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Rcal10

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Everything posted by Rcal10

  1. Rcal10
    Nice bench move. Now just get Peller to blink and it turns into a very good (“A” grade)off season.
  2. Rcal10
    Cubs bench was terrible last year. If they can sign someone who puts up numbers better than league average for a bench bat, for not a lot of money, how is this not a good idea? Not every move has to be for a starter. We are talking about adding one guy at less than $5M to fill in for Busch occasionally against a rough lefty. Maybe also DH once in a while if Tucker moves to center to give PCA a day off. No, he isn’t going to be counted in as a key piece to the team, but it would be nice to have one above average bat in the bench.
  3. Rcal10
    I don’t know how they get there. I am sure there will be winning streaks and losing steaks but I can see 85 as a realistic number. Personally I have them at 86-87, but basically it is the same. With what both of us think, they can win 80-90 games and no one should be shocked. Things fall right they make 90. Things go poorly they are at 80. I would like to see a decent bat added and maybe another pen arm and they cut Merryweather. Might bring that win total up another game. And if they are contending at the TDL maybe adding a pitcher adds another win. They had a decent off season and should be a slight favorite in the division. But they should have done more.
  4. Rcal10
    I’ve already given up hope for Cease, so doesn’t matter to me what happens there. But I really hope the Cubs at least add either Turner or Canha and either Robertson, Chafin or Finnegan this week. I don’t see them doing much else, and honestly not even sure they do this.
  5. Rcal10
    I’m done discussing this with you any longer, here. It is getting boring. If you want to revisit this conversation in private when Tucker actually becomes a free agent I would be happy to do so. I would even be willing to put my money on his next contract having deferred money. So you just let me know if you want to put your money where your mouth is.
  6. Rcal10
    So 88 is your guess and people who are at 90 are insane? So are people at 86 insane too? I mean that is also only 2 away from your guess. PECOTA has them at 91. I agree they have to play well to get to 90. They probably also need to either add a starting pitcher or a young guy has to step up. Maybe both. But I would never suggest anyone who thought they could win 90 has to be insane if I had then at 86-87 wins with the current team. I would say any team projected to win 86 games can easily be an 81-91 win team.
  7. Rcal10
    It was originally when Jed seemed to suggest the team was not interested in deferrals. That comment has been lightened up a little. And I still do believe any contract Tucker does sign next year will have deferrals. So less of a concern because they Cubs may be willing to use them. Also, what is not being discussed here is the Cubs did not offer Bregman an opt out after year one. Which seems to mean they were good with him at $30M in ‘26 as well. That is actually a good sign that they may be willing to be over the LT next year knowing how much comes off the books in ‘27. Which could bode well for any Tucker contract. If they were willing to be over in ‘26 with Bregman I am sure it won’t be a problem with Tucker.
  8. Rcal10
    I understand your point and you are not wrong. But the fact is deferrals seem to be working now. They work for the team and the player. Bregman’s deal with the Cubs was right in line with this one. But he went to the Red Sox. Personally I think he did because it allows him a chance to have a better year in Boston than he wound in Wrigley. I think most big mega deals now will need to be a little creative. Seems to be the way they are going. The end result money will obviously matter, but if the Cubs line in the sand on contracts is deferrals it does have them playing at a disadvantage. The good thing is, I read that while they didn’t do it here it is not that much a rule as it is a preference. So maybe they will offer something like that if they need to, in the future.
  9. Rcal10
    I don’t know about the Bregman contract or if the Cubs could have offered more if they did some deferred money. But I would bet Tucker’s next contract will have deferred money in it. If the Cubs stick to what appears to be a refusal to defer money they will not have a chance at Tucker. It is a very good way to lower the AAV and still give the player a larger sum or money than a team not deferring money. It will be, once again, the Cubs trying to compete while they have a hand tied behind their back. I just do not understand this ownership and the way the insist on doing business and hurting their chances at getting top players.
  10. Rcal10
    They do not. But they still cost the owner money. And Ricketts doesn’t want to pay that money at any time. Which is why they will never got a top FA. And why they will lose Tucker. He isn’t just worried about the LT line. He is worried about every dollar he has to spend. Which adds to why he sucks.
  11. Rcal10
    I do think they will be close to 90 wins and maybe even win in the low 90’s. I also believe Shaw will be good. But they did not take full advantage of what they could have done to be dominate the division and be a real challenger to win the WS. If they were willing to go that high for Bregman I wish they would have had the same urgency with Burnes and signed him instead of Rea. IMO that would have made them a real threat to win a WS this year. And they could have done that and been under the LT line.
  12. Rcal10
    I get that. But I remember when this topic first came up and people were suggesting either Nightengale was wrong or Ricketts was wrong when he said he expects the number to end up close to the LT line. The explanation we got from someone here was both can be right. I think they can spend $20M and still have enough to make TDL deals on guys who might have a high salary. Now, that said, it absolutely doesn’t mean they will spend it. If they spend $20M now and added another $5M to $7M at the deadline both Nightengale and Ricketts could be correct. The problem is, I don’t see them spending that money. And really there isn’t much to spend it on if you believe Peller isn’t trading Cease. I think they may add a bat in a $5M or less contract and maybe a one arm, but I am not sure it is Robertson at $10M. Might end up Chafin at $5M. Tom still gets to pocket $20M - $25M. It is a win for Tom.
