Nolo

I think you get could one of the established starters from mariners like Logan Gilbert for Matt Shaw straight up.

Yeah okay I like the Taylor Ward idea as a buy-low option. Maybe he can figure things out in the Cubs who have pretty damn good offensive coaching, or maybe not. Something weird happened with him last year after a massive previous year. Somewhat concerning but not a bad OF bridge option on a pillow deal.

Two overnight thoughts: 1) I saw on some Dodgers fan page that the Phillies, Cubs, and Mariners could be a good fit in a trade for Teoscar Hernandez which got me thinking. First off, this has no factual basis in terms of a rumor as far as what I could find. That said, I believe he's making 14.5M in 2027 and $15M club option in 2028 with 6.5M buyout. He had a down year in terms of HRs in 2026 but I do not hate the idea as an OF/DH guy until we get some of these OF prospects up. He's got some good seasons left imo. 2) If Cubs don't go for Morejon, which after seeing his contract predictions increase every day I don't think they will... what about these other LHP relievers like Brock Burke or Gregory Soto? Soto --- power arm with a nice slider/sinker mix and 28% K rate. Could make a case as a closer. Burke --- solid LHP with good 2026 season, has some velo and a firmer slider and change mix. More of an under the radar guy I guess. Upon initial research, projected contracts: Burke - $5-7M AAV (1 yr) Soto - I've seen projections of $7-9M/1 year up to $36M/3 years. At the top end, not sure if Cubs will be super interested, but a 1-2 year deal under $10M AAV --- maybe? Or you think we are satisfied with Riley Martin + Ryan Rolison + Jacob Webb (RHP) combo against LHH out of the pen? I was doing deeper research into Riley Martin and he's really struggled against LHH and seems to gets RHH hitters out at a much better clip. Pen still has so many red flags with Miller (36 years old), Maton, and Martin all coming off severe injuries. Then throw Brown's neck into the mix. Idk we could very well be looking at a 2026 bullpen season again if they don't add someone, preferably with some heat. Definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Alright let’s sign Skubal and Morejon. Hear me out. Word is Morejon wants to start in 2027. Pay him as a starter or a dominant closer and it’s a win-win unless he gets hurt. Can you imagine two left handed FREAK bulldogs as the #1–2 in Skubal and Morejon. If a team plans to use him as a starter and bullpen backup plan I can justify the 3–4 years he’s probably looking for at 27 years old. Take Skubal out of the equation and I’m still on board for the Morejon starting idea. Padres did give him the QO so they must be pretty confident in whatever was bugging his shoulder in the playoffs.

Brown, Webb, Rolison, Miller, Maton, Martin, Zeferjahn, Palencia Does this sound about right for opening day bullpen if the season started today? It's not a bad foundation. Would like to see at least one more high K rate guy. Shelby Miller coming off an injury and 36 years old next season, huge question mark. Martin and Maton also coming off of pretty severe injuries. Ben Brown roll the dice, but I am expecting him to be okay if moved to the pen. It's really tough to write these guys in with sharpie. Outside of that you have options you can bring up and down like Assad, Garrett ... but they're not exactly bullpen guys in the traditional sense. Then you have other options like Wiggins (not ready IMO) and Wicks (meh). I guess they just picked up Eric Orze, but is he really what this pen needs? I guess at the end of the day it's another option. So the guys you can write in sharpie are Webb, Rolison, Zeferjahn, and Palencia. Assad and Garrett as depth starters or long relief (or if the season started today likely in the starting rotation). Not sure if I am trying to make a point here, just working this out in my head.

Agreed we should not spend more than 5M on a catcher period. Too many other holes we need to throw money at.

Okay true, I am thinking more along the lines of with all the analytics we know there are left handed hitters who mash righties and can't hit lefties, would you rather have Webb out in that situation or a lefty? Then there are lefties who mash lefties, maybe a situation for a Webb. But you're right, the numbers are the numbers and Webb can certainly be treated as a go-to for lefty hitters. Still not super comfortable having only Rolison and banking on a healthy Martin. I guess I am trying to subconsciously make a case for Morejon, a guy who will get everyone one. I KNOW IT'S NOT HAPPENING 😄

Alright I can be down with that. As a former catcher myself, I can see the point of the likelihood of one getting hurt and having Ayers prove himself more at the higher milb levels.

