Rcal10

Why do you say this? Cubs have a lot of near ready bats. IMO they can easily put something together for Cabrera. I am just not sure what bat they sign if they did trade for Cabrera. That would have a good amount of money to spend but not enough for Bregman.

Probably true if you have faith in the cheap signing from Japan. So that being the case, I have a bad feeling it will be Gallen and someone they sign for $5M to $7M for the bench.

Who, the guy from Japan? I thought I read he hasn’t played first base in 3 or 4 years and before that didn’t play there much. Besides that, is he really a guy we can pencil in on the bench? Maybe it will be him. But then maybe all the will add is one pitcher. Personally I would like another decent bat, however.

I have a bad feeling the Cubs are not getting him. Going to end up with Gallen in the rotation. No idea what they do for a bat who can play a little first base.

Cubs have had some history of signing Japanese players and generally it has played out how this situation appears to be playing out. So I do understand those reading tea leaves. But that doesn’t mean he will come here. I do think he isn’t getting the offers he expected. And that does help the Cubs a bit. I wouldn’t say the Cubs are likely to get him, but I do think they have a good chance.

If he comes to the Cubs, he might end up with a similar sort of contract as Imanaga. Not necessarily the AAV, but a similar set up.

Right, but my guess is he will still get something like 5/$160 and the Cubs are not going to do that unless they plan on going over the first LT line. I know it makes perfect sense to go over this year, but until they actually show they are willing to go over, I can’t believe they will.

I am clearly higher on Cabrera than you are. With an extra year of control over Ryan and Gore ( 2 that are always talked about along with Cabrera), I feel his trade cost would be similar to them. But, as I said, who knows. But to your point of Shaw being too much for Cabrera. To me, if he is too much for Cabrera he is also too much for Ryan or Gore. I would like Cassie to be the main piece in any trade for one of those guys. Honestly, I don’t see Bregman at all. If they did get him they would have to go over the LT line. Even with Cabrera (cheapest contract), they can’t fit Bregman. And I agree with Stratos that if they traded Hoerner they aren’t even gaining anything by bringing Bregman in. Now, IF they would go over the LT line this year, sure Bregman makes sense along with a trade for a pitcher using Cassie as the main piece. Makes the team better this year and allows them to plug in Shaw if/when Hoerner leaves. If the Cubs have 2 moves in them and plan on staying under the LT line I think the most they could do is a bat like Okamoto and then trade for one of the pitchers we have been mentioning all off season. But don’t use Shaw! Unless the contracts for Imai and Okamoto are lower AAV than what is being said, they can’t get both of them and stay under.

I have repeatedly said I don’t expect Bregman. But others do. Even in the post your responded to I said, “if”Bregman is a real consideration. And, as usual you are picking something that isn’t even the point of my post. My post was about Wicks, Brown and Assad and their availability. But to answer your question on Bregman, some have suggested the Cubs may go over the LT by a little. That this would be a good year to do it. While I agree it would make sense, I don’t think they will.’which is why I don’t see Bregman. However, if they did go over a little it would probably mean they would have to make a trade for another starter who is cheaper. Which is where a prospect plus someone like Brown, Assad or Wicks comes in to play.

Slowly but surely. And everything that has been done has allowed them to make at least one higher end salary pick up. Plus, maybe trade some prospects for another lower priced proven player. 🤷 If this gets accomplished, maybe Jed isn’t an idiot??? Still has to actually get done before we can make that statement.

🤷I don’t even pretend to know how certain teams value certain players. Is 6 years of Shaw fair for 3 years of Cabrera? Maybe others can answer that question. Maybe they are just the lead pieces in a trade. To me, I would rather use Cassie in a Cabrera deal and keep Shaw as a bench/utility guy. Then he can move to second next year. I honestly don’t see Bregman, so I have a hard time seeing the cubs trade Shaw. But if they did get Bregman it does open up possibilities of a Shaw trade.

As it stands now, Assad, Brown and Wicks have all become more expendable. Which does signal a possible trade. Especially if Bregman is a real consideration. If they all are in spring training, my guess is the last spot in the pen would be one of them.

You have to think if they get Bregman, Shaw or Nico is traded. And even if neither are traded, Shaw can be the utility guy off the bench. If they do sign Bregman, he isn’t going to DH. If Cabrera becomes a reality my guess is Shaw is gone.

It isn’t even an issue with the FO, IMO. It doesn’t make any sense to sign Imai and then trade for Cabrera. Counting Steele, eventually, that would be 7 starters. And it wouldn’t add a bat. Just too complicated. Then they do what? Trade a pitcher for a bat? Why complicate things? Just sign or trade for one of the pitchers and then sign a bat. Maybe it is Imai and Okamoto both as free agents. Or Bregman and Cabrera (and they lose prospects)

I have said it all off season. I don’t see Bregman signing with the Cubs. Still don’t. . But I would be fine if they did get him. Might come down to either Imai and Okamoto or Cabrera and Bregman. Obviously the latter would cost the Cubs prospects.