  13. Rcal10
    $220M in pure money spent is different than money when determine the LT. I think I saw that Nightengale could be right with that $220 figure and the Cubs would be at around $231 for LT purposes. It still absolutely sucks, but the Cubs might have closer to $20M to spend to get to Nob’s number and he still be right. I think in pure money they are just under $200M spent.
  14. Rcal10
    I agree. And I also admit I am part of the problem. I have been a fan for over 50 years. I love going to the game and watch just about every game they play. And I know for the owners to start spending money people will have to stop going. But I also know that if I don’t go someone else will. I probably have another 10-15 years of going to 15-20 games a year. If I knew one year of boycotting the games would create change I would not go. But it will take years before people actually stop going. And my that time I might be too old to go again. So I separate myself and my distain for the ownership from my love of going to the game, and go. Not going doesn’t hurt the owners. As I said, someone else will take my seat. All it does is deprive me of doing what I enjoy. Somehow the math has to work to show Ricketts winning makes more money. More playoff games create more revenue. That is the only way he will spend more money. And he most likely wont sell. Cubs make money.
  15. Rcal10
    I think several should be ranked higher as well. Suzuki should be top 50, and Steele should be top 60, IMO. Swanson should also be higher. I think people look too much into Steele’s “stuff” and ding him because they don’t feel it is that great. But he gets results every since he became a full time starter. And they are not lucky results like Assad. He pitches to a low 3 era and is a very good pitcher, period.
  16. Rcal10
    To me, that would be bare minimum passable. That would round out a good off season which would make them a favorite in the division. And they should have enough money at the TDL to add a starting pitcher if they need to. They did miss the opportunity for a great off season, however. But you can’t make a trade with a team if that team doesn’t want to trade and as for FA pitchers maybe they do really like Rea when comparing him to guys like Scherzer, Morton or guys in that range.🤷. Just add someone like Canha or Turner and then someone like Robertson, Chafin or Finnegan. I just really hope they, at least, do that. I agree with you that Merryweather may be the guy let go if they do add another pen arm.
  17. Rcal10
    Maybe. But is sucks that he is the owner of the Cubs. Tired of his excuses to not spend money.
  18. Rcal10
    I agree about your comments on Bregman. They didn’t really want him they just used it as a side show so they didn’t spend money. I don’t agree with Scott. The Cubs have a competitive offer and he chose the Dodgers. I think even if they went up and matched the Dodgers they would have just gone higher. With the Dodgers deferrals the Cubs offer was in line. And, TBH, I am not sure 4 years in Scott is that great an idea anyway. Most baseball people seem to not like that deal the Dodgers made. They can do it, because even if he falls off they just sign someone else and live with a bad deal. Jed can’t.
  19. Rcal10
    This is what I don’t understand. If they worked out an extension with Tucker that started this year and raised his salary for LT purposes to $35M I can see why they kept $30M. But we know that isn’t happening.
  20. Rcal10
    I agree. I think the Cubs never really expected Bregman to come here. All an excuse to not spend money. Had to save it for Bregman…… Now the excuse will be they don’t want to trade prospects for proven talent because they believe the prospects will be good. In real talk what they are saying is they don’t want to add salary. Ricketts needs to sell the team before they even act large market. Jed share blame as well. But his job doesn’t have to be this hard. And honestly I am not sure who would want to come here and work within Ricketts guidelines.
  21. Rcal10
    I don’t think he is. Maybe we see Canha or Turner. I would guess that is the biggest move he makes. Basically Tom saves $25M and the team isn’t as good as it could have been. Hope I am wrong, but I doubt it. This is the team we have with maybe one small move yet to make.
  22. Rcal10
    Why is what Jed said exactly what one would expect him to say. If they were still active and looking to improve the team why wouldn’t he say they lost out on Bregman but they still have a lot of irons in the fire. Still some options to improve the team. They still have a good amount of money left and are working hard to add talent. He said none of that. He said exactly what one would expect him to say if they didn’t have a plan B to make the team better. So in a way, you are right, he did say exactly what is expected because they don’t have a plan B. Maybe a small add and that is it. And that sucks….
  23. Rcal10
    How about we see what the roster is opening day. I say they will be at least $20M below the LT line. Maybe closer to $25M below. So if they do anything it will be small. Maybe we see Robertson or Turner. Not both. Maybe I am making too much of the tone of the interview. It just sounded like there isn’t much going on. It sounded to me that he was losing the expectation bar. Maybe I am wrong. We shall see.
  24. Rcal10
    I disagree, somewhat. He sounded like this was the team they were going North with. I guess we can say he didn’t mean they won’t go for Robertson or Turner. I guess those can be smal moves. But he sounded like moves were done, period. We can hold onto hope if we want. But for me, personally, I expect the biggest thing they will do is signs bench bat. And it might not even be Turner or Canha. Might end up Dejong. But, hey, on the bright side TR gets to pocket the money he saved by trading Bellinger. I am sure he is happy about that.
  25. Rcal10
    Exactly. But that’s on ownership, not the FO. I think most of the anger of what this team does or doesn’t do should be directed more at Ricketts than Hoyer/Hawkins. Doesn’t matter who the GM is, he has to answer to ownership. And if they aren’t willing to spend, the GM can’t spend, period.
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