chibears55

That what I always say, seems like they rarely sign or trade for a player that these writers have them rumored for cause it mostly speculations from them, it seems like they mostly acquire guys that nobody had being on the Cubs radar.

They may have been trying for Imai but I doubt they were ever in on Bregman let alone Bregman and Imai. Cubs current payroll is at around 209(FanGraph), even if they go to 240 but stay under 244, 30 mil wouldn't of gotten both Bregman and Imai, it won't even get Bregman.. Bichette and Gallen will likely combine for 40+, i just dont see them spending that high. I think theyll either spend 20 give or take on another SP and be done, or add a cheaper depth type SP and another bench bat totaling around 20 mil. I think theyll cutoff payroll no more than lower 230s

I turn the page when I see cubs are interested...lol I'd love to know of all the players that Cubs been rumored to have interest in the past couple years have actually had a legit offer made to them, my guess would be very few. They seem to mostly sign or trade for players that are barely on anyone's radar for them.

Not all of us..lol Next year though I might be one of them because there should be no excuses as far as availability in money

That the route i figured they would take if they added SP, depth type guys. Imanaga Taillon Boyd Horton Rea/Assad or someone in the middle lower tier addition thatll put Rea/Assad in the Pen. Then eventually Steele will be back, I just don't feel like they will actually spend or trade for a top quality SP with already having a stable of starters on roster.

Yea they obviously want to win but in their own way.... Sadly it been this way for the Cubs since Free Agency started in 1975, they signed some free agents but their very first big major FA didn't come until 1987 and that took Andre Dawson giving them a blank contract which ended up being 500K. Since the 2000s the only really big names they signed were Soriano Lester Heyward Darvish and Swanson. Did i miss anyone? So, I dont know, maybe PK Wrigley haunts the Cubs owners in their sleep and scares them from spending money 🤷🤷🤷😅 CubsWay.... we want to win the cheapest way possible 😅😅

Theyll pull a Fowler and he'll come out onto the field during ST but itll be PCA who runs up to him and gives him the big hug like Rizzo did with Fowler 😅😅 10 years

I have been saying all along, I think they went into this offseason with a pretty set roster, especially on the position players side and basically a set rotation and with Steele due back in May/June. So, we were likely to see Hoyer pretty much just add bench, bullpen, and depth players to the roster, which we have seen so far. I just dont think hes going to sign anyone to a guarenteed multi year 20+ mil contract this offseason nor do I think he going to trade away his top prospects assets like Caissie, Mo, or even Shaw to add a top quality SP because with the expiring contracts he is likely going to need these kids for 2027. I really believe Ricketts andHoyer plan is to retool/rebuild (whatever you wanna call it) everything again after the new CBA and start it with basically a clean payroll and their up and coming prospects and guys they have team control of on roster now. Amaya, Busch, Swanson, Shaw, PCA, Horton, Assad, Steele are main players and all under team control for next 2-5yrs. Then they have their top prospects that are ready or close to ready in next year or two in Caissie, Mo, Wiggins, Rojas, Ramirez, Birdsell, Hernandez. So yea, when they didn't resign Tucker and Imanaga returned, i just never felt they were going to go out and spend to bring in players that were going to be difference makers but instead stick with who they have and sprinkle in a few guys for the pen and bench along with possibly SP depth, because their plan is to wait and see what the new CBA brings, have basically a clean payroll, and then build around from most of the players I listed above. I want to be wrong and Hoyer has a shockingly big move coming soon but I wont hold my breath on it.

Right, he comes out in the beginning of them on day 1 for a couple minutes, and there was a couple years they canceled the Q&A panel with the owners. the only time he recieved some boos was when he talked about marquee being the new home to televise games but they haven't come to sn agreement yet with xfinity and others, that when he told everyone theyll be applauding him the next convention cause theyll love marquee...lol, he lucked out cause Covid canceled it the next year.

Convention crowd dont boo, those are the true blue Kool ade drinkers that cheer for everyone. Ricketts will come out and talk about last season playoff appearance and 2016 to get them all cheering and then high tail off the stage....

Yep, we now move on from Imai and Bregman rumors to Bo Bichette and also the rumblings of trading Hoerner 🙄🙄🙄🙄 Why i never believe in rumors, because 9 out of 10 times a team nobody mentions ends up with the player 🤷

Look at the bright side, if Imai is good he will likely opt out and become a FA next year, Hoyer and the Cubs will basically have an open payroll and SP need 🤷🤷🤷🤷

Yea but it could also of been a couple things, Imai really didn't want to play with any other Japanese players like he said or in Chicago, or Ricketts didn't want to pay a posting fee just to lose him after 1 season, or maybe Hoyer didn't want to risk losing another SP since I believe 3 will be coming off the book after 2026 and wants to add someone that guarenteed to stay.

Another rebuild 🤷 Theyll have Caissie, Ballesteros, Rojas, Alcantara, Pedro Ramirez, Hernandez, along with Amaya, Busch, Shaw, and PCA. Plus whomever they could bring in by trading expiring contracts at the deadline. I wouldn't put anything pass Ricketts/Hoyer at this point but yea this is setting up to be another breakdown in 2026 then rebuild it again in 2027.

I figured it would be 3 or 4 years with options, didn't think it would be starting year one though. Starting to look like Gallen or that depth type starter i said they'd be looking to get, I really believe Ricketts/Hoyer want to go into next offseason with minimal guarenteed contracts on the books as they can, whether it because they think there will be a long lock out or want to be ahead of the pack with the new CBA who knows, maybe with the expiring contracts and upcoming prospects they could be doing another lite rebuild....

Grok predicts the Cubs and they're never wrong.... 😅

Yea, it wouldn't surprise me if something leaks out overnight or in the morning if not a decision in the morning.

Yea, and putting nothing pass Hoyer, he could also be thinking about moving Suzuki and or Happ in July depending on how the team is playing. Ballesteros if he not able to catch at least in a backup role would be ideal to trade now to get a SP, at least with Caissie we know hes going to replace either Happ or Suzuki as an everyday guy no later then OD 2027.

Yea but I think alot of fans are still expecting or hoping for that bat, I never thought they would add a bat, my expectation was solely on pitching for this offseason.. I still feel like OD payroll will be under 225

I dont know, i think Mo will definitely be up on OD, maybe Caissie could get a month in Iowa if they feel like holding him back. I just dont see how they can just hold him down if hes hitting well.

35 yo Anthony Rendon was just bought out by the Angels, he is exactly what Hoyer would bring in on a 1 year deal.... 😅😅

I figure Suzuki Ballesteros and Caissie would be rotating between DH and RF(Suzuki Caissie). We could see Suzuki sitting against some RHers and both Mo and Caissie starting. The bench can easily be Catcher, Mo, Caissie, and 2 of Kingery Austin and maybe Long to start the season. Hoyer OD bench rarely stays the same after the first month and this season, I can see him relying more on guys in AAA to fill that role when needed.

Im more interested in the years, he is 27 and with Boras as his agent they might want to test the FA market with him at age 30-31. Likely why the Whitesox could be involved now and would be right up Hoyers alley of offering 3-4 years with options.

I still expect to see this lineup on OD... Kelly/Amaya Busch Hoerner Swanson Shaw Happ PCA Caissie Suzuki/Ballesteros

Hoyer gonna tank 2026 so he can draft Genei Sato in the 2027 draft. 😏😏😏