Forgot Martin was on this team. but yeah another big question mark there. I know webb is decent against left handed hitters, but hes not a LHP.

Yeah but don't the Cubs need more than one LHP in the pen? Right now, you can pencil in Ryan Rolison. Do we really see Garrett and Wicks as full time bullpen pieces on the active roster, or more so guys who will be up and down depending on if we need them or not...

The more I think of it, the more I feel you have to start the season Ayers/Amaya. Lets say you add another catcher on a 1 year deal, we will call him Kelly. So you have Kelly/Amaya, when does Ayers come up in 2027 now? September? He's 25 years old already. It's time.

Foot in the negotiation door for Gilbert or Kirby.

Pitching recipe for this off season is sign two and trade for one. Sign any two from this pool: Skubal, King, Peralta, Rogers, Griffin, Holmes, Gausman, Gray, Peterson Trade for one of: Detmers (LAA), Bradley (MIN), Gilbert (SEA), Kirby (SEA) Trade options: Shaw, Ramirez, Alcantara, Amaya, Triantos, Murray Jr, certain prospects. Depending on how you slice and dice it, it’s within projected budget with room to spare on bats. Add in Steele and Cabrera and we are partying. Depth starters consisting of Assad, Garrett, Wicks.

Outfield situation. Let's say we do lose Happ and Suzuki (looking likely although I'm holding out hope on Suzuki). That is losing two 2026 gold glove finalists, ouch. I don't feel great about sticking these infield-first guys like Shaw/Ramirez in OF. I still think one of them should be packaged in a trade for a pitcher and the other utilized as infield utility. To fill one (or more) of the OF corner spots what about a Taylor/Alcantara/Conforto platoon situation, with whoever is hitting best going to DH when they're not playing in OF. Conforto is sneaky good, Taylor is versatile, and maybe Alcantara can continue to mash like he's been doing in the Dominican Republic winter league, just maybe. I'd say we could sign Arozarena and utilize him in LF and DH and go with the platoon I mentioned above in RF. Arozarena is an animated player and could be a spark plug and be a 20/20 or 25/25 guy with mediocre defense, but I'm not really sure he will be cheaper than Suzuki, and at that point why not just re-sign Suzuki or Happ? Plus Arozarena does have that QO so it's something to consider. But I'd feel good about having Taylor as an option for all three defensive OF spots nonetheless, considering what we may be losing in OF defense. But will signing Conforto + Taylor be that much cheaper than just re-signing Happ? Let's say Happ gets $17-20M AAV. Conforto maybe $5-8M AAV and Taylor $3-6M AAV? Happ --- 17-20M AAV Taylor/Conforto --- 8-14M AAV I could be way off on the numbers, but there's some savings there, especially on the lower end. That could free up some room for a solid bullpen arm somewhere.

Yes, most likely.

Im OK with Gray as a #3. If he’s our #1–2, then Jed will have failed. Thats not a knock on his great season.

Nice… another 30 year old low 90s righty.

Same. Especially now that we know Webb will be filling up a slot (hopefully middle relief) and we are kind of banking on guys like Miller and Maton coming back healthy. As it stands, the bullpen is not built for a deep playoff run. There’s potential, but need to add a lights out weapon Imo. If not Morejon, still have to figure something out.

let’s get him back on 2 years 36M with a club option for year 3

Damn, Morejon with the QO. My dreams are crushed. Padres must be confident that shoulder situation is all good.

Rea —> gone Harvey —> gone Thielbar —> gone Webb —> staying also, Clay Holmes has officially rejected his player option. I still don’t think we have the deep playoff run arms in the pen. Also tough to for sure pencil in guys like Miller and Maton.

Love it. Thanks for releasing on a Monday when I was supposed to have work to do…

holmes hasn’t formally denied his option yet

I think by himself, nothing special. But if you package him with another prospect to a team that needs immediate OF help and looking to add younger farm talent, I think you can land a #3 type pitcher or even #1–2 depending on the prospect. Wait, that team sounds like the Cubs 😆