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Rcal10

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Everything posted by Rcal10

  1. Rcal10
    Have to think of them blue Jays get Soto they are out on Ohtani, right?
  2. Rcal10
    And yet he hasn’t announced he is going to play for the Dodgers yet. To me the fact that this is taking some time is encouraging. If the Dodgers were the hands down obvious choice, I think he would have made that announcement by now.
  3. Rcal10
    I get that. I am just saying we shouldn’t assume free spending and suddenly being in every big FA full stop like they are with Ohtani. I do believe they will go over the LT this year because they have $50M coming off next year. I just do not assume they will now be in on every top FA. I also see they are said to be in on Yamamoto. I am happy to see that too. I just caution those who might think this ownership is now going to become the Mets or Padres of last year. And I am not criticizing them for not being like that. I still view Ohtani as a unicorn because of all the money he can also bring ownership.
  4. Rcal10
    Really not unusual that he isn’t signed yet. Everyone is anxious waiting on him, but it isn’t like he is taking unusually long to decide. Yes, he is holding up the market and that might hurt the team he eventually picks, but he has to do this however it is most comfortable to him. Also, he really isn’t holding up all of baseball. Moves can be made. Chapman can sign, Cease can be traded, etc… We just have to realize this is a life decision for him. One thing I will say is if it was such an easy forgone conclusion he was going to stay in LA it should have been done already. The fact that this is a rough choice for him gives me encouragement that he might actually pick someone other than the Dodgers. And it is isn’t the Dodgers I really like the Cubs chance.
  5. Rcal10
    Unfortunately I believe the FO considers this an exception. If they don’t get Ohtani I doubt they spend to what they would if they had Ohtani. They may go over the LT this year, but I don’t see them as big players for other FA this year or after this year. Ohtani is truly a unicorn.
  6. Rcal10
    Correct. However it had been reported that HE wanted this done before the winter meetings. For me, that’s the reason I thought it would be done, if not by now, within the next day or two.
  7. Rcal10
    Agreed. He does hold the Cubs up for sure. As someone has pointed out, Glasnow makes a lot of sense if they got Ohtani. He still makes some sense without, but really they should be looking at a longer term starting pitcher if they don’t get Ohtani. And that doesn’t even take into account if they should target Soto. Without Ohtani, Cubs could be looking harder at Yamamoto and maybe even Alonso in a deal (if Soto is not an option). They have more money they can spend. Without Ohtani or Soto, they probably should keep Morel. They still have the DH spot open even if Morel can’t play 3rd. All of this is held up waiting on Ohtani. And I realize none of this is Ohtani’s problem. But as others have pointed out, if he wants to win with a team he should decide asap so that team can then start it’s off season of building in addition to him. So it is something he should consider as well. He may be holding the team he eventually goes to up and during that time they might lose out on someone who would help them win.
  8. Rcal10
    It is probably strictly BS, but nice to see Xubs mentioned as the favorite. Even knowing it is BS still like reading that better than they are out on Ohtani. The guy has been right before on deGrom. Maybe lightening strikes twice?
  9. Rcal10
    Exactly..
  10. Rcal10
    I feel others have suggested that time frame as well. It wasn’t meant to suggest you are pushing the thought he should know. And, actually it has been reported a while ago that he wanted this done by the winter meetings. So I do understand why some feel this is the time to decide. I apologize if it sounded like I was calling you out. TBF based on what it was reported was his time frame, a decision should be made in a few days. But maybe things changed because what he thought would be an easy decision (staying in LA) has suddenly gotten difficult and he may be reconsidering his decision. If anything, I feel it it does take long that means he is giving serious thought to leaving LA.
  11. Rcal10
    Actually my point was to defend him for taking his time. I have heard others suggest he is holding up the market and he should want to decide quickly (within 2 to 4 days) so teams can get on with their off season. I was not trying to compare this decision with a decision in what hat someone wears. I agree with you that this is a life decision. And he earned the right to decide when he wants to.
  12. Rcal10
    I get that. And I don’t understand why it takes him this long to make a decision. However the fact is everyone is different. For me, I would be able to make a decision quickly. It frustrates me when people can’t. However I have a son in law who takes 30 minutes to pick a hat to wear when he goes out. Another 30 minutes to pick a pair of sun glasses. I don’t get it. But not my place to comment and I don’t have to understand it. Well maybe Ohtani is that sort of guy. Someone who is wishy washy and indecisive. Trying to rush him is only going to cause more angst. While you might be right, he does care about slowing things down, he still might not be able to decide quickly.
