Rcal10
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The point I was making by my post is the cubs do have a legit chance at the playoffs. You suggested, along with AB, he would probably want to sign with a team with a legit chance. I think the only reason he wouldn’t sign here is the AB, Oh, and of course the Cubs aren’t going to pay him what he needs. 😬 I don’t think that is where they want to put money.
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There are not that many teams who have a more legit shot at the post season than the Cubs, and need a guy who can play 1st and 3rd AND where he will get 400AB.
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So now that they didn’t can you accept it and realize they still can spend $40M pretty easily on 3 or 4 players? Might have to get 1 or 2 in a trade. But it can be done.
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This is one example with all FA. Personally I don’t think it will be all FA from here on out. But, to your point, this is a good example of how they can spend it and not get a high priced guy.
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Well said. Seems the negative posters love to point to an article that suggest they might not spend. Or point to not many FA available. But how about Jed saying, at the beginning of the off season, that he expects most of the big moves to come from trades, not FA. Why isn’t that discussed. Who cares what FA pitchers are left? IMO the Cubs never considered the big 3, and then after Eovaldi got what he got and even Buehler got what he got, that pretty much took them out of Pivetta and Flaherty(if they were actually considering them anyway-which I doubt they were). I expect any larger contract ($15M to $22M) for a pitcher will be on a pitcher they traded for. Then add a pen and in the $10M-$13M range, and a bench bat or two.
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I will only respond on the one thing I agree with you on. I wouldn’t mind Turner. But I think he will want to go somewhere he can get 400+ AB and probably cost too much if the Xubs do plan on adding a decent starting pitcher. And I think they do.
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I guess my plan to spend the $40M never had signing a top FA pitcher anyway. So that could be why I don’t see any change. But, exactly who is gone that you really, honestly thought they would sign? Beside Flaherty isn’t Pivetta available? I don’t expect either, but to your way of thinking, there are still a few. If you really thought they would sign Burnes that’s on you. That is you not being realistic from the start. It is very easy to spend $40M and not have to sign a top FA pitcher. At the very least they can use one more pen arm, 1 bench bat and one starting pitcher. $40M is enough for all, but not if you are going to spend $35M Burnes.
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But why? What changed? You said you thought they would spend at least $40M once they dealt Bellinger? Why has that opinion changed? Even the story in the private equity investors did not suggest they won’t spend to close to the line this year. That was more about signing a guy to a mega deal. So why won’t they spend $40M+ now? Something like Yates for $14M, Joe for $3M, Thielbar for $3M, Rojas for $6M gives the gives them $14M to maybe $18M to add add starting pitcher. Maybe Jed likes Lopez. He cost a bit more. So he isn’t making a move elsewhere until he sees if he can get Lopez. Maybe he likes Jax too. So again, not going to sign Yates if he thinks he has a chance at Jax and Lopez. Maybe he has had talks with SD about Cesse. But SD is waiting on Sasaki. No action up until now doesn’t mean they changed their plan. It could very well mean they have a lot of balls in the air and don’t want to eliminate a possibility by signing someone before exploring all options. Why does lack of action now, still very early, turn into gloom and doom?
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This is how I see it. 4 more without Sasaki or 5 with him.
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Exactly right. You don’t know. Nor do I. I am just saying that nothing that has happened so far should concern you if you did think they would spend. I never thought they would spend big on a FA pitcher anyway. At least not once they traded for Tucker. But they can spend most of that $40M we all say they have on 3 more players and none of them would be considered big spending. Too many people want things NOW. So far, IMO, the Cubs have done a good job this off season. They need to do more, but nothing they have done or haven’t done leads me to believe they won’t do more. Let’s let the FO do what it is going to do before we start complaining and/or worrying about the 25’ season.
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I don’t think what has transpired since they traded Bellinger should have us now worried they won’t spend the money. It is still early. And no one I expected or hoped they would go after is off the board now. I do think they will spend but I can also see saving some to try extending PCA. Maybe they won’t spend $40M, but I think there will be at least $20M more spent.
