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Rcal10

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Everything posted by Rcal10

  1. Rcal10
    TBH, I would rather the Cubs put a package together with one of Wicks, Assad or Brown, one of Alcantara or Cassie and then depending on who they are going after add, whatever is needed from the system, who is not a top 8 prospect in the system. Present those names to the Marlins for Cabrera or Alcantara, to the Nationals for Gore or to the Twins for Ryan or Lopez. Then spend more money on the pen and maybe even a better right handed bat who can DH, be a bench bat and play 1st. I think they get more value that way then they do signing Valdez or any other pitcher looking for 5 or more years and $25M or more annually. Of all the pitchers I mentioned, Cabrera would be my preference. He comes with an extra year and is still cheap. They can then ship in the D. Williams, Hensley aisle as well as the Fairbanks, Keller.
  2. Rcal10
    (Assad, Wicks or Brown)and (Cassie or Alcantara)? I would do that from the cubs perspective.
  3. Rcal10
    I’m just going with what Levine said often. The Cubs were interested and were going to be in on Cease. I am not panicking because they didn’t get him. Honestly he did worry me a little. Throws too many pitches to try getting thru 6 innings. That said, had they gotten him I would have been happy, mainly because I trust the Cubs FO to evaluate the talent more than I could. if they lined him and got him, that is good enough for me. But I agree with you that I can be happy with several other options. The point that does bother me a little is if Levine was right and the Cubs were all in on him, that contract shouldn’t have stopped them from getting him. They should know it would cost that. And if they don’t that concerns me on how they view others as well. Are they interested in King, but only for 3 years and $50M? Imai but only 6/$120M Bregman, but only 5/$120M. Or anyone else who they may like but with an unrealistic offer. That is my concern. If Levine is to be believed the Cubs really liked Cease. That deal should not have been a deal breaker for the Cubs if they really liked him. That is what concerns me more than just not getting Cease.
  4. Rcal10
    Agreed. It is a perfectly reasonable contract for him. With the deferrals in the contract it puts the LT number at about $26M a year. If the Cubs didn’t think he would get that when they suggested they would be in on him that is a problem in the FO in evaluating a market. Now, I am. It sure he was the guy I wanted anyway, but the issue is supposedly the Cubs did. Yet they didn’t beat an offer that was in line what should have been expected. Which is a problem. And if they don’t get with the times on costs of players they are going to walk away from this off season with minimal gains via FA. Nice to say you are interested in someone, but if you are not realistic with the offer, it doesn’t matter.
  5. Rcal10
    This is what frustrates me. I am not comparing Ricketts money to the money of the e Jay owners. I am just saying it is annoying that the Cubs don’t act big market when they are big market. And when other teams do spend without fear of the LT or fear of the next CBA it reminds me of how ridiculous our ownership philosophy is.
  6. Rcal10
    I forgot about Imai. If it is a FA pitcher I would say either King, Gallen or Imai. But I think the high end pitcher is going to come via a trade, TBH.
  7. Rcal10
    Ricketts has plenty of money. It is more about willingness to go over the LT.
  8. Rcal10
    I don’t see fringe depth starters added via FA. They have plenty of them. I agree they probably will not be in Valdez or Suarez. Maybe not King or Gallen either, but they would be the high end get, IMO. Assuming they do t get any of those in FA, I would expect a trade over just getting fringe FA pitchers . I think they would just sign pen arms over #4/5 starters.
  9. Rcal10
    I don’t see Valdez or Suarez either. Maybe King or Gallen. That is about the most I would expect via FA. But I don’t see fringe #4 starters like Bassitt and Kelly either. If they don’t get King or Gallen I would expect them to get that MOR/TOR starter in a trade.
  10. Rcal10
    Frustrates me that the Blue Jays can have Springer, Vlad, Gausman, Cease and probably Bichette on the roster and the Cubs can’t have anyone other than Dansby on a long term high priced contract. And, who knows, maybe the Jays get Tucker too.