  13. Rcal10
    I would trade either for him. Sure, he might get injured again. But he also might not and if he doesn’t he would be the best pitcher on the team. Worth the risk IMO. And it is only 1 year so not like they are tying money up on a injured player for several years. High risk and high reward. If they needed to I wouldn’t have an issue if they added someone like Thompson as well.
  14. Rcal10
    I doubt he cares that he is holding up the market. Not his problem. I can’t see him taking that long, but I also don’t think he owes it to anyone to choose on someone else’s timeframe. Maybe he overplays his hand by waiting and teams move on. But maybe waiting also gets him more. Everyone is different.
  15. Rcal10
    Which is why my original point was I wouldn’t be so disappointed in the FO if he stayed in LA. IMO that would mean that was his preference all along and he had to be blown away to leave. But I would be disappointed if he left and it wasn’t here because that means a different FO did a better job of selling the experience with that team.
  16. Rcal10
    I have to think money/contract structure all have to be pretty similar. I also agree with 1908 that no matter who he signs with you will hear he left money in the table. Contracts at this point can be so different as far as structure with the end money similar. But he might take the 10 year deal with higher annual and more opt outs over the 12 year deal with a lot of back money and maybe deferred money and little or no opt outs, but guarantees him a higher end result. And then it will be pointed out by not taking 12 years he left guaranteed money on the table. Which team he chooses, I doubt he will ever say it is because they gave him more money. To me it is all going to come down to the sales pitch. I think each team will have a good enough contract in place for him to sign.
  17. Rcal10
    You don’t know what he thinks. Might like Wrigley. Might not like LA. If he is on the Cubs they are also a good team. Favorite in the central. More exposure in the Midwest. His games are played at a time most of the country can watch. I mean, sure what you suggest could be true. But we don’t know his preference. And then there is money and contract structure. I feel the Dodgers are the favorites, but we can’t be sure. The only thing that makes me think he really might not be sure is if he was sure why would he have these GM’s fly to LA to try to recruit him. Why wouldn’t he just tell them it to bother he is choosing LA?
  18. Rcal10
    I agree. I still have faith this will be a good off season and the team they put on the field will protect to a 90+ win team. And looking at the Yankees collection of guys said to be going for Soto, I think if the Cubs do lose out on Ohtani they can easily put something together that the Padres would take that wouldn’t cost a top 10 system prospect. Maybe not even top 20. Maybe Aasad and add a few back end prospects. I was not overly impressed with what the Yankees offered. Maybe they aren’t in now because they feel they have a good chance at Ohtani. That might change if they lose him.
  19. Rcal10
    I still think if the Cubs don’t sign him it is because the Dodgers did. They might just be too hard to overtake and convince him to leave LA.
  20. Rcal10
    I commented already on accepting LA and not being disappointed with the Cubs effort. I also said I wouldn’t be mad at the FO if they didn’t get him. However, if he does want to be the face of Canadian baseball, I have to think someone in Toronto pitched that to him. Someone in Toronto explained how great it would be to play in Toronto. I highly doubt that was a childhood dream of his. So, since they pitched that to him if he choses them that would mean their FO did a better sales job than the Cubs FO. That would mean he came in with an open mind towards any team that offered him a contract and the Blue Jays outsold the Cubs, for whatever reason. He was there for the taking and the Cubs FO didn’t do a good enough job of selling all that comes with being a Cub. I feel it is perfectly acceptable being disappointed in the FO for not making it happen.
  21. Rcal10
    I don’t think I would say I was mad at the Cubs if they didn’t get him. I would be very disappointed in them for not selling the team, the city, the ballpark, and the fans better to him so that he would pick Chicago. Where if he went to LA I would just assume it was always an uphill battle because that is where he wanted to go all along.
  22. Rcal10
    Not clearly available? Soto available for trade is the worst kept secret in baseball. He is clearly available. SD main focus this off season is dumping salaries not winning a WS. Thanks also pretty obvious.
  23. Rcal10
    I can accept LA being the winner of Ohtani for the very same reason you mentioned. I would be fine with the Cubs effort and accept there want anything they could do to change his mind. But if he does go anywhere else I would be upset with the FO.
  24. Rcal10
    If the other starting pitcher came via a trade and he is a low cost controlled pitcher and they added Hoskins too, then I see that as a 90 win team. Trade PCA for the young pitcher and maybe get a solid pen arm as well and/or a third baseman. PCA for Cabrera, Puk, Burger or Ryan, Jax, Polanco? Something like that? Maybe add someone if need be. These are just examples of possible deals. Morel is the DH. IMO that is a 90 win team. And I am not sure they need Hader at his cost.
  25. Rcal10
    Pretty much everything yiu said about Toronto yiu could say about Chicago. Chicago is amazing in the summer. Great food, theater, museums,
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