency (with the notable exception of Travis d'Arnaud), any player the team was eying before Wednesday's moves is likely still on the table.
  19. Bertz
    The Cubs on Wednesday added reliever Eli Morgan from the Guardians and catcher Matt Thaiss from the Angels. According to The Athletic the Cubs are still looking to further bolster both areas of the roster. Morgan not being the only planned reliever add this offseason is not surprising considering how often Jed Hoyer has used the word "depth" when discussing the bullpen. Matt Thaiss at catcher was a little more ambiguous, though the team is thin at catcher in AAA as well so it's a position that could use some depth as well. Given that the Cubs have not yet spent significant money this winter, paired with neither position moving much yet in free agency (with the notable exception of Travis d'Arnaud), any player the team was eying before Wednesday's moves is likely still on the table. View full rumor
  20. Bertz
    Again because it's November and he has barely spent a dime and not February with the team within spitting distance of the tax line. Also just last year they acquired like 5 catchers like this through waiver roulette. It was a whole meme because people kept flipping out while they hadn't done anything big yet.
  21. Bertz
    @enosarris.bsky.social on Bluesky BSKY.APP Weird little thing I just found. There were 4 Triple-A SP with above-average stuff & location numbers...
  22. Bertz
    From what I can find the official numbers came out a month later than this last year https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/eight-teams-combine-for-record-209-8mm-in-luxury-tax-bills.html Though I agree teams likely find out before (I'd hope well before) the public.
  23. Bertz
    lol, beyond parody
  24. Bertz
    It's mid November and the #2 catcher on the Cubs' depth chart as of this morning was William Simoneit who is 28 and had a 37% K rate in AAA last year. Several of you are WAYYYYY overthinking this.
  25. Bertz
    It would have been surprising for him to sign this year and leave an extra couple million on the table, but good to see confirmation. Also if he was rushing to be part of this year's class it would have been a clear(er) sign he was planning to be a Dodger, since they currently have the most unspent pool space.
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