  11. Rcal10
    Didn’t see it. Sorry.
  12. Rcal10
    Well if we really thought the Cubs were in on Cease, we can forget that thought now. He is signing with the Bkus Jays. 7/$210M.
  13. Rcal10
    Exactly what horses got out regarding the pen last year? They didn’t sign any large annual deals but the pen was pretty damn good. I would rather they spend a few $ on dependable guys, like they appear to be doing. But they did a great job last year with putting a pen together.
  14. Rcal10
    He just turned 26 years old. Taillon learned a new pitch this year. I know he was drafted out of high school so your numbers are correct, but that said, he is hardly too old to learn something new. It is far from “very unlikely” he won’t. That said, he might not be successful throwing a new pitch. Maybe he will never get the hang of it and add another pitch to his mix, confidently. But he is certainly young enough to be able to. I don’t want to see him as one of those guys everyone complains about while he is with the Cubs, then when he goes elsewhere and success those same people suggest the Cubs were dumb because they let him go. Estrada, Adam’s, etc…..
  15. Rcal10
    Ian Happ has averaged about a 3.8WAR over the last 4 years. I don’t care what position he plays, that is very good. Your example probably nets the Cubs about 2 WAR for left field. And those two guys instead of Happ probably saves the Cubs maybe $10M a year. That $10M was not what stopped the Cubs from adding anything last year and it won’t this year. Aside from that, Shaw had a decent WAR anyway. So if Happ could play 3rd, which then you would feel he is worth it, they would be losing Shaw’s WAR to gain Tauchman/Refsnyder’s WAR and paying $10M+ for that instead of league minimum. And Happ’s WAR would go down playing 3rd base. It just doesn’t make sense.
  16. Rcal10
    To be fair ‘24 was an accounting error if we are being honest. As for ‘19 and ‘20 they went over becsuse they were having to pay their arbitration guys a lot of money. They did not just spend in free agents and go over. Again, I hope they do. And it does make sense to go over. But until they do go over without worrying about the first line of the LT and the or penalties that come with it, I won’t believe they will do it.
  17. Rcal10
    It all sounds good and reasonable, but I doubt it. I would have to see it before believing they will actually go over the LT line. What you are saying would be awesome. But they have disappointed us too often to think they won’t again, this year.
  18. Rcal10
    While I am sure Jason is spot on with everything under the hood pointing to Keller being better than Fairbanks, I am not sure it matters for next year. With pen arms every year is a new hood. I have seen it way too often where people make a case for one pen arm and another does better. Fairbanks would be perfectly fine with me, and I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if he had a better year than Keller. If the option was Fairbanks on a 2/$20M deal or Keller on a 3/$38M I am happy with Fairbanks. Keller might get more because someone might see him as a starter.
  19. Rcal10
    Ok, cool. Thought it was him, but I also saw Leiter Jr mentioned. I like Fairbanks more than Leiter jr. I also am not sure he won’t be better than Keller. Relievers are strange. One good year like Keller had doesn’t mean he has another. Unless you are elite, you are a question mark, IMO.
  20. Rcal10
    Who is the 3rd we are talking about? I see Williams and Fairbanks.
  21. Rcal10
    Either would work for me. But I agree with you that Fairbanks seems more in line what they appear to be willing to offer.
  22. Rcal10
    I think if they get the pitcher via trade (Ryan, Cabrera or Gore, as examples) and then maybe add Refsnyder and Castro to the bench they can get pen arms by spending a bit. Maybe even extend PCA.
  23. Rcal10
    Doesn’t matter. Don’t you know facts don’t matter to a lot of people?
  24. Rcal10
    Except he sucked against left handed pitching last year. He would be a hard pass for me. Much rather have Refsnyder for less.
  25. Rcal10
    Yes he was. Guess the question should be who will be the first FA to sign and switch teams?
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