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So we agree.  That is refreshing, since you are so seldom right that it is not often I get to say that.

Ken Rosenthal‏Verified account @Ken_Rosenthal  2m2 minutes ago
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 Brandon Hyde will be #Cubs’ new bench coach, sources tell The Athletic. #Mets had offered him bench-coach job. #Cubs stepped up to keep him.

He was renteria's bench coach, is that correct? 

That is my recollection.

Jon Heyman released his top 80 free agents today with predictions by both him and an "expert," who is apparently pretty good at predicting contracts.  Here is the full article:

https://www.fanragsports.com/inside-baseball-how-much-will-the-top-80-free-agents-get/

The relief market looks good and affordable, no reason to go after Davis:

Wade Davis: Expert: 4/$64; Heyman: 4/$72
Addison Reed: Expert: 4/$35; Heyman: 3/$27
Jake McGee: Expert: 2/$15; Heyman: 2/$12
Bryan Shaw: Expert: 2/$12; Heyman: 3/$24
Juan Nicasio: Expert: 2/$14; Heyman: 2/$12
Anthony Swarzak: Expert: 4/$28; Heyman: 3/$21
Brandon Morrow: Expert: 3/$23; Heyman: 3/$24

Lots of options, and this doesn't even include guys like Neshek, Minor, and Watson.  If those prices are fairly accurate, I'd love to see the Cubs get McGee, Reed, and either Shaw or Nicasio for a total of about $21 million per year.  In fact, at those prices, I'd be disappointed if the Cubs didn't end up with at least McGee and Shaw/Nicasio.

At those prices, I don't think there's really a wrong solution as long as they stay away from Davis and Holland.  I'd be perfectly fine with going into Spring Training with 2-3 of McGee, Shaw, Nicasio, and Reed plus Wilson in a battle for the closer job.

You have the expert and Heyman reversed.

 I really wouldn’t want to pay Cobb that much at either price to be honest, he needs to be under $50 million for me to like it.

 Chacin/Chatwood would be more interesting to me especially if you could get both. Tillman/Mikolas/Miley would all be sorta gambles for 5/6th starters. Put me down for a 2 year Pineda contract too.

Mike Minor is another interesting lefty, but the 2 TJS are scary.

Drew Hutchison on a minor league deals too, and maybe Jared Cosart.

Maybe I’m crazy, but I could see someone paying $100 million for Cobb.  Quality pitching is tough to find especially in free agency.

Just from listening to Hoyer on the radio, it sure sounds like the Cubs want to keep money available for 2018 FA. I think they’ll go cheap and look more for Charlie Morton 2.0.