Stratos

He does bait political arguments but I think the solution here isn't banning anyone or locking threads it's banning pure political discussion that isn't baseball related and issuing warnings and then suspensions if the rules aren't followed.

Theo's teardown got us to 97 wins and the NLCS in year 4. Hopefully Jed is just a year behind, though 2021 was only a half teardown until the deadline.

The Cubs both don't have a DH, have a total unknown at 1B, and have a lack of LHB power bats in the lineup. There's definitely a scenario where Busch and Mervis end up in the same lineup this year. There's also the possibility that Busch gets hurt or doesn't hit well, and Mervis is backup for that, as is Dom Smith. Smith will probably not be ready for OD either, and if Busch gets hurt and Mervis is dealt who would be the 1B (or DH) vs RHP? The Cubs value depth. Mervis could very well end up being traded at some point, I just don't see it happening before OD unless they acquire another power LHB who could play 1B, like Bellinger, and even then they would probably prefer to wait until the trade deadline or next offseason to deal him. It just doesn't make a ton of sense to me for them to deal from 2 positions that's already one of the weakest on the team (1B and DH). So far the prospects Jed has dealt has been from positions of strength and overabundance, like lefty SP. By next offseason we'll see how Busch handles MLB pitching and should have more prospects who can potentially start at DH on Opening Day like Cassie (LHB), McGeary, Murray (switch hitter) etc.

Yeah and it makes discussing the team often unbearable throughout the offseason.

Hard to see that happening unless they get another LH power bat. They need that pretty badly right now.

Let's hope, because yes he sucks. At least Peralta you can legitimize giving a roster spot at Iowa for. It's already crowded in Iowa this year, and they have Mervis, BJ Murray, and potentially McGeary at 1B in Iowa unless Mervis makes the MLB roster. I'm hoping Dom Smith is behind Mervis in the depth charts at 1B. If Busch gets injured or they need a lefty at DH i hope they try Mervis first before Smith. This is not the best news in the appearance of confidence of the Cubs landing Bellinger at the moment. It's a minor league deal so the risk is zero and it's probably just insurance in case Bellinger isn't signed and/or an injury at 1B happens. Peralta and Smith are lefty depth bats. I believe this guy was one of the first to break the story, and it looks like the Cubs want him as a 4th OF?: https://fansided.com/posts/mlb-insider-cubs-add-former-silver-slugger-winner-david-peralta-outfield-mix-01hq1jy2vnft "Peralta signed a minor-league contract and the expectation is that once he is fully recovered from offseason forearm surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon, he’ll quickly be added to the major-league roster."

I agree

Interesting comments from Jed regarding Bellinger: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/cubs-chairman-on-cody-bellinger-some-discussions-but-not-a-negotiation.html

Looks like news here is picking up, which means things may be in a discussing stage at least a little bit, which is encouraging (better than weeks of zero news). The Mariners rumor below could be a Boras plant for leverage. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/mariners-have-discussed-signing-matt-chapman.html https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/yankees-have-offer-out-to-blake-snell.html

I doubt they'll go over the cap unless they're in some kind of real winning position like before. Which is ridiculous.

I like Boog

Swanson is a very similar contract as Heyward's, and in fact we could argue more risky given Heyward was far younger. They also have a similar profile as elite glove, so-so offense players. So I think the FO philosophy is based on data, rather than Heyward regrets. If your team has a payroll under the tax limit then being eager to sign some 29 y/o player to a 10/300 contract is absolutely illogical, and unless you're spending Dodgers or Padres money on payroll I think any team doing it is really stupid and evidence-illiterate. Last season I believe something like only 3 out of the top 40 position players in WAR were over age 32. You'd have to be insane to assume you're going to be the team to beat those odds when signing a star to a mega contract through his 30's. The Cubs aren't exactly the Rays, they spend a lot more. The Rays are a very good team and I wish the Cubs had won as many games as they have the last several years. They make teams like the Mets and Padres look like fools. Now imagine having a philosophy of value like the Rays but also having a payroll of $230m. My assumption is that any team like that is going to be better than the Rays because of that significantly extra payroll. I'd rather be the Dodgers but we don't have their revenues or spendy owners so if our payroll is going to sit around the LT then I think the philosophy of this FO is very likely to be effective.

