Stratos

If we're in the playoffs that makes us World Series contenders by default. We were a 83 win team last year. The Tucker/Bellinger moves can nab us about another 4 wins on paper if the Cubs spend the savings.

I ignore all commentary from BN since its total cringe, I just use them as a good summary for Cubs news.

They revealed Nico hasn't started throwing or hitting yet post- surgery. But that doesn't mean anything i guess.

Did we hear anything about the Nico's surgery recovery this weekend? All I heard was that it bothered his throwing the most last season.

Tom said in an interview 2 days ago with Kap that he thinks fans shouldn't call him cheap because he invested a billion dollars into the neighbourhood. I'm not kidding. Both interviewers kissed Tom's rump and backed up his excuses the whole interview. Time-stamped to the question:

delete

Robertson has been about as consistently good as a reliever could be. They'd just be rolling the dice on age decline, but he's showed no signs of it, in fact his velo has been at career highs. They likely get a 1-yr deal that makes up for the age risk.

Well 3.83 FIP, and 4.29 xFIP is average territory for a reliever. He's not a soft-contact guy or a groundball guy so I just don't get it I guess. I don't think the Phillies added him to close did they? His FIP the last 2 season (outside Colorado) is around 3.60, the xFIP being around 4.35 (not doing the math either lol). I just don't see a dominant pitcher, I see someone they can work with to potentially create one, which IMO isn't what you want for a closer because it just might not happen. On the other hand, it would be a signing with upside rather than one with downside risk like the older guys Yates etc

Estevez last year had career lows in BABIP, K/9, BB/9, HR/9, and HR/FB. His ERA was over a run and a half lower than his xFIP. He has every red flag of significant regression next year. He projects to a 4.00 ERA on FG. He seems like an average to maybe above average reliever. Not really sure why he's even considered a closer other than having some saves on some bad teams. I can see the Cubs seeing some upside here and he can bolster a pen but he's not a guy you'd sign as your closer if your goal is to win the division and make a deep playoff run. Needing to trade a good prospect at the deadline for 2 months of a legit closer if the Cubs are contending is a stupid position to put yourself in, stop trying to be cute and go get one now. I feel similar with Finnegan. I'm fine with either if they sign one plus a legit closer like Robertson/Yates.

This signing is a joke. Beyond the Cubs this just isn't good for the mid and small market teams to compete. Dodgers won the WS and will be adding Ohtani, Snell, Sasaki, and Scott to their pitching staff.

He was rocking a small pot belly last year wasn't he? Agree wouldn't hurt if he came into camp in better shape this year.

If the Cubs are 3rd in revenue (not including the neighborhood investments) and Tom chooses to only spend where the Cubs only rank 9th or 10th in LT payroll then he has 2 choices in interviews: tell the truth or lie and make excuses. Since telling the truth would be bad for PR, he chooses to lie and make excuses. Since lying and making excuses is also bad for PR then you're right, he needs to stop doing interviews because there's nothing he can say that can justify his actions to fans. If he actually just straight up told the truth at least i could respect him for being honest and transparent with his customers. But the owner saying "my main priority is maximizing my profit, which means being just good enough to keep hope alive to fill seats" is going to lose them some customers.

Some notes from this article about a recent Jesse Rogers interview: https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2025/01/17/cubs-free-agent-plans/ - "Rogers feels very confident that the Cubs will sign (more likely) or trade for (less likely) an established back-end reliever before Opening Day. “(I) truly believe they will sign a back-end closer. I guess there’s a chance at a trade. But one way or another, this team will have one of the back-end relievers on the market.” ...Rogers continued on to say that “The Cubs have basically checked in on all of (the free agent relievers, including Tanner Scott).” And that he thinks “they’re saving whatever dollars they have left for a back-end guy, a closer.” - Says they're likely to add another bat, likely an FA 3B. 3B market has been a little slow because of Bregman. - Speculation but: "...the Cubs are likely slow-playing both of these pursuits (closer and third base). According to Rogers, if the market craters for certain guys and one-year deals really do make it to the table, the Cubs will have the flexibility to go there: “A month from now, if Jack Flaherty, Pete Alonso, and Alex Bregman haven’t signed, all bets are off. And that’s why I think the Cubs are probably waiting it out a bit. The Cubs are flexible enough to give them $25 or $30M for a one-year deal.”

Believe it when I see it.

Post cool links or just chat about the convention here.

The other 29 owners are coming to kick the Dodgers' arse in the next CBA

Anybody want to become a Dodgers fan with me? Sounds fun

When prices go up winners reduce payroll.

Leaving 1-2 WAR on the table for a borderline playoff team is pretty dumb. Unless as an owner/ business your goal is only to fill seats in the regular season.

Maybe the Japanese players love playing in domes with turf. Reminds them of home.

Hoyer's specific quote: “Mostly focused right now on bench and bullpen, just trying to supplement the roster as much as we can. I feel good about our team but there’s obviously ways to improve,” Hoyer said. He later added that the “bullpen’s been probably the area we’ve been focused on most in free agency. I feel like we’re trying to make sure we upgrade our bench. Adding a veteran presence to our bench would be good.” https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/cubs-pursuing-bullpen-bench-acquisitions.html I guess Rea was likely the last of the SP. They have a modest stable who can compete for the 4/5 spots and fill in for injuries. We have 3 extra SP by my count, plus the guys in AAA plus some scraps like Poteet. Sounds to me like they aren't getting close to the LT line. How frustrating.

I was sort starting to get used to the Wrigleyville uniforms for some reason, which were indeed ugly, this looks better.

Note that the mention of a 3 year deal sounded like total speculation. Possible the Cubs try to snipe a deal like this on some player as they wait out the offseason and find good value somewhere. Cubs are going to check in on everybody id imagine so I don't really see this as news. And yeah could be Boras-bait. A Bellinger-style deal seems less likely to me for Bregman because he's older and lacks the uncertainty Bellinger had.

Agree with this. It's a simple math problem. Every team produces a certain amount of total WAR. Ours is mediocre. For the payroll we spend we get meh results. We either need to spend more total payroll or spend more efficiently. Bryant, Baez, Contreras etc putting up good WAR and not making much money was very efficient.