sweetpeteman

I don't think there was an option, just rumors or something that he had been assured that he was safe and going to be the manager next year.

Hurdle fired. I'm honestly surprised.

I know a lot of people are predicting Girardi and while I'm obviously not going to dismiss this outright, I think they're more interested in somebody like Ross or Loretta because they want more say in the day to day running of the team (line up construction, bull pen use, etc). So to me they want a newer guy that they can dictate to vs an experienced manager who's not going to accept that.

The Red Sox want to compete next year despite cutting salary. They're not doing a rebuild like Baltimore and are going to be more interested in MLB/high minors pieces than maybe higher upside but farther away prospects. Contreras/Schwarber as a main piece for Betts is a good starting point. A. Who knows what value Contreras really has. Yes he's put up good numbers, but he's also been inconsistent B. The Red Sox have a catcher who put up good value, albeit defensively. C. Schwarber may be a better match because of that, but if you feel like his recent success is a break out, and not a fluke, I wouldn't want to move him for a guy who's only under contract for 1 year.

And the Brewers blow it. I doubt the Cubs win again tomorrow, so good job Brewers.

I didn't realize that simply offering him a league minimum contract was hard work.

It sucks he’s out of options next year. Don’t think you can go in to next year with him as the planned 5th starter but maybe they do and save the money there (and assume you can have something shake out between him, Adbert, Chatwood, Graveman, Rea) to spend elsewhere. Yeah, regardless how this game shakes out I think he’s shown enough to not let loose. There’s enough there for the the value of bringing him back. They have five better starters next year? Great. Bury him in the pen. But I like one of him or Chatwood (hell, maybe both) to be more than adequate as #5. There’s also a reason I bury my baseball thoughts in game threads and not the roster 2020 thread. I don’t really know horsefeathers. You definitely don't let Mills just walk in the offseason. If you do acquire another starter, then maybe you move him, but I'd expect him to be with the Cubs through spring training. Personally, I think Chatwood has shown enough that if the Cubs were to eat part of his contract for next year, you could move him for actual value. He could slot in as a 5th starter to a team hoping to either have him eat innings, or to try and improve on this year enough to move him at the deadline, and at 1 yr, $6.5m that's not a bad contract to take. If that's the case, Mills is kept around and breaks camp in that swing role.

#thatscub

16 or 17. They're tired with az right now.. If philly sweeps and the Cubs get swept they'll tie but I'm not sure about the tie breaker. That's the only team that is ahead of them that can reach them. AZ, the Mets, and Boston are all tied ir within 1 of the Cubs.

I'm actually a little surprised. I expected it to be one of those "stands" because it's too close to overturn.

Fire Theo

I think youre right that at least one of Rizzo/Bryant/schwarber/Contreras will be out, but id say in order of most to least likely itd be Schwarber/Rizzo/Bryant/Contreras. Schwarber is pretty obvious, but i put Rizzo as 2nd most likely simply because its easier to replace a 1st baseman, and his contract seems to give him some excess value that will start to deteriorate rapidly as he gets closer to FA. If youre gonna trade Rizzo rather than watch him leave via FA, the time to do so is this offseason. We have inhouse options to replace him, too. But id rather go outside to replace him if he did get traded. I think you have it backwards It's easily Contreras/Schwarber......................Rizzo/Bryant The reasons: Contreras is probably the most likely to be moved. He's got the combination of high value but expendable. He's in a high value position and is likely to be able to bring back the value in a trade that makes it worth trading him while the Cubs also have an in house option to replace him. Caratini doesn't seem like he'd be that much of a step down with the bat, while also providing better game calling/framing. Contreras has the arm, but overall I think Caratini is better behind the plate. Schwarber is also in a position where he could be replaced with a FA, like Nick, Puig, or a stop-gap like Corey Dickerson. Rizzo and Bryant are really interchangeable. I don't see either one being moved. Rizzo is still on a very team-friendly deal, and frankly isn't going to bring that much back that would be worth trading him for. While Goldschmidt brought back a really good haul for the DBacks, I don't see Rizzo getting that much. Bryant isn't getting moved because there is no way in hell they are trading him for anything but an absolute block buster of an offer that isn't going to be there.

If not-Matheny leaves the middle infielders at DP depth like he should've, the games probably over.

Let's be honest - they did not call the TO in time.

If it hit into the net, shouldn't it be out of play?

This doesn't feel like an actual rumor or move, just Sullivan making horsefeathers up.

Final move: Drop Baez, move Torres to 2b, add Bregman at SS.

Taylor Davis designated

I've seen enough of Tony Kemp.

Just in time for the team to be 4-6 games out.

My predictions on some of these: Free agents: Maybe Kintzler or Strop if they come cheap enough. Cedeno is probably broken. He may get a minor league offer. Club Options: Morrow is obviously gone, and the only way Holland gets his optioned picked up is if he somehow pitches lights out vs both lefties and righties down the stretch, so I doubt it. Phelps - picked up unless he gets injured, even at $5 mil. Why? Well the Cubs have 48 games left. He could get to 40 appearances, but if he gets to 40, then he is probably pitching well enough to pick up the option at $5. If he doesn't get to 40, he's probably worth it at $3 mill. Barnette - dropped. There's no reason to keep him around with the options the Cubs have Graveman - picked up. The point of the option was to keep him around after he recovered from TJS. The only reason it would be dropped is if he's suffered some setback during recovery. No MiL Options: Ryan, Underwood, and Wick are all going to be back. Rosario and Webster will be DFA'd in the offseason and may be re-signed on minor league contracts. Mills might be kept around through spring and then either win a spot in the BP as the long relief option; or will then be DFA'd. MiL Options: These guys will be back in the spring to compete for whatever spots exist. 40-man additions: According to AZPhil, Rea and Hultzen are minor league FAs at the end of the year, so they either need to be re-signed or added. Mekkes and Miller are Rule V eligible.

You are not mistaken. Kyle Ryan, Allen Webster, Alec Mills and Randy Rosario are also on that list. Rowan Wick will have an option remaining but can elect free agency if sent down. Webster and Rosario will probably be DFA'd this offseason. Mills might be kept around and allowed to compete for the LR role out of spring training and then have a decision made about him.

2 moves: Drop Willson, add Kepler Drop JD Martinez, add Yelich

The only way Maddon is back next year is if the Cubs win the World Series. And even then I doubt it.

No.