Bertz

From Rosenthal's latest article.

The team leading the league in QB pressures/hits being the 3rd worst passing defense is quite the paradox They were decimated by injuries early in the year, and are now at least vaguely healthy. Not at corner though. They already had a mediocre CB group to start the year, and then it got decimated. Cre'Von Leblanc is arguably their top guy, and he was waived by the damn Lions at midseason. If Mitch plays like he did last week, this *should* be a laugher.

Based on Theo's quotes yesterday, I still expect a decent amount of movement this offseason. I think that they're waiting on Bryce, and that if they don't get him there's not another big name coming through that door. I think we're looking at something like this: Plan A -Sign Bryce -Trade Zobrist for prospects and salary relief -Trade Chatwood+prospects to dump his salary -Sign a backup catcher and another reliever -Potentially move Happ for young pitching Plan B -Trade for a bat (David Peralta is the most obvious IMO) -Trade Chatwood, but not necessarily in a way that maximizes saving money in 2019 (e.g. for someone like Russell Martin or Dee Gordon) -Sign a backup catcher and another reliever To me the biggest question is Russell. I really hope they are planning to dump him, but I'm increasingly worried they won't. That being said, they're not painted into a corner yet, so I'm trying not to get too worked up. Adeiny Hechavarria, Jose Iglesias, and Freddy Galvis are all reasonable backup SS options available in FA. It's very possible that a month from now they can dump Russell and sign one of them for only a nominal raise (similar to the La Stella Descalso swap). Also, less realistic but an option I love is getting Ketel Marte from the Dbacks. He'd be relatively expensive in trade cost, but I like him a lot and he'd bring us back to the "too many shortstops" place we were a few years ago.

Speaking of which, our favorite Twitter “source” is at it again — Charles the Cat @CharlsMeow Multiple relievers I'm hearing the #Cubs have had recent discussions with. Kelvin Herrera, Brad Brach, and Oliver Perez. #HotStove Regardless of the stupid cat. Oliver Perez would be kind of interesting.... he was better than both Miller and Britton last year and he would definitely be cheaper. Perez and Allen as additions to the pen wouldn't be the worst moves. Yeah I really like the Perez idea. He was all around fantastic last year, and at bare minimum he'll be tough on lefties forever. Plus at his age he should only be in line for a one tear deal.

:beg:

If we were going to add a money reliever he was my top choice.

Alex Cora is a gd treasure

I think all it says about Baez is they don't care whether he's a SS or a 2b. It would have impacted Zobrist's PT, not Javy's. This is more about getting a second guy on the roster who can play SS, hopefully with an eye toward putting Russell on an escalator to nowhere but at minimum coverage for the month he's suspended.

It feels like Manny is close to signing. I just hope that feeling is accurate and that Bryce isn't more than a week or so behind.

Wait, is the relegation idea sarcastically over-the-top or do you honestly think that's more realistic than the other ideas in this thread?

Pretty sure Mitch was near the top of this list around midseason. He's really come around later in the year on the accuracy front, with the obvious exception of the Rams game.

[tweet] [/tweet] [tweet] [/tweet] Am I reading this wrong or did Quinn get demoted and the HC job is open? Read it wrong. Quinn HC and DC. Wow that's soooooo dumb. Too bad we don't play them next year.

Atlanta doesn't need a HC though. And the Bears aren't letting him go be a DC somewhere else. But yeah, Atlanta is back to Superbowl contenders if they could get Fangio as DC and find a guy that can draw up some redzone plays on offense. [tweet] [/tweet] [tweet] [/tweet] Am I reading this wrong or did Quinn get demoted and the HC job is open?

[tweet] [/tweet] Obviously don't want him to go, but he would be great for Atlanta. I wouldn't want him if I were about to draft a QB though.

Roquan Smith was 10000% right to hold out

Windows shut so quick in the NFL. Vikings went from the NFC title game to missing the playoffs, looking toward an offseason where they have 7m in cap space and two key defensive starters (Sheldon Richardson and Anthony Barr) hitting FA. They're not going to be bad or anything, but it's tough to see them being too much better than they were this year unless they rock the draft.

Mack and Hicks out of the game, I think everyone else still in. I think that's the right call, maybe pull Fuller too?

That drive was awesome from Mitch considering the circumstances and how depleted the WR core currently is

I’d rather just have a better kicker and deal with the money. Well 2019 Parkey will probably be better than 2018 Parkey too. But spending much money on the K spot would be ill advised. It doesn't cost that much guaranteed to go and bring in a decent competitor for him. This. Absolutely go out and bring in some league minimum guys or use a 7th round pick or whatever to have a competition, but you can't spend real money on another kicker. The team has 25 in cap room after they cut Sims, but they need to retain or replace Amos, Callahan, and Massie as well as some of the depth guys like Lynch. Trevathan and Long are both cuttable, but either of those would be a robbing Peter to pay Paul situation IMO. Also, as bad as Parkey has been this year, the difference between his season and an average one is like 2-3 extra FGs and 1-2 extra points. Those can be important but it's not worth like $10m in effective salary salary.

He's got 5 million in dead cap next year, he'll be back barring some sort of playoff nightmare. If they cut Long they’ll get that money back. With how tight money is going to be this offseason that would be a....bold...strategy.

I think a lot of the criticisms of Cousins are overblown, bu that was baaaaaaadddddd

He's got 5 million in dead cap next year, he'll be back barring some sort of playoff nightmare.

I don't think that's a TD, but regardless it was awesome. And yeah, I think I would pull the defensive starters now and the offensive ones at the half.

The Vikings stink. Let them in because they look like the weakest team in the NFC. but they aren't. I'd much rather face Philadelphia Agreed. The Eagles have been ravaged by injuries. I don't care that they beat the Rams, they're the much weaker team right now.