If the Cubs got Cabrera I am pretty sure they wouldn’t also get Imai. I would say it is either one or the other. Not both.

Put those two together and end up with Bregman and Cabrera and the off season outcome changes drastically for the better.

So to be clear, 92 wins is not a good season. That is not successful. They have to win the WS for you to call it a success. I just think people are confusing disappointment at the end of the season as an unsuccessful season. And if that is the guide, not being disappointed at the end of the season, the only way anyone would ever call a season a success if if they won the WS. I also was disappointed. Of course we all were. But 92 wins and winning in the playoffs is success. So if growth in many young players. If the question was asked about being disappointed at how the season ended my answer would be the same as yours. Yes, I was disappointed. But 2025 will go down as a successful season to me. let me ask you this. Had they built on the roster by adding Bieber and Suarez and lost Wiggins and Cassie in the process, but still lost in the NLDS after winning 96 games, would that have been a success? They would be worse off now, but won 4 more games and, apparently, tried at the deadline. So success? Is there a scenerio where you would call 2025 a success that doesn’t have them winning the pennant, at least. Is that the bar for success?

Cubs won 92 games in 2025. And they did so after losing their best pitcher in early April. So, would it have been better if they went 29-25 their first 54 games and then went 63-45 after? Who cares how they got to 92 wins. BTW your version of “hung on” has then playing to an 87 win pace over 162 games. Not great, but good. And not “hung on”. All teams have good streaks that propel them to the record they end up with and then have a long period of time where they hang on. That said, of course the fans were disappointed. No matter if they won 98 games and beat out the Brewers, once they lost fans would be disappointed. But that is not the question. Neither is did Tom spend enough to win or does the FO care about winning. The question was if the Cubs had a successful 2025. Unless the only way that question could be answered yes is by winning the WS, by all accounts they did have a successful 2025. 6th most wins in baseball. Won a playoff series and were a few well timed hits away from winning another and going to the NLCS. Growth from PCA, Busch, Palencia. Shaw and Horton stepping up as rookies. How is that not success in 2025 as well as setting themselves up for better years ahead? Had they traded for Bieber at the deadline and had to give up Wiggins but still lost in the NLDS would that have made you feel they had a good season? Had they traded for Suarez at the deadline and he hit under .200 for them, and they lost in the NLDS would that have made you feel they had a good season. With each of those deals they would be worse now. Also, for those complaining about the deadline lack of movement, who did the Brewers acquire at the deadline? Did that indicate they didn’t care either? I understand those who complain about the spending. Suggest they should win the division every year by outspending the opposition, but that isn’t the question. The question is do you consider 2025 successful? To that simple question based on the reason I gave above, my answer would be yes. Doesn’t mean I wasn’t disappointed losing when they did and doesn’t mean I am happy with the budget.

I deleted everything else from your post because we have heard it all before. And it has nothing to do with the actual question. So we agree, last year was a successful season.

I doubt ownership is fooling anyone. But what are the choices. Either be a fan rooting for the team to win and enjoying them, a fan who constantly howls at the moon complaining they don’t spend money, or stop being a fan. Those who choose to enjoy the team aren’t fooled. They just choose not to be miserable. And if winning 92 games and being a few hits away from the NLCS while having guys like PCA and Busch taking steps forward as well as rookies like Shaw and Horton contributing, is not considered a success those who want to be miserable will always be miserable.

I dislike black licorice and avoid it.

Because, apparently, Jed doesn’t view another pen arm as good use of the money he has to spend. They do have $10M to $15M to spend, but a pen arm wasn’t what they wanted. Spending that money would have left him short on spending for what he obviously thinks are bigger needs. If he has $25M to a stretch of $32M he didn’t want to put $13M into a pen arm. Jed has done well building pens cheaply. so he stuck to what he feels comfortable with. He has sucked at finding cheap bats. In the end, if he doesn’t spend at least $20M more, I will agree with you that he should have signed Fairbanks. But for now, I would much rather that money be spent elsewhere. I’m not saying I agree with it. I wish they spend more. But they don’t. So he has to prioritize. Spending 40% to 50% of their remaining money on Fairbanks was obviously not their priority.

I honestly don’t see Bregman. But I agree with you, Okamoto, by himself, would not be a needle moving off season. However I like him at 3rd for 3 or 4 years better than I do signing Fairbanks for 1 year. I think the Cubs found an easier comp to Fairbanks(likely not as good, but decent) for $11M less, then they would find for Okamoto if they only had $2M to spend for that other bat. Point is, they have a budget. So they have to mix and match the best they can. Apparently Fairbanks wasn’t a priority. Most likely because money and their team payroll structure. Which was my original answer.

I said Bregman OR a high end pitcher. Not both. I said Imai and possibly Okamoto. That would be IF Imai or Okamoto’s numbers have been greatly exaggerated, as was Shoto’s when he came over. So both Imai AND Okamoto for $35M TOTAL (or something around there). Regardless, if you added $13M for Fairbanks you are limited yourself elsewhere.