I don't think they should have an offseason deadline because what would happen is many of the signings would simply happen right before the deadline, just like the trade deadline. However, I find it ridiculous and condescending for the author of the article to suggest that the reason we find this offseason slow and boring is that we've been "programmed" for low attention spans. Yes many have low attention spans, but it's very clear this offseason is been one of the slowest in memory and still isn't finished by a longshot, and got a late start, and that isn't good for the sport. I care infinitely more about what's in the best interests of fans than about the interests or salary gains or losses among players vs owners. I would have no issue whatsoever if players or owners lost hundreds of thousands of dollars every year over some decision that would make the sport better for fans, and I think it's silly that fans back the players when it's against their own interests. Like the fans who cared more about the players getting a better collective agreement during the lockout than the fact that the lockout was denying them the sport they like to watch as consumers. Anyways, this offseason ridiculousness is the fault of Boras and Boras alone. He has obviously created unreasonable demands for his players far above their market value. Every other significant FA has signed and they didn't get ripped off. I don't at all blame teams for being less eager to sign ridiculous FA contracts like Boras has convinced them to do in the past and teams rather putting that money into extending the young stars on their teams that have been severely underpaid forever with virtually no guaranteed contracts until now if they get hurt or flame out a few years down the line.

Looks like the Blue Jays are out on any big signings left. Good news especially for Chapman/Bellinger. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/atkins-jays-would-need-to-subtract-to-accommodate-significant-acquisition.html

There's 12 playoff teams, so 14th sounds about right lol

I'm probably good with them signing whomever of the 4, though Bellinger probably fills the most needs for 2024. We really need more LHB. Someone on the team can always be traded in the next offseason or 2 if we want to make room for someone on the farm so i'm not worried about blocking guys, it's a better problem than lack of talent somewhere. We're mostly just looking to fill a gap for 1-2 seasons no matter the position.

Kimbrel waited a long time and did well. Did he even lose any money the partial year he signed? Maybe we'll still be here in July. Once the ST games start that's the team in my head, I can't do this much longer.

Baseball teams sell hope. That's really their business. Fans need to believe, or they won't show up. If Ricketts doesn't give us a good team to root for it's just no as fun. 83 wins isn't good enough.

Oh I think I can answer that question.

Brewers won on a low payroll. Cubs want that

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/scott-effross-out-several-months-due-to-back-surgery.html

Closer warming up? They're down a few runs and need a hell of a 9th to get the walk off.

Did you watch the games in Sept last year? PCA looked way over his head in almost every single aspect of the game in his short stint. Baserunning decisions were terrible, some of this fielding decisions were over anxious leading to misplays, and obviously his hitting was horrible. Tauchman isn't going to make any of those mental mistakes. Some of it is just nerves, but PCA is 21, he needs more time in the oven against the older more experienced players in AAA. I'm sure the Cubs are aware of all of this. If he starts the year on the MLB roster it's because someone got hurt.

I think we should have an open door policy on any post-skin bleaching Sosa photos.

Cubs had a well above average offense during every month of 2023 besides May (ranked 25th in runs, peak Hosmer/Mervis/Mancini/Barnhart/Madrigal suckfest plus Bellinger hurt) and June (was just average). Even in Sept/Oct they were 4th in runs scored. Cubs had the 3rd best offense in MLB in the 2nd half (from July 1). They were tied for 1st in the MLB over all of 2023 in baserunning runs, which was a big part of their game and doesn't show up in stats like wRC+. Hopefully they run as well under Counsell as Ross. Mike Napoli and Willie Harris are back so that should help the transition a lot.