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Or Thielbar and Joe but spend more on a pen arm (Yates) an add another starting pitcher taking between $15M and $22M (Lopez, Alcantara, Cease) Again, like you said, not a trick question. But this is also an option.
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I would have been ok with Urshela. But it appears they are aiming higher if they are actually going after Rojas. I just think a right handed bat makes more sense unless they are adding a second bat, which they might do. As a second bat, Urshella would work, but that would mean the two recent adds wouldn’t make the team. And I think at least one of them will, as utility. So if the Cubs signed Rojas I would expect the second bench bat to be able to play 1st and outfield. Regardless, in this case Jed did not pass on Urshella because he didn’t want to spend $2M. He just didn’t want him.
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I have been suggesting Yates and Minter on several posts. So I am not opposed to spending on the pen. I just don’t think spending necessarily means the pen will be good. Thielbar is ok, if they also add more talent to the pen, bench and starting rotation, because they saved money on him. I am neither excited nor upset by this signing. kind of meh. It will depend on what else they do.
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Wouldn’t that be a big signing? I mean $20M+ for a guy? Honestly if the Cubs felt either could still pitch I don’t disagree that they would consider this. Not sure of what the cost would be. But if they are going to make any real attempt at Tucker next year they need to not have that much payroll in 26’ So a one year deal for a pitcher does make sense. And if they did sign one of them and he did well there would be no reason to flip him. The Cubs will be winning the division. And if he sucks, no one will want him on a flip.
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I agree with all of this. The move on its own is not great, but not terrible. If, because of this cheaper signing, he spends more elsewheee than I am fine with the move. As you said, only December 31st.
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Hopefully the next move is for a guy who is already good and doesn’t need to be fixed. This move is not inspiring at all.
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You have been saying the same thing since before the Tucker trade. We got it. You don’t think they will do anything. I guess Tucker messed up your off season prediction.
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We’ll this move should give him enough money to go after whatever else he wants, regardless of costs. Yates for $15M and a trade for Lopez and they should still be fine.
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Well it doesn’t appear they are going to spend too much money on a lefty pen arm. Not sure they cost of this signing, but can’t be much.
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I think the point is the payroll was higher those years after 2016 due to the commitments made prior to that year. Not much was brought in after that, with the exception of Darvish. And he replaced Arrieta. Guys like Davis and Morrow were acquired because the Cubs didn’t want to go long term with an elite closer. Soler was traded for one year of Davis. Morrow was a long shot closer signing. Even Kimbrel was only signed after Zobrist has some unpaid leave during the first half year the Cubs had Kimbrel. Quintana was traded for because of his inexpensive contract. Pretty much and move after 16’ to add salary had to be offset with a move to reduce payroll. And all moves had one eye on the payroll. They may have been a higher payroll team, but they watched every dollar they spent and never aimed for top guys after 2016.
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I agree with this. Rojas would be a fine bench player. But does that mean they also have to get a right handed bat to cover for Busch? That is my only issue with signing Rojas. They would have to add another bat. I just don’t think they will sign 2 and use $10M-$15M to add to the bench.
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I agree he is a fine player. But he doesn’t solve the problem of a right handed bat to play 1st when giving Busch a day off against a rough lefty. If they sign him do they then add another bench bat? And if they did, does that guy also play the outfield and take Canario’s spot or is he the utility infielder? I just don’t see them putting $12-$15M into bench bats when they only have $40M to spend. I would rather they get 2 pen arms and a starting pitcher with most of that money and spend maybe $5M to $8M on one bench bat.
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Pretty much my thoughts as well. Sign one bat that plays 1st and 3rd. I would think that bat should be right handed, or a switch hitter to give Busch a day off.
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What is not much to you? Rojas had a WAR of 2 last season. Is $6M too much? Honestly, who do you expect them to get that you wouldn’t say he sucks and at what cost do you belief they should spend? Rojas might be the best of the bunch and you said he sucks. My only issue with him is if they did get him I would imagine they would also then want to get a right handed bat who can cover first. Which means spending more money to fill the bench. Which means less for the pitchers. And I am not a fan of that.
